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): September 30, 2014

 

 

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-36635   47-1054194

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1000 CONSOL ENERGY DRIVE

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(724) 485-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

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.

On September 30, 2014, CONE Midstream Partners LP (the “ Partnership ”) completed its initial public offering (the “ Offering ”) of 20,125,000 common units (including 2,625,000 common units issued pursuant to the underwriters’ exercise in full of their option to purchase additional common units) representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (“ Common Units ”) at a price to the public of $22.00 per Common Unit pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-198352), initially filed by the Partnership with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on August 25, 2014 pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”). The material provisions of the Offering are described in the prospectus, dated September 24, 2014, filed by the Partnership with the Commission on September 25, 2014 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) under the Securities Act (the “ Prospectus ”).

Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement

The description of the Contribution Agreement (as defined below) provided under Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference. A copy of the Contribution Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Omnibus Agreement

On September 30, 2014, in connection with the closing of the Offering, the Partnership entered into an Omnibus Agreement (the “ Omnibus Agreement ”) by and between the Partnership, CONE Midstream GP LLC, the general partner of the Partnership (the “ General Partner ”), CONSOL Energy Inc. (“ CONSOL ”), Noble Energy, Inc. (“ Noble ”), CONE Gathering LLC (“ CONE ”), CONE Midstream Operating Company LLC (“ Operating Company ”), CONE Midstream DevCo I LP (“ DevCo I LP ”), CONE Midstream DevCo II LP (“ DevCo II LP ”) and CONE Midstream DevCo III LP (“ DevCo III LP ”). The Omnibus Agreement addresses certain aspects of the Partnership’s relationship with CONSOL and Noble, including: (i) certain indemnification and reimbursement obligations, (ii) the provision by CONSOL and Noble to the Partnership of certain general and administrative services and management services relating to the Partnership and (iii) the Partnership’s right of first offer from CONE regarding certain assets.

Under the Omnibus Agreement, CONE will indemnify the Partnership for:

 

    all liabilities that are associated with the use, ownership or operation of the Partnership’s assets prior to the closing of the Offering, including environmental liabilities;

 

    certain title matters relating to the Partnership’s assets, including (i) the failure of CONE to have valid and indefeasible easement rights, fee ownership or leasehold interests in the real property included in the Partnership’s assets and (ii) the failure of CONE to have the consents, licenses and permits necessary for the pipelines included in the Partnership’s assets to cross the areas underlying such pipelines;

 

    liabilities relating to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Partnership’s Contribution Agreement or the assets contributed to the Partnership that arise out of the ownership or operation of the assets prior to the closing of the Offering;

 

    liabilities relating to events and conditions associated with any assets retained by CONE;

 

    all tax liabilities attributable to the assets contributed to the Partnership arising prior to the closing of the Offering or otherwise related to CONE’s contribution of those assets to the Partnership in connection with the Offering; and

 

    costs and expenses related to mine subsidence and/or the mitigation thereof.

Indemnification (other than with respect to mine subsidence and the mitigation therefor) will be limited to claims brought prior to the third anniversary of the closing of the Offering and will be subject to a deductible of $500,000 per claim before the Partnership is entitled to indemnification. Indemnification for mine subsidence and the mitigation therefor will be limited to claims


brought prior to the fourth anniversary of the closing of the Offering and will not be subject to a deductible. There is no limit on the amount for which CONE will indemnify the Partnership under the Omnibus Agreement once the Partnership meets the deductible (if applicable).

The Partnership will indemnify CONE for liabilities associated with its ownership of Operating Company. Each of DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP and DevCo III LP will indemnify CONE for liabilities associated with the use, ownership or operation of such entity’s assets on or after the closing of the Offering. The obligation of each of the Partnership, DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP and DevCo III LP to indemnify CONE for any liabilities will be subject to a deductible of $500,000 per claim before CONE is entitled to indemnification. There is no limit on the amount for which the Partnership, DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP and DevCo III LP will indemnify CONE under the Omnibus Agreement once CONE meets the deductible (if applicable).

The foregoing description of the Omnibus Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Omnibus Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

Operational Services Agreement

On September 30, 2014, in connection with the closing of the Offering, the Partnership entered into an Operational Services Agreement (the “ Operational Services Agreement ”) by and between the Partnership and CNX Gas Company LLC (“ CNX ”). Under the Operational Services Agreement, CNX will provide certain operational services to the Partnership and its subsidiaries in support of the Partnership’s and its subsidiaries’ business, including (i) routine and emergency maintenance and repair services with respect to the Partnership’s midstream assets, (ii) subject to certain limitations, the management of acquisitions by, and the operations of, the Partnership and its subsidiaries and (iii) such other services that the Partnership and CNX may mutually agree upon from time to time. CNX will prepare and submit for the Partnership’s approval an annual operating and capital budget for each of DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP and DevCo III LP. CNX will submit actual expenditures for reimbursement on a monthly basis, and the Partnership will reimburse CNX for any direct third-party costs actually incurred by CNX in providing these services.

The Operational Services Agreement commenced on September 30, 2014 and will remain in full force and effect thereafter unless terminated by either party. CNX may terminate the Operational Services Agreement at any time upon 180 days prior notice or immediately if the Partnership becomes insolvent, declares bankruptcy or takes any action in furtherance of, or indicated the Partnership’s consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, a similar proceeding . The Partnership may terminate the Operational Services Agreement at any time following the 20th anniversary of September 30, 2014 upon 180 days prior notice or immediately (i) if CNX becomes insolvent, declares bankruptcy or takes any action in furtherance of, or indicated CNX’s consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, a similar proceeding, (ii) upon a finding of CNX’s willful misconduct or gross negligence that has had a material adverse effect on the Partnership’s business and/or (iii) certain material breaches by CNX of its covenants in the Operational Services Agreement.

Under the Operational Services Agreement, CNX will indemnify the Partnership from any claims, losses or liabilities incurred by the Partnership, including third-party claims, arising from CNX’s performance of the agreement to the extent caused by CNX’s gross negligence or willful misconduct up to a specified amount. The Partnership will indemnify CNX from any claims, losses or liabilities incurred by CNX, including any third-party claims, arising from CNX’s performance of the agreement, except to the extent such claims, losses or liabilities are caused by CNX ’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

The foregoing description of the Operational Services Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Operational Services Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

CNX Gas Gathering Agreement

On September 30, 2014, in connection with the closing of the Offering, the Partnership entered into a Gathering Agreement (the “ CNX Gas Gathering Agreement ”) by and between the Partnership, as gatherer, and CNX, as shipper. Under the CNX Gas Gathering Agreement, CNX (i) dedicated to the Partnership for natural gas midstream services all of its existing acres and any acres acquired in the future, in each case, that are jointly owned with Noble to the extent covering the Marcellus Shale in the dedication area and (ii) granted the Partnership a right of first offer to provide natural gas midstream services with respect to all of its existing acres and any acres acquired in the future, in each case, that are jointly owned with Noble to the extent covering the Marcellus Shale in the right of first offer area.


The CNX Gas Gathering Agreement commenced on September 30, 2014 and has an initial term of 20 years. Under the CNX Gas Gathering Agreement, if the Partnership fails to timely complete the construction of the facilities necessary to provide midstream services to CNX’s dedicated acreage or has an uncured default of any of the Partnership’s material obligations that has caused an interruption in the Partnership’s services for more than 90 days, the affected acreage will be permanently released from the Partnership’s dedication. Also, after the fifth anniversary of the CNX Gas Gathering Agreement, if CNX drills a well that is located more than a certain distance from the Partnership’s current gathering system (and not included in the detailed drilling plan provided by CNX and Noble) and a third-party gatherer offers a lower cost of services, then the acreage associated with such well will be permanently released from the Partnership’s dedication.

Under the CNX Gas Gathering Agreement, the Partnership charges a fee based on the type and scope of midstream services provided. For the services provided (a) with respect to natural gas that does not require downstream processing, the Partnership receives a fee of $0.40 per MMBtu, (b) with respect to the natural gas that requires downstream processing, the Partnership receives a fee of $0.55 per MMBtu, except in the Moundsville area (Marshall County, West Virginia), where the fee is $0.275 per MMBtu and in the Pittsburgh International Airport area where the fee is $0.275 per MMBtu and (c) with respect to condensate, the Partnership receives a fee of $5.00 per Bbl in the Majorsville area and $2.50 per Bbl in the Moundsville area.

The foregoing description of the CNX Gas Gathering Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the CNX Gas Gathering Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

Noble Gas Gathering Agreement

On September 30, 2014, in connection with the closing of the Offering, the Partnership entered into a Gathering Agreement (the “ Noble Gas Gathering Agreement ”) by and between the Partnership, as gatherer, and Noble, as shipper. Under the Noble Gas Gathering Agreement, Noble (i) dedicated to the Partnership for natural gas midstream services all of its existing acres and any acres acquired in the future, in each case, that are jointly owned with CNX to the extent covering the Marcellus Shale in the dedication area and (ii) granted the Partnership a right of first offer to provide natural gas midstream services with respect to all of its existing acres and any acres acquired in the future, in each case, that are jointly owned with CNX to the extent covering the Marcellus Shale in the right of first offer area.

The Noble Gas Gathering Agreement commenced on September 30, 2014 and has an initial term of 20 years. Under the Noble Gas Gathering Agreement, if the Partnership fails to timely complete the construction of the facilities necessary to provide midstream services to Noble’s dedicated acreage or has an uncured default of any of the Partnership’s material obligations that has caused an interruption in the Partnership’s services for more than 90 days, the affected acreage will be permanently released from the Partnership’s dedication. Also, after the fifth anniversary of the Noble Gas Gathering Agreement, if Noble drills a well that is located more than a certain distance from the Partnership’s current gathering system (and not included in the detailed drilling plan provided by CNX and Noble) and a third-party gatherer offers a lower cost of services, then the acreage associated with such well will be permanently released from the Partnership’s dedication.

Under the Noble Gas Gathering Agreement, the Partnership charges a fee based on the type and scope of midstream services provided. For the services provided (a) with respect to natural gas that does not require downstream processing, the Partnership receives a fee of $0.40 per MMBtu, (b) with respect to the natural gas that requires downstream processing, the Partnership receives a fee of $0.55 per MMBtu, except in the Moundsville area (Marshall County, West Virginia), where the fee is $0.275 per MMBtu and in the Pittsburgh International Airport area where the fee is $0.275 per MMBtu and (c) with respect to condensate, the Partnership receives a fee of $5.00 per Bbl in the Majorsville area and $2.50 per Bbl in the Moundsville area.

The foregoing description of the Noble Gas Gathering Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Noble Gas Gathering Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.


Employee Secondment Agreement

In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Offering, the Partnership entered into an Employee Secondment Agreement (the “ Employee Secondment Agreement ”) with Noble, pursuant to which an employee of Noble will be seconded to the Partnership to provide investor relations and similar services. The Partnership will reimburse Noble, on a monthly basis, for allocable salary, benefits, insurance, payroll taxes and other employment expenses related to the seconded employee.

The foregoing description of the Employee Secondment Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Employee Secondment Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.6 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

CONE Midstream Partners LP 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan

The description of the LTIP (as defined below) provided under Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference. A copy of the LTIP is filed as Exhibit 10.7 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Relationships

Each of the General Partner, the Partnership, Operating Company, CONE Midstream DevCo I GP LLC, CONE Midstream DevCo II GP LLC, CONE Midstream DevCo III GP LLC, DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP and DevCO III LP is a direct or indirect subsidiary, as applicable, of CONE, which is owned 50% by CONSOL and 50% by Noble. As a result, certain individuals, including directors of the General Partner, serve as officers and/or directors of CONSOL or Noble. The General Partner, as the general partner of the Partnership, owns a 2% general partner interest in the Partnership and all of the Partnership’s incentive distribution rights. CONSOL owns 4,519,060 Common Units and 14,581,561 subordinated units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (“ Subordinated Units ”), which represents an approximate 32.1% aggregate limited partner interest in the Partnership, and Noble owns 4,519,061 Common Units and 14,581,560 Subordinated Units, which represents an approximate 32.1% aggregate limited partner interest in the Partnership.

 

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

On September 30, 2014, in connection with the closing of the Offering, the Partnership entered into a Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement (the “ Contribution Agreement ”) with CONSOL, Noble, CONE, the General Partner and the Operating Company. Immediately prior to the closing of the Offering, CONE contributed to the Partnership all of its interest in the Operating Company as consideration for 9,038,121 Common Units and 29,163,121 Subordinated Units, which CONE subsequently distributed equally to CONSOL and Noble. These transactions, among others, were made in a series of steps outlined in the Contribution Agreement.

The foregoing description of the Contribution Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Contribution Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 2.01 by reference.

 

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

As described in the Prospectus, on September 30, 2014, the Partnership, as borrower, and certain subsidiaries of the Partnership, as guarantors, entered into a credit agreement for a $250.0 million revolving credit facility (the “ Revolving Credit Facility ”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, and other lender parties thereto. The Revolving Credit Facility will be available for working capital, capital expenditures, certain acquisitions, distributions, unit repurchase and other lawful partnership purposes.

The Revolving Credit Facility contains certain covenants and conditions that, among other things, limit the Partnership’s ability to incur or guarantee additional debt, make cash distributions (though there is an exception for distributions permitted under the Partnership Agreement, subject to certain customary conditions), incur certain liens or permit them to exist, make certain investments and acquisitions, enter into certain types of transactions with affiliates, merge or consolidate with another company, and transfer, sell


or otherwise dispose of assets. The Partnership will also be subject to covenants that require the Partnership to maintain certain financial ratios. For example, the Partnership may not permit the ratio of (1) consolidated total funded debt as of the last day of each fiscal quarter to (ii) consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter to exceed (A) at any time other than during a qualified acquisition period, 5.00 to 1.00 and (B) during a qualified acquisition period, 5.50 to 1.00. In addition, the Partnership may not permit the ratio of (i) consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of each fiscal quarter to (ii) consolidated interest expense for such four consecutive fiscal quarters to be less than 3.00 to 1.00.

The foregoing description of the Revolving Credit Facility is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Revolving Credit Facility, which is filed as Exhibit 10.8 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The description in Item 2.01 above of the issuance of Common Units and Subordinated Units by the Partnership to CONE on September 30, 2014 in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement is incorporated into this Item 3.02 by reference. The foregoing transaction was undertaken in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act afforded by Section 4(a)(2) thereof. The Partnership believes that exemptions other than the foregoing exemption may exist for this transaction.

 

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

CONE Midstream Partners LP 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan

In connection with the Offering, the board of directors of the General Partner adopted the CONE Midstream Partners LP 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “ LTIP ”). The LTIP provides for the grant, from time to time at the discretion of the board of directors of the general partner or any committee thereof that may be established for such purpose or by any delegate of the board of directors or such committee, subject to applicable law (the “ plan administrator ”), of unit awards, restricted units, phantom units, unit options, unit appreciation rights, distribution equivalent rights, profits interest units and other unit-based awards. The purpose of awards under the LTIP is to provide additional incentive compensation to individuals providing services to the Partnership, and to align the economic interests of such individuals with the interests of unitholders of the Partnership. The LTIP will limit the number of units that may be delivered pursuant to vested awards to 5,800,000 Common Units, subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of unit splits and similar events. Common Units subject to awards that are cancelled, forfeited, withheld to satisfy exercise prices or tax withholding obligations or otherwise terminated without delivery of Common Units will be available for delivery pursuant to other awards.

The plan administrator of the LTIP, at its discretion, may terminate the LTIP at any time with respect to the Common Units for which a grant has not previously been made. The plan administrator of the LTIP also has the right to alter or amend the LTIP or any part of it from time to time or to amend any outstanding award made under the LTIP, provided that no change in any outstanding award may be made that would materially impair the vested rights of the participant without the consent of the affected participant or result in taxation to the participant under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

The foregoing description of the LTIP is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the LTIP, which is filed as Exhibit 10.7 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

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

First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CONE Midstream Partners LP

On September 30, 2014, in connection with the closing of the Offering, the General Partner and CONE, as organizational limited partner, amended and restated the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership and entered into the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (as amended and restated, the “ Partnership Agreement ”). A description of the Partnership Agreement is contained in the Prospectus in the section entitled “The Partnership Agreement,” “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions” and “Provisions of our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions” and is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference.


The foregoing description of the Partnership Agreement and the description of the Partnership Agreement contained in the Prospectus are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Partnership Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  3.1    First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CONE Midstream Partners LP, dated as of September 30, 2014
10.1    Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2014, by and among CONE Midstream Partners LP, CONE Midstream GP LLC, CONSOL Energy Inc., Noble Energy, Inc., CONE Gathering LLC and CONE Midstream Operating Company LLC
10.2    Omnibus Agreement, dated September 30, 2014, by and among CONE Midstream Partners LP, CONE Midstream GP LLC, CONSOL Energy Inc., Noble Energy, Inc., CONE Gathering LLC, CONE Midstream Operating Company LLC, CONE Midstream DevCo I LP, CONE Midstream DevCo II LP and CONE Midstream DevCo III LP
10.3    Operational Services Agreement, dated September 30, 2014, by and between CONE Midstream Partners LP and CNX Gas Company LLC
10.4    Gas Gathering Agreement, dated September 30, 2014, by and between CNX Gas Company LLC and CONE Midstream Partners LP
10.5    Gas Gathering Agreement, dated September 30, 2014, by and between Noble Energy, Inc. and CONE Midstream Partners LP
10.6    Employee Secondment Agreement, dated effective September 8, 2014, by and between CONE Midstream Partners LP and Noble Energy, Inc.
10.7*    CONE Midstream Partners LP 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10.8    Credit Agreement, dated September 30, 2014, by and among CONE Midstream Partners LP, as Borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Borrower as Guarantors, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, and other lender parties thereto

 

* Compensatory plan or arrangement


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.

 

    CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
    By: CONE Midstream GP LLC, its general partner
Dated: October 3, 2014     By:  

/s/ Kirk A. Moore

      Kirk A. Moore
      General Counsel and Secretary


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  3.1    First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CONE Midstream Partners LP, dated as of September 30, 2014
10.1    Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2014, by and among CONE Midstream Partners LP, CONE Midstream GP LLC, CONSOL Energy Inc., Noble Energy, Inc., CONE Gathering LLC and CONE Midstream Operating Company LLC
10.2    Omnibus Agreement, dated September 30, 2014, by and among CONE Midstream Partners LP, CONE Midstream GP LLC, CONSOL Energy Inc., Noble Energy, Inc., CONE Gathering LLC, CONE Midstream Operating Company LLC, CONE Midstream DevCo I LP, CONE Midstream DevCo II LP and CONE Midstream DevCo III LP
10.3    Operational Services Agreement, dated September 30, 2014, by and between CONE Midstream Partners LP and CNX Gas Company LLC
10.4    Gas Gathering Agreement, dated September 30, 2014, by and between CNX Gas Company LLC and CONE Midstream Partners LP
10.5    Gas Gathering Agreement, dated September 30, 2014, by and between Noble Energy, Inc. and CONE Midstream Partners LP
10.6    Employee Secondment Agreement, dated effective September 8, 2014, by and between CONE Midstream Partners LP and Noble Energy, Inc.
10.7*    CONE Midstream Partners LP 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10.8    Credit Agreement, dated September 30, 2014, by and among CONE Midstream Partners LP, as Borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Borrower as Guarantors, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, and other lender parties thereto

 

* Compensatory plan or arrangement

Exhibit 3.1

Execution Version

FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

A Delaware Limited Partnership

Dated as of

September 30, 2014


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

            Page  

Article I DEFINITIONS

     1   

Section 1.1

    

Definitions

     1   

Section 1.2

    

Construction

     26   

Article II ORGANIZATION

     26   

Section 2.1

    

Formation

     26   

Section 2.2

    

Name

     26   

Section 2.3

    

Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices

     27   

Section 2.4

    

Purpose and Business

     27   

Section 2.5

    

Powers

     27   

Section 2.6

    

Term

     27   

Section 2.7

    

Title to Partnership Assets

     28   

Article III RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

     28   

Section 3.1

    

Limitation of Liability

     28   

Section 3.2

    

Management of Business

     28   

Section 3.3

    

Rights of Limited Partners

     29   

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

     30   

Section 4.1

    

Certificates

     30   

Section 4.2

    

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates

     30   

Section 4.3

    

Record Holders

     31   

Section 4.4

    

Transfer Generally

     32   

Section 4.5

    

Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests

     32   

Section 4.6

    

Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest

     33   


Section 4.7

    

Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights

     34   

Section 4.8

    

Restrictions on Transfers

     34   

Section 4.9

    

Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders

     36   

Article V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

     37   

Section 5.1

    

Organizational Contributions

     37   

Section 5.2

    

Contributions by the General Partner

     38   

Section 5.3

    

Contributions by Limited Partners

     38   

Section 5.4

    

Interest and Withdrawal

     39   

Section 5.5

    

Capital Accounts

     39   

Section 5.6

    

Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests

     44   

Section 5.7

    

Conversion of Subordinated Units

     45   

Section 5.8

    

Limited Preemptive Right

     45   

Section 5.9

    

Splits and Combinations

     45   

Section 5.10

    

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests

     46   

Section 5.11

    

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

     46   

Article VI ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

     48   

Section 6.1

    

Allocations for Capital Account Purposes

     48   

Section 6.2

    

Allocations for Tax Purposes

     59   

Section 6.3

    

Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders

     61   

Section 6.4

    

Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus

     61   

Section 6.5

    

Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus

     63   

Section 6.6

    

Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels

     64   

 

ii


Section 6.7

    

Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units

     64   

Section 6.8

    

Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights

     65   

Section 6.9

    

Entity-Level Taxation

     66   

Article VII MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

     66   

Section 7.1

    

Management

     66   

Section 7.2

    

Certificate of Limited Partnership

     69   

Section 7.3

    

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

     69   

Section 7.4

    

Reimbursement of and Other Payments to the General Partner

     69   

Section 7.5

    

Outside Activities

     70   

Section 7.6

    

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

     72   

Section 7.7

    

Indemnification

     72   

Section 7.8

    

Liability of Indemnitees

     74   

Section 7.9

    

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

     75   

Section 7.10

    

Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and Other Indemnitees

     78   

Section 7.11

    

Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests

     78   

Section 7.12

    

Registration Rights of the General Partner and Its Affiliates

     78   

Section 7.13

    

Reliance by Third Parties

     83   

Section 7.14

    

Replacement of Fiduciary Duties

     83   

Article VIII BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

     84   

Section 8.1

    

Records and Accounting

     84   

Section 8.2

    

Fiscal Year

     84   

Section 8.3

    

Reports

     84   

 

iii


Article IX TAX MATTERS

     85   

Section 9.1

    

Tax Returns and Information

     85   

Section 9.2

    

Tax Elections

     85   

Section 9.3

    

Tax Controversies

     85   

Section 9.4

    

Withholding

     86   

Article X ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

     86   

Section 10.1

    

Admission of Limited Partners

     86   

Section 10.2

    

Admission of Successor General Partner

     87   

Section 10.3

    

Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

     87   

Article XI WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

     87   

Section 11.1

    

Withdrawal of the General Partner

     87   

Section 11.2

    

Removal of the General Partner

     89   

Section 11.3

    

Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner

     90   

Section 11.4

    

Withdrawal of Limited Partners

     91   

Article XII DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

     91   

Section 12.1

    

Dissolution

     91   

Section 12.2

    

Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution

     92   

Section 12.3

    

Liquidator

     93   

Section 12.4

    

Liquidation

     93   

Section 12.5

    

Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

     94   

Section 12.6

    

Return of Contributions

     94   

Section 12.7

    

Waiver of Partition

     94   

Section 12.8

    

Capital Account Restoration

     94   

Article XIII AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

     94   

 

iv


Section 13.1

    

Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner

     94   

Section 13.2

    

Amendment Procedures

     96   

Section 13.3

    

Amendment Requirements

     96   

Section 13.4

    

Special Meetings

     97   

Section 13.5

    

Notice of a Meeting

     98   

Section 13.6

    

Record Date

     98   

Section 13.7

    

Postponement and Adjournment

     98   

Section 13.8

    

Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting

     99   

Section 13.9

    

Quorum and Voting

     99   

Section 13.10

    

Conduct of a Meeting

     99   

Section 13.11

    

Action Without a Meeting

     100   

Section 13.12

    

Right to Vote and Related Matters

     100   

Article XIV MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

     101   

Section 14.1

    

Authority

     101   

Section 14.2

    

Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion

     101   

Section 14.3

    

Approval by Limited Partners

     103   

Section 14.4

    

Certificate of Merger or Certificate of Conversion

     105   

Section 14.5

    

Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion

     105   

Article XV RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

     106   

Section 15.1

    

Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests

     106   

Article XVI GENERAL PROVISIONS

     107   

Section 16.1

    

Addresses and Notices; Written Communications

     107   

Section 16.2

    

Further Action

     108   

Section 16.3

    

Binding Effect

     108   

Section 16.4

    

Integration

     108   

 

v


Section 16.5

    

Creditors

     108   

Section 16.6

    

Waiver

     109   

Section 16.7

    

Third-Party Beneficiaries

     109   

Section 16.8

    

Counterparts

     109   

Section 16.9

    

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

     109   

Section 16.10

    

Invalidity of Provisions

     110   

Section 16.11

    

Consent of Partners

     110   

Section 16.12

    

Facsimile and Email Signatures

     110   

 

vi


FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

THIS FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP, dated as of September 30, 2014, is entered into by and between CONE MIDSTREAM GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, and CONE GATHERING LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the Organizational Limited Partner, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein. In consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

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

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, operating income or revenue of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity, operating income or revenue of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction. For purposes of this definition, “long term” generally refers to a period of time greater than twelve months.

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

(a) Any negative adjustment made to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property as a result of either a Book-Down Event or a Book-Up Event shall first be deemed to offset or decrease that portion of the Carrying Value of such Adjusted Property that is attributable to any prior positive adjustments made thereto pursuant to a Book-Up Event or Book-Down Event; 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; provided that the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to the determination of the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items attributable to Disposed of Adjusted Property.

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

Adjusted 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 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.”

 

2


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

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

Aggregate 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 to the context in which the term “Agreed Allocation” is used).

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

Agreement ” means this First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CONE Midstream Partners LP, 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, 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.

 

3


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

(a) the sum of:

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

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

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

(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; 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.

 

4


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

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

Book-Tax Disparity ” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for 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 a Revaluation Event that gives rise to a Net Termination Gain.

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

Capital Account ” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 . The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of 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, operating income or revenue of the Partnership Group, in the case of clause (a) and clause (b) , or such Person, in the case of clause (c) , from the operating capacity, operating income or revenue 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 time greater than twelve months.

 

5


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

Carrying Value ” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property or an Adjusted Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in respect of such property and (b) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination; provided, however , that the Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 5.5(d) 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 certificate, in such form (including in global form if permitted by applicable rules and regulations of The Depository Trust Company or its successors and assigns) as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership and evidencing ownership of one or more classes of Partnership Interests. The initial form of certificate approved by the General Partner for Common Units is attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement.

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

Citizen Eligibility Trigger ” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.9(a) .

claim ” or “ claims ” (for purposes of Section 7.12(g) ) has the meaning given such term in Section 7.12(g) .

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 IPO Underwriting Agreement.

Closing Price ” for any day, with respect to Limited Partner Interests of a particular class, means 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 of such class 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 of such class 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 of such class selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General Partner.

 

6


CNX Gas ” means CNX Gas Company LLC, a Virginia limited liability company.

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 or commences commercial service by a Group Member following completion of construction, 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.

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) .

CONE Gathering ” means CONE Gathering LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

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

CONSOL ” means CONSOL Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation.

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.

 

7


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 September 30, 2014, by and among CONSOL, Noble, CONE Gathering, the General Partner, the Partnership 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.

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 with respect 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 ” means, as of any date for any class of Limited Partner Interests, 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.

Deferred Issuance ” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.3(c) .

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.

 

8


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.

DevCo I LP ” means CONE Midstream DevCo I LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

DevCo II LP ” means CONE Midstream DevCo II LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

DevCo III LP ” means CONE Midstream DevCo III LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

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

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

Eligibility Certificate ” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.9(b) .

Eligible Holder ” means a Limited Partner whose, or whose owners’ (a) U.S. federal income tax status or lack of proof of U.S. federal income tax status does not have and is not reasonably likely to have, as determined by the General Partner, the material adverse effect described in Section 4.9(a)(i) or (b) nationality, citizenship or other related status does not create and is not reasonably likely to create, as determined by the General Partner, a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture as described in Section 4.9(a)(ii) .

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

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

Event of 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) .

 

9


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.

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

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

First Target Distribution ” means $0.24438 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2014, it means the product of $0.24438 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in such period and the denominator of which is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11 , Section 6.6 and Section 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 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.

 

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General Partner ” means CONE Midstream 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 equity 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) 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. For purposes of determining the Percentage Interest attributable to the General Partner at any point in time, the General Partner Interest shall be deemed to be represented by a specific number of hypothetical limited partner units, and the Percentage Interest attributable to the General Partner Interest shall equal the ratio of the number of such hypothetical limited partner units to the sum of the total number of Units and the number of hypothetical limited partner units. After giving effect to the Initial Public Offering, including any exercise of the Over-Allotment Option and the Deferred Issuance, the Percentage Interest attributable to the General Partner Interest shall be 2%, which for the purposes of this definition equates to 1,190,331 hypothetical limited partner units. In connection with the issuance of additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership as described in Section 5.2(b) , (i) if the General Partner makes additional Capital Contributions as contemplated by Section 5.2(b) , the number of hypothetical limited partner units represented by the General Partner Interest shall be increased as necessary to maintain the Percentage Interest attributable to the General Partner Interest at the level it was immediately prior to such issuance and (ii) if the General Partner does not make additional Capital Contributions as contemplated by Section 5.2(b) , the number of hypothetical limited partner units represented by the General Partner Interest shall stay the same, which shall result in a reduction of the Percentage Interest attributable to the General Partner Interest.

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 have, or 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.

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

 

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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 who has been the General Partner within the prior two years and who is the Record Holder of Registrable Securities;

(d) any Person who 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 be bound by the terms of this Agreement and provides its name and address to the Partnership promptly upon such transfer.

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 Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights in this Agreement (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) .

 

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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, 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, 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 ” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.9(c) .

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

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

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

 

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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; and (d) capital contributions received by a Group Member.

IPO Prospectus ” means the final prospectus relating to the Initial Public Offering dated September 24, 2014 and filed by the Partnership with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act on September 25, 2014.

IPO Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-198352), 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 Exhibit A to the IPO Underwriting Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.

IPO Underwriting Agreement ” means that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of September 24, 2014 among the IPO Underwriters, CONE Gathering, the General Partner and the Partnership, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the IPO Underwriters.

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

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

Limited Partner Interest ” means an equity interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Subordinated 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.

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 (d)  of the third sentence of Section 12.1 , the date on which the applicable time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election being made and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.

Liquidator ” means one or more Persons selected pursuant to Section 12.3 to perform the functions described in Section 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware Act.

 

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Maintenance Capital Expenditure ” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the construction of new capital assets or the replacement, improvement or expansion of existing capital assets) by a Group Member made to maintain, over the long term, the operating capacity, operating income or revenue of the Partnership Group. For purposes of this definition, “long term” generally refers to a period of time greater than twelve months.

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

Minimum Quarterly Distribution ” means $0.2125 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2014, it means the product of $0.2125 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in such period and the denominator of which is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11 , Section 6.6 and Section 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 asset reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property or other asset 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 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, however , 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, however , that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii) .

 

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

Net Termination Gain ” means, for any taxable period, (a) the sum, if positive, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) ) that are 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) the excess, if any, of the aggregate amount of Unrealized Gain over the aggregate amount of Unrealized Loss deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(d) on the date of a Revaluation Event; provided, however, that the items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) .

Net Termination Loss ” means, for any taxable period, (a) the sum, if negative, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) ) that are 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) the excess, if any, of the aggregate amount of Unrealized Loss over the aggregate amount of Unrealized Gain deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(d) on the date of a Revaluation Event; provided, however, that the 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) .

Noble ” means Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

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

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

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

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

Notice ” means a written request from a Holder pursuant to Section 7.12 which shall (a) specify the Registrable Securities intended to be registered, offered and sold by such Holder,

 

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(b) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Registrable Securities and (c) 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) .

Omnibus Agreement ” means that certain Omnibus Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2014, among CONSOL, Noble, CONE Gathering, the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Company, DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP and DevCo III LP, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

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

Operational Services Agreement ” means that certain Operational Services Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2014, among the Partnership and CNX Gas, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Operating Expenditures ” means all Partnership Group cash expenditures (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned), including taxes, compensation of employees, officers and directors of the General Partner, reimbursement of expenses of the General Partner and its Affiliates, debt service payments, Maintenance Capital Expenditures, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings and payments made in the ordinary course of business under any Hedge Contracts, 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;

(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; and

(d) (i) amounts paid in connection with the initial purchase of a Hedge Contract shall be amortized over the life of such Hedge Contract and (ii) payments made in

 

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connection with the termination of any Hedge Contract prior to the expiration of its scheduled settlement or termination date shall be included in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such Hedge Contract.

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) $50.0 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), (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 from Operating Surplus 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 respect to such period shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within such period if the General Partner so determines.

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

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner 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 CONE Gathering in its capacity as the organizational limited partner of the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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Outstanding ” means, with respect to Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding in the Partnership Register 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, 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 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 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.

Over-Allotment Option ” means the option to purchase additional Common Units granted to the IPO Underwriters by the Partnership pursuant to the IPO 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 CONE Midstream Partners LP, 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 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).

 

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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, the Percentage Interest attributable to the General Partner as determined pursuant to the definition of “General Partner Interest” above, (b) as to any Unitholder with respect to Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the Percentage Interest attributable to the General Partner Interest and the percentage applicable to clause (c) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Units held by such Unitholder by (B) the total number of Outstanding Units, and (c) as to the holders of other Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.6 , the percentage calculated in accordance with the method 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, estate, 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 Section 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 .

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 Eligibility Trigger ” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.9(a) .

 

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

Record Date ” means the date established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to receive notice of, or entitled to exercise rights in respect of, any lawful action of Limited Partners (including voting) or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.

Record Holder ” means (a) with respect to any class of Partnership Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Person in whose name a Partnership Interest of such class is registered in the records of the Transfer Agent and in the Partnership Register 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 in the Partnership Register 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 Limited Partner Interests subject to redemption pursuant to amendments adopted by the General Partner pursuant to Section 4.9 .

Registrable Security ” means any Partnership Interest other than the General Partner Interest; provided, however , 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 may be 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) of this Agreement.

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

 

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excess of (i) the Net Positive Adjustments of the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period over (ii) the sum of the Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights for each prior taxable period.

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

Reset 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) .

Revaluation Event ” means an event that results in adjustment of the Carrying Value of each Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.5(d) .

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

Second Target Distribution ” means $0.26563 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2014, it means the product of $0.26563 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days in such period and the denominator of which is 92), 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 of this Agreement.

Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means in connection with any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period, (a) with respect to the Unitholders holding Common 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, (b) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Interest), the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the General Partner’s Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such taxable period bear to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment as of that time and (c) 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.

 

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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 expiring 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 September 30, 2017 in respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, the General Partner Interest 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 and Subordinated Units, the General Partner Interest 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 date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units, the General Partner Interest 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 September 30, 2015 in respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, the General Partner Interest 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 and Subordinated Units, the General Partner Interest 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, the General Partner Interest 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.

 

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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 general partner interests of such partnership 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) .

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

Tax Matters Partner ” has the meaning given such term in Section 9.3 .

Third Target Distribution ” means $0.31875 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2014, it means the product of $0.31875 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days in such period and the denominator of which is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11 , Section 6.6 and Section 6.9 .

Trading Day ” means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which the referenced Partnership Interests of any class are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such Partnership Interests are not listed or admitted to 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 or admitted to trading (if any); provided, however , 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.

 

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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 and Subordinated Units but shall not include (i) hypothetical limited partner units representing the General Partner Interest or (ii) Incentive Distribution Rights.

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

 

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

 

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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 1000 CONSOL Energy Drive, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 1000 CONSOL Energy Drive, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.

Section 2.4 Purpose and Business . The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a) engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner 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 in furtherance of 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 until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII . The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.

 

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Section 2.7 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 Affiliates of the General Partner 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 Affiliates of the General Partner 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 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.

 

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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 or Form 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 (or any successor rule or regulation 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) to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner; and

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

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the rights to information granted 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 Limited 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 any rights as Limited Partners, interest holders or otherwise 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 Limited 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.

 

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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, if any, shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or any Executive Vice President, 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(f) . 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 or she were such officer at the date of 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 (a) 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 (b) 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.

 

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(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 Limited Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and

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

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

 

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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 hand, 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 Limited 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 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 a 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 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 the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are duly endorsed and surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided, however , 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

 

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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 by the General Partner of a duly endorsed certificate or, in the case of uncertificated Limited Partner Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Transfer Agent of proper transfer instructions from the Record Holder of uncertificated Limited Partner Interests, such transfer shall be recorded in the Partnership Register.

(d) 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, 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.

(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 September 30, 2024, the General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units 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.

 

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(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after September 30, 2024, the General Partner may transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest without the approval of any Limited Partner or any other 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 Limited Partner or any other Person.

Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers .

(a) Except as provided in Section 4.8(e) , 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 ,

 

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however , that any amendment that would result in the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then listed or admitted to trading must be approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of such class.

(c) The transfer of an IDR Reset Common Unit that was issued in connection with an IDR Reset Election pursuant to Section 5.11 shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.8(b) and Section 6.8(c) .

(d) The transfer of a Subordinated Unit or a Common Unit resulting from the conversion of a Subordinated Unit shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(b) and Section 6.7(c) .

(e) 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.

(f) 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 CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP 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 CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR (C) CAUSE CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). THE GENERAL PARTNER OF CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO (A) AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP 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 (B) PRESERVE THE UNIFORMITY OF THE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS IN CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP (OR ANY CLASS OR CLASSES THEREOF). 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

 

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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.

Section 4.9 Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders .

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

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

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

then, the General Partner, without the approval of any Limited Partner, may adopt such amendments to this Agreement as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to (A) in the case of a Rate Eligibility Trigger, obtain such proof of the U.S. federal income tax status of such Limited Partners and, to the extent relevant, their owners, as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reduce the risk of occurrence of a material adverse effect on the rates that can be charged to customers by any Group Member or (B) in the case of a Citizenship Eligibility Trigger, obtain such proof of the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such Limited Partners and, to the extent relevant, their owners, as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to eliminate or mitigate the risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any properties or interests therein.

(b) Amendments adopted pursuant to this Section 4.9 may include provisions requiring all Limited Partners to certify as to their (and their owners’) status as Eligible Holders upon demand and on a regular basis, as determined by the General Partner, and may require transferees of Units to so certify prior to being admitted to the Partnership as Limited Partners (any such required certificate, an “ Eligibility Certificate ”).

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

 

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(d) If the General Partner adopts amendments pursuant to this Section 4.9 providing for the redemption of Limited Partner Interests, 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.

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

(f) 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 Interests (representing the right to receive its share of such distribution in kind).

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

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 $140.00 for a 2% General Partner Interest in the Partnership and was 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 $6,860.00 for a 98% Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership and was admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership. As of the Closing Date, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, the interest of the

 

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Organizational Limited Partner shall be partially redeemed in exchange for the return of the initial Capital Contribution of the Organizational Limited Partner, and 98% of any 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, and the balance thereof shall be allocated and distributed to the General 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 .

(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, the General Partner is contributing to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, the 2% OpCo Interest (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) in exchange for (i) a continuation of its 2% General Partner Interest (after giving effect to any exercise of the Over-Allotment Option and the Deferred Issuance), subject to all of the rights, privileges and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and (ii) the Incentive Distribution Rights.

(b) Upon the issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership (other than (i) the Common Units issued pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, (ii) the Common Units and Subordinated Units issued pursuant to Section 5.3(a) (including any Common Units issued pursuant to the Deferred Issuance), (iii) any Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11 , (iv) any Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.3(c) and (v) 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.

Section 5.3 Contributions by Limited Partners .

(a) On the Closing Date, pursuant to and as described in the Contribution Agreement, CONE Gathering contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, the 98% OpCo Interest (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) in exchange for (i) 9,038,121 Common Units, (ii) 29,163,121 Subordinated Units and (iii) the right to receive a cash distribution from the Partnership as set forth in the Contribution Agreement.

(b) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the IPO 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 IPO Underwriting Agreement.

 

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(c) Upon each exercise, if any, of the Over-Allotment Option, each IPO Underwriter shall contribute cash to the Partnership on the applicable Option Closing Date in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to each IPO Underwriter, all as set forth in the IPO Underwriting Agreement. Any Common Units subject to the Over-Allotment Option that are not purchased by the IPO Underwriters pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option, if any (the “ Deferred Issuance ”), will be issued to CONE Gathering at the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option period for no additional consideration, all as set forth in the IPO Underwriting Agreement.

(d) Except for the Capital Contributions made or to be made pursuant to Section 5.3(a) through Section 5.3(c) and for Capital Contributions required to be made by or on behalf of a Person acquiring Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests in connection with future issuances in accordance with Section 5.6 , 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 Interest 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 hypothetical limited partner units set forth in the definition of “General Partner Interest” and the Initial Unit Price for each Common Unit (and the initial Capital Account balance attributable to each hypothetical limited partner unit representing the General Partner Interest 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 CONE Gathering pursuant to Section 5.3(a) and, to the extent applicable, Section 5.3(c) shall equal the respective Net Agreed Value of the Capital Contributions specified in Section 5.3(a) or Section 5.3(c) , as applicable, which shall be deemed to equal the product of the number of Common Units and

 

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Subordinated Units issued to CONE Gathering pursuant to Section 5.3(a) or Section 5.3(c) , as applicable, 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(b) and, to the extent applicable, Section 5.3(c) 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 made with respect to such Partnership Interest and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1 .

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

(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 5.5 , the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement 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) The computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made, except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), 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 (including pursuant to Treasury Regulation

 

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

(iv) In the event the Carrying Value of Partnership property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d), any Unrealized Gain resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain, and any Unrealized Loss resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of loss.

(v) Any income, gain 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.

(vi) 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) .

(vii) 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.

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

(c) (i) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.5(c) , a transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so transferred.

(ii) Subject to Section 6.7(b) , immediately prior to the transfer of 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

 

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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.

(iii) Subject to Section 6.8(b) , immediately prior to the transfer of an IDR Reset Common Unit by a holder thereof (other than a transfer to an Affiliate unless the General Partner elects to have this subparagraph 5.5(c)(iii) apply), the Capital Account maintained for such Person with respect to its IDR Reset Common Units will (A) first, be allocated to the IDR Reset Common Units to be transferred in an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of such IDR Reset Common Units to be transferred and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit, and (B) second, any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the transferor, regardless of whether it has retained any IDR Reset Common Units. Following any such allocation, the transferor’s Capital Account, if any, maintained with respect to the retained IDR Reset Common Units, if any, will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (B)  hereinabove, and the transferee’s Capital Account established with respect to the transferred IDR Reset Common Units will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (A)  above.

(d) (i) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of a Noncompensatory Option, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11 , or the conversion of the 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 immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, and any such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be treated, for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, as if it had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property for an amount equal to its fair market value immediately prior to such issuance and had been allocated among the Partners at such time pursuant to Section 6.1(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 the issuance of a Partnership Interest pursuant to the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option where the right to share in Partnership capital represented by such Partnership Interest differs from the consideration paid to acquire and exercise such option, the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately after the issuance of such Partnership Interest shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with

 

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Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s); provided further, however , that in the event of an issuance of Partnership Interests for a de minimis amount of cash or Contributed Property, in the event of an issuance of a Noncompensatory Option to acquire a de minimis Partnership Interest, or in the event of an issuance of a de minimis amount of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the General Partner may determine that such adjustments are unnecessary for the proper administration of the Partnership. If, upon the occurrence of a Revaluation Event described in this Section 5.5(d) , a Noncompensatory Option of the Partnership is outstanding, the Partnership shall adjust the Carrying Value of each Partnership property in accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(1) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2). In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests (or, in the case of a Revaluation Event resulting from the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option, immediately after the issuance of the Partnership Interest acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Noncompensatory Option if required pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(1)) shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt. In making its determination of the fair market values of individual properties, the General Partner may first determine an aggregate value for the assets of the Partnership that takes into account the current trading price of the Common Units, the fair market value of all other Partnership Interests at such time, and the amount of Partnership Liabilities. The General Partner may allocate such aggregate value among the individual properties of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines appropriate). Absent a contrary determination by the General Partner, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership assets (including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a Revaluation Event shall be the value that would result in the Capital Account for each Common Unit that is Outstanding prior to such Revaluation Event being equal to the Event Issue Value.

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

 

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Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests .

(a) The Partnership may issue additional Partnership Interests 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 , including Common Units issued in connection with the Deferred Issuance, (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 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.

 

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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. Other than with respect to the issuance of Partnership Interests in connection with the Initial Public Offering, 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) 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 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 hypothetical limited partner units representing the General Partner Interest 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.

 

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(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 hypothetical limited partner units representing the General Partner Interest) 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 fractional hypothetical limited partner units representing the General Partner Interest) but for the provisions of Section 5.6(d) and this Section 5.9(e) , each fractional Unit (and hypothetical limited partner unit) shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (or hypothetical limited partner unit), with fractional Units (or hypothetical limited partner units) equal to or greater than a 0.5 Unit (or hypothetical limited partner unit) being rounded to the next higher Unit (or hypothetical limited 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(a), 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 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 in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights by (ii) the average of the cash distributions made by the Partnership in respect of each Common Unit for

 

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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 in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights, then the IDR Reset Election shall be subject to the prior written concurrence of the General Partner that the conditions described in the immediately preceding sentence have been satisfied. Upon the issuance of such IDR Reset Common Units, the Partnership will issue to the General Partner an additional General Partner Interest (represented by hypothetical limited 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 an additional General Partner Interest 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 Interest 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.

(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 30 th  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

 

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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, 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) .

ARTICLE VI

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes . For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) ) for each taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners as provided herein below.

(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) for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the Net Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable periods; and

(ii) The balance, if any, (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 General Partner’s Percentage Interest.

 

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

(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) for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the Net Termination Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(D) or Section 6.1(c)(iii)(C) 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

 

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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 referred to 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 into a Common 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(a)(iii)  with respect to such Subordinated Unit for such Quarter;

(D) Fourth, 100% 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 after the Closing Date or the date of the most recent IDR Reset Election, if any, over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(iv) and Section 6.4(b)(ii) for such period (the sum of subclauses (1) , (2) , (3)  and (4)  is hereinafter referred to 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 sum of (1) the First Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Second Target Distribution less the First Target Distribution for each Quarter after the Closing Date or the date of the most recent IDR Reset Election, if any, over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(v) and Section 6.4(b)(iii) for such period (the sum of subclauses (1)  and (2)  is hereinafter referred to 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

 

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Distribution less the Second Target Distribution for each Quarter after the Closing Date or the date of the most recent IDR Reset Election, if any, over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(vi) and Section 6.4(b)(iv) for such period; 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) .

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

(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 Adjusted 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 Adjusted 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.

 

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(iii) Net Termination Loss deemed recognized pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of Net Termination Loss as a result of a Revaluation Event prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit and prior to the Liquidation Date shall be allocated:

(A) First, to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding equals the Event Issue Value; 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);

(B) Second, (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; provided, however, that Net Termination Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B) 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

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

(iv) If (A) a Net Termination Loss has been allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(iii) , (B) a Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss subsequently occurs (other than as a result of a Revaluation Event) prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, and (C) after tentatively making all allocations of such Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss provided for in Section 6.1(c)(i) or Section 6.1(c)(ii) , as applicable, the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit does not equal the amount such Capital Account would have been if Section 6.1(c)(iii) had not been part of this Agreement and 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, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction included in such Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss, as applicable, shall be specially allocated to all Unitholders in a manner that will, to the maximum extent possible, cause the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit to equal the amount such Capital Account would have been if all 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.

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

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

 

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Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d) with respect to such taxable period (other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii) ). This Section 6.1(d)(i) is intended to comply with the Partnership Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(ii) Chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain . Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(d)(i) ), except as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, any Partner with a share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor 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) and other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) , 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 for a taxable period exceeds the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed with respect to another Unit within the same taxable period (the amount of the excess, an “ Excess Distribution ” and the Unit with respect to which the greater distribution is paid, an “ Excess Distribution Unit ”), then (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) , all or any portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for the taxable period, if any, shall be allocated (1) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated to the holders of Incentive Distribution

 

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Rights pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B) for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the cumulative amount of all Incentive Distributions made to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights from the Closing Date to a date 45 days after the end of the current taxable period; and (2) to the General Partner an amount equal to the product of (aa) an amount equal to the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.

(iv) Qualified Income Offset . In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership 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, however , 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 Allocation . In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, however , 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 satisfies such requirements.

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

 

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

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

(x) Economic Uniformity; 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 (1) the number of Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner and (2) 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

 

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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 (1) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and (2) 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 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 (1) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (2) make special allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss; and (3) 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

 

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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)  of the second sentence of this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent Required Allocations.

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

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

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

(B) If a sale or other taxable disposition of an Adjusted Property, including, for this purpose, inventory (“ Disposed of Adjusted Property ”) occurs other than in connection with an event giving rise to Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss, the General Partner shall allocate (1) items of gross income and gain (aa) away from the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and (bb) to the Unitholders, or (2) items of deduction and loss (aa) away from the Unitholders and (bb) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, to the extent that the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to the Disposed of Adjusted Property (determined in accordance with the last sentence of the definition of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items) treated as having been allocated to the Unitholders pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B) exceed their Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to such Disposed of Adjusted Property. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B) , the Unitholders shall be treated as having been allocated Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to the extent that such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items have reduced the amount of income that would otherwise have been allocated to the Unitholders under the Partnership Agreement ( e.g. , Additional Book Basis Derivative Items taken into account in computing cost of goods sold would reduce the amount of book income otherwise available for allocation among the Partners). Any allocation made pursuant to this

 

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

(D) In making the allocations required under this Section 6.1(d)(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) through (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 Conversion of the Last Outstanding Subordinated Unit . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other than the Required Allocations), if (A) the Liquidation Date occurs prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit and (B) after having made all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit does not equal the amount such Capital Account would have been if Section 6.1(c)(iii) and Section 6.1(c)(iv) had not been part of this Agreement and 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, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for such taxable period shall be reallocated among all Unitholders in a 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

 

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and Net Termination Loss had been made pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i) or Section 6.1(c)(ii) , as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, the reallocation of items set forth in the immediately preceding sentence provides that, to the extent necessary to achieve the Capital Account balances described above, (x) items of income and gain that would otherwise be included in Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, shall be reallocated from Unitholders holding Subordinated Units to Unitholders holding Common Units and (y) items of deduction and loss that would otherwise be included in Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs shall be reallocated from Unitholders holding Common Units to Unitholders holding Subordinated Units. In the event that (i) the Liquidation Date occurs on or before the date (not including any extension of time prescribed by law) for the filing of the Partnership’s federal income tax return for the taxable period immediately prior to the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs and (ii) the reallocation of items for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs as set forth above in this Section 6.1(d)(xiii) fails to achieve the Capital Account balances described above, items of income, gain, loss and deduction that would otherwise be included in the Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for such prior taxable period shall be reallocated among all Unitholders in a manner that will, to the maximum extent possible and after taking into account all other allocations made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xiii) , cause 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 U.S. federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1 .

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

(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

 

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Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the Partnership’s property. If the General Partner chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other depreciation and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests, so long as such conventions would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.

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

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

(f) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction, 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; 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 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 or for the proper administration of the Partnership.

(g) Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner Interests held by a nominee, 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.

 

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

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 September 30, 2014, 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 or the Deferred Issuance. 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 .” Distributions and redemption payments, if any, by the Partnership shall be subject to the Delaware Act 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.

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 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;

 

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

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

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(a)(vii) .

 

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(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 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) .

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 distributions of Available Cash that are deemed to be Capital Surplus in an aggregate amount equal to the Initial Unit Price. Available

 

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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 in the same proportion that the distribution had to the fair market value of the Common Units immediately prior to the announcement of the distribution. If the Common Units are publicly traded on a National Securities Exchange, then the fair market value will be the Current Market Price before the ex-dividend date, and if the Common Units are not publicly traded, then the fair market value for the purposes of the immediately preceding sentence will be determined by the Board of Directors.

(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) .

(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) .

 

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(c) The holder of a Common Unit that has resulted from the conversion of a Subordinated Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 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 (1) shall (x) possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article III and Article VII and (y) have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions related thereto and (2) shall not (x) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, (y) 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 (z) 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 Unitholder shall not be permitted to transfer an IDR Reset Common Unit (other than a transfer to an Affiliate) if the remaining balance in the transferring Unitholder’s Capital Account with respect to the retained IDR Reset Common Units would be negative after giving effect to the allocation under Section 5.5(c)(iii) .

(c) 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

 

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Section 6.8(c) , the General 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 5.5(c)(iii) , 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, in its sole and absolute discretion, 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.

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, in its capacity as such, shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted to a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or that are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.3 , shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be

 

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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 );

(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 cash held by the Partnership;

(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 ;

 

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(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

(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 Record Holder and each other Person who may acquire an interest in a Partnership Interest 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 IPO Underwriting Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, the Operational Services 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.

 

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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.

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 or 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 and Other Payments to the General Partner .

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

(b) Except as may be otherwise provided in the Omnibus Agreement or the Operational Services Agreement, 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

 

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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 the General Partner in a manner consistent with its or its Affiliates’ past business practices shall be deemed to have been made in good faith.

(c) The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of officers, employees, consultants and directors of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Interests or Derivative 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 or Derivative 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 employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c)  shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest 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.

(e) The General Partner and its Affiliates may enter into an agreement to provide services to any Group Member for a fee or otherwise than for cost.

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

 

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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, (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt securities or equity interests in any Group Member, (C) the guarantee of, and mortgage, pledge or encumbrance of any or all of its assets in connection with, any indebtedness of any Group Member or (D) the performance of its obligations under the Omnibus Agreement.

(b) Each Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, 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; 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. 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 Section 7.5(a)  and Section 7.5(b) , but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.5 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.

 

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(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 such 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), except for short-term cash management purposes.

(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

 

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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 .

(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 this Agreement or any other 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 IPO 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, executors 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

 

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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.

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 unlawful.

(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, to the Partners or to any such other Persons who are bound by this Agreement, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership or to such Partners or to any such other Persons who are bound by this Agreement for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.

 

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

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

(a) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any 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 a lesser standard is provided for in this Agreement, or the determination, action or omission has been approved as provided in Section 7.9(b)(i) or Section 7.9(b)(ii) , the General Partner, or such Affiliate causing it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such action in good faith. Whenever the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee) or any Affiliate of the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any action, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless a lesser standard is provided for in this Agreement or the determination, action or omission has been approved as provided in Section 7.9(b)(i) or Section  7.9(b)(ii) , the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee) or any Affiliate of the General Partner shall make such determination or take or decline to take such action in good faith. The foregoing and other lesser standards governing any determination, action or omission provided for in this Agreement are the sole and exclusive standards governing any such determinations, actions and omissions of the General Partner, the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee) and any Affiliate of the General Partner, and no such Person shall be subject to any fiduciary duty or other duty or obligation, or any other, different or higher standard (all of which duties, obligations and standards are hereby eliminated, waived and disclaimed), under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. Any such determination, action or omission by the General Partner, the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any committee thereof (including the Conflicts Committee) or any Affiliate of the General Partner will for all purposes be presumed to have been in good faith. In any proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement challenging such determination, action or omission, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of proving that such determination, action or omission was not in good faith. In order for a determination or the taking or declining to take an action to be in “good faith” for purposes of this Agreement, the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such action must subjectively believe that the determination or other action is in the best interests of the Partnership.

 

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(b) Unless a lesser standard is otherwise 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 hand, 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, any Group Member Agreement, 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 or (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval or Unitholder approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval. If the General Partner does not submit the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest as provided in either clause (i)  or clause (ii)  of the first sentence of this Section 7.9(b) , then any such resolution or course of action shall be governed by Section 7.9(a) . Whenever the General Partner makes a determination to refer any potential conflict of interest to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval, to seek Unitholder approval or to 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 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 otherwise or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in making such determination 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, or if the Board of Directors determines that a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee, then it shall be presumed that, in making its determination, the Board of Directors 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 or by or on behalf of any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest challenging any action or decision by the Conflicts Committee with respect to any matter referred to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval, or challenging any determination by the Board of Directors 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, as applicable, acted in good faith. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, 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.

 

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(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any action, or any Affiliate of the General Partner causes the General Partner 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 (i) the General Partner, or such Affiliate causing it to do so, is entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such action free of any duty (including any fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement, (ii) the General Partner, or such Affiliate 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 otherwise or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity and (iii) the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such action shall be permitted to do so in their sole and absolute discretion. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrases “at its option,” “its sole and absolute discretion” or some variation of those phrases, are used in this Agreement, they indicate 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 general or limited 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, or approve the sale or disposition 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 either the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall, in each case, be at its option.

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

(g) For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Board of Directors, any member of the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee) and any member of any such committee, the officers of the General Partner or any Affiliates of the General Partner (including any Person making a determination or acting for or

 

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on behalf of such Affiliate of the General Partner) make a determination on behalf of or recommendation to the General Partner, or cause the General Partner to take or omit to take any action, whether in the General Partner’s capacity as the General Partner or in its individual capacity, the standards of care applicable to the General Partner shall apply to such Persons, and such Persons shall be entitled to all benefits and rights (but not the obligations) of the General Partner hereunder, including eliminations, waivers and modifications of duties (including any fiduciary duties) to the Partnership, any of its Partners or any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and the protections and presumptions set forth in this Agreement.

Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and Other Indemnitees .

(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 advisors 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 taken or omitted to be taken in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

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

Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests . The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests; provided that, except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.9 or approved by 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 Article IV and Article 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 180 th  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 identified in such

 

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Notice, 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 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 a number of Registrable Securities that such Holder or Holders reasonably anticipates will result in gross proceeds of at least $30 million in the aggregate 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 180 th  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 for 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

 

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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 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 , however, 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 shall 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

 

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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 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 receipt of 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.

 

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(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, however, that such right may not be exercised more than twice in any 24-month period.

(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, but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, 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 by such Selling Holder 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, preliminary prospectus, final 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.

 

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(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.

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 or representative 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 or representative 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 or representative in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or any such officer or representative 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 representative. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or such officer or representative 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.

Section 7.14 Replacement of Fiduciary Duties . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that, at law or in equity, the General Partner or any other Indemnitee would have duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Partnership, to another Partner, to any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or to any other Person bound by this Agreement, all such duties (including fiduciary duties) are hereby eliminated, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and replaced with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein. The elimination of duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Partnership, each of the Partners, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement and replacement thereof with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein are approved by the Partnership, each of the Partners, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement.

 

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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 Partnership Register, 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.

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 by posting on or making 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 by posting on or making accessible through the Partnership’s or the

 

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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, 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 shall designate the Organizational Limited Partner or such other Partner as the General Partner shall determine as the “tax matters partner” (as defined in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code) (the “ Tax Matters Partner ”), and such Person 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 Tax Matters Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the Tax Matters Partner to conduct such proceedings.

 

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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, CONE Gathering and the IPO Underwriters in connection with the Initial Public Offering as described in Article V , such Persons shall, by acceptance of such Limited Partner Interests, and upon becoming the Record Holders of such Limited Partner 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 acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to Article V or pursuant to a merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to Article XIV , each transferee of, or other such Person acquiring, a Limited Partner 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 .

 

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(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 in the Partnership Register maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent. The General Partner shall update the Partnership Register 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 (a) the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or (b) 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.

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 Partnership Register to reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and, if required by law, the General Partner shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership.

ARTICLE XI

WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner .

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

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

 

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

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

(iv) The General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A) 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.

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, Eastern Time, on September 30, 2024, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided, that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned 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

 

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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, Eastern Time, on September 30, 2024, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Limited Partners, 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 not be removed unless such removal is both (i) for Cause and (ii) 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 separate class, and Unitholders holding a majority of the Outstanding Subordinated Units (if any Subordinated Units are then Outstanding), voting as a separate 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 .

 

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

(a) In the event of withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement, if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 , then the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal of such Departing General Partner, to require such successor General Partner to purchase such Departing General Partner’s General Partner Interest and its or its Affiliates’ general partner interests (or equivalent interests), 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 the Departing General Partner’s withdrawal. If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders pursuant to Section 11.2 or if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement and (i) if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 , as applicable, or (ii) if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then such successor General Partner 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 any event described in the preceding sentences of this Section 11.3(a) , the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.4 , including any employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.

For purposes of this Section 11.3(a) , the fair market value of the Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partner’s withdrawal or removal, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45 days after the effective date of such withdrawal or removal, then the Departing General Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing General Partner’s successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest. In making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider the 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.

 

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

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

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

ARTICLE XII

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

Section 12.1 Dissolution . The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the withdrawal or removal 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 Section 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2 ;

 

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(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 Unitholders 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 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 Departing General Partner, then the interest of the Departing 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, however, 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).

 

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Section 12.3 Liquidator . Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 , the General Partner (or in the event of dissolution pursuant to Section 12.1(a) , the holders of a Unit Majority) 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.

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.

 

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

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

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

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

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

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner . Each Limited Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Limited 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;

 

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(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 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, 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 (i) sets forth the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of any class or series of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests issued pursuant to Section 5.6 or (ii) the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate or advisable 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;

 

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(i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement or a 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 or Section 7.1(a) ;

(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 otherwise 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 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

 

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(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 the General Partner’s 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 Limited Partners as contemplated in Section 13.1 , any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(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.

(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

 

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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 Outstanding 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.

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 .

 

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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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 . Except as otherwise provided by this Agreement or required by the rules or regulations of any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are admitted to trading, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Partnership or its Partnership Interests, the presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority in voting power 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) entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes. Abstentions and broker non-votes in respect of such Units shall be deemed to be Units present at such meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum. For all matters presented to the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units at a meeting at which a quorum is present for which no minimum or other vote of Limited Partners is required by any other provision of this Agreement, the rules or regulations of any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are admitted to trading, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Partnership or its Partnership Interests, a majority of the votes cast by the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners (with abstentions and broker non-votes being deemed to not have been cast with respect to such matter). On any matter where a minimum or other vote of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units is provided by any other provision of this Agreement or required by the rules or regulations of any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are admitted to trading, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Partnership or its Partnership Interests, such minimum or other vote shall be the vote of Limited Partners required to approve such matter (with the effect of abstentions and broker non-votes to be determined based on the vote of Limited Partners required to approve such matter; provided that if the effect of abstentions and broker non-votes is not specified by such applicable rule, regulation or law, and there is no prevailing interpretation of such effect, then abstentions and broker non-votes shall be deemed to not have been cast with respect to such matter; provided further , that, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any matter on which this Agreement requires the approval of a specified percentage of the Outstanding Units, abstentions and broker non-votes shall be counted as votes against such matter). The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum has been established may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the exit of enough Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum.

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

 

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

 

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(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 .

(c) 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 limited 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 Delaware 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:

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

 

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(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 interests of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (A) if any 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 equity interests 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, 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 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;

 

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(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 interests 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;

(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 certificate of conversion, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of conversion and stated therein); and

(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 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 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e) , the Merger Agreement or the 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 the 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.

 

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

(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity 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 already so treated or taxed), (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 already so treated or taxed), (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.

 

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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 or consolidation:

(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;

 

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

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

(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 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 or admitted to trading. 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

 

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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 required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at such Record Holder’s 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 such holder’s Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner Interest to the Transfer Agent or exchange 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

 

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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 such Record Holder’s address as shown in the Partnership Register, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Interests by reason of any assignment or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) a Partner shall consent to receiving notices, demands, requests, reports or proxy materials via electronic mail or by the Internet or (ii) the rules of the Commission shall permit any report or proxy materials to be delivered electronically or made available via the Internet, any such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials shall be deemed given or made when delivered or made available via such mode of delivery. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report 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 such Record Holder’s 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 email 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.

 

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

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

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

Section 16.9 Applicable Law; Forum; Venue and Jurisdiction; Attorneys’ Fee; 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 (including any fiduciary duty) owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, or owed by the General Partner, to the Partnership or the Partners, (D) asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Act or (E) asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, in each case regardless of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or are derivative or direct claims; provided, however, that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings over which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction shall be brought in any other court in the State of Delaware having jurisdiction;

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

 

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(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 courts of the State of Delaware or of any other court to which proceedings in the courts of the State of Delaware may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper;

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

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

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

(vii) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES THE 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 provision and/or part of a provision 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) or other similar electronic format affixed in the name and on behalf of the Transfer Agent on Certificates representing Common Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

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

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
CONE MIDSTREAM GP LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

Name:   Joseph M. Fink
Title:   Chief Operating Officer
ORGANIZATIONAL LIMITED PARTNER:
CONE GATHERING LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

Name:   Joseph M. Fink
Title:   President

Signature Page to First Amended and Restated Agreement of

Limited Partnership of CONE Midstream Partners LP


EXHIBIT A

to the First Amended and Restated

Agreement of Limited Partnership of

CONE Midstream Partners LP

Certificate Evidencing Common Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests in

CONE Midstream Partners LP

 

No.                              Common Units

In accordance with Section 4.1 of the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CONE Midstream Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), hereby certifies that              (the “ Holder ”) is the registered owner of Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Common Units ”) transferable in the records 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 1000 CONSOL Energy Drive, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317. 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 CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP 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 CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR (C) CAUSE CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). THE GENERAL PARTNER OF CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO (A) AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP 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 (B) PRESERVE THE UNIFORMITY OF THE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS IN CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP (OR ANY

 

A-1


CLASS OR CLASSES THEREOF). 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.

The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement and (iii) 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:  

 

    CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
      By:  

CONE MIDSTREAM GP LLC,

its general partner

        By:  

 

        By:  

 

Countersigned and Registered by:        
[                                         ]        
as Transfer Agent        
By:  

 

       
  Authorized Signature        

 

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[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

 

TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties

 

JT TEN —   as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common
UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT—

 

  Custodian  

 

(Cust)     (Minor)
under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors
Act  

 

 
  (State)  
 

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

 

A-3


ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS OF

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

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

 

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

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

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

 

Date:  

 

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

 

      (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 in the records of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer.

 

A-4

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Copy

CONTRIBUTION, CONVEYANCE AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

by and among

CONSOL ENERGY INC.

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

CONE GATHERING LLC

CONE MIDSTREAM GP LLC

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

and

CONE MIDSTREAM OPERATING COMPANY LLC

dated as of

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     3   

1.1

 

Defined Terms

     3   

1.2

 

References and Rules of Construction

     3   

ARTICLE II CONTRIBUTIONS, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

     4   

2.1

 

Execution of the Partnership Agreement

     4   

2.2

 

Contribution of the 2% OpCo Interest to the General Partner

     4   

2.3

 

Contribution of the 2% OpCo Interest to the Partnership

     4   

2.4

 

Contribution of the 98% OpCo Interest to the Partnership

     5   

2.5

 

Execution of Joinder to the OpCo LLC Agreement

     5   

2.6

 

Public Cash Contribution

     5   

2.7

 

Payment of Transaction Expenses by the Partnership

     5   

2.8

 

Use of Proceeds

     6   

2.9

 

Redemption of the Initial LP Interest from the Partnership and Return of Initial Capital Contribution

     6   

2.10

 

Distributions by CONE Gathering to CONSOL and Noble at Closing

     6   

ARTICLE III FURTHER ASSURANCES

     6   

ARTICLE IV ORDER OF COMPLETION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF TRANSACTIONS

     6   

4.1

 

Order of Completion of Transactions

     6   

4.2

 

Effectiveness of Transactions

     6   

ARTICLE V MISCELLANEOUS

     7   

5.1

 

Taxes; Costs

     7   

5.2

 

Assignment; Binding Effect

     7   

5.3

 

No Third Party Rights

     7   

5.4

 

Entire Agreement

     7   

5.5

 

Amendment

     7   

5.6

 

Applicable Law

     7   

5.7

 

Parties in Interest

     8   

5.8

 

Preparation of Agreement

     8   

5.9

 

Severability

     8   

5.10

 

Counterparts

     8   

5.11

 

Deed; Bill of Sale; Assignment

     8   

APPENDIX

 

Appendix I

 

Definitions

 

i


CONTRIBUTION, CONVEYANCE AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

This CONTRIBUTION, CONVEYANCE AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of September 30, 2014 (as may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), is by and among CONSOL ENERGY INC., a Delaware corporation (“ CONSOL ”), NOBLE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Noble ”), CONE GATHERING LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ CONE Gathering ”), CONE MIDSTREAM GP LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the “ General Partner ”), CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP , a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and CONE MIDSTREAM OPERATING COMPANY LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Operating Company ”) (each, a “ Party ” and, collectively, the “ Parties ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS , the General Partner and CONE Gathering formed the Partnership, pursuant to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (as amended from time to time, the “ DRULPA ”), to own, operate, develop and acquire natural gas gathering and other midstream energy assets, as well as to engage in any other business activity that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized under the DRULPA, all as more fully described in the Prospectus (as defined below);

WHEREAS , (i) CONE Midstream DevCo I LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ DevCo I LP ”), owns all of the assets, properties, interests and rights in connection with, relating to or arising out of the Anchor Systems (as defined below), (ii) CONE Midstream DevCo II LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ DevCo II LP ”), owns all of the assets, properties, interests and rights in connection with, relating to or arising out of the Growth Systems (as defined below) and (iii) CONE Midstream DevCo III LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ DevCo III LP ”), owns all of the assets, properties, interests and rights in connection with, relating to or arising out of the Additional Systems (as defined below);

WHEREAS , CONE Midstream DevCo I GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ DevCo I GP ”), owns a 75% general partner interest in DevCo I LP, and CONE Gathering owns a 25% limited partner interest in DevCo I LP;

WHEREAS , CONE Midstream DevCo II GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ DevCo II GP ”), owns a 5% general partner interest in DevCo II LP, and CONE Gathering owns a 95% limited partner interest in DevCo II LP;

WHEREAS , CONE Midstream DevCo III GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ DevCo III GP ”), owns a 5% general partner interest in DevCo III LP, and CONE Gathering owns a 95% limited partner interest in DevCo III LP;

WHEREAS , the Operating Company owns 100% of the limited liability company interests in each of DevCo I GP, DevCo II GP and DevCo III GP;

WHEREAS , CONE Gathering owns 100% of the limited liability company interests in the Operating Company;

 

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WHEREAS , in connection with the closing of the Offering (as defined below), CONE Gathering desires to contribute, assign, transfer and deliver to the Partnership, and the Partnership desires to acquire from CONE Gathering, all of the limited liability company interests in the Operating Company held by CONE Gathering, and, in exchange, the Partnership desires to issue (i) to the General Partner, the interests set forth in Section 2.3 and (ii) to CONE Gathering, the interests set forth in Section 2.4 ;

WHEREAS , CONE Gathering desires to distribute to each of CONSOL (or one or more of its wholly owned subsidiaries) and Noble (or one or more of its wholly owned subsidiaries) the cash and interests set forth in Section 2.10 ;

WHEREAS , in order to accomplish the objectives and purposes in the preceding recitals, each of the following actions has been taken prior to the date hereof:

1. On May 30, 2014, CONE Gathering formed the General Partner under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “ Delaware LLC Act ”) and contributed $1,000 in exchange for 100% of the limited liability company interests in the General Partner;

2. On May 30, 2014, CONE Gathering, as the organizational limited partner, and the General Partner, as the general partner, formed the Partnership under the DRULPA and contributed $6,860 and $140, respectively, in exchange for a 98% limited partner interest (the “ Initial LP Interest ”) and a 2% general partner interest, respectively, in the Partnership;

3. On July 11, 2014, CONE Gathering formed the Operating Company under the Delaware LLC Act and contributed $4,000 in exchange for 100% of the limited liability company interests in the Operating Company;

4. On July 11, 2014, the Operating Company formed DevCo I GP under the Delaware LLC Act and contributed $1,000 in exchange for 100% of the limited liability company interests in DevCo I GP;

5. On July 11, 2014, CONE Gathering, as the organizational limited partner, and DevCo I GP, as the general partner, formed DevCo I LP under the DRULPA and contributed $250 and $750, respectively, in exchange for a 25% limited partner interest and a 75% general partner interest, respectively, in DevCo I LP;

6. On July 11, 2014, the Operating Company formed DevCo II GP under the Delaware LLC Act and contributed $1,000 in exchange for 100% of the limited liability company interests in DevCo II GP;

7. On July 11, 2014, CONE Gathering, as the organizational limited partner, and DevCo II GP, as the general partner, formed DevCo II LP under the DRULPA and contributed $950 and $50, respectively, in exchange for a 95% limited partner interest and a 5% general partner interest, respectively, in DevCo II LP;

8. On July 11, 2014, the Operating Company formed DevCo III GP under the Delaware LLC Act and contributed $1,000 in exchange for 100% of the limited liability company interests in DevCo III GP;

 

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9. On July 11, 2014, CONE Gathering, as the organizational limited partner, and DevCo III GP, as the general partner, formed DevCo III LP under the DRULPA and contributed $950 and $50, respectively, in exchange for a 95% limited partner interest and a 5% general partner interest, respectively, in DevCo III LP;

10. Effective immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined below), pursuant to the DevCo I Asset Contribution Agreement (as defined below), CONE Gathering conveyed to DevCo I LP, as a capital contribution (25% on its own behalf and 75% on behalf of the Operating Company and, in turn, DevCo I GP), the Anchor Systems (as defined below);

11. Effective immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined below), pursuant to the DevCo II Asset Contribution Agreement (as defined below), CONE Gathering conveyed to DevCo II LP, as a capital contribution (95% on its own behalf and 5% on behalf of the Operating Company and, in turn, DevCo II GP), the Growth Systems (as defined below); and

12. Effective immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined below), pursuant to the DevCo III Asset Contribution Agreement (as defined below), CONE Gathering conveyed to DevCo III LP, as a capital contribution (95% on its own behalf and 5% on behalf of the Operating Company and, in turn, DevCo III GP), the Additional Systems (as defined below);

WHEREAS , on September 26, 2014, the Underwriters exercised in full the Over-Allotment Option to purchase all of the Option Units;

WHEREAS , concurrently with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, each of the matters provided for in Article II will occur in accordance with its respective terms; and

WHEREAS , the respective Parties have taken or caused to be taken all corporate, limited liability company and partnership action, as the case may be, required to approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

1.1 Defined Terms . For purposes hereof, the capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in Appendix I .

1.2 References and Rules of Construction . All references in this Agreement to Appendices, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions refer to the corresponding Appendices, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions of or to this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. Titles appearing at the beginning of any Appendices, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience only, do not

 

3


constitute any part of this Agreement and shall be disregarded in construing the language hereof. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and “hereof,” and words of similar import, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Appendix, Article, Section, subsection or other subdivision unless expressly so limited. The word “including” (in its various forms) means “including without limitation.” All references to “$” or “dollars” shall be deemed references to United States dollars. Each accounting term not defined herein will have the meaning given to it under GAAP. Pronouns in masculine, feminine or neuter genders shall be construed to state and include any other gender, and words, terms and titles (including terms defined herein) in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. References to any Law means such Law as it may be amended from time to time.

ARTICLE II

CONTRIBUTIONS, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Each of the following transactions set forth in this Article II shall be completed in the order set forth herein, subject to, and in accordance with, the provisions of Article IV :

2.1 Execution of the Partnership Agreement . The General Partner and CONE Gathering, as the organizational limited partner, shall amend and restate the Original Partnership Agreement by executing and delivering the Partnership Agreement, with such changes as the General Partner and CONE Gathering may agree.

2.2 Contribution of the 2% OpCo Interest to the General Partner . CONE Gathering hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to the General Partner a portion of its limited liability company interests in the Operating Company with a value equal to 2% of the equity value of the Partnership immediately after the closing of the Offering (the “ 2% OpCo Interest ”), and the General Partner hereby accepts such 2% OpCo Interest as a capital contribution from CONE Gathering. Notwithstanding any provision of the OpCo LLC Agreement to the contrary (and CONE Gathering hereby waives any provision of the OpCo LLC Agreement to the contrary), the General Partner is hereby admitted to the Operating Company as a member of the Operating Company with respect to the 2% OpCo Interest and hereby agrees that it is bound by the OpCo LLC Agreement. Immediately following such contribution of the 2% OpCo Interest, CONE Gathering shall and does hereby continue as a member of the Operating Company with respect to the portion of its limited liability company interests in the Operating Company not transferred to the General Partner, and the Operating Company is continued without dissolution.

2.3 Contribution of the 2% OpCo Interest to the Partnership . The General Partner hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to the Partnership the 2% OpCo Interest in exchange for (a) a continuation of the General Partner’s 2% general partner interest in the Partnership and (b) the issuance to the General Partner of all of the Incentive Distribution Rights in the Partnership, and the Partnership hereby accepts such 2% OpCo Interest as a capital contribution from the General Partner. Notwithstanding any provision of the OpCo LLC Agreement to the contrary (and each of CONE Gathering and the General Partner hereby waives any provision of the OpCo LLC Agreement to the contrary), the Partnership is hereby admitted to the Operating Company as a member of the Operating

 

4


Company and hereby agrees that it is bound by the OpCo LLC Agreement. Immediately following such contribution of the 2% OpCo Interest, (i) CONE Gathering shall and does hereby continue as a member of the Operating Company, (ii) the General Partner shall and does hereby cease to be a member of the Operating Company and shall thereupon cease to have or exercise any right or power as a member of the Operating Company and (iii) the Operating Company is continued without dissolution.

2.4 Contribution of the 98% OpCo Interest to the Partnership . CONE Gathering hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to the Partnership all right, title and interest in and to all of the remaining limited liability company interests in the Operating Company held by CONE Gathering (the “ 98% OpCo Interest ”) in exchange for (a) 9,038,121 Common Units representing an approximate 15.2% limited partner interest (based on an aggregate of 58,326,242 Common Units and Subordinated Units to be outstanding after the completion of the Offering) in the Partnership (the “ Sponsor Common Units ”), (b) 29,163,121 Subordinated Units representing a 49.0% limited partner interest (based on an aggregate of 58,326,242 Common Units and Subordinated Units to be outstanding after the completion of the Offering) in the Partnership (the “ Sponsor Subordinated Units ”) and (c) the right to receive a cash distribution from the Partnership in the amount of approximately $410.3 million from the net proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units and the Option Units in the Offering, and the Partnership hereby accepts such 98% OpCo Interest as a capital contribution from CONE Gathering. Upon CONE Gathering’s contribution of such 98% OpCo Interest to the Partnership, (i) the Partnership shall be the sole member of the Operating Company, (ii) CONE Gathering shall and does hereby cease to be a member of the Operating Company and shall thereupon cease to have or exercise any right or power as a member of the Operating Company and (iii) the Operating Company shall be and hereby is continued without dissolution.

2.5 Execution of Joinder to the OpCo LLC Agreement . The Partnership shall execute a joinder to the OpCo LLC Agreement (in the form attached thereto, if any) or similar written undertaking to be bound by the terms and conditions of the OpCo LLC Agreement.

2.6 Public Cash Contribution . The Parties acknowledge that, in connection with the Offering, public investors, through the Underwriters, have made a capital contribution to the Partnership of $442,750,000 in cash in exchange for 20,125,000 Common Units representing an approximate 33.8% limited partner interest in the Partnership (based on an aggregate of 58,326,242 Common Units and Subordinated Units to be outstanding after the completion of the Offering), and such public investors are being admitted to the Partnership as limited partners in connection therewith.

2.7 Payment of Transaction Expenses by the Partnership . In connection with the closing of the Offering, the Partnership will pay (a) transaction expenses in the amount of approximately $2.55 million, excluding the underwriting discount of approximately $26.6 million in the aggregate from the sale of the Firm Units and the Option Units and (b) an aggregate structuring fee equal to 0.5% of the gross proceeds of the Offering payable equally among Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (the “ Structuring Fee ”).

 

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2.8 Use of Proceeds . The Partnership will (a) distribute to CONE Gathering approximately $410.3 million in cash and (b) retain approximately $1.1 million to pay origination fees related to the Partnership’s revolving credit facility.

2.9 Redemption of the Initial LP Interest from the Partnership and Return of Initial Capital Contribution . The Partnership hereby redeems the Initial LP Interest held by CONE Gathering and hereby refunds and distributes to CONE Gathering the initial contribution, in the amount of $6,860, made by CONE Gathering in connection with the formation of the Partnership, along with any interest or other profit that resulted from the investment or other use of such initial contribution.

2.10 Distributions by CONE Gathering to CONSOL and Noble at Closing . CONE Gathering will (a) distribute to CONSOL (or one or more of its wholly owned subsidiaries) approximately $205.2 million in cash, (b) distribute to CONSOL (or one or more of its wholly owned subsidiaries) 50% of the Sponsor Common Units, (c) distribute to CONSOL (or one or more of its wholly owned subsidiaries) 50% of the Sponsor Subordinated Units, (d) distribute to Noble (or one or more of its wholly owned subsidiaries) approximately $205.2 million in cash, (e) distribute to Noble (or one or more of its wholly owned subsidiaries) 50% of the Sponsor Common Units and (f) distribute to Noble (or one or more of its wholly owned subsidiaries) 50% of the Sponsor Subordinated Units.

ARTICLE III

FURTHER ASSURANCES

From time to time after the date hereof, and without any additional consideration, the Parties agree to execute, acknowledge and deliver all such additional deeds, assignments, bills of sale, conveyances, instruments, notices, releases, acquittances and other documents, and to do all such other acts and things, all in accordance with applicable Law, as may be necessary or appropriate to (i) more fully assure that the applicable Parties own all of the properties, rights, titles, interests, estates, remedies, powers and privileges granted by this Agreement, or which are intended to be so granted, (ii) more fully and effectively vest in the applicable Parties and their respective successors and assigns beneficial and record title to the interests contributed, assigned, transferred and delivered by this Agreement, or which are intended to be so contributed, assigned, transferred and delivered and (iii) more fully and effectively carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

ORDER OF COMPLETION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF TRANSACTIONS

4.1 Order of Completion of Transactions . The transactions provided for in Section 2.1 through Section 2.5 shall be completed as of the Effective Time in the order set forth in Article II . The transactions provided for in Section 2.6 through Section 2.10 shall be completed as of the Closing Time in the order set forth in Article II .

4.2 Effectiveness of Transactions . Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, (a) none of the provisions of Section 2.1 through Section 2.5 shall be operative or have any effect until the Effective Time and (b) none of the provisions of

 

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Section 2.6 through Section 2.10 shall be operative or have any effect until the Closing Time, at which respective times all such applicable provisions shall be effective and operative in accordance with Section 4.1 without further action by any Party.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

5.1 Taxes; Costs . Except for the transaction expenses set forth in Section 2.7 , CONE Gathering shall pay all expenses, fees and costs, including all sales, use and similar taxes arising out of the contributions, distributions, conveyances and deliveries to be made under Article II and shall pay all documentary, filing, recording, transfer, deed and conveyance taxes and fees required in connection therewith. In addition, CONE Gathering shall be responsible for all costs, liabilities and expenses (including court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with the implementation of any conveyance or delivery pursuant to Article III (to the extent related to any of the contributions, distributions, conveyances and deliveries to be made under Article II ).

5.2 Assignment; Binding Effect . This Agreement may not be assigned by any Party, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the other Parties. No assignment hereunder by any Party shall relieve such Party of any obligations and responsibilities hereunder. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, their successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

5.3 No Third Party Rights . The provisions of this Agreement are intended to bind the Parties as to each other and are not intended to and do not create rights in any other person or confer upon any other person any benefits, rights or remedies, and no person is or is intended to be a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

5.4 Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the Omnibus Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the Parties and their Affiliates relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersede all provisions and concepts contained in all prior letters of intent, memoranda, agreements or communications between the Parties or their Affiliates relating to the transactions contemplated hereby.

5.5 Amendment . This Agreement may be amended only by an instrument in writing executed by the Parties and expressly identified as an amendment or modification.

5.6 Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts-of-law rule or principle that might refer the construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the laws of another state. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT INVOLVES AT LEAST U.S. $100,000.00 AND THAT THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN ENTERED INTO IN EXPRESS RELIANCE UPON 6 Del. C. § 2708. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES (i) TO BE SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND OF THE FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND (ii) TO THE EXTENT SUCH PARTY IS NOT OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS

 

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IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, TO APPOINT AND MAINTAIN AN AGENT IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE AS SUCH PARTY’S AGENT FOR ACCEPTANCE OF LEGAL PROCESS AND TO NOTIFY THE OTHER PARTIES OF THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF SUCH AGENT. EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

5.7 Parties in Interest . Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall entitle any Person other than the Parties to any claim, cause of action, remedy or right of any kind.

5.8 Preparation of Agreement . All of the Parties and their respective counsels participated in the preparation of this Agreement. In the event of any ambiguity in this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties that no presumption shall arise based on the identity of the draftsman of this Agreement.

5.9 Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any adverse manner to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.

5.10 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each such counterpart hereof shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all of such counterparts shall constitute for all purposes one agreement. Any signature hereto delivered by a Party by electronic mail shall be deemed an original signature hereto.

5.11 Deed; Bill of Sale; Assignment . To the extent required and permitted by applicable Law, this Agreement shall also constitute a “deed,” “bill of sale” or “assignment” of the assets and interests referenced herein.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties to this Agreement have caused it to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

CONSOL :     NOBLE :
CONSOL ENERGY INC.     NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
By:  

/s/ Stephen Johnson

    By:  

/s/ Gary Willingham

Name:   Stephen Johnson     Name:   Gary Willingham
Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer     Title:   Senior Vice President
CONE GATHERING :     GENERAL PARTNER :
CONE GATHERING LLC     CONE MIDSTREAM GP LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

    By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

Name:   Joseph M. Fink     Name:   Joseph M. Fink
Title:   President     Title:   Chief Operating Officer
PARTNERSHIP :     OPERATING COMPANY :
CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP     CONE MIDSTREAM OPERATING COMPANY LLC
By:   CONE Midstream GP LLC, its general partner      
By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

    By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

Name:   Joseph M. Fink     Name:   Joseph M. Fink
Title:   Chief Operating Officer     Title:   Chief Operating Officer

Signature Page to

Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement


APPENDIX I

Definitions

2% OpCo Interest ” is defined in Section 2.2 .

98% OpCo Interest ” is defined in Section 2.4 .

Additional Systems ” means the Contributed Assets (as defined in the DevCo III Asset Contribution Agreement).

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, or is Controlled by, or is Under Common Control With, such Person. The term “ Affiliated ” shall have the correlative meaning.

Agreement ” is defined in the Preamble.

Anchor Systems ” means the Contributed Assets (as defined in the DevCo I Asset Contribution Agreement).

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

Closing Time ” means the time of closing on the Closing Date pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Unit ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

CONE Gathering ” is defined in the Preamble.

CONSOL ” is defined in the Preamble.

Control ” (including the terms “ Controlled ” and “ Under Common Control With ”) means with respect to any Person, the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting shares, by contract, or otherwise.

Delaware LLC Act ” is defined in the Recitals.

DevCo I Asset Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between CONE Gathering, the Operating Company, DevCo I GP and DevCo I LP.

DevCo I GP ” is defined in the Recitals.

DevCo I LP ” is defined in the Recitals.

 

A PPENDIX I

P AGE 1


DevCo II Asset Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between CONE Gathering, the Operating Company, DevCo II GP and DevCo II LP.

DevCo II GP ” is defined in the Recitals.

DevCo II LP ” is defined in the Recitals.

DevCo III Asset Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between CONE Gathering, the Operating Company, DevCo III GP and DevCo III LP.

DevCo III GP ” is defined in the Recitals.

DevCo III LP ” is defined in the Recitals.

DRULPA ” is defined in the Recitals.

Effective Time ” means 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on the Closing Date.

Firm Units ” means the 17,500,000 Common Units to be issued and sold to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

General Partner ” is defined in the Preamble.

Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, local, municipal, tribal or other government; any governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, commission, body or other authority exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, regulatory or taxing authority or power; and any court or governmental tribunal, including any tribal authority having or asserting jurisdiction.

Growth Systems ” means the Contributed Assets (as defined in the DevCo II Asset Contribution Agreement).

Incentive Distribution Rights ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

Initial LP Interest ” is defined in the Recitals.

Law ” means any applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, order, code, ruling, writ, injunction, decree or other official act of or by any Governmental Authority.

Noble ” is defined in the Preamble.

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 Registration Statement.

 

A PPENDIX I

P AGE 2


Omnibus Agreement ” means that certain Omnibus Agreement by and among CONSOL Energy Inc., Noble Energy, Inc., CONE Gathering, the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Company, DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP and DevCo III LP, dated as of the date hereof, as may be amended from time to time.

OpCo LLC Agreement ” means the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Operating Company, dated effective as of July 11, 2014, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Operating Company ” is defined in the Preamble.

Option Units ” means up to an additional 2,625,000 Common Units that the Underwriters may purchase from the Partnership pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option.

Original Partnership Agreement ” means that certain Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated effective as of May 30, 2014.

Over-Allotment Option ” means the option granted to the Underwriters by the Partnership pursuant to Section 2(b) of the Underwriting Agreement.

Partnership ” is defined in the Preamble.

Partnership Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of the Closing Date, substantially in the form attached as Appendix A to the Prospectus, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Party ” and “ Parties ” are defined in the Preamble.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, Governmental Authority or any other entity.

Prospectus ” means the final prospectus relating to the Offering dated September 24, 2014 and filed by the Partnership with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act on September 25, 2014.

Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-198352), as amended, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Offering.

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

Sponsor Common Units ” is defined in Section 2.4 .

Sponsor Subordinated Units ” is defined in Section 2.4 .

Subordinated Unit ” has the meaning given such term in the Partnership Agreement.

 

A PPENDIX I

P AGE 3


Underwriters ” means, collectively, each member of the underwriting syndicate named as an underwriter in Exhibit A to the Underwriting Agreement.

Underwriting Agreement ” means that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of September 24, 2014 among the Underwriters, CONE Gathering, the General Partner, the Partnership and the Operating Company, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters.

 

A PPENDIX I

P AGE 4

Exhibit 10.2

OMNIBUS AGREEMENT

by and between

CONSOL ENERGY INC.

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

CONE GATHERING LLC

CONE MIDSTREAM GP LLC

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

CONE MIDSTREAM OPERATING COMPANY LLC

CONE MIDSTREAM DEVCO I LP

CONE MIDSTREAM DEVCO II LP

and

CONE MIDSTREAM DEVCO III LP

dated as of

September 30, 2014


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS      1   

1.1

 

Definitions

     1   

1.2

 

Rules of Construction

     6   
ARTICLE II INDEMNIFICATION      7   

2.1

 

CONE Gathering Indemnification

     7   

2.2

 

Partnership Group Assumption and Indemnification

     8   

2.3

 

Indemnification Procedures

     9   

2.4

 

Limitations Regarding Indemnification

     10   

2.5

 

Express Negligence

     11   

2.6

 

Exclusive Remedy

     11   
ARTICLE III SERVICES; REIMBURSEMENT      12   

3.1

 

General and Administrative Services

     12   

3.2

 

Administrative Fee

     12   

3.3

 

Reimbursement of General and Administrative Expenses

     14   
ARTICLE IV RIGHT OF FIRST OFFER      14   

4.1

 

Right of First Offer to Purchase Certain Assets

     14   

4.2

 

Procedures

     15   
ARTICLE V MISCELLANEOUS      16   

5.1

 

Confidentiality

     16   

5.2

 

Choice of Law; Mediation; Submission to Jurisdiction

     17   

5.3

 

Notice

     18   

5.4

 

Entire Agreement

     19   

5.5

 

Termination of Agreement

     19   

5.6

 

Amendment or Modification

     19   

5.7

 

Assignment

     19   

5.8

 

Counterparts

     19   

5.9

 

Severability

     19   

5.10

 

Further Assurances

     20   

5.11

 

Rights of Limited Partners

     20   
SCHEDULES:   
Schedule A   Subject Matters   
Schedule B   Certain Losses   
Schedule C   General and Administrative Services   
Schedule D   Formation Transactions   


OMNIBUS AGREEMENT

This OMNIBUS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into on, and effective as of, the Closing Date (as defined herein) by and between CONSOL Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ CONSOL ”), Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Noble ” and, together with CONSOL, the “ Sponsors ”), CONE Gathering LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ CONE Gathering ”), CONE Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ General Partner ”), CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), CONE Midstream Operating Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Operating Company ”), CONE Midstream DevCo I LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ DevCo I LP ”), CONE Midstream DevCo II LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ DevCo II LP ”), and CONE Midstream DevCo III LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ DevCo III LP ” and, together with CONSOL, Noble, CONE Gathering, the General Partner, the Partnership, Operating Company, DevCo I LP and DevCo II LP, the “ Parties ” and each a “ Party ”).

RECITALS

1. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Article I .

2. The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully set forth in Article II , with respect to certain indemnification obligations of the Parties to each other.

3. The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully set forth in Article III , with respect to (i) the amount to be paid by the Partnership for general and administrative services relating to operating the Partnership’s business to be performed by the Sponsors and their Affiliates (including the General Partner) for and on behalf of the Partnership Group and (ii) the reimbursement of expenses incurred by the Sponsors and their Affiliates on behalf of the Partnership Group.

4. The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully set forth in Article IV , with respect to the Partnership Group’s right of first offer to purchase the ROFO Assets.

In consideration of the premises and the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Administrative Fee ” is defined in Section 3.2(a) .

Affiliate ” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.


Agreement ” means this Omnibus Agreement, as it may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Asset Contribution Agreements ” means, collectively, the DevCo I Asset Contribution Agreement, the DevCo II Asset Contribution Agreement and the DevCo III Asset Contribution Agreement.

Assets ” means (a) the Interests and (b) all assets owned by DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP and/or DevCo III LP, in each case, on the Closing Date.

Closing Date ” means September 30, 2014.

CNX Administrative Fee ” is defined in Section 3.2(a) .

CONE Gathering ” is defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

CONE Gathering Group ” means CONE Gathering and each of its Subsidiaries (other than a Group Member).

Confidential Information ” means any proprietary or confidential information that is competitively sensitive material or otherwise of value to a Party or its Affiliates and not generally known to the public, including trade secrets, scientific or technical information, design, invention, process, procedure, formula, improvements, product planning information, marketing strategies, financial information, information regarding operations, consumer and/or customer relationships, consumer and/or customer identities and profiles, sales estimates, business plans, and internal performance results relating to the past, present or future business activities of a Party or its Affiliates and the consumers, customers, clients and suppliers of any of the foregoing. Confidential Information includes such information as may be contained in or embodied by documents, substances, engineering and laboratory notebooks, reports, data, specifications, computer source code and object code, flow charts, databases, drawings, pilot plants or demonstration or operating facilities, diagrams, specifications, bills of material, equipment, prototypes and models, and any other tangible manifestation (including data in computer or other digital format) of the foregoing; provided , however , that Confidential Information does not include information that a Receiving Party can show (a) has been published or has otherwise become available to the general public as part of the public domain without breach of this Agreement, (b) has been furnished or made known to the Receiving Party without any obligation to keep it confidential by a third party under circumstances which are not known to the Receiving Party to involve a breach of the third party’s obligations to a Party or (c) was developed independently of information furnished or made available to the Receiving Party as contemplated under this Agreement.

CONSOL ” is defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Deductible ” is defined in Section 2.4(a) .

Delaware LLC Act ” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

 

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DevCo I Asset Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between CONE Gathering, the Operating Company, DevCo I GP and DevCo I LP.

DevCo I Assumed Obligations ” means the Assumed Obligations as defined in the DevCo I Asset Contribution Agreement.

DevCo I GP ” means CONE Midstream DevCo I GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

DevCo I LP ” is defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

DevCo II Asset Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between CONE Gathering, the Operating Company, DevCo II GP and DevCo II LP.

DevCo II Assumed Obligations ” means the Assumed Obligations as defined in the DevCo II Asset Contribution Agreement.

DevCo II GP ” means CONE Midstream DevCo II GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

DevCo II LP ” is defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

DevCo III Asset Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between CONE Gathering, the Operating Company, DevCo III GP and DevCo III LP.

DevCo III Assumed Obligations ” means the Assumed Obligations as defined in the DevCo III Asset Contribution Agreement.

DevCo III GP ” means CONE Midstream DevCo III GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

DevCo III LP ” is defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Disclosing Party ” is defined in Section 5.1(a) .

DRULPA ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.

Environmental Laws ” means all federal, state and local laws, statutes, rules, regulations, orders, judgments, ordinances, codes, injunctions, decrees, Environmental Permits and other legally enforceable requirements and rules of common law now or hereinafter in effect relating to (a) pollution or protection of human health, natural resources, wildlife and the environment or workplace health or safety, including the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§9601 et seq. , the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§6901 et seq. , the Clean Air Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§7401 et seq. , the Federal Water Pollution Control Act,

 

3


as amended, 33 U.S.C. §§1251 et seq. , the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§2601 et seq. , the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. §§2701 et seq. , the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§300f et seq. , the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act of 1994, as amended, 49 U.S.C. §§5101 et seq. , and other environmental conservation and protection laws and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. §§651 et seq. , and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, and any state or local counterparts, each as amended from time to time and (b) the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport or handling of any Hazardous Substances.

Environmental Permit ” means any permit, approval, identification number, license, registration, certification, consent, exemption, variance or other authorization required under or issued pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law, including applications for renewal of such permits in which the application allows for continued operation under the terms of an expired permit.

Equity Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and between CONSOL, Noble, CONE Gathering, the General Partner, the Partnership 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.

Formation Transactions ” means the transactions described on Schedule D .

Gathering Agreements ” mean, collectively, (a) that certain Gathering Agreement, by and between the Partnership and CONSOL, dated as of the Closing Date and (b) that certain Gathering Agreement, by and between the Partnership and Noble, dated as of the Closing Date.

General Partner ” is defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, tribal, foreign or local governmental entity, authority, department, court or agency, including any political subdivision thereof, exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory or taxing authority or power of any nature, and including any arbitrating body, commission or quasi-governmental authority or self-regulating organization of competent authority exercising or enlisted to exercise similar power or authority.

Group Member ” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

Hazardous Substance ” means (a) any substance, whether solid, liquid, gaseous, semi-solid, or any combination thereof, that is designated, defined or classified as a hazardous waste, solid waste, hazardous material, pollutant, contaminant or toxic or hazardous substance, or terms of similar meaning, or that is otherwise regulated under any Environmental Law, including any hazardous substance as defined under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended, and including asbestos and lead-containing paints or coatings, radioactive materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and greenhouse gases and (b) petroleum, oil, gasoline, natural gas, fuel oil, motor oil, waste oil, diesel fuel, jet fuel and other refined petroleum hydrocarbons.

 

4


Indemnified Party ” means the Party entitled to indemnification in accordance with Article II .

Indemnifying Party ” means the Party from whom indemnification may be sought in accordance with Article II .

Initial LP Interest ” is defined in Schedule D .

Interests Assumed Obligations ” is defined in Section 2.2(a) .

Interests ” means the equity interests in the entities being conveyed, contributed or otherwise transferred to any Group Member pursuant to the Equity Contribution Agreement

Limited Partner ” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

Losses ” means any losses, damages, liabilities, claims, demands, causes of action, judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, costs and expenses (including court costs and reasonable attorney’s and expert’s fees) of any and every kind or character, known or unknown, fixed or contingent.

Mediation Notice ” is defined in Section 5.2(b) .

Midstream Assets ” means (i) midstream energy assets, including gathering pipelines, transportation pipelines, treating and processing facilities, dehydration facilities, compressor stations, pump stations, metering stations and other similar assets, used in the midstream energy business and (ii) equity interests in the entities owning such assets.

NBL Administrative Fee ” is defined in Section 3.2(a) .

Noble ” is defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Non-DevCo Assets ” means all of the assets of the Partnership Group other than all of the assets owned by DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP and DevCo III LP.

Operational Services Agreement ” means that certain Operational Services Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and between CNX Gas Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the Partnership, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Operating Company ” is defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Partnership ” is defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Partnership Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of the Closing Date, as it may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Partnership Change of Control ” means CONE Gathering ceases to control, directly or indirectly, the general partner of the Partnership. For purposes of this definition, “ control

 

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means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the general partner of the Partnership, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Partnership Group ” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

Partnership Interests ” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

Party ” and “ Parties ” are defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

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.

Proposed Transaction ” is defined in Section 4.2(a) .

Receiving Party ” is defined in Section 5.1(a) .

Representative ” is defined in Section 5.1(a) .

Retained Assets ” means any assets, or portions thereof, owned by any member of the CONE Gathering Group that were not directly or indirectly conveyed, contributed or otherwise transferred to the Partnership Group pursuant to the Equity Contribution Agreement or the other documents referenced in the Equity Contribution Agreement.

ROFO Assets ” means any Midstream Assets, or portions thereof, owned by any member of the CONE Gathering Group, including CONE Gathering’s interests in (i) DevCo I LP, (ii) DevCo II LP, (iii) DevCo III LP and (iv) the Retained Assets, as well as any additional Midstream Assets that the CONE Gathering Group develops during the ROFO Period.

ROFO Notice ” is defined in Section 4.2(a) .

ROFO Period ” means the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the earlier to occur of (i) the ten-year anniversary of the Closing Date or (ii) a Partnership Change of Control.

ROFO Response ” is defined in Section 4.2(a) .

Sponsors ” is defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Subsidiary ” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

Transfer ” means to, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of, whether in one or a series of transactions.

1.2 Rules of Construction . Unless expressly provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the following provisions:

(a) If a word or phrase is defined, its other grammatical forms have a corresponding meaning.

 

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(b) The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

(c) A reference to any Party to this Agreement or another agreement or document includes such Party’s successors and assigns.

(d) The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and article, section, subsection and schedule references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

(e) The words “including,” “include,” “includes” and all variations thereof shall mean “including without limitation.”

(f) The word “or” shall have the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase “and/or.”

(g) The words “shall” and “will” have equal force and effect.

(h) The schedules identified in this Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Agreement.

(i) References to “$” or to “dollars” shall mean the lawful currency of the United States of America.

ARTICLE II

INDEMNIFICATION

2.1 CONE Gathering Indemnification . To the fullest extent permitted by law, CONE Gathering shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Group Member from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by such Group Member, directly or indirectly, by reason of or arising out of:

(a) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by each of the Asset Contribution Agreements and the Equity Contribution Agreement;

(b) the use, ownership or operation of the Assets to the extent and only to the extent occurring before the Closing Date, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any environmental event, condition or matter associated with or arising from the ownership or operation of the Assets (including the presence of Hazardous Substances on, under, about or migrating to or from the Assets or the disposal or the release of Hazardous Substances generated by operation of the Assets at non-Asset locations) including (i) the cost and expense of any investigation, assessment, evaluation, monitoring, containment, cleanup, repair, restoration, remediation, risk-based closure activities or other corrective action required or necessary under Environmental Laws and (ii) the cost and expense of the preparation and implementation of any closure, remedial, corrective action or other plans required or necessary under Environmental Laws;

 

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(c) the Retained Assets, whether occurring before, on or after the Closing Date;

(d) all federal, state and local tax liabilities attributable to the ownership or operation of the Assets on or prior to the Closing Date, including under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6, as it may be amended (or any similar provision of state or local law), and any such tax liabilities that may result from the consummation of the Formation Transactions occurring prior to the Closing Date, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Asset Contribution Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Equity Contribution Agreement;

(e) the failure of such Group Member to be the owner of such valid and indefeasible easement rights or fee ownership or leasehold interests in and to the Assets as of the Closing Date to the extent and only to the extent such failure renders such Group Member liable to a third party or unable to use or operate the Assets in substantially the same manner that the Assets were used and operated as of immediately prior to the Closing Date;

(f) the failure of such Group Member to have the consents, licenses, permits or approvals necessary to allow (i) any pipeline included in the Assets to cross the roads, waterways, railroads and other areas upon which any such pipeline is located as of the Closing Date or (ii) the transfer of any of the Assets to the Partnership Group, in each case, to the extent and only to the extent such failure renders the Partnership Group liable to a third party or unable to use or operate the Assets in substantially the same manner that the Assets were used and operated as of immediately prior to the Closing Date; and

(g) the matters listed on Schedule A .

2.2 Partnership Group Assumption and Indemnification .

(a) Partnership Assumption and Indemnification .

(i) Subject to and without limiting the Partnership’s rights to indemnity under this Article II , from and after the Closing Date, the Partnership shall assume and hereby agrees to fulfill, perform, pay and discharge (or cause to be fulfilled, performed, paid or discharged) all obligations and Losses, known or unknown, to the extent arising from, based upon or attributable to the Interests, regardless of whether such obligations or Losses arose prior to, on or after the Closing Date (the “ Interests Assumed Obligations ”).

(ii) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless CONE Gathering from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by any member of the CONE Gathering Group, directly or indirectly, by reason of or arising out of (A) the Interests Assumed Obligations or (B) the Non-DevCo Assets, unless such indemnification would not be permitted by any Group Member under the Partnership Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Interests Assumed Obligations shall not include any matter for which CONE Gathering is obligated to indemnify a Group Member or for which DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP or DevCo III LP is obligated to indemnify CONE Gathering under the terms of this Article II .

 

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(b) DevCo I LP Assumption and Indemnification . To the fullest extent permitted by law, DevCo I LP shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless CONE Gathering from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by any member of the CONE Gathering Group, directly or indirectly, by reason of or arising out of the DevCo I Assumed Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, the DevCo I Assumed Obligations shall not include any matter for which CONE Gathering is obligated to indemnify a Group Member under the terms of this Article II .

(c) DevCo II LP Assumption and Indemnification . To the fullest extent permitted by law, DevCo II LP shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless CONE Gathering from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by any member of the CONE Gathering Group, directly or indirectly, by reason of or arising out of the DevCo II Assumed Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, the DevCo II Assumed Obligations shall not include any matter for which CONE Gathering is obligated to indemnify a Group Member under the terms of this Article II .

(d) DevCo III LP Assumption and Indemnification . To the fullest extent permitted by law, DevCo III LP shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless CONE Gathering from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by any member of the CONE Gathering Group, directly or indirectly, by reason of or arising out of the DevCo III Assumed Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, the DevCo III Assumed Obligations shall not include any matter for which CONE Gathering is obligated to indemnify a Group Member under the terms of this Article II .

2.3 Indemnification Procedures .

(a) The Indemnified Party agrees that within a reasonable period of time after it becomes aware of facts giving rise to a claim for indemnification under this Article II , it will provide notice thereof in writing to the Indemnifying Party, specifying the nature of and specific basis for such claim.

(b) The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to control all aspects of the defense of (and any counterclaims with respect to) any claims brought against the Indemnified Party that are covered by the indemnification under this Article II , including the selection of counsel, determination of whether to appeal any decision of any court and the settling of any such claim or any matter or any issues relating thereto; provided , however , that no such settlement for only the payment of money shall be entered into without the consent of the Indemnified Party unless it includes a full release of the Indemnified Party from such claim; provided, further , that no such settlement containing any form of injunctive or similar relief shall be entered into without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld.

(c) The Indemnified Party agrees to cooperate in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner with the Indemnifying Party with respect to all aspects of the defense of and pursuit of any counterclaims relating to any claims covered by the indemnification under this Article II , including the prompt furnishing to the Indemnifying Party of any correspondence or other notice relating thereto that the Indemnified Party may receive, permitting the name of the

 

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Indemnified Party to be utilized in connection with such defense and counterclaims ( provided , that the Indemnified Party has an opportunity to review the use of its name and does not reasonably object to such use), the making available to the Indemnifying Party of any files, records or other information of the Indemnified Party that the Indemnifying Party considers relevant to such defense and counterclaims, the making available to the Indemnifying Party of any employees of the Indemnified Party and the granting to the Indemnifying Party of reasonable access rights to the properties and facilities of the Indemnified Party; provided , however , that in connection therewith the Indemnifying Party agrees to use reasonable efforts to minimize the impact thereof on the operations of the Indemnified Party and further agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all files, records and other information furnished by the Indemnified Party pursuant to this Section 2.3 . The obligation of the Indemnified Party to cooperate with the Indemnifying Party as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall not be construed as imposing upon the Indemnified Party an obligation to hire and pay for counsel in connection with the defense of any claims and pursuit of any counterclaims with respect to any claims covered by the indemnification set forth in this Article II ; provided , however , that the Indemnified Party may, at its own option, cost and expense, hire and pay for counsel in connection with any such defense and counterclaims. The Indemnifying Party agrees to keep any such counsel hired by the Indemnified Party informed as to the status of any such defense or counterclaim, but the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to retain sole control over such defense and counterclaims so long as the Indemnified Party is still seeking indemnification hereunder.

(d) In determining the amount of any loss, cost, damage or expense for which the Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, the gross amount of the indemnification will be reduced by (i) any insurance proceeds realized by the Indemnified Party, and such correlative insurance benefit shall be net of any incremental insurance premium that becomes due and payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such claim and (ii) all amounts recovered by the Indemnified Party under contractual indemnities from third Persons.

2.4 Limitations Regarding Indemnification .

(a) CONE Gathering shall not be obligated to indemnify, defend and hold harmless any Group Member under this Agreement until such time as the total aggregate amount of Losses incurred by the Partnership Group for such Losses exceeds $500,000 (the “ Deductible ”), at which time CONE Gathering shall be obligated to indemnify the Partnership Group for the amount of such Losses in excess of the Deductible; provided, however , that, with respect to any Losses incurred by any Group Member attributable to those matters identified on Schedule B , the Deductible shall be zero.

(b) None of the Partnership, DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP or DevCo III LP shall be obligated to indemnify, defend and hold harmless CONE Gathering under Section 2.2(a) , Section 2.2(b) , Section 2.2(c) and Section 2.2(d) , respectively, of this Agreement until such time as the total aggregate amount of Losses incurred by the CONE Gathering Group for such Losses exceeds the Deductible, at which time the Partnership, DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP or DevCo III LP, as applicable, shall be obligated to indemnify CONE Gathering for the amount of such Losses in excess of the Deductible. For the avoidance of doubt, the Deductible shall apply and be calculated separately for each of the Partnership, DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP and DevCo III

 

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LP, and indemnifiable Losses attributable to the Partnership, DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP and DevCo III LP shall not be aggregated for purposes of calculating the Deductible for each such entity.

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, (i) there is no monetary cap on the amount of indemnity coverage provided by any Indemnifying Party under this Article II and (ii) the obligation of CONE Gathering to indemnify any Group Member under this Agreement shall be limited to the extent of the Losses incurred by the Partnership with respect to its direct or indirect ownership interest in such Group Member.

(d) The indemnities set forth in Section 2.1(a) , Section 2.1(b) , Section 2.1(c) , Section 2.1(d) , Section 2.1(e) and Section 2.1(f) shall terminate on the third anniversary of the Closing Date. The indemnities set forth in Section 2.1(g) shall terminate on the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date. The indemnities set forth in Section 2.2 shall survive the Closing without time limit, to the fullest extent permitted by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be no termination of any bona fide claim asserted pursuant to the indemnities in Section 2.1 prior to the date of termination for such indemnity.

(e) NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY’S INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATION HEREUNDER COVER OR INCLUDE CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, SPECIAL OR SIMILAR DAMAGES OR LOST PROFITS (INCLUDING ANY DIMINUTION IN VALUE OF ANY PARTY’S RESPECTIVE INVESTMENT IN THE PARTNERSHIP) SUFFERED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY ANY OTHER PARTY ENTITLED TO INDEMNIFICATION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, EXCEPT AS A REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY SUCH DAMAGES AS ARE PAID TO A GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY OR OTHER THIRD PARTY.

2.5 Express Negligence . TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE INDEMNIFICATION, RELEASE, ASSUMPTION AND WAIVER PROVISIONS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE APPLICABLE WHETHER OR NOT THE LIABILITIES IN QUESTION ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE STRICT LIABILITY OR NEGLIGENCE (JOINT, SEVERAL, ACTIVE, PASSIVE, SOLE OR CONCURRENT) OF OR BY ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY. THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS STATEMENT COMPLIES WITH THE EXPRESS NEGLIGENCE RULE AND IS CONSPICUOUS.

2.6 Exclusive Remedy . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, from and after the Closing Date, Section 2.1 and Section 2.2 contain the Parties’ exclusive remedy against each other with respect to breaches of the covenants of the Parties set forth in Article II . Except for (a) the remedies contained in Section 2.1 and Section 2.2 , (b) any other remedies available to the Parties at law or in equity for breaches of provisions of this Agreement other than Article II and (c) the remedies available at law or in equity in connection with any other document delivered by a Party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (including pursuant to the Equity Contribution Agreement or any Asset Contribution Agreement), from and after the Closing Date, each of the Parties releases, remises and forever discharges the other and its Affiliates and all such Persons’ equity holders, partners, members,

 

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officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors and representatives from any and all Losses in law or in equity, known or unknown, which such Parties might now or subsequently may have, based on, relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

ARTICLE III

SERVICES; REIMBURSEMENT

3.1 General and Administrative Services .

(a) Each of the Sponsors agrees to provide, and agrees to cause its Affiliates to provide, to the General Partner, for the Partnership Group’s benefit, the general and administrative services that have been traditionally provided in connection with the ownership and operation of the Assets, which consist of the services set forth on Schedule C (the “ General and Administrative Services ”).

(b) Absent the written agreement of the Parties to the contrary, the Parties agree that the General and Administrative Services will be received by the General Partner, for the benefit of the Partnership Group, at the General Partner’s principal place of business.

(c) The Parties acknowledge that the costs and expenses of General and Administrative Services will be allocated among the Group Members (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes DevCo I LP, DevCo II LP and DevCo III LP) based on any reasonable allocation methodology as determined by the Sponsor providing such General and Administrative Services.

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties acknowledge and agree that the fees, costs and expenses subject to this Article III shall be in addition to, and not in duplication of, any amounts owed to CONSOL by the Partnership pursuant to the Operational Services Agreement.

3.2 Administrative Fee .

(a) As consideration for CONSOL’s and its Affiliates’ provision of the General and Administrative Services, the Partnership Group will pay to CONSOL an annual fee that will reflect the costs incurred by CONSOL and its Affiliates in providing such General and Administrative Services (other than those costs for which CONSOL and its Affiliates are entitled to reimbursement pursuant to Section 3.3 ), as determined in good faith by CONSOL in accordance with Schedule C (the “ CNX Administrative Fee ”). As consideration for Noble’s and its Affiliates’ provision of the General and Administrative Services, the Partnership Group will pay to Noble an annual fee that will reflect the costs incurred by Noble and its Affiliates in providing such General and Administrative Services (other than those costs for which Noble and its Affiliates are entitled to reimbursement pursuant to Section 3.3 ), as determined in good faith by Noble in accordance with Schedule C (the “ NBL Administrative Fee ” and, together with the CNX Administrative Fee, the “ Administrative Fee ”). The Parties acknowledge and agree that it is the intent of the Parties that the General and Administrative Services be provided based on an arm’s-length standard and that each of the CNX Administrative Fee and the NBL Administrative Fee is intended to reflect such standard. For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties further acknowledge and agree that the Administrative Fee will cover the fully burdened cost of the General and Administrative Services provided by the Sponsors and their Affiliates to the

 

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Partnership Group, as well as any third-party costs actually incurred by the Sponsors and their Affiliates on behalf of the Partnership Group in providing such General and Administrative Services (other than those costs for which the Sponsors and their Affiliates are entitled to reimbursement pursuant to Section 3.3 ), including the following:

(i) the compensation and employee benefits of employees of the Sponsors or their Affiliates (and any employment, payroll or similar taxes related thereto), to the extent, but only to the extent, such employees perform General and Administrative Services for the Partnership Group’s benefit. With respect to employees that do not devote all of their business time to the Partnership Group, such compensation and employee benefits (and any withholding or payroll taxes related thereto) shall be allocated to the Partnership Group based on the annual weighted average of time spent and number of employees devoting services to the Partnership Group;

(ii) any expenses incurred or payments made by the Sponsors or their Affiliates on behalf of the Partnership Group for insurance coverage with respect to the Assets or the business of the Partnership Group;

(iii) all expenses and expenditures incurred by the Sponsors or their Affiliates on behalf of the Partnership Group as a result of the Partnership becoming and continuing as a publicly traded entity, including costs associated with the following: annual, quarterly and current reporting with the Securities and Exchange Commission; tax return and Schedule K-1 preparation and distribution; Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance; listing on the New York Stock Exchange; independent auditor fees; legal fees; investor relations expenses; transfer agent and registrar fees; outside director fees; and insurance expenses; and

(iv) all sales, use, excise, value added or similar taxes, if any, that may be applicable from time to time with respect to the General and Administrative Services provided by the Sponsors and their Affiliates to the Partnership Group pursuant to Section 3.1 .

(b) As part of the Administrative Fee, the Partnership Group shall pay to each of the Sponsors a fixed fee, in the amount shown on Schedule C , in consideration for the services of certain employees of such Sponsor and its Affiliates in their capacities as officers of the General Partner and the Group Members.

(c) The Parties acknowledge and agree that the CNX Administrative Fee and/or the NBL Administrative Fee may change each calendar year, as determined by the applicable Sponsor in good faith, to accurately reflect the degree and extent of the General and Administrative Services provided to the Partnership Group by such Sponsor and may be adjusted to reflect, among other things, the contribution, acquisition or disposition of assets to or by the Partnership Group or to reflect any change in the cost of providing General and Administrative Services to the Partnership Group due to changes in any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Sponsors and their Affiliates or the Partnership Group, including any interpretation of such laws, rules or regulations.

 

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(d) On or prior to January 1 of each calendar year during the term of this Agreement, each of CONSOL and Noble will notify the General Partner of the estimated amount of the CNX Administrative Fee and Noble Administrative Fee, respectively (including, in each case, both the fixed and variable portions of such fee as described in Schedule C ), to be paid by the Partnership Group for such calendar year. For the calendar year in which the Closing Date occurs, such estimate shall be made on or prior to the Closing Date and shall pertain only to the remainder of such calendar year. Commencing with the first full month following the Closing Date, each of the CNX Administrative Fee and the Noble Administrative Fee shall be invoiced and paid as follows:

(i) Within 20 days following the end of each month during the term of this Agreement, each of CONSOL and Noble will submit to the Partnership Group an invoice of the amounts due for such month for the CNX Administrative Fee and the Noble Administrative Fee, respectively. Each invoice will contain reasonably satisfactory support of such amounts and such other supporting detail as the General Partner may reasonably require.

(ii) The Partnership Group will pay the CNX Administrative Fee and the NBL Administrative Fee within 10 days after the receipt of the invoice therefor. The Partnership Group shall not offset any amounts owing to it by the Sponsors or any of their Affiliates against the Administrative Fee payable hereunder.

3.3 Reimbursement of General and Administrative Expenses . In addition to the Administrative Fee payable under Section 3.2 , the Partnership Group will reimburse the Sponsors and their Affiliates on a monthly basis for any additional out-of-pocket costs and expenses actually incurred by the Sponsors and their Affiliates in providing the General and Administrative Services, as well as any other out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Partnership Group, including any employment, payroll or similar taxes paid by the Sponsors and their Affiliates in connection with any long-term incentive plan (or similar compensation plan) of the General Partner or the Partnership Group.

ARTICLE IV

RIGHT OF FIRST OFFER

4.1 Right of First Offer to Purchase Certain Assets .

(a) CONE Gathering hereby grants to the Partnership a right of first offer, exercisable during the ROFO Period, to purchase all or any part of the ROFO Assets to the extent that CONE Gathering proposes to Transfer all or any part of any ROFO Asset; provided, however , that CONE Gathering may Transfer all or any part of any ROFO Asset to a member of the CONE Gathering Group that agrees in writing that such ROFO Asset remains subject to the provisions of this Article IV and such CONE Gathering Group member assumes the obligations of CONE Gathering under this Article IV with respect to such ROFO Asset, and such Transfer shall not be subject to the Partnership Group’s right of first offer.

(b) The Parties acknowledge that any Transfer of all or any part of any ROFO Asset pursuant to the Partnership’s right of first offer is subject to the terms of all existing agreements

 

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with respect to the ROFO Assets and shall be subject to and conditioned on the obtaining of any and all necessary consents of securityholders, Governmental Authorities, lenders or other third parties; provided , however , that CONE Gathering hereby represents and warrants that, to its knowledge after reasonable investigation, there are no terms in such agreements that would materially impair the rights granted to the Partnership Group pursuant to this Article IV with respect to any ROFO Asset.

4.2 Procedures .

(a) If CONE Gathering proposes to Transfer all or any part of any ROFO Asset (other than to a CONE Gathering Group member in accordance with Section 4.1(a) ) during the ROFO Period (a “ Proposed Transaction ”), CONE Gathering shall, prior to entering into any such Proposed Transaction, first give notice in writing to the Partnership (the “ ROFO Notice ”) of its intention to enter into such Proposed Transaction. The ROFO Notice shall include any material terms, conditions and details that would be necessary for the Partnership to make a responsive offer to enter into the Proposed Transaction with CONE Gathering, which terms, conditions and details shall at a minimum include any terms, conditions or details that CONE Gathering would propose to provide to non-Affiliates in connection with the Proposed Transaction. If the Partnership determines to purchase the ROFO Assets, the Partnership shall have 60 days following receipt of the ROFO Notice to propose an offer to enter into the Proposed Transaction with CONE Gathering (the “ ROFO Response ”). The ROFO Response shall set forth the terms and conditions (including the purchase price the Partnership proposes to pay for the ROFO Asset and the other terms of the purchase) pursuant to which the Partnership would be willing to enter into a binding agreement for the Proposed Transaction. If no ROFO Response is delivered by the Partnership within such 60-day period, then the Partnership shall be deemed to have waived its right of first offer with respect to such ROFO Asset, subject to Section 4.2(c) .

(b) Unless the ROFO Response is rejected pursuant to written notice delivered by CONE Gathering to the Partnership within 60 days of the delivery to CONE Gathering of the ROFO Response, such ROFO Response shall be deemed to have been accepted by CONE Gathering, and CONE Gathering shall enter into an agreement with the Partnership providing for the consummation of the Proposed Transaction upon the terms set forth in the ROFO Response. Unless CONE Gathering and the Partnership otherwise agree, the terms of the purchase and sale agreement will include the following:

(i) the Partnership will deliver the agreed purchase price (in cash, Partnership Interests, an interest-bearing promissory note or any combination thereof);

(ii) the closing date for the purchase of the ROFO Asset shall occur no later than 180 days following receipt by CONE Gathering of the ROFO Response pursuant to Section 4.2(a) ;

(iii) each of CONE Gathering and the Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to do or cause to be done all things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to effectuate the consummation of any transactions contemplated by this Section 4.2(b) , including causing its respective Affiliates to execute, deliver and perform all documents, notices, amendments, certificates, instruments and consents required in connection therewith; and

(iv) neither CONE Gathering nor the Partnership shall have any obligation to consummate the Proposed Transaction if any consent referred to in Section 4.1(b) has not been obtained.

 

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(c) If the Partnership has not timely delivered a ROFO Response as specified above with respect to a Proposed Transaction that is subject to a ROFO Notice, CONE Gathering shall be free to enter into a Proposed Transaction with any third party on terms and conditions no more favorable to such third party than those set forth in the ROFO Notice. If CONE Gathering rejects a ROFO Response with respect to any Proposed Transaction, CONE Gathering shall be free to enter into a Proposed Transaction with any third party (i) on terms and conditions (excluding those relating to price) that are not more favorable in the aggregate to such third party than those proposed in respect of the Partnership Group in the ROFO Response and (ii) at a price equal to no less than 100% of the price offered by the Partnership in the ROFO Response to CONE Gathering.

(d) The Partnership can assign its rights and obligations under this Article IV to any Group Member.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

5.1 Confidentiality .

(a) From and after the Closing Date, each Party (each, a “ Receiving Party ”) in possession of another Party’s (each, a “ Disclosing Party ”) Confidential Information shall (i) hold, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and its and their directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors, and other representatives (each, a “ Representative ” and, collectively, “ Representatives ”) to hold, all Confidential Information of each Disclosing Party in strict confidence, with at least the same degree of care that applies to such Receiving Party’s confidential and proprietary information, (ii) not use such Confidential Information, except as expressly permitted by such Disclosing Party and (iii) not release or disclose such Confidential Information to any other Person, except its Representatives or except as required by applicable law. Each Party shall be responsible for any Losses resulting from a breach of this Section 5.1 by any of its Representatives.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 5.1(a) , if a Receiving Party becomes legally compelled or obligated to disclose Confidential Information of a Disclosing Party by a Governmental Authority or applicable law, or is required to disclose such Confidential Information pursuant to the listing standards of any applicable national securities exchange on which the Receiving Party’s securities are listed or quoted, the Receiving Party shall promptly advise, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Disclosing Party of such requirement or obligation to disclose Confidential Information as soon as the Receiving Party becomes aware that such a requirement to disclose might become effective in order that, where possible, the Disclosing Party may seek a protective order or such other remedy as the Disclosing Party may consider appropriate in the

 

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circumstances. The Receiving Party shall disclose only that portion of the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information that it is required or obligated to disclose and shall cooperate with the Disclosing Party in allowing the Disclosing Party to obtain such protective order or other relief.

(c) Each Party acknowledges that a Disclosing Party would not have an adequate remedy at law for the breach by a Receiving Party of any one or more of the covenants contained in this Section 5.1 and agrees that, in the event of such breach, the Disclosing Party may, in addition to the other remedies that may be available to it, apply to a court for an injunction to prevent breaches of this Section 5.1 and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Section 5.1 . Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the provisions of this Section 5.1 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for a period of two years.

5.2 Choice of Law; Mediation; Submission to Jurisdiction .

(a) This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts-of-law rule or principle that might refer the construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the laws of another state. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT INVOLVES AT LEAST U.S. $100,000.00 AND THAT THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN ENTERED INTO IN EXPRESS RELIANCE UPON 6 Del. C. § 2708. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES (i) TO BE SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND OF THE FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND (ii) TO THE EXTENT SUCH PARTY IS NOT OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, TO APPOINT AND MAINTAIN AN AGENT IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE AS SUCH PARTY’S AGENT FOR ACCEPTANCE OF LEGAL PROCESS AND TO NOTIFY THE OTHER PARTIES OF THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF SUCH AGENT.

(b) If the Parties cannot resolve any dispute or claim arising under this Agreement, then no earlier than 10 days nor more than 60 days following written notice to the other Parties, any Party may initiate mandatory, non-binding mediation hereunder by giving a notice of mediation (a “ Mediation Notice ”) to the other Parties to the dispute or claim. In connection with any mediation pursuant to this Section 5.2 , the mediator shall be jointly appointed by the Parties to the dispute or claim and the mediation shall be conducted in Houston, Texas unless otherwise agreed by the Parties to the dispute or claim. All costs and expenses of the mediator appointed pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall be shared equally by the Parties to the dispute or claim. The then-current Model ADR Procedures for Mediation of Business Disputes of the Center for Public Resources, Inc., either as written or as modified by mutual agreement of the Parties to the dispute or claim, shall govern any mediation pursuant to this Section 5.2 . In the mediation, each Party to the dispute or claim shall be represented by one or more senior representatives who shall have authority to resolve any disputes. If a dispute or claim has not been resolved within 30 days after the receipt of the Mediation Notice by a Party, then any Party to the dispute or claim may refer the resolution of the dispute or claim to litigation.

(c) Subject to Section 5.2(b) , to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Party agrees that it shall bring any action or proceeding in respect of any claim arising out of or related to this

 

17


Agreement, whether in tort or contract or at law or in equity, exclusively in any federal or state courts located in Delaware and (i) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts, (ii) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts, (iii) waives any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over it and (iv) agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, service of process upon it may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to it at its address specified in Section 5.3 . The foregoing consents to jurisdiction and service of process shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, constitute general consents to service of process in the State of Delaware for any purpose except as provided herein and shall not be deemed to confer rights on any Person other than the Parties.

5.3 Notice . All notices or requests or consents provided for by, or permitted to be given pursuant to, this Agreement must be in writing and must be given by (a) e-mail, (b) United States mail, addressed to the Person to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (c) delivering such notice in person or (d) facsimile to such Party. Notice given by personal delivery or mail shall be effective upon actual receipt. Notice given by e-mail or facsimile shall be effective upon actual receipt if received during the recipient’s normal business hours or at the beginning of the recipient’s next business day after receipt if not received during the recipient’s normal business hours. All notices to be sent to a Party pursuant to this Agreement shall be sent to or made at the address set forth below or at such other address as such Party may stipulate to the other Parties in the manner provided in this Section 5.3 .

If to CONSOL:

CONSOL Energy Inc.

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317

Attention: General Counsel

Facsimile: 724-485-4837

E-mail: stevejohnson@consolenergy.com

If to Noble:

Noble Energy, Inc.

1001 Noble Energy Way

Houston, Texas 77070

Attention: Associate General Counsel

Facsimile: 281-872-2557

E-mail: kmoore@nobleenergyinc.com

If to CONE Gathering:

CONE Gathering LLC

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317

Attention: President

Facsimile: 724-485-4817

E-mail: joefink@consolenergy.com

 

18


If to any Group Member:

CONE Midstream Partners LP

c/o CONE Midstream GP LLC, its general partner

1001 Noble Energy Way

Houston, Texas 77070

Attention: General Counsel

Facsimile: 281-872-2557

E-mail: kmoore@nobleenergyinc.com

5.4 Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the Equity Contribution Agreement and the Asset Contribution Agreements constitute the entire agreement of the Parties relating to the matters contained herein, superseding all prior contracts or agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the matters contained herein.

5.5 Termination of Agreement . This Agreement, other than the provisions set forth in Article II hereof, may be terminated (a) by the written agreement of all of the Parties or (b) by CONSOL, Noble, CONE Gathering or the Partnership immediately upon a Partnership Change of Control by written notice given to the other Parties to this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties’ indemnification obligations under Article II shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, survive the termination of this Agreement in accordance with their respective terms.

5.6 Amendment or Modification . This Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by the mutual agreement of all the Parties. Each such agreement shall be reduced to writing and shall be designated on its face an “Amendment” or an “Addendum” to this Agreement.

5.7 Assignment . No Party shall have the right to assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other Parties; provided , however , that the General Partner and any Group Member may make a collateral assignment of this Agreement solely to secure financing for the Partnership Group.

5.8 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signatory parties had signed the same document and shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission or in portable document format (.pdf) (or similar electronic format) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

5.9 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable by a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

19


5.10 Further Assurances . In connection with this Agreement and all transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each Party hereto agrees to execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments and to perform such additional acts as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, carry out and perform all of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and all such transactions.

5.11 Rights of Limited Partners . The provisions of this Agreement are enforceable solely by the Parties to this Agreement, and no Limited Partner or other interest holder of the Partnership shall have the right, separate and apart from the Partnership, to enforce any provision of this Agreement or to compel any Party to this Agreement to comply with the terms of this Agreement.

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank. ]

 

20


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Parties have executed this Agreement on, and effective as of, the Closing Date.

 

CONSOL ENERGY INC.     NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
By:  

/s/ Stephen W. Johnson

    By:  

/s/ Donald G. Moore

Name:   Stephen W. Johnson     Name:   Donald G. Moore
Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer     Title:   Vice President
CONE GATHERING LLC     CONE MIDSTREAM GP LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

    By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

Name:   Joseph M. Fink     Name:   Joseph M. Fink
Title:   President     Title:   Chief Operating Officer
CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP     CONE MIDSTREAM OPERATING COMPANY LLC
By:   CONE Midstream GP LLC, its general partner      
By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

    By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

Name:   Joseph M. Fink     Name:   Joseph M. Fink
Title:   Chief Operating Officer     Title:   Chief Operating Officer
CONE MIDSTREAM DEVCO I LP     CONE MIDSTREAM DEVCO II LP
By:   CONE Midstream DevCo I GP LLC, its general partner     By:   CONE Midstream DevCo II GP LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

    By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

Name:   Joseph M. Fink     Name:   Joseph M. Fink
Title:   Chief Operating Officer     Title:   Chief Operating Officer
CONE MIDSTREAM DEVCO III LP      
By:   CONE Midstream DevCo III GP LLC, its general partner      
By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

     
Name:   Joseph M. Fink      
Title:   Chief Operating Officer      

[ Signature Page to Omnibus Agreement ]


Schedule A

Subject Matters

 

1. All costs, expenses and liabilities incurred by a Group Member with respect to mine subsidence and/or the mitigation thereof incurred in connection with the Gathering System (as defined in the Gathering Agreements).

 

2. Any costs and liabilities related to that certain Majorsville Inlet Facilities Construction and Operations Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2012 by and between Markwest Liberty Midstream & Resources, L.L.C. and CONE Gathering LLC, as amended.

 

Schedule A-1


Schedule B

Certain Losses

 

1. All costs, expenses and liabilities incurred by a Group Member with respect to mine subsidence and/or the mitigation thereof incurred in connection with the Gathering System (as defined in the Gathering Agreements).

 

Schedule B-1


Schedule C

General and Administrative Services

Pursuant to Section 3.1(a)

 

(1) Management services of employees of the Sponsors and their Affiliates (other than the General Partner). This cost includes Sponsor-stock based compensation expense.

 

(2) Financial and administrative (including treasury, accounting and internal audit)

 

(3) Information technology

 

(4) Legal services

 

(5) Health, environmental, safety and security (including third-party security services)

 

(6) Human resources

 

(7) Tax

 

(8) Payroll

 

(9) Procurement

 

(10) Real property/land

 

(11) Investor relations

 

(12) Government relations, governmental compliance and public affairs

 

(13) Analytical & engineering

 

(14) Business development

 

(15) Risk management

Pursuant to Section 3.2

The Administrative Fee for calendar year 2015, as described in Section 3.2 , will be $1,400,000 initially and is comprised of: (i) the fixed portion of the CNX Administrative Fee of $620,000 attributable to services provided by officers of General Partner and the Group Members, (ii) the variable portion of the CNX Administrative Fee, which will be $600,000 initially and (iii) the fixed portion of the NBL Administrative Fee of $180,000 attributable to services provided by officers of General Partner and the Group Members. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Fee for the remainder of calendar year 2014 will be the same annual amount as calendar year 2015 pro-rated based on the number of days remaining in 2014 from the Closing Date.

 

Schedule C-1


The portion of the Administrative Fee attributable to any information technology services, administrative/office services and public company expenses will be a variable amount based on the costs actually incurred by the Sponsors and their Affiliates on behalf of the Partnership Group (other than any costs for which the Sponsors and their Affiliates are reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.3 ). The portion of the variable amount of the Administrative Fee attributable to any services described in the preceding sentence will be based on the costs incurred by the Sponsors and their Affiliates on behalf of the Partnership Group (other than any costs for which the Sponsors and their Affiliates are reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.3 ).

 

Schedule C-2


Schedule D

Formation Transactions

The “ Formation Transactions ” consist of the following:

1. On May 30, 2014, CONE Gathering formed the General Partner under the Delaware LLC Act and contributed $1,000 in exchange for 100% of the limited liability company interests in the General Partner;

2. On May 30, 2014, CONE Gathering, as the organizational limited partner, and the General Partner, as the general partner, formed the Partnership under the DRULPA and contributed $6,860 and $140, respectively, in exchange for a 98% limited partner interest (the “ Initial LP Interest ”) and a 2% general partner interest, respectively, in the Partnership;

3. On July 11, 2014, CONE Gathering formed the Operating Company under the Delaware LLC Act and contributed $4,000 in exchange for 100% of the limited liability company interests in the Operating Company;

4. On July 11, 2014, the Operating Company formed DevCo I GP under the Delaware LLC Act and contributed $1,000 in exchange for 100% of the limited liability company interests in DevCo I GP;

5. On July 11, 2014, CONE Gathering, as the organizational limited partner, and DevCo I GP, as the general partner, formed DevCo I LP under the DRULPA and contributed $250 and $750, respectively, in exchange for a 25% limited partner interest and a 75% general partner interest, respectively, in DevCo I LP;

6. On July 11, 2014, the Operating Company formed DevCo II GP under the Delaware LLC Act and contributed $1,000 in exchange for 100% of the limited liability company interests in DevCo II GP;

7. On July 11, 2014, CONE Gathering, as the organizational limited partner, and DevCo II GP, as the general partner, formed DevCo II LP under the DRULPA and contributed $950 and $50, respectively, in exchange for a 95% limited partner interest and a 5% general partner interest, respectively, in DevCo II LP;

8. On July 11, 2014, the Operating Company formed DevCo III GP under the Delaware LLC Act and contributed $1,000 in exchange for 100% of the limited liability company interests in DevCo III GP; and

9. On July 11, 2014, CONE Gathering, as the organizational limited partner, and DevCo III GP, as the general partner, formed DevCo III LP under the DRULPA and contributed $950 and $50, respectively, in exchange for a 95% limited partner interest and a 5% general partner interest, respectively, in DevCo III LP.

 

Schedule D-1

Exhibit 10.3

Execution Version

OPERATIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT

by and between

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

and

CNX GAS COMPANY LLC

dated as of

September 30, 2014


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

  1
 

1.1

  

Defined Terms

  1
 

1.2

  

References and Rules of Construction

  1

ARTICLE II POWER AND AUTHORITY; SERVICES

  2
 

2.1

  

Operator Power and Authority; Services

  2
 

2.2

  

Limitations on Authority

  3
 

2.3

  

Emergency

  5
 

2.4

  

Contracts

  5
 

2.5

  

Ownership of Property

  6
 

2.6

  

Operator’s Delegation of Authority

  6
 

2.7

  

Other Business Pursuits; No Fiduciary Duties

  6
 

2.8

  

Certain Conditions of Service

  6
 

2.9

  

Performance Standard

  7
 

2.10

  

Warranties Disclaimer

  7

ARTICLE III PAYMENTS

  7
 

3.1

  

Reimbursable Costs

  7
 

3.2

  

Payment Terms; Disputed Charges

  8
 

3.3

  

Taxes

  9
 

3.4

  

Maintenance of Accounts and Records

  9
 

3.5

  

Audit

  10

ARTICLE IV TERM; TERMINATION

  10
 

4.1

  

Term

  10
 

4.2

  

Operator Termination

  10
 

4.3

  

Partnership Termination

  10
 

4.4

  

Effect of Termination

  11
 

4.5

  

Transition Period

  11

ARTICLE V LIMITS OF RESPONSIBILITY; EXCULPATION; INDEMNIFICATION

  12
 

5.1

  

Limits of Responsibility

  12
 

5.2

  

Exculpation

  12
 

5.3

  

Indemnification by the Partnership

  13
 

5.4

  

Indemnification by Operator

  13
 

5.5

  

Indemnity Amount

  14
 

5.6

  

Indemnification Procedures

  14
 

5.7

  

Insurance

  15
 

5.8

  

No Recourse

  16

ARTICLE VI FORCE MAJEURE

  16
 

6.1

  

Excused Performance

  16
 

6.2

  

No Preclusion

  16
 

6.3

  

Limitations on Effect of Force Majeure

  17
 

6.4

  

Force Majeure Event Definition

  17

 

i


ARTICLE VII GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES

  17
 

7.1

  

Governing Law; Disputes

  17
 

7.2

  

Actual Direct Damages

  18

ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS

  18
 

8.1

  

Further Assurances

  18
 

8.2

  

Notices

  18
 

8.3

  

Waiver; Rights Cumulative

  19
 

8.4

  

Entire Agreement; Conflicts

  19
 

8.5

  

Amendment

  20
 

8.6

  

Parties in Interest

  20
 

8.7

  

Preparation of Agreement

  20
 

8.8

  

Severability

  20
 

8.9

  

Counterparts

  20
 

8.10

  

Successors and Permitted Assigns

  20
 

8.11

  

Assignment

  20

APPENDIX

       Appendix I   

Definitions

 

 

ii


OPERATIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Operational Services Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is executed and agreed to as of September 30, 2014 (the “ Execution Date ”) by and between CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and CNX Gas Company LLC, a Virginia limited liability company (“ Operator ”). The Partnership and Operator are hereinafter each referred to as a “ Party ” and are collectively referred to as the “ Parties .”

RECITALS

WHEREAS, pursuant to and subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement, the Partnership delegates to Operator the power and authority to act on behalf of the Partnership Group (defined below) to (a) manage the day-to-day operations of the business conducted, or to be conducted, by the Partnership Group (the “ Business ”) and (b) perform the Services (defined below) on behalf of the Partnership Group, and Operator agrees to provide the services to the Partnership Group.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

1.1 Defined Terms . For purposes hereof, the capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined has the meanings set forth in Appendix I .

1.2 References and Rules of Construction . All references in this Agreement to Appendices, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions refer to the corresponding Appendices, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions of or to this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. Titles appearing at the beginning of any Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute any part of this Agreement, and shall be disregarded in construing the language hereof. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and “hereof,” and words of similar import, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section, subsection or other subdivision unless expressly so limited. The word “including” (in its various forms) means “including without limitation.” All references to “$” or “dollars” shall be deemed references to United States dollars. Each accounting term not defined herein will have the meaning given to it under generally accepted accounting principles. Pronouns in masculine, feminine or neuter genders shall be construed to state and include any other gender, and words, terms and titles (including terms defined herein) in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. References to any Law means such Law as it may be amended from time to time.

 

1


ARTICLE II

POWER AND AUTHORITY; SERVICES

2.1 Operator Power and Authority; Services . Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, including Section 2.2 , the Partnership hereby delegates to Operator the responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Business. Pursuant to such delegated authority and subject to such limitations, except in the event of Force Majeure, Operator shall be responsible for and shall have all necessary power and authority to act on behalf of the Partnership Group with respect to the following (collectively, the “ Services ”):

(a) preparing, revising and submitting to the Partnership with respect to each DevCo (i) a proposed annual operating and capital expenditure budget in accordance with the terms of the applicable DevCo Agreement of Limited Partnership and (ii) a proposed Gathering System Plan (and amendments and modifications to previously approved Gathering System Plans) in accordance with the terms of the Sponsor Gathering Agreements;

(b) providing prompt written notice to the Partnership of (i) any Action or Claim that is asserted against the Partnership Midstream Assets, the Partnership or, to the extent related to the Partnership Midstream Assets or the Services, Operator or (ii) any casualty loss to the Partnership Midstream Assets;

(c) preparing and furnishing to the requisite Governmental Authority, as well as to the Partnership, all reports and information required by Law to be furnished to such Governmental Authority in connection with the ownership by the Partnership Group of, or the operation of, the Partnership Midstream Assets;

(d) performing accounting, bookkeeping, treasury and finance services, including billings, collections and cash management services and assisting the Partnership to comply with and administer the Partnership’s debt instruments;

(e) (i) maintaining the Partnership’s books and records, (ii) coordinating, on behalf of the Partnership, the work of external auditors for the Partnership’s Annual Financial Reports, Quarterly Financial Reports and other reporting throughout the year as warranted and (iii) providing, or causing to be provided, the Annual Financial Reports within 90 days following the end of the Partnership’s fiscal year, the Quarterly Financial Reports within 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter and such other financial reports as reasonably requested by the Partnership which will be provided as soon as is reasonably practicable by Operator;

(f) performing and managing matters relating to (i) compliance services, (ii) information technology and data processing services and (iii) capacity marketing;

(g) performing tax services;

(h) performing risk management services, including management of the procurement of insurance;

(i) upon request of the Partnership, performing investor relations services;

 

2


(j) managing acquisitions, including acquisitions of pipe, ROW and other equipment, and divestitures of the Partnership Midstream Assets;

(k) performing all actions necessary or appropriate to develop, engineer, manage, supervise, operate, monitor, maintain and repair the Partnership Midstream Assets;

(l) (i) negotiating, executing, modifying, administering, and extending, on behalf of the Partnership, and causing the Partnership to enter into, contracts relating to the Partnership Midstream Assets, including (A) contracts necessary in order for Operator’s fulfillment of its obligations under this Section 2.1 and (B) contracts for the provision of natural gas transportation services and (ii) maintaining, materially complying with (to the extent within the control of Operator) and enforcing (subject to obtaining the Partnership’s approval prior to instigating any suit or proceeding on behalf of Partnership) on behalf of the Partnership, all contracts that (A) are entered into by the Partnership at Operator’s direction or otherwise, if such contract has been provided to Operator and (B) relate to the Partnership Midstream Assets or to Operator’s fulfillment of its obligations under this Section 2.1 , including contracts for the provision of natural gas transportation services;

(m) providing prompt written notice to the Partnership of any upcoming normal and routine maintenance, repair and modification projects that are planned for the Partnership Midstream Assets and that will result in an interruption of Gathering Services under the Sponsor Gathering Agreements; and

(n) performing such other duties as may be determined from time to time by the Partnership and agreed to by Operator.

2.2 Limitations on Authority .

(a) The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Partnership has the ultimate direction and control of the Business, including for any or all of the Services provided hereunder. The Partnership shall have the right to monitor, consult with and give operational instructions and guidance to Operator. Operator shall not unreasonably refuse operational instructions or guidance from the Partnership.

(b) The Partnership shall have the right to approve all Employees provided by Operator under Section 2.6 , which approval may be revoked or terminated for any reason at any time. Upon a revocation or termination of the Partnership’s approval of any Employee (such Employee, an “ Excused Employee ”), (i) Operator will be solely liable for any costs or expenses associated with the revocation or termination of the Partnership’s approval, except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement; provided, however , the Partnership shall be responsible for reimbursing Operator for any and all severance costs or other expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall constitute Personnel Costs hereunder) associated with the termination of an Excused Employee’s employment by Operator, provided that such termination of employment by Operator is substantially related to the Partnership’s revocation or termination of the Partnership’s approval of such Excused Employee and occurs within 30 days after the date of such revocation or termination and (ii) such Excused Employees will cease performing any of the Services for the Partnership; provided , however , that if Operator does not have an employee

 

3


capable of providing the Services previously provided by such Excused Employee and cannot reasonably obtain a contractor to provide the Services previously provided by such Excused Employee, then Operator may terminate this Agreement with respect to the Services previously provided by such Excused Employee.

(c) Operator shall regularly consult with the Partnership during the preparation of each proposed Gathering System Plan and annual budget. Following receipt of a proposed Gathering System Plan or annual budget, the Partnership shall furnish to Operator any comments or proposed amendments it may have respecting same, and Operator shall revise such proposed Gathering System Plan or annual budget to incorporate such comments or proposed amendments and resubmit such revised proposed Gathering System Plan or annual budget to the Partnership for its final approval. In addition, Operator shall prepare and deliver to the Partnership, for the Partnership’s approval, any amendment or modification to any previously approved Gathering System Plan or annual budget to the extent Operator reasonably believes such amendment or modification is necessary in connection with the performance of the Services by Operator or the operation of the Business by the Partnership Group.

(d) Operator shall perform the Services set forth in Section 2.1(e) through Section 2.1(m) in material compliance with the then current annual budgets that have been approved by the Partnership Group.

(e) Without the prior written approval of the Partnership, Operator shall not cause or direct a member of the Partnership Group to enter into, and Operator shall not enter into, any of the following types of contracts with respect to a member of the Partnership Group, the Partnership Midstream Assets or the Services:

(i) any contract that can reasonably be expected to result in payments by the Partnership or Operator of more than $5,000,000 in the aggregate over the term of such contract;

(ii) any contract that can reasonably be expected to result in payments by the Partnership or Operator of more than $2,500,000 but less than $5,000,000 in the aggregate over the term of such contract, unless (A) such contract is set forth in the then applicable annual budget and (B) Operator has obtained proposals for the services to be provided pursuant to such contract from at least two service providers;

(iii) any contract that has a term of more than three years, unless terminable by the Partnership or Operator without penalty on 30 days’ notice or less;

(iv) any indenture, mortgage, guaranty, loan, credit or sale-leaseback or similar financial contract or any contract which creates any liens for borrowed money;

(v) any contract that contains a non-competition agreement or any agreement that purports to restrict, limit or prohibit the manner in which, or the locations in which, the Partnership Group conducts business, including area of mutual interest contracts;

(vi) other than the Sponsor Gathering Agreements, any contract pursuant to which the Partnership Group will provide transportation, gathering, treatment, processing or compression services to a Person or any contract with a Person pursuant to which the Partnership Group will purchase or sell gas liquids or other hydrocarbons;

 

4


(vii) 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;

(viii) any contract that constitutes a partnership agreement, joint venture agreement or similar contract; or

(ix) any contract with any Affiliate of Operator.

2.3 Emergency . Operator shall take any and all actions (including implementing a pipeline shutdown) required or appropriate in response to an Emergency. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the case of an Emergency, while acting as a Reasonable and Prudent Operator, Operator may, without any prior notice to, or approval from, the Partnership, take such steps and incur such costs and expenses that, in Operator’s sole but reasonable opinion, are required to deal with such Emergency, including the safeguarding of life and property, and the Partnership shall promptly reimburse Operator for any such costs and expenses incurred in connection with such Emergency. In such event, Operator shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify the Partnership of the existence or occurrence of such an Emergency within 24 hours of it being put on notice of such an Emergency or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, setting forth the nature of the Emergency, the corrective action taken or proposed to be taken, and the actual or estimated cost and expense associated with such corrective action. In addition, in the event of an Emergency, Operator may, after using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the Partnership’s prior approval of any such Press Release, issue such Press Releases or other public announcements as it deems reasonably necessary, while acting as a Reasonable and Prudent Operator, in light of the circumstances, and shall promptly thereafter provide the Partnership with a copy of any such Press Release or other public statement.

2.4 Contracts .

(a) Subject to Section 2.2(e) , Operator may cause or direct the members of the Partnership Group to enter into, and may directly enter into, contracts with Third Parties and Affiliates of Operator (and make any modifications, amendments or extensions thereto) as may be necessary for Operator to perform the Services and fulfill its obligations (other than indemnification obligations) under this Agreement.

(b) The Partnership agrees to execute and deliver (or to cause to be executed and delivered) each of those contracts to which Operator (i) is authorized to cause a member of the Partnership Group to enter into in accordance with this Agreement and (ii) directs such member of the Partnership Group to execute and deliver in accordance with this Agreement.

(c) The Partnership shall provide Operator with a copy of all ROW agreements and any other existing authorizations, contracts or agreements secured or executed in association with the Gathering System and other Partnership Midstream Assets that are necessary for Operator’s performance of the Services under this Agreement.

 

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2.5 Ownership of Property . The Parties agree and acknowledge that Operator shall have no direct ownership interest in the Partnership Midstream Assets (nor in any of the equipment, materials or other property related thereto and purchased by the Partnership either directly or on behalf of the Partnership by Operator), and that neither Operator nor any Affiliate of Operator shall be deemed to have any direct or indirect ownership interest in the Partnership Midstream Assets (or in any equipment, materials and other property related thereto and purchased by the Partnership either directly or on behalf of the Partnership by Operator) as a result of the terms of this Agreement.

2.6 Operator’s Delegation of Authority .

(a) Operator shall be permitted to delegate authority to officers and employees of Operator (or its Affiliates) in order to perform the Services; provided, however, Operator may not delegate any authority, power, or right that could not be exercised directly by Operator under this Agreement.

(b) Subject to its obligations under Section 2.2 , Operator shall provide and have supervision of personnel to staff and perform the Services (the “ Employees ”), which may be accomplished to the extent necessary by (i) full-time employees of Operator, or Affiliates of Operator, (ii) any other employees of Operator or Affiliates of Operator, and/or (iii) contractors hired by Operator.

2.7 Other Business Pursuits; No Fiduciary Duties .

(a) Neither Operator nor any employee or officer of Operator or its Affiliates shall be required to perform the Services as such Person’s sole and exclusive occupation, and Operator and the employees and officers of Operator or its Affiliates may have other occupations and activities in addition to those relating to this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Partnership acknowledges and agrees that Operator and its Affiliates currently operate, and shall have the right to operate during the Term, other assets and conduct other businesses in addition to the operations of Business.

(b) Subject to the obligations established in Section 2.2 , none of the Parties, their Affiliates or their respective employees or officers shall have any special, fiduciary or quasi-fiduciary duties among any of them as a result of this Agreement and this Agreement shall not be construed to suggest otherwise.

2.8 Certain Conditions of Service .

(a) Operator shall not be obligated to acquire new, additional or different Employees, equipment or resources or to acquire or establish any separate hardware or software platforms in order to provide any Services.

 

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(b) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, Operator may utilize subcontractors (including Affiliates) to provide any of the Services.

(c) Operator’s obligation to provide the Services shall be conditioned upon and subject to any legal obligations, prohibitions or restrictions applicable to it, and this Agreement shall not obligate Operator to violate, modify or eliminate any such obligation, prohibition or restriction.

(d) Operator shall perform the Services as an “independent contractor” of the Partnership and nothing in this Agreement is intended, and nothing shall be construed, to create an agency, employer/employee, partnership, joint venture, association or other similar relationship between Operator and the Partnership or any of their respective Affiliates.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, all matters pertaining to the employment, compensation, promotion and discharge of any personnel of Operator or its Affiliates are the responsibility of Operator and its Affiliates. All such employment arrangements are solely Operator’s and its Affiliates’ obligations (including the payment of salaries and employee benefits with respect to such personnel), and, except for reimbursement of the Personnel Costs as provided in this Agreement, the Partnership shall have no responsibility or liability with respect thereto.

(f) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but subject to the calculation of Personnel Costs pursuant to Section 3.1 , with respect to such employees of Operator’s Affiliates, the Partnership and Operator acknowledge that employees of Affiliates of Operator may assist Operator in providing the Services hereunder without further consent from the Partnership.

2.9 Performance Standard . Operator shall perform the Services (a) in a good and workmanlike manner, (b) as a reasonable and prudent natural gas pipeline operator, (c) with the same degree of diligence and care that it exercises with respect to the construction, development, management, operation, and maintenance of its own midstream assets and (d) in material compliance with all Laws (performance in accordance with this Section 2.9 is referred to herein as acting as a “ Reasonable and Prudent Operator ”); provided, however, that any action or inaction of Operator at the express instruction of a member of the Partnership Group shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement to be acting as a Reasonable and Prudent Operator.

2.10 Warranties Disclaimer . OPERATOR DOES NOT MAKE ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

ARTICLE III

PAYMENTS

3.1 Reimbursable Costs . For each calendar month during the Term, the member of the Partnership Group for which Operator is providing Services shall reimburse Operator for (a) the Personnel Costs incurred by Operator during such calendar month and (b) all third-party costs and expenses incurred by Operator and/or its Affiliates (the “ Third Party Costs ” and collectively with the Personnel Costs, the “ Reimbursable Costs ”), in each case, in performing the Services for such member of the Partnership Group during such calendar month to the extent such costs and expenses have not been previously paid by such member of the Partnership Group or otherwise reimbursed to Operator by such member of the Partnership Group.

 

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3.2 Payment Terms; Disputed Charges .

(a) No later than 30 days after the end of each calendar month, Operator shall deliver to each member of the Partnership Group during such calendar month an invoice for (i) the Personnel Costs incurred by Operator during such calendar month with respect to Services provided by Operator for such member of the Partnership Group, (ii) the Third Party Costs that Operator estimates in good faith will be incurred by Operator (or its Affiliates) during the immediately succeeding calendar month with respect to Services provided by Operator for such member of the Partnership Group, and (iii) the amount of any credit to be applied for the immediately succeeding calendar month pursuant to Section 3.2(b) .

(b) If the actual Third Party Costs incurred by Operator (and its Affiliates) during any calendar month exceed the estimated amount of Third Party Costs paid to Operator for such calendar month pursuant to the applicable invoice delivered pursuant to Section 3.2(a) , Operator shall promptly deliver to the applicable member of the Partnership Group an invoice for such difference. If the actual Third Party Costs incurred by Operator (and its Affiliates) during any calendar month are less than the estimated amount of Third Party Costs paid to Operator for such calendar month pursuant to the applicable invoice delivered pursuant to Section 3.2(a) , Operator shall promptly notify the applicable member of the Partnership Group and such member of the Partnership Group shall be entitled to a credit in the amount of such difference, which credit shall be applied to the monthly invoice delivered by Operator pursuant to Section 3.2(a) for the immediately succeeding calendar month.

(c) Operator shall provide to the Partnership Group such documentation as the Partnership Group may reasonably request to support each such invoice.

(d) Each invoice delivered by Operator pursuant to this Agreement shall be due and payable no later than 15 days after the receipt of the invoice. All payments shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds, to the account (or accounts) designated by the Person entitled to receipt of such payment, from time to time, no later than 1:00 p.m. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time) on the due date.

(e) If a member of the Partnership Group disputes in good faith all or any portion of an invoice delivered by Operator pursuant to this Agreement, such member of the Partnership Group may deliver written notice of such dispute to Operator within 30 days of receipt of such invoice, setting forth in reasonable detail the reasons for such dispute. Notwithstanding the delivery of any such written notice of dispute, such member of the Partnership Group shall pay to Operator the full amount of such invoice (including any disputed portions of such invoice) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If it is determined by the Parties or otherwise that any amount paid by such member of the Partnership Group to Operator was improperly paid, then subject to Section 3.2(f) , Operator shall promptly reimburse such member of the Partnership Group the amount of such improper payment.

 

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(f) If (i) a member of the Partnership Group fails to pay any amount when due or (ii) (A) a member of the Partnership Group disputes an invoice hereunder, (B) pays the full amount of such invoice and (C) it is determined by the Parties or otherwise that Operator must reimburse such member of the Partnership Group any portion of the amount of such invoice (other than with respect to any reimbursement pursuant to Section 3.2(b) ), then such amount shall bear interest from the due date (or the date the disputed amount was paid such member of the Partnership Group in case of a reimbursement owed by Operator to such member of the Partnership Group) to the date such amount is paid by such member of the Partnership Group (or Operator, if applicable) at the Agreed Rate.

3.3 Taxes . In addition to other amounts owed pursuant to this Agreement, the Partnership shall be responsible for, and shall pay, all taxes applicable to (a) the provision of the Services by Operator (whether or not such taxes increase or decrease in the future), and (b) the ownership, operation, maintenance or control of the assets of the Partnership. Operator may, from time to time, invoice the Partnership for the amount of such taxes which Operator pays in connection with the performance of the Services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, or is otherwise required by applicable Law to pay directly to the relevant taxing authority in connection with this Agreement, and any such invoice shall be due and payable to Operator no later than 15 days after receipt thereof by the Partnership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, each Party shall be responsible for (i) income taxes resulting from amounts paid or payable to it under this Agreement and (ii) except for reimbursement of the Personnel Costs as provided in this Agreement, employment taxes and social security payments relating to its own employees. For the avoidance of doubt, Operator, and not the Partnership, shall treat the providers of the Services as employees of, or independent contractors to, Operator for tax purposes.

3.4 Maintenance of Accounts and Records .

(a) Operator shall maintain, separately in accordance with GAAP, accurate accounts of all expenses, costs and liabilities accrued or incurred by it in performing the Services.

(b) Operator shall maintain, separately in accordance with GAAP, accurate accounts, on behalf of the Partnership, of (i) all expenses, costs and liabilities accrued or incurred by the Partnership Group in connection with this Agreement and under the Partnership Group’s contractual commitments and (ii) all revenues accrued, invoiced and received by Operator on behalf of the Partnership Group. Operator shall maintain any operations-related information that normally would be included as part of such accounting documentation, including information on gas measurement, a physical source and disposition of gas, point allocations, postings, invoicing, cash collections, cash payments and property tax allocations and reconciliations.

(c) Operator shall (i) maintain copies of (A) all invoices, operating and maintenance records and other documentation relating to the costs and expenses of the Services and (B) all other records relating to the Services as required by Law and (ii) make available to the Partnership, at Operator’s offices, copies of each such invoice, document or record within 10 Business Days after Operator’s receipt of the written request from the Partnership.

 

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(d) Operator shall furnish the Partnership with such other reports, statistics, records, statements, and other data as the Partnership may reasonably request from time to time.

(e) Operator agrees to retain all books, payroll information and records pertaining to the Partnership Midstream Assets and all Services performed hereunder for a period of not less than three calendar years following the end of the calendar year in which the Services are performed or any longer period if required by Law.

3.5 Audit .

(a) Upon reasonable written notice to Operator and at a mutually agreed time, the Partnership shall have the right, at its own expense, to initiate (or cause its designated representatives to initiate) an audit of Operator’s procedures, books and records insofar as such procedures, books and records relate to Operator’s work and performance of the Services. Such audits shall not be commenced more often than once each calendar year. The Partnership shall perform, or cause its designated representatives to perform, such audit during normal business hours and in a reasonable period of time and shall use reasonable efforts to minimize inconvenience to Operator’s personnel and operations. Operator shall use its reasonable efforts to cooperate (at the Partnership’s sole cost and expense) with the Partnership (or its designated representatives) in the performance of any such audit.

(b) In addition to the Partnership’s audit rights described in Section 3.5(a) , Operator shall make its outside auditors with respect to the Partnership Midstream Assets available, at the Partnership’s sole expense, to the Partnership’s outside auditors to discuss such accounting with respect to the Partnership Midstream Assets as the Partnership’s outside auditors may reasonably request.

ARTICLE IV

TERM; TERMINATION

4.1 Term . This Agreement will commence on the Execution Date and will remain in effect until terminated in accordance with Section 4.2 , Section 4.3 or Section 4.4 (such period of time, the “ Term ”).

4.2 Operator Termination . Operator may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the Partnership:

(a) at any time; provided , that Operator’s resignation and the Termination Execution Date with respect to any termination pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall not take effect until the later of (i) the date specified in such notice and (ii) 180 days after the date of receipt by the Partnership of such notice; or

(b) the Bankruptcy of the Partnership.

4.3 Partnership Termination . The Partnership may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to Operator following the occurrence of any one or more of the following:

(a) the 20th anniversary of the Execution Date; provided , that any termination pursuant to this Section 4.3(a) shall not take effect until the later of (i) the date specified in the applicable notice and (ii) 180 days after the date of receipt by Operator of such notice;

 

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(b) the Bankruptcy of Operator;

(c) an action constituting willful misconduct or, subject to Section 5.4(b) , gross negligence on the part of Operator in connection with the performance of the Services that causes a material adverse effect on the operation or value of the Partnership Group or the Business, taken as a whole, as established by a final, non-appealable and binding decision of a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with Section 7.1 ; or

(d) a default by Operator in the performance of any of its covenants or obligations under this Agreement, if:

(i) such default is capable of being cured, and such default is not cured within 45 days after written notice from the Partnership of the occurrence of such default (a “ Default Notice ”); provided, however , that if such default cannot be cured within such 45 day period, the defaulting Party shall have up to 90 days from receipt of such Default Notice to cure such default if such default is capable of being cured within such period and the defaulting Party proceeds diligently to cure such default; or

(ii) such default is not capable of being cured, such default resulted from a material breach by Operator in the performance of any of its material covenants or material obligations under this Agreement.

4.4 Effect of Termination . The terms of Articles IV , V , VII and VIII shall survive any termination of this Agreement. The termination of this Agreement shall not relieve either Party of any liability or obligation accruing or that had accrued prior to the Termination Execution Date nor deprive a Party not in breach (other than a breach because such Party is rightfully withholding performance in response to a breach by the other Party) of its rights to any remedy otherwise available to such Party. Upon the Termination Execution Date, Operator shall (a) assign to the applicable member of the Partnership Group any contracts and agreements entered into by Operator in connection with its performance of the Services on behalf of such member of the Partnership Group pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (and such member of the Partnership Group shall assume all obligations and liabilities under such contracts and agreements by executing such assumption or novation agreements as reasonably requested by Operator or any Party thereto) and (b) promptly deliver to the Partnership all documents, files, and books and records received from the Partnership or generated by Operator with respect to the Partnership Midstream Assets and the Services.

4.5 Transition Period . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if requested by the Partnership in writing prior to the Termination Execution Date, Operator shall provide to the Partnership, for a period of up to four months after the Termination Execution Date, any assistance reasonably requested by the Partnership to facilitate the transfer of the performance of the Services to any successor Operator designated by the Partnership; provided , however , that the Partnership shall reimburse Operator for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by Operator during such transition period in connection with any such assistance (including any Reimbursable Costs incurred by Operator).

 

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ARTICLE V

LIMITS OF RESPONSIBILITY; EXCULPATION; INDEMNIFICATION

5.1 Limits of Responsibility . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Operator’s aggregate liability (if any), whether based in contract, warranty, tort, strict liability or otherwise, for all Losses incurred by the Partnership Group arising out of, connected with or resulting from this Agreement or from the performance or breach thereof, or from any Services provided by Operator hereunder, during each calendar year during the Term, shall in no event exceed the lesser of (a) $6,000,000 (the “ Operator Liability Limit ”) and (b) the Personnel Costs incurred by Operator and reimbursed by the Partnership for such calendar year. As of January 1 of each calendar year (commencing with January 1, 2016), the Operator Liability Limit will be increased by an amount equal to the sum of (i) the then applicable Operator Liability Limit plus (ii) the product of the Annual Escalation Factor multiplied by the then applicable Operator Liability Limit.

5.2 Exculpation .

(a) Except as provided in Section 5.4 , neither Operator nor any other Operator Indemnified Party shall be liable to the Partnership for any, and the Partnership hereby releases the Operator Indemnified Parties for all, Losses incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by Operator (including through its employees or employees of any of its Affiliates) in connection with this Agreement or the performance of the Services, EVEN IF SUCH LOSSES AROSE IN WHOLE OR IN PART FROM THE ACTIVE, PASSIVE, SOLE OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OR OTHER FAULT OF ANY OPERATOR INDEMNIFIED PARTY, BUT EXCLUDING THOSE LOSSES THAT ARE CAUSED BY THE WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR, SUBJECT TO SECTION 5.4(B) , GROSS NEGLIGENCE OF ANY OPERATOR INDEMNIFIED PARTY OR THE INTENTIONAL OR WILLFUL BREACH BY OPERATOR OF THIS AGREEMENT, IN EACH CASE, AS ESTABLISHED BY A FINAL, NON-APPEALABLE AND BINDING DECISION OF A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7.1 .

(b) Operator shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Partnership and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to Operator by any Person as to matters that Operator reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in no event shall Operator be liable in connection with the performance of the Services or a breach of this Agreement if Operator fails, or is otherwise unable, to perform any of the Services or its other obligations hereunder due to the failure of the Partnership to pay when due any amounts payable hereunder by the Partnership.

 

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5.3 Indemnification by the Partnership . The Partnership shall, to the fullest extent lawful, reimburse, indemnify, defend and hold each of Operator and its Affiliates and their respective directors, managers, officers, employees and agents (the “ Operator Indemnified Parties ”), harmless of and from any and all expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims of any nature whatsoever (including claims for personal injury, death or property damage and including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs) (each a “ Loss ” and collectively, “ Losses ”) suffered by any Operator Indemnified Party as a result of, caused by, or arising out of (a) any breach by the Partnership of this Agreement and (b) any action, suit, claim, demand or proceeding commenced by a Third Party relating to (i) the acts or omissions by any of Operator Indemnified Parties (A) in connection with providing or failing to provide the Services (including a breach by Operator of this Agreement), except to the extent such Losses are caused by the willful misconduct or, subject to Section 5.4(b) , gross negligence of any Operator Indemnified Party or the intentional or willful breach by Operator of this Agreement (in each case, as established by a final, non-appealable and binding decision of a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with Section 7.1 ) or (B) relating to actions or omissions by any of Operator Indemnified Parties performed or omitted at the direction of the Partnership, except to the extent such Losses are caused by the willful misconduct or, subject to Section 5.4(b) , gross negligence of any Operator Indemnified Party or the intentional or willful breach by Operator of this Agreement (in each case, as established by a final, non-appealable and binding decision of a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with Section 7.1 ) and (ii) the Partnership’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. THE REIMBURSEMENT, INDEMNITY, DEFENSE, AND HOLD HARMLESS RIGHTS SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 5.3 SHALL BE APPLICABLE EVEN IF SUCH LOSSES AROSE IN WHOLE OR IN PART FROM THE ACTIVE, PASSIVE, SOLE OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OR OTHER FAULT OF ANY OPERATOR INDEMNIFIED PARTY, BUT EXCLUDING THOSE LOSSES THAT ARE CAUSED BY THE WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR, SUBJECT TO SECTION 5.4(B) , GROSS NEGLIGENCE OF ANY OPERATOR INDEMNIFIED PARTY OR THE INTENTIONAL OR WILLFUL BREACH BY OPERATOR OF THIS AGREEMENT, IN EACH CASE, AS ESTABLISHED BY A FINAL, NON-APPEALABLE AND BINDING DECISION OF A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7.1 .

5.4 Indemnification by Operator .

(a) Operator shall, to the fullest extent lawful, reimburse, indemnify, defend and hold each of the Partnership and its Affiliates and their respective directors, managers, officers and employees (the “ Partnership Indemnified Parties ”) harmless of and from any and all Losses suffered by any Partnership Indemnified Party as a result of, caused by, or arising out of (i) any intentional or willful breach by Operator of this Agreement and (ii) Operator’s willful misconduct or, subject to Section 5.4(b) , gross negligence.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any gross negligence of Operator at the express instruction of a member of the Partnership Group shall be disregarded for all purposes of this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 4.3(c), Section 5.2, Section 5.3, and Section 5.4(a) ), and for the avoidance of doubt, Operator shall not be liable for any Losses suffered by any Partnership Indemnified Party as a result therefrom.

 

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5.5 Indemnity Amount . Subject to Section 7.2 , except as otherwise provided in this Article V , in the event that either the Partnership or Operator, as applicable, is obligated to indemnify and hold an Indemnified Party harmless under this Article V , the amount owing to the Indemnified Party will be the amount of the Indemnified Party’s actual loss net of any insurance proceeds (net of increased premiums and costs incurred in connection with such recovery) or other third party recovery actually received by the Indemnified Party following a reasonable effort by the Indemnified Party to obtain such insurance proceeds or recovery.

5.6 Indemnification Procedures . All claims for indemnification under this Agreement shall be asserted and resolved as follows:

(a) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Indemnifying Party ” when used in connection with particular Losses shall mean the Party having an obligation to indemnify another Party or Person(s) with respect to such Losses pursuant to this Article V , and the term “ Indemnified Party ” when used in connection with particular Losses shall mean the Party or Person(s) having the right to be indemnified with respect to such Losses by another Party pursuant to this Article V .

(b) To make a claim for indemnification under this Article V , an Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party of its claim under this Section 5.6 , including the specific details of and specific basis under this Agreement for its claim (the “ Claim Notice ”). In the event that the claim for indemnification is based upon a claim by a Third Party against the Indemnified Party (a “ Third Party Claim ”), the Indemnified Party shall provide its Claim Notice promptly after the Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of the Third Party Claim and shall enclose a copy of all papers (if any) served with respect to the Third Party Claim; provided , that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice of a Third Party Claim as provided in this Section 5.6 shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations except to the extent such failure results in insufficient time being available to permit the Indemnifying Party to effectively defend against the Third Party Claim or otherwise materially prejudices the Indemnifying Party’s ability to defend against the Third Party Claim. In the event that the claim for indemnification is based upon a breach of a covenant or agreement, the Claim Notice shall specify the covenant or agreement that was breached.

(c) In the case of a claim for indemnification based upon a Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party shall have 30 days from its receipt of the Claim Notice to notify the Indemnified Party whether it admits or denies its liability to defend the Indemnified Party against such Third Party Claim at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party. The Indemnified Party is authorized, prior to and during such 30 day period, at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, to file any motion, answer or other pleading that it shall deem necessary or appropriate to protect its interests or those of the Indemnifying Party and that is not prejudicial to the Indemnifying Party.

(d) If the Indemnifying Party admits its liability to defend the Indemnified Party against a Third Party Claim, it shall have the right and obligation to diligently defend, at its sole cost and expense, such Third Party Claim. The Indemnifying Party shall have full control of such defense and proceedings, including any compromise or settlement thereof. If requested by the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party agrees to cooperate in contesting any Third Party

 

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Claim which the Indemnifying Party elects to contest. The Indemnified Party may participate in, but not control, at its own expense, any defense or settlement of any Third Party Claim controlled by the Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Section 5.6(d) . An Indemnifying Party shall not, without the written consent of the Indemnified Party, (i) settle any Third Party Claim or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect thereto which does not include an unconditional written release of the Indemnified Party from all Losses in respect of such Third Party Claim or (ii) settle any Third Party Claim or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect thereto in any manner that may materially and adversely affect the Indemnified Party (other than as a result of money damages covered by the indemnity).

(e) If the Indemnifying Party does not admit its liability or admits its liability to defend the Indemnified Party against the Third Party Claim, but fails to diligently prosecute or settle such Third Party Claim, then the Indemnified Party shall have the right to defend against the Third Party Claim at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party, with counsel of the Indemnified Party’s choosing, subject to the right of the Indemnifying Party to admit its liability and assume the defense of the Third Party Claim at any time prior to settlement or final determination thereof. If the Indemnifying Party has not yet admitted its liability to defend the Indemnified Party against the Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party shall send written notice to the Indemnifying Party of any proposed settlement and the Indemnifying Party shall have the option for ten days following receipt of such notice to (i) admit in writing its liability to Indemnify the Indemnified Party from and against the liability and consent to such settlement, (ii) if liability is so admitted, reject, in its reasonable judgment, the proposed settlement, or (iii) deny liability. Any failure to respond to such notice by the Indemnified Party shall be deemed to be an election under subsection (i) above.

(f) In the case of a claim for indemnification not based upon a Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party shall have 30 days from its receipt of the Claim Notice to (i) cure the Losses complained of, (ii) admit its liability for such Losses or (iii) dispute the claim for such Losses. If the Indemnifying Party does not notify the Indemnified Party within such 30 day period that it has cured the Losses or that it disputes the claim for such Losses, the amount of such Losses shall conclusively be deemed a liability of the Indemnifying Party hereunder.

5.7 Insurance .

(a) At the Partnership’s expense as a Third Party Cost, Operator shall at all times during the term of this Agreement obtain and maintain the following insurance (as such may be changed with the approval of the Partnership, the “ Required Coverage ”):

(i) Workers’ Compensation as required by statute and Employer’s Liability with a limit of not less than $1,000,000 each accident/disease.

(ii) Commercial Auto Liability with a combined single limit for bodily injury (including death) and/or property damage of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence covering all owned, hired and/or non-owned vehicles to be used in the operations under this Agreement.

 

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(b) The purpose of the Required Coverage shall be to insure, among other things, the Partnership and Operator against liability arising from or in connection with: (i) Operator’s performance of the Services described hereunder and (ii) the ownership and operation of the Partnership Midstream Assets.

(c) For insurance coverage obtained pursuant to Section 5.7(a) , Operator, where permitted by Law, will provide that the applicable insurer shall waive any right of recovery, under subrogation or otherwise, which the insurer may have or acquire against the Partnership and its subsidiaries, Affiliates, directors, partners, officers, or agents for claims under such policies. The Commercial Auto Liability coverage shall, where applicable, name the Partnership and each Member as an “additional insured.” Such insurance shall be primary and non-contributing to any other insurance that is available to the Partnership or any of the parties named as an additional insured.

(d) Operator shall require all contractors and subcontractors to carry insurance related to the Partnership Midstream Assets under terms usual and customary in the industry.

5.8 No Recourse . For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Agreement shall not give rise to any right of recourse against any current or former stockholder, member, partner, owner, director, manager, officer or employee of Operator or of the Partnership or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives.

ARTICLE VI

FORCE MAJEURE

6.1 Excused Performance . Subject to Section 6.2 , a Party shall not be responsible or liable for or deemed in breach of this Agreement for any delay or failure in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement to the extent such performance is prevented by a Force Majeure Event; provided , that:

(a) the affected Party gives the other Party prompt written notice describing the particulars of the Force Majeure Event and the proposed cure;

(b) the suspension of performance is of no greater scope and of no longer duration than is reasonably attributable to the Force Majeure Event;

(c) the affected Party uses commercially reasonable efforts to remedy its inability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Force Majeure Event; and

(d) when the affected Party is able to resume performance of its obligations under this Agreement, that Party shall give the other Party written notice to that effect.

6.2 No Preclusion . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the existence of a Force Majeure Event shall not relieve any Party of (a) any of its payment obligations under this Agreement or (b) any other obligation under this Agreement to the extent that performance of such other obligation is not precluded by such Force Majeure Event.

 

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6.3 Limitations on Effect of Force Majeure . In no event will any delay or failure of performance caused by a Force Majeure Event extend this Agreement beyond its Term.

6.4 Force Majeure Event Definition . For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Force Majeure Event ” means an event that is not within the reasonable control of the Party claiming suspension (the “ Claiming Party ”), and that by the exercise of due diligence the Claiming Party is unable to avoid or overcome in a reasonable manner. To the extent meeting the foregoing requirements, Force Majeure includes, but is not restricted to: (a) acts of God; (b) wars (declared or undeclared); (c) insurrections, hostilities, riots; (d) floods, fires, storms, storm warnings, landslides, lightning, earthquakes, washouts; (e) industrial disturbances, acts of a public enemy, acts of terror, sabotage, blockades, epidemics; (f) arrests and restraints of rulers and peoples; (g) civil disturbances; (h) explosions, breakage or accidents to machinery or lines of pipe; (i) hydrate obstruction or blockages of any kind of lines of pipe; (j) freezing of wells or delivery facilities, partial or entire failure of wells, and other events beyond the reasonable control of Shipper that affect the timing of production or production levels; (k) mining accidents, subsidence, cave-ins and fires; (l) action or restraint by court order or public or Governmental Authority (so long as the Claiming Party has not applied for or assisted in the application for, and has opposed where and to the extent reasonable, such action or restraint), and (m) the failure of the Partnership to timely approve any annual budget for the Partnership Group; provided, however , that a “Force Majeure Event” shall not include (i) lack of financing or funds and (ii) to the extent affecting only such Party’s or such Party’s Affiliate’s employees, any strike, work stoppage or other organized labor difficulty. The failure of a Claiming Party to settle or prevent a strike or other labor dispute with employees shall not be considered to be a matter within such Claiming Party’s control.

ARTICLE VII

GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES

7.1 Governing Law; Disputes . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE LEGAL RELATIONS AMONG THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT MIGHT REFER CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH PROVISIONS TO THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION. ALL OF THE PARTIES HERETO CONSENT TO THE EXERCISE OF JURISDICTION IN PERSONAM BY THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL DISTRICT COURTS LOCATED IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR ANY ACTION ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS WITH RESPECT TO, ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN CONNECTION WITH, OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE EXCLUSIVELY LITIGATED IN THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL DISTRICT COURTS HAVING SITES IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA (AND ALL APPELLATE COURTS HAVING JURISDICTION THERE OVER). EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

17


7.2 Actual Direct Damages . A PARTY’S DAMAGES RESULTING FROM A BREACH OR VIOLATION OF ANY REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY, COVENANT, AGREEMENT OR CONDITION CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ACT OR OMISSION ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL DIRECT DAMAGES AND SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY OTHER LOSS OR DAMAGE, INCLUDING INDIRECT, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, PRODUCTION, OR REVENUES, AND EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY RELEASES THE OTHER PARTY FROM ALL SUCH CLAIMS FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OTHER THAN ACTUAL DIRECT DAMAGES; PROVIDED THAT LIMITATION TO DIRECT DAMAGES ONLY SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY DAMAGE, CLAIM OR LOSS ASSERTED BY OR AWARDED TO THIRD PARTIES AGAINST A PARTY AND FOR WHICH THE OTHER PARTY WOULD OTHERWISE BE RESPONSIBLE.

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

8.1 Further Assurances . In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Party shall execute and deliver all such future instruments and take such other and further action as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the intention of the Parties as expressed herein.

8.2 Notices . All notices and communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be sufficient in all respects if given in writing and delivered personally, or sent by (a) bonded overnight courier, (b) mailed by U.S. Express Mail or by certified or registered United States Mail with all postage fully prepaid or (c) by facsimile or electronic mail with a PDF of the notice or other communication attached ( provided that any such facsimile or electronic mail is confirmed either by written confirmation or U.S. Express Mail), in each case, addressed to the appropriate Person at the address for such Person shown below.

If to a member of the Partnership Group:

CONE Midstream Partners LP

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, PA 15317

Attention: Chief Operating Officer

Fax: 724-485-4817

E-mail: joefink@consolenergy.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

CONE Midstream Partners LP

1001 Noble Energy Way

Houston, Texas 77070

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: 281-872-2557

E-mail: kmoore@nobleenergyinc.com

 

18


If to Operator:

CNX Gas Company LLC

CNX Center

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317

Attention: Vice President of Midstream Operations

Fax: 724-485-4817

E-mail: joefink@consolenergy.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

CNX Gas Company LLC

CNX Center

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317

Attention: General Counsel

Fax: 724-485-4836

E-mail: stevejohnson@consolenergy.com

Any notice given in accordance herewith shall be deemed to have been given when (i) delivered to the addressee in person or by courier, (ii) transmitted by facsimile or electronic communications during normal business hours, or if transmitted after normal business hours, on the next Business Day, or (iii) upon actual receipt by the addressee after such notice has either been delivered to an overnight courier or deposited in the United States Mail if received during normal business hours, or if not received during normal business hours, then on the next Business Day, as the case may be. Any Person may change their contact information for notice by giving notice to the other Parties in the manner provided in this Section 8.2 .

8.3 Waiver; Rights Cumulative . Any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof may be waived only by a written instrument executed by or on behalf of the Party waiving compliance. No course of dealing on the part of any Party, or their respective officers, employees, agents, or representatives, nor any failure by a Party to exercise any of its rights under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof or affect in any way the right of such Party at a later time to enforce the performance of such provision. No waiver by any Party of any condition, or any breach of any term or covenant contained in this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such condition or breach or a waiver of any other condition or of any breach of any other term or covenant. The rights of the Parties under this Agreement shall be cumulative, and the exercise or partial exercise of any such right shall not preclude the exercise of any other right.

8.4 Entire Agreement; Conflicts . THIS AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES PERTAINING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND SUPERSEDES ALL PRIOR AGREEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS, NEGOTIATIONS, AND DISCUSSIONS, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OF THE PARTIES PERTAINING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF. THERE ARE NO

 

19


WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS, OR OTHER AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE EXHIBITS HERETO, AND NO PARTY SHALL BE BOUND BY OR LIABLE FOR ANY ALLEGED REPRESENTATION, PROMISE, INDUCEMENT, OR STATEMENTS OF INTENTION NOT SO SET FORTH.

8.5 Amendment . This Agreement may be amended only by an instrument in writing executed by all of the Parties and expressly identified as an amendment or modification.

8.6 Parties in Interest . Nothing in this Agreement shall entitle any Person other than the Parties to any claim, cause of action, remedy or right of any kind.

8.7 Preparation of Agreement . Both Parties and their respective counsel participated in the preparation of this Agreement. In the event of any ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption shall arise based on the identity of the draftsman of this Agreement.

8.8 Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any adverse manner to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.

8.9 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each such counterpart hereof shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all of such counterparts shall constitute for all purposes one agreement. Any signature hereto delivered by a Party by electronic mail shall be deemed an original signature hereto.

8.10 Successors and Permitted Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their successors and permitted assigns.

8.11 Assignment . No Party may assign this Agreement without prior written consent of the other Party; provided that Operator may, upon notice to the Partnership, assign this Agreement or any of its rights hereunder to any of its Affiliates without the prior written consent of the Partnership.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

20


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date and year first above written.

 

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
By:   CONE Midstream GP LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

Name:   Joseph M. Fink
Title:   Chief Operating Officer
CNX GAS COMPANY LLC
By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

Name:   Joseph M. Fink
Title:   Authorized Signatory

Signature Page to Operational Services Agreement


APPENDIX I

Definitions

Action ” means any action, suit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding, investigation, condemnation, or audit by or before any court or other Governmental Authority or any arbitrator or panel of arbitrators.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, or is Controlled by, or is Under Common Control With, such Person.

Agreed Rate ” means, on the applicable date of determination, the LIBOR Rate plus an additional three percentage points (or, if such rate is contrary to any applicable Law, the maximum rate permitted by such applicable Law).

Agreement ” is defined in the Preamble.

Annual Escalation Factor ” means the lesser of (a) 2.5% and (b) the annual increase of CPI-U, which is defined as the Consumer Price Index, All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. City Average, using 1982-84 as “Base Period”, as stated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, as based on the percentage of change between the most recent September CPI-U and the September CPI-U from the previous year.

Annual Financial Reports ” means annual financial statements of the Partnership, consisting of a statement of operations, a balance sheet and a statement of cash flows, as of the end of and for the prior fiscal year of the Partnership, which shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP and audited by a nationally recognized accounting firm as may be selected by the Partnership.

Business ” is defined in the Preamble.

Claim ” means any and all debts, losses, liabilities, duties, claims, damages, obligations, payments (including those arising out of any demand, assessment, settlement, judgment, or compromise relating to any actual or threatened Action), costs and reasonable expenses including any reasonable attorneys’ fees and any and all reasonable expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing, or defending any Action, whether matured or unmatured, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, known or unknown.

Claim Notice ” is defined in Section 5.6(b) .

Claiming Party ” is defined in Section 6.4 .

Control ” (including the terms “ Controlling ,” “ Controlled ” and “ Under Common Control With ”) means with respect to any Person, the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting shares, by contract, or otherwise.

 

A PPENDIX I

P AGE 1


DevCo Agreement of Limited Partnership ” means, as applicable, (a) that certain Agreement of Limited Partnership of DevCo I (as the same may be amended or restated from time to time), (b) that certain Agreement of Limited Partnership of DevCo II (as the same may be amended or restated from time to time) or (c) that certain Agreement of Limited Partnership of DevCo III (as the same may be amended or restated from time to time),

DevCos ” means, collectively, DevCo I, DevCo II and DevCo III.

DevCo I ” means CONE Midstream DevCo I LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

DevCo II ” means CONE Midstream DevCo II LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

DevCo III ” means CONE Midstream DevCo II LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

Default Notice ” is defined in Section 4.3(d)(i) .

Emergency ” means a sudden and unexpected event that (a) causes, or risks causing, damage or injury to any Person, property or the environment and (b) is of such a nature that (i) responding through normal operation and maintenance procedures would be insufficient to address the potential harm caused by such an event and (ii) awaiting the decision of the Partnership with respect thereto would be impracticable.

Employees ” is defined in Section 2.6(a) .

Execution Date ” is defined in the Preamble.

Excused Employee ” is define in Section 2.2(b) .

Force Majeure Event ” is defined in Section 6.4 .

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

Gathering Services ” is defined in the Sponsor Gathering Agreements.

Gathering System ” is defined in the Sponsor Gathering Agreements.

Gathering System Plan ” is defined in the Sponsor Gathering Agreements.

Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, local, municipal, tribal or other government; any governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, commission, body or other authority exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, regulatory or taxing authority or power; and any court or governmental tribunal, including any tribal authority having or asserting jurisdiction.

Indemnified Party ” is defined in Section 5.6(a) .

Indemnifying Party is defined in Section 5.6(a) .

 

A PPENDIX I

P AGE 2


Laws ” means any applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, order, code, ruling, writ, injunction, decree or other official act of or by any Governmental Authority.

Loss ” and “ Losses ” are defined in Section 5.3 .

Operator ” is defined in the Preamble.

Operator Indemnified Parties ” is defined in Section 5.3 .

Operator Liability Limit ” is defined in Section 5.1 .

Partnership ” is defined in the Preamble.

Partnership Group ” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries.

Partnership Indemnified Parties ” is defined in Section 5.4(a) .

Partnership Midstream Assets ” means any oil, natural gas liquid and gas gathering system, pipeline, measurement, compressor, processing or treatment facility, communication systems or related assets, in each case, owned by the Partnership Group, including the Gathering System.

Party ” and “ Parties ” are defined in the Preamble.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, Governmental Authority or any other entity.

Personnel Costs ” means an amount equal to, for each of Operator’s (and/or its Affiliates’) employees that perform the Services hereunder, (a) the total salary, wages, bonus (based on the budgeted annual bonus for such employee divided by 12), employee benefits and other compensation provided by Operator (or its applicable Affiliate) to such employee (together with all related costs, including employment and payroll taxes, incurred by Operator (or its applicable Affiliate)) for the applicable calendar month, divided by (b) 167, and multiplied by (c) the actual number of hours spent by such employee in performing the Services during such applicable calendar month.

Quarterly Financial Reports ” means unaudited quarterly financial statements of the Partnership, consisting of a statement of operations, a balance sheet and a statement of cash flows, as of the end of and for the calendar quarter and for the year to date, which shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

Reasonable and Prudent Operator ” is defined in Section 2.9 .

Reimbursable Costs ” is defined in Section 3.1 .

Required Coverage ” is defined in Section 5.7(a) .

 

A PPENDIX I

P AGE 3


ROW ” means rights of way and other land rights necessary to construct, maintain or operate the Gathering System and other Partnership Midstream Assets.

Services ” is defined in Section 2.1 .

Sponsor Gathering Agreements ” mean (a) that certain Gathering Agreement by and between CNX Gas Company LLC, a Virginia limited liability company, and the Partnership dated as of the Execution Date and (b) that certain Gathering Agreement, by and between Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and the Partnership, dated as of the Execution Date.

Subsidiaries ” means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Partnership directly or indirectly owns any shares or other interests, including the DevCos.

Term ” is defined in Section 4.1 .

Termination Execution Date ” means the date of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof.

Third Party ” means a Person other than a Party.

Third Party Costs ” is defined in Section 3.1 .

Third Party Claim ” is defined in Section 5.6(b) .

 

A PPENDIX I

P AGE 4

Exhibit 10.4

Execution Version

GATHERING AGREEMENT

dated as of

September 30, 2014

by and between

CNX GAS COMPANY LLC,

as Shipper

and

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP,

as Gatherer


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

            Page  

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS

     1   

Section 1.1

    

Definitions

     1   

Section 1.2

    

Other Terms

     14   

Section 1.3

    

References and Rules of Construction

     14   

ARTICLE 2 DEDICATION OF PRODUCTION

     14   

Section 2.1

    

Shipper’s Joint Dedication

     14   

Section 2.2

    

Shipper’s Sole Dedication

     15   

Section 2.3

    

Third Party’s Dedication

     16   

Section 2.4

    

Conflicting Dedications

     16   

Section 2.5

    

Shipper’s Reservations

     16   

Section 2.6

    

Releases from Dedication

     17   

Section 2.7

    

Covenant Running with the Land

     18   

Section 2.8

    

Memorandum

     19   

ARTICLE 3 GATHERING SYSTEM EXPANSION AND CONNECTION OF WELLS

     19   

Section 3.1

    

Development Report; Gathering System Plan; Meetings and Review and Exchange of Planning Information

     19   

Section 3.2

    

Expansion of Gathering System and Connection of Well Pads

     22   

Section 3.3

    

Cooperation

     23   

Section 3.4

    

Compression

     23   

Section 3.5

    

Right of Way and Access

     23   

Section 3.6

    

Blending Rights

     24   

Section 3.7

    

Liquid Condensate

     25   

ARTICLE 4 TENDER, NOMINATION AND GATHERING OF PRODUCTION

     25   

Section 4.1

    

Priority of Service

     25   

Section 4.2

    

Governmental Action

     25   

Section 4.3

    

Tender of Dedicated Production and Additional Production

     26   

Section 4.4

    

Gathering Services; Service Standard

     26   

Section 4.5

    

Nominations, Scheduling, Balancing and Curtailment

     26   

Section 4.6

    

Suspension/Shutdown of Service

     27   

Section 4.7

    

Gas Marketing and Transportation

     27   

Section 4.8

    

Condensate Marketing

     27   

Section 4.9

    

No Prior Flow of Gas in Interstate Commerce

     28   

Section 4.10

    

Right of First Offer

     28   

ARTICLE 5 FEES

     29   

Section 5.1

    

Fees

     29   

Section 5.2

    

Fee Adjustments

     30   

 

i


Section 5.3

    

Fee Reset

     32   

Section 5.4

    

Condensate

     32   

Section 5.5

    

Excess Gathering System L&U

     32   

Section 5.6

    

Excess Gathering System Fuel Usage

     32   

ARTICLE 6 QUALITY AND PRESSURE SPECIFICATIONS

     33   

Section 6.1

    

Quality Specifications

     33   

Section 6.2

    

Failure to Meet Specifications

     33   

Section 6.3

    

Pressure

     34   

ARTICLE 7 TERM

     34   

Section 7.1

    

Term

     34   

Section 7.2

    

Effect of Termination or Expiration of the Term

     35   

ARTICLE 8 TITLE AND CUSTODY

     35   

Section 8.1

    

Title

     35   

Section 8.2

    

Custody

     35   

ARTICLE 9 BILLING AND PAYMENT

     35   

Section 9.1

    

Statements

     35   

Section 9.2

    

Payments

     36   

Section 9.3

    

Audit

     37   

ARTICLE 10 REMEDIES

     37   

Section 10.1

    

Suspension of Performance; Release from Dedication

     37   

Section 10.2

    

No Election

     37   

ARTICLE 11 FORCE MAJEURE

     38   

Section 11.1

    

Force Majeure

     38   

Section 11.2

    

Force Majeure Definition

     38   

ARTICLE 12 REGULATORY STATUS

     38   

Section 12.1

    

Non-Jurisdictional Gathering System

     38   

Section 12.2

    

Government Authority Modification

     39   

ARTICLE 13 INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

     39   

Section 13.1

    

Custody and Control Indemnity

     39   

Section 13.2

    

Shipper Indemnification

     40   

Section 13.3

    

Gatherer Indemnification

     40   

Section 13.4

    

Actual Direct Damages

     40   

Section 13.5

    

Penalties

     40   

Section 13.6

    

Insurance

     41   

 

ii


ARTICLE 14 ASSIGNMENT

     41   

Section 14.1

    

Assignment of Rights and Obligations under this Agreement

     41   

Section 14.2

    

Pre-Approved Assignment

     42   

Section 14.3

    

Change of Control

     42   

ARTICLE 15 MISCELLANEOUS

     42   

Section 15.1

    

Relationship of the Parties

     42   

Section 15.2

    

Notices

     43   

Section 15.3

    

Expenses

     43   

Section 15.4

    

Waivers; Rights Cumulative

     43   

Section 15.5

    

Entire Agreement; Conflicts

     43   

Section 15.6

    

Amendment

     44   

Section 15.7

    

Governing Law; Disputes

     44   

Section 15.8

    

Parties in Interest

     44   

Section 15.9

    

Preparation of Agreement

     44   

Section 15.10

    

Severability

     44   

Section 15.11

    

Counterparts

     44   

Section 15.12

    

Confidentiality

     44   

ARTICLE 16 OPERATING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

     45   

Section 16.1

    

Terms and Conditions

     45   

EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT A    OPERATING TERMS AND CONDITIONS
EXHIBIT B-1    JOINT DEDICATED PROPERTIES
EXHIBIT B-2    DEDICATION AREA
EXHIBIT B-3    MAJORSVILLE AREA
EXHIBIT B-4    MOUNDSVILLE AREA
EXHIBIT B-5    PIA AREA
EXHIBIT B-6    MARCELLUS FORMATION LOG
EXHIBIT C    PARTIES’ ADDRESSES FOR NOTICE PURPOSES
EXHIBIT D    MEMORANDUM OF GATHERING AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT E    INSURANCE
EXHIBIT F    RECEIPT POINTS
EXHIBIT G    CONFLICTING DEDICATIONS
EXHIBIT H-1    ROFO PROPERTIES
EXHIBIT H-2    ROFO AREA
EXHIBIT I-1    DOWNTIME FEE REDUCTION

 

iii


EXHIBIT I-2    OPERATING PRESSURE FEE REDUCTION
EXHIBIT J    THIRD PARTIES
EXHIBIT K-1    VERTICAL MARCELLUS WELLS
EXHIBIT K-2    LEGACY WELLS

 

iv


GATHERING AGREEMENT

THIS GATHERING AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance herewith, this “ Agreement ”) is made as of this 30th Day of September, 2014 (the “ Execution Date ”), by and between CNX Gas Company LLC, a Virginia limited liability company (“ Shipper ”), and CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Gatherer ”). Shipper and Gatherer are sometimes together referred to in this Agreement as the “ Parties ” and individually as a “ Party .”

RECITALS:

A. As of the Execution Date, Gatherer has acquired the Gathering System (defined below), which gathers Gas (defined below) and certain Liquid Condensate (defined below) produced from certain oil and gas leases and fee mineral interests.

B. Gatherer plans to expand the Gathering System and operate the Gathering System for, among other things, gathering, compressing, dehydrating and treating Gas within certain areas of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

C. Shipper desires to dedicate certain Gas and Liquid Condensate attributable to its right, title and interest in (a) certain oil and gas leases and mineral interests located within the Dedication Area (defined below) to the Gathering System and (b) the Legacy Wells (defined below).

D. Shipper desires to deliver such Gas and Liquid Condensate to Gatherer for the purpose of gathering, blending, compressing, dehydrating, treating, stabilizing, storing, loading and re-delivering such Gas and, subject to the provisions hereof, Liquid Condensate to or for the account of Shipper, and Gatherer desires to provide such services to Shipper on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

AGREEMENTS:

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, and conditions in this Agreement contained, Gatherer and Shipper hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized words and terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them below:

Additional/Accelerated Well ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(f) .

Additional Condensate Properties ” means the Joint Dedicated Properties (other than in the PIA Area, the Moundsville Area and/or the Majorsville Area).

 

1


Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, or is Controlled by, or is Under Common Control With, such Person. The term “ Affiliated ” shall have the correlative meaning.

Affiliate Gatherer ” has the meaning given to it in Section 14.1(a)(ii) .

Affiliate Gatherer Dedicated Properties ” has the meaning given to it in Section 14.1(a)(ii) .

Agreement ” has the meaning given to it in the preamble hereof.

Annual Escalation Factor ” means 2.5%.

Barrel ” means a quantity consisting of forty-two Gallons.

Blending Gas ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(b) .

Btu ” means the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit at a pressure of 14.73 Psia and determined on a gross, dry basis.

Business Day ” means a Day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which commercial banks in the State of Pennsylvania are generally open for business.

Claiming Party ” has the meaning given to it in Section 11.2 .

Compression Charge ” means an amount equal to the product of (a) all out of pocket costs incurred by Gatherer to obtain electricity sufficient for Gatherer to utilize electrical compression at each Fuel Point that uses electrical compression to compress Shipper’s Tendered Gas for the Month of Service for which Shipper requests electricity as the fuel source for the Fuel Points, and (b) the percentage determined by dividing (i) the volumes of owned or Controlled Gas Tendered by Shipper to the Gathering System for such Month of Service, and (ii) all volumes of Gas received by the Gathering System for such Month of Service.

Condensate ” means Drip Condensate and Liquid Condensate.

Condensate Gathering Fees ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(c)(iii) .

Condensate Services ” means (a) the receipt of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Liquid Condensate at the Receipt Points; (b) as applicable, the collection, injection, gathering and stabilization (to sales specifications) of such Liquid Condensate; (c) the handling, storage, loading, and, subject to Section 4.8 , marketing or re-delivery at the applicable Delivery Point of such Liquid Condensate for Shipper’s account; and (d) the other services to be performed by Gatherer in respect of such Liquid Condensate as set forth in this Agreement, all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Conflicting Dedication ” means any gathering agreement or any commitment or arrangement (including any volume commitment) that would permit or require Shipper’s owned and/or Controlled Gas to be gathered on any gathering system or similar system other than the Gathering System, including any such agreement, commitment or arrangement burdening properties hereinafter acquired by Shipper in the Dedication Area.

 

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Control ” (including the terms “ Controlling ,” “ Controlled ” and “ Under Common Control With ”) means (a) with respect to any Person, the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting shares, by contract, or otherwise and (b) with respect to any Gas or Liquid Condensate, such Gas or Liquid Condensate produced from the Dedication Area and (i) owned by a Third Party set forth on Exhibit J or (ii) owned by a Third Party working interest owner in lands covered by the Dedicated Properties with respect to which Shipper has the contractual right or obligation (pursuant to a marketing, agency, operating, unit or similar agreement) to market such Gas or Liquid Condensate and Shipper elects or is obligated to market such Gas or Liquid Condensate on behalf of the applicable Third Party.

Day ” means a period of time beginning at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on a calendar day and ending at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the succeeding calendar day. The term “ Daily ” shall have the correlative meaning.

Dedicated Production ” means, collectively, the Joint Dedicated Production, the Sole Dedicated Production and the Legacy Well Dedicated Production.

Dedicated Properties ” means the Joint Dedicated Properties and any Sole Dedicated Properties dedicated by Shipper from time to time pursuant to Section 2.2 .

Dedicated ROFO Properties ” has the meaning given to it in Section 4.10(d) .

Dedication Area ” means the area described on Exhibit B-2 .

Delayed Connection Days ” means the number of Days (without duplication) from the On-Line Deadline until such applicable facilities are completed by Gatherer or (under Section 3.2(d) ) by Shipper or Noble and/or such Gathering Services can be provided by Gatherer.

Delayed Planned Wells ” means the Planned Wells at a Planned Well Pad that Gatherer fails to connect to the Gathering System and/or is not ready or is unable to provide Gathering Services for such Planned Wells, in each case, on or before the applicable On-Line Deadline.

Delivery Point ” means, as applicable (a) each point of interconnection of the Gathering System with the facilities of a Processing Plant, Downstream Pipeline or Downstream Condensate Storage Tank not a part of the Gathering System, (b) the outlet flange of any Downstream Condensate Storage Tank that is part of the Gathering System and (c) such points as may be added from time to time by Shipper pursuant to the applicable Development Report or otherwise and at which points, subject to Section 3.6 and Section 4.8 , Gatherer will re-deliver Gas and/or Liquid Condensate to Shipper for its own account.

Development Report ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(a) .

 

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Downstream Condensate Storage Tank ” means any storage tank where Condensate (stabilized as appropriate) is collected and stored prior to being sold and/or delivered to market via trucks, rail or pipeline.

Downstream Pipeline ” means any pipeline downstream of any Delivery Point on the Gathering System owned by a Third Party.

Downtime Event ” means a period during which all or a portion of the Gathering System was unavailable to provide Gathering Services.

Downtime Percentage ” means (a) for purposes of determining the Downtime Percentage for the Gathering System, an amount equal to the quotient of (i) the sum of all daily losses (in MMBtu) for the Gathering System for the applicable period divided by (ii) the sum of (y) the amount (in MMBtu) of the total deliveries of Dedicated Production for the applicable period and (z) the sum of all daily losses (in MMBtu) for the Gathering System for the applicable period and (b) for purposes of determining the Downtime Percentage for an Individual System, an amount equal to the quotient of (i) the sum of all daily losses (in MMBtu) for such Individual System for the applicable period divided by (ii) the sum of (y) the amount (in MMBtu) of the total deliveries of Dedicated Production for such Individual System for the applicable period and (z) the sum of all daily losses (in MMBtu) for such Individual System for the applicable period.

Drilling Unit ” means the area fixed for the drilling of one Well or Planned Well by order or rule of any applicable Governmental Authority, or (if no such order or rule is applicable) the area fixed for the drilling of a Well or Planned Well reasonably established by the pattern of drilling in the applicable area or otherwise established by Shipper in its reasonable discretion.

Drip Condensate ” means that portion of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas that is received into the Gathering System (without manual separation or injection) that condenses in, and is recovered from, the Gathering System as a liquid.

Dry Gas ” means Gas that is not Wet Gas.

Dry Gas Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(a) .

Execution Date ” has the meaning given to it in the preamble of this Agreement.

Facility Segment ” means a physically separate segment of the Gathering System constructed, owned (or leased) or acquired by Gatherer, whether now or in the future, to connect certain of the Well Pads to a Delivery Point, including all required Receipt Point interconnections, low-pressure gathering lines, compression facilities (including associated dehydration and treatment facilities), high-pressure gathering lines, meters and measurement facilities, Condensate collection, gathering, stabilization, handling and storage facilities, Delivery Point interconnections and all associated equipment and facilities constructed, owned (or leased) and operated or otherwise provided by Gatherer in connection therewith.

Fee ” or “ Fees ” means, collectively, the Dry Gas Gathering Fee, the Wet Gas Gathering Fees, the Condensate Gathering Fees and, if applicable, any Sole Dedication Fee.

 

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Fee Model ” means that economic model agreed on by the Parties in computing the Fees as of the Execution Date.

First Development Report ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(a) .

First Development Report Planned Well ” means a Planned Well identified in the First Development Report that is anticipated to be completed and ready to be placed-on line prior to September 30, 2016.

Force Majeure ” has the meaning given to it in Section 11.2 .

Fuel Point ” has the meaning given to it in Section 1.8 of Exhibit A .

Gallon ” means one U.S. gallon.

Gas ” means any mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons, consisting essentially of methane and heavier hydrocarbons, including (unless otherwise expressly provided herein) liquefiable hydrocarbons and Drip Condensate, and including inert and noncombustible gases, in each case, produced from beneath the surface of the earth; provided , however , that the term “Gas” as used herein shall not include Liquid Condensate.

Gas Services ” means (a) with respect to Gas produced from the Moundsville Area or the PIA Area: (i) the receipt of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas (including Drip Condensate) at the Receipt Points and (ii) the re-delivery of Gas that is thermally equivalent to Shipper’s delivered for Shipper’s account Gas at the Delivery Points as being delivered on the Execution Date (or any other mutually agreed successor Delivery Point), in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (b) with respect to Gas produced from the Dedicated Area other than the Moundsville Area or the PIA Area: (i) the receipt of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas (including Drip Condensate) at the Receipt Points; (ii) the gathering, dehydrating, compressing, treating and blending to applicable tariff requirements (subject to any waivers in place) of such Gas and the collection and gathering of any Drip Condensate; (iii) the re-delivery of Gas that is thermally equivalent to Shipper’s delivered Gas at the Delivery Points for Shipper’s account; and (iv) the other services to be performed by Gatherer in respect of such Gas as set forth in this Agreement, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Gatherer ” has the meaning given to it in the preamble of this Agreement.

Gatherer Group ” has the meaning given to it in Section 13.2 .

Gathering Services ” means, collectively, the Gas Services and the Condensate Services.

Gathering System ” means the existing Gas and Condensate gathering system, including (a) pipelines; (b) compression, dehydration and treating facilities; (c) controls, Delivery Points, meters and measurement facilities; (d) owned (or leased) Condensate collection, gathering, stabilization, handling, and storage facilities; (e) rights of way, fee parcels, surface rights and permits; and (f) all appurtenant facilities, constructed, owned (or leased) and operated by Gatherer to provide Gathering Services to Shipper or Third Parties, as such gathering system and/or facilities are modified and/or extended from time to time to provide Gathering Services to

 

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Shipper pursuant to the terms hereof or to Third Parties, including the Facility Segments to be constructed and owned (or leased) and operated by Gatherer under this Agreement to provide the Gathering Services contemplated in this Agreement for Shipper.

Gathering System Fuel ” means all Gas and electric power measured and utilized as fuel for the Gathering System, including Gas and electric power utilized as fuel for compressor stations, stated in MMBtus or kilowatt hours (as applicable).

Gathering System L&U ” means any Gas or Liquid Condensate received into the Gathering System that is lost or otherwise not accounted for incident to, or occasioned by, the gathering, treating, compressing, blending, stabilization and re-delivery, as applicable, of Gas and Liquid Condensate, including Gas and/or Liquid Condensate released through leaks, instrumentation, relief valves, flares and blow downs of pipelines, vessels and equipment; provided, however that “Gathering System L&U” shall will not include any Gas or Liquid Condensate that is lost as a result of Gatherer’s negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Gathering System Plan ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(c) .

Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, local, municipal, tribal or other government; any governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, commission, body or other authority exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, regulatory or taxing authority or power; and any court or governmental tribunal, including any tribal authority having or asserting jurisdiction.

Greenhill Delivered Production ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.2(e) .

Greenhill Facility ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.2(e) .

Gross Heating Value ” means the number of Btus produced by the combustion, on a dry basis and at a constant pressure, of the amount of Gas which would occupy a volume of 1 cubic foot at a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and at a pressure of 14.73 Psia, with air of the same temperature and pressure as the Gas, when the products of combustion are cooled to the initial temperature of the Gas and air and when the water formed by combustion is condensed to the liquid state. Hydrogen sulfide shall be deemed to have no heating value.

Group ” means (a) with respect to Shipper, the Shipper Group and (b) with respect to Gatherer, the Gatherer Group.

Imbalance Account ” has the meaning given to it in Section 1.3 of Exhibit A .

Individual System ” means a midstream gathering system as designated in any Gathering System Plan and which, for the avoidance of doubt, as of the Execution Date include the Majorsville System, the Mamont System, the McQuay System, the Fink System, the Tygart Valley System, the Tygart Valley West System, the Pennsboro / Shirley System, the Moundsville System, the Pullman / Oxford System, the PIA System and the Wadestown System.

 

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Industry Expert ” means a major, independent accounting firm or other qualified industry expert with at least 10 years relevant experience, which firm or expert shall not be regularly engaged by or otherwise have a material relationship with either Shipper or Gatherer or any of their Affiliates, and shall not otherwise have a conflict of interest in relation to Shipper and Gatherer or any of their Affiliates.

Initial Term ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 .

Interest Rate ” means, on the applicable date of determination, the LIBOR Rate plus an additional three percentage points (or, if such rate is contrary to any applicable Law, the maximum rate permitted by such applicable Law).

Intermediate Delivery Point ” means an interconnection of a pipeline to the Gathering System upstream of the applicable Delivery Point that allows Shipper to take Gas previously Tendered by Shipper and deliver it back to the Gathering System at a secondary Receipt Point on another portion of the Gathering System in order to facilitate blending of such Gas by Shipper with other Gas to cause the resultant combined Gas to meet tariffs of Downstream Pipelines as provided in Section 3.6 .

Interruptible Service ” means all obligations of Gatherer to receive, gather, treat, stabilize, load, compress, store and re-deliver, as applicable, Gas or Liquid Condensate, which obligations are designated as interruptible and as to which obligations Gatherer may interrupt its performance thereof for any or no reason.

JDA Parties ” means, collectively, Shipper and Noble.

Joint Dedicated Gas ” means (a) Gas produced from the Joint Dedicated Properties and (b) Third Party Gas under the Control of Shipper produced from the lands covered by the Joint Dedicated Properties and (c) Gas produced from the ROFO Properties that have been dedicated to Gatherer under this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.10 .

Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate ” means (a) Liquid Condensate produced from the Joint Dedicated Properties that are located in the PIA Area, the Majorsville Area and/or the Moundsville Area; (b) Third Party Liquid Condensate under the Control of Shipper produced from the lands located in the PIA Area, the Majorsville Area and/or the Moundsville Area and (c) Liquid Condensate produced from the Additional Condensate Properties that have been dedicated to Gatherer under this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.10 .

Joint Dedicated Production ” means, collectively, Joint Dedicated Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate.

Joint Dedicated Properties ” means Shipper’s interest in the oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests that as of the Execution Date are, or that after the Execution Date become, jointly owned by the JDA Parties (in undivided interests) in the Dedication Area, including those certain oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests described on Exhibit B-1 , in each case, to the extent and only to the extent that such oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests cover and relate to the Marcellus Formation.

 

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Laws ” means any applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, order, code, ruling, writ, injunction, decree or other official act of or by any Governmental Authority.

Legacy Wells ” certain existing wells described in Exhibit K-2 to this Agreement to the extent such wells are in the Dedication Area.

Legacy Well Dedicated Production means (a) all of Shipper’s interest in Gas produced from the Legacy Wells and (b) Third Party Gas produced from the Legacy Wells under the Control of Shipper.

LIBOR ” means 3-month LIBOR, as reported in the Markets Data Center of The Wall Street Journal.

Liquid Condensate ” means Shipper’s owned or Controlled liquid hydrocarbons separated (mechanically or otherwise) from Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas at or near the Well Pad upstream of the Receipt Points and injected into the Gathering System by Shipper at a Receipt Point.

Loss ” or “ Losses ” means any actions, claims, settlements, judgments, demands, liens, losses, damages, fines, penalties, interest, costs, expenses (including expenses attributable to the defense of any actions or claims), attorneys’ fees and liabilities, including Losses for bodily injury, death, or property damage.

Majorsville Area ” means the area described in Exhibit B-3 .

Majorsville Condensate Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(c)(i) .

MAOP ” means maximum allowable operating pressure.

Marcellus Formation ” means, (a) in central Pennsylvania, specifically from the top of the Burkett in the DeArmitt #1 (API 37-129-27246) and 7000’MD through to the top of the Onondaga at 7530’MD and illustrated in the log attached on Exhibit B-6 ; (b) in southwest Pennsylvania, specifically from the top of the Burkett in the GH-10C-CV (API 37-059-25397) at 7600’MD through to the top of the Onondaga at 7900’MD and illustrated in the log attached on Exhibit B-6 ; and (c) in West Virginia, specifically from the top of the Burkett in the DEPI #14815 (API 47-001-02850) at 7350’MD through to the top of the Onondaga at 7710’MD and illustrated in the log attached on Exhibit B-6 .

McQuay Facility ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.2(e) .

Measurement Device ” means the meter body (which may consist of an orifice meter or ultrasonic meter), LACT unit or other Gas or Liquid Condensate metering device, tube, orifice plate, connected pipe, tank strapping, and fittings used in the measurement of Gas flow, Liquid Condensate flow and volume and/or Gas Btu content.

MMBtu ” means one million Btus.

 

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Month ” means a period of time beginning at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the first Day of a calendar month and ending at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the first Day of the next succeeding calendar month. The term “ Monthly ” shall have the correlative meaning.

Month of Service ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.2(d) .

Monthly Other Production ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.2(e) .

Moundsville Area ” means the area described in Exhibit B-4 .

Moundsville Condensate Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(c)(ii) .

Moundsville/PIA Wet Gas Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(b)(i) .

MSCF ” means one thousand Standard Cubic Feet.

NAESB ” means North American Energy Standards Board, or its successors.

Net Acres ” means (a) with respect to any oil and gas lease in which Shipper has an interest, (i) the number of gross acres in the lands covered by such oil and gas lease, multiplied by (ii) the undivided percentage interest in oil, gas and other minerals covered by such oil and gas lease, multiplied by (iii) Shipper’s working interest in such oil and gas lease, and (b) with respect to any mineral fee interest of Shipper, (i) the number of gross acres in the lands covered by such mineral fee interest, multiplied by (ii) the undivided percentage interest of Shipper in oil, gas and other minerals in such lands.

Net Condensate Price ” means, with respect to Condensate sold by Gatherer pursuant to this Agreement in any Month, the weighted average gross proceeds per Barrel received by Gatherer from the sale of such Condensate to a non-Affiliated Third Party f.o.b. at the applicable Downstream Condensate Storage Tank(s) during such Month or if Gatherer transports Shipper’s Condensate from the applicable Downstream Condensate Storage Tank(s) and sells Shipper’s Condensate at a location away from such Downstream Condensate Storage Tank, the weighted average gross proceeds per Barrel received by Gatherer during such Month from the sale of such Condensate to a non-Affiliated Third Party less Gatherer’s non-Affiliated Third Party, verifiable out-of-pocket transportation expenses with respect to such Condensate so sold.

NGL ” means natural gas liquids.

Noble ” means Noble Energy, Inc.

Noble Dedicated Production ” means, collectively, the Noble Joint Dedicated Production and the Noble Sole Dedicated Production.

Noble Gathering Agreement ” means that certain Gathering Agreement dated as of the date hereof between Noble and Gatherer (without regard to any amendments thereto unless expressly consented to by Shipper).

 

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Noble Joint Dedicated Production ” means “Joint Dedicated Production” as defined in the Noble Gathering Agreement.

Noble Sole Dedicated Production ” means “Sole Dedicated Production” as defined in the Noble Gathering Agreement.

Notifying Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(b) .

OFO ” means an operational flow order or similar order respecting operating conditions issued by a Downstream Pipeline.

On-Line Deadline ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.2(b) .

Operating Terms ” means those additional terms and conditions applicable to Gathering Services provided under this Agreement, as set forth in Exhibit A .

Other Areas Wet Gas Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(b)(ii) .

Other Production ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.2(e) .

Party ” or “ Parties ” has the meaning given to it in the Preamble.

PDA ” means, with respect to a Receipt Point or Delivery Point, a predetermined allocation directive from, or agreement with, Shipper.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, Governmental Authority or any other entity.

PIA Area ” means the area described in Exhibit B-5 .

PIA Condensate Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(c)(iii) .

Planned Well ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(b) .

Planned Well Pad ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(b) .

Pressure Overage Percentage ” means an amount equal to the quotient of (a) the difference between (i) the actual arithmetic average operating pressure of an Individual System and (ii) the Target Pressure for such Individual System for the calendar quarter divided by (b) the Target Pressure for such Individual System for such calendar quarter.

Priority One Service ” means that type of service that has the highest priority call on capacity of all or any relevant portion of the Gathering System, which service shall not be subject to interruption or curtailment except by reason of an event of Force Majeure, necessary Gathering System maintenance or as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement and which service in any event has a higher priority than Priority Two Service, Interruptible Service and any other permissible level of service established by Gatherer pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

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Priority Two Service ” means that type of service that has the second highest priority call on capacity of all or any relevant portion of the Gathering System second only to Priority One Service, which service shall not be subject to interruption or curtailment except by reason of an event of Force Majeure, necessary Gathering System maintenance or as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement and which service in any event has a higher priority than Interruptible Service and any other permissible level of service established by Gatherer pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (other than Priority One Service).

Processing Plant ” means a Gas processing facility downstream of any Delivery Point on the Gathering System to which Shipper has dedicated, or in the future elects to dedicate, Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas for processing or at which Shipper has arranged for such Gas to be processed prior to delivery to a Downstream Pipeline.

Proposed Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 2.2(b) .

Proposed Gathering Services ” has the meaning given to it in Section 2.2(b) .

Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties ” has the meaning given to it in Section 2.2(b) .

Psia ” means pounds per square inch absolute.

Rate Reset Trigger ” means any of (a) the initiation of Gathering Services for Sole Dedicated Production or (b) the initiation of Gathering Services for a Third Party (other than a Third Party that has elected for Shipper to Control such Third Party’s Gas or Liquid Condensate).

Receipt Point ” means any of the connecting flanges on the Gathering System located at or nearby or assigned to a Well Pad (which flanges, in some cases, has a Measurement Device) where Shipper’s facilities are connected to the Gathering System and more particularly described on Exhibit F , which Exhibit may be updated from time to time by Shipper pursuant to the applicable Development Report or otherwise and with respect to any Gas delivered by Shipper for blending, the Receipt Point for such blending Gas designated by Shipper from time to time.

Receiving Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(b) .

ROFO Area ” means the area described on Exhibit H-2 .

ROFO Notice ” has the meaning given to it in Section 4.10(a) .

ROFO Offer ” has the meaning given to it in Section 4.10(b) .

ROFO Properties ” means (a) with respect to Gas Services, Shipper’s interest in the oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests that as of the Execution Date are, or that after the Execution Date become, jointly owned by the JDA Parties (in undivided interests) in the ROFO Area, including those certain oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests described on Exhibit H-1 , in each case, to the extent and only to the extent that such oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests cover and relate to the Marcellus Formation and (b) with respect to Condensate Services, Shipper’s interest in the oil

 

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and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests that as of the Execution Date are, or that after the Execution Date become, jointly owned by the JDA Parties (in undivided interests) in the ROFO Area, including those certain oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests described on Exhibit H-1 , in each case, to the extent and only to the extent that such oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests cover and relate to the Marcellus Formation.

Shipper ” has the meaning given to it in the preamble of this Agreement.

Shipper’s Facilities ” means the assets and properties of Shipper upstream of a Receipt Point.

Shipper Group ” has the meaning given to it in Section 13.3 .

Shipper Meters ” has the meaning given to it in Section 1.4 of Exhibit A .

Sole Dedicated Gas ” means (a) Gas produced from Sole Dedicated Properties and (b) Third Party Gas under the Control of Shipper produced from the lands covered by the Sole Dedicated Properties.

Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate ” means (a) Liquid Condensate produced from the Sole Dedicated Properties, (b) Third Party Liquid Condensate under the Control of Shipper produced from the lands covered by the Sole Dedicated Properties, (c) Liquid Condensate produced from Additional Condensate Properties and (d) Third Party Liquid Condensate under the Control of Shipper produced from the lands covered by the Additional Condensate Properties.

Sole Dedicated Production ” means, collectively, Sole Dedicated Gas and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate.

Sole Dedicated Properties ” means Shipper’s interest in oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests within the Dedication Area that are not Joint Dedicated Properties and which Shipper elects to dedicate pursuant to Section 2.2(b) and Gatherer accepts (or is deemed to have accepted) such dedication pursuant to Section 2.2(b) .

Sole Dedication Fee ” means the fee with respect to Sole Dedicated Properties agreed to (or deemed agreed to) by Shipper and Gatherer pursuant to Section 2.2 .

Sole Dedication Notice ” has the meaning given to it in Section 2.2(b) .

Standard Cubic Foot ” means that quantity of Gas that occupies one cubic foot of space when held at a base temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of 14.73 Psia.

Statement Deadline ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1 .

Subject Expenses ” has the meaning given to it in the definition of Target Return.

Subject ROFO Properties ” has the meaning given to it in Section 4.10(b) .

 

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System Receipt Point ” has the meaning given to it in Section 1.8 of Exhibit A .

Tap ” means a point on the Gathering System downstream of all compression, dehydration, treatment and other similar facilities but upstream of the applicable Delivery Point.

Target On-Line Date ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(b) .

Target Pressure ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.2(c) .

Target Return ” means an unlevered 15% rate of return on incremental operating expenses and incremental capital expenses anticipated, in Gatherer’s good faith opinion, to be incurred by Gatherer in providing the Gathering Services requested in a Sole Dedication Notice with respect to Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties (such expenses, the “ Subject Expenses ”).

Tender ” means (a) with respect to Gas, the act of Shipper’s making Gas available or causing Gas to be made available to the Gathering System at a Receipt Point and (b) with respect to Liquid Condensate, the act of Shipper’s injection or causing the Liquid Condensate to be injected into the Gathering System at a Receipt Point. “ Tendered ” shall have the correlative meaning.

Term ” has the meaning given to it in Section 7.1 .

Thermal Content ” means, for Gas, the product of the measured volume in MSCFs multiplied by the Gross Heating Value per MSCF, adjusted to the same pressure base and expressed in MMBtus; and for a liquid, the product of the measured volume in gallons multiplied by the Gross Heating Value per Gallon determined in accordance with the GPA 2145-09 Table of Physical Properties for Hydrocarbons and GPA 8173 Method for Converting Mass of Natural Gas Liquids and Vapors to Equivalent Liquid Volumes, in each case as revised from time to time.

Third Party means any Person other than a Party to this Agreement or any Affiliate of a Party to this Agreement.

Third Party Gas means Gas owned by a Third Party.

Third Party Liquid Condensate means Liquid Condensate owned by a Third Party.

Total Shipper Permitted Transfer Acres ” means (a) 25,000 Net Acres plus (b) any Net Acres acquired by Shipper (by purchase, farmin or otherwise) from and after the Execution Date that are subject to dedication under this Agreement or are otherwise dedicated by Shipper under this Agreement, in each case, in the Dedication Area less (c) those Net Acres included in the Dedicated Properties that are divested by Shipper (by sale, farmout or otherwise) during the period from and after the Execution Date.

Well ” means a well for the production of hydrocarbons in which Shipper owns an interest that is either producing or is intended to produce Dedicated Production.

Well Pad ” means the surface installation on which one or more Wells are located.

 

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Wet Gas ” means Gas Tendered by Shipper hereunder that Shipper intends to extract NGLs therefrom.

Wet Gas Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(b)(ii) .

Year ” means a period of time on and after January 1 of a calendar year through and including December 31 of the same calendar year; provided that the first Year shall commence on the Execution Date and run through December 31 of that calendar year, and the last Year shall commence on January 1 of the calendar year and end on the Day on which this Agreement terminates.

Section 1.2 Other Terms . Other capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined in Section 1.1 above have the meanings ascribed to them throughout this Agreement.

Section 1.3 References and Rules of Construction . All references in this Agreement to Exhibits, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions refer to the corresponding Exhibits, Appendices, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions of or to this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. Titles appearing at the beginning of any Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute any part of this Agreement, and shall be disregarded in construing the language hereof. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and “hereof,” and words of similar import, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section, subsection or other subdivision unless expressly so limited. The word “including” (in its various forms) means “including without limitation.” All references to “$” or “dollars” shall be deemed references to United States dollars. Each accounting term not defined herein will have the meaning given to it under generally accepted accounting principles. Pronouns in masculine, feminine or neuter genders shall be construed to state and include any other gender, and words, terms and titles (including terms defined herein) in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. References to any Law means such Law as it may be amended from time to time.

ARTICLE 2

DEDICATION OF PRODUCTION

Section 2.1 Shipper’s Joint Dedication . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3 through Section 2.7 and Article 14 , Shipper:

(a) exclusively dedicates and commits to deliver to Gatherer under this Agreement, as and when produced, all of the (i) Gas owned by Shipper produced during the Term from the Joint Dedicated Properties, (ii) Liquid Condensate owned by Shipper produced during the Term from the Joint Dedicated Properties that are located in the PIA Area, the Majorsville Area and/or the Moundsville Area (and not any other Joint Dedicated Properties) and (iii) Gas owned by Shipper produced during the Term from the Legacy Wells;

(b) commits to deliver to Gatherer under this Agreement, as and when produced (i) all of the Third Party Gas under the Control of Shipper produced during the Term from lands covered by the Joint Dedicated Properties, (ii) all of the Third Party Liquid Condensate under the

 

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Control of Shipper produced during the Term from lands covered by the Joint Dedicated Properties that are located in the PIA Area, the Majorsville Area and/or the Moundsville Area (and not any other Joint Dedicated Properties) and (iii) all of the Third Party Gas under the Control of Shipper produced during the Term from the Legacy Wells; and

(c) except as provided in Section 3.6 , agrees not to deliver any Dedicated Production to any other gatherer, purchaser or marketer or other Person prior to delivery to Gatherer at the Receipt Points.

Section 2.2 Shipper’s Sole Dedication .

(a) From time to time, subject to Section 2.2(b) , Shipper may designate its interests in oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests within the Dedication Area that are not Joint Dedicated Properties as Sole Dedicated Properties. If Gatherer accepts such dedication (or is obligated to accept such designation pursuant to Section 2.2(b) ), then subject to the provisions of Section 2.3 through Section 2.7 and Article 14 , Shipper will be deemed to have (i) dedicated and committed to deliver to Gatherer under this Agreement, as and when produced, all of the Gas owned by Shipper thereafter produced during the Term from Sole Dedicated Properties and (ii) committed to deliver to Gatherer under this Agreement, as and when produced, all of Third Party Gas under the Control of Shipper that is thereafter produced during the Term from the lands covered by such Sole Dedicated Properties.

(b) If Shipper wishes to dedicate to Gatherer hereunder its interests in oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests within the Dedication Area that are not Joint Dedicated Properties as Sole Dedicated Properties, then Shipper shall prepare in good faith and deliver to Gatherer a notice (a “ Sole Dedication Notice ”) setting forth (i) the oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests Shipper wishes to designate as Sole Dedicated Properties (the “ Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties ”), (ii) the general location of such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties, (iii) a current production forecast for such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties, including the date on which production from such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties is anticipated to come online, and the locations of the planned wells on such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties, (iv) the proposed Gathering Services to be provided by Gatherer (the “ Proposed Gathering Services ”) and (v) proposed fees for such Services to be provided by Gatherer (collectively, the “ Proposed Fee ”). As soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event within 30 Days following receipt of a Sole Dedication Notice, Gatherer shall provide a written response to Shipper setting forth Gatherer’s election to accept or reject the dedication of such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties; provided , however , if the Proposed Fee would provide Gatherer at least the Target Return with respect to the Proposed Gathering Services, then Gatherer shall be obligated to accept the dedication of such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties and provide the Proposed Gathering Services with respect to the applicable Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties at the applicable Proposed Fee. If Gather elects to reject the dedication of such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties for the Proposed Fee because the acceptance of such dedication would not provide Gatherer at least the Target Return, then Gatherer shall provide in such notice of rejection a calculation showing the anticipated return on the Subject Expenses Gatherer anticipates it would earn based on the Subject Expenses associated with the Proposed Gathering Services using the Proposed Gathering Fee and, within 30 Days following the receipt by Shipper of Gatherer’s rejection of the dedication of such

 

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Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties, Shipper may deliver a revised Sole Dedication Notice including a revised Proposed Fee. If such revised Proposed Fee would provide Gatherer at least the Target Return, then Gatherer shall be obligated to accept the dedication of such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties and provide the Gathering Services set forth in the revised Sole Dedication Notice with respect to such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties at the revised Proposed Fee. For the avoidance of doubt, Gatherer shall not be obligated to accept any dedication of Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties pursuant to this Section 2.2(b) if the provision of the Gathering Services set forth in a Sole Dedication Notice with respect to such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties would materially and adversely impact the provision of Gathering Services with respect to the Joint Dedicated Production and/or the development of the Gathering System provided for in the then current Gathering System Plan.

Section 2.3 Third Party’s Dedication . Gatherer and Shipper may from time to time mutually agree to permit Third Parties to gather Dedicated Production; provided , however , that such mutual agreement will not result in any release of such Dedicated Production from dedication under this Agreement except to the extent the Parties expressly so agree.

Section 2.4 Conflicting Dedications . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Shipper shall have the right to comply with each of the Conflicting Dedications set forth in Exhibit G and any other Conflicting Dedication applicable as of the date of acquisition thereof to any oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests within the Dedication Area (a) acquired by Shipper after the Execution Date and (b) which have become subject to dedication under this Agreement (but not any entered into in connection with such acquisition); provided , however , that Shipper shall have the right to comply with the applicable Conflicting Dedication only until the first Day of the Month following the termination by Shipper of such Conflicting Dedication. As of the Execution Date, Shipper represents that, except as set forth in Exhibit G , Dedicated Production is not subject to any other Conflicting Dedication.

Section 2.5 Shipper’s Reservations . Shipper reserves the following rights respecting Dedicated Production for itself:

(a) to operate (or cause to be operated) Wells producing Dedicated Production in its sole discretion, including the right (but not the obligation) to drill new Wells, to repair and rework old Wells, temporarily shut in Wells, renew or extend, in whole or in part, any oil and gas lease or term mineral interest, and to cease production from or abandon any Well or surrender any such oil and gas lease, in whole or in part, when no longer deemed by Shipper to be capable of producing Gas or Liquid Condensate in paying quantities under normal methods of operation;

(b) to use Dedicated Production for lease operations (including reservoir or mine pressure maintenance), water treatment facility operations and mine operations (other than running of mine equipment) relating to the lands within the Dedication Area;

(c) to deliver or furnish to Shipper’s lessors and holders of other burdens on production with respect to such Dedicated Production as is required to satisfy the terms of the applicable oil and gas leases or other applicable instruments;

 

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(d) the sole and exclusive right to process or arrange for the processing (including for purposes of liquids extraction) of such Dedicated Production (for the sake of clarity, Gatherer will have no right to process or arrange for processing of the Dedicated Production);

(e) to deliver or furnish Dedicated Production to end users if such end users receipt of such Dedicated Production is at a receipt point on Shipper’s gathering system prior to or at a designated Receipt Point;

(f) to pool, communitize or unitize Shipper’s interests with respect to Dedicated Production; provided that Shipper’s share of Dedicated Production produced from such pooled, communitized or unitized interests shall be committed and dedicated pursuant to this Agreement;

(g) until the applicable Gathering System facilities are completed and ready for service, to temporarily connect Wells or Planned Wells into other gathering systems;

(h) (i) all Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate that is in excess of amount of Liquid Condensate with Priority One Service that is capable of being gathered, collected, stored and/or stabilized in the facilities comprising the Gathering System; (ii) all Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate that is caught during flowback operations with respect to any Well or otherwise related to mechanical failures of liquid separation on the Well Pad and (iii) all Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate that is extracted at the Well Pad as a result of the inability of the Gathering System to provide Condensate Services for such Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and/or Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate;

(i) all Liquid Condensate produced from the Dedicated Properties that is not Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate or Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate; and

(j) all Gas and Liquid Condensate produced from those wells set forth on Exhibit K-1 .

Section 2.6 Releases from Dedication .

(a) Dedicated Production from Wells or Planned Wells on one or more Well Pads or Planned Well Pads, and the acreage in each Drilling Unit with respect to such Wells or Planned Wells, shall be permanently released from dedication under this Agreement, and Shipper may deliver and commit such Dedicated Production to such other gatherer or gatherers as it shall determine:

(i) in the event of an unpermitted interruption as provided in Section 10.1(b) ;

(ii) upon written notice from Shipper, if Gatherer has failed to complete the facilities necessary to connect each Planned Well Pad and/or Planned Well to the Gathering System by On-Line Deadline as provided in Section 3.2 ;

(iii) upon written notice from Shipper, if Gatherer has failed to commence the Gathering Services with respect to any Planned Well Pad and/or Planned Wells by the On-Line Deadline as provided in Section 3.2 ;

 

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(iv) upon written notice from Shipper, if each of the following four conditions are satisfied:

(A) the first production from any Well or Planned Well on a Well Pad or Planned Well Pad has not occurred on or before the fifth anniversary of the Execution Date,

(B) at the time of such notice such Well Pad or Planned Well Pad is located more than three miles from the nearest then-existing connection to the Gathering System,

(C) a non-Affiliated Third Party gatherer offers a lower cost of service to connect such Well Pad or Planned Well Pad and deliver such Dedicated Production produced from such Wells or Planned Wells to the desired delivery point than Gatherer offers under this Agreement (and following such notice does enter into an agreement for the gathering of such Dedicated Production), and

(D) such Well Pads or Planned Well Pad and Wells or Planned Wells are located outside of the area served or to be served by the then existing Gathering System as reflected in the then-existing Gathering System Plan;

(v) upon written notice from Shipper, with respect to such Dedicated Production that is unitized or pooled with oil and gas leases or mineral interests of Third Parties, if none of Shipper, Noble or any of their Affiliates is the operator of such unit or pooled area at the time the applicable Well is drilled; or

(vi) if such Dedicated Properties are transferred by Shipper free of the dedication as provided in Section 14.1(b) .

(b) Gatherer shall also consider in good faith any proposal by Shipper made from time to time to permanently release one or more of the Dedicated Properties and the production therefrom from the dedication under this Agreement if Shipper reasonably believes that installing pipelines and equipment necessary to connect such Dedicated Properties to the Gathering System would be economically disadvantageous for Shipper, considering all gathering alternatives.

(c) Dedicated Production may also be temporarily released from dedication under this Agreement as expressly provided in this Agreement, including in the event of (i) an unpermitted interruption as provided in Section 10.1(b) or (ii) an interruption or curtailment of receipts and deliveries as provided in Section 4.6(d) .

(d) At the request of Shipper, the Parties shall execute a release reasonably acceptable to Shipper (which, in the case of a permanent release, shall be in recordable form) reflecting the release of particular Wells, Planned Wells and/or Drilling Units and associated acreage included in the Dedicated Properties from dedication under this Agreement in accordance with the provisions hereof.

Section 2.7 Covenant Running with the Land . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3 through Section 2.6 and Article 14 , the dedication and commitment made by Shipper under this

 

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Agreement is a covenant running with the Dedicated Properties. For the avoidance of doubt, except as set forth in Article 14 , (a) in the event Shipper sells, transfers, conveys, assigns, grants or otherwise disposes of any or all of its interest in the Dedicated Properties, then any such sale, transfer, conveyance, assignment, grant or other disposition shall be expressly subject to this Agreement and (b) in the event Gatherer sells, transfers, conveys, assigns, grants or otherwise disposes of any or all of its interest in the Gathering System, then any such sale, transfer, conveyance, assignment, grant or other disposition shall be expressly subject to this Agreement.

Section 2.8 Memorandum . Upon Gatherer’s request, Shipper shall execute and deliver to Gatherer, at Gatherer’s request, a fully recordable memorandum of this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit D .

ARTICLE 3

GATHERING SYSTEM EXPANSION AND CONNECTION OF WELLS

Section 3.1 Development Report; Gathering System Plan; Meetings and Review and Exchange of Planning Information .

(a) On or before November 1, 2014, Shipper will provide Gatherer with a report ( First Development Report ) describing in detail the planned development, drilling and production activities and the plant location, delivery points and anticipated peak volumes, in each case, relating to the Joint Dedicated Properties through September 30, 2016, and describing generally the long-term drilling and production expectations for those project areas in which drilling activity is expected to continue beyond such date. On or before each March 31, each June 30, each September 30 and each December 31 of each Year following the Execution Date, commencing December 31, 2014, Shipper shall provide to Gatherer an update of the then current report describing (i) in detail the planned development, drilling and production activities relating to (A) the Joint Dedicated Properties, (B) any Sole Dedicated Properties and (C) the ROFO Properties (including any Dedicated ROFO Properties), in each case, for the 24-Month period commencing on the date of such update and (ii) generally the long-term drilling and production expectations for those project areas in the Dedication Area and in the ROFO Area, in each case, in which drilling activity is expected to continue beyond such 24-Month period and which will cover at least the ten Years following the date of such update (the First Development Report, as updated in accordance with the foregoing and as the then current report may be amended from time to time, the “ Development Report” ).

(b) The Development Report shall include information as to:

(i) the Wells that Shipper expects will be drilled during the period covered thereby (each such Well reflected in such Development Report, a “ Planned Well ”);

(ii) each expected planned Well Pad (each such Well Pad reflected in such Development Report, a “ Planned Well Pad ”) and the expected locations thereof;

(iii) the earliest date on which one or more Wells at each Well Pad are expected to be completed and ready to be placed on-line, which date shall not be earlier than (A) with respect to a First Development Report Planned Well, the date specified in

 

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the First Development Report for such First Development Report Planned Well and (B) with respect to any Planned Well that is not a First Development Report Planned Well, 24 Months after the date of the Development Report that initially reflected such Planned Well Pad, unless Gatherer consents to a shorter time period (with respect to each such Planned Well Pad, as adjusted pursuant to Section 3.2(b) , the “ Target On-Line Date ”);

(iv) the anticipated characteristics of the production from such Wells (including gas and liquids composition and characteristics) and the projected production volumes (for both Gas and Liquid Condensate) and requested production pressures for each Well Pad Receipt Point included in the Development Report;

(v) the Delivery Point(s) at which Gas produced from such Wells is to be re-delivered to Shipper;

(vi) any Sole Dedicated Properties or Dedicated ROFO Properties dedicated by Shipper in accordance with Section 2.2 or Section 4.10 , as applicable; and

(vii) other information reasonably requested by Gatherer that is relevant to the design, construction, and operation of the Gathering System, the relevant Facility Segment, and the relevant Receipt Point facilities at such Well Pads, including any treating, processing, or liquids handling facilities required for such Gas to meet Delivery Point specifications.

Subject to Section 3.1(f) , Shipper may deliver to Gatherer, from time to time, an amendment to any Development Report previously delivered to Gatherer in accordance with Section 3.1(a) .

(c) Based on the Development Report and such other information about the expected development of the Dedicated Properties as shall be provided to Gatherer by or on behalf of Shipper, including as a result of meetings between representatives of Gatherer and Shipper, Gatherer shall develop and periodically update a Gathering System plan describing and/or depicting the Gathering System necessary to provide Gathering Services in accordance with the most recent Development Report, including in connection with Shipper’s planned development, drilling and production activities with respect to the Dedicated Properties. Such Gathering System plan (each such plan, as updated in accordance with the foregoing and as the then current plan may be amended from time to time, the “ Gathering System Plan ”) shall include information as to:

(i) each Facility Segment then existing and operational, under construction, or planned;

(ii) all Receipt Points and Delivery Points served or to be served by each such Facility Segment;

(iii) estimated gathering pressures for the 12 Month period beginning on the Target On-Line Date for each Planned Well Pad included in the Development Report;

(iv) all compression and dehydration facilities and other major physical facilities located or to be located on or within each such Facility Segment, together with

 

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their sizes, operating parameters, capacities, system pressures and other relevant specifications, which sizes, parameters, capacities and other relevant specifications shall be sufficient to (A) connect the Gathering System to the Receipt Points and Delivery Points for all Planned Well Pads and Planned Wells set forth in the most recent Development Report and (B) perform the Gathering Services for all Dedicated Production projected to be produced from the Dedicated Properties as contemplated by the most recent Development Report;

(v) the schedule for completing the permitting, construction and installation of the planned Facility Segments and all planned Receipt Points and Delivery Point facilities, in each case, for all Planned Well Pads and Planned Wells included in the most recent Development Report; and

(vi) the estimated budget amounts for the right of way acquisition and acquisition and/or construction and operations and installation of the planned Facility Segments and all planned Receipt Points and Delivery Point facilities, in each case, for all Planned Well Pads and Planned Wells included in the most recent Development Report.

Gatherer shall deliver the applicable Gathering System Plan (including any updated Gathering System Plan) to Shipper for Shipper’s approval (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) not later than 45 Days after Shipper’s delivery to Gatherer of the applicable Development Report or amendment thereto. The failure of Shipper to object by written notice to Gatherer, delivered within 30 Days of Shipper’s receipt of the applicable Gathering System Plan, to any portion of a Gathering System Plan relating to (A) the installation and construction (or planned installation or construction) of any Facility Segment or other Gathering System facility or (B) the sizes, operating parameters, capacities and other relevant specifications of such facilities shall be deemed to be an approval by Shipper of such portion of such Gathering System Plan. Gatherer shall make representatives of Gatherer available to discuss the most recent Gathering System Plan from time to time with Shipper and its representatives at Shipper’s request.

(d) Shipper shall make representatives of Shipper available to discuss the most recent Development Report from time to time with Gatherer and its representatives at Gatherer’s request. Gatherer and its representatives shall have the right to meet not less frequently than Monthly with one or more representatives of Shipper. At all such meetings, the Parties shall exchange updated information about their respective plans for the development and expansion of the Dedicated Properties (including amendments to the Development Report) and the Gathering System (including amendments to the Gathering System Plan for Shipper’s approval) and shall have the opportunity to discuss and provide comments on the other Party’s plans.

(e) The Parties recognize that the plans for the development of the Dedicated Properties and the Gathering System set forth in the Development Report and the Gathering System Plan, as well as all information exchanged between the Parties regarding their intentions with respect to the development of the Dedicated Properties and the Gathering System, are subject to change and revision at any time at the discretion of Shipper (in the case of plans for the Dedicated Properties) or Gatherer (in the case of plans for the Gathering System, subject to Shipper’s approval rights set forth above and the revised Gathering System Plan reflecting the

 

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Gathering Services necessary to provide Gathering Services in accordance with the then most recent Development Report), and that such changes may impact the timing, configuration, and scope of the planned activities of the other Party.

(f) From time to time, Shipper may provide written notice to Gatherer that Shipper (i) has accelerated the Target On-Line Date for a Planned Well, (ii) anticipates the Target On-Line Date for a Planned Well to be earlier than 24 Months following the delivery of the Development Report in which such Planned Well was initially included or (iii) anticipates drilling a Well that has not been included in a Development Report and that has a Target On-Line Date earlier than 24 Months following the next delivery of a Development Report, other than any Well that is to be drilled on a Planned Well Pad that has been previously included in a Development Report (any such Well, an “ Additional/Accelerated Well ”). Gatherer will use its commercially reasonable efforts to modify the Gathering System Plan and to cause the necessary gathering facilities to be constructed prior to the On-Line Deadline for such Additional/Accelerated Well; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, if Gatherer fails to complete the facilities necessary to connect an Additional/Accelerated Well to the Gathering System by the On-Line Deadline for such Additional/Accelerated Well, Section 3.2(d) shall not apply to such failure to connect such Additional/Accelerated Well to the Gathering System by the On-Line Deadline and there shall be no penalty to Gatherer hereunder.

(g) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing shall give rise to any liability of Shipper for any failure to develop or produce any hydrocarbons from the Dedicated Properties or to pursue or complete any drilling or development on the Dedicated Properties, whether or not envisioned in any Development Report.

Section 3.2 Expansion of Gathering System and Connection of Well Pads .

(a) Gatherer shall, at its sole cost and expense, design, construct and operate and use its commercially reasonable efforts to optimize the Gathering System for the purpose of providing Gathering Services as and when needed to timely support the upstream development of the Dedicated Properties and production of the Dedicated Production, all in accordance with this Section 3.2 .

(b) Subject to Section 3.3 , Gatherer shall by the later of the applicable Target On-Line Date and the date that the first Planned Well on a particular Planned Well Pad is ready for connection to the Gathering System (as may be extended pursuant to Section 3.2(c) , the “ On-Line Deadline ”), (i) have completed or caused the completion of the construction, in accordance with the then current approved Gathering System Plan, or the necessary facilities (A) to connect each Planned Well Pad and Planned Wells to the Gathering System and (B) to connect the Gathering System to each planned Delivery Point for such Planned Well Pad and Planned Wells and (ii) be ready and able to commence Gathering Services with respect to Dedicated Production from each Planned Well on the Planned Well Pad.

(c) If and to the extent Gatherer is delayed in completing any such facilities or providing such services by a Force Majeure event, then the On-Line Deadline applicable thereto shall be extended for a period of time equal to that during which such obligations of Gatherer was delayed by such events; provided , however , that in the event of a Force Majeure described in sections (a) through (l) of the definition of Force Majeure such adjustment shall not exceed 180 Days.

 

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(d) If Gatherer fails to connect any such Planned Well or Planned Well Pad to the Gathering System and/or is not ready or is unable to provide Gathering Services for such Planned Well Pad and Planned Wells, in each case, on or before the applicable On-Line Deadline, then, subject to Shipper’s rights under Section 2.6(a)(ii) and Section 2.6(a)(iii) , (i) Shipper (or Noble, where exercising any similar right under the Noble Agreement) shall have the right (but not the obligation) to complete those uncompleted facilities and forward invoices such Person receives with respect to such work to Gatherer for immediate payment and Gatherer will pay Shipper (or Noble (as applicable) or reimburse to Shipper or Noble (as applicable), if already paid by such Person, such invoices within two Business Days of Gatherer’s receipt of any such invoice and (ii) upon the commencement of the Gathering Services by Gatherer with respect to the Delayed Planned Wells the Fee for such Delayed Planned Wells will be zero for a number of Days equal to the number of Delayed Connection Days. For the avoidance of doubt, the reduction of the Fee and the right to complete those uncompleted facilities as set forth in this Section 3.2(d) shall be Shipper’s only remedy with respect to such Delayed Planned Wells.

Section 3.3 Cooperation . Because of the interrelated nature of the actions of the Parties required to obtain the necessary permits and authorizations from the appropriate Governmental Authorities and the necessary consents, rights of way and other authorizations from other Persons necessary to drill and complete each Planned Well and construct the required extensions of the Gathering System to each Planned Well Pad, the Parties agree to work together in good faith to obtain such permits, authorizations, consents and rights of way as expeditiously as reasonably practicable, all as provided in this Agreement. The Parties further agree to cooperate with each other and to communicate regularly regarding their efforts to obtain such permits, authorizations, consents and rights of way. Upon request by Shipper, Gatherer shall promptly provide to Shipper copies of all state and federal permits and approvals obtained by Gatherer in order to construct any Facility Segment of the Gathering System.

Section 3.4 Compression . The Gathering System Plan will describe the compression facilities that will be constructed as part of the Gathering System as well as the maximum operating pressures of the gathering lines, which shall be subject to the approval of Shipper and no higher than the MAOP and other maximum operating parameters.

Section 3.5 Right of Way and Access Rights .

(a) Gatherer is responsible, at its sole cost, for the acquisition and maintenance of rights of way, surface use and/or surface access agreements necessary to construct, own and operate the Gathering System; provided that Shipper hereby grants to Gatherer, without warranty of title, either express or implied, to the extent that it may lawfully and is contractually permitted to do so without the incurrence of additional expense, an easement and right of way upon all lands covered by the Dedicated Properties for the purpose of installing, using, maintaining, servicing, inspecting, repairing, operating, replacing, disconnecting and removing all or any portion of the Gathering System, including all pipelines, meters and other equipment necessary for the performance by Gatherer of this Agreement.

 

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(b) Shipper shall not have a duty to maintain in force and effect any underlying agreements (such as any lease, easement, or surface use agreement) that the grants of easements or rights of way by Shipper to Gatherer pursuant to Section 3.5(a) are based upon, and such grants of easements or rights of way will terminate if Shipper loses its rights to the applicable property, regardless of the reason for such loss of rights.

(c) Gatherer hereby grants to Shipper, without warranty of title, either express or implied, to the extent that it may lawfully and is contractually permitted to do so without the incurrence of additional expense, an easement and right of way upon all lands covered by the Gathering System. Gatherer shall not have a duty to maintain in force and effect any underlying agreements that the grants of easements or rights of way by Gatherer to Shipper pursuant to this Section 3.5(c) are based upon, and such grants of easements or rights of way will terminate if Gatherer loses its rights to the applicable property, regardless of the reason for such loss of rights.

(d) The exercise of the rights granted to a Party by the other Party pursuant to Section 3.5(a) and Section 3.5(c) shall not unreasonably interfere with such other Party’s operations or with the rights of owners in fee with respect to the applicable lands, and such rights will be exercise in material compliance with all applicable Laws and the safety and other reasonable access requirements of the granting Party.

(e) Each Party shall be responsible for any Losses caused by such Party’s use of its access rights pursuant to this Section 3.5 . Subject to Section 3.5(b) and Section 3.5(c) , each Party shall maintain all roads owned by that Party upon the Dedicated Properties as reasonably necessary for the other Party to access the Wells and its facilities located thereon; provided that the Party given access to such roads shall bear its proportionate share (based on use) of the costs of maintenance of such roads.

Section 3.6 Blending Rights .

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Shipper shall be permitted to blend Gas, subject to Section 3.6(d) below, by (i) changing the Receipt Point for any Gas to be Tendered by Shipper to Gatherer hereunder to another Receipt Point, (ii) taking Gas from the Gathering System at an Intermediate Delivery Point selected by Shipper and re-Tendering such Gas at another Receipt Point selected by Shipper or (iii) Tendering volumes of Third Party Gas (including coal bed methane Gas or other Gas) at (or near) any Tap. All Gas Tendered by Shipper to the Gathering System for blending shall be entitled to Priority One Service. In the event that Shipper takes volumes of Gas at an Intermediate Delivery Point and re-Tenders such volumes to the Gathering System at a different Receipt Point in the exercise of its blending rights hereunder, only one fee for such volumes will be due and owing (calculated based upon the volumes of such Gas Tendered by Shipper at the original Receipt Point(s)).

(b) In the event that Shipper Tenders volumes of coal bed methane or other Gas at (or near) any Tap under Section 3.6(a) (“ Blending Gas ”) and Gatherer is not required to perform any additional services with respect to such Gas, no fee will be due and owing by Shipper pursuant to Section 5.1 or otherwise for such Blending Gas. For the avoidance of doubt, the Fee will apply to any Blending Gas for which Gatherer performs Gathering Services.

 

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(c) Any pipeline or gathering system that may be necessary in order for Shipper to Tender to the Gathering System Shipper owned or Controlled Gas solely for blending purposes will be constructed by Shipper or by a Third Party on behalf of Shipper at Shipper’s cost and expense and shall not constitute a portion of the Gathering System; provided that the Parties may separately agree, by an amendment to this Agreement, that Gatherer will build facilities to connect the Gathering System to wells to provide Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas for blending purposes for a fee mutually agreeable by the Parties.

Section 3.7 Liquid Condensate . Shipper shall be responsible for measuring and injecting into the Gathering System any Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate or Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate at the applicable Receipt Point.

ARTICLE 4

TENDER, NOMINATION AND GATHERING OF PRODUCTION

Section 4.1 Priority of Service .

(a) All Joint Dedicated Production and Legacy Well Dedicated Production Tendered by or on behalf of Shipper for delivery to the Gathering System shall be entitled to Priority One Service. Gatherer shall not provide Priority One Service with respect to any Gas or Liquid Condensate other than Joint Dedicated Production, Legacy Well Dedicated Production or Noble Joint Dedicated Production without the prior written consent of Shipper and Noble (which consent may be withheld in such Person’s sole discretion). Shipper acknowledges that Noble Joint Dedicated Production shall be entitled to Priority One Service.

(b) All Sole Dedicated Production Tendered by or on behalf of Shipper for delivery to the Gathering System shall be entitled to Priority Two Service. Gatherer shall not provide Priority Two Service with respect to any Gas or Liquid Condensate other than Sole Dedicated Production or Noble Sole Dedicated Production without the prior written consent of Shipper and Noble (which consent may be withheld in such Person’s sole discretion). Shipper acknowledges that Noble Sole Dedicated Production shall be entitled to Priority Two Service.

(c) Gatherer shall be permitted to provide such other levels of services to any Gas (but not injected Liquid Condensate), other than Dedicated Production and Noble Dedicated Production that Gatherer may elect; provided that such services do not have equal or higher priority than Priority Two Service.

Section 4.2 Governmental Action . The Parties intend and agree that all Gathering Services with respect to Dedicated Production provided to Shipper shall be provided with the priority specified in Section 4.1 , and that Shipper (pro rata, based on volumes, with Noble Dedicated Production and any other Person to whom Shipper and Noble have consented to having Priority One Service in accordance with Section 4.1(a) or Priority Two Service in accordance with Section 4.1(b) ) has the first priority call upon the capacity of the Gathering System for service to Shipper for its Dedicated Production for the Term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any Governmental Authority issues an order requiring Gatherer to allocate capacity to another shipper, Gatherer shall do so by reducing Gas entitled to Interruptible Service first reducing Gas and Liquid Condensate entitled to Priority Two Service

 

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second and shall only curtail receipts of Gas and Liquid Condensate entitled to Priority One Service (which curtailment shall be done in accordance with Section 4.6 ) to the extent necessary to allocate such capacity to such other shipper, after complete curtailment of Interruptible Service and Priority Two Service. In such event Gatherer shall not be in breach or default of its obligations under the Agreement and shall have no liability to Shipper in connection with or resulting from any such curtailment; provided , however , that Gatherer shall, at Shipper’s request, release from dedication under this Agreement all of Shipper’s volumes interrupted or curtailed as the result of such allocation.

Section 4.3 Tender of Dedicated Production and Additional Production . Subject to Article 11 and all applicable Laws, each Day during the Term, Shipper shall Tender to the Gathering System at each applicable Receipt Point all of the Dedicated Production available to Shipper at such Receipt Point. Shipper shall have the right to Tender to Gatherer for Gathering Services under this Agreement Gas and/or Condensate other than Dedicated Production; provided that any such Gas and/or Condensate shall not be entitled to Priority One Service or Priority Two Service.

Section 4.4 Gathering Services; Service Standard .

(a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and rights of all applicable Governmental Authorities, Gatherer shall (i) provide Gathering Services for all Shipper owned or Controlled Gas and Liquid Condensate constituting Dedicated Production that is Tendered to Gatherer at the applicable Receipt Point, (ii) re-deliver to Shipper or for the benefit of Shipper at the relevant Delivery Point (as designated by Shipper) such Gas (subject to Section 4.8 with respect to Drip Condensate) with an equivalent Thermal Content and hydrocarbon constituent composition, less the Thermal Content of Drip Condensate, such Gas consumed as Gathering System Fuel and Gathering System L&U allocated to Shipper in accordance with this Agreement, and (iii) cause the Gathering System to be able to flow such Gas and Liquid Condensate at volumes not less than the current capacity of the Gathering System.

(b) Gatherer agrees to construct, install, own and operate, at its sole cost, risk and expense, the Gathering System, including facilities required to connect to Receipt Points at each Well Pad as described in Section 3.2(b) , and the facilities necessary to provide the Gathering Services contemplated in this Agreement in a good and workmanlike manner in accordance with standards customary in the industry. Except through the fees for applicable Gathering Services pursuant to Section 5.1 or as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, Shipper shall have no responsibility for the cost of the Gathering System or any facilities constructed or to be constructed by Gatherer.

Section 4.5 Nominations, Scheduling, Balancing and Curtailment . Nominations, scheduling and balancing of Gas and Liquid Condensate available for, and interruptions and curtailment of, Gathering Services under this Agreement shall be performed in accordance with the applicable Operating Terms and Conditions set forth in Exhibit A .

 

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Section 4.6 Suspension/Shutdown of Service .

(a) During any period when all or any portion of the Gathering System is shut down because of necessary maintenance or repairs or Force Majeure or because such shutdown is necessary to avoid injury or harm to Persons or property, to the environment or to the integrity of the Gathering System, receipts of Shipper’s Gas and/or Liquid Condensate and the Gas and/or Liquid Condensate of other shippers may be curtailed as set forth in Section 1.7 of Exhibit A . Subject to Section 5.2(b) , in such cases Gatherer shall have no liability to Shipper, except to the extent such shut down is caused by the negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct of Gatherer; provided that Gatherer shall have no liability for any special, indirect, or consequential damages.

(b) Gatherer shall have the right to curtail or interrupt receipts and deliveries of Gas and Liquid Condensate for brief periods to perform necessary maintenance of and repairs or modifications (including modifications required to perform its obligations under this Agreement) to the Gathering System; provided , however , that Gatherer shall coordinate its maintenance, repair and modification operations with the operations of Shipper and, in any case, schedule maintenance, repair and modification operations so as to avoid or minimize to the greatest extent possible service curtailments or interruptions. Gatherer shall provide Shipper (i) with 30 Days prior notice of any upcoming normal and routine maintenance, repair and modification projects that Gatherer has planned that would result in a curtailment or interruption of Shipper’s deliveries and the estimated time period for such curtailment or interruption and (ii) with six Months prior notice of any maintenance (A) of which Gatherer has knowledge at least six Months in advance and (B) that is anticipated to result in a curtailment or interruption of Shipper’s deliveries for five or more consecutive Days.

(c) It is specifically understood by Shipper that operations and activities on facilities upstream or downstream of the Gathering System beyond Gatherer’s control may impact operations on the Gathering System, and the Parties agree that Gatherer shall have no liability therefor.

(d) If at any time Gatherer interrupts or curtails receipts and deliveries of Gas pursuant to this Section 4.6 for a period of 5 consecutive Days or for more than 7 Days during any consecutive two week period, then at Shipper’s written request, the affected volumes of Gas shall be temporarily released from dedication to this Agreement for a period commencing as of the date of such request and ending as of the first Day of the Month 30 Days following Shipper’s receipt of notice from Gatherer that such receipts and deliveries are no longer interrupted or curtailed.

Section 4.7 Gas Marketing and Transportation . As between the Parties, Shipper shall be solely responsible, and shall make all necessary arrangements at and downstream of the Delivery Points, for the receipt, further transportation, processing and marketing of Shipper’s owned and Controlled Gas (subject, however, to the provisions of Section 4.8 with respect to Condensate).

Section 4.8 Condensate Marketing . Gatherer shall market and sell Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate delivered to a Receipt Point to a non-Affiliated Third Party f.o.b. at the applicable Downstream Condensate Storage Tank(s) at the prevailing market prices at such location; provided, however, upon prior

 

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notification to and receipt of written consent by Shipper, Gatherer may elect to transport the Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate from the applicable Downstream Condensate Storage Tank(s) and sell such Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate to a non-Affiliated Third Party at a location away from such Downstream Condensate Storage Tank(s) at the prevailing market prices at such location. Upon prior notification to and receipt of written consent by Shipper, Gatherer may deliver Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate into a NGL Y-grade pipeline or a crude oil or condensate pipeline from any Downstream Condensate Storage Tank(s), and in such case, Gatherer will re-deliver Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate to the respective pipeline for Shipper’s account and Shipper will market and sell Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate. No sale of Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate shall be made by Gatherer to any Affiliate of Gatherer without Shipper’s prior written consent. Notwithstanding the forgoing, upon 60 Days prior notice to Gatherer, Shipper may elect for Gatherer to deliver Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate (after stabilization, if applicable) at the applicable Delivery Point(s) for the account of Shipper and Shipper may market and sell such Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate itself.

Section 4.9 No Prior Flow of Gas in Interstate Commerce . Shipper covenants that at the time of Tender, none of the Gas or Condensate delivered at a Receipt Point hereunder has flowed in interstate commerce.

Section 4.10 Right of First Offer .

(a) Promptly after determining that Shipper expects to undertake or participate in any development, drilling and production activities on the ROFO Properties that has not been included in a Development Report, Shipper must deliver a notice of such planned development, drilling and production activities, including the information required to be provided in a Development Report set forth in Section 3.1(b)(i) through Section 3.1(b)(vi) (each, a “ ROFO Notice ”)

(b) Gatherer shall have 45 Days following receipt of a Development Report or a ROFO Notice to make an offer to Shipper to provide Gathering Services with respect to some or all of the ROFO Properties covered in such Development Report or ROFO Notice (the “ Subject ROFO Properties ”). If Gatherer elects to make an offer, Gatherer shall, on or before 45 days following Gatherer’s receipt of a Development Report or a ROFO Notice, deliver to Shipper a notice (the “ ROFO Offer ”) setting forth: (i) the proposed Fees for the Gathering Services to be provided; (ii) the existing operations, under construction or planned Facility Segments needed to provide Gathering Services to the Subject ROFO Properties; (iii) the schedule for completing the construction and installation of the planned Facility Segments and all planned Receipt Points and Delivery Point facilities, in each case, for the planned well pads and wells included in the ROFO Offer; and (iv) the estimated budget amounts for the construction and installation of the planned Facility Segments and all planned Receipt Points and Delivery Point facilities, in each case, for the planned well pads and wells included in the ROFO Offer.

 

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(c) Within 30 Days following receipt of Gatherer’s ROFO Offer, Shipper shall notify Gatherer whether or not it accepts Gatherer’s ROFO Offer; provided that the failure of Shipper to timely notify Gatherer of its acceptance of Gatherer’s ROFO Offer shall be deemed a rejection by Shipper of such ROFO Offer. For the avoidance of doubt, Shipper shall be under no obligation to accept any ROFO Offer from Gatherer.

(d) If Shipper accepts a ROFO Offer (such ROFO Properties described in an accepted ROFO Offer, the “ Dedicated ROFO Properties ”), then (i) Shipper will be deemed to have (A) dedicated and committed to deliver to Gatherer under this Agreement, as and when produced all of the Gas and/or Liquid Condensate, as applicable, owned by Shipper thereafter produced during the Term from Dedicated ROFO Properties and (B) committed to deliver to Gatherer under this Agreement, as and when produced, all of Third Party Gas and/or Liquid Condensate, as applicable, under the Control of Shipper that is thereafter produced during the Term from the lands covered by such Dedicated ROFO Properties and (ii) the Parties will amend this Agreement to incorporate the terms set forth in the accepted ROFO Offer.

ARTICLE 5

FEES

Section 5.1 Fees .

(a) Shipper shall pay Gatherer each Month in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, for all Gathering Services provided by Gatherer with respect to Shipper’s owned or Controlled Dry Gas received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account during such Month, an amount equal to the product of (i) the aggregate quantity of such Dry Gas (other than Gas used for Gathering System Fuel), stated in MMBtus, received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Receipt Points for such Dry Gas during such Month multiplied by (ii) $0.40 (the “ Dry Gas Gathering Fee ”).

(b) Shipper shall pay Gatherer each Month in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, for all Gathering Services provided by Gatherer with respect to Shipper’s owned or Controlled Wet Gas received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account during such Month, an amount equal to the product of the following:

(i) with respect to Shipper’s owned or Controlled Wet Gas produced from the Moundsville Area or the PIA Area: (A) the aggregate quantity of such Wet Gas (other than Gas used for Gathering System Fuel), stated in MMBtus, received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Receipt Points for such Wet Gas during such Month multiplied by (B) $0.275 (the “ Moundsville/PIA Wet Gas Gathering Fee ”); and

(ii) with respect to Shipper’s owned or Controlled Wet Gas produced from the Dedication Area other than the Moundsville Area or the PIA Area: (A) the aggregate quantity of such Wet Gas (other than Gas used for Gathering System Fuel), stated in MMBtus, received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Receipt Points for such Wet Gas during such Month multiplied by (B) $0.55 (the “ Other Areas Wet Gas Gathering Fee ” and together with the Moundsville/PIA Wet Gas Gathering Fee, the “ Wet Gas Gathering Fee ”).

 

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(c) Shipper shall pay Gatherer each Month in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, for all Gathering Services provided by Gatherer with respect to Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate Tendered by Shipper hereunder and allocated to Shipper in accordance with this Agreement during such Month, an amount equal to the following:

(i) with respect to Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate produced from the Majorsville Area, the product of (i) the aggregate quantity of such allocated Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate, stated in Barrels, received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Receipt Points for such Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate during such Month multiplied by (ii) $5.00 (the “ Majorsville Condensate Gathering Fee ”);

(ii) with respect to Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate produced from the Moundsville Area, the product of (i) the aggregate quantity of such allocated Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate, stated in Barrels, received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Receipt Points for such Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate during such Month multiplied by (ii) $2.50 (the “ Moundsville Condensate Gathering Fee ”); and

(iii) with respect to Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate produced from the PIA Area, the product of (i) the aggregate quantity of such allocated Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate, stated in Barrels, received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Receipt Points for such Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate during such Month multiplied by (ii) $0 (the “ PIA Condensate Gathering Fee ” together with the Majorsville Condensate Gathering Fee and the Moundsville Condensate Gathering Fee, the “ Condensate Gathering Fees ”).

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties acknowledge that there is no separate fee chargeable by Gatherer hereunder for Gathering Services with respect to Drip Condensate and that the fees chargeable by Gatherer hereunder for Gas (including Dry Gas and Wet Gas) are sufficient to compensate Gatherer for Gathering Services with respect to Drip Condensate.

Section 5.2 Fee Adjustments .

(a) As of January 1 of each Year (commencing as of January 1, 2016), each of the Fees will be increased by an amount equal to the sum of the then applicable fee as of the preceding Month plus the product of the Annual Escalation Factor multiplied by such fee.

(b) If there has been a Downtime Event, such Downtime Event was not a result of Shipper’s production being in excess of the production forecast in the Development Report on which the Gathering System or Individual System, as applicable, was based, and such Downtime Event caused (i) the Downtime Percentage for the Gathering System during any calendar quarter to be greater than 4% during such calendar quarter; (ii) the Downtime Percentage for any Individual System during any calendar quarter to be greater than 10% during such calendar

 

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quarter or (iii) the Downtime Percentage for any Individual System during any two consecutive calendar quarters to be greater than 6% during such two consecutive calendar quarters, then in any such case, the Dry Gas Gathering Fee and the Wet Gas Gathering Fee shall be reduced as set forth in Exhibit I-1 . For the avoidance of doubt, only the highest penalty set forth on Exhibit I-1 shall be applicable to a Downtime Event.

(c) Gatherer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the Daily arithmetic average operating pressure of the system pressures at the Target Pressure. Except in the event of Force Majeure, if, during any calendar quarter, (i) the Daily arithmetic average operating pressure of an Individual System exceeds the pressure set forth in the design documents for the applicable Individual System in the applicable, approved Gathering System Plan (the “ Target Pressure ”) for such Individual System, (ii) such increase is not a result of Shipper’s production being in excess of the production forecast in the applicable Development Report and (iii) Gatherer has sufficient production data available to confirm that the increased pressure is not a result of Shipper’s increased production, then the Dry Gas Gathering Fee and the Wet Gas Gathering Fee with respect to such Individual System shall be reduced based on the calculation of the Pressure Overage Percentage, as set forth in Exhibit I-2 for each Month during such calendar quarter.

(d) Subject to Gatherer’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), to the extent that there is an option between fuel sources at any Fuel Point, prior to the beginning of each Month (the “ Month of Service ”), Shipper may request the fuel source for such Fuel Point with respect to the Gathering Services to be provided to Shipper at such Fuel Point during such Month of Service. If Shipper requests electricity as the fuel source for such Fuel Point with respect to the Gathering Services being provided to Shipper at such Fuel Point for such Month of Service, then each of the Dry Gas Gathering Fee and the Wet Gas Gathering Fee for such Month of Service shall be increased by the Compression Charge applicable to such Month of Service.

(e) The Parties acknowledge that (i) Shipper owns that certain facility in Rogersville, Pennsylvania (the “ Greenhill Facility ”) that is located near Gatherer’s facility in Rogersville, Pennsylvania (the “ McQuay Facility ”), (ii) production being transported by Gatherer may flow through the Greenhill Facility, and (iii) certain of Shipper’s production that is not Dedicated Production may flow through the McQuay Facility (such production that is capable of flowing through the McQuay Facility, the “ Other Production ”). For the avoidance of doubt, Other Production is neither Joint Dedicated Production nor Legacy Well Dedicated Production and shall not be entitled to Priority One Service. Within 30 Days following the end of each Month, Shipper shall provide to Gatherer a statement setting forth (A) the volumes, stated in MMBtu, of Other Production produced during such Month (the “ Monthly Other Production ”) and (B) the volumes, stated in MMBtu, of production that were delivered at the tailgate of the Greenhill Facility during such Month (the “ Greenhill Delivered Production ”). If the Greenhill Delivered Production exceeds the Monthly Other Production, then Gatherer shall pay Shipper an amount equal to the product of (1) the difference between the Greenhill Delivered Production and the Other Monthly Production, stated in MMBtu, multiplied by (2) the applicable Fee. If the Monthly Other Production exceeds the Greenhill Delivered Production, then Shipper shall pay Gatherer an amount equal to the product of (x) such volumes, stated in MMBtu, of the difference between the Other Monthly Production and the Greenhill Delivered Production multiplied by (y) the applicable Fee.

 

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Section 5.3 Fee Reset . As soon as practical following a Rate Reset Trigger, Gatherer shall provide written notice to Shipper of such Rate Reset Trigger. On or before September 1 of each Year (commencing with September 1, 2015) and/or within 30 Days following receipt from Gatherer of notice of a Rate Reset Trigger, Shipper shall provide to Gatherer an updated production forecast for each Year for the following ten Years based on the good faith estimates of Shipper based on the best information reasonably available at the time. Within 45 Days following receipt of Shipper’s updated production forecasts, Gatherer shall prepare and deliver to Shipper (a) an updated Fee Model that replaces projected costs, throughput, revenue and other data in the Fee Model with actual data and includes projected costs and production forecasts for future Years based on estimates developed by Gatherer and (b) revised Fees that have been determined by Gatherer’s management team (taking into account, among other things, the updated Fee Model, return on invested capital and recovery of operating and overhead costs) and approved by Gatherer’s board of directors. For the avoidance of doubt, Gatherer’s board of directors may take into account any factors it deems relevant to determining the revised Fees, including Shipper’s drilling economics to ensure drilling by Shipper on the Dedication Area. If Shipper and Gatherer cannot agree on the revised Fees within 45 Days following Gatherer’s delivery of the updated Fee Model and revised Fees, the Fees in effect prior to the Rate Reset Trigger will remain in effect.

Section 5.4 Condensate . Except as provided for in Section 4.8 , whereby Shipper elects to market and sell all or any portion of Shipper’s Condensate, Gatherer shall pay Shipper, each Month, an amount equal to product of the Net Condensate Price for such Month multiplied by the number of allocated Barrels of Condensate received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the Receipt Points.

Section 5.5 Excess Gathering System L&U . If, during any Month, Gathering System L&U allocated to Shipper in accordance with this Agreement exceeds 1.5% of the total quantities of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas and Condensate delivered to the Gathering System in such Month by Shipper, then Gatherer will conduct a field-wide meter balance. Gatherer shall provide Shipper with prior notice of, and reasonable access to observe, any such field-wide meter balance. If, during any 60 Day period, Gathering System L&U allocated to Shipper in accordance with this Agreement exceeds 2.5% of the total quantities of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas and Condensate delivered to the Gathering System in such Month by Shipper and such discrepancy cannot be corrected by a field-wide meter balance, then Gatherer shall pay Shipper in respect of such excess an amount equal to (a) the volume of such excess multiplied by (b) the price received for Shipper’s Gas and Condensate in the prior Month.

Section 5.6 Excess Gathering System Fuel Usage .

(a) Gatherer shall measure the Gas used for Gathering System Fuel and shall only use Gas as Gathering System Fuel for the operation of the Gathering System consistent with a reasonably prudent operator’s use of Gas as Gathering System Fuel for the operation of the Gathering System. If, during any Month, Gathering System Fuel exceeds the amount a reasonably prudent operator would use as fuel for the Gathering System, then Gatherer shall pay Shipper in respect of such excess that is allocated to Shipper in accordance this Agreement an amount equal to (a) the volume of such excess allocated to Shipper in accordance this Agreement multiplied by (b) the prices received for Shipper’s Gas in the prior Month.

 

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(b) If Shipper and Gatherer cannot agree on the amount a reasonably prudent operator would use as fuel for the Gathering System, then either Party may notify the other of its request to have an Industry Expert determine such amount (the Party to give such a notice, the “ Notifying Party ”, and the recipient of such a notice, the “ Receiving Party ”). Upon the receipt of such a request for an Industry Expert determination from the Notifying Party, the Notifying Party and Receiving Party shall confer in good faith for up to five Business Days to agree on the selection of an Industry Expert to determine the amount a reasonably prudent operator would use as fuel for the Gathering System. If the Parties are unable to agree upon the selection of an Industry Expert within such five Business Day period, then each of the Notifying Party and Receiving Party will select an Industry Expert and the two Industry Experts so selected will select a Person to serve as the Industry Expert. Following such selection of an Industry Expert, each Party shall present to the Industry Expert a written statement of its position on the amount a reasonably prudent operator would use as fuel for the Gathering System (including its methodology for calculating such amount) not later than 30 Days after the selection of such Industry Expert. The Industry Expert may, within 30 Days after its receipt of such statements, request such additional information from either or both Parties as the Industry Expert may deem reasonably necessary or desirable for purposes of making its determination. Each Party agrees to promptly provide the Industry Expert with all information so requested of it. The Industry Expert shall be instructed to determine and submit to the Parties its decision regarding the amount a reasonably prudent operator would use as fuel for the Gathering System. The decision of the Industry Expert shall be conclusive, binding upon, and non-appealable by the Parties. The costs and expenses of the Industry Expert shall be shared equally by the Parties.

ARTICLE 6

QUALITY AND PRESSURE SPECIFICATIONS

Section 6.1 Quality Specifications . Subject to Section 6.2 below, all Gas delivered at the Receipt Points by Shipper to Gatherer shall meet the quality specifications set forth in Section 1.1 of the Operating Terms. Provided that Shipper’s Gas delivered to the Receipt Points complies with such quality specifications or otherwise complies with the first sentence of Section 6.2 , all Gas and Condensate re-delivered at the Delivery Points by Gatherer to Shipper shall meet the quality specifications applicable at the relevant Delivery Points. The Parties recognize and agree that all Gas gathered by Gatherer through the Gathering System will be commingled with other Gas shipments (including in connection with Shipper’s exercise of its blending rights hereunder) and, subject to Gatherer’s obligation to re-deliver to Shipper at the Delivery Points Gas that satisfies the applicable quality specifications of the Delivery Points, (a) such Gas shall be subject to such changes in quality, composition and other characteristics as may result from such commingling, and (b) Gatherer shall have no other obligation to Shipper associated with changes in quality of Gas as the result of such commingling. Gatherer will not receive any Gas on the Gathering System, other than Gas owned or Controlled by Shipper or Noble, that does not meet applicable tariff requirements (subject to any waivers in place) with respect to the Delivery Point for such Gas.

Section 6.2 Failure to Meet Specifications . If any Gas (other than Gas used by Shipper for blending or blended) Tendered by Shipper to the Gathering System fails at any time to conform to the applicable specifications, then Gatherer will have the right to immediately discontinue receipt of such non-conforming Gas so long as such Gas continues to be

 

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non-conforming; provided that (a) the applicable meter operator will seek quality waivers from Downstream Pipelines, (b) Gatherer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to blend and commingle such Gas with other Gas in the Gathering System so that it meets the applicable specifications, and (c) if such Gas cannot be brought into compliance with such blending, then Gatherer will continue to accept and re-deliver such Gas to the Delivery Points that will accept such non-conforming Gas as long as (i) no harm is done to the Gathering System, (ii) no harm is done to other shippers or their Gas, and (iii) other shippers are not prevented from nominating Gas to their preferred Delivery Point. In any event, Shipper will undertake commercially reasonable measures to eliminate the cause of such non-conformance. If, in order to comply with clause (c) above, Gatherer would be required to install any additional processing or treatment facilities not included in the then current Gathering System Plan, Gatherer shall notify Shipper that it requires additional processing or treatment facilities in order to accept Gas Tendered by Shipper that does not conform to the applicable specifications and the necessary timing of installation of such facilities, and Gatherer shall be provided a period of 6 Months after receiving written notice from Shipper to install such facilities.

Section 6.3 Pressure . Shipper shall Tender or cause to be Tendered Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate to each applicable Receipt Point at sufficient pressure to enter the Gathering System against its operating pressure, but not in excess of the maximum operating pressure set forth in the design documents for the applicable Facility Segment contained in the applicable, approved Gathering System Plan (which such maximum operating pressure shall be sufficient to permit such Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate to enter the Gathering System and the facilities of the Processing Plants, Downstream Pipelines or Downstream Condensate Storage Tanks (as applicable) but not higher than the MAOP of the Downstream Pipelines or other facilities). Shipper shall have the obligation to ensure that Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate is prevented from entering the Gathering System at pressures in excess of such maximum operating pressure, and Gatherer shall have the right to restrict or relieve the flow of Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate into the Gathering System to protect the Gathering System from over pressuring. Gatherer shall not change such maximum operating pressures without prior written notification to Shipper. Gatherer shall install, own, operate and maintain compression facilities sufficient to deliver Shipper’s owned and Controlled Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate into the applicable Delivery Points. Re-deliveries of Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate by Gatherer to or for the account of Shipper at the applicable Delivery Points shall be at such pressures as may exist from time to time in the Gathering System at the applicable Delivery Point. Gatherer’s obligation to re-deliver Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate to a given Delivery Point shall be subject to the operational limitations of the Processing Plant or Downstream Pipelines (as applicable) receiving such Gas or Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate (as applicable), including the Processing Plant’s or Downstream Pipeline’s capacity, Gas measurement capability, operating pressures and any operational balancing agreements as may be applicable.

ARTICLE 7

TERM

Section 7.1 Term . This Agreement shall commence on the Execution Date and shall remain in effect until the 20 th anniversary of the Execution Date (the “ Initial Term ”) and thereafter on a Year to Year basis until terminated by Gatherer or Shipper effective upon the

 

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expiration of the Initial Term or the expiration of any Year thereafter upon written notice no less than 180 Days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or the expiration of any Year thereafter (such period of time, the “ Term ”).

Section 7.2 Effect of Termination or Expiration of the Term . Upon the end of the Term, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and the Parties shall have no liability or obligation under this Agreement, except that (a) the termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any Party from any expense, liability or other obligation or remedy therefor which has accrued or attached prior to the date of such termination, and (b) the provisions of Section 13.2 through Section 13.5 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect indefinitely.

ARTICLE 8

TITLE AND CUSTODY

Section 8.1 Title . A nomination of Gas by Shipper shall be deemed a warranty of title to such Gas (including any Drip Condensate attributable to such Gas) by Shipper, or a warranty of the good right in Shipper to deliver such Gas for gathering under this Agreement. Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate injected by Shipper at the applicable Receipt Point(s) shall be deemed a warranty of title to such injected Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate by Shipper, or a warranty of the good right in Shipper to deliver such injected Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate for gathering under this Agreement. By nominating Gas (including any Drip Condensate attributable to such Gas) and/or by injecting Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate at Receipt Point(s), Shipper also agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Gatherer harmless from any and all Losses resulting from any claims by a Third Party of title or rights to such Gas or Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate, other than any claims arising out of Gatherer’s breach of its warranty made in the succeeding sentence of this Section 8.1 . By receiving Gas from Shipper at the Receipt Points or receiving Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate injected by Shipper at Receipt Point(s), Gatherer (a) warrants to Shipper that Gatherer has the good right to accept and re-deliver such Gas and/or Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate received from Shipper under this Agreement free and clear of any title disputes, liens or encumbrances arising by, through or under Gatherer, and (b) agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Shipper harmless from any and all Losses resulting from title disputes, liens or encumbrances arising by, through or under Gatherer.

Section 8.2 Custody . From and after Shipper’s delivery of its owned or Controlled Gas to Gatherer at the Receipt Point(s) or injection of its owned or Controlled Liquid Condensate at the Receipt Point(s), and, subject to Section 3.6 and Section 4.8 , until Gatherer’s re-delivery of such Gas and/or such Liquid Condensate to or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Delivery Point(s), as between the Parties, Gatherer shall have custody and control of such Gas and/or Liquid Condensate. In all other circumstances, as between the Parties, Shipper shall be deemed to have custody and control of such Gas and/or Liquid Condensate.

ARTICLE 9

BILLING AND PAYMENT

Section 9.1 Statements . As soon as practicable after the end of each Month but in no event later than ten Business Days following the end of such Month (the “ Statement Deadline ”),

 

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Gatherer will render to Shipper an invoice for all amounts owed for Gathering Services and any other amounts as may be due under this Agreement during the preceding Month, net of the amounts payable by Gatherer in respect of (a) Condensate in accordance with Section 5.4 , (b) excess Gathering System L&U in accordance with Section 5.5 , (c) the use of excess Gathering System Fuel in accordance with Section 5.6 and (d) any other amounts payable by Gatherer to Shipper under this Agreement. Such invoice will include (i) for Gas, the product of (A) the measured volumes of Gas (other than Drip Condensate) in MSCF multiplied by (B) the Gross Heating Value of such Gas and expressed in MMBtus and (ii) for Liquid Condensate and Drip Condensate (if applicable), the measured volumes stated in Barrels, in each case, received and delivered by Gatherer and will be in detail sufficient for Shipper to identify the particular services rendered and the basis for such charges. If actual measurements of volumes of Gas and/or Liquid Condensate are not available by the Statement Deadline, then, on or after such Statement Deadline, Gatherer may prepare and submit its invoice based on Gatherer’s good faith estimate of the volumes of Gas and/or Liquid Condensate received in such Month. If Gatherer submits an invoice based on estimated volumes, Gatherer shall prepare and submit to Shipper an invoice based on actual measurements on or before the close of business of the 45th Day (or if such 45th Day is not a Business Day, on the following Business Day) after the applicable Month of delivery of Gas and/or Liquid Condensate. Gatherer’s invoices shall include information reasonably sufficient to explain and support any estimates and charges reflected therein, the reconciliation of any estimates made in a prior Month to any actual measurements, and any adjustments to prior period volumes and quantities.

Section 9.2 Payments .

(a) Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, all invoices under this Agreement shall be due and payable in accordance with each invoice’s instructions on or before the later of the 25th Day of each Month and the 10th Day after receipt of the invoice or, if such Day is not a Business Day, then on the next Business Day. All payments by Shipper under this Agreement shall be made by electronic funds transfer to the account designated by Gatherer. Any amounts not paid by the due date will be deemed delinquent and will accrue interest at the Interest Rate, such interest to be calculated from and including the due date but excluding the date the delinquent amount is paid in full. All invoices shall be paid in full, but payment of any disputed amount shall not waive the payor’s right to dispute the invoice in accordance with this Section 9.2 . Shipper may, in good faith, dispute the correctness of any invoice or any adjustment to an invoice rendered under this Agreement or request an adjustment of any invoice for any arithmetic or computational error within 24 Months following the end of the Year of the date the invoice, or adjustment to an invoice, was rendered. Any invoice dispute or invoice adjustment shall be in writing and shall state the basis for the dispute or adjustment.

(b) If Shipper, in good faith, disputes the amount of any invoice of Gatherer, Shipper will pay Gatherer such amount, if any, that is not in dispute and shall provide Gatherer notice, no later than within 30 Days after the date that payment of such invoice would be due under Section 9.2(a) , of the disputed amount accompanied by documentation to support the disputed amount. If the Parties are unable to resolve such dispute, such dispute may be resolved in accordance with Section 15.7 of this Agreement. Upon resolution of the dispute, any required payment shall be made within 15 Days of such resolution, along with interest accrued at the Interest Rate from and including the due date but excluding the date paid.

 

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Section 9.3 Audit . Each Party or any Third Party representative of a Party has the right, at its sole expense and during normal working hours, to examine the records of the other Party to the extent reasonably necessary to verify the accuracy of any statement, charge or computation made pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. The scope of such examination will be limited to the previous 24 Months following the end of the Year in which such notice of audit, statement, charge or computation was presented. No more than one audit shall take place during any Year. If any such examination reveals any inaccuracy in any statement or charge, the necessary adjustments in such statement or charge and the payments necessitated thereby shall be made within 60 Days of resolution of the inaccuracy. This provision of this Agreement will survive any termination of the Agreement for the later of (a) a period of 24 Months from the end of the Year in which the date of such termination occurred or (b) until a dispute initiated within the 24 Month period is finally resolved, in each case for the purpose of such statement and payment objections.

ARTICLE 10

REMEDIES

Section 10.1 Suspension of Performance; Release from Dedication .

(a) If Shipper fails to pay any invoice rendered pursuant to Section 9.2 and such failure is not remedied within 20 Business Days of written notice of such failure to Shipper by Gatherer, Gatherer shall have the right to suspend performance under this Agreement until such amount, including interest at the Interest Rate, is paid.

(b) In the event a Party fails to perform or comply with any material warranty, covenant or obligation contained in this Agreement (other than as provided in Section 10.1(a) , and such failure has not been remedied within 45 Days after receipt of written notice from the other Party of such failure, then the non-defaulting Party shall have the right to suspend its performance under this Agreement. If Shipper elects to suspend performance as the result of Gatherer’s uncured default, then (i) Shipper’s Dedicated Production shall be deemed to be temporarily released from the terms of this Agreement during the period of such suspension of performance and (ii) in the event of an interruption in the receipt or delivery of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas or Liquid Condensate and/or the provision by Gatherer of the Gathering Services hereunder, that lasts for 45 Days or longer and such interruption is a result of Gatherer’s uncured default, then Shipper may elect to permanently release from dedication under this Agreement the Dedicated Production from Wells affected by such interruption and their respective Drilling Units.

Section 10.2 No Election . In the event of a default by a Party under this Agreement, the other Party shall be entitled in its sole discretion to pursue one or more of the remedies set forth in this Agreement, or such other remedy as may be available to it under this Agreement, at Law or in equity, subject, however, to the limitations set forth in Article 13 . No election of remedies shall be required or implied as the result of a Party’s decision to avail itself of a remedy under this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE 11

FORCE MAJEURE

Section 11.1 Force Majeure . If either Gatherer or Shipper is rendered unable by an event of Force Majeure to carry out, in whole or part, its obligations under this Agreement and such Party gives notice and reasonably full details of the event to the other Party as soon as practicable after the occurrence of the event, then, during the pendency of such Force Majeure, but only during that period, the obligations of the Party affected by the event shall be canceled or suspended, as applicable, to the extent required; provided , however , that notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, neither Party shall be relieved from any indemnification obligation or any obligation to make payments, as the result of Force Majeure, regardless of which Party is affected. The Party affected by Force Majeure shall use commercially reasonable efforts to remedy the Force Majeure condition with all reasonable dispatch, shall give notice to the other Party of the termination of the Force Majeure, and shall resume performance of any suspended obligation promptly after termination of such Force Majeure.

Section 11.2 Force Majeure Definition . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Force Majeure ” means an event that is not within the reasonable control of the Party claiming suspension (the “ Claiming Party ”), and that by the exercise of due diligence the Claiming Party is unable to avoid or overcome in a reasonable manner. To the extent meeting the foregoing requirements, Force Majeure includes, but is not restricted to: (a) acts of God; (b) wars (declared or undeclared); (c) insurrections, hostilities, riots; (d) floods, fires, storms, storm warnings, landslides, lightning, earthquakes, washouts; (e) industrial disturbances, acts of a public enemy, acts of terror, sabotage, blockades, epidemics; (f) arrests and restraints of rulers and peoples; (g) civil disturbances; (h) explosions, breakage or accidents to machinery or lines of pipe; (i) hydrate obstruction or blockages of any kind of lines of pipe; (j) freezing of wells or delivery facilities, partial or entire failure of wells, and other events beyond the reasonable control of Shipper that affect the timing of production or production levels; (k) mining accidents, subsidence, subsidence mitigation, cave-ins and fires; (l) action or restraint by court order or public or Governmental Authority (so long as the Claiming Party has not applied for or assisted in the application for, and has opposed where and to the extent reasonable, such action or restraint), (m) delays or failures by a Governmental Authority to grant permits, licenses or other similar consents applicable to the Gathering System so long as Gatherer has used its commercially reasonable efforts to make any required filings with such Governmental Authority relating to such permits, licenses or other similar consents and (n) delays or failures by Gatherer to obtain easements and rights of way, surface leases and other real property interests related to the Gathering System from Third Parties, so long as Gatherer has used its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such easements and rights of way, surface leases and other real property interests. The failure of a Claiming Party to settle or prevent a strike or other labor dispute with employees shall not be considered to be a matter within such Claiming Party’s control.

ARTICLE 12

REGULATORY STATUS

Section 12.1 Non-Jurisdictional Gathering System . This Agreement is subject to all valid present and future Laws, regulations, rules and orders of Governmental Authorities now or

 

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hereafter having jurisdiction over the Parties, this Agreement or the services performed or the facilities utilized under this Agreement. Gatherer shall not permit the Gathering System to become subject to the jurisdiction of any Governmental Authority that may at any time take any action whereby the Gathering Services will be subject to terms, conditions, restraints or regulations, including taxes, rate or price control, or ceilings or open access requirements that materially differ from the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. It is the intent of the Parties that the rates and terms and conditions established by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction shall not alter the rates or terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Parties agree to vigorously defend and support in good faith the enforceability of the rates and terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Section 12.2 Government Authority Modification . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 12.1 , if any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction modifies the rates or terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, then (in addition to any other remedy available to Shipper at Law or in equity):

(a) the Parties hereby agree to negotiate in good faith to enter into such amendments to this Agreement and/or a separate arrangement in order to give effect, to the greatest extent possible, to the rates and other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

(b) in the event that the Parties are not successful in accomplishing the objectives set forth in (a) above such that Shipper is not in substantially the same economic position as it was prior to any such regulation, then Shipper may terminate this Agreement upon the delivery of written notice of termination to Gatherer.

ARTICLE 13

INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

Section 13.1 Custody and Control Indemnity . EXCEPT FOR LOSSES COVERED BY THE INDEMNITIES IN SECTION 8.1 , THE PARTY HAVING CUSTODY AND CONTROL OF GAS AND LIQUID CONDENSATE UNDER THE TERMS OF SECTION 8.2 SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AND SHALL RELEASE, DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE OTHER PARTY AND SUCH OTHER PARTY’S GROUP FROM AND AGAINST EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: (A) ANY LOSSES ASSOCIATED WITH ANY PHYSICAL LOSS OF SUCH GAS AND LIQUID CONDENSATE (OTHER THAN, SUBJECT TO SECTION 5.6 AND SECTION 5.7 , GATHERING SYSTEM L&U AND GATHERING SYSTEM FUEL), INCLUDING, THE VALUE OF SUCH LOST GAS AND LIQUID CONDENSATE, AND (B) ANY DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE RELEASE OF ANY SUCH GAS OR LIQUID CONDENSATE, IN EACH CASE, EVEN IF SUCH LOSSES OR DAMAGES ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE STRICT LIABILITY OR NEGLIGENCE (JOINT, SEVERAL, ACTIVE, PASSIVE, SOLE, OR CONCURRENT) OF THE INDEMNIFIED PERSON OR A MEMBER OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON’S GROUP, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES OR DAMAGES ARE CAUSED BY THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE INDEMNIFIED PERSON OR A MEMBER OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON’S GROUP.

 

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Section 13.2 Shipper Indemnification . SUBJECT TO SECTION 13.1 , SHIPPER AGREES TO AND SHALL RELEASE, DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS GATHERER, AND GATHERER’S DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, PARENT, AFFILIATES AND SUBSIDIARIES, (ALL OF THE FOREGOING, THE “ GATHERER GROUP ”) FROM AND AGAINST ALL LOSSES WHICH IN ANY WAY RESULT FROM ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: (A) THE OWNERSHIP, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION OF SHIPPER’S FACILITIES, EVEN IF SUCH LOSSES ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE STRICT LIABILITY OR NEGLIGENCE (JOINT, SEVERAL, ACTIVE, PASSIVE, SOLE, OR CONCURRENT) OF GATHERER OR A MEMBER OF GATHERER’S GROUP, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES OR DAMAGES ARE CAUSED BY THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF GATHERER OR A MEMBER OF GATHERER’S GROUP OR (B) ANY MATERIAL BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT BY SHIPPER.

Section 13.3 Gatherer Indemnification . SUBJECT TO SECTION 13.1 , GATHERER AGREES TO AND SHALL RELEASE, DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS SHIPPER, AND SHIPPER’S DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, PARENT, AFFILIATES AND SUBSIDIARIES, (ALL OF THE FOREGOING, THE “ SHIPPER GROUP ”) FROM AND AGAINST ALL LOSSES WHICH IN ANY WAY RESULT FROM ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: (A) THE OWNERSHIP, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION OF THE GATHERING SYSTEM, EVEN IF SUCH LOSSES ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE STRICT LIABILITY OR NEGLIGENCE (JOINT, SEVERAL, ACTIVE, PASSIVE, SOLE, OR CONCURRENT) OF SHIPPER OR A MEMBER OF SHIPPER’S GROUP, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES OR DAMAGES ARE CAUSED BY THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SHIPPER OR A MEMBER OF SHIPPER’S GROUP OR (B) ANY MATERIAL BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT BY GATHERER.

Section 13.4 Actual Direct Damages . A PARTY’S DAMAGES RESULTING FROM A BREACH OR VIOLATION OF ANY REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY, COVENANT, AGREEMENT OR CONDITION CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ACT OR OMISSION ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL DIRECT DAMAGES AND SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY OTHER LOSS OR DAMAGE, INCLUDING INDIRECT, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, PRODUCTION, OR REVENUES, AND EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY RELEASES THE OTHER PARTY FROM ALL SUCH CLAIMS FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OTHER THAN ACTUAL DIRECT DAMAGES; PROVIDED THAT LIMITATION TO DIRECT DAMAGES ONLY SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY DAMAGE, CLAIM OR LOSS ASSERTED BY OR AWARDED TO THIRD PARTIES AGAINST A PARTY AND FOR WHICH THE OTHER PARTY WOULD OTHERWISE BE RESPONSIBLE UNDER THIS ARTICLE 13 .

Section 13.5 Penalties . Except for instances of negligence or willful misconduct by Gatherer, Shipper shall release, indemnify, defend and hold Gatherer harmless from any scheduling penalties or Monthly balancing provisions imposed by a Processing Plant, Downstream Pipeline or Third Party Downstream Condensate Storage Tank in any transportation contracts or service agreements associated with, or related to, Shipper’s owned or Controlled

 

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Gas, including any penalties imposed pursuant to the Downstream Pipeline’s tariff, or which may be caused by OFO’s, or by PDA’s or other pipeline allocation methods, or by unscheduled production, or by unauthorized production.

Section 13.6 Insurance . The Parties shall carry and maintain no less than the insurance coverage set forth in Exhibit E .

ARTICLE 14

ASSIGNMENT

Section 14.1 Assignment of Rights and Obligations under this Agreement .

(a) Except as specifically otherwise provided in this Agreement, neither Party shall have the right to assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement (in whole or in part) to another Person except with the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent may be withheld at such Party’s sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing,

(i) Shipper may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any Person to whom Shipper assigns or transfers an interest in any of the Dedicated Properties, insofar as this Agreement relates to such Dedicated Properties, without the consent of Gatherer; provided that (A) such Person assumes the obligations of Shipper under this Agreement insofar as it relates to such Dedicated Properties, (B) if such assignment or transfer is made to an Affiliate of Shipper, Shipper shall not be released from any of its obligations under this Agreement, (C) if such transfer or assignment is to a Person that is not an Affiliate of Shipper, Shipper shall be released from its obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Dedicated Properties so assigned, and (D) except in the case where original Shipper hereunder assigns or transfers all of its interests in the Dedicated Properties to another Person, no assignee of Shipper’s interest in any Dedicated Properties will be entitled to exercise the original Shipper’s rights under Section 14.1(b) and such rights shall remain with the original Shipper; and

(ii) Gatherer may assign its rights and obligations under the Gathering Agreement to any Controlled Affiliate (an “ Affiliate Gatherer ”) insofar and only insofar as the Gathering Agreement relates to the Dedicated Properties for which such Affiliate Gatherer will be providing Gathering Services (such Dedicated Properties, the “ Affiliate Gatherer Dedicated Properties ”); provided that if Gatherer assigns certain of its rights and obligations under the Gathering Agreement to an Affiliate Gatherer, Gatherer shall not be released from any of its obligations under the Gathering Agreement; provided further, that in lieu of assigning the Gathering Agreement, Shipper and Affiliate Gatherer may enter into a separate gathering agreement applicable to the Affiliate Gatherer Dedicated Properties that is substantially similar to this Agreement.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Shipper may assign Dedicated Properties free of the terms, conditions and obligations of this Agreement in a transaction:

(i) where such assignment is an exchange of undeveloped Dedicated Properties for other properties located in the Dedication Area, which other properties become subject to dedication under this Agreement or

(ii) where such assignment, farmout or other transfer of Dedicated Properties would not cause the amount of Dedicated Properties assigned pursuant to this Section 14.1(b)(ii) during the Term of this Agreement, on an aggregate basis, to exceed the then current Total Shipper Permitted Transfer Acres.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Shipper may assign ROFO Properties free of the terms, conditions and obligations of this Agreement.

(d) Shipper shall give Gatherer notice of any assignment of this Agreement and/or Dedicated Properties within 30 Days after the date of execution of such permitted assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and (except as otherwise provided in Section 14.1(a)(i)(D)) , inure to the benefit of the respective permitted successors and assigns of the Parties. Any attempted assignment made without compliance with the provisions set forth in this Section 14.1 shall be null and void ab initio .

(e) Any release of any of the Dedicated Properties from dedication under this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.6 shall not constitute an assignment or transfer of such Dedicated Properties for the purposes of this Article 14 .

Section 14.2 Pre-Approved Assignment . Either Party shall have the right without the prior consent of the other to (a) mortgage, pledge, encumber or otherwise impress a lien or security interest upon its rights and interest in and to this Agreement and (b) make a transfer pursuant to any security interest arrangement described in (a) above, including any judicial or non-judicial foreclosure and any assignment from the holder of such security interest to another Person.

Section 14.3 Change of Control . Except as expressly provided in Section 14.1 , nothing in this Article 14 shall prevent Shipper’s members or owners from transferring their respective interests (whether equity or otherwise and whether in whole or in part) in Shipper. It is agreed that each member or owner of Shipper shall have the right to assign and transfer such member’s or owner’s interests (whether equity or otherwise and whether in whole or in part) in Shipper without restriction contained in this Agreement. Without the prior written consent of Shipper, Gatherer shall cause the members or owners of Gatherer to not transfer their respective equity interests (in whole or in part) in Gatherer.

ARTICLE 15

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 15.1 Relationship of the Parties . The rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of the Parties under this Agreement shall be individual, not joint or collective. It is not the intention of the Parties to create, nor shall this Agreement be deemed or construed to create, a partnership, joint venture or association or a trust. This Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to authorize any Party to act as an agent, servant or employee for any other Party for any purpose whatsoever except as explicitly set forth in this Agreement. In their relations with each other under this Agreement, the Parties shall not be considered fiduciaries.

 

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Section 15.2 Notices . All notices and communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be sufficient in all respects if given in writing and delivered personally, or sent by bonded overnight courier, or mailed by U.S. Express Mail or by certified or registered United States Mail with all postage fully prepaid or by electronic mail with a PDF of the notice or other communication attached ( provided that any such electronic mail is confirmed either by written confirmation or U.S. Express Mail), in each case, addressed to the appropriate Person at the address for such Person shown in Exhibit C . Any notice given in accordance herewith shall be deemed to have been given when (a) delivered to the addressee in person or by courier, (b) transmitted by electronic communications during normal business hours, or if transmitted after normal business hours, on the next Business Day, or (c) upon actual receipt by the addressee after such notice has either been delivered to an overnight courier or deposited in the United States Mail if received during normal business hours, or if not received during normal business hours, then on the next Business Day, as the case may be. Any Person may change their contact information for notice by giving notice to the other Parties in the manner provided in this Section 15.2 .

Section 15.3 Expenses . Except as otherwise specifically provided, all fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Parties in negotiating this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring the same, including legal and accounting fees, costs and expenses.

Section 15.4 Waivers; Rights Cumulative . Any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof may be waived only by a written instrument executed by or on behalf of the Party waiving compliance. No course of dealing on the part of any Party, or their respective officers, employees, agents, or representatives, nor any failure by a Party to exercise any of its rights under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof or affect in any way the right of such Party at a later time to enforce the performance of such provision. No waiver by any Party of any condition, or any breach of any term or covenant contained in this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such condition or breach or a waiver of any other condition or of any breach of any other term or covenant. The rights of the Parties under this Agreement shall be cumulative, and the exercise or partial exercise of any such right shall not preclude the exercise of any other right.

Section 15.5 Entire Agreement; Conflicts . THIS AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES PERTAINING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND SUPERSEDES ALL PRIOR AGREEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS, NEGOTIATIONS, AND DISCUSSIONS, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OF THE PARTIES PERTAINING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS, OR OTHER AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE EXHIBITS HERETO, AND NO PARTY SHALL BE BOUND BY OR LIABLE FOR ANY ALLEGED REPRESENTATION, PROMISE, INDUCEMENT, OR STATEMENTS OF INTENTION NOT SO SET FORTH.

 

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Section 15.6 Amendment . This Agreement may be amended only by an instrument in writing executed by the Parties and expressly identified as an amendment or modification.

Section 15.7 Governing Law; Disputes . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE LEGAL RELATIONS AMONG THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT MIGHT REFER CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH PROVISIONS TO THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION. ALL OF THE PARTIES HERETO CONSENT TO THE EXERCISE OF JURISDICTION IN PERSONAM BY THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL DISTRICT COURTS LOCATED IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR ANY ACTION ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS WITH RESPECT TO, ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN CONNECTION WITH, OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE EXCLUSIVELY LITIGATED IN THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL DISTRICT COURTS HAVING SITES IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA (AND ALL APPELLATE COURTS HAVING JURISDICTION THERE OVER). EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 15.8 Parties in Interest . Nothing in this Agreement shall entitle any Person other than the Parties to any claim, cause of action, remedy or right of any kind.

Section 15.9 Preparation of Agreement . Both Parties and their respective counsel participated in the preparation of this Agreement. In the event of any ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption shall arise based on the identity of the draftsman of this Agreement.

Section 15.10 Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any adverse manner to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.

Section 15.11 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each such counterpart hereof shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all of such counterparts shall constitute for all purposes one agreement. Any signature hereto delivered by a Party by electronic mail shall be deemed an original signature hereto.

Section 15.12 Confidentiality . All geophysical, geological or completion data (other than data routinely publicly disclosed by other oil and gas producers) provided by Shipper to Gatherer in connection with this Agreement shall be kept confidential by Gatherer unless the

 

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release of such information to a Third Party is agreed upon by the Parties or is required by Law. Any permitted release of information must have the prior written consent of Shipper hereto and said Third Party must agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Section. Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit Gatherer from disclosing whatever information in such manner as may be required by statute, rule or regulation, including the rules or regulations of any stock exchange on which any securities of Gatherer or any Affiliates are traded; nor shall any Party be prohibited by the terms hereof from disclosing information acquired under this Agreement to any financial institution or investors providing or proposing financing to Gatherer.

ARTICLE 16

OPERATING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Section 16.1 Terms and Conditions . Gatherer’s Operating Terms and Conditions, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A , are for all purposes incorporated in this Agreement.

[ signature page follows ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement in duplicate originals to be effective as of the Execution Date.

 

“Shipper”     “Gatherer”
CNX GAS COMPANY LLC     CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
      By: CONE Midstream Partners GP LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

    By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

Name:   Joseph M. Fink     Name:   Joseph M. Fink
Title:   Authorized Signatory     Title:   Chief Operating Officer

Signature Page

Gathering Agreement


EXHIBIT A

OPERATING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.1 Quality Specifications . It is the intent of the Parties that the Gathering System will be operated as a field gathering system, and as such, Gas and Liquid Condensate received from Shipper at the Receipt Points generally will be commercially free from objectionable odor, dust, gum, dirt, sand, impurities and other solid, (other than Liquid Condensate) free liquids or hazardous matter which might interfere with the merchantability of the Gas or Condensate or cause injury to or interference with proper operation of the lines, regulators, meters, or other appliances through which the Gas and Condensate flows.

1.2 Gas Nominations and Scheduling .

(a) Gas shall be gathered only under a nomination submitted by Shipper. For purposes of this Agreement, a nomination is an offer by Shipper to Gatherer of a stated quantity of Gas for gathering from a specified Receipt Points to a specified Delivery Points. The terms of such nomination shall comply with the nominating procedures set forth below.

(b) If required by Gatherer, Shipper shall nominate according to the then effective NAESB standards and any additional Downstream Pipeline’s requirements. Nominations may be submitted by telephone or electronically transmitted according to the same NAESB standards and any additional Downstream Pipeline’s requirements. Should Shipper desire to change the nomination during such Month, such change to the nomination shall be made in accordance with the nomination procedures of the Downstream Pipeline. Gas shall be delivered by Gatherer in accordance with confirmation by the Downstream Pipeline of the nomination and/or changes to the nomination.

1.3 Gas Balancing.

(a) Volumes of Gas delivered by Shipper and received by Gatherer at the Receipt Points shall conform as closely as possible to the volumes nominated by Shipper at each Receipt Point and shall be delivered by Shipper to Gatherer at hourly rates of flow that are, as nearly as practicable, uniform throughout the Day. Subject to Gatherer’s operating conditions and contractual requirements, volumes delivered by Gatherer to Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the Delivery Points shall conform as closely as possible to the volumes nominated by Shipper for delivery by Gatherer that Day at the Delivery Points, less any deductions applicable to Shipper for Gathering System L&U, Gathering System Fuel and any imbalance corrections, except that Gatherer may conform such volumes to the volumes actually delivered by Shipper at Gatherer’s Receipt Points to the extent possible. Upon prior notice to Shipper, Gatherer may temporarily interrupt or curtail receipts and/or deliveries at any time, and from time to time in accordance with operating conditions on the Gathering System in order to balance receipt or deliveries on the Gathering System or to correct any current or anticipated imbalances.

(b) Shipper and Gatherer agree that:

(i) It is the intent of Shipper and Gatherer that Gas be received and re-delivered under this Agreement at the same rates, as nearly as practicable and subject to changes mandated by the Downstream Pipeline, and Shipper shall not in any manner utilize the Gathering System for storage or peaking purposes.

 

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(ii) Gas delivered to Gatherer under this Agreement during any Day shall be delivered at as nearly a constant rate as operating conditions and relevant Downstream Pipelines will permit.

(iii) In the event interruption or curtailment of service is required, Gatherer’s dispatcher will advise (by telephone, following up by e-mail) Shipper of an interruption or curtailment as soon as practicable or in any event within four hours of the occurrence of such event.

(iv) Subject to its adherence to the priority of service and related obligations imposed by the Agreement to which these Operating Terms and Conditions are attached, nothing contained in this Agreement shall preclude Gatherer from taking reasonable actions necessary to adjust receipts or deliveries under this Agreement in order to maintain the operational integrity and safety of the Gathering System.

(c) Gatherer shall maintain an imbalance account (the “ Imbalance Account ”) for Shipper and each other shipper which reflects for each Month with respect to each shipper (including Shipper) (i) the total volumes received, delivered, and retained; (ii) the total imbalance for such Month, and the cumulative imbalance through the end of such Month; (iii) previous and new imbalance positions; and (iv) any other information deemed necessary and appropriate by Gatherer, all on a total system basis. Gatherer shall provide Shipper reasonable access to Shipper’s Imbalance Account and a statement of Shipper’s Imbalance Account within five Business Days following the end of each Month. Gatherer may provide Shipper with notices of imbalances and the Monthly statement of Shipper’s Imbalance Account by electronic mail, United States Mail or other delivery service, or any other means deemed reasonable by Gatherer under the circumstances.

(d) Each Month, Gatherer and Shipper shall cooperate and use all reasonable efforts to reduce any cumulative imbalance in the Imbalance Account to zero. At any time such an imbalance exists, Gatherer shall advise Shipper to deliver volumes of Gas in addition to its nominated volumes to address an imbalance in favor of Shipper, or to deliver volumes of Gas that are less than its nominated volumes to address an imbalance in favor of Gatherer. Gatherer may also require Shipper to make appropriate adjustments to its nominations and deliveries to correspond to adjustments that Gatherer is required to make by Downstream Pipelines. Gatherer shall also have the right (acting in its reasonable discretion) to adjust nominations or take other actions, including suspending receipts and deliveries of Gas by Gatherer, necessary to correct an existing imbalance or mitigate an anticipated imbalance. The Parties may also cash out cumulative imbalances using the foregoing methodology for any period prior to the end of the Term as the Parties mutually agree, in which case all Monthly imbalances during such period shall be deemed reduced to zero for purposes of the cash out price to be calculated at the end of the Term.

(e) As between the Parties, Shipper shall be responsible for and shall bear any penalties imposed or assessed by Downstream Pipelines for imbalances in receipts and/or

 

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deliveries with respect to and solely attributable to Shipper’s Gas. In the event Gatherer incurs any costs and/or penalties from a Downstream Pipeline as a result of and solely attributable to Shipper’s over-deliveries or under-deliveries, Shipper shall also be responsible for and shall reimburse Gatherer for such costs and/or penalties and indemnify and hold Gatherer harmless and free from all such payments, charges, and/or penalties so long as such imbalances and/or over/under deliveries are caused by and solely attributable to Shipper and not by Gatherer or a Third Party.

(f) At the end of the Term, if any cumulative imbalance remains, the Parties shall cash out such cumulative imbalance using the average first of the Month price for Gas for the prior two production Months at the end of the term reflected by the index price in Inside F.E.R.C., Gas Market Report of Spot Prices Delivered to Pipelines as published by McGraw-Hill for the relevant geographic area where the imbalance occurred. Should such index cease to be published, then the Parties will mutually agree on a similar index or publication for such index price for the relevant geographic area where the imbalance occurred.

1.4 Measurement Devices .

(a) Gatherer shall construct, install, own and operate the Measurement Devices located at the Receipt Points other than the Shipper Meters. The Measurement Devices installed by Gatherer shall be, subject to Shipper’s approval of such location, as close as practicable to the applicable Well or Well Pad. Shipper shall have the right, at its sole expense, to install, own and operate Measurement Devices located at the Receipt Points (such Measurement Devices installed, owned and operated by Shipper or Noble, the “ Shipper Meters ”); provided that (i) such equipment is installed so as not to interfere with Gatherer’s Measurement Devices (if any) and (ii) Shipper shall take steps that are reasonable and customary in the industry to mitigate or prevent any Gas pulsation problems or Gas quality problems (such as sand or water) that may interfere with Gatherer’s Measurement Devices at the Receipt Points. Gather may elect to use a Shipper Meter as the Measurement Device for a Receipt Point in lieu of constructing, installing, owning and operating a Measurement Device located at such Receipt Point by providing written notice to Shipper. If Gatherer elects to use such Shipper Meter as the Measurement Device for a Receipt Point, Shipper shall provide Gatherer reasonable access to such Shipper Meter, including as set forth under Section 1.4(f) of this Exhibit A , and prior advance written notice of, and the ability to witness, the calibration of such Shipper Meter.

(b) Gatherer shall install, own and operate (or cause to be installed, owned, and operated) the Measurement Devices located at the Delivery Points and any check meters at the Delivery Points. The Measurement Devices must have the capacity to compensate for Gas characteristics in real time and/or through periodic spot sampling and, where applicable, shall also be capable of measuring by component the volumes of NGLs contained in the Gas stream. Gatherer shall provide reasonable access to Gatherer’s Measurement Devices.

(c) Gatherer’s Measurement Devices will be constructed, installed and operated in accordance with the following depending on the type of meters used:

(i) Orifice Meters – in accordance with ANSI/API 2530 (American Gas Association Report No. 3), Orifice Metering of Natural Gas and Other Hydrocarbon Fluids, Second Edition, dated September 1985, and any subsequent amendments, revisions or modifications thereof.

 

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(ii) Electronic Transducers and Flow Computers (solar and otherwise) – in accordance with the applicable American Gas Association standards, including American Gas Association Measurement Committee Report Nos. 3, 5, 6 and 7 and any subsequent amendments, revisions, or modifications thereof.

(iii) Ultrasonic Meters – in accordance with the American Gas Association Measurement Committee Report No. 9 (American Gas Association Report No. 9), dated June 1998, and any subsequent amendments, revisions or modifications thereof.

(d) Gatherer may, but shall not be obligated to, replace or make any alterations to the Measurement Devices necessary to comply any subsequent amendments, revisions or modifications of the American Gas Association Reports cited above.

(e) The accuracy of all owned Measurement Devices will be verified by Gatherer at bi-annual intervals and, if requested, in the presence of a representative of Shipper. Gatherer shall verify the accuracy of any owned Measurement Device before the next bi-annual verification required by the preceding sentence if Shipper requests a special test as described below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, when Daily deliveries of Gas at any Receipt Point or Delivery Point average 15,000 MSCF per Day or greater during any Month, the accuracy of the Measurement Devices at such Receipt Point or Delivery Point will be verified quarterly. If, upon any test, any Measurement Device is found to be inaccurate by 2% or less, previous readings of such Measurement Device will be considered correct in computing the deliveries of Gas under this Agreement, but such Measurement Device will immediately be adjusted to record accurately (within the manufacturer’s allowance for error). If, upon any test, any Measurement Device is found to be inaccurate by more than 2% of a recording corresponding to the average hourly flow rate for the period since the last test, such Measurement Device will immediately be adjusted to record accurately (within the manufacturer’s allowance for error) and any previous recordings of such Measurement Device will be corrected to zero error for any period which is known definitely or agreed upon. If such period is not known or agreed upon, such correction will be made for a period covering one-half (  1 2 ) of the time elapsed since the date of the latest test, but not to exceed 45 Days when the Measurement Device is tested quarterly and not to exceed 180 Days when the Measurement Device is tested bi-annually. If Shipper desires a special test of any Measurement Device, at least 72 hours’ advance notice will be given to Gatherer by Shipper, and both Parties will cooperate to secure a prompt test of the accuracy of such Measurement Device. If the Measurement Device so tested is found to be inaccurate by 2% or less, Gatherer will have the right to bill Shipper for the costs incurred due to such special test, including any labor and transportation costs, and Shipper will pay such costs promptly upon invoice therefor.

(f) If requested by Shipper the Measurement Devices shall include a sufficient number of data ports, and Gatherer shall permit Shipper to connect to such data ports, as shall be required to provide to Shipper on a real-time basis all measurement data generated by such measurement equipment. Shipper shall be responsible at its own cost for obtaining

 

A-4


equipment and/or services to connect to such data ports and receive and process such data. If requested by Gatherer the Shipper Meters shall include a sufficient number of data ports, and Shipper shall permit Gatherer to connect to such data ports, as shall be required to provide to Gatherer on a real-time basis all measurement data generated by such measurement equipment. Gatherer shall be responsible at its own cost for obtaining equipment and/or services to connect to such data ports and receive and process such data.

(g) The charts and records by which measurements are determined shall be available for the use of both Parties in fulfilling the terms and conditions thereof. Each Party shall, upon request of the other, mail or deliver for checking and calculation all volume and temperature meter records in its possession and used in the measurement of Gas delivered under this Agreement within 30 Days after the last chart for each billing period is removed from the meter. Such data shall be returned within 90 Days after the receipt thereof.

(h) Each Party shall preserve or cause to be preserved for mutual use all test data, charts or other similar records in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of regulatory bodies having jurisdiction, if any, with respect to the retention of such records, and, in any event, for at least 24 Months.

1.5 Measurement Procedures . The measurements of the quantity and quality of all Gas delivered at the Receipt Points and Delivery Points will be conducted in accordance with the following:

(a) The unit of volume for measurement will be one Standard Cubic Foot. Such measured volumes, converted to MSCF, will be multiplied by their Gross Heating Value per MSCF.

(b) The temperature of the Gas will be determined by a recording thermometer installed so that it may record the temperature of the Gas flowing through the meters, or such other means of recording temperature as may be mutually agreed upon by the Parties. The average of the record to the nearest one degree Fahrenheit, obtained while Gas is being delivered, will be the applicable flowing Gas temperature for the period under consideration.

(c) The specific gravity of the Gas will be determined by a recording gravitometer or chromatographic device installed and located at a suitable point determined by Shipper to record representative specific gravity of the Gas being metered or, at Shipper’s or its designee’s option, by continuous sampling or spot sampling using standard type gravity methods. If a recording gravitometer or chromatographic device is used, the gravity to the nearest one-thousandth (0.001) obtained while Gas is being delivered will be the specific gravity of the Gas sampled for the recording period. The gravity to the nearest one-thousandth (0.001) will be determined concurrently with the accuracy of the Measurement Devices as provided in Section 1.4(e) of this Exhibit A .

(d) Adjustments to measured Gas volumes for the effects of supercompressibility will be made in accordance with accepted American Gas Association standards. Gatherer or its designee will obtain appropriate carbon dioxide and nitrogen mole

 

A-5


fraction values for the Gas delivered as may be required to compute such adjustments in accordance with standard testing procedures. At Gatherer’s or its designee’s option, equations for the calculation of supercompressibility may be taken from the American Gas Association Report No. 8, 1992, Compressibility and Supercompressibility for Natural Gas and Other Hydrocarbon Gases, latest revision.

(e) For purposes of measurement and meter calibration, the atmospheric pressure for each of the Receipt Points and Delivery Points will be assumed to be the pressure value determined by Shipper for the county elevation in which such point is located pursuant to generally accepted industry practices irrespective of the actual atmospheric pressure at such points from time to time.

(f) The Gross Heating Value of the Gas delivered at the Receipt Points and Delivery Points will be determined when each Well is placed on-line and at least bi-annually by means of some approved method of general use in the Gas industry; provided , however , that when Daily deliveries of Gas at any Receipt Point or Delivery Point average 1,000 MSCF per Day or greater during any Month, the Gross Heating Value of the Gas delivered at such Receipt Point or Delivery Point will be determined Monthly by a chromatographic analysis of a flow proportional sample taken at a suitable point on the facilities to be representative of the Gas being metered.

(g) Other tests to determine water content, sulfur and other impurities in the Gas will be conducted whenever requested by either Party and will be conducted in accordance with standard industry testing procedures. The Party requested to perform such tests will bear the cost of such tests only if the Gas tested is determined not to be within the quality specification set forth below. If the Gas is within such quality specification, the requesting Party will bear the cost of such tests.

(h) If, during the Term of this Agreement, a new method or technique is developed with respect to Gas measurement or the determination of the factors used in such Gas measurement, such new method or technique may be substituted for the method set forth in this Agreement; provided that Gatherer receives Shipper’s written consent, and that the new method or technique is in accordance with accepted standards of the American Gas Association.

1.6 Gas Meter Adjustments . In the event a meter is out of service or registering inaccurately, the quantities of Gas received or delivered during such period shall be determined as follows:

(a) By using the registration of any check meter or meters, if installed and accurately registering; or in the absence of such check meters,

(b) By using a meter operating in parallel with the estimated volume corrected for any differences found when the meters are operating properly,

(c) By correcting the error if the percentage of error is ascertainable by calibration, tests or mathematical calculation; or in the absence of check meters and the ability to make corrections under this subparagraph (b), then,

(d) By estimating the quantity received or delivered by receipts or deliveries during periods under similar conditions when the meter was registering accurately.

 

A-6


1.7 Curtailment of Gas . If capacity on the Gathering System, or any Facility Segment, is interrupted, curtailed or reduced, or capacity is insufficient for the needs of all shippers desiring to use such capacity, the holders of Interruptible Service will be curtailed first, the holders of Priority Two Service shall be curtailed second and the holders of Priority One Service shall be curtailed last. As among the holders of Priority One Service, the capacity available on each Facility Segment to Priority One Service under the preceding sentence shall be allocated among the holders of Priority One Service on a pro rata basis, based on the percentage derived by dividing the Daily average volume of Gas actually Tendered by each holder of Priority One Service to Receipt Points on the Gathering System during the prior 90 Day period by the total volume of such Gas actually Tendered by all holders of Priority One Service during such period. As among the holders of Priority Two Service, the capacity available on each Facility Segment to Priority Two Service under the preceding sentence shall be allocated among the holders of Priority Two Service on a pro rata basis, based on the percentage derived by dividing the Daily average volume of Gas actually Tendered by each holder of Priority Two Service to Receipt Points on the Gathering System during the prior 90 Day period by the total volume of such Gas actually Tendered by all holders of Priority One Service during such period. As among holders of Interruptible Service, the capacity available to such service, if any, shall be allocated pro rata among the holders of such service based on the percentage derived by dividing the Daily average volume of Gas actually Tendered by each holder of Interruptible Service to Receipt Points on the Gathering System during the prior 60 Day period by the total volume of such Gas actually Tendered by all holders of Interruptible Service during such period. In the event only one or more non-integrated Facility Segments are curtailed, in each case such pro ration shall be based upon the volumes nominated on the Facility Segment in question.

1.8 Allocations . Allocations required for determining payments or fees due under this Agreement shall be made by Gatherer. Gatherer shall provide an allocation methodology to Shipper for its review and approval. This Section 1.8 and shall be based upon the measurements taken and quantities determined for the applicable Month.

(a) The following definitions shall be applicable:

(i) “ Fuel Point ” means a point on the Gathering System where Gathering System Fuel is measured, sampled, calculated or consumed; and

(ii) “ System Receipt Point ” means all receipt points at which Gas is delivered into the Gathering System, including the Receipt Points.

(b) Gathering System Fuel shall be allocated to each System Receipt Point upstream of the applicable Fuel Point by multiplying the Gathering System Fuel in MMBtus measured at the applicable Fuel Point during the applicable Month by a fraction, the numerator of which is the volume of Gas in MSCFs received into the Gathering System at such System Receipt Point during such Month, and the denominator of which is the aggregate volume of Gas in MSCFs received into the Gathering System at all System Receipt Points upstream of the applicable Fuel Point during such Month.

 

A-7


(c) For Facility Segments where there is no injected Liquid Condensate, Drip Condensate collected from a Facility Segment shall be allocated to each Gathering System Receipt Point on such Facility Segment by (i) multiplying the total volume of Gas (in MSCFs) received at each such Receipt Point on such Facility Segment during the applicable Month by the Gallons per MSCF of pentanes and heavier components in such Gas, determined at the relevant System Receipt Point, to determine the theoretical quantity of Drip Condensate in such Gas and (ii) allocating the volume of Drip Condensate measured at the Delivery Point on such Facility Segment during such Month to each such System Receipt Point based on a fraction the numerator of which is the theoretical volume of Drip Condensate attributable to such System Receipt Point during such Month and the denominator of which is the theoretical volume of Drip Condensate for all such System Receipt Points during such Month.

(d) For Facility Segments where there is injected Liquid Condensate, the Liquid Condensate collected from a Facility Segment and sold or delivered to Shipper in accordance with Section 4.8 shall first be allocated to injected Liquid Condensate at each System Receipt Point and then to Drip Condensate from Gas received at System Receipt Points. If the total Condensate collected from the Facility Segment is equal to, or less than, the sum of the injected Liquid Condensate from each receipt point, then the Condensate allocated to each System Receipt Point shall be allocated by (i) dividing the individual System Receipt Point injected Liquid Condensate volume by the sum of the individual System Receipt Point injected Liquid Condensate volumes, and (ii) multiplying the resulting fraction by the total volume of Condensate received from the Facility Segment and sold or delivered to Shipper in accordance with Section 4.8 . If the total Condensate volume collected from the Facility Segment and sold or delivered to Shipper in accordance with Section 4.8 is greater than the sum of the injected Liquid Condensate volumes from each System Receipt Point, the allocation to each System Receipt Point first allocates injected Liquid Condensate volumes to each System Receipt Point and then allocates Drip Condensate volumes to each System Receipt Point. In the first allocation of injected Liquid Condensate volumes, each System Receipt Point is credited with 100% of its injected Liquid Condensate volume. In the second allocation of Drip Condensate to each System Receipt Point, the total Drip Condensate volume collected from the Facility Segment is calculated by subtracting the sum of the individual System Receipt Point injected Liquid Condensate volumes received in the Facility Segment from the total Condensate volume received from the Facility Segment and sold or delivered to Shipper in accordance with Section 4.8 , and then allocating the total Drip Condensate volume according to the preceding paragraph.

(e) The Gathering System L&U in any Month shall be determined by subtracting from the sum of the total Thermal Content of Gas received at all System Receipt Points on the Gathering System during such Month the sum of (i) the Thermal Content of Gas actually delivered to the Delivery Points on the Gathering System during such Month, (ii) the Thermal Content of Gas consumed as Gathering System Fuel measured at all Fuel Points on the Gathering System during such Month, (iii) the Thermal Content of all Condensate recovered from the Gathering System during such Month (other than Liquid Condensate vaporized and re-injected into the Gas stream), and (iv) the Thermal Content of fuel, shrinkage, and lost and unaccounted for Gas associated with any processing carried out by or on behalf of Shipper and other shippers between the System Receipt Points and the Delivery Points, as allocated to Producer pursuant to its agreement with the processor.

 

A-8


EXHIBIT B-1

JOINT DEDICATED PROPERTIES

 

Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

120554000    JAMES A STEPP    4/5/2006    348    146    0    Greene    PA
153191000    HARRY E WEBSTER ET UX    7/28/1986    43    139       Greene    PA
153203000    MELVIN M MCCONNELL    12/14/1977    625    1055       Greene    PA
153204001    EWING B POLLOCK ET AL    1/6/1978    149    793       Greene    PA
156539000    JOHN H MOONEY ET UX    11/10/2009    625    390-392    200900006538    Greene    PA
156573000    LINDA M. HOPF    8/18/2009    618    1069-1071    200900005026    Greene    PA
156574000    GILBERT & RACHEL STAINBROOK IV    8/18/2009    419    1066-1068    200900005025    Greene    PA
156589001    WILLIAM E PORTER    8/31/2009    420    1048-1050    20090005317    Greene    PA
156589002    RALPH E PORTER    8/31/2009    420    1051-1054    200900005318    Greene    PA
156610000    JAMES D HEWITT ET UX    6/19/2009    420    1055    200900005319    Greene    PA
156749000    MICHAEL G WHITE ET UX    1/18/2010    468    2235    201400002815    Greene    PA
156750000    MYRA J GIBSON    1/18/2010    468    2240    201400002816    Greene    PA
156887000    CARL W. HILDRETH ET UX    7/11/2002    370    407    200700002897    Greene    PA
156888000    JAMES MOONEY ET UX    2/14/2003    437    2747-2754    201100000979    Greene    PA
156924000    TERRY L. AMOS    6/1/2010    434    948-951    201000005865    Greene    PA
156979001    JAMES D WISE    7/28/2010    436    3380    201100000697    Greene    PA
156979002    CLARENCE W WISE JR    7/26/2010    436    3579    201100000744    Greene    PA
156981001    KEITH L WISE ET UX    7/26/2010      436    3384    201100000698    Greene    PA
156991000    ROLLIN N SWANK ET UX    9/1/2010    436    1486-1489    201100000415    Greene    PA
156992000    LAWRENCE S REFOSCO ET UX    9/14/2010    436    1490-1493    201100000416    Greene    PA
157027000    HAROLD A MOORE ET UX    5/27/2011    441    3760    201100004687    Greene    PA
157036000    JODY LYNN WEBSTER    11/15/2011    447    3335    201200000837    Greene    PA
157037000    JOSEPH A. WEBSTER AND JODY LYNN WEBSTER    11/15/2011    447    3678    201200000931    Greene    PA
178527000    LAWRENCE E CROUSE ET UX    5/7/2008    391    82       Greene    PA
178574000    DAVID ROSBOROUGH ET UX    7/22/2008    447    1007    20120000332    Greene    PA
178578000    GRACE E MILLER    7/8/2008    446    1467    201100007026    Greene    PA
178579000    HAROLD A MOORE ET UX    7/8/2008    404    570-573    200900000533    Greene    PA
178580000    PECHIN LEASING INC.    8/6/2008    396    1218    200800004484    Greene    PA
178584000    RICHARD E MARTIN ET UX    5/29/2008    392    677-680       Greene    PA
181079000    BERNARD GLOS ET UX    5/2/2008    391    102    200800002662    Greene    PA
181080000    HARRY RUTAN ET UX    5/1/2008    391    86    200800002659    Greene    PA
181081000    CHARLES W WILLIAMS ET UX    5/19/2008    391    90    200800002660    Greene    PA
239412000    DENNIS S RUTAN ET UX    4/24/2012    451    628    201200003554    Greene    PA
244841000    GERALD L ANDERSON ET UX    9/3/2008    396    1112    200800004460    Greene    PA

 

B-1-1


Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

244842000    CHARLES W GREENE ET UX    9/30/2008    461    1    201300004024    Greene    PA
250255000    TERRY J CAPOZZA    8/10/2012    453    3045    201200005656    Greene    PA
209277000    FINLEY COMPANY    6/27/1957    537    1    0    Greene    PA
209278000    FINLEY COMPANY    6/27/1957    537    3    0    Greene    PA
209279000    FINLEY COMPANY    6/27/1957    537    5    0    Greene    PA
209280000    FINLEY COMPANY    6/27/1957    537    7    0    Greene    PA
209281000    FINLEY COMPANY    6/27/1957    537    9    0    Greene    PA
209284000    FINLEY COMPANY    12/10/1958    536    128    0    Greene    PA
209286000    MANOR REAL ESTATE COMPANY    7/25/1960    537    16    0    Greene    PA
209287000    MANOR REAL ESTATE COMPANY    6/11/1962    537    19    0    Greene    PA
209288000    MANOR REAL ESTATE COMPANY    6/21/1965    536    134    0    Greene    PA
209371000    SUPLER, VERNON W & DOROTHY    6/1/1981    665    467    0    Greene    PA
209455000    JENKINS, CATHERINE L    5/6/1992    100    1208    0    Greene    PA
209477000    MARTIN, VIRPI K    9/8/1994    133    626    0    Greene    PA
220560000    ANDERSON, LARRY L & ERMA D    2/18/2010    427    141    201000000847    Greene    PA
252898000    HARRY L RUTAN ET UX    10/12/1993    120    972    0    Greene    PA
209276000    Finley Company    7/30/1957    536    132       Greene    PA
209282000    Finley Company    6/27/1957    537    11       Greene    PA
209394000    Pollock, Ewing B & Margaret F    12/16/1983    403    499    200900000237    Greene    PA
209489000    Paul S Hornor Et Al    6/20/1983    667    1103       Greene    PA
156794000    LARRY L. & ERMA D. ANDERSON    2/18/2010    427        141-144    201000000847    Greene    PA
216044000    BARDELLA, WILLIAM A & ROXIE G    3/12/1993    112    208       Greene    PA
220146000    WARD, ANTHONY J    4/14/1992    99    1146       Greene    PA
257921000    VERNON SUPLER ET UX    5/1/1948    427    517    201000000925    Greene    PA
153089000    THOMAS R MILLIGAN ET UX    6/4/2008    0    0    200817192    Washington    PA
156249000    BETTY J GILDOW    9/18/2009          200938755    Washington    PA
156264000    G J MARINCHAK ET UX    9/1/2009          201009741    Washington    PA
156274000    GEORGE POSTLETHWAIT ET UX    9/18/2009          201017018    Washington    PA
156293000    JOHNNY L PIERSON SR    9/11/2009          2010104269    Washington    PA
156348001    MARY JO REYNOLDS    3/15/2010          201031925    Washington    PA
156348002    FRANCES C. DESANTIS    3/22/2010          201103294    Washington    PA
156348003    MABEL L MALONE AKA MABEL MALONE    3/15/2010          201103288    Washington    PA
156354001    MARY JO REYNOLDS    3/15/2010          201031923    Washington    PA
156354002    FRANCIS C. DESANTIS    3/22/2010          201103296    Washington    PA
156354003    MABEL L MALONE    3/15/2010          201103292    Washington    PA
156365000    PETER A COSSU ET UX    6/9/2010          201102660    Washington    PA
156366000    LEON JOSEPH GOLICK AND LINDA ANN SPENCER    6/7/2010          201102661    Washington    PA

 

B-1-2


Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

156367000    CLARENCE A. HARRIS AND CAROL COSSU HARRIS    6/9/2010          201102662    Washington    PA
156368000    MARK D. & MARIANNE R. VALERIO    3/20/2010          201102663    Washington    PA
156369000    KEVIN E YOCUM    6/22/2010          201102664    Washington    PA
156371000    JOHN S BUCHANAN ET UX    5/6/2010          201104611    Washington    PA
156376000    DOROTHY M CLUTTER    11/11/2010          201103843    Washington    PA
156378002    ROBERT W. DOWHEN    12/31/2010          201112318    Washington    PA
156378003    SUSAN B. DONOHUE    12/12/2010          201112320    Washington    PA
156378004    RICHARD SCOTT BALSLEY    3/29/2011          201118278    Washington    PA
156378005    VON DALE L. BALSLEY    1/12/2011          201112321    Washington    PA
156378006    CONNIE K. O’LEARY    1/12/2011          201112322    Washington    PA
156378007    TERREANCE W S WHITTEN    9/30/2011          201127241    Washington    PA
156378008    RICHARD SCOTT BALSLEY    6/30/2011          201120536    Washington    PA
156378009    KATHLEEN A. MOORE    7/22/2011          201126495    Washington    PA
156378010    WILLIAM K WHITTEN JR    11/21/2011          201216449    Washington    PA
156393000    JUDITH MILLER    3/2/2011          201122758    Washington    PA
156394000    RONALD W LAIPPLE ET UX    3/2/2011          201119370    Washington    PA
156396000    GEORGE E. SILVERS, JR.    4/25/2011          201121667    Washington    PA
156397000    VAUGHN E. HOUSTON    3/29/2011          201118283    Washington    PA
156406000    ANTHONY R. REESE AND HELEN REESE    3/2/2011          201129515    Washington    PA
156408000    CARL S. CALABRO    7/12/2011          201129333    Washington    PA
156409000    STEWART ODELL DAGUE AND MARY JANE DAGUE    7/12/2011          201128437    Washington    PA
156410001    LARRY D. & TAMMY R. HOUSTON    7/19/2011          201127242    Washington    PA
156415000    DALE PRYOR    8/30/2011          201129781    Washington    PA
156418000    GEORGE E MURR JR ET UX    9/15/2011          201130741    Washington    PA
156419000    EARL CLUTTER ET UX    10/18/2011          201129324    Washington    PA
156420000    THOMAS E WARD JR    2/16/2012          201205120    Washington    PA
156422000    THE GENE AND EDITH CONKLIN FAMILY CORPORATION    9/22/2011          201128439    Washington    PA
156423000    THE WILLIAM JAMES HUTSON LIVING TRUST    1/7/2009          200901929    Washington    PA
156425000    JACK PETTIT    6/13/2008          200824912    Washington    PA
156426000    DOMINIC J. WATERS AND JOANNE D. WATERS    1/21/2009          200908240    Washington    PA
156427000    LAWRENCE W. SCOTT & MARYLIN V. SCOTT    2/9/2009          200913916    Washington    PA
156428000    MARLA L. WEST    8/25/2009          201001007    Washington    PA
156429000    HENRY M STEIN ET UX    9/22/2009          20103174    Washington    PA
156430000    NANCY ZITKO    9/30/2009          201000181    Washington    PA
156431000    MARGARET SUE IREY    9/22/2009          201003254    Washington    PA
156432000    RICHARD D.A. WEST, GENERAL PARTNER, WEST FORK FARM    4/25/2009          200915289    Washington    PA

 

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156433000    RONALD E RUSSELL ET UX    3/31/2010          201124735    Washington    PA
156434000    KELLIE H BAIRD ET VIR    6/17/2010          201031778    Washington    PA
156435000    LORI LEIGH KOFFLER & MARK A. MOYAR    7/23/2010          201038133    Washington    PA
156436000    WILLIAM E. HILDEBRAND AND PHYLLIS HILDEBRAND    7/25/2008          201124735    Washington    PA
156437000    FRED O RUSSELL ET UX    4/1/2010          201124735    Washington    PA
156438000    KENNETH CARL WEIMER & SONDRA M. WEIMER    7/15/2010          201124735    Washington    PA
156439000    JOSEPH W. & GRESCHEN C. SULLA    4/21/2010          201124735    Washington    PA
156441000    JEFFERY A PREM ET UX    9/16/2011          201130745    Washington    PA
156443000    JAMES D. HOLDEN    10/12/2011          201129783    Washington    PA
156445000    PATTY WYNN    10/5/2011          201132136    Washington    PA
156447000    RICK G. & JUDI K. SHIPMAN    10/4/2011          201206383    Washington    PA
156448000    ROBERT GENE CONKLIN ET UX    2/20/2008          200810475    Washington    PA
156449000    REED B. DAY ET AL    12/15/2009          201011682    Washington    PA
156450000    BRUCE PHILLIPS ET UX    5/20/2010          201031306    Washington    PA
156451001    CYRIL N. WALTHER ET UX    7/31/2009          201000171    Washington    PA
156452001    CYRIL N. WALTHER ET UX    6/8/2011          201118752    Washington    PA
156453000    ROBERT GAYLOR ET UX    7/22/2009          200934205    Washington    PA
156454000    PHILLIP R. CONKLIN ET UX    3/19/2007          200713547    Washington    PA
156456001    JEFFREY P THOMAS    10/28/2011          201211264    Washington    PA
156456002    WILLIAM A. THOMAS    10/31/2011          201202962    Washington    PA
156456003    JAMES R. THOMAS    11/11/2011          201204581    Washington    PA
156460000    EDWARD L. KERNS ET UX    11/2/2011          201132138    Washington    PA
156461000    JOHN D. FRYE    11/4/2011          201204589    Washington    PA
156462000    RANDALL D FRYE ET UX    11/4/2011          201206449    Washington    PA
156464000    JOHN M. LINDLEY, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEES OF THE TESAMEN    11/8/2011          201206384    Washington    PA
156469000    CLIFFORD T. WRIGHT AND KATHY ADDLEMAN    12/7/2011          201206447    Washington    PA
156471000    RICHARD D. MCCLELLAND ET UX    12/18/2008          200913749    Washington    PA
156472000    BEVERLY BURNS MORGAN    7/7/2008          200827207    Washington    PA
156476001    JAMES W. MALOY ET UX    8/10/2011          201130864    Washington    PA
156477000    ARTHUR P RICHARDSON ET UX    2/11/2010          201014855    Washington    PA
156478000    BRIAN HUGHES ET UX    2/26/2010          201023569    Washington    PA
156480000    BETHEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH    12/20/2011          20120968    Washington    PA
156481000    DORIS H. RUSH    2/8/2010          201014947    Washington    PA
156482000    DANE R. MCCORMICK AND LINDA MCCORMICK    2/2/2012          201211906    Washington    PA
156485000    DUANE L. KIGER AND MARY S. KIGER    12/1/2011          201200977    Washington    PA
156486000    ALVA M. EALY    2/14/2012          201211910    Washington    PA

 

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156490000    JEFFREY B. FORDYCE AND KATHYRN A. FORDYCE    2/22/2012          201211730    Washington    PA
156492000    WAYNE D LEECH ET UX    2/3/2012          201210474    Washington    PA
238183000    WILLIAM L ANDERSON SR    6/26/2012          201224088    Washington    PA
238956000    PHILLIP R CONKLIN ET UX    5/8/2010    0    0    201031694    Washington    PA
238963000    ELBERT E MINOR ET AL    9/11/2009          201003355    Washington    PA
239168000    GARY P MORGAN ET UX    3/11/2009          200908232    Washington    PA
239175000    DENNIS J LOCY    4/27/2009    0    0    200913947    Washington    PA
239184000    LUCINDA M PARRY ET VIR    10/29/2008          200832274    Washington    PA
239185000    JOHN P DIBBLE JR ET AL    1/13/2010          201006103    Washington    PA
239187000    SUE E CLUTTER ET AL    2/6/2009          200912958    Washington    PA
239189000    ROBERT D SHERBURNE    6/16/2009          200918302    Washington    PA
239192000    JAMES N ROBERTS ET UX    4/1/2009          200931737    Washington    PA
239193000    WILLIAM J GRASSER JR ET UX    5/18/2009          200914747    Washington    PA
239195000    RONALD C FUEHRER ET UX    8/3/2009          200926406    Washington    PA
239196000    JAMES J CRUM    7/7/2008          200817528    Washington    PA
239197000    JACK PIATT II ET AL    7/20/2008          200824710    Washington    PA
239198000    SAMUEL R PRICE ET UX    10/27/2009          200937596    Washington    PA
239202000    MICHAEL J SHYMCHYK    3/3/2008    0    0    200814479    Washington    PA
239207000    HOWARD E HILL ET UX    4/16/2009    0    0    200911035    Washington    PA
239411000    DONALD J LOGUE ET UX    4/9/2012    0    0    201216469    Washington    PA
239677000    C T DODD    6/14/2026    574    365    0    Washington    PA
239677000    C T DODD    6/14/2026    574    365    0    Washington    PA
240582001    TOD MROCK    7/26/2012          201235188    Washington    PA
240582002    SANDRA D MROCK    9/26/2012          201235189    Washington    PA
240582003    GARY M MROCK    7/13/2012          201235190    Washington    PA
240582004    MAUREEN E MROCK    7/26/2012          201235191    Washington    PA
240582005    DANIEL G MROCK    7/26/2012          201236286    Washington    PA
240582006    LORRAINE ELIAS    7/17/2012          201236297    Washington    PA
240582007    RUDOLPH PARKER KERON    7/20/2012          201235192    Washington    PA
240582008    TIMOTHY J TUTTLE ET UX    7/23/2012          201235193    Washington    PA
240582009    MARTIN MCNEIL ET UX    7/20/2012          201235194    Washington    PA
240766000    JAMES A CARTER ET UX    10/4/2012          201308036    Washington    PA
241993000    KAREN S HUCKO ET VIR    8/27/2012          201238877    Washington    PA
242194000    ELIZABETH D YOUNG ET AL    4/6/2029    0    0    201134239    Washington    PA
243237000    EUGENE W SCHERICH ET AL    12/18/2012          201238891    Washington    PA
243571000    ANDREW R CLARKSON    12/11/2012          201310825    Washington    PA
244782000    THOMAS R DORSEY    6/5/2010          201033854    Washington    PA

 

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245090000    DONNA MAES HILL LLC    7/24/2012          201226149    Washington    PA
245091000    BRUCE E LIVINGOOD ET UX    4/2/2012          201226148    Washington    PA
245094000    MCGUIER FAMILY FARM LLC    4/25/2012          201226145    Washington    PA
245326000    JAIME L MARGARIA    2/27/2012          201213675    Washington    PA
245331000    PETE F PIRILLO JR    2/27/2012          201213672    Washington    PA
245350000    DAY CLAN LLC    5/8/2012          201214453    Washington    PA
245419001    GEORGE R MAXWELL    1/30/2012          201227640    Washington    PA
245419002    KEITH A MAXWELL    1/30/2012          201227660    Washington    PA
245419003    KEVIN M MAXWELL    3/15/2013          201331118    Washington    PA
246718000    LARRY E BEDILLION ET UX    4/16/2013          201322042    Washington    PA
247307000    HENRY SWAGGARD ET AL    7/9/2025    531    601    0    Washington    PA
250406000    MARK ANDREW POWELL ET UX    1/23/2009          200912677    Washington    PA
251240000    PATRICK M MCMULLEN ET UX    2/17/2012          201211171    Washington    PA
253262000    HAROLD D FRYE ET UX    5/17/1967    1262    95    0    Washington    PA
253452000    OPAL D WINNETT    7/21/2006    2386    383    0    Washington    PA
253454000    W M HARSH ET UX    4/14/1964    1176    425    0    Washington    PA
253467000    CHARLES E CLUTTER ET UX    9/14/1967    1267    712    0    Washington    PA
253476000    RELLA V CUNNINGHAM ET VIR    2/10/1959    1041    559    0    Washington    PA
253478000    DELLA M WALLACE ET AL    11/28/1967    1274    999    0    Washington    PA
253560000    W M HARSH ET UX    6/14/1966    1245    737    196606222    Washington    PA
253563000    WILLIAM G MILLIKEN ET UX    7/27/1967    1269    325    0    Washington    PA
253675000    DESSIE G RICHEY    11/10/1966    0    0    201302107    Washington    PA
255225000    CHARLES R MILLIKEN ET UX    11/10/1964    1194    141    0    Washington    PA
255243000    NELLIE H CLUTTER ET VIR    4/11/1968    1278    330    0    Washington    PA
255986000    LOTTIE J RAYMER    9/14/1967    1267    708    0    Washington    PA
260838000    HYSEE L DAY ET UX    8/31/2021    497    197    0    Washington    PA
156236000    EARL E. ANDERSON    10/9/2009          201004588    Washington    PA
209689000    CALVERT, NORA A    7/9/2007          200718945    Washington    PA
209752000    ESTATE OF JOHN C VAN ARSDALE JR    11/17/2008          200833415    Washington    PA
209844000    JOHNSON, DOUGLAS K & LAURA M    12/28/2010          201041456    Washington    PA
216030000    CONSOLIDATION COAL COMPANY    2/18/1988    2313    387    0    Washington    PA
216034000    WEAVER, JOHN R & B. LAURA    12/11/1992    2517    425    0    Washington    PA
216035000    MILLER, JOHN & JUDITH A    12/17/1992    2518    374    0    Washington    PA
216036000    STOCKER, FRANK W & LINDA    3/31/1993    2528    577    0    Washington    PA
216039000    BAYER, JOSEPH F & BILLIE I    5/27/1993    2535    583    0    Washington    PA
216041000    HOUSTON, VAUGHN E; HOUSTON, RAY E & NORMA JEAN    5/10/1993    2533    28    0    Washington    PA

 

B-1-6


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216042000    ARCHER, W LELAND, WILL OF; HAROLD B ARCHER, EXECUT    11/17/1993    2559    245    0    Washington    PA
216048000    DILLE, DARYL G    5/12/1993    2533    588    0    Washington    PA
216049000    MENCER, ROBERT J & GERALDINE    6/11/1993    2537    490    0    Washington    PA
216051000    BRETH, MARJORIE DAY    8/5/1993    2545    49    0    Washington    PA
216056000    CIMINO, WAYNE L & LOUISE    11/3/1994    2612    213    0    Washington    PA
216057000    SCHERICH, THOMAS E & BERTHA M    1/28/2004    0    0    200401884    Washington    PA
216059000    PHILLIPS, DANIEL K & JACQUELYN    3/22/2005    0    0    200507899    Washington    PA
216073000    MCGUIER, JOEL R & KELLEY ISHLER    5/19/2005          200514153    Washington    PA
216074000    WOODS, MAE M    10/25/2005          200535925    Washington    PA
156263000    NICHOLAS L YURKOVICH JR    9/1/2009          201011352    Washington    PA
156271000    BERNICE ANDERSON    9/17/2009          201009894    Washington    PA
156335000    LESLIE PALOMBIINE ET UX    12/30/2009          201029333    Washington    PA
156361000    DAVID HAMILTON ET UX    1/15/2010          201036285    Washington    PA
156401000    CLIFFORD M. VANKIRK, SR. AND REGINA L. VANKIRK    5/11/2011          201126768    Washington    PA
156407000    CARLO KRENZELAK    7/7/2011          201126504    Washington    PA
156424000    HYSEE L DAY ET UX    8/31/2021    497    197       Washington    PA
156463001    RANDALL D FRYE ET UX    11/4/2011          201204594    Washington    PA
156470001    WILLIAM J SMITH ET UX    3/10/2009          2009070703    Washington    PA
156475000    MICHAEL R LUCAS ET UX    6/2/2009          200917495    Washington    PA
209285000    MANOR REAL ESTATE COMPANY    7/25/1960    1267    121       Washington    PA
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209532000    DIETRICH, VIVIAN G    4/30/2002          200216330    Washington    PA
209536000    DIETRICH, DAVID WILLIAM & PAMELA DIANE    9/17/2002          200233252    Washington    PA
209569000    COLAVECCHIA, ANTHONY & FAITH    7/31/2003          200332251    Washington    PA
209570000    TAYLOR, NICOLE & DANIEL P    7/31/2003          200332257    Washington    PA
209592000    DYE, DANIEL & MARY ELLEN MARTIN    11/11/2004          200437320    Washington    PA
209593000    CAMP, JOSEPH LEE JR    5/5/2005          200512942    Washington    PA
209615000    BEAVER, GARY L & DIANE L    9/28/2005          200532674    Washington    PA
209617000    WOOTTON, DONALD R JR & ANGELA E    10/12/2005          200534479    Washington    PA
209621000    ZALNER, ALBERT J & ROSE    12/22/2005          200542105    Washington    PA
209622000    BULL, BETTY C    2/23/2006          200605014    Washington    PA
209641000    KELLER, HENRY L & SANDRA H    8/2/2006          200623028    Washington    PA
209647000    MCGILL, KEITH & JUNE HARRIS    11/21/2006          200634930    Washington    PA
209668000    PRICE, S ROBERT & GENEVIEVE ET AL    7/26/2007          200723294    Washington    PA
209714000    WESTERN PA ANNUAL CONFERENCE    10/15/2007          200728980    Washington    PA
209837000    BIGLER, DARLENE J ET AL    12/7/2010          201039079    Washington    PA

 

B-1-7


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216037000    WISE, ROBERT J & GRETCHEN A    5/21/1993    2535    145       Washington    PA
216046000    DITTMAR, LAWRENCE W & FRANCES    4/2/1993    2529    273       Washington    PA
216053000    DUNN, DOROTHY M, ET AL    9/3/1993    2550    163       Washington    PA
216054000    KAUFMAN, DWAYNE J & LOU ANN    11/3/1994    2612    219       Washington    PA
216058000    JESSE, ALBERT M & MARY ANN    3/11/2005          200506857    Washington    PA
216077000    HARBERT, DONALD D & MARY E    11/17/2006          200635097    Washington    PA
216077000    HARBERT, DONALD D & MARY E    11/17/2006    357    1035    200600005375    Washington    PA
238800000    HAROLD M HARTER SR AND MARSHA A HARTER COTRUSTEES    2/8/2012          201215791    Washington    PA
238966000    SANDRA K SHRIVER    9/16/2009             Washington    PA
239159000    THE RONALD AND TWILA GOTTSCHALK REV LIVING TRUST    10/26/2009             Washington    PA
239173000    THOMAS A SANTELLI ET UX    4/22/2009          200912656    Washington    PA
239201000    JOHN M ZOELLER ET UX    3/11/2008          200814478    Washington    PA
239205000    JOHN M ZOELLER ET UX    3/20/2008          200816813    Washington    PA
239208000    RICHARD A LUCAS ET UX    7/9/2008          200827237    Washington    PA
243648003    JOHN R CASTORR    11/20/2012          201316528    Washington    PA
243648004    KRISTINA T ADAMSON    10/30/2012          201308038    Washington    PA
243648013    THE RECHEL TRUST OF 1995 BY DAVID RECHEL TRUSTEE    12/7/2012          201401521    Washington    PA
245089000    GOTTSCHALK FAMILY PARTNERS LP BY GOTTSCHALK ENERGY    11/30/2011          201223513    Washington    PA
245416001    DAVID J HUBLEY    5/13/2012          201218556    Washington    PA
245416002    MICHELLE R HUBLEY    4/26/2012          201218558    Washington    PA
251241000    JANET FAY EICHLER    8/19/2008          201200999    Washington    PA
251241000    JANET FAY EICHLER    8/19/2008          200824863    Washington    PA
110242001    ROBERT T KLINE ET UX    8/24/1988    2876    520    0    Westmoreland    PA
110498000    SANDRA J CALIZZI ET AL    4/15/1987    2740    612    0    Westmoreland    PA
112967000    SAMUEL E GALLAGHER ET AL    6/5/1985    2650    527    0    Westmoreland    PA
119270000    JAMES KRALIK ET UX    12/12/2001          200201220005393    Westmoreland    PA
119355000    MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF WESTMORELAND    1/1/2002    0    0    200206130039309    Westmoreland    PA
119399000    DONALD D. EVANS, ET AL    9/29/2002          200209100057802    Westmoreland    PA
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119822000    ROBERT C SHAW ET AL    7/23/2003          200308210068213    Westmoreland    PA
119977000    STEPHEN N TOWER ET UX    8/18/2003          200404140020979    Westmoreland    PA
119978000    CHRISTOPHER D. & JANE M. TOWER    4/6/2005    0    0    200202250013293    Westmoreland    PA
121106000    DEBORAH A DORSEY    11/14/2007          200805220021612    Westmoreland    PA
121107000    ROBERT P HOLTZ ET UX    11/15/2007          200805220021613    Westmoreland    PA

 

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121781000    EDWARD M KROKOSKY ET UX    6/2/2010    0    0    201007060023196    Westmoreland    PA
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121802000    WILLIAM JANKOVIK ET UX    8/22/2010          201103070008403    Westmoreland    PA
121803000    LAURETTA M MUSSER    9/3/2010          201103070008404    Westmoreland    PA
121804000    CHRIS TOWER ET UX    9/15/2010    0    0    201103310011573    Westmoreland    PA
121810000    HOWARD S BERTA ET UX    12/29/2010    0    0    201103310011567    Westmoreland    PA
121811000    ANTHONY S BUTCHER ET AL    12/29/2010    0    0    201103310011560    Westmoreland    PA
121812000    DAVID A HOLM ET UX    12/29/2010    0    0    201103310011568    Westmoreland    PA
121813000    PATRICIA A ONDISH    12/29/2010    0    0    201103310011561    Westmoreland    PA
121832001    DAVID A MATSON    12/7/2010          201103310011576    Westmoreland    PA
121905000    NANCY J SHANTA    4/15/2011          201108260030914    Westmoreland    PA
121906000    C ROBERT SHANTA JR    4/15/2011          201108260030915    Westmoreland    PA
121971001    RICHARD HILL    5/8/2011          201110200038323    Westmoreland    PA
121971002    HOWARD WAYNE WIESTER    5/20/2011          201110200038315    Westmoreland    PA
121971003    WILLIAM W CALDWELL    5/24/2011          201110200038317    Westmoreland    PA
121971004    HOWARD E HILL    8/22/2011          201110200038316    Westmoreland    PA
121971005    ELIZABETH ANN TROXELL    9/1/2011          201110200038328    Westmoreland    PA
121971006    N IRENE CLARK    9/20/2011          201110200038321    Westmoreland    PA
121983000    DOUGLAS W IFFT ET UX    5/12/2005          200506030027624    Westmoreland    PA
121989000    MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF WESTMORELAND COUN    7/11/2002          200207290048651    Westmoreland    PA
121990000    MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF WESTMORELAND COUN    4/10/2003          200304290032722    Westmoreland    PA
122003000    JOHN W BANKOSKE ET UX    9/22/2006          200611150056116    Westmoreland    PA
122004000    MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF WESTMORELAND COUN    2/21/2002          200203210019679    Westmoreland    PA
122006000    ROSALIE B KRYSTON ET AL    11/5/2010          201012160047147    Westmoreland    PA
122014000    FRANCIS S DEMARCO    8/4/2011          201110200038318    Westmoreland    PA
122015001    DAVID MATSON    5/3/2011          201110200038322    Westmoreland    PA
122016000    JEFFREY C BURTON    9/26/2011          201110200038320    Westmoreland    PA
122035000    FREDERICK J SLACK ET UX    11/16/2011    0    0    201111170042612    Westmoreland    PA
122053000    ROBERT L ANDERSON ET UX    6/29/2011    0    0    201111290043953    Westmoreland    PA
125763000    DAVID DUFF    8/28/1999       0    0002/02166    Westmoreland    PA
125905000    P R LONG ET UX    12/14/2011       0    0020/02035    Westmoreland    PA
126236000    SIMON P BORTZ ET UX    4/24/1930    915    140    0    Westmoreland    PA
126262000    MYRTIE M POTTS ET VIR    6/24/1932       0    0085/00271    Westmoreland    PA
126474000    JOSEPH R MARCO ET AL    9/30/1946    1266    15    0    Westmoreland    PA
127484000    TWILA N SAUL    1/14/1981       0    0301/00076    Westmoreland    PA
238039000    SPD FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP    12/13/2013    0    0    201312130049072    Westmoreland    PA
239407000    NANCY ANN FERGUSON RAIRIGH ET VIR    8/23/2012          201208270035353    Westmoreland    PA

 

B-1-9


Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

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239408000    NANCY ANN FERGUSON RAIRIGH ET VIR    8/23/2012          201208270035354    Westmoreland    PA
240165001    WINIFRED SHANER    10/1/2012          201302120005715    Westmoreland    PA
240165002    WILLIAM V SHANER    1/10/2013          201302250007303    Westmoreland    PA
240165003    GEORGE E SHANER    12/28/2012          201302250007302    Westmoreland    PA
244755000    RICHARD SLAUGHENHAUPT ET UX    1/16/2013          201302250007300    Westmoreland    PA
245129000    CLAIR J RUBRIGHT ET AL    4/20/1987    2735    272    0    Westmoreland    PA
245130000    MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF WESTMORELAND COUN    8/11/1994    3279    577    0    Westmoreland    PA
245131000    ARTHUR D HENDERSON    5/3/1985    2606    632    0    Westmoreland    PA
245132000    ANNA MOORHEAD ET AL    11/25/1986    2719    310    0    Westmoreland    PA
245915000    HOWARD A BORTZ ET UX    10/30/1984    2832    364    0    Westmoreland    PA
246663000    THE BRUNOT COMPANY INC    4/6/2013          201304160014665    Westmoreland    PA
247305000    HENRY H COY    4/12/2005    517    400    0    Westmoreland    PA
250284000    SENATE COAL MINES INC    7/16/2013          201308260035230    Westmoreland    PA
255632000    ARTHUR PRATI ET UX    1/18/2014          201402030002989    Westmoreland    PA
113003000    AVONMORE LAND AND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY    2/15/2001    308    108    0    Westmoreland    PA
113419000    KEROTEST MANUFACTURING COMPANY    5/12/1950    1385    84    0    Westmoreland    PA
152338001    KEROTEST MFG. COMPANY    5/12/1950    1385    84    0    Westmoreland    PA
110188000    DAYWOOD FOUNDATION INC    4/18/1983    95    620    0    Barbour    WV
112006000    HENRY H STREETS    11/13/1970    68    455    0    Barbour    WV
112435000    ELENOR WEEKLEY ET AL    5/1/1973    72    267    0    Barbour    WV
121787002    MCFUTURE LLC    9/29/2011    154    609    0    Barbour    WV
121787003    ARCELORMITTAL PRISTINE RESOURCES LLC    10/13/2011    155    367    0    Barbour    WV
121789000    ARCELORMITTAL PRISTINE RESOURCES INC    10/27/2010    152    554    0    Barbour    WV
121826001    PEGGY CHESSER SJOBERG    11/16/2010    153    93    0    Barbour    WV
121826002    JULIA C MARTINE    12/13/2010    153    172    0    Barbour    WV
121931000    ARCELORMITTAL PRISTINE RESOURCES INC    3/21/2011    155    239    0    Barbour    WV
121961000    TIFFANY A ROBINSON ET AL    3/11/2011    154    620    0    Barbour    WV
121962000    MURL PATRICK MITCHELL ET UX    3/23/2011    154    625    0    Barbour    WV
121963000    LEVADA ANN MITCHELL ET VIR    3/23/2011    154    630    0    Barbour    WV
121964000    JAMES GREGORY MITCHELL    3/23/2011    154    635    0    Barbour    WV
121967001    MICHAEL P MITCHELL    3/23/2011    155    189    0    Barbour    WV
121967002    THE DIANA GOFF CATHER M TRUST    11/8/2012    160    642    119335    Barbour    WV
131750000    RUTH WOODS DAYTON    9/23/1967    62    265    0    Barbour    WV
132167000    GERALD BAUGHMAN ET AL    6/1/1966    59    76    0    Barbour    WV
132378000    LUCY O NEAL    8/20/1959    41    66    0    Barbour    WV
132381000    W J POLING ET UX    8/21/1959    41    84    0    Barbour    WV
132385000    ELIZABETH TETER ET AL    8/20/1959    41    276    0    Barbour    WV

 

B-1-10


Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

132398000    LUCILLE CHESSER ET VIR    10/21/1959    41    417    0    Barbour    WV
132464000    MARTHA D STRADER ET AL    2/27/1969    65    497    0    Barbour    WV
132474000    ELMIRA GULENTZ    9/15/1960    42    326    0    Barbour    WV
132491000    MERLE MCVICKER ET UX    5/4/1961    43    359    0    Barbour    WV
132494000    A L PROUDFOOT ET UX    5/4/1961    OG43    353    0    Barbour    WV
132495000    D O MITCHELL    5/3/1961    43    351    0    Barbour    WV
132496000    C S MITCHELL ET UX    5/4/1961    43    349    0    Barbour    WV
132497000    JUNIOR L MORREL ET UX    12/15/1970    OG69    91    0    Barbour    WV
132501000    RALPH PLUM ET UX    12/15/1970    OG69    46    0    Barbour    WV
132502000    WILBERT MCVICKER ET UX    5/11/1961    OG43    315    0    Barbour    WV
132503000    L DOW PHILLIPS ET UX    5/5/1961    OG43    307    0    Barbour    WV
132506000    MONZELL MITCHELL ET UX    5/19/1961    43    295    0    Barbour    WV
132522000    CLINTON ROBINSON ET AL    5/2/1961    OG44    256    0    Barbour    WV
132530000    ZORA MCQUAIN    7/12/1961    44    283    0    Barbour    WV
132533000    MORA MCDANIEL ET AL    5/9/1961    OG44    355    0    Barbour    WV
132537000    IRA MCBEE ET AL    5/4/1961    44    371    0    Barbour    WV
132544000    W H LANTZ ET UX    10/23/1961    45    137    0    Barbour    WV
132618000    C M BOWMAR ET AL    1/31/1964    48    360    0    Barbour    WV
132690000    J M O’NEAL    3/24/1965    53    262    0    Barbour    WV
132820000    UNITED STATES STEEL CORP    10/12/1967    62    487    0    Barbour    WV
243010000    ROGER SCOTT MITCHELL    10/21/2012    160    647    119337    Barbour    WV
244886000    MICHAEL PATRICK MITCHELL    12/12/2012    162    601    130375    Barbour    WV
246072000    CLARENCE J POLING ET UX    3/7/2013    163    294    140593    Barbour    WV
246356000    CLARENCE J POLING ET AL    2/19/2013    163    289    140592    Barbour    WV
110612000    A W COFFMAN    12/22/2003    143    420    0    Harrison    WV
130568000    W G BENNETT ET AL    3/27/2001    42    217    0    Lewis    WV
175969001    ELLSWORTH H. SCHERICH AND THELMA L. SCHERICH    8/11/2009          1277792    Marshall    WV
176153000    DALE E CAMPBELL    7/21/2009    687    319-322    1276418    Marshall    WV
176154000    DALE E CAMPBELL    7/21/2009    687    323-327    1276419    Marshall    WV
176157000    DALE E CAMPBELL    7/21/2009    687    328-331    1276420    Marshall    WV
176164000    DAVID KINNEY ET AL    9/9/2009          1286688    Marshall    WV
176167000    DUANE L WISLON ET UX    9/1/2009    697    308    1283409    Marshall    WV
176201000    JOHN A GRAY ET UX    11/10/2009    697    237-239    1283271    Marshall    WV
176220001    TIERRA OIL COMPANY LLC    12/21/2009    772    73    1286687    Marshall    WV
176220002    ROBERT B. ELLIOTT    1/6/2010    707    260    1291211    Marshall    WV
176220003    SCOTT REED    11/4/2009    701    409    1286684    Marshall    WV
176220004    JACKIE FRYE    11/24/2009    700    265-267    1285497    Marshall    WV

 

B-1-11


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Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

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176220005    RICHARD & MARY BARTO    11/11/2009    700    268-270    1285498    Marshall    WV
176454001    JACKIE L FRYE    12/16/2009    707    729    1291217    Marshall    WV
176454002    RICHARD BARTO ET UX    2/2/2010    805    609    1350450    Marshall    WV
176454003    SCOTT D REED    11/30/2009    805    613    1350451    Marshall    WV
176457001    ELLSWORTH SCHERICH ET UX    11/11/2009    708    361    1291866    Marshall    WV
176457002    MABLE L. RIGGLE    3/25/2011    738    165    1308002    Marshall    WV
176490000    RICHARD E. HARTLEY, SR & BARBARA E. HARTLEY    6/4/2010    707    286    1291219    Marshall    WV
176496000    RALPH E. MOORE AND MICHAEL R. FLYNN    8/16/2010          1292703    Marshall    WV
176497000    VIOLA LAND, INC.    8/16/2010    709    515    1292704    Marshall    WV
176505000    ROBERT R. TOLAND & CARRIE M. TOLAND    6/12/2010    709    519    1292705    Marshall    WV
176517000    AMERICAN PREMIER UNDERWRITERS, INC.    8/17/2010    711    79    1293977    Marshall    WV
176523000    RUDOLPH F CEBULA JR    10/12/2010    725    153    1300752    Marshall    WV
176524001    GENEVA TERRILL    9/16/2010    720    420    1298535    Marshall    WV
176524002    WILLIAM D EARNEST    9/17/2010    720    424    1298537    Marshall    WV
176536000    VIOLA SPORTMANS CLUB    12/15/2010    731    522    1304279    Marshall    WV
176556000    JAMES KEVIN SAMPSON    4/9/2011    744    321    1311028    Marshall    WV
176557000    GERALD K. WHITE AND SARAH A. WHITE    4/28/2011    738    209    130817    Marshall    WV
176561000    JAMES DOLAN AND MARY J. DOLAN    5/12/2011    744    160    1310693    Marshall    WV
176562001    CATHY A CROMIKA    6/3/2011    744    325    1311029    Marshall    WV
176562002    WILLIAM J. HEGEDUS AND MARGARET R. MORGAN H/W    8/7/2011    749    6    1313288    Marshall    WV
176562003    GERALD D. HEGEDUS    11/14/2011    757    415    1318122    Marshall    WV
176565001    JULIA RIGGLE    6/15/2011    744    329    1311030    Marshall    WV
176565002    RALPH CURTIS RIGGLE, BY NICK RIGGLE, ATTORNEY-IN-F    10/26/2011    757    419    1318123    Marshall    WV
176565003    MABLE L. RIGGLE    10/26/2011    758    219    1318625    Marshall    WV
176571001    CHARLES E DAGUE    6/22/2011    747    150    1312398    Marshall    WV
176571002    RONALD J HORR    6/22/2011    747    154    1312399    Marshall    WV
176577000    JAY A SEABRIGHT ET UX    8/17/2011    748    56    1312772    Marshall    WV
176588001    WILLIAM D. EARNEST    10/11/2011    758    275    1318732    Marshall    WV
176588002    LEONA M. RIGGLE    10/10/2011    758    279    1318742    Marshall    WV
176588003    MARY ELLEN WHIPKEY    10/12/2011    757    423    1318125    Marshall    WV
176588004    JOAN MILLIKEN    10/12/2011    757    141    1317603    Marshall    WV
176588005    EULA J. RIGGLE BENNETT    10/10/2011    757    145    1317604    Marshall    WV
176588007    JAMES D. RIGGLE    10/15/2011    757    145    1317604    Marshall    WV
176588008    EVELYN M. VAN KIRK AKA EVELYN (EVIE) VAN KIRK    10/15/2011    757    153    1317607    Marshall    WV
176588009    SHIRLEY DULANEY    10/21/2011    758    283    1318744    Marshall    WV

 

B-1-12


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Page

  

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State

176588010    BARBARA K. RIGGLE    10/21/2011    758    291    1318748    Marshall    WV
176588011    ROBIN WILLIAMS    10/21/2011    758    295    1318749    Marshall    WV
176588012    BELINDA WEST    10/21/2011    758    299    1318752    Marshall    WV
176588013    EDNA MAE HOMROCK BRAFCHAK    11/3/2011    758    303    1318754    Marshall    WV
176588014    JULIA A. KIGER    11/3/2011    758    307    1318755    Marshall    WV
176588015    BRUCE J. KIGER    11/3/2011    758    311    1318756    Marshall    WV
176588016    CHRISTINE M. ELLIS F.K.A CHRISTINE M. TRIGG    11/3/2011    758    315    1318757    Marshall    WV
176588017    BETTY LOU RIGGLE    11/3/2011    758    319    1318758    Marshall    WV
176588018    IDA LOU TAYLOR    11/3/2011    759    507    1319551    Marshall    WV
176588020    EUNICE A. RIGGLE    11/3/2011    760    24    1319787    Marshall    WV
176588022    SARAH JANE STAHL    12/9/2011    763    16    1321918    Marshall    WV
176588023    WILLIAM L RIGGLE    12/9/2011    763    20    1321919    Marshall    WV
176588024    RICHARD P RIGGLE    12/9/2011    767    223    1324609    Marshall    WV
176588025    WAYNE A RIGGLE    1/18/2012    771    183    1326895    Marshall    WV
176588026    CAROLYN PORTER    12/13/2011    766    153    1323728    Marshall    WV
176588027    ROLAND I RIGGLE JR    9/18/2012    787    643    1338080    Marshall    WV
176588028    LINDA D WILLIAMS    11/3/2011    764    220    13225500    Marshall    WV
176588029    MICHAEL D DONATO    12/12/2011    764    253    1322608    Marshall    WV
176588030    LORETTA K COULTER    12/13/2011    766    149    1323726    Marshall    WV
176588031    HESTLE B RIGGLE JR    11/3/2011    764    216    1322549    Marshall    WV
176588032    TERRI G HELT    12/13/2011    766    157    1323730    Marshall    WV
176588033    THOMAS E RIGGLE    1/10/2012    764    257    1322610    Marshall    WV
176588034    FRANCIS A RIGGLE JR    1/10/2012    764    261    1322611    Marshall    WV
176588035    ROBERTA M DILLOW    1/10/2012    763    398    1322307    Marshall    WV
176588036    CRYSTAL J FITZEK    1/10/2012    763    399    1322308    Marshall    WV
176588037    RONNY S BARTRAM    1/10/2012    763    403    1322309    Marshall    WV
176588038    JAISON M CARMAN    1/10/2012    763    407    1322310    Marshall    WV
176588039    JEREMY M CARMAN    1/10/2012    763    411    1322311    Marshall    WV
176588040    FREDERICK M CARMAN    1/10/2012    763    445    1322322    Marshall    WV
176588041    CHRISTOPHER J PRICE    1/10/2012    764    224    1322551    Marshall    WV
176588042    ROLANDA B PLUM    1/10/2012    764    228    1322552    Marshall    WV
176588043    ROY J RIGGLE    1/10/2012    764    232    1322553    Marshall    WV
176588044    DENNIS C HENDERSON    12/9/2011    765    67    1322983    Marshall    WV
176588045    AMY L MINCH    12/9/2011    765    63    1322982    Marshall    WV
176588046    RUTH E SCHACHT    1/10/2012    768    585    1325662    Marshall    WV
176588047    VALERIE M HARLACHER    1/18/2012    780    50    1332633    Marshall    WV
176627001    CINDY P WOOD AKA CINDY KIGER WOOD    10/18/2011    757    157    1317608    Marshall    WV

 

B-1-13


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183309000    NISOURCE ENERGY VENTURES, LLC (NEVCO), COLUMBIA GA    7/27/2009    782    1    1333957    Marshall    WV
238542001    LINDA MARCHAL    2/28/2012    792    392    1341420    Marshall    WV
238947000    KENNETH J PORTER ET UX    6/15/2012    776    31    1330317    Marshall    WV
238948000    MARK D ULLOM II    6/27/2012    776    35    1330319    Marshall    WV
239738001    SANDRA C KOONTZ    9/4/2012    778    280    1331874    Marshall    WV
240192001    RICHARD WAYNE ANDERSON ET AL    7/15/2012    783    458    1335345    Marshall    WV
240662001    DONNA CALABRESE    12/7/2011    763    245    1322200    Marshall    WV
240662002    JEAN HARTZELL    12/7/2011    767    227    1324610    Marshall    WV
240662003    LARRY HARTLEY    12/15/2011    764    274    1322616    Marshall    WV
240662004    BETTY TRAVIS    12/7/2011    764    240    1322555    Marshall    WV
240662005    RANDY HARTZELL    12/7/2011    767    364    1324786    Marshall    WV
240662006    CYNTHIA J HARTZELL    7/13/2012    797    113    1344525    Marshall    WV
240736000    JAMES B WELCH    1/26/1960    342    11    0    Marshall    WV
240738000    GEORGE N JUNKINS ET UX    3/29/1960    342    133    0    Marshall    WV
240739000    MAUDE DAGUE ET AL    2/8/1960    342    197    0    Marshall    WV
240742000    BENTON HAZLETT ET UX    2/5/1960    342    19    0    Marshall    WV
240743000    EARL J WILSON    12/23/1958    326    159    0    Marshall    WV
240745000    MATTIE E DAGUE DICKEL    8/3/1959    326    428    0    Marshall    WV
240748000    ELLSWORTH JUNKINS ET UX    2/5/1960    342    15    0    Marshall    WV
240749000    EARL J WILSON    12/23/1958    326    163    0    Marshall    WV
240752000    CARL W DOMAN ET UX    5/3/1968    395    570    0    Marshall    WV
240754000    ELIZABETH WELCH    1/26/1960    342    35    0    Marshall    WV
240755000    LUKE L MERINAR ET AL    4/4/1960    342    180    0    Marshall    WV
240756000    RICHARD D MCCAUSLAND ET UX    1/22/1963    360    353    0    Marshall    WV
240757000    C M MAGERS ET UX    2/5/1963    361    167    0    Marshall    WV
240758000    SARA E BLAKE    3/12/1973    434    153    0    Marshall    WV
240759000    ERVIN RITCHEA ET UX    9/1/1965    375    429    0    Marshall    WV
240761000    BESSIE L INGERSOLL ET AL    5/22/1963    363    87    0    Marshall    WV
241532001    VIRGINIA M PARSONS    8/1/2012    784    552    1336079    Marshall    WV
241532002    GARY WAYNE TIMMONS ET UX    9/24/2012    787    108    1337438    Marshall    WV
241532003    MARY U PHILLIPS    9/19/2012    787    111    1337439    Marshall    WV
241532004    MERLE H JENKINS ET VIR    9/22/2012    787    114    1337440    Marshall    WV
241532005    WILLIAM HOWARD ET UX    9/25/2012    787    117    1337442    Marshall    WV
241532006    COLETTE M AUGUSTINE    9/22/2012    787    120    1337443    Marshall    WV
241532007    MARK E HOWARD ET UX    10/3/2012    788    5    1338084    Marshall    WV
241532008    NANCY W MILLER ET VIR    9/22/2012    788    8    1338085    Marshall    WV
241532009    NANCY C WATSON    8/23/2012    790    17    1340008    Marshall    WV

 

B-1-14


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241532010    MARY JANE GORDON    10/3/2012    790    20    1340010    Marshall    WV
241532011    JAMES H BLAKE JR    9/25/2012    788    624    1339045    Marshall    WV
241532012    JAMES WATSON ET UX    9/8/2012    788    627    1339046    Marshall    WV
241532013    LANCE TEURFS ET UX    9/22/2012    788    630    1339047    Marshall    WV
241532014    QUENTIN CRON    9/22/2012    788    633    1339048    Marshall    WV
241532015    DEBRA L FREDLEY    9/8/2012    788    636    1339049    Marshall    WV
241532016    RICHARD PRINCE ET UX    1/18/2013    794    62    1342336    Marshall    WV
241532017    DEBRA A GRAHAM    10/8/2012    789    549    1339870    Marshall    WV
241532018    BARBARA PATTERSON ET VIR    11/15/2012    790    23    1340011    Marshall    WV
241532019    G RICHARD ABBOTT    10/16/2012    790    615    1340519    Marshall    WV
241532020    CATHERINE K TAYLOR ET VIR    12/8/2012    794    301    1342753    Marshall    WV
241532021    BLAKE C HOWARD ET UX    12/21/2012    794    305    1342754    Marshall    WV
241693001    JOHN F HUDSON ET UX    2/3/2012    767    231    1324611    Marshall    WV
242391000    WHEELING CREEK WATERSHED PROTECTION AND FLOOD PREV    3/11/2010    701    215    1286527    Marshall    WV
244065000    JENNIFER FILBY ET VIR    11/26/2012    789    561    1339875    Marshall    WV
244073000    W FRANK WINEMAN ET AL    8/19/1971    417    498    0    Marshall    WV
244074000    CARL E NAMACK ET UX    1/6/1965    375    11    0    Marshall    WV
244324000    CARL W GROPPE JR TRUST    2/15/2012    763    459    0    Marshall    WV
244678000    ROBERT BRENT KOONTZ ET AL    4/19/2010    702    419    1287734    Marshall    WV
246617000    GEORGE N JUNKINS ET UX    4/4/1960    342    169    0    Marshall    WV
247229000    FAZAL A KHAN    12/23/2010    727    588    1302163    Marshall    WV
247991000    WILLIAM W SHOOK ET AL    1/11/1960    326    552    0    Marshall    WV
249411000    ARMSTRONG J BLAKE ET AL    3/14/1960    401    117    0    Marshall    WV
249422000    JAMES DAGUE ET AL    6/16/2010    703    150    1288020    Marshall    WV
249719000    WILLIAM J RIGGLE ET UX    2/9/1960    342    39    0    Marshall    WV
249721000    CARL W DOMAN ET AL    5/3/1968    395    590    0    Marshall    WV
249722000    RAY RIGGLE ET UX    1/15/1960    326    560    0    Marshall    WV
249724000    HARRY C DAGUE    11/21/1960    342    364    0    Marshall    WV
249725000    LLOYD BUSH ET UX    5/9/1968    395    562    0    Marshall    WV
249946000    CECIL HARTLEY ET UX    2/24/1960    342    59    0    Marshall    WV
249947000    F E EARLIWINE ET UX    2/17/1961    342    399    0    Marshall    WV
249948000    A E BLAKE ET AL    8/6/1959    326    380    0    Marshall    WV
249949000    INA WHITE ET VIR    10/23/1963    363    227    0    Marshall    WV
249950000    CLYDE S RIGGLE ET UX    2/14/1967    381    399    0    Marshall    WV
249951000    CLYDE S RIGGLE ET UX    5/26/1969    401    375    0    Marshall    WV
249952000    LLOYD BUSH ET UX    5/9/1968    395    582    0    Marshall    WV
249974000    LEMOYNE A EARLIWINE ET AL    8/4/1999    583    674    1999004184    Marshall    WV

 

B-1-15


Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

250039000    HAZEL SAMMONS    12/7/1959    326    511    0    Marshall    WV
250060000    WILLIAM R MCGARY ET UX    11/5/1964    371    515    0    Marshall    WV
250067000    WILLIAM J RIGGLE ET UX    10/23/1963    363    355    0    Marshall    WV
250103000    LAWRENCE A GITTINGS ET UX    1/12/1960    326    556    0    Marshall    WV
250105000    ELMER HARTLEY ET UX    2/24/1960    342    63    0    Marshall    WV
250113000    GEORGE W DUNN ET UX    5/7/1968    395    574    0    Marshall    WV
250115000    THOMAS J ELDER ET UX    3/19/1986    515    473    0    Marshall    WV
250116000    ELLSWORTH H HARSH ET AL    3/7/1973    434    158    0    Marshall    WV
251451000    D O HARTLEY ET UX    10/6/1969    401    399    0    Marshall    WV
251467000    J L CROW ET UX    7/10/2000    74    386    0    Marshall    WV
251490000    FLORA B RAYMER ET AL    3/16/1967    381    395    0    Marshall    WV
251512000    LILLIE TODD ET AL    2/5/1960    342    83    0    Marshall    WV
251911000    JOHN GITTINGS ET UX    8/3/2003    103    443    0    Marshall    WV
251924000    J T SCOTT ET AL    2/1/2005    117    361    0    Marshall    WV
251938000    AMERICAN PREMIER UNDERWRITERS INC    11/22/2011    757    137    1317602    Marshall    WV
251957000    FAIRY HARSH CLUTTER ET VIR    2/20/1940    215    42    0    Marshall    WV
251964000    FLORA B RAYMER ET AL    3/16/1967    381    391    0    Marshall    WV
251968000    FLORA B RAYMER ET AL    3/16/1967    381    469    0    Marshall    WV
252202000    NELLIE HICKS ET AL    8/5/1959    326    331    0    Marshall    WV
252204000    NELLIE HICKS ET AL    8/5/1959    326    335    0    Marshall    WV
252205000    CHARLES R MILLIKEN ET UX    10/15/1968    401    79    0    Marshall    WV
252206000    JANE HOWARD ET AL    6/8/1971    427    728    0    Marshall    WV
253141000    COLUMBIA GAS TRANSMISSION LLC    7/24/2009    683    557    1272463    Marshall    WV
254564000    ARTHUR D FISHER ET AL    8/5/1963    363    143    0    Marshall    WV
254565000    GEORGE M MILLIKEN ET UX    8/7/1963    363    147    0    Marshall    WV
254566000    MAXINE GITTINGS ET AL    11/16/1966    381    337    0    Marshall    WV
254567000    MAXINE GITTINGS    11/16/1966    381    341    0    Marshall    WV
254570000    THOMAS FONNER ET UX    7/27/1959    326    368    0    Marshall    WV
254571000    THOMAS FONNER ET UX    7/27/1959    326    376    0    Marshall    WV
254572000    LESSIE V KIMMINS    7/30/1959    326    313    0    Marshall    WV
254573000    THOMAS L RIGGLE ET UX    7/28/1959    326    384    0    Marshall    WV
254575000    MINNIE HARSH ET AL    7/27/1959    326    372    0    Marshall    WV
254576000    OLLIE EVANS    7/29/1959    326    321    0    Marshall    WV
254577000    EDWARD L HURLEY ET UX    8/4/1959    326    392    0    Marshall    WV
254583000    JOSEPH D DONATO ET UX    3/14/1960    342    88    0    Marshall    WV
254586000    ARMSTRONG J BLAKE ET AL    3/14/1960    342    119    0    Marshall    WV
254591000    MAXINE GITTINGS ET AL    1/9/1969    401    117    0    Marshall    WV

 

B-1-16


Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

254669000    FRANCIS M BEITH ET AL    8/26/1959    326    432    0    Marshall    WV
255936000    CHARLES R MILLIKEN ET UX    5/20/1970    401    463    0    Marshall    WV
256229000    DAVID RUTHERFORD ET UX    10/13/2008    676    305       Marshall    WV
176467000    PATRICK SHANE RIGGLE    7/20/2010    705    239    1289559    Marshall    WV
225647000    RIGGLE, HESTLE B JR & LORETTA J    11/15/2004    642    279    0    Marshall    WV
220353000    GITTINGS, LAWRENCE A & ALBERTA M    8/2/2006    653    538    102691    Marshall    WV
220438000    MORAN, MARGARET    4/30/2008    668    330    1252466    Marshall    WV
225641000    BURKEY, DANNY H    10/11/2004    641    614       Marshall    WV
225735000    COOPER, CAROLL L    10/22/2009    687    252    1276267    Marshall    WV
239149001    CHARLES E DAGUE    6/25/2012    776    522    1330744    Marshall    WV
239149002    VICKIE WALTERS    6/20/2012    776    526    1330745    Marshall    WV
239149003    DONALD GEORGE HENRY MEGALE    7/12/2012    786    445    1337085    Marshall    WV
239149004    RONALD J HORR    8/21/2012    782    435    1334475    Marshall    WV
239152001    CLAYTON BOYD ANDERSON    6/24/2012    776    530    1330746    Marshall    WV
260967000    MILDRED J HARSH ET AL    1/25/2008    666    16       Marshall    WV
121827000    DANIEL WILLIAM CARPENTER ET AL    2/2/2011    93    135    2011003434    Upshur    WV
121828000    DANIEL WILLIAM CARPENTER ET AL    2/2/2011    93    137    2011003432    Upshur    WV
121829000    DANIEL WILLIAM CARPENTER ET AL    2/2/2011    93    139    2011003434    Upshur    WV
121924000    MILTON L CARPENTER ET UX    2/19/2011    94    456    0    Upshur    WV
122108000    RALPH H HARPER ET UX    8/12/1980    63    471    0    Upshur    WV
131947000    WESLEY H ODELL ET UX    12/14/1951    28    93    0    Upshur    WV
132100000    B. B. RADABAUGH ET UX    8/19/1954    31    268    0    Upshur    WV
132104000    M B RADABAUGH ET UX    9/1/1954    31    307    0    Upshur    WV
132117000    JOE BOZIC ET UX    12/24/1954    31    429    0    Upshur    WV
132163000    VIRGINIA M WHITE ET AL    6/27/1956    33    443    0    Upshur    WV
132164000    VIRGINIA WHITE ET AL    6/27/1956    33    446    0    Upshur    WV
132188000    PECKS RUN COAL    4/10/1957    34    225    0    Upshur    WV
132241000    PECKS RUN COAL COMPANY    12/11/1957    34    515    0    Upshur    WV
132256000    PECKS RUN COAL COMPANY    2/21/1958    35    60    0    Upshur    WV
132897000    R S WARD ET AL    11/6/1952    31    79    0    Upshur    WV
248159000    KEITH V SINCLAIR ET UX    5/14/2013    99    239    2013022834    Upshur    WV
248160000    WALTER S SINCLAIR JR ET UX    5/13/2013    98    458    2013014701    Upshur    WV
248170000    JESSE H CARPENTER ET UX    6/29/1971    53    530    0    Upshur    WV
249623000    RONALD R AUSTIN ET UX    6/17/2013    98    203    2013011134    Upshur    WV
251513000    ELLEN SMITH    7/17/2013    98    346    2013013718    Upshur    WV
253906000    MATTHEW J BRIGHT ET UX    9/26/2013    98    490    2013017180    Upshur    WV
256564000    CSX TRANSPORTATION INC    2/24/2014    99    619    2014003604    Upshur    WV

 

B-1-17


Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

252608000    CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ET AL    3/22/1972    68    238       Upshur    WV
252608000    CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ET AL    3/22/1972    68    238       Upshur    WV
252608000    CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ET AL    3/22/1972    276    469       Upshur    WV
255572000    EQT PRODUCTION COMPANY    12/3/2012    107    439       Upshur    WV

 

B-1-18


EXHIBIT B-2

DEDICATION AREA

The “ Dedication Area ” consists of the following municipalities and districts outlined in the attached map:

 

State

  

County

  

Municipality

PA    Allegheny    Aleppo Township, Aspinwall Borough, Avalon Borough, Baldwin Borough, Baldwin Borough, Baldwin Township, Bell Acres Borough, Bellevue Borough, Ben Avon Borough, Ben Avon Heights Borough, Bethel Park Borough, Blawnox Borough, Brackenridge Borough, Braddock Borough, Braddock Hills Borough, Brentwood Borough, Bridgeville Borough, Carnegie Borough, Castle Shannon Borough, Chalfant Borough, Cheswick Borough, Churchill Borough, Clairton City, Collier Township, Coraopolis Borough, Crafton Borough, Crescent Township, Dormont Borough, Dravosburg Borough, Duquesne City, East Deer Township, East McKeesport Borough, East Pittsburgh Borough, Edgewood Borough, Edgeworth Borough, Elizabeth Borough, Elizabeth Township, Emsworth Borough, Etna Borough, Findlay Township, Forest Hills Borough, Forward Township, Fox Chapel Borough, Franklin Park Borough, Frazer Township, Glassport Borough, Glenfield Borough, Green Tree Borough, Hampton Township, Harmar Township, Harrison Township, Haysville Borough, Heidelberg Borough, Homestead Borough, Indiana Township, Ingram Borough, Jefferson Hills Borough, Kennedy Township, Kilbuck Township, Leet Township, Leetsdale Borough, Liberty Borough, Lincoln Borough, McCandless Township, McDonald Borough, McKees Rocks Borough, McKeesport City, Millvale Borough, Moon Township, Mount Lebanon Township, Mount Oliver Borough, Munhall Borough, Municipality of Monroeville Borough, Neville Township, North Braddock Borough, North Fayette Township, North Versailles Township, Oakdale Borough, Oakmont Borough, O’Hara Township, O’Hara Township, O’Hara Township, O’Hara Township, Ohio Township, Osborne Borough, Penn Hills Township, Pennsbury Village Borough, Pitcairn Borough, Pittsburgh City, Pleasant Hills Borough, Plum Borough, Port Vue Borough, Rankin Borough, Reserve Township, Robinson Township, Ross Township, Rosslyn Farms Borough, Scott Township, Sewickley Borough, Sewickley Heights Borough, Sewickley Hills Borough, Shaler Township, Sharpsburg Borough, South Fayette Township, South Park Township, South Versailles Township, Springdale Borough, Springdale Township, Stowe Township, Swissvale Borough, Swissvale Borough, Tarentum Borough, Thornburg Borough, Trafford Borough, Turtle Creek Borough, Upper St. Clair Township, Verona Borough, Versailles Borough, Wall Borough, West Deer Township, West Elizabeth Borough, West Homestead Borough, West Mifflin Borough, West View Borough, Whitaker Borough, White Oak Borough, White Oak Borough, Whitehall Borough, Wilkins Township, Wilkinsburg Borough, Wilmerding Borough
PA    Armstrong    Apollo Borough, Burrell Township, Elderton Borough, Freeport Borough, Gilpin Township, Kiskiminetas Township, Kittanning Township, Leechburg Borough, North Apollo Borough, Parks Township, Plumcreek Township, South Bend Township
PA    Beaver    Aliquippa City, Ambridge Borough, Frankfort Springs Borough, Greene Township, Hanover Township, Harmony Township, Hookstown Borough, Hopewell Township, Independence Township, Raccoon Township, Shippingport Borough, South Heights Borough
PA    Fayette    Belle Vernon Borough, Brownsville Township, Brownsville Borough, Fayette City Borough, Jefferson Township, Luzerne Township, Newell Borough, Perry Township, Perryopolis Borough, Washington Township
PA    Greene    Aleppo Township, Center Township, Clarksville Borough, Franklin Township, Freeport Township, Gilmore Township, Gray Township, Jackson Township, Jefferson Borough, Jefferson Township, Morgan Township, Morris Township, Perry Township, Rices Landing Borough, Richhill Township, Springhill Township, Washington Township, Wayne Township, Waynesburg Borough, Whiteley Township
PA    Indiana    Armstrong Township, Black Lick Township, Blairsville Borough, Brush Valley Township, Burrell Township, Center Township, Conemaugh Township, Homer City Borough, Indiana Borough, Saltsburg Borough, Shelocta Borough, White Township, Young Township
PA    Washington    All

 

B-2-1


PA    Westmoreland    Adamsburg Borough, Allegheny Township, Arnold City, Arona Borough, Avonmore Borough, Bell Township, Delmont Borough, Derry Township, Derry Borough, East Huntingdon Township, East Vandergrift Borough, Export Borough, Greensburg City, Hempfield Township, Hempfield Township, Hunker Borough, Hyde Park Borough, Irwin Borough, Jeannette City, Latrobe City, Lower Burrell City, Loyalhanna Township, Madison Borough, Manor Borough, Monessen City, Mount Pleasant Borough, Municipality of Murrysville Borough, New Alexandria Borough, New Kensington City, New Stanton Borough, North Belle Vernon Borough, North Huntingdon Township, North Irwin Borough, Oklahoma Borough, Penn Borough, Penn Township, Rostraver Township, Salem Township, Sewickley Township, Smithton Borough, South Greensburg Borough, South Huntingdon Township, Southwest Greensburg Borough, Sutersville Borough, Trafford Borough, Unity Township, Upper Burrell Township, Vandergrift Borough, Washington Township, West Leechburg Borough, West Newton Borough, Youngstown Borough, Youngwood Borough

State

  

County

  

District

WV    Brooke    All districts
WV    Doddridge    All districts
WV    Hancock    All districts
WV    Harrison    All districts
WV    Lewis    All districts
WV    Marion    All districts
WV    Marshall    All districts
WV    Ohio    All districts
WV    Taylor    All districts
WV    Tyler    All districts
WV    Upshur    All districts
WV    Wetzel    All districts
WV    Barbour    Cove District, Elk District, Glade District, Philippi District, Pleasant District, Union District
WV    Gilmer    DeKalb District, Glenville District, Troy District
WV    Monongalia    Battelle District, Clay District, Clinton District, Grant District
WV    Pleasants    Lafayette District, Union District
WV    Ritchie    Clay District, Murphy District, Union District
WV    Brooke    All districts
WV    Doddridge    All districts
WV    Hancock    All districts
WV    Harrison    All districts

 

B-2-2


LOGO

 

B-2-1


EXHIBIT B-3

MAJORSVILLE AREA

The “ Majorsville Area ” consists of the following municipalities and districts:

 

State

  

County

  

Municipality

PA    Greene    Richhill
PA    Washington    West Finley
WV    Marshall    Sand Hill and Webster

 

B-3-1


EXHIBIT B-4

MOUNDSVILLE AREA

The “ Moundsville Area ” consists of the following municipalities and districts:

 

State

  

County

  

Municipality

WV    Marshall    Clay, Franklin and Meade

 

B-4-1


EXHIBIT B-5

PIA AREA

The “ PIA Area ” consists of the following municipalities and districts:

 

State

  

County

  

Municipality

PA    Allegheny    Findlay and Moon

 

B-5-1


EXHIBIT B-6

MARCELLUS FORMATION LOG

LOGO

 

B-6-1


LOGO

 

B-6-2


LOGO

 

B-6-3


EXHIBIT C

PARTIES’ ADDRESSES FOR NOTICE PURPOSES

 

Shipper:      
NOTICES & CORRESPONDENCE     PAYMENTS BY ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
CNX Gas Company LLC     ABA/Routing Number: 043000096
CNX Center     Account Number: 1019285952
1000 CONSOL Energy Drive     Account Name: CNX Gas Corporation
Canonsburg, PA 15317     For Credit to: CONE Gathering Fee
Attention:   Jason Mumford      
Telephone:   724-485-4116      
Email: jasonmumford@consolenergy.com      
      INVOICES
      1000 CONSOL Energy Drive
      Canonsburg, PA 15317
      Attention:   Patrick Weiner
      Telephone:   724-485-3211
      Email:   patrickweiner@consolenergy.com
Gatherer:      
NOTICES & CORRESPONDENCE     PAYMENTS BY ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
CONE Midstream Partners LP     ABA/Routing Number: 043000096
1000 CONSOL Energy Drive     Account Number: 1028984499
Canonsburg, PA 15317     Account Name: CONE Midstream Partners PL
Attention:   Joe Fink, COO     Bank: PNC Bank, N.A., Pittsburg PA
Telephone:   724-485-3254      
Email:   joefink@consolenergy.com      
      INVOICES
      1000 CONSOL Energy Drive
      Canonsburg, PA 15317
      Attention:   Treasury Director

 

C-1


EXHIBIT D

MEMORANDUM OF GATHERING AGREEMENT

THIS MEMORANDUM OF GATHERING AGREEMENT (this “ Memorandum ”) is entered into by and between CNX Gas Company LLC, a Virginia limited liability company (“ Shipper ”) and CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Gatherer ”). Shipper and Gatherer are individually referred to in this Memorandum as a “ Party ” and collectively as “ Parties .”

WHEREAS, the Parties hereto have executed that certain Gathering Agreement dated [            ], 2014 (the “ Gathering Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, Gatherer plans to construct and operate the Gathering System for gathering, dehydrating, treating, and re-delivering Gas and certain Liquid Condensate produced within the certain counties in Pennsylvania and West Virginia;

WHEREAS, Shipper desires to dedicate certain Gas and Liquid Condensate attributable to its right, title and interests in certain leases and/or wells located within a designated area to the Gathering System to be constructed by Gatherer;

WHEREAS, Shipper desires to deliver such Gas and Liquid Condensate to Gatherer for the purpose of gathering, blending, dehydrating, treating, stabilizing, storing, loading and re-delivering of such Gas and Liquid Condensate, and Gatherer desires to provide such services to Shipper on the terms and subject to the conditions in the Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Parties have executed this Memorandum for the purpose of imparting notice to all persons of Shipper’s dedication and commitment of its interests in oil and gas leases and/or oil and gas interests and Shipper’s production from or attributable to such interests to the Gathering Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:

1. The Gathering Agreement is incorporated in its entirety in this Memorandum by reference, and all capitalized terms used but not defined in this Memorandum and defined in the Gathering Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Gathering Agreement.

2. The Parties have entered into the Gathering Agreement, to provide for, among other things, the commitment and dedication by Shipper its Dedicated Properties and the Gas and (to the extent provided from the PIA Area, the Majorsville Area or Moundsville Area) the Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate therefrom or attributable thereto (subject to any conflicting dedications as of the date hereof). The Dedicated Properties are Shipper’s interests in the oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests jointly owned by Shipper and Noble (in undivided interests) in the Dedication Area as of the date hereof, including those certain oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests described on Exhibit A , that are jointly owned by Shipper and Noble, to the extent and only to the extent that such oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests cover and relate to the Marcellus Formation. The Dedication Area is more particularly described in Exhibit B . “Marcellus

 

D-1


Formation” means, (a) in central Pennsylvania, specifically from the top of the Burkett in the DeArmitt #1 (API 37-129-27246) and 7000’MD through to the top of the Onondaga at 7530’MD and illustrated in the log attached on Exhibit C ; (b) in southwest Pennsylvania, specifically from the top of the Burkett in the GH-10C-CV (API 37-059-25397) at 7600’MD through to the top of the Onondaga at 7900’MD and illustrated in the log attached on Exhibit C ; and (c) in West Virginia, specifically from the top of the Burkett in the DEPI #14815 (API 47-001-02850) at 7350’MD through to the top of the Onondaga at 7710’MD and illustrated in the log attached on Exhibit C .

3. The dedication and commitment made by Shipper under the Gathering Agreement is a covenant running with the land subject to the terms of the Gathering Agreement. Any transfer by Shipper of any of Shipper’s interests in the Dedicated Properties shall comply with Article 14 of the Gathering Agreement, which, among other matters, requires that, except in certain circumstances, the transfer be expressly made subject to the Gathering Agreement.

4. Should any person or firm desire additional information, said person or firm should contact:

CONE Midstream Partners LP

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, PA 15317

Attention: Chief Operating Officer

Telephone:   724-485-3254
Fax:   724-485-4817

and, subject to an appropriate confidentiality agreement, any person may receive a copy of the Gathering Agreement upon written request to such person at such address.

5. Upon termination of the Agreement, Shipper and Gatherer shall file of record a release and termination of the Agreement and this Memorandum.

6. This Memorandum shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto, and to their respective heirs, devises, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.

[Signature page follows]

 

D-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Memorandum shall be effective as of the      Day of             , 2014.

 

“SHIPPER”     “GATHERER”
CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 

By: CONE Midstream Partners GP LLC, its general partner

By:  

 

    By:  

 

Name:       Name:  
Title:       Title:  

[ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO BE ADDED]

 

D-3


EXHIBIT E

INSURANCE

Each of Gatherer and Shipper shall purchase and maintain in full force and effect at all times during the Term of this Agreement, at such Party’s sole cost and expense and from reliable insurance companies, policies providing the types and limits of insurance indicated below, which insurance shall be regarded as a minimum and, to the extent of the obligations undertaken by such Party in this Agreement, shall be primary (with the exception of the Excess Liability Insurance and Workers’ Compensation) as to any other existing, valid, and collectable insurance. Each Party’s deductibles shall be borne by that Party and shall be in amounts standard for the industry.

 

  A. Where applicable, Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability Insurance, in accordance with the statutory requirements of the state in which the work is to be performed, and endorsed specifically to include the following:

 

  1. Employers’ Liability, subject to a limit of liability of not less than $1,000,000 per accident, $1,000,000 for each employee/disease, and a 1,000,000 policy limit.

The Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability Insurance policy(ies) shall contain an alternate employer endorsement.

 

  B. Commercial General Liability Insurance, with limits of liability of not less than the following:

$1,000,000 general aggregate

$1,000,000 each occurrence, Bodily Injury and/or Property Damage Combined Single Limit

Such insurance shall include the following:

 

  1. Premises and Operations coverage.

 

  2. Contractual Liability covering the liabilities assumed under this Agreement.

 

  3. Broad Form Property Damage Liability endorsement, unless policy is written on November 1988 or later ISO form.

 

  4. Products and Completed Operations.

 

  5. Time Element Limited Pollution coverage.

 

  C. Automobile Liability Insurance, with limits of liability of not less than the following:

$1,000,000 Bodily Injury and/or Property Damage Combined Single Limit, for each occurrence.

 

E-1


Such coverage shall include hired and non-owned vehicles and owned vehicles where applicable.

 

  D. Aircraft Liability Insurance. In any operation requiring the use or charter of aircraft and/or helicopters by Gatherer or Shipper, combined single limit insurance shall be carried or cause to be carried for public liability, passenger liability and property damage liability in an amount of not less than $1,000,000 each occurrence; this insurance shall cover all owned and non-owned aircraft, including helicopters, used by Gatherer in connection with the performance of the work set forth in this Agreement.

 

  E. Excess Liability Insurance, with limits of liability not less than the following:

Limits of Liability - $25,000,000 Occurrence/Aggregate for Bodily Injury and Property Damage in excess of the coverage outlined in Paragraphs A, B, C and D.

The limits of coverage required in this Agreement may be met with any combination of policies as long as the minimum required limits are met.

Each Party to this Agreement shall have the right to acquire, at its own expense, such additional insurance coverage as it desires to further protect itself against any risk or liability with respect to this Agreement and operations and activities under this Agreement or related thereto. All insurance maintained by either Party, where applicable, shall contain a waiver by the insurance company of all rights of subrogation in favor of all of the other Parties.

Neither the minimum policy limits of insurance required of the Parties nor the actual amounts of insurance maintained by the Parties under their insurance program shall operate to modify the Parties’ liability or indemnity obligations in this Agreement.

A Party may self-insure the requirements in this Exhibit E if its parent is considered investment grade (S&P BBB- or equivalent or higher); provided that the Parties agree that each of the initial Parties to this Agreement shall be permitted to self-insure notwithstanding the foregoing required investment grade rating.

 

E-2


EXHIBIT F

RECEIPT POINTS

 

SWPA

                           
CNX-2 Pad   GH-19 CV   MOR-14B SH   NV-13E CV   NV-20B CV   NV-30C CV   NV-38C HS   NV-42B HS
CNX-2   GH-2 Pad   MOR-14C SH   NV-15 Pad   NV-20C CV   NV-30D CV   NV-38D HS   NV-42C HS
CNX-2A   GH-2 CV   MOR-17 Pad   NV-15B CV   NV-20D CV   NV-30E CV   NV-38E HS   NV-42D HS
CNX-2B   GH-2A CV   MOR-17A SH   NV-15C CV   NV-20E-CV   NV-31 Pad   NV-38F HS   NV-42E HS
CNX-3 Pad   GH-2B CV   MOR-17B SH   NV-15D CV   NV-22 Pad   NV-31B CV   NV-38G HS   NV-48 Pad
CNX-3   GH-34 Pad   MOR-17C SH   NV-15E CV   NV-22 CV   NV-31C CV   NV-39 Pad   NV-48A CV
CNX-4 Pad   GH-34 CV   MOR-20 Pad   NV-15F CV   NV-22A CV   NV-31D CV   NV-39A HS   NV-48B CV
CNX-4   GH-35 Pad   MOR-20A HS   NV-15G CV   NV-25 Pad   NV-31E CV   NV-39B HS   NV-48D CV
GH-10 Pad   GH-35 CV   MOR-20B HS   NV-16 Pad   NV-25 CV   NV-32 Pad   NV-39C HS   NV-48E CV
GH 10 A CV   GH-35B CV   MOR-20F HS   NV-16 CV   NV-25A CV   NV-32A CV   NV-39D HS   NV-55 Pad
GH 10 B CV   GH-6 Pad   MOR-20G HS   NV-16A CV   NV-25B CV   NV-32B CV   NV-39E HS   NV-55A HS
GH 10 CV   GH-6 CV   MOR-9 Pad   NV-16B CV   NV-26 Pad   NV-32C CV   NV-39F HS   NV-55B HS
GH-10C CV   GH-8 Pad   MOR-9 A HS   NV-17 Pad   NV-26 A CV   NV-36 Pad   NV-41 Pad   NV-55C HS
GH-11 Pad   GH-8 CV   MOR-9 B HS   NV-17B CV   NV-26 C CV   NV-36A HS   NV-41A HS   NV-55D HS
GH 11A CV   MOR-10 Pad   MOR-9 C SH   NV-17D CV   NV-26 CV   NV-36B HS   NV-41B HS   NV-55E HS
GH-11 C CV   MOR-10A SH   MOR-9 D SH   NV-17E CV   NV-29 Pad   NV-36C HS   NV-41C HS   NV-55F HS
GH-11 CV   MOR-10B SH   MOR-9 E SH   NV-17F CV   NV-29A CV   NV-36D HS   NV-41D HS   NV-55M HS
GH-11B CV   MOR-10C SH   NV-19 Pad   NV-17G CV   NV-29B CV   NV-36E HS   NV-41E HS   NV-56 Pad
GH-14 Pad   MOR-10D SH   NV 19C CV   NV-17H CV   NV-29C CV   NV-36G HS   NV-41F HS   NV-56A HS
GH-14 CV   MOR-10E SH   NV-19B CV   NV-17J CV   NV-29D CV   NV-36H HS   NV-41G HS   NV-56B HS
GH-15 Pad   MOR-10F SH   NV-19D CV   NV-20 Pad   NV-29E CV   NV-38 Pad   NV-41H HS   NV-56C HS
GH-15 CV   MOR-14 Pad   NV-13 Pad   NV-20 CV   NV-30 Pad   NV-38A HS   NV-42 Pad   NV-56D HS
GH-19 Pad   MOR-14A SH   NV-13D CV   NV-20A CV   NV-30B CV   NV-38B HS   NV-42A HS   NV-56E HS
              NV-56F HS

 

CPA

                       
DeArmitt 1 Pad   DeArmitt 1H   Hutchinson #4F   Aikens #5C   Gaut #4B   Kuhns #3B   Mamont South #1D
DeArmitt #1A   DeArmitt 1I   Hutchinson #4G   Aikens #5D   Gaut #4C   Kuhns #3C   Mamont South #1E
DeArmitt #1B   Hutchinson 4 Pad   Hutchinson #4H   Aikens #5E   Gaut #4D   Kuhns #3D   Shaw 1 Pad
DeArmitt #1C   Hutchinson #4A   Hutchinson #4I   Aikens #5F   Gaut #4E   Kuhns #3E   Shaw #1A
DeArmitt 1D   Hutchinson #4B   Hutchinson #4J   Aikens #5G   Gaut #4F   Mamont South 1 Pad   Shaw #1B
DeArmitt 1E   Hutchinson #4C   Aikens 5 Pad   Aikens #5H   Gaut #4G   Mamont South #1A   Shaw #1C
DeArmitt 1F   Hutchinson #4D   Aikens #5A   Gaut 4 Pad   Kuhns 3 Pad   Mamont South #1B  
DeArmitt 1G   Hutchinson #4E   Aikens #5B   Gaut #4A   Kuhns #3A   Mamont South #1C  

 

WV

                       
Philippi 1 Pad   Alton 1C   Alton 2C   PHILIPPI 4A   Audra 7 Pad   Philippi 13C HS   Alton-8C HS
Philippi 1A   Alton 1D   Alton 2D   PHILIPPI 4B   Audra 7B HS   Philippi 13D HS   Alton-8D HS
Philippi 1C   Alton 2 Pad   Alton 2E   PHILIPPI 4C   Philippi 13 Pad   Philippi 13E HS   Alton-8E HS
Alton 1 Pad   Alton 2A   Alton 2F   Audra 3 Pad   Philippi 13A HS   Philippi 13F HS   Century 3 Pad
Alton 1B   Alton 2B   Philippi 4 Pad   Audra 3D HS   Philippi 13B HS   Alton 8 Pad   Century 3A HS

 

NBL Area

                       
SHL-1 Pad   SHL-6 Pad   WEB-4H HS   SHL-8M HS   SHL-17E HS   WFN-6F HS   OXF-1B HS
SHL-1B HS   SHL-6D HS   WEB-4J HS   SHL-8N HS   SHL-17F HS   WFN-6G HS   OXF-1C HS
SHL-1C HS   SHL-6E HS   WEB-4K HS   WFN-1 Pad   SHL-17G HS   WFN-6H HS   OXF-1D HS
SHL-1D HS   SHL-6F HS   WEB-4L HS   WFN-1B HS   SHL-17J HS   SHL-26 Pad   OXF-1E HS
SHL-1E HS   SHL-6G HS   WEB-4M HS   WFN-1C HS   WFN-3 Pad   SHL-26B HS   OXF-1F HS
SHL-1F HS   SHL-6H HS   SHL-8 Pad   WFN-1D HS   WFN-3B HS   SHL-26C HS   Shirley 1 Pad
SHL-3 Pad   SHL-6J HS   SHL-8C HS   WFN-1E HS   WFN-3E HS   SHL-26D HS   SHR 1A HS
SHL-3A HS   SHL-6K HS   SHL-8D HS   WFN-1F HS   WFN-3G HS   SHL-26E HS   SHR 1B HS
SHL-3B HS   WEB-4 Pad   SHL-8E HS   WFN-1G HS   WFN-3H HS   SHL-26F HS   SHR 1C HS
SHL-3C HS   WEB-4B HS   SHL-8F HS   WFN-1J HS   WFN-6 Pad   Norm-1 Pad   SHR 1D HS
SHL-3D HS   WEB-4C HS   SHL-8G HS   SHL-17 Pad   WFN-6A HS   Norm 1C HS   SHR 1E HS
SHL-3E HS   WEB-4D HS   SHL-8H HS   SHL-17A HS   WFN-6B HS   Norm 1D HS   SHR 1F HS
SHL-3F HS   WEB-4E HS   SHL-8J HS   SHL-17B HS   WFN-6C HS   Norm 1E HS  
SHL-3G HS   WEB-4F HS   SHL-8K HS   SHL-17C HS   WFN-6D HS   OXF-1 Pad  
SHL-3H HS   WEB-4G HS   SHL-8L HS   SHL-17D HS   WFN-6E HS   OXF-1A HS  

 

F


EXHIBIT G

CONFLICTING DEDICATIONS

None.

 

G


EXHIBIT H-1

ROFO PROPERTIES

 

Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

126659000    C RAYMOND GLASSER ET AL    3/8/1973    651    395    0    Indiana    Pennsylvania
122121000    CSX TRANSPORTATION INC    12/1/2011    609    910       Jefferson    Pennsylvania
131557000    CLYDE E. MCKEE ET UX    12/18/1953    295    295    0    Jefferson    Pennsylvania
131567000    NED C BOWERS ET UX    1/20/1954    D296    247    0    Jefferson    Pennsylvania
131631000    ROBERT V MAINE ET UX    5/18/1955    D306    32    0    Jefferson    Pennsylvania
132278000    DAVID F NICHOLS    12/9/1964    D372    552    0    Jefferson    Pennsylvania
133238000    ROBERT V. MAINE ET AL    2/18/1975    424    724       Jefferson    Pennsylvania
111303000    DOLLIE TALLHAMMER ET VIR    6/20/1945    153    434-E    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
121824000    H SCOTT SCHIMMEL ET UX    10/12/2010    499    93    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131001    CHARLES RICHARD BLACK    2/15/2012    505    370    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131002    SANDRA K HOYMAN    2/27/2012    505    375    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131003    MILLIE S BEALL    2/20/2012    505    365    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131004    JOHN D STUMP ET UX    3/15/2012    509    219    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131005    S&R GAS VENTURES LTD    3/15/2012    509    214    9431    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131007    BARBARA C SULLIVAN    5/1/2012    509    419    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131008    BARBARA C SULLIVAN    10/18/2012    509    311    10519    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131009    HUNTER MESSINEO ET VIR    5/6/2012    511    44    12712    Gilmer    West Virginia
130856000    L J PEARCY ET AL    10/13/2015    79    422    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
130863000    L J PEARCY ET AL    10/13/2015    79    497    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
130865000    E M BOGGS ET AL    10/20/2015    81    128    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
130887000    L B MEADOWS ET AL    6/2/2016    81    492    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
130890000    A B MEADOWS    7/3/2016    83    15    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
131006000    J E ARBUCKLE ET AL    10/24/2021    98    36    0    Gilmer    West Virginia

 

H-1-1


EXHIBIT H-2

ROFO AREA

The “ ROFO Area ” consists of the following municipalities and outlined in the attached map:

 

State

  

County

  

Municipality

PA    Allegheny    Bradfordwoods Borough, Fawn Township, Marshall Township, Pine Township, Richland Township
PA    Armstrong    Applewold Borough, Atwood Borough, Bethel Township, Boggs Township, Bradys Bend Township, Cadogan Township, Cowanshannock Township, Dayton Borough, East Franklin Township, Ford City Borough, Ford Cliff Borough, Hovey Township, Kittanning Borough, Madison Township, Mahoning Township, Manor Township, Manorville Borough, North Buffalo Township, Parker City, Perry Township, Pine Township, Rayburn Township, Redbank Township, Rural Valley Borough, South Bethlehem Borough, South Buffalo Township, Sugarcreek Township, Valley Township, Washington Township, Wayne Township, West Franklin Township, West Kittanning Borough, Worthington Borough
PA    Beaver    Baden Borough, Beaver Borough, Beaver Falls City, Big Beaver Borough, Bridgewater Borough, Brighton Township, Center Township, Chippewa Township, Conway Borough, Darlington Township, Darlington Borough, Daugherty Township, East Rochester Borough, Eastvale Borough, Economy Borough, Ellwood City Borough, Fallston Borough, Franklin Township, Freedom Borough, Georgetown Borough, Glasgow Borough, Homewood Borough, Industry Borough, Koppel Borough, Marion Township, Midland Borough, Monaca Borough, New Brighton Borough, New Galilee Borough, New Sewickley Township, North Sewickley Township, Ohioville Borough, Patterson Township, Patterson Heights Borough, Potter Township, Pulaski Township, Rochester Township, Rochester Borough, South Beaver Township, Vanport Township, West Mayfield Borough, White Township
PA    Butler    All
PA    Cambria    All
PA    Cameron    All
PA    Clarion    All
PA    Clearfield    All
PA    Clinton    All
PA    Elk    All
PA    Fayette    Bullskin Township, Connellsville Township, Connellsville City, Dawson Borough, Dunbar Township, Dunbar Borough, Everson Borough, Fairchance Borough, Franklin Township, Georges Township, German Township, Henry Clay Township, Lower Tyrone Township, Markleysburg Borough, Masontown Borough, Menallen Township, Nicholson Township, North Union Township, Ohiopyle Borough, Point Marion Borough, Redstone Township, Saltlick Township, Seven Springs Borough, Smithfield Borough, South Connellsville Borough, South Union Township, Springfield Township, Springhill Township, Stewart Township, Uniontown City, Upper Tyrone Township, Vanderbilt Borough, Wharton Township
PA    Forest    All
PA    Greene    Carmichaels Borough, Cumberland Township, Dunkard Township, Greene Township, Greensboro Borough, Monongahela Township

 

H-2-1


State

  

County

  

Municipality

PA    Indiana    Armagh Borough, Banks Township, Buffington Township, Canoe Township, Cherry Tree Borough, Cherryhill Township, Clymer Borough, Creekside Borough, East Mahoning Township, East Wheatfield Township, Ernest Borough, Glen Campbell Borough, Grant Township, Green Township, Marion Center Borough, Montgomery Township, North Mahoning Township, Pine Township, Plumville Borough, Rayne Township, Smicksburg Borough, South Mahoning Township, Washington Township, West Mahoning Township, West Wheatfield Township
PA    Jefferson    All
PA    Lawrence    All
PA    Mercer    All
PA    Somerset    All
PA    Venango    All
PA    Westmoreland    Bolivar Borough, Cook Township, Donegal Township, Donegal Borough, Fairfield Township, Laurel Mountain Borough, Ligonier Borough, Ligonier Township, Mount Pleasant Township, New Florence Borough, Scottdale Borough, Seward Borough, St. Clair Township

 

State

  

County

  

District

WV    Barbour    Barker District, Valley District
WV    Braxton    All districts
WV    Calhoun    All districts
WV    Clay    All districts
WV    Gilmer    Center District
WV    Grant    All districts
WV    Jackson    All districts
WV    Monongalia    Cass District, Morgan District, Union District
WV    Nicholas    All districts
WV    Pleasants    Grant District, Jefferson District, McKim District, Washington District
WV    Preston    All districts
WV    Randolph    All districts
WV    Ritchie    Grant District
WV    Roane    All districts
WV    Tucker    All districts
WV    Webster    All districts
WV    Wirt    All districts
WV    Wood    All districts

 

H-2-2


 

LOGO

 

H-2-3


EXHIBIT I-1

DOWNTIME FEE REDUCTION

 

Gathering System Downtime Percentage

(per calendar quarter)

   Percentage Reduction of Dry Gas
and Wet Gas Fee
 

Greater than 4% and up to and including 5%

     5

Greater than 5% and up to and including 6%

     10

Greater than 6% and up to and including 7%

     15

Greater than 7%

     20

 

Individual System Downtime Percentage

(per calendar quarter)

   Percentage Reduction of Dry Gas
and Wet Gas Fee with respect to
such Individual System
 

Greater than 10% and up to and including 12%

     5

Greater than 12% and up to and including 14%

     10

Greater than 14% and up to and including 16%

     15

Greater than 16%

     20

 

Individual System Downtime Percentage

(per two consecutive calendar quarters)

   Percentage Reduction of Dry Gas
and Wet Gas Fee with respect to
such Individual System
 

Greater than 6% and up to and including 7%

     5

Greater than 7% and up to and including 8%

     10

Greater than 8% and up to and including 9%

     15

Greater than 9%

     20

 

I-1-1


EXHIBIT I-2

OPERATING PRESSURE FEE REDUCTION

 

Pressure Overage Percentage

   Percentage Reduction of Dry Gas
and Wet Gas Fee with respect to
such Individual System
 

Less than 5%

     None   

Greater than 5% and up to and including 15%

     5

Greater than 15% and up to and including 25%

     10

Greater than 25% and up to and including 35%

     15

Greater than 35% and up to and including 45%

     20

Greater than 45%

     25

 

I-2-1


EXHIBIT J

THIRD PARTIES

 

1. DORSO LP

 

J-1


EXHIBIT K-1

VERTICAL MARCELLUS WELLS

 

Well Name

  

Lease

  

Operator

  

API

30875    ALAWEST 30875    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    4704702768
15437    STEPP, JAMES A #6A    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3705924518
15757    GLASSER, C R #4    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3706336255
CNX4    CNX4 SHALE    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3705924719
34624    BENNETT, HUNTER M    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    4704105518
GH6CV SHALE    GH6CV SHALE    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3705924928
GH2CV SHALE    GH2CV SHALE    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3705924921
33172    ODELL 33172    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    4709703664
33306    FREY 33306    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    4700102985
GH14CV    GH14CV    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3705925052
GH19CV    GH19CV    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3705925034
15844    KEROTEST MFG CO #9    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3712927866
33914    MINER 33914    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    4700103072
030873A    ALAWEST 30873A    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    4704702801
R V MAINE 14 (WPA15982)    Robert V. Maine #14    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3706526891
15590    MAWC TR 21 DeARMITT #1    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3712927246

 

K-1-1


EXHIBIT K-2

LEGACY WELLS

 

Marshall County Wells

MC43    MC58    MC3    MH4
MC44    MC59    MC4    MH5
MC45    MC68    MC5    MH11
MC46    MC102    MC6    MH12
MC47    MC110    MC10    4NAC
MC50    MC111    MC12    Hieronimus #1
MC51    MC114    MC21    Torns Run
MC52    MC144    MC17    12N
MC53    MC122    MC19    Moundsville AC
MC56    MC1    MC28    1N-DGAS
4N    MC2    MH3    5A1
MC57         

 

Fallowfield Wells

F23    FF72CV    F2D    F69
F25    FF78CV    F2J    Myers #1
F29MK    FF79CV    F2B    Myers #2
F29UF    FF80CV    S. RIDER #2    WLERR #1
F45MK    FF83CV    S. RIDER #1    F17
F45UF    FF84CV    F41    F18
F44    FF50CV    F42    F19
F43    FF52CV    ELLEN WINNETT #1    F24
M. Smith #1    Skokut #2    S RIDER #3    F26
Skakut #1    Skokut #5    S RIDER #4    F27
D. Denning #1    Dury #1    F60    F30
R. Smith #1    Mudrick #1    F62    F32
Hostovich #1    Van Voorist #1    F63    F33
Sacred Heart #1    Sacred Heart #3    F64    F37
Sacred Heart #2    J. Galdos #1    F65    F38
Cox #1    S. Zmiljowski #1    F115    F77MK/UF
Cox #2         

 

K-2-1

Exhibit 10.5

Execution Version

GATHERING AGREEMENT

dated as of

September 30, 2014

by and between

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.,

as Shipper

and

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP,

as Gatherer


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS

     1   

Section 1.1

 

Definitions

     1   

Section 1.2

 

Other Terms

     13   

Section 1.3

 

References and Rules of Construction

     13   

ARTICLE 2 DEDICATION OF PRODUCTION

     14   

Section 2.1

 

Shipper’s Joint Dedication

     14   

Section 2.2

 

Shipper’s Sole Dedication

     14   

Section 2.3

 

Third Party’s Dedication

     15   

Section 2.4

 

Conflicting Dedications

     15   

Section 2.5

 

Shipper’s Reservations

     16   

Section 2.6

 

Releases from Dedication

     17   

Section 2.7

 

Covenant Running with the Land

     18   

Section 2.8

 

Memorandum

     18   

ARTICLE 3 GATHERING SYSTEM EXPANSION AND CONNECTION OF WELLS

     18   

Section 3.1

 

Development Report; Gathering System Plan; Meetings and Review and Exchange of Planning Information

     18   

Section 3.2

 

Expansion of Gathering System and Connection of Well Pads

     22   

Section 3.3

 

Cooperation

     22   

Section 3.4

 

Compression

     23   

Section 3.5

 

Right of Way and Access

     23   

Section 3.6

 

Blending Rights

     24   

Section 3.7

 

Liquid Condensate

     24   

ARTICLE 4 TENDER, NOMINATION AND GATHERING OF PRODUCTION

     24   

Section 4.1

 

Priority of Service

     24   

Section 4.2

 

Governmental Action

     25   

Section 4.3

 

Tender of Dedicated Production and Additional Production

     25   

Section 4.4

 

Gathering Services; Service Standard

     25   

Section 4.5

 

Nominations, Scheduling, Balancing and Curtailment

     26   

Section 4.6

 

Suspension/Shutdown of Service

     26   

Section 4.7

 

Gas Marketing and Transportation

     27   

Section 4.8

 

Condensate Marketing

     27   

Section 4.9

 

No Prior Flow of Gas in Interstate Commerce

     27   

Section 4.10

 

Right of First Offer

     28   

ARTICLE 5 FEES

     28   

Section 5.1

 

Fees

     28   

Section 5.2

 

Fee Adjustments

     30   

 

i


Section 5.3

 

Fee Reset

     31   

Section 5.4

 

Condensate

     31   

Section 5.5

 

Excess Gathering System L&U

     31   

Section 5.6

 

Excess Gathering System Fuel Usage

     31   

ARTICLE 6 QUALITY AND PRESSURE SPECIFICATIONS

     32   

Section 6.1

 

Quality Specifications

     32   

Section 6.2

 

Failure to Meet Specifications

     32   

Section 6.3

 

Pressure

     33   

ARTICLE 7 TERM

     33   

Section 7.1

 

Term

     33   

Section 7.2

 

Effect of Termination or Expiration of the Term

     34   

ARTICLE 8 TITLE AND CUSTODY

     34   

Section 8.1

 

Title

     34   

Section 8.2

 

Custody

     34   

ARTICLE 9 BILLING AND PAYMENT

     34   

Section 9.1

 

Statements

     34   

Section 9.2

 

Payments

     35   

Section 9.3

 

Audit

     36   

ARTICLE 10 REMEDIES

     36   

Section 10.1

 

Suspension of Performance; Release from Dedication

     36   

Section 10.2

 

No Election

     36   

ARTICLE 11 FORCE MAJEURE

     37   

Section 11.1

 

Force Majeure

     37   

Section 11.2

 

Force Majeure Definition

     37   

ARTICLE 12 REGULATORY STATUS

     37   

Section 12.1

 

Non-Jurisdictional Gathering System

     37   

Section 12.2

 

Government Authority Modification

     38   

ARTICLE 13 INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

     38   

Section 13.1

 

Custody and Control Indemnity

     38   

Section 13.2

 

Shipper Indemnification

     39   

Section 13.3

 

Gatherer Indemnification

     39   

Section 13.4

 

Actual Direct Damages

     39   

Section 13.5

 

Penalties

     39   

Section 13.6

 

Insurance

     40   

 

ii


ARTICLE 14 ASSIGNMENT

     40   

Section 14.1

 

Assignment of Rights and Obligations under this Agreement

     40   

Section 14.2

 

Pre-Approved Assignment

     41   

Section 14.3

 

Change of Control

     41   

ARTICLE 15 MISCELLANEOUS

     41   

Section 15.1

 

Relationship of the Parties

     41   

Section 15.2

 

Notices

     42   

Section 15.3

 

Expenses

     42   

Section 15.4

 

Waivers; Rights Cumulative

     42   

Section 15.5

 

Entire Agreement; Conflicts

     42   

Section 15.6

 

Amendment

     42   

Section 15.7

 

Governing Law; Disputes

     43   

Section 15.8

 

Parties in Interest

     43   

Section 15.9

 

Preparation of Agreement

     43   

Section 15.10

 

Severability

     43   

Section 15.11

 

Counterparts

     43   

Section 15.12

 

Confidentiality

     43   

ARTICLE 16 OPERATING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

     44   

Section 16.1

 

Terms and Conditions

     44   

EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT A    OPERATING TERMS AND CONDITIONS
EXHIBIT B-1    JOINT DEDICATED PROPERTIES
EXHIBIT B-2    DEDICATION AREA
EXHIBIT B-3    MAJORSVILLE AREA
EXHIBIT B-4    MOUNDSVILLE AREA
EXHIBIT B-5    PIA AREA
EXHIBIT B-6    MARCELLUS FORMATION LOG
EXHIBIT C    PARTIES’ ADDRESSES FOR NOTICE PURPOSES
EXHIBIT D    MEMORANDUM OF GATHERING AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT E    INSURANCE
EXHIBIT F    RECEIPT POINTS
EXHIBIT G    CONFLICTING DEDICATIONS
EXHIBIT H-1    ROFO PROPERTIES
EXHIBIT H-2    ROFO AREA
EXHIBIT I-1    DOWNTIME FEE REDUCTION
EXHIBIT I-2    OPERATING PRESSURE FEE REDUCTION
EXHIBIT J    THIRD PARTIES
EXHIBIT K    VERTICAL MARCELLUS WELLS

 

iii


GATHERING AGREEMENT

THIS GATHERING AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance herewith, this “ Agreement ”) is made as of this 30th Day of September, 2014 (the “ Execution Date ”), by and between Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Shipper ”), and CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Gatherer ”). Shipper and Gatherer are sometimes together referred to in this Agreement as the “ Parties ” and individually as a “ Party .”

RECITALS:

A. As of the Execution Date, Gatherer has acquired the Gathering System (defined below), which gathers Gas (defined below) and certain Liquid Condensate (defined below) produced from certain oil and gas leases and fee mineral interests.

B. Gatherer plans to expand the Gathering System and operate the Gathering System for, among other things, gathering, compressing, dehydrating and treating Gas within certain areas of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

C. Shipper desires to dedicate certain Gas and Liquid Condensate attributable to its right, title and interest in certain oil and gas leases and mineral interests located within the Dedication Area (defined below) to the Gathering System.

D. Shipper desires to deliver such Gas and Liquid Condensate to Gatherer for the purpose of gathering, blending, compressing, dehydrating, treating, stabilizing, storing, loading and re-delivering such Gas and, subject to the provisions hereof, Liquid Condensate to or for the account of Shipper, and Gatherer desires to provide such services to Shipper on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

AGREEMENTS:

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, and conditions in this Agreement contained, Gatherer and Shipper hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized words and terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them below:

Additional/Accelerated Well ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(f) .

Additional Condensate Properties ” means the Joint Dedicated Properties (other than in the PIA Area, the Moundsville Area and/or the Majorsville Area).

 

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Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, or is Controlled by, or is Under Common Control With, such Person. The term “ Affiliated ” shall have the correlative meaning.

Affiliate Gatherer ” has the meaning given to it in Section 14.1(a)(ii) .

Affiliate Gatherer Dedicated Properties ” has the meaning given to it in Section 14.1(a)(ii) .

Agreement ” has the meaning given to it in the preamble hereof.

Annual Escalation Factor ” means 2.5%.

Barrel ” means a quantity consisting of forty-two Gallons.

Blending Gas ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(b) .

Btu ” means the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit at a pressure of 14.73 Psia and determined on a gross, dry basis.

Business Day ” means a Day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which commercial banks in the State of Pennsylvania are generally open for business.

Claiming Party ” has the meaning given to it in Section 11.2 .

CNX ” means CNX Gas Company, a Virginia limited liability company.

CNX Dedicated Production ” means, collectively, the CNX Joint Dedicated Production and the CNX Sole Dedicated Production.

CNX Gathering Agreement ” means that certain Gathering Agreement dated as of the date hereof between CNX and Gatherer (without regard to any amendments thereto unless expressly consented to by Shipper).

CNX Joint Dedicated Production ” means “Joint Dedicated Production” as defined in the CNX Gathering Agreement.

CNX Sole Dedicated Production ” means “Sole Dedicated Production” as defined in the CNX Gathering Agreement.

Compression Charge ” means an amount equal to the product of (a) all out of pocket costs incurred by Gatherer to obtain electricity sufficient for Gatherer to utilize electrical compression at each Fuel Point that uses electrical compression to compress Shipper’s Tendered Gas for the Month of Service for which Shipper requests electricity as the fuel source for the Fuel Points, and (b) the percentage determined by dividing (i) the volumes of owned or Controlled Gas Tendered by Shipper to the Gathering System for such Month of Service, and (ii) all volumes of Gas received by the Gathering System for such Month of Service.

Condensate ” means Drip Condensate and Liquid Condensate.

 

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Condensate Gathering Fees ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(c)(iii) .

Condensate Services ” means (a) the receipt of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Liquid Condensate at the Receipt Points; (b) as applicable, the collection, injection, gathering and stabilization (to sales specifications) of such Liquid Condensate; (c) the handling, storage, loading, and, subject to Section 4.8 , marketing or re-delivery at the applicable Delivery Point of such Liquid Condensate for Shipper’s account; and (d) the other services to be performed by Gatherer in respect of such Liquid Condensate as set forth in this Agreement, all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Conflicting Dedication ” means any gathering agreement or any commitment or arrangement (including any volume commitment) that would permit or require Shipper’s owned and/or Controlled Gas to be gathered on any gathering system or similar system other than the Gathering System, including any such agreement, commitment or arrangement burdening properties hereinafter acquired by Shipper in the Dedication Area.

Control ” (including the terms “ Controlling ,” “ Controlled ” and “ Under Common Control With ”) means (a) with respect to any Person, the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting shares, by contract, or otherwise and (b) with respect to any Gas or Liquid Condensate, such Gas or Liquid Condensate produced from the Dedication Area and (i) owned by a Third Party set forth on Exhibit J or (ii) owned by a Third Party working interest owner in lands covered by the Dedicated Properties with respect to which Shipper has the contractual right or obligation (pursuant to a marketing, agency, operating, unit or similar agreement) to market such Gas or Liquid Condensate and Shipper elects or is obligated to market such Gas or Liquid Condensate on behalf of the applicable Third Party.

Day ” means a period of time beginning at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on a calendar day and ending at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the succeeding calendar day. The term “ Daily ” shall have the correlative meaning.

Dedicated Production ” means, collectively, the Joint Dedicated Production and the Sole Dedicated Production.

Dedicated Properties ” means the Joint Dedicated Properties and any Sole Dedicated Properties dedicated by Shipper from time to time pursuant to Section 2.2 .

Dedicated ROFO Properties ” has the meaning given to it in Section 4.10(d) .

Dedication Area ” means the area described on Exhibit B-2 .

Delayed Connection Days ” means the number of Days (without duplication) from the On-Line Deadline until such applicable facilities are completed by Gatherer or (under Section 3.2(d) ) by Shipper or CNX and/or such Gathering Services can be provided by Gatherer.

Delayed Planned Wells ” means the Planned Wells at a Planned Well Pad that Gatherer fails to connect to the Gathering System and/or is not ready or is unable to provide Gathering Services for such Planned Wells, in each case, on or before the applicable On-Line Deadline.

 

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Delivery Point ” means, as applicable (a) each point of interconnection of the Gathering System with the facilities of a Processing Plant, Downstream Pipeline or Downstream Condensate Storage Tank not a part of the Gathering System, (b) the outlet flange of any Downstream Condensate Storage Tank that is part of the Gathering System and (c) such points as may be added from time to time by Shipper pursuant to the applicable Development Report or otherwise and at which points, subject to Section 3.6 and Section 4.8 , Gatherer will re-deliver Gas and/or Liquid Condensate to Shipper for its own account.

Development Report ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(a).

Downstream Condensate Storage Tank ” means any storage tank where Condensate (stabilized as appropriate) is collected and stored prior to being sold and/or delivered to market via trucks, rail or pipeline.

Downstream Pipeline ” means any pipeline downstream of any Delivery Point on the Gathering System owned by a Third Party.

Downtime Event ” means a period during which all or a portion of the Gathering System was unavailable to provide Gathering Services.

Downtime Percentage ” means (a) for purposes of determining the Downtime Percentage for the Gathering System, an amount equal to the quotient of (i) the sum of all daily losses (in MMBtu) for the Gathering System for the applicable period divided by (ii) the sum of (y) the amount (in MMBtu) of the total deliveries of Dedicated Production for the applicable period and (z) the sum of all daily losses (in MMBtu) for the Gathering System for the applicable period and (b) for purposes of determining the Downtime Percentage for an Individual System, an amount equal to the quotient of (i) the sum of all daily losses (in MMBtu) for such Individual System for the applicable period divided by (ii) the sum of (y) the amount (in MMBtu) of the total deliveries of Dedicated Production for such Individual System for the applicable period and (z) the sum of all daily losses (in MMBtu) for such Individual System for the applicable period.

Drilling Unit ” means the area fixed for the drilling of one Well or Planned Well by order or rule of any applicable Governmental Authority, or (if no such order or rule is applicable) the area fixed for the drilling of a Well or Planned Well reasonably established by the pattern of drilling in the applicable area or otherwise established by Shipper in its reasonable discretion.

Drip Condensate ” means that portion of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas that is received into the Gathering System (without manual separation or injection) that condenses in, and is recovered from, the Gathering System as a liquid.

Dry Gas ” means Gas that is not Wet Gas.

Dry Gas Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(a) .

Execution Date ” has the meaning given to it in the preamble of this Agreement.

Facility Segment ” means a physically separate segment of the Gathering System constructed, owned (or leased) or acquired by Gatherer, whether now or in the future, to connect

 

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certain of the Well Pads to a Delivery Point, including all required Receipt Point interconnections, low-pressure gathering lines, compression facilities (including associated dehydration and treatment facilities), high-pressure gathering lines, meters and measurement facilities, Condensate collection, gathering, stabilization, handling and storage facilities, Delivery Point interconnections and all associated equipment and facilities constructed, owned (or leased) and operated or otherwise provided by Gatherer in connection therewith.

Fee ” or “ Fees ” means, collectively, the Dry Gas Gathering Fee, the Wet Gas Gathering Fees, the Condensate Gathering Fees and, if applicable, any Sole Dedication Fee.

Fee Model ” means that economic model agreed on by the Parties in computing the Fees as of the Execution Date.

First Development Report ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(a) .

First Development Report Planned Well ” means a Planned Well identified in the First Development Report that is anticipated to be completed and ready to be placed-on line prior to September 30, 2016.

Force Majeure ” has the meaning given to it in Section 11.2 .

Fuel Point ” has the meaning given to it in Section 1.8 of Exhibit A .

Gallon ” means one U.S. gallon.

Gas ” means any mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons, consisting essentially of methane and heavier hydrocarbons, including (unless otherwise expressly provided herein) liquefiable hydrocarbons and Drip Condensate, and including inert and noncombustible gases, in each case, produced from beneath the surface of the earth; provided , however , that the term “Gas” as used herein shall not include Liquid Condensate.

Gas Services ” means (a) with respect to Gas produced from the Moundsville Area or the PIA Area: (i) the receipt of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas (including Drip Condensate) at the Receipt Points and (ii) the re-delivery of Gas that is thermally equivalent to Shipper’s delivered for Shipper’s account Gas at the Delivery Points as being delivered on the Execution Date (or any other mutually agreed successor Delivery Point), in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (b) with respect to Gas produced from the Dedicated Area other than the Moundsville Area or the PIA Area: (i) the receipt of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas (including Drip Condensate) at the Receipt Points; (ii) the gathering, dehydrating, compressing, treating and blending to applicable tariff requirements (subject to any waivers in place) of such Gas and the collection and gathering of any Drip Condensate; (iii) the re-delivery of Gas that is thermally equivalent to Shipper’s delivered Gas at the Delivery Points for Shipper’s account; and (iv) the other services to be performed by Gatherer in respect of such Gas as set forth in this Agreement, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Gatherer ” has the meaning given to it in the preamble of this Agreement.

Gatherer Group ” has the meaning given to it in Section 13.2 .

 

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Gathering Services ” means, collectively, the Gas Services and the Condensate Services.

Gathering System ” means the existing Gas and Condensate gathering system, including (a) pipelines; (b) compression, dehydration and treating facilities; (c) controls, Delivery Points, meters and measurement facilities; (d) owned (or leased) Condensate collection, gathering, stabilization, handling, and storage facilities; (e) rights of way, fee parcels, surface rights and permits; and (f) all appurtenant facilities, constructed, owned (or leased) and operated by Gatherer to provide Gathering Services to Shipper or Third Parties, as such gathering system and/or facilities are modified and/or extended from time to time to provide Gathering Services to Shipper pursuant to the terms hereof or to Third Parties, including the Facility Segments to be constructed and owned (or leased) and operated by Gatherer under this Agreement to provide the Gathering Services contemplated in this Agreement for Shipper.

Gathering System Fuel ” means all Gas and electric power measured and utilized as fuel for the Gathering System, including Gas and electric power utilized as fuel for compressor stations, stated in MMBtus or kilowatt hours (as applicable).

Gathering System L&U ” means any Gas or Liquid Condensate received into the Gathering System that is lost or otherwise not accounted for incident to, or occasioned by, the gathering, treating, compressing, blending, stabilization and re-delivery, as applicable, of Gas and Liquid Condensate, including Gas and/or Liquid Condensate released through leaks, instrumentation, relief valves, flares and blow downs of pipelines, vessels and equipment; provided, however that “Gathering System L&U” shall will not include any Gas or Liquid Condensate that is lost as a result of Gatherer’s negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Gathering System Plan ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(c) .

Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, local, municipal, tribal or other government; any governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, commission, body or other authority exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, regulatory or taxing authority or power; and any court or governmental tribunal, including any tribal authority having or asserting jurisdiction.

Gross Heating Value ” means the number of Btus produced by the combustion, on a dry basis and at a constant pressure, of the amount of Gas which would occupy a volume of 1 cubic foot at a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and at a pressure of 14.73 Psia, with air of the same temperature and pressure as the Gas, when the products of combustion are cooled to the initial temperature of the Gas and air and when the water formed by combustion is condensed to the liquid state. Hydrogen sulfide shall be deemed to have no heating value.

Group ” means (a) with respect to Shipper, the Shipper Group and (b) with respect to Gatherer, the Gatherer Group.

Imbalance Account ” has the meaning given to it in Section 1.3 of Exhibit A .

Individual System ” means a midstream gathering system as designated in any Gathering System Plan and which, for the avoidance of doubt, as of the Execution Date include the

 

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Majorsville System, the Mamont System, the McQuay System, the Fink System, the Tygart Valley System, the Tygart Valley West System, the Pennsboro / Shirley System, the Moundsville System, the Pullman / Oxford System, the PIA System and the Wadestown System.

Industry Expert ” means a major, independent accounting firm or other qualified industry expert with at least 10 years relevant experience, which firm or expert shall not be regularly engaged by or otherwise have a material relationship with either Shipper or Gatherer or any of their Affiliates, and shall not otherwise have a conflict of interest in relation to Shipper and Gatherer or any of their Affiliates.

Initial Term ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 .

Interest Rate ” means, on the applicable date of determination, the LIBOR Rate plus an additional three percentage points (or, if such rate is contrary to any applicable Law, the maximum rate permitted by such applicable Law).

Intermediate Delivery Point ” means an interconnection of a pipeline to the Gathering System upstream of the applicable Delivery Point that allows Shipper to take Gas previously Tendered by Shipper and deliver it back to the Gathering System at a secondary Receipt Point on another portion of the Gathering System in order to facilitate blending of such Gas by Shipper with other Gas to cause the resultant combined Gas to meet tariffs of Downstream Pipelines as provided in Section 3.6 .

Interruptible Service ” means all obligations of Gatherer to receive, gather, treat, stabilize, load, compress, store and re-deliver, as applicable, Gas or Liquid Condensate, which obligations are designated as interruptible and as to which obligations Gatherer may interrupt its performance thereof for any or no reason.

JDA Parties ” means, collectively, Shipper and CNX.

Joint Dedicated Gas ” means (a) Gas produced from the Joint Dedicated Properties and (b) Third Party Gas under the Control of Shipper produced from the lands covered by the Joint Dedicated Properties and (c) Gas produced from the ROFO Properties that have been dedicated to Gatherer under this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.10 .

Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate ” means (a) Liquid Condensate produced from the Joint Dedicated Properties that are located in the PIA Area, the Majorsville Area and/or the Moundsville Area; (b) Third Party Liquid Condensate under the Control of Shipper produced from the lands located in the PIA Area, the Majorsville Area and/or the Moundsville Area and (c) Liquid Condensate produced from the Additional Condensate Properties that have been dedicated to Gatherer under this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.10 .

Joint Dedicated Production ” means, collectively, Joint Dedicated Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate.

Joint Dedicated Properties ” means Shipper’s interest in the oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests that as of the Execution Date are, or that after the Execution Date become, jointly owned by the JDA Parties (in undivided interests) in the

 

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Dedication Area, including those certain oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests described on Exhibit B-1 , in each case, to the extent and only to the extent that such oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests cover and relate to the Marcellus Formation.

Laws ” means any applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, order, code, ruling, writ, injunction, decree or other official act of or by any Governmental Authority.

LIBOR ” means 3-month LIBOR, as reported in the Markets Data Center of The Wall Street Journal.

Liquid Condensate ” means Shipper’s owned or Controlled liquid hydrocarbons separated (mechanically or otherwise) from Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas at or near the Well Pad upstream of the Receipt Points and injected into the Gathering System by Shipper at a Receipt Point.

Loss ” or “ Losses ” means any actions, claims, settlements, judgments, demands, liens, losses, damages, fines, penalties, interest, costs, expenses (including expenses attributable to the defense of any actions or claims), attorneys’ fees and liabilities, including Losses for bodily injury, death, or property damage.

Majorsville Area ” means the area described in Exhibit B-3 .

Majorsville Condensate Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(c)(i) .

MAOP ” means maximum allowable operating pressure.

Marcellus Formation ” means, (a) in central Pennsylvania, specifically from the top of the Burkett in the DeArmitt #1 (API 37-129-27246) and 7000’MD through to the top of the Onondaga at 7530’MD and illustrated in the log attached on Exhibit B-6 ; (b) in southwest Pennsylvania, specifically from the top of the Burkett in the GH-10C-CV (API 37-059-25397) at 7600’MD through to the top of the Onondaga at 7900’MD and illustrated in the log attached on Exhibit B-6 ; and (c) in West Virginia, specifically from the top of the Burkett in the DEPI #14815 (API 47-001-02850) at 7350’MD through to the top of the Onondaga at 7710’MD and illustrated in the log attached on Exhibit B-6 .

Measurement Device ” means the meter body (which may consist of an orifice meter or ultrasonic meter), LACT unit or other Gas or Liquid Condensate metering device, tube, orifice plate, connected pipe, tank strapping, and fittings used in the measurement of Gas flow, Liquid Condensate flow and volume and/or Gas Btu content.

MMBtu ” means one million Btus.

Month ” means a period of time beginning at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the first Day of a calendar month and ending at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the first Day of the next succeeding calendar month. The term “ Monthly ” shall have the correlative meaning.

 

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Month of Service ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.2(d) .

Moundsville Area ” means the area described in Exhibit B-4 .

Moundsville Condensate Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(c)(ii) .

Moundsville/PIA Wet Gas Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(b)(i) .

MSCF ” means one thousand Standard Cubic Feet.

NAESB ” means North American Energy Standards Board, or its successors.

Net Acres ” means (a) with respect to any oil and gas lease in which Shipper has an interest, (i) the number of gross acres in the lands covered by such oil and gas lease, multiplied by (ii) the undivided percentage interest in oil, gas and other minerals covered by such oil and gas lease, multiplied by (iii) Shipper’s working interest in such oil and gas lease, and (b) with respect to any mineral fee interest of Shipper, (i) the number of gross acres in the lands covered by such mineral fee interest, multiplied by (ii) the undivided percentage interest of Shipper in oil, gas and other minerals in such lands.

Net Condensate Price ” means, with respect to Condensate sold by Gatherer pursuant to this Agreement in any Month, the weighted average gross proceeds per Barrel received by Gatherer from the sale of such Condensate to a non-Affiliated Third Party f.o.b. at the applicable Downstream Condensate Storage Tank(s) during such Month or if Gatherer transports Shipper’s Condensate from the applicable Downstream Condensate Storage Tank(s) and sells Shipper’s Condensate at a location away from such Downstream Condensate Storage Tank, the weighted average gross proceeds per Barrel received by Gatherer during such Month from the sale of such Condensate to a non-Affiliated Third Party less Gatherer’s non-Affiliated Third Party, verifiable out-of-pocket transportation expenses with respect to such Condensate so sold.

NGL ” means natural gas liquids.

Notifying Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(b) .

OFO ” means an operational flow order or similar order respecting operating conditions issued by a Downstream Pipeline.

On-Line Deadline ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.2(b) .

Operating Terms ” means those additional terms and conditions applicable to Gathering Services provided under this Agreement, as set forth in Exhibit A .

Other Areas Wet Gas Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(b)(ii) .

Party ” or “ Parties ” has the meaning given to it in the Preamble.

 

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PDA ” means, with respect to a Receipt Point or Delivery Point, a predetermined allocation directive from, or agreement with, Shipper.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, Governmental Authority or any other entity.

PIA Area ” means the area described in Exhibit B-5 .

PIA Condensate Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(c)(iii) .

Planned Well ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(b) .

Planned Well Pad ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(b) .

Pressure Overage Percentage ” means an amount equal to the quotient of (a) the difference between (i) the actual arithmetic average operating pressure of an Individual System and (ii) the Target Pressure for such Individual System for the calendar quarter divided by (b) the Target Pressure for such Individual System for such calendar quarter.

Priority One Service ” means that type of service that has the highest priority call on capacity of all or any relevant portion of the Gathering System, which service shall not be subject to interruption or curtailment except by reason of an event of Force Majeure, necessary Gathering System maintenance or as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement and which service in any event has a higher priority than Priority Two Service, Interruptible Service and any other permissible level of service established by Gatherer pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Priority Two Service ” means that type of service that has the second highest priority call on capacity of all or any relevant portion of the Gathering System second only to Priority One Service, which service shall not be subject to interruption or curtailment except by reason of an event of Force Majeure, necessary Gathering System maintenance or as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement and which service in any event has a higher priority than Interruptible Service and any other permissible level of service established by Gatherer pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (other than Priority One Service).

Processing Plant ” means a Gas processing facility downstream of any Delivery Point on the Gathering System to which Shipper has dedicated, or in the future elects to dedicate, Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas for processing or at which Shipper has arranged for such Gas to be processed prior to delivery to a Downstream Pipeline.

Proposed Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 2.2(b) .

Proposed Gathering Services ” has the meaning given to it in Section 2.2(b) .

Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties ” has the meaning given to it in Section 2.2(b) .

Psia ” means pounds per square inch absolute.

 

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Rate Reset Trigger ” means any of (a) the initiation of Gathering Services for Sole Dedicated Production or (b) the initiation of Gathering Services for a Third Party (other than a Third Party that has elected for Shipper to Control such Third Party’s Gas or Liquid Condensate).

Receipt Point ” means any of the connecting flanges on the Gathering System located at or nearby or assigned to a Well Pad (which flanges, in some cases, has a Measurement Device) where Shipper’s facilities are connected to the Gathering System and more particularly described on Exhibit F , which Exhibit may be updated from time to time by Shipper pursuant to the applicable Development Report or otherwise and with respect to any Gas delivered by Shipper for blending, the Receipt Point for such blending Gas designated by Shipper from time to time.

Receiving Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(b) .

ROFO Area ” means the area described on Exhibit H-2 .

ROFO Notice ” has the meaning given to it in Section 4.10(a) .

ROFO Offer ” has the meaning given to it in Section 4.10(b) .

ROFO Properties ” means (a) with respect to Gas Services, Shipper’s interest in the oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests that as of the Execution Date are, or that after the Execution Date become, jointly owned by the JDA Parties (in undivided interests) in the ROFO Area, including those certain oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests described on Exhibit H-1 , in each case, to the extent and only to the extent that such oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests cover and relate to the Marcellus Formation and (b) with respect to Condensate Services, Shipper’s interest in the oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests that as of the Execution Date are, or that after the Execution Date become, jointly owned by the JDA Parties (in undivided interests) in the ROFO Area, including those certain oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests described on Exhibit H-1 , in each case, to the extent and only to the extent that such oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests cover and relate to the Marcellus Formation.

Shipper ” has the meaning given to it in the preamble of this Agreement.

Shipper’s Facilities ” means the assets and properties of Shipper upstream of a Receipt Point.

Shipper Group ” has the meaning given to it in Section 13.3 .

Shipper Meters ” has the meaning given to it in Section 1.4 of Exhibit A .

Sole Dedicated Gas ” means (a) Gas produced from Sole Dedicated Properties and (b) Third Party Gas under the Control of Shipper produced from the lands covered by the Sole Dedicated Properties.

 

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Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate ” means (a) Liquid Condensate produced from the Sole Dedicated Properties, (b) Third Party Liquid Condensate under the Control of Shipper produced from the lands covered by the Sole Dedicated Properties, (c) Liquid Condensate produced from Additional Condensate Properties and (d) Third Party Liquid Condensate under the Control of Shipper produced from the lands covered by the Additional Condensate Properties.

Sole Dedicated Production ” means, collectively, Sole Dedicated Gas and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate.

Sole Dedicated Properties ” means Shipper’s interest in oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests within the Dedication Area that are not Joint Dedicated Properties and which Shipper elects to dedicate pursuant to Section 2.2(b) and Gatherer accepts (or is deemed to have accepted) such dedication pursuant to Section 2.2(b) .

Sole Dedication Fee ” means the fee with respect to Sole Dedicated Properties agreed to (or deemed agreed to) by Shipper and Gatherer pursuant to Section 2.2 .

Sole Dedication Notice ” has the meaning given to it in Section 2.2(b) .

Standard Cubic Foot ” means that quantity of Gas that occupies one cubic foot of space when held at a base temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of 14.73 Psia.

Statement Deadline ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1 .

Subject Expenses ” has the meaning given to it in the definition of Target Return.

Subject ROFO Properties ” has the meaning given to it in Section 4.10(b) .

System Receipt Point ” has the meaning given to it in Section 1.8 of Exhibit A .

Tap ” means a point on the Gathering System downstream of all compression, dehydration, treatment and other similar facilities but upstream of the applicable Delivery Point.

Target On-Line Date ” has the meaning given to it in Section 3.1(b) .

Target Pressure ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.2(c) .

Target Return ” means an unlevered 15% rate of return on incremental operating expenses and incremental capital expenses anticipated, in Gatherer’s good faith opinion, to be incurred by Gatherer in providing the Gathering Services requested in a Sole Dedication Notice with respect to Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties (such expenses, the “ Subject Expenses ”).

Tender ” means (a) with respect to Gas, the act of Shipper’s making Gas available or causing Gas to be made available to the Gathering System at a Receipt Point and (b) with respect to Liquid Condensate, the act of Shipper’s injection or causing the Liquid Condensate to be injected into the Gathering System at a Receipt Point. “ Tendered ” shall have the correlative meaning.

 

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Term ” has the meaning given to it in Section 7.1 .

Thermal Content ” means, for Gas, the product of the measured volume in MSCFs multiplied by the Gross Heating Value per MSCF, adjusted to the same pressure base and expressed in MMBtus; and for a liquid, the product of the measured volume in gallons multiplied by the Gross Heating Value per Gallon determined in accordance with the GPA 2145-09 Table of Physical Properties for Hydrocarbons and GPA 8173 Method for Converting Mass of Natural Gas Liquids and Vapors to Equivalent Liquid Volumes, in each case as revised from time to time.

Third Party means any Person other than a Party to this Agreement or any Affiliate of a Party to this Agreement.

Third Party Gas means Gas owned by a Third Party.

Third Party Liquid Condensate means Liquid Condensate owned by a Third Party.

Total Shipper Permitted Transfer Acres ” means (a) 25,000 Net Acres plus (b) any Net Acres acquired by Shipper (by purchase, farmin or otherwise) from and after the Execution Date that are subject to dedication under this Agreement or are otherwise dedicated by Shipper under this Agreement, in each case, in the Dedication Area less (c) those Net Acres included in the Dedicated Properties that are divested by Shipper (by sale, farmout or otherwise) during the period from and after the Execution Date.

Well ” means a well for the production of hydrocarbons in which Shipper owns an interest that is either producing or is intended to produce Dedicated Production.

Well Pad ” means the surface installation on which one or more Wells are located.

Wet Gas ” means Gas Tendered by Shipper hereunder that Shipper intends to extract NGLs therefrom.

Wet Gas Gathering Fee ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1(b)(ii) .

Year ” means a period of time on and after January 1 of a calendar year through and including December 31 of the same calendar year; provided that the first Year shall commence on the Execution Date and run through December 31 of that calendar year, and the last Year shall commence on January 1 of the calendar year and end on the Day on which this Agreement terminates.

Section 1.2 Other Terms . Other capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined in Section 1.1 above have the meanings ascribed to them throughout this Agreement.

Section 1.3 References and Rules of Construction . All references in this Agreement to Exhibits, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions refer to the corresponding Exhibits, Appendices, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions of or to this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. Titles appearing at the beginning of any Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience

 

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only, do not constitute any part of this Agreement, and shall be disregarded in construing the language hereof. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and “hereof,” and words of similar import, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section, subsection or other subdivision unless expressly so limited. The word “including” (in its various forms) means “including without limitation.” All references to “$” or “dollars” shall be deemed references to United States dollars. Each accounting term not defined herein will have the meaning given to it under generally accepted accounting principles. Pronouns in masculine, feminine or neuter genders shall be construed to state and include any other gender, and words, terms and titles (including terms defined herein) in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. References to any Law means such Law as it may be amended from time to time.

ARTICLE 2

DEDICATION OF PRODUCTION

Section 2.1 Shipper’s Joint Dedication . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3 through Section 2.7 and Article 14 , Shipper:

(a) exclusively dedicates and commits to deliver to Gatherer under this Agreement, as and when produced, all of the (i) Gas owned by Shipper produced during the Term from the Joint Dedicated Properties and (ii) Liquid Condensate owned by Shipper produced during the Term from the Joint Dedicated Properties that are located in the PIA Area, the Majorsville Area and/or the Moundsville Area (and not any other Joint Dedicated Properties);

(b) commits to deliver to Gatherer under this Agreement, as and when produced (i) all of the Third Party Gas under the Control of Shipper produced during the Term from lands covered by the Joint Dedicated Properties and (ii) all of the Third Party Liquid Condensate under the Control of Shipper produced during the Term from lands covered by the Joint Dedicated Properties that are located in the PIA Area, the Majorsville Area and/or the Moundsville Area (and not any other Joint Dedicated Properties); and

(c) except as provided in Section 3.6 , agrees not to deliver any Dedicated Production to any other gatherer, purchaser or marketer or other Person prior to delivery to Gatherer at the Receipt Points.

Section 2.2 Shipper’s Sole Dedication .

(a) From time to time, subject to Section 2.2(b) , Shipper may designate its interests in oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests within the Dedication Area that are not Joint Dedicated Properties as Sole Dedicated Properties. If Gatherer accepts such dedication (or is obligated to accept such designation pursuant to Section 2.2(b) ), then subject to the provisions of Section 2.3 through Section 2.7 and Article 14 , Shipper will be deemed to have (i) dedicated and committed to deliver to Gatherer under this Agreement, as and when produced, all of the Gas owned by Shipper thereafter produced during the Term from Sole Dedicated Properties and (ii) committed to deliver to Gatherer under this Agreement, as and when produced, all of Third Party Gas under the Control of Shipper that is thereafter produced during the Term from the lands covered by such Sole Dedicated Properties.

 

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(b) If Shipper wishes to dedicate to Gatherer hereunder its interests in oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests within the Dedication Area that are not Joint Dedicated Properties as Sole Dedicated Properties, then Shipper shall prepare in good faith and deliver to Gatherer a notice (a “ Sole Dedication Notice ”) setting forth (i) the oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests Shipper wishes to designate as Sole Dedicated Properties (the “ Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties ”), (ii) the general location of such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties, (iii) a current production forecast for such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties, including the date on which production from such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties is anticipated to come online, and the locations of the planned wells on such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties, (iv) the proposed Gathering Services to be provided by Gatherer (the “ Proposed Gathering Services ”) and (v) proposed fees for such Services to be provided by Gatherer (collectively, the “ Proposed Fee ”). As soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event within 30 Days following receipt of a Sole Dedication Notice, Gatherer shall provide a written response to Shipper setting forth Gatherer’s election to accept or reject the dedication of such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties; provided , however , if the Proposed Fee would provide Gatherer at least the Target Return with respect to the Proposed Gathering Services, then Gatherer shall be obligated to accept the dedication of such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties and provide the Proposed Gathering Services with respect to the applicable Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties at the applicable Proposed Fee. If Gather elects to reject the dedication of such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties for the Proposed Fee because the acceptance of such dedication would not provide Gatherer at least the Target Return, then Gatherer shall provide in such notice of rejection a calculation showing the anticipated return on the Subject Expenses Gatherer anticipates it would earn based on the Subject Expenses associated with the Proposed Gathering Services using the Proposed Gathering Fee and, within 30 Days following the receipt by Shipper of Gatherer’s rejection of the dedication of such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties, Shipper may deliver a revised Sole Dedication Notice including a revised Proposed Fee. If such revised Proposed Fee would provide Gatherer at least the Target Return, then Gatherer shall be obligated to accept the dedication of such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties and provide the Gathering Services set forth in the revised Sole Dedication Notice with respect to such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties at the revised Proposed Fee. For the avoidance of doubt, Gatherer shall not be obligated to accept any dedication of Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties pursuant to this Section 2.2(b) if the provision of the Gathering Services set forth in a Sole Dedication Notice with respect to such Proposed Sole Dedicated Properties would materially and adversely impact the provision of Gathering Services with respect to the Joint Dedicated Production and/or the development of the Gathering System provided for in the then current Gathering System Plan.

Section 2.3 Third Party’s Dedication . Gatherer and Shipper may from time to time mutually agree to permit Third Parties to gather Dedicated Production; provided , however , that such mutual agreement will not result in any release of such Dedicated Production from dedication under this Agreement except to the extent the Parties expressly so agree.

Section 2.4 Conflicting Dedications . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Shipper shall have the right to comply with each of the Conflicting Dedications set forth in Exhibit G and any other Conflicting Dedication applicable as of the date of acquisition thereof to any oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests within the Dedication Area (a) acquired by Shipper after the Execution Date and (b) which have become

 

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subject to dedication under this Agreement (but not any entered into in connection with such acquisition); provided , however , that Shipper shall have the right to comply with the applicable Conflicting Dedication only until the first Day of the Month following the termination by Shipper of such Conflicting Dedication. As of the Execution Date, Shipper represents that, except as set forth in Exhibit G , Dedicated Production is not subject to any other Conflicting Dedication.

Section 2.5 Shipper’s Reservations . Shipper reserves the following rights respecting Dedicated Production for itself:

(a) to operate (or cause to be operated) Wells producing Dedicated Production in its sole discretion, including the right (but not the obligation) to drill new Wells, to repair and rework old Wells, temporarily shut in Wells, renew or extend, in whole or in part, any oil and gas lease or term mineral interest, and to cease production from or abandon any Well or surrender any such oil and gas lease, in whole or in part, when no longer deemed by Shipper to be capable of producing Gas or Liquid Condensate in paying quantities under normal methods of operation;

(b) to use Dedicated Production for lease operations (including reservoir or mine pressure maintenance), water treatment facility operations and mine operations (other than running of mine equipment) relating to the lands within the Dedication Area;

(c) to deliver or furnish to Shipper’s lessors and holders of other burdens on production with respect to such Dedicated Production as is required to satisfy the terms of the applicable oil and gas leases or other applicable instruments;

(d) the sole and exclusive right to process or arrange for the processing (including for purposes of liquids extraction) of such Dedicated Production (for the sake of clarity, Gatherer will have no right to process or arrange for processing of the Dedicated Production);

(e) to deliver or furnish Dedicated Production to end users if such end users receipt of such Dedicated Production is at a receipt point on Shipper’s gathering system prior to or at a designated Receipt Point;

(f) to pool, communitize or unitize Shipper’s interests with respect to Dedicated Production; provided that Shipper’s share of Dedicated Production produced from such pooled, communitized or unitized interests shall be committed and dedicated pursuant to this Agreement;

(g) until the applicable Gathering System facilities are completed and ready for service, to temporarily connect Wells or Planned Wells into other gathering systems;

(h) (i) all Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate that is in excess of amount of Liquid Condensate with Priority One Service that is capable of being gathered, collected, stored and/or stabilized in the facilities comprising the Gathering System; (ii) all Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate that is caught during flowback operations with respect to any Well or otherwise related to mechanical failures of liquid separation on the Well Pad and (iii) all Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate that is extracted at the Well Pad as a result of the inability of the Gathering System to provide Condensate Services for such Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and/or Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate;

 

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(i) all Liquid Condensate produced from the Dedicated Properties that is not Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate or Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate; and

(j) all Gas and Liquid Condensate produced from those wells set forth on Exhibit K .

Section 2.6 Releases from Dedication .

(a) Dedicated Production from Wells or Planned Wells on one or more Well Pads or Planned Well Pads, and the acreage in each Drilling Unit with respect to such Wells or Planned Wells, shall be permanently released from dedication under this Agreement, and Shipper may deliver and commit such Dedicated Production to such other gatherer or gatherers as it shall determine:

(i) in the event of an unpermitted interruption as provided in Section 10.1(b) ;

(ii) upon written notice from Shipper, if Gatherer has failed to complete the facilities necessary to connect each Planned Well Pad and/or Planned Well to the Gathering System by On-Line Deadline as provided in Section 3.2 ;

(iii) upon written notice from Shipper, if Gatherer has failed to commence the Gathering Services with respect to any Planned Well Pad and/or Planned Wells by the On-Line Deadline as provided in Section 3.2 ;

(iv) upon written notice from Shipper, if each of the following four conditions are satisfied:

(A) the first production from any Well or Planned Well on a Well Pad or Planned Well Pad has not occurred on or before the fifth anniversary of the Execution Date,

(B) at the time of such notice such Well Pad or Planned Well Pad is located more than three miles from the nearest then-existing connection to the Gathering System,

(C) a non-Affiliated Third Party gatherer offers a lower cost of service to connect such Well Pad or Planned Well Pad and deliver such Dedicated Production produced from such Wells or Planned Wells to the desired delivery point than Gatherer offers under this Agreement (and following such notice does enter into an agreement for the gathering of such Dedicated Production), and

(D) such Well Pads or Planned Well Pad and Wells or Planned Wells are located outside of the area served or to be served by the then existing Gathering System as reflected in the then-existing Gathering System Plan;

 

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(v) upon written notice from Shipper, with respect to such Dedicated Production that is unitized or pooled with oil and gas leases or mineral interests of Third Parties, if none of Shipper, CNX or any of their Affiliates is the operator of such unit or pooled area at the time the applicable Well is drilled; or

(vi) if such Dedicated Properties are transferred by Shipper free of the dedication as provided in Section 14.1(b) .

(b) Gatherer shall also consider in good faith any proposal by Shipper made from time to time to permanently release one or more of the Dedicated Properties and the production therefrom from the dedication under this Agreement if Shipper reasonably believes that installing pipelines and equipment necessary to connect such Dedicated Properties to the Gathering System would be economically disadvantageous for Shipper, considering all gathering alternatives.

(c) Dedicated Production may also be temporarily released from dedication under this Agreement as expressly provided in this Agreement, including in the event of (i) an unpermitted interruption as provided in Section 10.1(b) or (ii) an interruption or curtailment of receipts and deliveries as provided in Section 4.6(d) .

(d) At the request of Shipper, the Parties shall execute a release reasonably acceptable to Shipper (which, in the case of a permanent release, shall be in recordable form) reflecting the release of particular Wells, Planned Wells and/or Drilling Units and associated acreage included in the Dedicated Properties from dedication under this Agreement in accordance with the provisions hereof.

Section 2.7 Covenant Running with the Land . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3 through Section 2.6 and Article 14 , the dedication and commitment made by Shipper under this Agreement is a covenant running with the Dedicated Properties. For the avoidance of doubt, except as set forth in Article 14 , (a) in the event Shipper sells, transfers, conveys, assigns, grants or otherwise disposes of any or all of its interest in the Dedicated Properties, then any such sale, transfer, conveyance, assignment, grant or other disposition shall be expressly subject to this Agreement and (b) in the event Gatherer sells, transfers, conveys, assigns, grants or otherwise disposes of any or all of its interest in the Gathering System, then any such sale, transfer, conveyance, assignment, grant or other disposition shall be expressly subject to this Agreement.

Section 2.8 Memorandum . Upon Gatherer’s request, Shipper shall execute and deliver to Gatherer, at Gatherer’s request, a fully recordable memorandum of this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit D .

ARTICLE 3

GATHERING SYSTEM EXPANSION AND CONNECTION OF WELLS

Section 3.1 Development Report; Gathering System Plan; Meetings and Review and Exchange of Planning Information .

(a) On or before November 1, 2014, Shipper will provide Gatherer with a report ( First Development Report ) describing in detail the planned development, drilling and production activities and the plant location, delivery points and anticipated peak volumes, in

 

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each case, relating to the Joint Dedicated Properties through September 30, 2016, and describing generally the long-term drilling and production expectations for those project areas in which drilling activity is expected to continue beyond such date. On or before each March 31, each June 30, each September 30 and each December 31 of each Year following the Execution Date, commencing December 31, 2014, Shipper shall provide to Gatherer an update of the then current report describing (i) in detail the planned development, drilling and production activities relating to (A) the Joint Dedicated Properties, (B) any Sole Dedicated Properties and (C) the ROFO Properties (including any Dedicated ROFO Properties), in each case, for the 24-Month period commencing on the date of such update and (ii) generally the long-term drilling and production expectations for those project areas in the Dedication Area and in the ROFO Area, in each case, in which drilling activity is expected to continue beyond such 24-Month period and which will cover at least the ten Years following the date of such update (the First Development Report, as updated in accordance with the foregoing and as the then current report may be amended from time to time, the “ Development Report” ).

(b) The Development Report shall include information as to:

(i) the Wells that Shipper expects will be drilled during the period covered thereby (each such Well reflected in such Development Report, a “ Planned Well ”);

(ii) each expected planned Well Pad (each such Well Pad reflected in such Development Report, a “ Planned Well Pad ”) and the expected locations thereof;

(iii) the earliest date on which one or more Wells at each Well Pad are expected to be completed and ready to be placed on-line, which date shall not be earlier than (A) with respect to a First Development Report Planned Well, the date specified in the First Development Report for such First Development Report Planned Well and (B) with respect to any Planned Well that is not a First Development Report Planned Well, 24 Months after the date of the Development Report that initially reflected such Planned Well Pad, unless Gatherer consents to a shorter time period (with respect to each such Planned Well Pad, as adjusted pursuant to Section 3.2(b) , the “ Target On-Line Date ”);

(iv) the anticipated characteristics of the production from such Wells (including gas and liquids composition and characteristics) and the projected production volumes (for both Gas and Liquid Condensate) and requested production pressures for each Well Pad Receipt Point included in the Development Report;

(v) the Delivery Point(s) at which Gas produced from such Wells is to be re-delivered to Shipper;

(vi) any Sole Dedicated Properties or Dedicated ROFO Properties dedicated by Shipper in accordance with Section 2.2 or Section 4.10 , as applicable; and

(vii) other information reasonably requested by Gatherer that is relevant to the design, construction, and operation of the Gathering System, the relevant Facility Segment, and the relevant Receipt Point facilities at such Well Pads, including any treating, processing, or liquids handling facilities required for such Gas to meet Delivery Point specifications.

 

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Subject to Section 3.1(f) , Shipper may deliver to Gatherer, from time to time, an amendment to any Development Report previously delivered to Gatherer in accordance with Section 3.1(a) .

(c) Based on the Development Report and such other information about the expected development of the Dedicated Properties as shall be provided to Gatherer by or on behalf of Shipper, including as a result of meetings between representatives of Gatherer and Shipper, Gatherer shall develop and periodically update a Gathering System plan describing and/or depicting the Gathering System necessary to provide Gathering Services in accordance with the most recent Development Report, including in connection with Shipper’s planned development, drilling and production activities with respect to the Dedicated Properties. Such Gathering System plan (each such plan, as updated in accordance with the foregoing and as the then current plan may be amended from time to time, the “ Gathering System Plan ”) shall include information as to:

(i) each Facility Segment then existing and operational, under construction, or planned;

(ii) all Receipt Points and Delivery Points served or to be served by each such Facility Segment;

(iii) estimated gathering pressures for the 12 Month period beginning on the Target On-Line Date for each Planned Well Pad included in the Development Report;

(iv) all compression and dehydration facilities and other major physical facilities located or to be located on or within each such Facility Segment, together with their sizes, operating parameters, capacities, system pressures and other relevant specifications, which sizes, parameters, capacities and other relevant specifications shall be sufficient to (A) connect the Gathering System to the Receipt Points and Delivery Points for all Planned Well Pads and Planned Wells set forth in the most recent Development Report and (B) perform the Gathering Services for all Dedicated Production projected to be produced from the Dedicated Properties as contemplated by the most recent Development Report;

(v) the schedule for completing the permitting, construction and installation of the planned Facility Segments and all planned Receipt Points and Delivery Point facilities, in each case, for all Planned Well Pads and Planned Wells included in the most recent Development Report; and

(vi) the estimated budget amounts for the right of way acquisition and acquisition and/or construction and operations and installation of the planned Facility Segments and all planned Receipt Points and Delivery Point facilities, in each case, for all Planned Well Pads and Planned Wells included in the most recent Development Report.

Gatherer shall deliver the applicable Gathering System Plan (including any updated Gathering System Plan) to Shipper for Shipper’s approval (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) not later than 45 Days after Shipper’s delivery to Gatherer of the applicable Development Report or amendment thereto. The failure of Shipper to object by written notice to Gatherer, delivered

 

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within 30 Days of Shipper’s receipt of the applicable Gathering System Plan, to any portion of a Gathering System Plan relating to (A) the installation and construction (or planned installation or construction) of any Facility Segment or other Gathering System facility or (B) the sizes, operating parameters, capacities and other relevant specifications of such facilities shall be deemed to be an approval by Shipper of such portion of such Gathering System Plan. Gatherer shall make representatives of Gatherer available to discuss the most recent Gathering System Plan from time to time with Shipper and its representatives at Shipper’s request.

(d) Shipper shall make representatives of Shipper available to discuss the most recent Development Report from time to time with Gatherer and its representatives at Gatherer’s request. Gatherer and its representatives shall have the right to meet not less frequently than Monthly with one or more representatives of Shipper. At all such meetings, the Parties shall exchange updated information about their respective plans for the development and expansion of the Dedicated Properties (including amendments to the Development Report) and the Gathering System (including amendments to the Gathering System Plan for Shipper’s approval) and shall have the opportunity to discuss and provide comments on the other Party’s plans.

(e) The Parties recognize that the plans for the development of the Dedicated Properties and the Gathering System set forth in the Development Report and the Gathering System Plan, as well as all information exchanged between the Parties regarding their intentions with respect to the development of the Dedicated Properties and the Gathering System, are subject to change and revision at any time at the discretion of Shipper (in the case of plans for the Dedicated Properties) or Gatherer (in the case of plans for the Gathering System, subject to Shipper’s approval rights set forth above and the revised Gathering System Plan reflecting the Gathering Services necessary to provide Gathering Services in accordance with the then most recent Development Report), and that such changes may impact the timing, configuration, and scope of the planned activities of the other Party.

(f) From time to time, Shipper may provide written notice to Gatherer that Shipper (i) has accelerated the Target On-Line Date for a Planned Well, (ii) anticipates the Target On-Line Date for a Planned Well to be earlier than 24 Months following the delivery of the Development Report in which such Planned Well was initially included or (iii) anticipates drilling a Well that has not been included in a Development Report and that has a Target On-Line Date earlier than 24 Months following the next delivery of a Development Report, other than any Well that is to be drilled on a Planned Well Pad that has been previously included in a Development Report (any such Well, an “ Additional/Accelerated Well ”). Gatherer will use its commercially reasonable efforts to modify the Gathering System Plan and to cause the necessary gathering facilities to be constructed prior to the On-Line Deadline for such Additional/Accelerated Well; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, if Gatherer fails to complete the facilities necessary to connect an Additional/Accelerated Well to the Gathering System by the On-Line Deadline for such Additional/Accelerated Well, Section 3.2(d) shall not apply to such failure to connect such Additional/Accelerated Well to the Gathering System by the On-Line Deadline and there shall be no penalty to Gatherer hereunder.

(g) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing shall give rise to any liability of Shipper for any failure to develop or produce any hydrocarbons from the Dedicated Properties or to pursue or complete any drilling or development on the Dedicated Properties, whether or not envisioned in any Development Report.

 

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Section 3.2 Expansion of Gathering System and Connection of Well Pads .

(a) Gatherer shall, at its sole cost and expense, design, construct and operate and use its commercially reasonable efforts to optimize the Gathering System for the purpose of providing Gathering Services as and when needed to timely support the upstream development of the Dedicated Properties and production of the Dedicated Production, all in accordance with this Section 3.2 .

(b) Subject to Section 3.3 , Gatherer shall by the later of the applicable Target On-Line Date and the date that the first Planned Well on a particular Planned Well Pad is ready for connection to the Gathering System (as may be extended pursuant to Section 3.2(c) , the “ On-Line Deadline ”), (i) have completed or caused the completion of the construction, in accordance with the then current approved Gathering System Plan, or the necessary facilities (A) to connect each Planned Well Pad and Planned Wells to the Gathering System and (B) to connect the Gathering System to each planned Delivery Point for such Planned Well Pad and Planned Wells and (ii) be ready and able to commence Gathering Services with respect to Dedicated Production from each Planned Well on the Planned Well Pad.

(c) If and to the extent Gatherer is delayed in completing any such facilities or providing such services by a Force Majeure event, then the On-Line Deadline applicable thereto shall be extended for a period of time equal to that during which such obligations of Gatherer was delayed by such events; provided , however , that in the event of a Force Majeure described in sections (a) through (l) of the definition of Force Majeure such adjustment shall not exceed 180 Days.

(d) If Gatherer fails to connect any such Planned Well or Planned Well Pad to the Gathering System and/or is not ready or is unable to provide Gathering Services for such Planned Well Pad and Planned Wells, in each case, on or before the applicable On-Line Deadline, then, subject to Shipper’s rights under Section 2.6(a)(ii) and Section 2.6(a)(iii) , (i) Shipper (or CNX, where exercising any similar right under the CNX Agreement) shall have the right (but not the obligation) to complete those uncompleted facilities and forward invoices such Person receives with respect to such work to Gatherer for immediate payment and Gatherer will pay Shipper (or CNX (as applicable) or reimburse to Shipper or CNX (as applicable), if already paid by such Person, such invoices within two Business Days of Gatherer’s receipt of any such invoice and (ii) upon the commencement of the Gathering Services by Gatherer with respect to the Delayed Planned Wells the Fee for such Delayed Planned Wells will be zero for a number of Days equal to the number of Delayed Connection Days. For the avoidance of doubt, the reduction of the Fee and the right to complete those uncompleted facilities as set forth in this Section 3.2(d) shall be Shipper’s only remedy with respect to such Delayed Planned Wells.

Section 3.3 Cooperation . Because of the interrelated nature of the actions of the Parties required to obtain the necessary permits and authorizations from the appropriate Governmental Authorities and the necessary consents, rights of way and other authorizations from other Persons necessary to drill and complete each Planned Well and construct the required

 

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extensions of the Gathering System to each Planned Well Pad, the Parties agree to work together in good faith to obtain such permits, authorizations, consents and rights of way as expeditiously as reasonably practicable, all as provided in this Agreement. The Parties further agree to cooperate with each other and to communicate regularly regarding their efforts to obtain such permits, authorizations, consents and rights of way. Upon request by Shipper, Gatherer shall promptly provide to Shipper copies of all state and federal permits and approvals obtained by Gatherer in order to construct any Facility Segment of the Gathering System.

Section 3.4 Compression . The Gathering System Plan will describe the compression facilities that will be constructed as part of the Gathering System as well as the maximum operating pressures of the gathering lines, which shall be subject to the approval of Shipper and no higher than the MAOP and other maximum operating parameters.

Section 3.5 Right of Way and Access Rights .

(a) Gatherer is responsible, at its sole cost, for the acquisition and maintenance of rights of way, surface use and/or surface access agreements necessary to construct, own and operate the Gathering System; provided that Shipper hereby grants to Gatherer, without warranty of title, either express or implied, to the extent that it may lawfully and is contractually permitted to do so without the incurrence of additional expense, an easement and right of way upon all lands covered by the Dedicated Properties for the purpose of installing, using, maintaining, servicing, inspecting, repairing, operating, replacing, disconnecting and removing all or any portion of the Gathering System, including all pipelines, meters and other equipment necessary for the performance by Gatherer of this Agreement.

(b) Shipper shall not have a duty to maintain in force and effect any underlying agreements (such as any lease, easement, or surface use agreement) that the grants of easements or rights of way by Shipper to Gatherer pursuant to Section 3.5(a) are based upon, and such grants of easements or rights of way will terminate if Shipper loses its rights to the applicable property, regardless of the reason for such loss of rights.

(c) Gatherer hereby grants to Shipper, without warranty of title, either express or implied, to the extent that it may lawfully and is contractually permitted to do so without the incurrence of additional expense, an easement and right of way upon all lands covered by the Gathering System. Gatherer shall not have a duty to maintain in force and effect any underlying agreements that the grants of easements or rights of way by Gatherer to Shipper pursuant to this Section 3.5(c) are based upon, and such grants of easements or rights of way will terminate if Gatherer loses its rights to the applicable property, regardless of the reason for such loss of rights.

(d) The exercise of the rights granted to a Party by the other Party pursuant to Section 3.5(a) and Section 3.5(c) shall not unreasonably interfere with such other Party’s operations or with the rights of owners in fee with respect to the applicable lands, and such rights will be exercise in material compliance with all applicable Laws and the safety and other reasonable access requirements of the granting Party.

 

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(e) Each Party shall be responsible for any Losses caused by such Party’s use of its access rights pursuant to this Section 3.5 . Subject to Section 3.5(b) and Section 3.5(c) , each Party shall maintain all roads owned by that Party upon the Dedicated Properties as reasonably necessary for the other Party to access the Wells and its facilities located thereon; provided that the Party given access to such roads shall bear its proportionate share (based on use) of the costs of maintenance of such roads.

Section 3.6 Blending Rights .

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Shipper shall be permitted to blend Gas, subject to Section 3.6(d) below, by (i) changing the Receipt Point for any Gas to be Tendered by Shipper to Gatherer hereunder to another Receipt Point, (ii) taking Gas from the Gathering System at an Intermediate Delivery Point selected by Shipper and re-Tendering such Gas at another Receipt Point selected by Shipper or (iii) Tendering volumes of Third Party Gas (including coal bed methane Gas or other Gas) at (or near) any Tap. All Gas Tendered by Shipper to the Gathering System for blending shall be entitled to Priority One Service. In the event that Shipper takes volumes of Gas at an Intermediate Delivery Point and re-Tenders such volumes to the Gathering System at a different Receipt Point in the exercise of its blending rights hereunder, only one fee for such volumes will be due and owing (calculated based upon the volumes of such Gas Tendered by Shipper at the original Receipt Point(s)).

(b) In the event that Shipper Tenders volumes of coal bed methane or other Gas at (or near) any Tap under Section 3.6(a) (“ Blending Gas ”) and Gatherer is not required to perform any additional services with respect to such Gas, no fee will be due and owing by Shipper pursuant to Section 5.1 or otherwise for such Blending Gas. For the avoidance of doubt, the Fee will apply to any Blending Gas for which Gatherer performs Gathering Services.

(c) Any pipeline or gathering system that may be necessary in order for Shipper to Tender to the Gathering System Shipper owned or Controlled Gas solely for blending purposes will be constructed by Shipper or by a Third Party on behalf of Shipper at Shipper’s cost and expense and shall not constitute a portion of the Gathering System; provided that the Parties may separately agree, by an amendment to this Agreement, that Gatherer will build facilities to connect the Gathering System to wells to provide Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas for blending purposes for a fee mutually agreeable by the Parties.

Section 3.7 Liquid Condensate . Shipper shall be responsible for measuring and injecting into the Gathering System any Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate or Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate at the applicable Receipt Point.

ARTICLE 4

TENDER, NOMINATION AND GATHERING OF PRODUCTION

Section 4.1 Priority of Service .

(a) All Joint Dedicated Production Tendered by or on behalf of Shipper for delivery to the Gathering System shall be entitled to Priority One Service. Gatherer shall not provide Priority One Service with respect to any Gas or Liquid Condensate other than Joint Dedicated Production, or CNX Joint Dedicated Production without the prior written consent of Shipper and CNX (which consent may be withheld in such Person’s sole discretion). Shipper acknowledges that CNX Joint Dedicated Production shall be entitled to Priority One Service.

 

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(b) All Sole Dedicated Production Tendered by or on behalf of Shipper for delivery to the Gathering System shall be entitled to Priority Two Service. Gatherer shall not provide Priority Two Service with respect to any Gas or Liquid Condensate other than Sole Dedicated Production or CNX Sole Dedicated Production without the prior written consent of Shipper and CNX (which consent may be withheld in such Person’s sole discretion). Shipper acknowledges that CNX Sole Dedicated Production shall be entitled to Priority Two Service.

(c) Gatherer shall be permitted to provide such other levels of services to any Gas (but not injected Liquid Condensate), other than Dedicated Production and CNX Dedicated Production that Gatherer may elect; provided that such services do not have equal or higher priority than Priority Two Service.

Section 4.2 Governmental Action . The Parties intend and agree that all Gathering Services with respect to Dedicated Production provided to Shipper shall be provided with the priority specified in Section 4.1 , and that Shipper (pro rata, based on volumes, with CNX Dedicated Production and any other Person to whom Shipper and CNX have consented to having Priority One Service in accordance with Section 4.1(a) or Priority Two Service in accordance with Section 4.1(b) ) has the first priority call upon the capacity of the Gathering System for service to Shipper for its Dedicated Production for the Term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any Governmental Authority issues an order requiring Gatherer to allocate capacity to another shipper, Gatherer shall do so by reducing Gas entitled to Interruptible Service first reducing Gas and Liquid Condensate entitled to Priority Two Service second and shall only curtail receipts of Gas and Liquid Condensate entitled to Priority One Service (which curtailment shall be done in accordance with Section 4.6 ) to the extent necessary to allocate such capacity to such other shipper, after complete curtailment of Interruptible Service and Priority Two Service. In such event Gatherer shall not be in breach or default of its obligations under the Agreement and shall have no liability to Shipper in connection with or resulting from any such curtailment; provided , however , that Gatherer shall, at Shipper’s request, release from dedication under this Agreement all of Shipper’s volumes interrupted or curtailed as the result of such allocation.

Section 4.3 Tender of Dedicated Production and Additional Production . Subject to Article 11 and all applicable Laws, each Day during the Term, Shipper shall Tender to the Gathering System at each applicable Receipt Point all of the Dedicated Production available to Shipper at such Receipt Point. Shipper shall have the right to Tender to Gatherer for Gathering Services under this Agreement Gas and/or Condensate other than Dedicated Production; provided that any such Gas and/or Condensate shall not be entitled to Priority One Service or Priority Two Service.

Section 4.4 Gathering Services; Service Standard .

(a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and rights of all applicable Governmental Authorities, Gatherer shall (i) provide Gathering Services for all Shipper owned or Controlled Gas and Liquid Condensate constituting Dedicated Production that is Tendered to Gatherer at the applicable Receipt Point, (ii) re-deliver to Shipper or for the benefit of Shipper at

 

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the relevant Delivery Point (as designated by Shipper) such Gas (subject to Section 4.8 with respect to Drip Condensate) with an equivalent Thermal Content and hydrocarbon constituent composition, less the Thermal Content of Drip Condensate, such Gas consumed as Gathering System Fuel and Gathering System L&U allocated to Shipper in accordance with this Agreement, and (iii) cause the Gathering System to be able to flow such Gas and Liquid Condensate at volumes not less than the current capacity of the Gathering System.

(b) Gatherer agrees to construct, install, own and operate, at its sole cost, risk and expense, the Gathering System, including facilities required to connect to Receipt Points at each Well Pad as described in Section 3.2(b) , and the facilities necessary to provide the Gathering Services contemplated in this Agreement in a good and workmanlike manner in accordance with standards customary in the industry. Except through the fees for applicable Gathering Services pursuant to Section 5.1 or as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, Shipper shall have no responsibility for the cost of the Gathering System or any facilities constructed or to be constructed by Gatherer.

Section 4.5 Nominations, Scheduling, Balancing and Curtailment . Nominations, scheduling and balancing of Gas and Liquid Condensate available for, and interruptions and curtailment of, Gathering Services under this Agreement shall be performed in accordance with the applicable Operating Terms and Conditions set forth in Exhibit A .

Section 4.6 Suspension/Shutdown of Service .

(a) During any period when all or any portion of the Gathering System is shut down because of necessary maintenance or repairs or Force Majeure or because such shutdown is necessary to avoid injury or harm to Persons or property, to the environment or to the integrity of the Gathering System, receipts of Shipper’s Gas and/or Liquid Condensate and the Gas and/or Liquid Condensate of other shippers may be curtailed as set forth in Section 1.7 of Exhibit A . Subject to Section 5.2(b) , in such cases Gatherer shall have no liability to Shipper, except to the extent such shut down is caused by the negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct of Gatherer; provided that Gatherer shall have no liability for any special, indirect, or consequential damages.

(b) Gatherer shall have the right to curtail or interrupt receipts and deliveries of Gas and Liquid Condensate for brief periods to perform necessary maintenance of and repairs or modifications (including modifications required to perform its obligations under this Agreement) to the Gathering System; provided , however , that Gatherer shall coordinate its maintenance, repair and modification operations with the operations of Shipper and, in any case, schedule maintenance, repair and modification operations so as to avoid or minimize to the greatest extent possible service curtailments or interruptions. Gatherer shall provide Shipper (i) with 30 Days prior notice of any upcoming normal and routine maintenance, repair and modification projects that Gatherer has planned that would result in a curtailment or interruption of Shipper’s deliveries and the estimated time period for such curtailment or interruption and (ii) with six Months prior notice of any maintenance (A) of which Gatherer has knowledge at least six Months in advance and (B) that is anticipated to result in a curtailment or interruption of Shipper’s deliveries for five or more consecutive Days.

 

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(c) It is specifically understood by Shipper that operations and activities on facilities upstream or downstream of the Gathering System beyond Gatherer’s control may impact operations on the Gathering System, and the Parties agree that Gatherer shall have no liability therefor.

(d) If at any time Gatherer interrupts or curtails receipts and deliveries of Gas pursuant to this Section 4.6 for a period of 5 consecutive Days or for more than 7 Days during any consecutive two week period, then at Shipper’s written request, the affected volumes of Gas shall be temporarily released from dedication to this Agreement for a period commencing as of the date of such request and ending as of the first Day of the Month 30 Days following Shipper’s receipt of notice from Gatherer that such receipts and deliveries are no longer interrupted or curtailed.

Section 4.7 Gas Marketing and Transportation . As between the Parties, Shipper shall be solely responsible, and shall make all necessary arrangements at and downstream of the Delivery Points, for the receipt, further transportation, processing and marketing of Shipper’s owned and Controlled Gas (subject, however, to the provisions of Section 4.8 with respect to Condensate).

Section 4.8 Condensate Marketing . Gatherer shall market and sell Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate delivered to a Receipt Point to a non-Affiliated Third Party f.o.b. at the applicable Downstream Condensate Storage Tank(s) at the prevailing market prices at such location; provided, however, upon prior notification to and receipt of written consent by Shipper, Gatherer may elect to transport the Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate from the applicable Downstream Condensate Storage Tank(s) and sell such Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate to a non-Affiliated Third Party at a location away from such Downstream Condensate Storage Tank(s) at the prevailing market prices at such location. Upon prior notification to and receipt of written consent by Shipper, Gatherer may deliver Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate into a NGL Y-grade pipeline or a crude oil or condensate pipeline from any Downstream Condensate Storage Tank(s), and in such case, Gatherer will re-deliver Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate to the respective pipeline for Shipper’s account and Shipper will market and sell Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate. No sale of Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate shall be made by Gatherer to any Affiliate of Gatherer without Shipper’s prior written consent. Notwithstanding the forgoing, upon 60 Days prior notice to Gatherer, Shipper may elect for Gatherer to deliver Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate (after stabilization, if applicable) at the applicable Delivery Point(s) for the account of Shipper and Shipper may market and sell such Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate and Sole Dedicated Liquid Condensate itself.

Section 4.9 No Prior Flow of Gas in Interstate Commerce . Shipper covenants that at the time of Tender, none of the Gas or Condensate delivered at a Receipt Point hereunder has flowed in interstate commerce.

 

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Section 4.10 Right of First Offer .

(a) Promptly after determining that Shipper expects to undertake or participate in any development, drilling and production activities on the ROFO Properties that has not been included in a Development Report, Shipper must deliver a notice of such planned development, drilling and production activities, including the information required to be provided in a Development Report set forth in Section 3.1(b)(i) through Section 3.1(b)(vi) (each, a “ ROFO Notice ”)

(b) Gatherer shall have 45 Days following receipt of a Development Report or a ROFO Notice to make an offer to Shipper to provide Gathering Services with respect to some or all of the ROFO Properties covered in such Development Report or ROFO Notice (the “ Subject ROFO Properties ”). If Gatherer elects to make an offer, Gatherer shall, on or before 45 days following Gatherer’s receipt of a Development Report or a ROFO Notice, deliver to Shipper a notice (the “ ROFO Offer ”) setting forth: (i) the proposed Fees for the Gathering Services to be provided; (ii) the existing operations, under construction or planned Facility Segments needed to provide Gathering Services to the Subject ROFO Properties; (iii) the schedule for completing the construction and installation of the planned Facility Segments and all planned Receipt Points and Delivery Point facilities, in each case, for the planned well pads and wells included in the ROFO Offer; and (iv) the estimated budget amounts for the construction and installation of the planned Facility Segments and all planned Receipt Points and Delivery Point facilities, in each case, for the planned well pads and wells included in the ROFO Offer.

(c) Within 30 Days following receipt of Gatherer’s ROFO Offer, Shipper shall notify Gatherer whether or not it accepts Gatherer’s ROFO Offer; provided that the failure of Shipper to timely notify Gatherer of its acceptance of Gatherer’s ROFO Offer shall be deemed a rejection by Shipper of such ROFO Offer. For the avoidance of doubt, Shipper shall be under no obligation to accept any ROFO Offer from Gatherer.

(d) If Shipper accepts a ROFO Offer (such ROFO Properties described in an accepted ROFO Offer, the “ Dedicated ROFO Properties ”), then (i) Shipper will be deemed to have (A) dedicated and committed to deliver to Gatherer under this Agreement, as and when produced all of the Gas and/or Liquid Condensate, as applicable, owned by Shipper thereafter produced during the Term from Dedicated ROFO Properties and (B) committed to deliver to Gatherer under this Agreement, as and when produced, all of Third Party Gas and/or Liquid Condensate, as applicable, under the Control of Shipper that is thereafter produced during the Term from the lands covered by such Dedicated ROFO Properties and (ii) the Parties will amend this Agreement to incorporate the terms set forth in the accepted ROFO Offer.

ARTICLE 5

FEES

Section 5.1 Fees .

(a) Shipper shall pay Gatherer each Month in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, for all Gathering Services provided by Gatherer with respect to Shipper’s owned or Controlled Dry Gas received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account during such Month, an amount equal to the product of (i) the aggregate quantity of such Dry Gas (other than Gas used for Gathering System Fuel), stated in MMBtus, received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Receipt Points for such Dry Gas during such Month multiplied by (ii) $0.40 (the “ Dry Gas Gathering Fee ”).

 

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(b) Shipper shall pay Gatherer each Month in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, for all Gathering Services provided by Gatherer with respect to Shipper’s owned or Controlled Wet Gas received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account during such Month, an amount equal to the product of the following:

(i) with respect to Shipper’s owned or Controlled Wet Gas produced from the Moundsville Area or the PIA Area: (A) the aggregate quantity of such Wet Gas (other than Gas used for Gathering System Fuel), stated in MMBtus, received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Receipt Points for such Wet Gas during such Month multiplied by (B) $0.275 (the “ Moundsville/PIA Wet Gas Gathering Fee ”); and

(ii) with respect to Shipper’s owned or Controlled Wet Gas produced from the Dedication Area other than the Moundsville Area or the PIA Area: (A) the aggregate quantity of such Wet Gas (other than Gas used for Gathering System Fuel), stated in MMBtus, received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Receipt Points for such Wet Gas during such Month multiplied by (B) $0.55 (the “ Other Areas Wet Gas Gathering Fee ” and together with the Moundsville/PIA Wet Gas Gathering Fee, the “ Wet Gas Gathering Fee ”).

(c) Shipper shall pay Gatherer each Month in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, for all Gathering Services provided by Gatherer with respect to Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate Tendered by Shipper hereunder and allocated to Shipper in accordance with this Agreement during such Month, an amount equal to the following:

(i) with respect to Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate produced from the Majorsville Area, the product of (i) the aggregate quantity of such allocated Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate, stated in Barrels, received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Receipt Points for such Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate during such Month multiplied by (ii) $5.00 (the “ Majorsville Condensate Gathering Fee ”);

(ii) with respect to Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate produced from the Moundsville Area, the product of (i) the aggregate quantity of such allocated Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate, stated in Barrels, received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Receipt Points for such Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate during such Month multiplied by (ii) $2.50 (the “ Moundsville Condensate Gathering Fee ”); and

(iii) with respect to Shipper’s Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate produced from the PIA Area, the product of (i) the aggregate quantity of such allocated Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate, stated in Barrels, received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Receipt Points for such Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate during such Month multiplied by (ii) $0 (the “ PIA Condensate Gathering Fee ” together with the Majorsville Condensate Gathering Fee and the Moundsville Condensate Gathering Fee, the “ Condensate Gathering Fees ”).

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties acknowledge that there is no separate fee chargeable by Gatherer hereunder for Gathering Services with respect to Drip Condensate and that the fees chargeable by Gatherer hereunder for Gas (including Dry Gas and Wet Gas) are sufficient to compensate Gatherer for Gathering Services with respect to Drip Condensate.

 

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Section 5.2 Fee Adjustments .

(a) As of January 1 of each Year (commencing as of January 1, 2016), each of the Fees will be increased by an amount equal to the sum of the then applicable fee as of the preceding Month plus the product of the Annual Escalation Factor multiplied by such fee.

(b) If there has been a Downtime Event, such Downtime Event was not a result of Shipper’s production being in excess of the production forecast in the Development Report on which the Gathering System or Individual System, as applicable, was based, and such Downtime Event caused (i) the Downtime Percentage for the Gathering System during any calendar quarter to be greater than 4% during such calendar quarter; (ii) the Downtime Percentage for any Individual System during any calendar quarter to be greater than 10% during such calendar quarter or (iii) the Downtime Percentage for any Individual System during any two consecutive calendar quarters to be greater than 6% during such two consecutive calendar quarters, then in any such case, the Dry Gas Gathering Fee and the Wet Gas Gathering Fee shall be reduced as set forth in Exhibit I-1 . For the avoidance of doubt, only the highest penalty set forth on Exhibit I-1 shall be applicable to a Downtime Event.

(c) Gatherer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the Daily arithmetic average operating pressure of the system pressures at the Target Pressure. Except in the event of Force Majeure, if, during any calendar quarter, (i) the Daily arithmetic average operating pressure of an Individual System exceeds the pressure set forth in the design documents for the applicable Individual System in the applicable, approved Gathering System Plan (the “ Target Pressure ”) for such Individual System, (ii) such increase is not a result of Shipper’s production being in excess of the production forecast in the applicable Development Report and (iii) Gatherer has sufficient production data available to confirm that the increased pressure is not a result of Shipper’s increased production, then the Dry Gas Gathering Fee and the Wet Gas Gathering Fee with respect to such Individual System shall be reduced based on the calculation of the Pressure Overage Percentage, as set forth in Exhibit I-2 for each Month during such calendar quarter.

(d) Subject to Gatherer’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), to the extent that there is an option between fuel sources at any Fuel Point, prior to the beginning of each Month (the “ Month of Service ”), Shipper may request the fuel source for such Fuel Point with respect to the Gathering Services to be provided to Shipper at such Fuel Point during such Month of Service. If Shipper requests electricity as the fuel source for such Fuel Point with respect to the Gathering Services being provided to Shipper at such Fuel Point for such Month of Service, then each of the Dry Gas Gathering Fee and the Wet Gas Gathering Fee for such Month of Service shall be increased by the Compression Charge applicable to such Month of Service.

 

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Section 5.3 Fee Reset . As soon as practical following a Rate Reset Trigger, Gatherer shall provide written notice to Shipper of such Rate Reset Trigger. On or before September 1 of each Year (commencing with September 1, 2015) and/or within 30 Days following receipt from Gatherer of notice of a Rate Reset Trigger, Shipper shall provide to Gatherer an updated production forecast for each Year for the following ten Years based on the good faith estimates of Shipper based on the best information reasonably available at the time. Within 45 Days following receipt of Shipper’s updated production forecasts, Gatherer shall prepare and deliver to Shipper (a) an updated Fee Model that replaces projected costs, throughput, revenue and other data in the Fee Model with actual data and includes projected costs and production forecasts for future Years based on estimates developed by Gatherer and (b) revised Fees that have been determined by Gatherer’s management team (taking into account, among other things, the updated Fee Model, return on invested capital and recovery of operating and overhead costs) and approved by Gatherer’s board of directors. For the avoidance of doubt, Gatherer’s board of directors may take into account any factors it deems relevant to determining the revised Fees, including Shipper’s drilling economics to ensure drilling by Shipper on the Dedication Area. If Shipper and Gatherer cannot agree on the revised Fees within 45 Days following Gatherer’s delivery of the updated Fee Model and revised Fees, the Fees in effect prior to the Rate Reset Trigger will remain in effect.

Section 5.4 Condensate . Except as provided for in Section 4.8 , whereby Shipper elects to market and sell all or any portion of Shipper’s Condensate, Gatherer shall pay Shipper, each Month, an amount equal to product of the Net Condensate Price for such Month multiplied by the number of allocated Barrels of Condensate received by Gatherer from Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the Receipt Points.

Section 5.5 Excess Gathering System L&U . If, during any Month, Gathering System L&U allocated to Shipper in accordance with this Agreement exceeds 1.5% of the total quantities of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas and Condensate delivered to the Gathering System in such Month by Shipper, then Gatherer will conduct a field-wide meter balance. Gatherer shall provide Shipper with prior notice of, and reasonable access to observe, any such field-wide meter balance. If, during any 60 Day period, Gathering System L&U allocated to Shipper in accordance with this Agreement exceeds 2.5% of the total quantities of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas and Condensate delivered to the Gathering System in such Month by Shipper and such discrepancy cannot be corrected by a field-wide meter balance, then Gatherer shall pay Shipper in respect of such excess an amount equal to (a) the volume of such excess multiplied by (b) the price received for Shipper’s Gas and Condensate in the prior Month.

Section 5.6 Excess Gathering System Fuel Usage .

(a) Gatherer shall measure the Gas used for Gathering System Fuel and shall only use Gas as Gathering System Fuel for the operation of the Gathering System consistent with a reasonably prudent operator’s use of Gas as Gathering System Fuel for the operation of the Gathering System. If, during any Month, Gathering System Fuel exceeds the amount a reasonably prudent operator would use as fuel for the Gathering System, then Gatherer shall pay Shipper in respect of such excess that is allocated to Shipper in accordance this Agreement an amount equal to (a) the volume of such excess allocated to Shipper in accordance this Agreement multiplied by (b) the prices received for Shipper’s Gas in the prior Month.

 

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(b) If Shipper and Gatherer cannot agree on the amount a reasonably prudent operator would use as fuel for the Gathering System, then either Party may notify the other of its request to have an Industry Expert determine such amount (the Party to give such a notice, the “ Notifying Party ”, and the recipient of such a notice, the “ Receiving Party ”). Upon the receipt of such a request for an Industry Expert determination from the Notifying Party, the Notifying Party and Receiving Party shall confer in good faith for up to five Business Days to agree on the selection of an Industry Expert to determine the amount a reasonably prudent operator would use as fuel for the Gathering System. If the Parties are unable to agree upon the selection of an Industry Expert within such five Business Day period, then each of the Notifying Party and Receiving Party will select an Industry Expert and the two Industry Experts so selected will select a Person to serve as the Industry Expert. Following such selection of an Industry Expert, each Party shall present to the Industry Expert a written statement of its position on the amount a reasonably prudent operator would use as fuel for the Gathering System (including its methodology for calculating such amount) not later than 30 Days after the selection of such Industry Expert. The Industry Expert may, within 30 Days after its receipt of such statements, request such additional information from either or both Parties as the Industry Expert may deem reasonably necessary or desirable for purposes of making its determination. Each Party agrees to promptly provide the Industry Expert with all information so requested of it. The Industry Expert shall be instructed to determine and submit to the Parties its decision regarding the amount a reasonably prudent operator would use as fuel for the Gathering System. The decision of the Industry Expert shall be conclusive, binding upon, and non-appealable by the Parties. The costs and expenses of the Industry Expert shall be shared equally by the Parties.

ARTICLE 6

QUALITY AND PRESSURE SPECIFICATIONS

Section 6.1 Quality Specifications . Subject to Section 6.2 below, all Gas delivered at the Receipt Points by Shipper to Gatherer shall meet the quality specifications set forth in Section 1.1 of the Operating Terms. Provided that Shipper’s Gas delivered to the Receipt Points complies with such quality specifications or otherwise complies with the first sentence of Section 6.2 , all Gas and Condensate re-delivered at the Delivery Points by Gatherer to Shipper shall meet the quality specifications applicable at the relevant Delivery Points. The Parties recognize and agree that all Gas gathered by Gatherer through the Gathering System will be commingled with other Gas shipments (including in connection with Shipper’s exercise of its blending rights hereunder) and, subject to Gatherer’s obligation to re-deliver to Shipper at the Delivery Points Gas that satisfies the applicable quality specifications of the Delivery Points, (a) such Gas shall be subject to such changes in quality, composition and other characteristics as may result from such commingling, and (b) Gatherer shall have no other obligation to Shipper associated with changes in quality of Gas as the result of such commingling. Gatherer will not receive any Gas on the Gathering System, other than Gas owned or Controlled by Shipper or CNX, that does not meet applicable tariff requirements (subject to any waivers in place) with respect to the Delivery Point for such Gas.

Section 6.2 Failure to Meet Specifications . If any Gas (other than Gas used by Shipper for blending or blended) Tendered by Shipper to the Gathering System fails at any time to conform to the applicable specifications, then Gatherer will have the right to immediately discontinue receipt of such non-conforming Gas so long as such Gas continues to be non-conforming;

 

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provided that (a) the applicable meter operator will seek quality waivers from Downstream Pipelines, (b) Gatherer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to blend and commingle such Gas with other Gas in the Gathering System so that it meets the applicable specifications, and (c) if such Gas cannot be brought into compliance with such blending, then Gatherer will continue to accept and re-deliver such Gas to the Delivery Points that will accept such non-conforming Gas as long as (i) no harm is done to the Gathering System, (ii) no harm is done to other shippers or their Gas, and (iii) other shippers are not prevented from nominating Gas to their preferred Delivery Point. In any event, Shipper will undertake commercially reasonable measures to eliminate the cause of such non-conformance. If, in order to comply with clause (c) above, Gatherer would be required to install any additional processing or treatment facilities not included in the then current Gathering System Plan, Gatherer shall notify Shipper that it requires additional processing or treatment facilities in order to accept Gas Tendered by Shipper that does not conform to the applicable specifications and the necessary timing of installation of such facilities, and Gatherer shall be provided a period of 6 Months after receiving written notice from Shipper to install such facilities.

Section 6.3 Pressure . Shipper shall Tender or cause to be Tendered Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate to each applicable Receipt Point at sufficient pressure to enter the Gathering System against its operating pressure, but not in excess of the maximum operating pressure set forth in the design documents for the applicable Facility Segment contained in the applicable, approved Gathering System Plan (which such maximum operating pressure shall be sufficient to permit such Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate to enter the Gathering System and the facilities of the Processing Plants, Downstream Pipelines or Downstream Condensate Storage Tanks (as applicable) but not higher than the MAOP of the Downstream Pipelines or other facilities). Shipper shall have the obligation to ensure that Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate is prevented from entering the Gathering System at pressures in excess of such maximum operating pressure, and Gatherer shall have the right to restrict or relieve the flow of Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate into the Gathering System to protect the Gathering System from over pressuring. Gatherer shall not change such maximum operating pressures without prior written notification to Shipper. Gatherer shall install, own, operate and maintain compression facilities sufficient to deliver Shipper’s owned and Controlled Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate into the applicable Delivery Points. Re-deliveries of Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate by Gatherer to or for the account of Shipper at the applicable Delivery Points shall be at such pressures as may exist from time to time in the Gathering System at the applicable Delivery Point. Gatherer’s obligation to re-deliver Gas and Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate to a given Delivery Point shall be subject to the operational limitations of the Processing Plant or Downstream Pipelines (as applicable) receiving such Gas or Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate (as applicable), including the Processing Plant’s or Downstream Pipeline’s capacity, Gas measurement capability, operating pressures and any operational balancing agreements as may be applicable.

ARTICLE 7

TERM

Section 7.1 Term . This Agreement shall commence on the Execution Date and shall remain in effect until the 20 th anniversary of the Execution Date (the “ Initial Term ”) and thereafter on a Year to Year basis until terminated by Gatherer or Shipper effective upon the

 

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expiration of the Initial Term or the expiration of any Year thereafter upon written notice no less than 180 Days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or the expiration of any Year thereafter (such period of time, the “ Term ”).

Section 7.2 Effect of Termination or Expiration of the Term . Upon the end of the Term, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and the Parties shall have no liability or obligation under this Agreement, except that (a) the termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any Party from any expense, liability or other obligation or remedy therefor which has accrued or attached prior to the date of such termination, and (b) the provisions of Section 13.2 through Section 13.5 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect indefinitely.

ARTICLE 8

TITLE AND CUSTODY

Section 8.1 Title . A nomination of Gas by Shipper shall be deemed a warranty of title to such Gas (including any Drip Condensate attributable to such Gas) by Shipper, or a warranty of the good right in Shipper to deliver such Gas for gathering under this Agreement. Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate injected by Shipper at the applicable Receipt Point(s) shall be deemed a warranty of title to such injected Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate by Shipper, or a warranty of the good right in Shipper to deliver such injected Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate for gathering under this Agreement. By nominating Gas (including any Drip Condensate attributable to such Gas) and/or by injecting Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate at Receipt Point(s), Shipper also agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Gatherer harmless from any and all Losses resulting from any claims by a Third Party of title or rights to such Gas or Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate, other than any claims arising out of Gatherer’s breach of its warranty made in the succeeding sentence of this Section 8.1 . By receiving Gas from Shipper at the Receipt Points or receiving Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate injected by Shipper at Receipt Point(s), Gatherer (a) warrants to Shipper that Gatherer has the good right to accept and re-deliver such Gas and/or Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate received from Shipper under this Agreement free and clear of any title disputes, liens or encumbrances arising by, through or under Gatherer, and (b) agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Shipper harmless from any and all Losses resulting from title disputes, liens or encumbrances arising by, through or under Gatherer.

Section 8.2 Custody . From and after Shipper’s delivery of its owned or Controlled Gas to Gatherer at the Receipt Point(s) or injection of its owned or Controlled Liquid Condensate at the Receipt Point(s), and, subject to Section 3.6 and Section 4.8 , until Gatherer’s re-delivery of such Gas and/or such Liquid Condensate to or for Shipper’s account at the applicable Delivery Point(s), as between the Parties, Gatherer shall have custody and control of such Gas and/or Liquid Condensate. In all other circumstances, as between the Parties, Shipper shall be deemed to have custody and control of such Gas and/or Liquid Condensate.

ARTICLE 9

BILLING AND PAYMENT

Section 9.1 Statements . As soon as practicable after the end of each Month but in no event later than ten Business Days following the end of such Month (the “ Statement Deadline ”),

 

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Gatherer will render to Shipper an invoice for all amounts owed for Gathering Services and any other amounts as may be due under this Agreement during the preceding Month, net of the amounts payable by Gatherer in respect of (a) Condensate in accordance with Section 5.4 , (b) excess Gathering System L&U in accordance with Section 5.5 , (c) the use of excess Gathering System Fuel in accordance with Section 5.6 and (d) any other amounts payable by Gatherer to Shipper under this Agreement. Such invoice will include (i) for Gas, the product of (A) the measured volumes of Gas (other than Drip Condensate) in MSCF multiplied by (B) the Gross Heating Value of such Gas and expressed in MMBtus and (ii) for Liquid Condensate and Drip Condensate (if applicable), the measured volumes stated in Barrels, in each case, received and delivered by Gatherer and will be in detail sufficient for Shipper to identify the particular services rendered and the basis for such charges. If actual measurements of volumes of Gas and/or Liquid Condensate are not available by the Statement Deadline, then, on or after such Statement Deadline, Gatherer may prepare and submit its invoice based on Gatherer’s good faith estimate of the volumes of Gas and/or Liquid Condensate received in such Month. If Gatherer submits an invoice based on estimated volumes, Gatherer shall prepare and submit to Shipper an invoice based on actual measurements on or before the close of business of the 45th Day (or if such 45th Day is not a Business Day, on the following Business Day) after the applicable Month of delivery of Gas and/or Liquid Condensate. Gatherer’s invoices shall include information reasonably sufficient to explain and support any estimates and charges reflected therein, the reconciliation of any estimates made in a prior Month to any actual measurements, and any adjustments to prior period volumes and quantities.

Section 9.2 Payments .

(a) Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, all invoices under this Agreement shall be due and payable in accordance with each invoice’s instructions on or before the later of the 25th Day of each Month and the 10th Day after receipt of the invoice or, if such Day is not a Business Day, then on the next Business Day. All payments by Shipper under this Agreement shall be made by electronic funds transfer to the account designated by Gatherer. Any amounts not paid by the due date will be deemed delinquent and will accrue interest at the Interest Rate, such interest to be calculated from and including the due date but excluding the date the delinquent amount is paid in full. All invoices shall be paid in full, but payment of any disputed amount shall not waive the payor’s right to dispute the invoice in accordance with this Section 9.2 . Shipper may, in good faith, dispute the correctness of any invoice or any adjustment to an invoice rendered under this Agreement or request an adjustment of any invoice for any arithmetic or computational error within 24 Months following the end of the Year of the date the invoice, or adjustment to an invoice, was rendered. Any invoice dispute or invoice adjustment shall be in writing and shall state the basis for the dispute or adjustment.

(b) If Shipper, in good faith, disputes the amount of any invoice of Gatherer, Shipper will pay Gatherer such amount, if any, that is not in dispute and shall provide Gatherer notice, no later than within 30 Days after the date that payment of such invoice would be due under Section 9.2(a) , of the disputed amount accompanied by documentation to support the disputed amount. If the Parties are unable to resolve such dispute, such dispute may be resolved in accordance with Section 15.7 of this Agreement. Upon resolution of the dispute, any required payment shall be made within 15 Days of such resolution, along with interest accrued at the Interest Rate from and including the due date but excluding the date paid.

 

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Section 9.3 Audit . Each Party or any Third Party representative of a Party has the right, at its sole expense and during normal working hours, to examine the records of the other Party to the extent reasonably necessary to verify the accuracy of any statement, charge or computation made pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. The scope of such examination will be limited to the previous 24 Months following the end of the Year in which such notice of audit, statement, charge or computation was presented. No more than one audit shall take place during any Year. If any such examination reveals any inaccuracy in any statement or charge, the necessary adjustments in such statement or charge and the payments necessitated thereby shall be made within 60 Days of resolution of the inaccuracy. This provision of this Agreement will survive any termination of the Agreement for the later of (a) a period of 24 Months from the end of the Year in which the date of such termination occurred or (b) until a dispute initiated within the 24 Month period is finally resolved, in each case for the purpose of such statement and payment objections.

ARTICLE 10

REMEDIES

Section 10.1 Suspension of Performance; Release from Dedication .

(a) If Shipper fails to pay any invoice rendered pursuant to Section 9.2 and such failure is not remedied within 20 Business Days of written notice of such failure to Shipper by Gatherer, Gatherer shall have the right to suspend performance under this Agreement until such amount, including interest at the Interest Rate, is paid.

(b) In the event a Party fails to perform or comply with any material warranty, covenant or obligation contained in this Agreement (other than as provided in Section 10.1(a) , and such failure has not been remedied within 45 Days after receipt of written notice from the other Party of such failure, then the non-defaulting Party shall have the right to suspend its performance under this Agreement. If Shipper elects to suspend performance as the result of Gatherer’s uncured default, then (i) Shipper’s Dedicated Production shall be deemed to be temporarily released from the terms of this Agreement during the period of such suspension of performance and (ii) in the event of an interruption in the receipt or delivery of Shipper’s owned or Controlled Gas or Liquid Condensate and/or the provision by Gatherer of the Gathering Services hereunder, that lasts for 45 Days or longer and such interruption is a result of Gatherer’s uncured default, then Shipper may elect to permanently release from dedication under this Agreement the Dedicated Production from Wells affected by such interruption and their respective Drilling Units.

Section 10.2 No Election . In the event of a default by a Party under this Agreement, the other Party shall be entitled in its sole discretion to pursue one or more of the remedies set forth in this Agreement, or such other remedy as may be available to it under this Agreement, at Law or in equity, subject, however, to the limitations set forth in Article 13 . No election of remedies shall be required or implied as the result of a Party’s decision to avail itself of a remedy under this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE 11

FORCE MAJEURE

Section 11.1 Force Majeure . If either Gatherer or Shipper is rendered unable by an event of Force Majeure to carry out, in whole or part, its obligations under this Agreement and such Party gives notice and reasonably full details of the event to the other Party as soon as practicable after the occurrence of the event, then, during the pendency of such Force Majeure, but only during that period, the obligations of the Party affected by the event shall be canceled or suspended, as applicable, to the extent required; provided , however , that notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, neither Party shall be relieved from any indemnification obligation or any obligation to make payments, as the result of Force Majeure, regardless of which Party is affected. The Party affected by Force Majeure shall use commercially reasonable efforts to remedy the Force Majeure condition with all reasonable dispatch, shall give notice to the other Party of the termination of the Force Majeure, and shall resume performance of any suspended obligation promptly after termination of such Force Majeure.

Section 11.2 Force Majeure Definition . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Force Majeure ” means an event that is not within the reasonable control of the Party claiming suspension (the “ Claiming Party ”), and that by the exercise of due diligence the Claiming Party is unable to avoid or overcome in a reasonable manner. To the extent meeting the foregoing requirements, Force Majeure includes, but is not restricted to: (a) acts of God; (b) wars (declared or undeclared); (c) insurrections, hostilities, riots; (d) floods, fires, storms, storm warnings, landslides, lightning, earthquakes, washouts; (e) industrial disturbances, acts of a public enemy, acts of terror, sabotage, blockades, epidemics; (f) arrests and restraints of rulers and peoples; (g) civil disturbances; (h) explosions, breakage or accidents to machinery or lines of pipe; (i) hydrate obstruction or blockages of any kind of lines of pipe; (j) freezing of wells or delivery facilities, partial or entire failure of wells, and other events beyond the reasonable control of Shipper that affect the timing of production or production levels; (k) mining accidents, subsidence, subsidence mitigation, cave-ins and fires; (l) action or restraint by court order or public or Governmental Authority (so long as the Claiming Party has not applied for or assisted in the application for, and has opposed where and to the extent reasonable, such action or restraint), (m) delays or failures by a Governmental Authority to grant permits, licenses or other similar consents applicable to the Gathering System so long as Gatherer has used its commercially reasonable efforts to make any required filings with such Governmental Authority relating to such permits, licenses or other similar consents and (n) delays or failures by Gatherer to obtain easements and rights of way, surface leases and other real property interests related to the Gathering System from Third Parties, so long as Gatherer has used its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such easements and rights of way, surface leases and other real property interests. The failure of a Claiming Party to settle or prevent a strike or other labor dispute with employees shall not be considered to be a matter within such Claiming Party’s control.

ARTICLE 12

REGULATORY STATUS

Section 12.1 Non-Jurisdictional Gathering System . This Agreement is subject to all valid present and future Laws, regulations, rules and orders of Governmental Authorities now or

 

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hereafter having jurisdiction over the Parties, this Agreement or the services performed or the facilities utilized under this Agreement. Gatherer shall not permit the Gathering System to become subject to the jurisdiction of any Governmental Authority that may at any time take any action whereby the Gathering Services will be subject to terms, conditions, restraints or regulations, including taxes, rate or price control, or ceilings or open access requirements that materially differ from the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. It is the intent of the Parties that the rates and terms and conditions established by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction shall not alter the rates or terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Parties agree to vigorously defend and support in good faith the enforceability of the rates and terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Section 12.2 Government Authority Modification . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 12.1 , if any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction modifies the rates or terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, then (in addition to any other remedy available to Shipper at Law or in equity):

(a) the Parties hereby agree to negotiate in good faith to enter into such amendments to this Agreement and/or a separate arrangement in order to give effect, to the greatest extent possible, to the rates and other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

(b) in the event that the Parties are not successful in accomplishing the objectives set forth in (a) above such that Shipper is not in substantially the same economic position as it was prior to any such regulation, then Shipper may terminate this Agreement upon the delivery of written notice of termination to Gatherer.

ARTICLE 13

INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

Section 13.1 Custody and Control Indemnity . EXCEPT FOR LOSSES COVERED BY THE INDEMNITIES IN SECTION 8.1 , THE PARTY HAVING CUSTODY AND CONTROL OF GAS AND LIQUID CONDENSATE UNDER THE TERMS OF SECTION 8.2 SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AND SHALL RELEASE, DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE OTHER PARTY AND SUCH OTHER PARTY’S GROUP FROM AND AGAINST EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: (A) ANY LOSSES ASSOCIATED WITH ANY PHYSICAL LOSS OF SUCH GAS AND LIQUID CONDENSATE (OTHER THAN, SUBJECT TO SECTION 5.6 AND SECTION 5.7 , GATHERING SYSTEM L&U AND GATHERING SYSTEM FUEL), INCLUDING, THE VALUE OF SUCH LOST GAS AND LIQUID CONDENSATE, AND (B) ANY DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE RELEASE OF ANY SUCH GAS OR LIQUID CONDENSATE, IN EACH CASE, EVEN IF SUCH LOSSES OR DAMAGES ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE STRICT LIABILITY OR NEGLIGENCE (JOINT, SEVERAL, ACTIVE, PASSIVE, SOLE, OR CONCURRENT) OF THE INDEMNIFIED PERSON OR A MEMBER OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON’S GROUP, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES OR DAMAGES ARE CAUSED BY THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE INDEMNIFIED PERSON OR A MEMBER OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON’S GROUP.

 

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Section 13.2 Shipper Indemnification . SUBJECT TO SECTION 13.1 , SHIPPER AGREES TO AND SHALL RELEASE, DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS GATHERER, AND GATHERER’S DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, PARENT, AFFILIATES AND SUBSIDIARIES, (ALL OF THE FOREGOING, THE “ GATHERER GROUP ”) FROM AND AGAINST ALL LOSSES WHICH IN ANY WAY RESULT FROM ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: (A) THE OWNERSHIP, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION OF SHIPPER’S FACILITIES, EVEN IF SUCH LOSSES ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE STRICT LIABILITY OR NEGLIGENCE (JOINT, SEVERAL, ACTIVE, PASSIVE, SOLE, OR CONCURRENT) OF GATHERER OR A MEMBER OF GATHERER’S GROUP, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES OR DAMAGES ARE CAUSED BY THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF GATHERER OR A MEMBER OF GATHERER’S GROUP OR (B) ANY MATERIAL BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT BY SHIPPER.

Section 13.3 Gatherer Indemnification . SUBJECT TO SECTION 13.1 , GATHERER AGREES TO AND SHALL RELEASE, DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS SHIPPER, AND SHIPPER’S DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, PARENT, AFFILIATES AND SUBSIDIARIES, (ALL OF THE FOREGOING, THE “ SHIPPER GROUP ”) FROM AND AGAINST ALL LOSSES WHICH IN ANY WAY RESULT FROM ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: (A) THE OWNERSHIP, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION OF THE GATHERING SYSTEM, EVEN IF SUCH LOSSES ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE STRICT LIABILITY OR NEGLIGENCE (JOINT, SEVERAL, ACTIVE, PASSIVE, SOLE, OR CONCURRENT) OF SHIPPER OR A MEMBER OF SHIPPER’S GROUP, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES OR DAMAGES ARE CAUSED BY THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SHIPPER OR A MEMBER OF SHIPPER’S GROUP OR (B) ANY MATERIAL BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT BY GATHERER.

Section 13.4 Actual Direct Damages . A PARTY’S DAMAGES RESULTING FROM A BREACH OR VIOLATION OF ANY REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY, COVENANT, AGREEMENT OR CONDITION CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ACT OR OMISSION ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL DIRECT DAMAGES AND SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY OTHER LOSS OR DAMAGE, INCLUDING INDIRECT, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, PRODUCTION, OR REVENUES, AND EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY RELEASES THE OTHER PARTY FROM ALL SUCH CLAIMS FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OTHER THAN ACTUAL DIRECT DAMAGES; PROVIDED THAT LIMITATION TO DIRECT DAMAGES ONLY SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY DAMAGE, CLAIM OR LOSS ASSERTED BY OR AWARDED TO THIRD PARTIES AGAINST A PARTY AND FOR WHICH THE OTHER PARTY WOULD OTHERWISE BE RESPONSIBLE UNDER THIS ARTICLE 13 .

Section 13.5 Penalties . Except for instances of negligence or willful misconduct by Gatherer, Shipper shall release, indemnify, defend and hold Gatherer harmless from any scheduling penalties or Monthly balancing provisions imposed by a Processing Plant, Downstream Pipeline or Third Party Downstream Condensate Storage Tank in any transportation contracts or service agreements associated with, or related to, Shipper’s owned or Controlled

 

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Gas, including any penalties imposed pursuant to the Downstream Pipeline’s tariff, or which may be caused by OFO’s, or by PDA’s or other pipeline allocation methods, or by unscheduled production, or by unauthorized production.

Section 13.6 Insurance . The Parties shall carry and maintain no less than the insurance coverage set forth in Exhibit E .

ARTICLE 14

ASSIGNMENT

Section 14.1 Assignment of Rights and Obligations under this Agreement .

(a) Except as specifically otherwise provided in this Agreement, neither Party shall have the right to assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement (in whole or in part) to another Person except with the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent may be withheld at such Party’s sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing,

(i) Shipper may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any Person to whom Shipper assigns or transfers an interest in any of the Dedicated Properties, insofar as this Agreement relates to such Dedicated Properties, without the consent of Gatherer; provided that (A) such Person assumes the obligations of Shipper under this Agreement insofar as it relates to such Dedicated Properties, (B) if such assignment or transfer is made to an Affiliate of Shipper, Shipper shall not be released from any of its obligations under this Agreement, (C) if such transfer or assignment is to a Person that is not an Affiliate of Shipper, Shipper shall be released from its obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Dedicated Properties so assigned, and (D) except in the case where original Shipper hereunder assigns or transfers all of its interests in the Dedicated Properties to another Person, no assignee of Shipper’s interest in any Dedicated Properties will be entitled to exercise the original Shipper’s rights under Section 14.1(b) and such rights shall remain with the original Shipper; and

(ii) Gatherer may assign its rights and obligations under the Gathering Agreement to any Controlled Affiliate (an “ Affiliate Gatherer ”) insofar and only insofar as the Gathering Agreement relates to the Dedicated Properties for which such Affiliate Gatherer will be providing Gathering Services (such Dedicated Properties, the “ Affiliate Gatherer Dedicated Properties ”); provided that if Gatherer assigns certain of its rights and obligations under the Gathering Agreement to an Affiliate Gatherer, Gatherer shall not be released from any of its obligations under the Gathering Agreement; provided further, that in lieu of assigning the Gathering Agreement, Shipper and Affiliate Gatherer may enter into a separate gathering agreement applicable to the Affiliate Gatherer Dedicated Properties that is substantially similar to this Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Shipper may assign Dedicated Properties free of the terms, conditions and obligations of this Agreement in a transaction:

(i) where such assignment is an exchange of undeveloped Dedicated Properties for other properties located in the Dedication Area, which other properties become subject to dedication under this Agreement or

(ii) where such assignment, farmout or other transfer of Dedicated Properties would not cause the amount of Dedicated Properties assigned pursuant to this Section 14.1(b)(ii) during the Term of this Agreement, on an aggregate basis, to exceed the then current Total Shipper Permitted Transfer Acres.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Shipper may assign ROFO Properties free of the terms, conditions and obligations of this Agreement.

(d) Shipper shall give Gatherer notice of any assignment of this Agreement and/or Dedicated Properties within 30 Days after the date of execution of such permitted assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and (except as otherwise provided in Section 14.1(a)(i)(D)) , inure to the benefit of the respective permitted successors and assigns of the Parties. Any attempted assignment made without compliance with the provisions set forth in this Section 14.1 shall be null and void ab initio .

(e) Any release of any of the Dedicated Properties from dedication under this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.6 shall not constitute an assignment or transfer of such Dedicated Properties for the purposes of this Article 14 .

Section 14.2 Pre-Approved Assignment . Either Party shall have the right without the prior consent of the other to (a) mortgage, pledge, encumber or otherwise impress a lien or security interest upon its rights and interest in and to this Agreement and (b) make a transfer pursuant to any security interest arrangement described in (a) above, including any judicial or non-judicial foreclosure and any assignment from the holder of such security interest to another Person.

Section 14.3 Change of Control . Except as expressly provided in Section 14.1 , nothing in this Article 14 shall prevent Shipper’s members or owners from transferring their respective interests (whether equity or otherwise and whether in whole or in part) in Shipper. It is agreed that each member or owner of Shipper shall have the right to assign and transfer such member’s or owner’s interests (whether equity or otherwise and whether in whole or in part) in Shipper without restriction contained in this Agreement. Without the prior written consent of Shipper, Gatherer shall cause the members or owners of Gatherer to not transfer their respective equity interests (in whole or in part) in Gatherer.

ARTICLE 15

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 15.1 Relationship of the Parties . The rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of the Parties under this Agreement shall be individual, not joint or collective. It is not the intention of the Parties to create, nor shall this Agreement be deemed or construed to create, a partnership, joint venture or association or a trust. This Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to authorize any Party to act as an agent, servant or employee for any other Party for any purpose whatsoever except as explicitly set forth in this Agreement. In their relations with each other under this Agreement, the Parties shall not be considered fiduciaries.

 

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Section 15.2 Notices . All notices and communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be sufficient in all respects if given in writing and delivered personally, or sent by bonded overnight courier, or mailed by U.S. Express Mail or by certified or registered United States Mail with all postage fully prepaid or by electronic mail with a PDF of the notice or other communication attached ( provided that any such electronic mail is confirmed either by written confirmation or U.S. Express Mail), in each case, addressed to the appropriate Person at the address for such Person shown in Exhibit C . Any notice given in accordance herewith shall be deemed to have been given when (a) delivered to the addressee in person or by courier, (b) transmitted by electronic communications during normal business hours, or if transmitted after normal business hours, on the next Business Day, or (c) upon actual receipt by the addressee after such notice has either been delivered to an overnight courier or deposited in the United States Mail if received during normal business hours, or if not received during normal business hours, then on the next Business Day, as the case may be. Any Person may change their contact information for notice by giving notice to the other Parties in the manner provided in this Section 15.2 .

Section 15.3 Expenses . Except as otherwise specifically provided, all fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Parties in negotiating this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring the same, including legal and accounting fees, costs and expenses.

Section 15.4 Waivers; Rights Cumulative . Any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof may be waived only by a written instrument executed by or on behalf of the Party waiving compliance. No course of dealing on the part of any Party, or their respective officers, employees, agents, or representatives, nor any failure by a Party to exercise any of its rights under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof or affect in any way the right of such Party at a later time to enforce the performance of such provision. No waiver by any Party of any condition, or any breach of any term or covenant contained in this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such condition or breach or a waiver of any other condition or of any breach of any other term or covenant. The rights of the Parties under this Agreement shall be cumulative, and the exercise or partial exercise of any such right shall not preclude the exercise of any other right.

Section 15.5 Entire Agreement; Conflicts . THIS AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES PERTAINING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND SUPERSEDES ALL PRIOR AGREEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS, NEGOTIATIONS, AND DISCUSSIONS, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OF THE PARTIES PERTAINING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS, OR OTHER AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE EXHIBITS HERETO, AND NO PARTY SHALL BE BOUND BY OR LIABLE FOR ANY ALLEGED REPRESENTATION, PROMISE, INDUCEMENT, OR STATEMENTS OF INTENTION NOT SO SET FORTH.

Section 15.6 Amendment . This Agreement may be amended only by an instrument in writing executed by the Parties and expressly identified as an amendment or modification.

 

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Section 15.7 Governing Law; Disputes . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE LEGAL RELATIONS AMONG THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT MIGHT REFER CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH PROVISIONS TO THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION. ALL OF THE PARTIES HERETO CONSENT TO THE EXERCISE OF JURISDICTION IN PERSONAM BY THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL DISTRICT COURTS LOCATED IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR ANY ACTION ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS WITH RESPECT TO, ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN CONNECTION WITH, OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE EXCLUSIVELY LITIGATED IN THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL DISTRICT COURTS HAVING SITES IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA (AND ALL APPELLATE COURTS HAVING JURISDICTION THERE OVER). EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 15.8 Parties in Interest . Nothing in this Agreement shall entitle any Person other than the Parties to any claim, cause of action, remedy or right of any kind.

Section 15.9 Preparation of Agreement . Both Parties and their respective counsel participated in the preparation of this Agreement. In the event of any ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption shall arise based on the identity of the draftsman of this Agreement.

Section 15.10 Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any adverse manner to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.

Section 15.11 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each such counterpart hereof shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all of such counterparts shall constitute for all purposes one agreement. Any signature hereto delivered by a Party by electronic mail shall be deemed an original signature hereto.

Section 15.12 Confidentiality . All geophysical, geological or completion data (other than data routinely publicly disclosed by other oil and gas producers) provided by Shipper to Gatherer in connection with this Agreement shall be kept confidential by Gatherer unless the release of such information to a Third Party is agreed upon by the Parties or is required by Law. Any permitted release of information must have the prior written consent of Shipper hereto and said Third Party must agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Section. Nothing in

 

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this Agreement shall prohibit Gatherer from disclosing whatever information in such manner as may be required by statute, rule or regulation, including the rules or regulations of any stock exchange on which any securities of Gatherer or any Affiliates are traded; nor shall any Party be prohibited by the terms hereof from disclosing information acquired under this Agreement to any financial institution or investors providing or proposing financing to Gatherer.

ARTICLE 16

OPERATING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Section 16.1 Terms and Conditions . Gatherer’s Operating Terms and Conditions, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A , are for all purposes incorporated in this Agreement.

[ signature page follows ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement in duplicate originals to be effective as of the Execution Date.

 

“Shipper”     “Gatherer”
NOBLE ENERGY, INC.     CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
    By: CONE Midstream Partners GP LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Donald G. Moore

    By:  

/s/ Joseph M. Fink

Name:   Donald G. Moore     Name:   Joseph M. Fink
Title:   Vice President     Title:   Chief Operating Officer

Signature Page

Gathering Agreement


EXHIBIT A

OPERATING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.1 Quality Specifications . It is the intent of the Parties that the Gathering System will be operated as a field gathering system, and as such, Gas and Liquid Condensate received from Shipper at the Receipt Points generally will be commercially free from objectionable odor, dust, gum, dirt, sand, impurities and other solid, (other than Liquid Condensate) free liquids or hazardous matter which might interfere with the merchantability of the Gas or Condensate or cause injury to or interference with proper operation of the lines, regulators, meters, or other appliances through which the Gas and Condensate flows.

1.2 Gas Nominations and Scheduling .

(a) Gas shall be gathered only under a nomination submitted by Shipper. For purposes of this Agreement, a nomination is an offer by Shipper to Gatherer of a stated quantity of Gas for gathering from a specified Receipt Points to a specified Delivery Points. The terms of such nomination shall comply with the nominating procedures set forth below.

(b) If required by Gatherer, Shipper shall nominate according to the then effective NAESB standards and any additional Downstream Pipeline’s requirements. Nominations may be submitted by telephone or electronically transmitted according to the same NAESB standards and any additional Downstream Pipeline’s requirements. Should Shipper desire to change the nomination during such Month, such change to the nomination shall be made in accordance with the nomination procedures of the Downstream Pipeline. Gas shall be delivered by Gatherer in accordance with confirmation by the Downstream Pipeline of the nomination and/or changes to the nomination.

1.3 Gas Balancing.

(a) Volumes of Gas delivered by Shipper and received by Gatherer at the Receipt Points shall conform as closely as possible to the volumes nominated by Shipper at each Receipt Point and shall be delivered by Shipper to Gatherer at hourly rates of flow that are, as nearly as practicable, uniform throughout the Day. Subject to Gatherer’s operating conditions and contractual requirements, volumes delivered by Gatherer to Shipper or for Shipper’s account at the Delivery Points shall conform as closely as possible to the volumes nominated by Shipper for delivery by Gatherer that Day at the Delivery Points, less any deductions applicable to Shipper for Gathering System L&U, Gathering System Fuel and any imbalance corrections, except that Gatherer may conform such volumes to the volumes actually delivered by Shipper at Gatherer’s Receipt Points to the extent possible. Upon prior notice to Shipper, Gatherer may temporarily interrupt or curtail receipts and/or deliveries at any time, and from time to time in accordance with operating conditions on the Gathering System in order to balance receipt or deliveries on the Gathering System or to correct any current or anticipated imbalances.

(b) Shipper and Gatherer agree that:

(i) It is the intent of Shipper and Gatherer that Gas be received and re-delivered under this Agreement at the same rates, as nearly as practicable and subject to changes mandated by the Downstream Pipeline, and Shipper shall not in any manner utilize the Gathering System for storage or peaking purposes.

 

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(ii) Gas delivered to Gatherer under this Agreement during any Day shall be delivered at as nearly a constant rate as operating conditions and relevant Downstream Pipelines will permit.

(iii) In the event interruption or curtailment of service is required, Gatherer’s dispatcher will advise (by telephone, following up by e-mail) Shipper of an interruption or curtailment as soon as practicable or in any event within four hours of the occurrence of such event.

(iv) Subject to its adherence to the priority of service and related obligations imposed by the Agreement to which these Operating Terms and Conditions are attached, nothing contained in this Agreement shall preclude Gatherer from taking reasonable actions necessary to adjust receipts or deliveries under this Agreement in order to maintain the operational integrity and safety of the Gathering System.

(c) Gatherer shall maintain an imbalance account (the “ Imbalance Account ”) for Shipper and each other shipper which reflects for each Month with respect to each shipper (including Shipper) (i) the total volumes received, delivered, and retained; (ii) the total imbalance for such Month, and the cumulative imbalance through the end of such Month; (iii) previous and new imbalance positions; and (iv) any other information deemed necessary and appropriate by Gatherer, all on a total system basis. Gatherer shall provide Shipper reasonable access to Shipper’s Imbalance Account and a statement of Shipper’s Imbalance Account within five Business Days following the end of each Month. Gatherer may provide Shipper with notices of imbalances and the Monthly statement of Shipper’s Imbalance Account by electronic mail, United States Mail or other delivery service, or any other means deemed reasonable by Gatherer under the circumstances.

(d) Each Month, Gatherer and Shipper shall cooperate and use all reasonable efforts to reduce any cumulative imbalance in the Imbalance Account to zero. At any time such an imbalance exists, Gatherer shall advise Shipper to deliver volumes of Gas in addition to its nominated volumes to address an imbalance in favor of Shipper, or to deliver volumes of Gas that are less than its nominated volumes to address an imbalance in favor of Gatherer. Gatherer may also require Shipper to make appropriate adjustments to its nominations and deliveries to correspond to adjustments that Gatherer is required to make by Downstream Pipelines. Gatherer shall also have the right (acting in its reasonable discretion) to adjust nominations or take other actions, including suspending receipts and deliveries of Gas by Gatherer, necessary to correct an existing imbalance or mitigate an anticipated imbalance. The Parties may also cash out cumulative imbalances using the foregoing methodology for any period prior to the end of the Term as the Parties mutually agree, in which case all Monthly imbalances during such period shall be deemed reduced to zero for purposes of the cash out price to be calculated at the end of the Term.

(e) As between the Parties, Shipper shall be responsible for and shall bear any penalties imposed or assessed by Downstream Pipelines for imbalances in receipts and/or

 

A-2


deliveries with respect to and solely attributable to Shipper’s Gas. In the event Gatherer incurs any costs and/or penalties from a Downstream Pipeline as a result of and solely attributable to Shipper’s over-deliveries or under-deliveries, Shipper shall also be responsible for and shall reimburse Gatherer for such costs and/or penalties and indemnify and hold Gatherer harmless and free from all such payments, charges, and/or penalties so long as such imbalances and/or over/under deliveries are caused by and solely attributable to Shipper and not by Gatherer or a Third Party.

(f) At the end of the Term, if any cumulative imbalance remains, the Parties shall cash out such cumulative imbalance using the average first of the Month price for Gas for the prior two production Months at the end of the term reflected by the index price in Inside F.E.R.C., Gas Market Report of Spot Prices Delivered to Pipelines as published by McGraw-Hill for the relevant geographic area where the imbalance occurred. Should such index cease to be published, then the Parties will mutually agree on a similar index or publication for such index price for the relevant geographic area where the imbalance occurred.

1.4 Measurement Devices .

(a) Gatherer shall construct, install, own and operate the Measurement Devices located at the Receipt Points other than the Shipper Meters. The Measurement Devices installed by Gatherer shall be, subject to Shipper’s approval of such location, as close as practicable to the applicable Well or Well Pad. Shipper shall have the right, at its sole expense, to install, own and operate Measurement Devices located at the Receipt Points (such Measurement Devices installed, owned and operated by Shipper or CNX, the “ Shipper Meters ”); provided that (i) such equipment is installed so as not to interfere with Gatherer’s Measurement Devices (if any) and (ii) Shipper shall take steps that are reasonable and customary in the industry to mitigate or prevent any Gas pulsation problems or Gas quality problems (such as sand or water) that may interfere with Gatherer’s Measurement Devices at the Receipt Points. Gather may elect to use a Shipper Meter as the Measurement Device for a Receipt Point in lieu of constructing, installing, owning and operating a Measurement Device located at such Receipt Point by providing written notice to Shipper. If Gatherer elects to use such Shipper Meter as the Measurement Device for a Receipt Point, Shipper shall provide Gatherer reasonable access to such Shipper Meter, including as set forth under Section 1.4(f) of this Exhibit A , and prior advance written notice of, and the ability to witness, the calibration of such Shipper Meter.

(b) Gatherer shall install, own and operate (or cause to be installed, owned, and operated) the Measurement Devices located at the Delivery Points and any check meters at the Delivery Points. The Measurement Devices must have the capacity to compensate for Gas characteristics in real time and/or through periodic spot sampling and, where applicable, shall also be capable of measuring by component the volumes of NGLs contained in the Gas stream. Gatherer shall provide reasonable access to Gatherer’s Measurement Devices.

(c) Gatherer’s Measurement Devices will be constructed, installed and operated in accordance with the following depending on the type of meters used:

(i) Orifice Meters – in accordance with ANSI/API 2530 (American Gas Association Report No. 3), Orifice Metering of Natural Gas and Other Hydrocarbon Fluids, Second Edition, dated September 1985, and any subsequent amendments, revisions or modifications thereof.

 

A-3


(ii) Electronic Transducers and Flow Computers (solar and otherwise) – in accordance with the applicable American Gas Association standards, including American Gas Association Measurement Committee Report Nos. 3, 5, 6 and 7 and any subsequent amendments, revisions, or modifications thereof.

(iii) Ultrasonic Meters – in accordance with the American Gas Association Measurement Committee Report No. 9 (American Gas Association Report No. 9), dated June 1998, and any subsequent amendments, revisions or modifications thereof.

(d) Gatherer may, but shall not be obligated to, replace or make any alterations to the Measurement Devices necessary to comply any subsequent amendments, revisions or modifications of the American Gas Association Reports cited above.

(e) The accuracy of all owned Measurement Devices will be verified by Gatherer at bi-annual intervals and, if requested, in the presence of a representative of Shipper. Gatherer shall verify the accuracy of any owned Measurement Device before the next bi-annual verification required by the preceding sentence if Shipper requests a special test as described below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, when Daily deliveries of Gas at any Receipt Point or Delivery Point average 15,000 MSCF per Day or greater during any Month, the accuracy of the Measurement Devices at such Receipt Point or Delivery Point will be verified quarterly. If, upon any test, any Measurement Device is found to be inaccurate by 2% or less, previous readings of such Measurement Device will be considered correct in computing the deliveries of Gas under this Agreement, but such Measurement Device will immediately be adjusted to record accurately (within the manufacturer’s allowance for error). If, upon any test, any Measurement Device is found to be inaccurate by more than 2% of a recording corresponding to the average hourly flow rate for the period since the last test, such Measurement Device will immediately be adjusted to record accurately (within the manufacturer’s allowance for error) and any previous recordings of such Measurement Device will be corrected to zero error for any period which is known definitely or agreed upon. If such period is not known or agreed upon, such correction will be made for a period covering one-half (  1 2 ) of the time elapsed since the date of the latest test, but not to exceed 45 Days when the Measurement Device is tested quarterly and not to exceed 180 Days when the Measurement Device is tested bi-annually. If Shipper desires a special test of any Measurement Device, at least 72 hours’ advance notice will be given to Gatherer by Shipper, and both Parties will cooperate to secure a prompt test of the accuracy of such Measurement Device. If the Measurement Device so tested is found to be inaccurate by 2% or less, Gatherer will have the right to bill Shipper for the costs incurred due to such special test, including any labor and transportation costs, and Shipper will pay such costs promptly upon invoice therefor.

(f) If requested by Shipper the Measurement Devices shall include a sufficient number of data ports, and Gatherer shall permit Shipper to connect to such data ports, as shall be required to provide to Shipper on a real-time basis all measurement data generated by such measurement equipment. Shipper shall be responsible at its own cost for obtaining

 

A-4


equipment and/or services to connect to such data ports and receive and process such data. If requested by Gatherer the Shipper Meters shall include a sufficient number of data ports, and Shipper shall permit Gatherer to connect to such data ports, as shall be required to provide to Gatherer on a real-time basis all measurement data generated by such measurement equipment. Gatherer shall be responsible at its own cost for obtaining equipment and/or services to connect to such data ports and receive and process such data.

(g) The charts and records by which measurements are determined shall be available for the use of both Parties in fulfilling the terms and conditions thereof. Each Party shall, upon request of the other, mail or deliver for checking and calculation all volume and temperature meter records in its possession and used in the measurement of Gas delivered under this Agreement within 30 Days after the last chart for each billing period is removed from the meter. Such data shall be returned within 90 Days after the receipt thereof.

(h) Each Party shall preserve or cause to be preserved for mutual use all test data, charts or other similar records in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of regulatory bodies having jurisdiction, if any, with respect to the retention of such records, and, in any event, for at least 24 Months.

1.5 Measurement Procedures . The measurements of the quantity and quality of all Gas delivered at the Receipt Points and Delivery Points will be conducted in accordance with the following:

(a) The unit of volume for measurement will be one Standard Cubic Foot. Such measured volumes, converted to MSCF, will be multiplied by their Gross Heating Value per MSCF.

(b) The temperature of the Gas will be determined by a recording thermometer installed so that it may record the temperature of the Gas flowing through the meters, or such other means of recording temperature as may be mutually agreed upon by the Parties. The average of the record to the nearest one degree Fahrenheit, obtained while Gas is being delivered, will be the applicable flowing Gas temperature for the period under consideration.

(c) The specific gravity of the Gas will be determined by a recording gravitometer or chromatographic device installed and located at a suitable point determined by Shipper to record representative specific gravity of the Gas being metered or, at Shipper’s or its designee’s option, by continuous sampling or spot sampling using standard type gravity methods. If a recording gravitometer or chromatographic device is used, the gravity to the nearest one-thousandth (0.001) obtained while Gas is being delivered will be the specific gravity of the Gas sampled for the recording period. The gravity to the nearest one-thousandth (0.001) will be determined concurrently with the accuracy of the Measurement Devices as provided in Section 1.4(e) of this Exhibit A .

(d) Adjustments to measured Gas volumes for the effects of supercompressibility will be made in accordance with accepted American Gas Association standards. Gatherer or its designee will obtain appropriate carbon dioxide and nitrogen mole

 

A-5


fraction values for the Gas delivered as may be required to compute such adjustments in accordance with standard testing procedures. At Gatherer’s or its designee’s option, equations for the calculation of supercompressibility may be taken from the American Gas Association Report No. 8, 1992, Compressibility and Supercompressibility for Natural Gas and Other Hydrocarbon Gases, latest revision.

(e) For purposes of measurement and meter calibration, the atmospheric pressure for each of the Receipt Points and Delivery Points will be assumed to be the pressure value determined by Shipper for the county elevation in which such point is located pursuant to generally accepted industry practices irrespective of the actual atmospheric pressure at such points from time to time.

(f) The Gross Heating Value of the Gas delivered at the Receipt Points and Delivery Points will be determined when each Well is placed on-line and at least bi-annually by means of some approved method of general use in the Gas industry; provided , however , that when Daily deliveries of Gas at any Receipt Point or Delivery Point average 1,000 MSCF per Day or greater during any Month, the Gross Heating Value of the Gas delivered at such Receipt Point or Delivery Point will be determined Monthly by a chromatographic analysis of a flow proportional sample taken at a suitable point on the facilities to be representative of the Gas being metered.

(g) Other tests to determine water content, sulfur and other impurities in the Gas will be conducted whenever requested by either Party and will be conducted in accordance with standard industry testing procedures. The Party requested to perform such tests will bear the cost of such tests only if the Gas tested is determined not to be within the quality specification set forth below. If the Gas is within such quality specification, the requesting Party will bear the cost of such tests.

(h) If, during the Term of this Agreement, a new method or technique is developed with respect to Gas measurement or the determination of the factors used in such Gas measurement, such new method or technique may be substituted for the method set forth in this Agreement; provided that Gatherer receives Shipper’s written consent, and that the new method or technique is in accordance with accepted standards of the American Gas Association.

1.6 Gas Meter Adjustments . In the event a meter is out of service or registering inaccurately, the quantities of Gas received or delivered during such period shall be determined as follows:

(a) By using the registration of any check meter or meters, if installed and accurately registering; or in the absence of such check meters,

(b) By using a meter operating in parallel with the estimated volume corrected for any differences found when the meters are operating properly,

(c) By correcting the error if the percentage of error is ascertainable by calibration, tests or mathematical calculation; or in the absence of check meters and the ability to make corrections under this subparagraph (b), then,

(d) By estimating the quantity received or delivered by receipts or deliveries during periods under similar conditions when the meter was registering accurately.

 

A-6


1.7 Curtailment of Gas . If capacity on the Gathering System, or any Facility Segment, is interrupted, curtailed or reduced, or capacity is insufficient for the needs of all shippers desiring to use such capacity, the holders of Interruptible Service will be curtailed first, the holders of Priority Two Service shall be curtailed second and the holders of Priority One Service shall be curtailed last. As among the holders of Priority One Service, the capacity available on each Facility Segment to Priority One Service under the preceding sentence shall be allocated among the holders of Priority One Service on a pro rata basis, based on the percentage derived by dividing the Daily average volume of Gas actually Tendered by each holder of Priority One Service to Receipt Points on the Gathering System during the prior 90 Day period by the total volume of such Gas actually Tendered by all holders of Priority One Service during such period. As among the holders of Priority Two Service, the capacity available on each Facility Segment to Priority Two Service under the preceding sentence shall be allocated among the holders of Priority Two Service on a pro rata basis, based on the percentage derived by dividing the Daily average volume of Gas actually Tendered by each holder of Priority Two Service to Receipt Points on the Gathering System during the prior 90 Day period by the total volume of such Gas actually Tendered by all holders of Priority One Service during such period. As among holders of Interruptible Service, the capacity available to such service, if any, shall be allocated pro rata among the holders of such service based on the percentage derived by dividing the Daily average volume of Gas actually Tendered by each holder of Interruptible Service to Receipt Points on the Gathering System during the prior 60 Day period by the total volume of such Gas actually Tendered by all holders of Interruptible Service during such period. In the event only one or more non-integrated Facility Segments are curtailed, in each case such pro ration shall be based upon the volumes nominated on the Facility Segment in question.

1.8 Allocations . Allocations required for determining payments or fees due under this Agreement shall be made by Gatherer. Gatherer shall provide an allocation methodology to Shipper for its review and approval. This Section 1.8 and shall be based upon the measurements taken and quantities determined for the applicable Month.

(a) The following definitions shall be applicable:

(i) “ Fuel Point ” means a point on the Gathering System where Gathering System Fuel is measured, sampled, calculated or consumed; and

(ii) “ System Receipt Point ” means all receipt points at which Gas is delivered into the Gathering System, including the Receipt Points.

(b) Gathering System Fuel shall be allocated to each System Receipt Point upstream of the applicable Fuel Point by multiplying the Gathering System Fuel in MMBtus measured at the applicable Fuel Point during the applicable Month by a fraction, the numerator of which is the volume of Gas in MSCFs received into the Gathering System at such System Receipt Point during such Month, and the denominator of which is the aggregate volume of Gas in MSCFs received into the Gathering System at all System Receipt Points upstream of the applicable Fuel Point during such Month.

 

A-7


(c) For Facility Segments where there is no injected Liquid Condensate, Drip Condensate collected from a Facility Segment shall be allocated to each Gathering System Receipt Point on such Facility Segment by (i) multiplying the total volume of Gas (in MSCFs) received at each such Receipt Point on such Facility Segment during the applicable Month by the Gallons per MSCF of pentanes and heavier components in such Gas, determined at the relevant System Receipt Point, to determine the theoretical quantity of Drip Condensate in such Gas and (ii) allocating the volume of Drip Condensate measured at the Delivery Point on such Facility Segment during such Month to each such System Receipt Point based on a fraction the numerator of which is the theoretical volume of Drip Condensate attributable to such System Receipt Point during such Month and the denominator of which is the theoretical volume of Drip Condensate for all such System Receipt Points during such Month.

(d) For Facility Segments where there is injected Liquid Condensate, the Liquid Condensate collected from a Facility Segment and sold or delivered to Shipper in accordance with Section 4.8 shall first be allocated to injected Liquid Condensate at each System Receipt Point and then to Drip Condensate from Gas received at System Receipt Points. If the total Condensate collected from the Facility Segment is equal to, or less than, the sum of the injected Liquid Condensate from each receipt point, then the Condensate allocated to each System Receipt Point shall be allocated by (i) dividing the individual System Receipt Point injected Liquid Condensate volume by the sum of the individual System Receipt Point injected Liquid Condensate volumes, and (ii) multiplying the resulting fraction by the total volume of Condensate received from the Facility Segment and sold or delivered to Shipper in accordance with Section 4.8 . If the total Condensate volume collected from the Facility Segment and sold or delivered to Shipper in accordance with Section 4.8 is greater than the sum of the injected Liquid Condensate volumes from each System Receipt Point, the allocation to each System Receipt Point first allocates injected Liquid Condensate volumes to each System Receipt Point and then allocates Drip Condensate volumes to each System Receipt Point. In the first allocation of injected Liquid Condensate volumes, each System Receipt Point is credited with 100% of its injected Liquid Condensate volume. In the second allocation of Drip Condensate to each System Receipt Point, the total Drip Condensate volume collected from the Facility Segment is calculated by subtracting the sum of the individual System Receipt Point injected Liquid Condensate volumes received in the Facility Segment from the total Condensate volume received from the Facility Segment and sold or delivered to Shipper in accordance with Section 4.8 , and then allocating the total Drip Condensate volume according to the preceding paragraph.

(e) The Gathering System L&U in any Month shall be determined by subtracting from the sum of the total Thermal Content of Gas received at all System Receipt Points on the Gathering System during such Month the sum of (i) the Thermal Content of Gas actually delivered to the Delivery Points on the Gathering System during such Month, (ii) the Thermal Content of Gas consumed as Gathering System Fuel measured at all Fuel Points on the Gathering System during such Month, (iii) the Thermal Content of all Condensate recovered from the Gathering System during such Month (other than Liquid Condensate vaporized and re-injected into the Gas stream), and (iv) the Thermal Content of fuel, shrinkage, and lost and unaccounted for Gas associated with any processing carried out by or on behalf of Shipper and other shippers between the System Receipt Points and the Delivery Points, as allocated to Producer pursuant to its agreement with the processor.

 

A-8


EXHIBIT B-1

JOINT DEDICATED PROPERTIES

 

Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

120554000    JAMES A STEPP    4/5/2006    348    146    0    Greene    PA
153191000    HARRY E WEBSTER ET UX    7/28/1986    43    139       Greene    PA
153203000    MELVIN M MCCONNELL    12/14/1977    625    1055       Greene    PA
153204001    EWING B POLLOCK ET AL    1/6/1978    149    793       Greene    PA
156539000    JOHN H MOONEY ET UX    11/10/2009    625    390-392    200900006538    Greene    PA
156573000    LINDA M. HOPF    8/18/2009    618    1069-1071    200900005026    Greene    PA
156574000    GILBERT & RACHEL STAINBROOK IV    8/18/2009    419    1066-1068    200900005025    Greene    PA
156589001    WILLIAM E PORTER    8/31/2009    420    1048-1050    20090005317    Greene    PA
156589002    RALPH E PORTER    8/31/2009    420    1051-1054    200900005318    Greene    PA
156610000    JAMES D HEWITT ET UX    6/19/2009    420    1055    200900005319    Greene    PA
156749000    MICHAEL G WHITE ET UX    1/18/2010    468    2235    201400002815    Greene    PA
156750000    MYRA J GIBSON    1/18/2010    468    2240    201400002816    Greene    PA
156887000    CARL W. HILDRETH ET UX    7/11/2002    370    407    200700002897    Greene    PA
156888000    JAMES MOONEY ET UX    2/14/2003    437    2747-2754    201100000979    Greene    PA
156924000    TERRY L. AMOS    6/1/2010    434    948-951    201000005865    Greene    PA
156979001    JAMES D WISE    7/28/2010    436    3380    201100000697    Greene    PA
156979002    CLARENCE W WISE JR    7/26/2010    436    3579    201100000744    Greene    PA
156981001    KEITH L WISE ET UX    7/26/2010    436    3384    201100000698    Greene    PA
156991000    ROLLIN N SWANK ET UX    9/1/2010    436    1486-1489    201100000415    Greene    PA
156992000    LAWRENCE S REFOSCO ET UX    9/14/2010    436    1490-1493    201100000416    Greene    PA
157027000    HAROLD A MOORE ET UX    5/27/2011    441    3760    201100004687    Greene    PA
157036000    JODY LYNN WEBSTER    11/15/2011    447    3335    201200000837    Greene    PA
157037000    JOSEPH A. WEBSTER AND JODY LYNN WEBSTER    11/15/2011    447    3678    201200000931    Greene    PA
178527000    LAWRENCE E CROUSE ET UX    5/7/2008    391    82       Greene    PA
178574000    DAVID ROSBOROUGH ET UX    7/22/2008    447    1007    20120000332    Greene    PA
178578000    GRACE E MILLER    7/8/2008    446    1467    201100007026    Greene    PA
178579000    HAROLD A MOORE ET UX    7/8/2008    404    570-573    200900000533    Greene    PA
178580000    PECHIN LEASING INC.    8/6/2008    396    1218    200800004484    Greene    PA
178584000    RICHARD E MARTIN ET UX    5/29/2008    392    677-680       Greene    PA
181079000    BERNARD GLOS ET UX    5/2/2008    391    102    200800002662    Greene    PA
181080000    HARRY RUTAN ET UX    5/1/2008    391    86    200800002659    Greene    PA
181081000    CHARLES W WILLIAMS ET UX    5/19/2008    391    90    200800002660    Greene    PA
239412000    DENNIS S RUTAN ET UX    4/24/2012    451    628    201200003554    Greene    PA
244841000    GERALD L ANDERSON ET UX    9/3/2008    396    1112    200800004460    Greene    PA

 

B-1-1


Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

244842000    CHARLES W GREENE ET UX    9/30/2008    461    1    201300004024    Greene    PA
250255000    TERRY J CAPOZZA    8/10/2012    453    3045    201200005656    Greene    PA
209277000    FINLEY COMPANY    6/27/1957    537    1    0    Greene    PA
209278000    FINLEY COMPANY    6/27/1957    537    3    0    Greene    PA
209279000    FINLEY COMPANY    6/27/1957    537    5    0    Greene    PA
209280000    FINLEY COMPANY    6/27/1957    537    7    0    Greene    PA
209281000    FINLEY COMPANY    6/27/1957    537    9    0    Greene    PA
209284000    FINLEY COMPANY    12/10/1958    536    128    0    Greene    PA
209286000    MANOR REAL ESTATE COMPANY    7/25/1960    537    16    0    Greene    PA
209287000    MANOR REAL ESTATE COMPANY    6/11/1962    537    19    0    Greene    PA
209288000    MANOR REAL ESTATE COMPANY    6/21/1965    536    134    0    Greene    PA
209371000    SUPLER, VERNON W & DOROTHY    6/1/1981    665    467    0    Greene    PA
209455000    JENKINS, CATHERINE L    5/6/1992    100    1208    0    Greene    PA
209477000    MARTIN, VIRPI K    9/8/1994    133    626    0    Greene    PA
220560000    ANDERSON, LARRY L & ERMA D    2/18/2010    427    141    201000000847    Greene    PA
252898000    HARRY L RUTAN ET UX    10/12/1993    120    972    0    Greene    PA
209276000    Finley Company    7/30/1957    536    132       Greene    PA
209282000    Finley Company    6/27/1957    537    11       Greene    PA
209394000    Pollock, Ewing B & Margaret F    12/16/1983    403    499    200900000237    Greene    PA
209489000    Paul S Hornor Et Al    6/20/1983    667    1103       Greene    PA
156794000    LARRY L. & ERMA D. ANDERSON    2/18/2010    427    141-144    201000000847    Greene    PA
216044000    BARDELLA, WILLIAM A & ROXIE G    3/12/1993    112    208       Greene    PA
220146000    WARD, ANTHONY J    4/14/1992    99    1146       Greene    PA
257921000    VERNON SUPLER ET UX    5/1/1948    427    517    201000000925    Greene    PA
153089000    THOMAS R MILLIGAN ET UX    6/4/2008    0    0    200817192    Washington    PA
156249000    BETTY J GILDOW    9/18/2009          200938755    Washington    PA
156264000    G J MARINCHAK ET UX    9/1/2009          201009741    Washington    PA
156274000    GEORGE POSTLETHWAIT ET UX    9/18/2009          201017018    Washington    PA
156293000    JOHNNY L PIERSON SR    9/11/2009          2010104269    Washington    PA
156348001    MARY JO REYNOLDS    3/15/2010          201031925    Washington    PA
156348002    FRANCES C. DESANTIS    3/22/2010          201103294    Washington    PA
156348003    MABEL L MALONE AKA MABEL MALONE    3/15/2010          201103288    Washington    PA
156354001    MARY JO REYNOLDS    3/15/2010          201031923    Washington    PA
156354002    FRANCIS C. DESANTIS    3/22/2010          201103296    Washington    PA
156354003    MABEL L MALONE    3/15/2010          201103292    Washington    PA
156365000    PETER A COSSU ET UX    6/9/2010          201102660    Washington    PA
156366000    LEON JOSEPH GOLICK AND LINDA ANN SPENCER    6/7/2010          201102661    Washington    PA

 

B-1-2


Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

156367000    CLARENCE A. HARRIS AND CAROL COSSU HARRIS    6/9/2010          201102662    Washington    PA
156368000    MARK D. & MARIANNE R. VALERIO    3/20/2010          201102663    Washington    PA
156369000    KEVIN E YOCUM    6/22/2010          201102664    Washington    PA
156371000    JOHN S BUCHANAN ET UX    5/6/2010          201104611    Washington    PA
156376000    DOROTHY M CLUTTER    11/11/2010          201103843    Washington    PA
156378002    ROBERT W. DOWHEN    12/31/2010          201112318    Washington    PA
156378003    SUSAN B. DONOHUE    12/12/2010          201112320    Washington    PA
156378004    RICHARD SCOTT BALSLEY    3/29/2011          201118278    Washington    PA
156378005    VON DALE L. BALSLEY    1/12/2011          201112321    Washington    PA
156378006    CONNIE K. O’LEARY    1/12/2011          201112322    Washington    PA
156378007    TERREANCE W S WHITTEN    9/30/2011          201127241    Washington    PA
156378008    RICHARD SCOTT BALSLEY    6/30/2011          201120536    Washington    PA
156378009    KATHLEEN A. MOORE    7/22/2011          201126495    Washington    PA
156378010    WILLIAM K WHITTEN JR    11/21/2011          201216449    Washington    PA
156393000    JUDITH MILLER    3/2/2011          201122758    Washington    PA
156394000    RONALD W LAIPPLE ET UX    3/2/2011          201119370    Washington    PA
156396000    GEORGE E. SILVERS, JR.    4/25/2011          201121667    Washington    PA
156397000    VAUGHN E. HOUSTON    3/29/2011          201118283    Washington    PA
156406000    ANTHONY R. REESE AND HELEN REESE    3/2/2011          201129515    Washington    PA
156408000    CARL S. CALABRO    7/12/2011          201129333    Washington    PA
156409000    STEWART ODELL DAGUE AND MARY JANE DAGUE    7/12/2011          201128437    Washington    PA
156410001    LARRY D. & TAMMY R. HOUSTON    7/19/2011          201127242    Washington    PA
156415000    DALE PRYOR    8/30/2011          201129781    Washington    PA
156418000    GEORGE E MURR JR ET UX    9/15/2011          201130741    Washington    PA
156419000    EARL CLUTTER ET UX    10/18/2011          201129324    Washington    PA
156420000    THOMAS E WARD JR    2/16/2012          201205120    Washington    PA
156422000    THE GENE AND EDITH CONKLIN FAMILY CORPORATION    9/22/2011          201128439    Washington    PA
156423000    THE WILLIAM JAMES HUTSON LIVING TRUST    1/7/2009          200901929    Washington    PA
156425000    JACK PETTIT    6/13/2008          200824912    Washington    PA
156426000    DOMINIC J. WATERS AND JOANNE D. WATERS    1/21/2009          200908240    Washington    PA
156427000    LAWRENCE W. SCOTT & MARYLIN V. SCOTT    2/9/2009          200913916    Washington    PA
156428000    MARLA L. WEST    8/25/2009          201001007    Washington    PA
156429000    HENRY M STEIN ET UX    9/22/2009          20103174    Washington    PA
156430000    NANCY ZITKO    9/30/2009          201000181    Washington    PA
156431000    MARGARET SUE IREY    9/22/2009          201003254    Washington    PA
156432000    RICHARD D.A. WEST, GENERAL PARTNER, WEST FORK FARM    4/25/2009          200915289    Washington    PA

 

B-1-3


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156433000    RONALD E RUSSELL ET UX    3/31/2010          201124735    Washington    PA
156434000    KELLIE H BAIRD ET VIR    6/17/2010          201031778    Washington    PA
156435000    LORI LEIGH KOFFLER & MARK A. MOYAR    7/23/2010          201038133    Washington    PA
156436000    WILLIAM E. HILDEBRAND AND PHYLLIS HILDEBRAND    7/25/2008          201124735    Washington    PA
156437000    FRED O RUSSELL ET UX    4/1/2010          201124735    Washington    PA
156438000    KENNETH CARL WEIMER & SONDRA M. WEIMER    7/15/2010          201124735    Washington    PA
156439000    JOSEPH W. & GRESCHEN C. SULLA    4/21/2010          201124735    Washington    PA
156441000    JEFFERY A PREM ET UX    9/16/2011          201130745    Washington    PA
156443000    JAMES D. HOLDEN    10/12/2011          201129783    Washington    PA
156445000    PATTY WYNN    10/5/2011          201132136    Washington    PA
156447000    RICK G. & JUDI K. SHIPMAN    10/4/2011          201206383    Washington    PA
156448000    ROBERT GENE CONKLIN ET UX    2/20/2008          200810475    Washington    PA
156449000    REED B. DAY ET AL    12/15/2009          201011682    Washington    PA
156450000    BRUCE PHILLIPS ET UX    5/20/2010          201031306    Washington    PA
156451001    CYRIL N. WALTHER ET UX    7/31/2009          201000171    Washington    PA
156452001    CYRIL N. WALTHER ET UX    6/8/2011          201118752    Washington    PA
156453000    ROBERT GAYLOR ET UX    7/22/2009          200934205    Washington    PA
156454000    PHILLIP R. CONKLIN ET UX    3/19/2007          200713547    Washington    PA
156456001    JEFFREY P THOMAS    10/28/2011          201211264    Washington    PA
156456002    WILLIAM A. THOMAS    10/31/2011          201202962    Washington    PA
156456003    JAMES R. THOMAS    11/11/2011          201204581    Washington    PA
156460000    EDWARD L. KERNS ET UX    11/2/2011          201132138    Washington    PA
156461000    JOHN D. FRYE    11/4/2011          201204589    Washington    PA
156462000    RANDALL D FRYE ET UX    11/4/2011          201206449    Washington    PA
156464000    JOHN M. LINDLEY, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEES OF THE TESAMEN    11/8/2011          201206384    Washington    PA
156469000    CLIFFORD T. WRIGHT AND KATHY ADDLEMAN    12/7/2011          201206447    Washington    PA
156471000    RICHARD D. MCCLELLAND ET UX    12/18/2008          200913749    Washington    PA
156472000    BEVERLY BURNS MORGAN    7/7/2008          200827207    Washington    PA
156476001    JAMES W. MALOY ET UX    8/10/2011          201130864    Washington    PA
156477000    ARTHUR P RICHARDSON ET UX    2/11/2010          201014855    Washington    PA
156478000    BRIAN HUGHES ET UX    2/26/2010          201023569    Washington    PA
156480000    BETHEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH    12/20/2011          20120968    Washington    PA
156481000    DORIS H. RUSH    2/8/2010          201014947    Washington    PA
156482000    DANE R. MCCORMICK AND LINDA MCCORMICK    2/2/2012          201211906    Washington    PA
156485000    DUANE L. KIGER AND MARY S. KIGER    12/1/2011          201200977    Washington    PA
156486000    ALVA M. EALY    2/14/2012          201211910    Washington    PA

 

B-1-4


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156490000    JEFFREY B. FORDYCE AND KATHYRN A. FORDYCE    2/22/2012          201211730    Washington    PA
156492000    WAYNE D LEECH ET UX    2/3/2012          201210474    Washington    PA
238183000    WILLIAM L ANDERSON SR    6/26/2012          201224088    Washington    PA
238956000    PHILLIP R CONKLIN ET UX    5/8/2010    0    0    201031694    Washington    PA
238963000    ELBERT E MINOR ET AL    9/11/2009          201003355    Washington    PA
239168000    GARY P MORGAN ET UX    3/11/2009          200908232    Washington    PA
239175000    DENNIS J LOCY    4/27/2009    0    0    200913947    Washington    PA
239184000    LUCINDA M PARRY ET VIR    10/29/2008          200832274    Washington    PA
239185000    JOHN P DIBBLE JR ET AL    1/13/2010          201006103    Washington    PA
239187000    SUE E CLUTTER ET AL    2/6/2009          200912958    Washington    PA
239189000    ROBERT D SHERBURNE    6/16/2009          200918302    Washington    PA
239192000    JAMES N ROBERTS ET UX    4/1/2009          200931737    Washington    PA
239193000    WILLIAM J GRASSER JR ET UX    5/18/2009          200914747    Washington    PA
239195000    RONALD C FUEHRER ET UX    8/3/2009          200926406    Washington    PA
239196000    JAMES J CRUM    7/7/2008          200817528    Washington    PA
239197000    JACK PIATT II ET AL    7/20/2008          200824710    Washington    PA
239198000    SAMUEL R PRICE ET UX    10/27/2009          200937596    Washington    PA
239202000    MICHAEL J SHYMCHYK    3/3/2008    0    0    200814479    Washington    PA
239207000    HOWARD E HILL ET UX    4/16/2009    0    0    200911035    Washington    PA
239411000    DONALD J LOGUE ET UX    4/9/2012    0    0    201216469    Washington    PA
239677000    C T DODD    6/14/2026    574    365    0    Washington    PA
239677000    C T DODD    6/14/2026    574    365    0    Washington    PA
240582001    TOD MROCK    7/26/2012          201235188    Washington    PA
240582002    SANDRA D MROCK    9/26/2012          201235189    Washington    PA
240582003    GARY M MROCK    7/13/2012          201235190    Washington    PA
240582004    MAUREEN E MROCK    7/26/2012          201235191    Washington    PA
240582005    DANIEL G MROCK    7/26/2012          201236286    Washington    PA
240582006    LORRAINE ELIAS    7/17/2012          201236297    Washington    PA
240582007    RUDOLPH PARKER KERON    7/20/2012          201235192    Washington    PA
240582008    TIMOTHY J TUTTLE ET UX    7/23/2012          201235193    Washington    PA
240582009    MARTIN MCNEIL ET UX    7/20/2012          201235194    Washington    PA
240766000    JAMES A CARTER ET UX    10/4/2012          201308036    Washington    PA
241993000    KAREN S HUCKO ET VIR    8/27/2012          201238877    Washington    PA
242194000    ELIZABETH D YOUNG ET AL    4/6/2029    0    0    201134239    Washington    PA
243237000    EUGENE W SCHERICH ET AL    12/18/2012          201238891    Washington    PA
243571000    ANDREW R CLARKSON    12/11/2012          201310825    Washington    PA
244782000    THOMAS R DORSEY    6/5/2010          201033854    Washington    PA

 

B-1-5


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Original Lessor/Grantor

  

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Page

  

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State

245090000    DONNA MAES HILL LLC    7/24/2012          201226149    Washington    PA
245091000    BRUCE E LIVINGOOD ET UX    4/2/2012          201226148    Washington    PA
245094000    MCGUIER FAMILY FARM LLC    4/25/2012          201226145    Washington    PA
245326000    JAIME L MARGARIA    2/27/2012          201213675    Washington    PA
245331000    PETE F PIRILLO JR    2/27/2012          201213672    Washington    PA
245350000    DAY CLAN LLC    5/8/2012          201214453    Washington    PA
245419001    GEORGE R MAXWELL    1/30/2012          201227640    Washington    PA
245419002    KEITH A MAXWELL    1/30/2012          201227660    Washington    PA
245419003    KEVIN M MAXWELL    3/15/2013          201331118    Washington    PA
246718000    LARRY E BEDILLION ET UX    4/16/2013          201322042    Washington    PA
247307000    HENRY SWAGGARD ET AL    7/9/2025    531    601    0    Washington    PA
250406000    MARK ANDREW POWELL ET UX    1/23/2009          200912677    Washington    PA
251240000    PATRICK M MCMULLEN ET UX    2/17/2012          201211171    Washington    PA
253262000    HAROLD D FRYE ET UX    5/17/1967    1262    95    0    Washington    PA
253452000    OPAL D WINNETT    7/21/2006    2386    383    0    Washington    PA
253454000    W M HARSH ET UX    4/14/1964    1176    425    0    Washington    PA
253467000    CHARLES E CLUTTER ET UX    9/14/1967    1267    712    0    Washington    PA
253476000    RELLA V CUNNINGHAM ET VIR    2/10/1959    1041    559    0    Washington    PA
253478000    DELLA M WALLACE ET AL    11/28/1967    1274    999    0    Washington    PA
253560000    W M HARSH ET UX    6/14/1966    1245    737    196606222    Washington    PA
253563000    WILLIAM G MILLIKEN ET UX    7/27/1967    1269    325    0    Washington    PA
253675000    DESSIE G RICHEY    11/10/1966    0    0    201302107    Washington    PA
255225000    CHARLES R MILLIKEN ET UX    11/10/1964    1194    141    0    Washington    PA
255243000    NELLIE H CLUTTER ET VIR    4/11/1968    1278    330    0    Washington    PA
255986000    LOTTIE J RAYMER    9/14/1967    1267    708    0    Washington    PA
260838000    HYSEE L DAY ET UX    8/31/2021    497    197    0    Washington    PA
156236000    EARL E. ANDERSON    10/9/2009          201004588    Washington    PA
209689000    CALVERT, NORA A    7/9/2007          200718945    Washington    PA
209752000    ESTATE OF JOHN C VAN ARSDALE JR    11/17/2008          200833415    Washington    PA
209844000    JOHNSON, DOUGLAS K & LAURA M    12/28/2010          201041456    Washington    PA
216030000    CONSOLIDATION COAL COMPANY    2/18/1988    2313    387    0    Washington    PA
216034000    WEAVER, JOHN R & B. LAURA    12/11/1992    2517    425    0    Washington    PA
216035000    MILLER, JOHN & JUDITH A    12/17/1992    2518    374    0    Washington    PA
216036000    STOCKER, FRANK W & LINDA    3/31/1993    2528    577    0    Washington    PA
216039000    BAYER, JOSEPH F & BILLIE I    5/27/1993    2535    583    0    Washington    PA
216041000    HOUSTON, VAUGHN E; HOUSTON, RAY E & NORMA JEAN    5/10/1993    2533    28    0    Washington    PA

 

B-1-6


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216042000    ARCHER, W LELAND, WILL OF; HAROLD B ARCHER, EXECUT    11/17/1993    2559    245    0    Washington    PA
216048000    DILLE, DARYL G    5/12/1993    2533    588    0    Washington    PA
216049000    MENCER, ROBERT J & GERALDINE    6/11/1993    2537    490    0    Washington    PA
216051000    BRETH, MARJORIE DAY    8/5/1993    2545    49    0    Washington    PA
216056000    CIMINO, WAYNE L & LOUISE    11/3/1994    2612    213    0    Washington    PA
216057000    SCHERICH, THOMAS E & BERTHA M    1/28/2004    0    0    200401884    Washington    PA
216059000    PHILLIPS, DANIEL K & JACQUELYN    3/22/2005    0    0    200507899    Washington    PA
216073000    MCGUIER, JOEL R & KELLEY ISHLER    5/19/2005          200514153    Washington    PA
216074000    WOODS, MAE M    10/25/2005          200535925    Washington    PA
156263000    NICHOLAS L YURKOVICH JR    9/1/2009          201011352    Washington    PA
156271000    BERNICE ANDERSON    9/17/2009          201009894    Washington    PA
156335000    LESLIE PALOMBIINE ET UX    12/30/2009          201029333    Washington    PA
156361000    DAVID HAMILTON ET UX    1/15/2010          201036285    Washington    PA
156401000    CLIFFORD M. VANKIRK, SR. AND REGINA L. VANKIRK    5/11/2011          201126768    Washington    PA
156407000    CARLO KRENZELAK    7/7/2011          201126504    Washington    PA
156424000    HYSEE L DAY ET UX    8/31/2021    497    197       Washington    PA
156463001    RANDALL D FRYE ET UX    11/4/2011          201204594    Washington    PA
156470001    WILLIAM J SMITH ET UX    3/10/2009          2009070703    Washington    PA
156475000    MICHAEL R LUCAS ET UX    6/2/2009          200917495    Washington    PA
209285000    MANOR REAL ESTATE COMPANY    7/25/1960    1267    121       Washington    PA
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209536000    DIETRICH, DAVID WILLIAM & PAMELA DIANE    9/17/2002          200233252    Washington    PA
209569000    COLAVECCHIA, ANTHONY & FAITH    7/31/2003          200332251    Washington    PA
209570000    TAYLOR, NICOLE & DANIEL P    7/31/2003          200332257    Washington    PA
209592000    DYE, DANIEL & MARY ELLEN MARTIN    11/11/2004          200437320    Washington    PA
209593000    CAMP, JOSEPH LEE JR    5/5/2005          200512942    Washington    PA
209615000    BEAVER, GARY L & DIANE L    9/28/2005          200532674    Washington    PA
209617000    WOOTTON, DONALD R JR & ANGELA E    10/12/2005          200534479    Washington    PA
209621000    ZALNER, ALBERT J & ROSE    12/22/2005          200542105    Washington    PA
209622000    BULL, BETTY C    2/23/2006          200605014    Washington    PA
209641000    KELLER, HENRY L & SANDRA H    8/2/2006          200623028    Washington    PA
209647000    MCGILL, KEITH & JUNE HARRIS    11/21/2006          200634930    Washington    PA
209668000    PRICE, S ROBERT & GENEVIEVE ET AL    7/26/2007          200723294    Washington    PA
209714000    WESTERN PA ANNUAL CONFERENCE    10/15/2007          200728980    Washington    PA
209837000    BIGLER, DARLENE J ET AL    12/7/2010          201039079    Washington    PA

 

B-1-7


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State

216037000    WISE, ROBERT J & GRETCHEN A    5/21/1993    2535    145       Washington    PA
216046000    DITTMAR, LAWRENCE W & FRANCES    4/2/1993    2529    273       Washington    PA
216053000    DUNN, DOROTHY M, ET AL    9/3/1993    2550    163       Washington    PA
216054000    KAUFMAN, DWAYNE J & LOU ANN    11/3/1994    2612    219       Washington    PA
216058000    JESSE, ALBERT M & MARY ANN    3/11/2005          200506857    Washington    PA
216077000    HARBERT, DONALD D & MARY E    11/17/2006          200635097    Washington    PA
216077000    HARBERT, DONALD D & MARY E    11/17/2006    357    1035    200600005375    Washington    PA
238800000    HAROLD M HARTER SR AND MARSHA A HARTER COTRUSTEES    2/8/2012          201215791    Washington    PA
238966000    SANDRA K SHRIVER    9/16/2009             Washington    PA
239159000    THE RONALD AND TWILA GOTTSCHALK REV LIVING TRUST    10/26/2009             Washington    PA
239173000    THOMAS A SANTELLI ET UX    4/22/2009          200912656    Washington    PA
239201000    JOHN M ZOELLER ET UX    3/11/2008          200814478    Washington    PA
239205000    JOHN M ZOELLER ET UX    3/20/2008          200816813    Washington    PA
239208000    RICHARD A LUCAS ET UX    7/9/2008          200827237    Washington    PA
243648003    JOHN R CASTORR    11/20/2012          201316528    Washington    PA
243648004    KRISTINA T ADAMSON    10/30/2012          201308038    Washington    PA
243648013    THE RECHEL TRUST OF 1995 BY DAVID RECHEL TRUSTEE    12/7/2012          201401521    Washington    PA
245089000    GOTTSCHALK FAMILY PARTNERS LP BY GOTTSCHALK ENERGY    11/30/2011          201223513    Washington    PA
245416001    DAVID J HUBLEY    5/13/2012          201218556    Washington    PA
245416002    MICHELLE R HUBLEY    4/26/2012          201218558    Washington    PA
251241000    JANET FAY EICHLER    8/19/2008          201200999    Washington    PA
251241000    JANET FAY EICHLER    8/19/2008          200824863    Washington    PA
110242001    ROBERT T KLINE ET UX    8/24/1988    2876    520    0    Westmoreland    PA
110498000    SANDRA J CALIZZI ET AL    4/15/1987    2740    612    0    Westmoreland    PA
112967000    SAMUEL E GALLAGHER ET AL    6/5/1985    2650    527    0    Westmoreland    PA
119270000    JAMES KRALIK ET UX    12/12/2001          200201220005393    Westmoreland    PA
119355000    MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF WESTMORELAND    1/1/2002    0    0    200206130039309    Westmoreland    PA
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119464000    MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF WESTMORELAND COUN    8/6/2002    0    0    200302190013077    Westmoreland    PA
119822000    ROBERT C SHAW ET AL    7/23/2003          200308210068213    Westmoreland    PA
119977000    STEPHEN N TOWER ET UX    8/18/2003          200404140020979    Westmoreland    PA
119978000    CHRISTOPHER D. & JANE M. TOWER    4/6/2005    0    0    200202250013293    Westmoreland    PA
121106000    DEBORAH A DORSEY    11/14/2007          200805220021612    Westmoreland    PA
121107000    ROBERT P HOLTZ ET UX    11/15/2007          200805220021613    Westmoreland    PA

 

B-1-8


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Page

  

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State

121781000    EDWARD M KROKOSKY ET UX    6/2/2010    0    0    201007060023196    Westmoreland    PA
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121802000    WILLIAM JANKOVIK ET UX    8/22/2010          201103070008403    Westmoreland    PA
121803000    LAURETTA M MUSSER    9/3/2010          201103070008404    Westmoreland    PA
121804000    CHRIS TOWER ET UX    9/15/2010    0    0    201103310011573    Westmoreland    PA
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121812000    DAVID A HOLM ET UX    12/29/2010    0    0    201103310011568    Westmoreland    PA
121813000    PATRICIA A ONDISH    12/29/2010    0    0    201103310011561    Westmoreland    PA
121832001    DAVID A MATSON    12/7/2010          201103310011576    Westmoreland    PA
121905000    NANCY J SHANTA    4/15/2011          201108260030914    Westmoreland    PA
121906000    C ROBERT SHANTA JR    4/15/2011          201108260030915    Westmoreland    PA
121971001    RICHARD HILL    5/8/2011          201110200038323    Westmoreland    PA
121971002    HOWARD WAYNE WIESTER    5/20/2011          201110200038315    Westmoreland    PA
121971003    WILLIAM W CALDWELL    5/24/2011          201110200038317    Westmoreland    PA
121971004    HOWARD E HILL    8/22/2011          201110200038316    Westmoreland    PA
121971005    ELIZABETH ANN TROXELL    9/1/2011          201110200038328    Westmoreland    PA
121971006    N IRENE CLARK    9/20/2011          201110200038321    Westmoreland    PA
121983000    DOUGLAS W IFFT ET UX    5/12/2005          200506030027624    Westmoreland    PA
121989000    MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF WESTMORELAND COUN    7/11/2002          200207290048651    Westmoreland    PA
121990000    MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF WESTMORELAND COUN    4/10/2003          200304290032722    Westmoreland    PA
122003000    JOHN W BANKOSKE ET UX    9/22/2006          200611150056116    Westmoreland    PA
122004000    MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF WESTMORELAND COUN    2/21/2002          200203210019679    Westmoreland    PA
122006000    ROSALIE B KRYSTON ET AL    11/5/2010          201012160047147    Westmoreland    PA
122014000    FRANCIS S DEMARCO    8/4/2011          201110200038318    Westmoreland    PA
122015001    DAVID MATSON    5/3/2011          201110200038322    Westmoreland    PA
122016000    JEFFREY C BURTON    9/26/2011          201110200038320    Westmoreland    PA
122035000    FREDERICK J SLACK ET UX    11/16/2011    0    0    201111170042612    Westmoreland    PA
122053000    ROBERT L ANDERSON ET UX    6/29/2011    0    0    201111290043953    Westmoreland    PA
125763000    DAVID DUFF    8/28/1999       0    0002/02166    Westmoreland    PA
125905000    P R LONG ET UX    12/14/2011       0    0020/02035    Westmoreland    PA
126236000    SIMON P BORTZ ET UX    4/24/1930    915    140    0    Westmoreland    PA
126262000    MYRTIE M POTTS ET VIR    6/24/1932       0    0085/00271    Westmoreland    PA
126474000    JOSEPH R MARCO ET AL    9/30/1946    1266    15    0    Westmoreland    PA
127484000    TWILA N SAUL    1/14/1981       0    0301/00076    Westmoreland    PA
238039000    SPD FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP    12/13/2013    0    0    201312130049072    Westmoreland    PA
239407000    NANCY ANN FERGUSON RAIRIGH ET VIR    8/23/2012          201208270035353    Westmoreland    PA

 

B-1-9


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Date

  

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State

239408000    NANCY ANN FERGUSON RAIRIGH ET VIR    8/23/2012          201208270035354    Westmoreland    PA
240165001    WINIFRED SHANER    10/1/2012          201302120005715    Westmoreland    PA
240165002    WILLIAM V SHANER    1/10/2013          201302250007303    Westmoreland    PA
240165003    GEORGE E SHANER    12/28/2012          201302250007302    Westmoreland    PA
244755000    RICHARD SLAUGHENHAUPT ET UX    1/16/2013          201302250007300    Westmoreland    PA
245129000    CLAIR J RUBRIGHT ET AL    4/20/1987    2735    272    0    Westmoreland    PA
245130000    MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF WESTMORELAND COUN    8/11/1994    3279    577    0    Westmoreland    PA
245131000    ARTHUR D HENDERSON    5/3/1985    2606    632    0    Westmoreland    PA
245132000    ANNA MOORHEAD ET AL    11/25/1986    2719    310    0    Westmoreland    PA
245915000    HOWARD A BORTZ ET UX    10/30/1984    2832    364    0    Westmoreland    PA
246663000    THE BRUNOT COMPANY INC    4/6/2013          201304160014665    Westmoreland    PA
247305000    HENRY H COY    4/12/2005    517    400    0    Westmoreland    PA
250284000    SENATE COAL MINES INC    7/16/2013          201308260035230    Westmoreland    PA
255632000    ARTHUR PRATI ET UX    1/18/2014          201402030002989    Westmoreland    PA
113003000    AVONMORE LAND AND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY    2/15/2001    308    108    0    Westmoreland    PA
113419000    KEROTEST MANUFACTURING COMPANY    5/12/1950    1385    84    0    Westmoreland    PA
152338001    KEROTEST MFG. COMPANY    5/12/1950    1385    84    0    Westmoreland    PA
110188000    DAYWOOD FOUNDATION INC    4/18/1983    95    620    0    Barbour    WV
112006000    HENRY H STREETS    11/13/1970    68    455    0    Barbour    WV
112435000    ELENOR WEEKLEY ET AL    5/1/1973    72    267    0    Barbour    WV
121787002    MCFUTURE LLC    9/29/2011    154    609    0    Barbour    WV
121787003    ARCELORMITTAL PRISTINE RESOURCES LLC    10/13/2011    155    367    0    Barbour    WV
121789000    ARCELORMITTAL PRISTINE RESOURCES INC    10/27/2010    152    554    0    Barbour    WV
121826001    PEGGY CHESSER SJOBERG    11/16/2010    153    93    0    Barbour    WV
121826002    JULIA C MARTINE    12/13/2010    153    172    0    Barbour    WV
121931000    ARCELORMITTAL PRISTINE RESOURCES INC    3/21/2011    155    239    0    Barbour    WV
121961000    TIFFANY A ROBINSON ET AL    3/11/2011    154    620    0    Barbour    WV
121962000    MURL PATRICK MITCHELL ET UX    3/23/2011    154    625    0    Barbour    WV
121963000    LEVADA ANN MITCHELL ET VIR    3/23/2011    154    630    0    Barbour    WV
121964000    JAMES GREGORY MITCHELL    3/23/2011    154    635    0    Barbour    WV
121967001    MICHAEL P MITCHELL    3/23/2011    155    189    0    Barbour    WV
121967002    THE DIANA GOFF CATHER M TRUST    11/8/2012    160    642    119335    Barbour    WV
131750000    RUTH WOODS DAYTON    9/23/1967    62    265    0    Barbour    WV
132167000    GERALD BAUGHMAN ET AL    6/1/1966    59    76    0    Barbour    WV
132378000    LUCY O NEAL    8/20/1959    41    66    0    Barbour    WV
132381000    W J POLING ET UX    8/21/1959    41    84    0    Barbour    WV
132385000    ELIZABETH TETER ET AL    8/20/1959    41    276    0    Barbour    WV

 

B-1-10


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132398000    LUCILLE CHESSER ET VIR    10/21/1959    41    417    0    Barbour    WV
132464000    MARTHA D STRADER ET AL    2/27/1969    65    497    0    Barbour    WV
132474000    ELMIRA GULENTZ    9/15/1960    42    326    0    Barbour    WV
132491000    MERLE MCVICKER ET UX    5/4/1961    43    359    0    Barbour    WV
132494000    A L PROUDFOOT ET UX    5/4/1961    OG43    353    0    Barbour    WV
132495000    D O MITCHELL    5/3/1961    43    351    0    Barbour    WV
132496000    C S MITCHELL ET UX    5/4/1961    43    349    0    Barbour    WV
132497000    JUNIOR L MORREL ET UX    12/15/1970    OG69    91    0    Barbour    WV
132501000    RALPH PLUM ET UX    12/15/1970    OG69    46    0    Barbour    WV
132502000    WILBERT MCVICKER ET UX    5/11/1961    OG43    315    0    Barbour    WV
132503000    L DOW PHILLIPS ET UX    5/5/1961    OG43    307    0    Barbour    WV
132506000    MONZELL MITCHELL ET UX    5/19/1961    43    295    0    Barbour    WV
132522000    CLINTON ROBINSON ET AL    5/2/1961    OG44    256    0    Barbour    WV
132530000    ZORA MCQUAIN    7/12/1961    44    283    0    Barbour    WV
132533000    MORA MCDANIEL ET AL    5/9/1961    OG44    355    0    Barbour    WV
132537000    IRA MCBEE ET AL    5/4/1961    44    371    0    Barbour    WV
132544000    W H LANTZ ET UX    10/23/1961    45    137    0    Barbour    WV
132618000    C M BOWMAR ET AL    1/31/1964    48    360    0    Barbour    WV
132690000    J M O’NEAL    3/24/1965    53    262    0    Barbour    WV
132820000    UNITED STATES STEEL CORP    10/12/1967    62    487    0    Barbour    WV
243010000    ROGER SCOTT MITCHELL    10/21/2012    160    647    119337    Barbour    WV
244886000    MICHAEL PATRICK MITCHELL    12/12/2012    162    601    130375    Barbour    WV
246072000    CLARENCE J POLING ET UX    3/7/2013    163    294    140593    Barbour    WV
246356000    CLARENCE J POLING ET AL    2/19/2013    163    289    140592    Barbour    WV
110612000    A W COFFMAN    12/22/2003    143    420    0    Harrison    WV
130568000    W G BENNETT ET AL    3/27/2001    42    217    0    Lewis    WV
175969001    ELLSWORTH H. SCHERICH AND THELMA L. SCHERICH    8/11/2009          1277792    Marshall    WV
176153000    DALE E CAMPBELL    7/21/2009    687    319-322    1276418    Marshall    WV
176154000    DALE E CAMPBELL    7/21/2009    687    323-327    1276419    Marshall    WV
176157000    DALE E CAMPBELL    7/21/2009    687    328-331    1276420    Marshall    WV
176164000    DAVID KINNEY ET AL    9/9/2009          1286688    Marshall    WV
176167000    DUANE L WISLON ET UX    9/1/2009    697    308    1283409    Marshall    WV
176201000    JOHN A GRAY ET UX    11/10/2009    697    237-239    1283271    Marshall    WV
176220001    TIERRA OIL COMPANY LLC    12/21/2009    772    73    1286687    Marshall    WV
176220002    ROBERT B. ELLIOTT    1/6/2010    707    260    1291211    Marshall    WV
176220003    SCOTT REED    11/4/2009    701    409    1286684    Marshall    WV
176220004    JACKIE FRYE    11/24/2009    700    265-267    1285497    Marshall    WV

 

B-1-11


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Book

  

Page

  

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State

176220005    RICHARD & MARY BARTO    11/11/2009    700    268-270    1285498    Marshall    WV
176454001    JACKIE L FRYE    12/16/2009    707    729    1291217    Marshall    WV
176454002    RICHARD BARTO ET UX    2/2/2010    805    609    1350450    Marshall    WV
176454003    SCOTT D REED    11/30/2009    805    613    1350451    Marshall    WV
176457001    ELLSWORTH SCHERICH ET UX    11/11/2009    708    361    1291866    Marshall    WV
176457002    MABLE L. RIGGLE    3/25/2011    738    165    1308002    Marshall    WV
176490000    RICHARD E. HARTLEY, SR & BARBARA E. HARTLEY    6/4/2010    707    286    1291219    Marshall    WV
176496000    RALPH E. MOORE AND MICHAEL R. FLYNN    8/16/2010          1292703    Marshall    WV
176497000    VIOLA LAND, INC.    8/16/2010    709    515    1292704    Marshall    WV
176505000    ROBERT R. TOLAND & CARRIE M. TOLAND    6/12/2010    709    519    1292705    Marshall    WV
176517000    AMERICAN PREMIER UNDERWRITERS, INC.    8/17/2010    711    79    1293977    Marshall    WV
176523000    RUDOLPH F CEBULA JR    10/12/2010    725    153    1300752    Marshall    WV
176524001    GENEVA TERRILL    9/16/2010    720    420    1298535    Marshall    WV
176524002    WILLIAM D EARNEST    9/17/2010    720    424    1298537    Marshall    WV
176536000    VIOLA SPORTMANS CLUB    12/15/2010    731    522    1304279    Marshall    WV
176556000    JAMES KEVIN SAMPSON    4/9/2011    744    321    1311028    Marshall    WV
176557000    GERALD K. WHITE AND SARAH A. WHITE    4/28/2011    738    209    130817    Marshall    WV
176561000    JAMES DOLAN AND MARY J. DOLAN    5/12/2011    744    160    1310693    Marshall    WV
176562001    CATHY A CROMIKA    6/3/2011    744    325    1311029    Marshall    WV
176562002    WILLIAM J. HEGEDUS AND MARGARET R. MORGAN H/W    8/7/2011    749    6    1313288    Marshall    WV
176562003    GERALD D. HEGEDUS    11/14/2011    757    415    1318122    Marshall    WV
176565001    JULIA RIGGLE    6/15/2011    744    329    1311030    Marshall    WV
176565002    RALPH CURTIS RIGGLE, BY NICK RIGGLE, ATTORNEY-IN-F    10/26/2011    757    419    1318123    Marshall    WV
176565003    MABLE L. RIGGLE    10/26/2011    758    219    1318625    Marshall    WV
176571001    CHARLES E DAGUE    6/22/2011    747    150    1312398    Marshall    WV
176571002    RONALD J HORR    6/22/2011    747    154    1312399    Marshall    WV
176577000    JAY A SEABRIGHT ET UX    8/17/2011    748    56    1312772    Marshall    WV
176588001    WILLIAM D. EARNEST    10/11/2011    758    275    1318732    Marshall    WV
176588002    LEONA M. RIGGLE    10/10/2011    758    279    1318742    Marshall    WV
176588003    MARY ELLEN WHIPKEY    10/12/2011    757    423    1318125    Marshall    WV
176588004    JOAN MILLIKEN    10/12/2011    757    141    1317603    Marshall    WV
176588005    EULA J. RIGGLE BENNETT    10/10/2011    757    145    1317604    Marshall    WV
176588007    JAMES D. RIGGLE    10/15/2011    757    145    1317604    Marshall    WV
176588008    EVELYN M. VAN KIRK AKA EVELYN (EVIE) VAN KIRK    10/15/2011    757    153    1317607    Marshall    WV
176588009    SHIRLEY DULANEY    10/21/2011    758    283    1318744    Marshall    WV

 

B-1-12


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Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

176588010    BARBARA K. RIGGLE    10/21/2011    758    291    1318748    Marshall    WV
176588011    ROBIN WILLIAMS    10/21/2011    758    295    1318749    Marshall    WV
176588012    BELINDA WEST    10/21/2011    758    299    1318752    Marshall    WV
176588013    EDNA MAE HOMROCK BRAFCHAK    11/3/2011    758    303    1318754    Marshall    WV
176588014    JULIA A. KIGER    11/3/2011    758    307    1318755    Marshall    WV
176588015    BRUCE J. KIGER    11/3/2011    758    311    1318756    Marshall    WV
176588016    CHRISTINE M. ELLIS F.K.A CHRISTINE M. TRIGG    11/3/2011    758    315    1318757    Marshall    WV
176588017    BETTY LOU RIGGLE    11/3/2011    758    319    1318758    Marshall    WV
176588018    IDA LOU TAYLOR    11/3/2011    759    507    1319551    Marshall    WV
176588020    EUNICE A. RIGGLE    11/3/2011    760    24    1319787    Marshall    WV
176588022    SARAH JANE STAHL    12/9/2011    763    16    1321918    Marshall    WV
176588023    WILLIAM L RIGGLE    12/9/2011    763    20    1321919    Marshall    WV
176588024    RICHARD P RIGGLE    12/9/2011    767    223    1324609    Marshall    WV
176588025    WAYNE A RIGGLE    1/18/2012    771    183    1326895    Marshall    WV
176588026    CAROLYN PORTER    12/13/2011    766    153    1323728    Marshall    WV
176588027    ROLAND I RIGGLE JR    9/18/2012    787    643    1338080    Marshall    WV
176588028    LINDA D WILLIAMS    11/3/2011    764    220    13225500    Marshall    WV
176588029    MICHAEL D DONATO    12/12/2011    764    253    1322608    Marshall    WV
176588030    LORETTA K COULTER    12/13/2011    766    149    1323726    Marshall    WV
176588031    HESTLE B RIGGLE JR    11/3/2011    764    216    1322549    Marshall    WV
176588032    TERRI G HELT    12/13/2011    766    157    1323730    Marshall    WV
176588033    THOMAS E RIGGLE    1/10/2012    764    257    1322610    Marshall    WV
176588034    FRANCIS A RIGGLE JR    1/10/2012    764    261    1322611    Marshall    WV
176588035    ROBERTA M DILLOW    1/10/2012    763    398    1322307    Marshall    WV
176588036    CRYSTAL J FITZEK    1/10/2012    763    399    1322308    Marshall    WV
176588037    RONNY S BARTRAM    1/10/2012    763    403    1322309    Marshall    WV
176588038    JAISON M CARMAN    1/10/2012    763    407    1322310    Marshall    WV
176588039    JEREMY M CARMAN    1/10/2012    763    411    1322311    Marshall    WV
176588040    FREDERICK M CARMAN    1/10/2012    763    445    1322322    Marshall    WV
176588041    CHRISTOPHER J PRICE    1/10/2012    764    224    1322551    Marshall    WV
176588042    ROLANDA B PLUM    1/10/2012    764    228    1322552    Marshall    WV
176588043    ROY J RIGGLE    1/10/2012    764    232    1322553    Marshall    WV
176588044    DENNIS C HENDERSON    12/9/2011    765    67    1322983    Marshall    WV
176588045    AMY L MINCH    12/9/2011    765    63    1322982    Marshall    WV
176588046    RUTH E SCHACHT    1/10/2012    768    585    1325662    Marshall    WV
176588047    VALERIE M HARLACHER    1/18/2012    780    50    1332633    Marshall    WV
176627001    CINDY P WOOD AKA CINDY KIGER WOOD    10/18/2011    757    157    1317608    Marshall    WV

 

B-1-13


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Book

  

Page

  

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State

183309000    NISOURCE ENERGY VENTURES, LLC (NEVCO), COLUMBIA GA    7/27/2009    782    1    1333957    Marshall    WV
238542001    LINDA MARCHAL    2/28/2012    792    392    1341420    Marshall    WV
238947000    KENNETH J PORTER ET UX    6/15/2012    776    31    1330317    Marshall    WV
238948000    MARK D ULLOM II    6/27/2012    776    35    1330319    Marshall    WV
239738001    SANDRA C KOONTZ    9/4/2012    778    280    1331874    Marshall    WV
240192001    RICHARD WAYNE ANDERSON ET AL    7/15/2012    783    458    1335345    Marshall    WV
240662001    DONNA CALABRESE    12/7/2011    763    245    1322200    Marshall    WV
240662002    JEAN HARTZELL    12/7/2011    767    227    1324610    Marshall    WV
240662003    LARRY HARTLEY    12/15/2011    764    274    1322616    Marshall    WV
240662004    BETTY TRAVIS    12/7/2011    764    240    1322555    Marshall    WV
240662005    RANDY HARTZELL    12/7/2011    767    364    1324786    Marshall    WV
240662006    CYNTHIA J HARTZELL    7/13/2012    797    113    1344525    Marshall    WV
240736000    JAMES B WELCH    1/26/1960    342    11    0    Marshall    WV
240738000    GEORGE N JUNKINS ET UX    3/29/1960    342    133    0    Marshall    WV
240739000    MAUDE DAGUE ET AL    2/8/1960    342    197    0    Marshall    WV
240742000    BENTON HAZLETT ET UX    2/5/1960    342    19    0    Marshall    WV
240743000    EARL J WILSON    12/23/1958    326    159    0    Marshall    WV
240745000    MATTIE E DAGUE DICKEL    8/3/1959    326    428    0    Marshall    WV
240748000    ELLSWORTH JUNKINS ET UX    2/5/1960    342    15    0    Marshall    WV
240749000    EARL J WILSON    12/23/1958    326    163    0    Marshall    WV
240752000    CARL W DOMAN ET UX    5/3/1968    395    570    0    Marshall    WV
240754000    ELIZABETH WELCH    1/26/1960    342    35    0    Marshall    WV
240755000    LUKE L MERINAR ET AL    4/4/1960    342    180    0    Marshall    WV
240756000    RICHARD D MCCAUSLAND ET UX    1/22/1963    360    353    0    Marshall    WV
240757000    C M MAGERS ET UX    2/5/1963    361    167    0    Marshall    WV
240758000    SARA E BLAKE    3/12/1973    434    153    0    Marshall    WV
240759000    ERVIN RITCHEA ET UX    9/1/1965    375    429    0    Marshall    WV
240761000    BESSIE L INGERSOLL ET AL    5/22/1963    363    87    0    Marshall    WV
241532001    VIRGINIA M PARSONS    8/1/2012    784    552    1336079    Marshall    WV
241532002    GARY WAYNE TIMMONS ET UX    9/24/2012    787    108    1337438    Marshall    WV
241532003    MARY U PHILLIPS    9/19/2012    787    111    1337439    Marshall    WV
241532004    MERLE H JENKINS ET VIR    9/22/2012    787    114    1337440    Marshall    WV
241532005    WILLIAM HOWARD ET UX    9/25/2012    787    117    1337442    Marshall    WV
241532006    COLETTE M AUGUSTINE    9/22/2012    787    120    1337443    Marshall    WV
241532007    MARK E HOWARD ET UX    10/3/2012    788    5    1338084    Marshall    WV
241532008    NANCY W MILLER ET VIR    9/22/2012    788    8    1338085    Marshall    WV
241532009    NANCY C WATSON    8/23/2012    790    17    1340008    Marshall    WV

 

B-1-14


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Date

  

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241532010    MARY JANE GORDON    10/3/2012    790    20    1340010    Marshall    WV
241532011    JAMES H BLAKE JR    9/25/2012    788    624    1339045    Marshall    WV
241532012    JAMES WATSON ET UX    9/8/2012    788    627    1339046    Marshall    WV
241532013    LANCE TEURFS ET UX    9/22/2012    788    630    1339047    Marshall    WV
241532014    QUENTIN CRON    9/22/2012    788    633    1339048    Marshall    WV
241532015    DEBRA L FREDLEY    9/8/2012    788    636    1339049    Marshall    WV
241532016    RICHARD PRINCE ET UX    1/18/2013    794    62    1342336    Marshall    WV
241532017    DEBRA A GRAHAM    10/8/2012    789    549    1339870    Marshall    WV
241532018    BARBARA PATTERSON ET VIR    11/15/2012    790    23    1340011    Marshall    WV
241532019    G RICHARD ABBOTT    10/16/2012    790    615    1340519    Marshall    WV
241532020    CATHERINE K TAYLOR ET VIR    12/8/2012    794    301    1342753    Marshall    WV
241532021    BLAKE C HOWARD ET UX    12/21/2012    794    305    1342754    Marshall    WV
241693001    JOHN F HUDSON ET UX    2/3/2012    767    231    1324611    Marshall    WV
242391000    WHEELING CREEK WATERSHED PROTECTION AND FLOOD PREV    3/11/2010    701    215    1286527    Marshall    WV
244065000    JENNIFER FILBY ET VIR    11/26/2012    789    561    1339875    Marshall    WV
244073000    W FRANK WINEMAN ET AL    8/19/1971    417    498    0    Marshall    WV
244074000    CARL E NAMACK ET UX    1/6/1965    375    11    0    Marshall    WV
244324000    CARL W GROPPE JR TRUST    2/15/2012    763    459    0    Marshall    WV
244678000    ROBERT BRENT KOONTZ ET AL    4/19/2010    702    419    1287734    Marshall    WV
246617000    GEORGE N JUNKINS ET UX    4/4/1960    342    169    0    Marshall    WV
247229000    FAZAL A KHAN    12/23/2010    727    588    1302163    Marshall    WV
247991000    WILLIAM W SHOOK ET AL    1/11/1960    326    552    0    Marshall    WV
249411000    ARMSTRONG J BLAKE ET AL    3/14/1960    401    117    0    Marshall    WV
249422000    JAMES DAGUE ET AL    6/16/2010    703    150    1288020    Marshall    WV
249719000    WILLIAM J RIGGLE ET UX    2/9/1960    342    39    0    Marshall    WV
249721000    CARL W DOMAN ET AL    5/3/1968    395    590    0    Marshall    WV
249722000    RAY RIGGLE ET UX    1/15/1960    326    560    0    Marshall    WV
249724000    HARRY C DAGUE    11/21/1960    342    364    0    Marshall    WV
249725000    LLOYD BUSH ET UX    5/9/1968    395    562    0    Marshall    WV
249946000    CECIL HARTLEY ET UX    2/24/1960    342    59    0    Marshall    WV
249947000    F E EARLIWINE ET UX    2/17/1961    342    399    0    Marshall    WV
249948000    A E BLAKE ET AL    8/6/1959    326    380    0    Marshall    WV
249949000    INA WHITE ET VIR    10/23/1963    363    227    0    Marshall    WV
249950000    CLYDE S RIGGLE ET UX    2/14/1967    381    399    0    Marshall    WV
249951000    CLYDE S RIGGLE ET UX    5/26/1969    401    375    0    Marshall    WV
249952000    LLOYD BUSH ET UX    5/9/1968    395    582    0    Marshall    WV
249974000    LEMOYNE A EARLIWINE ET AL    8/4/1999    583    674    1999004184    Marshall    WV

 

B-1-15


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Date

  

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Page

  

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County

  

State

250039000    HAZEL SAMMONS    12/7/1959    326    511    0    Marshall    WV
250060000    WILLIAM R MCGARY ET UX    11/5/1964    371    515    0    Marshall    WV
250067000    WILLIAM J RIGGLE ET UX    10/23/1963    363    355    0    Marshall    WV
250103000    LAWRENCE A GITTINGS ET UX    1/12/1960    326    556    0    Marshall    WV
250105000    ELMER HARTLEY ET UX    2/24/1960    342    63    0    Marshall    WV
250113000    GEORGE W DUNN ET UX    5/7/1968    395    574    0    Marshall    WV
250115000    THOMAS J ELDER ET UX    3/19/1986    515    473    0    Marshall    WV
250116000    ELLSWORTH H HARSH ET AL    3/7/1973    434    158    0    Marshall    WV
251451000    D O HARTLEY ET UX    10/6/1969    401    399    0    Marshall    WV
251467000    J L CROW ET UX    7/10/2000    74    386    0    Marshall    WV
251490000    FLORA B RAYMER ET AL    3/16/1967    381    395    0    Marshall    WV
251512000    LILLIE TODD ET AL    2/5/1960    342    83    0    Marshall    WV
251911000    JOHN GITTINGS ET UX    8/3/2003    103    443    0    Marshall    WV
251924000    J T SCOTT ET AL    2/1/2005    117    361    0    Marshall    WV
251938000    AMERICAN PREMIER UNDERWRITERS INC    11/22/2011    757    137    1317602    Marshall    WV
251957000    FAIRY HARSH CLUTTER ET VIR    2/20/1940    215    42    0    Marshall    WV
251964000    FLORA B RAYMER ET AL    3/16/1967    381    391    0    Marshall    WV
251968000    FLORA B RAYMER ET AL    3/16/1967    381    469    0    Marshall    WV
252202000    NELLIE HICKS ET AL    8/5/1959    326    331    0    Marshall    WV
252204000    NELLIE HICKS ET AL    8/5/1959    326    335    0    Marshall    WV
252205000    CHARLES R MILLIKEN ET UX    10/15/1968    401    79    0    Marshall    WV
252206000    JANE HOWARD ET AL    6/8/1971    427    728    0    Marshall    WV
253141000    COLUMBIA GAS TRANSMISSION LLC    7/24/2009    683    557    1272463    Marshall    WV
254564000    ARTHUR D FISHER ET AL    8/5/1963    363    143    0    Marshall    WV
254565000    GEORGE M MILLIKEN ET UX    8/7/1963    363    147    0    Marshall    WV
254566000    MAXINE GITTINGS ET AL    11/16/1966    381    337    0    Marshall    WV
254567000    MAXINE GITTINGS    11/16/1966    381    341    0    Marshall    WV
254570000    THOMAS FONNER ET UX    7/27/1959    326    368    0    Marshall    WV
254571000    THOMAS FONNER ET UX    7/27/1959    326    376    0    Marshall    WV
254572000    LESSIE V KIMMINS    7/30/1959    326    313    0    Marshall    WV
254573000    THOMAS L RIGGLE ET UX    7/28/1959    326    384    0    Marshall    WV
254575000    MINNIE HARSH ET AL    7/27/1959    326    372    0    Marshall    WV
254576000    OLLIE EVANS    7/29/1959    326    321    0    Marshall    WV
254577000    EDWARD L HURLEY ET UX    8/4/1959    326    392    0    Marshall    WV
254583000    JOSEPH D DONATO ET UX    3/14/1960    342    88    0    Marshall    WV
254586000    ARMSTRONG J BLAKE ET AL    3/14/1960    342    119    0    Marshall    WV
254591000    MAXINE GITTINGS ET AL    1/9/1969    401    117    0    Marshall    WV

 

B-1-16


Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

254669000    FRANCIS M BEITH ET AL    8/26/1959    326    432    0    Marshall    WV
255936000    CHARLES R MILLIKEN ET UX    5/20/1970    401    463    0    Marshall    WV
256229000    DAVID RUTHERFORD ET UX    10/13/2008    676    305       Marshall    WV
176467000    PATRICK SHANE RIGGLE    7/20/2010    705    239    1289559    Marshall    WV
225647000    RIGGLE, HESTLE B JR & LORETTA J    11/15/2004    642    279    0    Marshall    WV
220353000    GITTINGS, LAWRENCE A & ALBERTA M    8/2/2006    653    538    102691    Marshall    WV
220438000    MORAN, MARGARET    4/30/2008    668    330    1252466    Marshall    WV
225641000    BURKEY, DANNY H    10/11/2004    641    614       Marshall    WV
225735000    COOPER, CAROLL L    10/22/2009    687    252    1276267    Marshall    WV
239149001    CHARLES E DAGUE    6/25/2012    776    522    1330744    Marshall    WV
239149002    VICKIE WALTERS    6/20/2012    776    526    1330745    Marshall    WV
239149003    DONALD GEORGE HENRY MEGALE    7/12/2012    786    445    1337085    Marshall    WV
239149004    RONALD J HORR    8/21/2012    782    435    1334475    Marshall    WV
239152001    CLAYTON BOYD ANDERSON    6/24/2012    776    530    1330746    Marshall    WV
260967000    MILDRED J HARSH ET AL    1/25/2008    666    16       Marshall    WV
121827000    DANIEL WILLIAM CARPENTER ET AL    2/2/2011    93    135    2011003434    Upshur    WV
121828000    DANIEL WILLIAM CARPENTER ET AL    2/2/2011    93    137    2011003432    Upshur    WV
121829000    DANIEL WILLIAM CARPENTER ET AL    2/2/2011    93    139    2011003434    Upshur    WV
121924000    MILTON L CARPENTER ET UX    2/19/2011    94    456    0    Upshur    WV
122108000    RALPH H HARPER ET UX    8/12/1980    63    471    0    Upshur    WV
131947000    WESLEY H ODELL ET UX    12/14/1951    28    93    0    Upshur    WV
132100000    B. B. RADABAUGH ET UX    8/19/1954    31    268    0    Upshur    WV
132104000    M B RADABAUGH ET UX    9/1/1954    31    307    0    Upshur    WV
132117000    JOE BOZIC ET UX    12/24/1954    31    429    0    Upshur    WV
132163000    VIRGINIA M WHITE ET AL    6/27/1956    33    443    0    Upshur    WV
132164000    VIRGINIA WHITE ET AL    6/27/1956    33    446    0    Upshur    WV
132188000    PECKS RUN COAL    4/10/1957    34    225    0    Upshur    WV
132241000    PECKS RUN COAL COMPANY    12/11/1957    34    515    0    Upshur    WV
132256000    PECKS RUN COAL COMPANY    2/21/1958    35    60    0    Upshur    WV
132897000    R S WARD ET AL    11/6/1952    31    79    0    Upshur    WV
248159000    KEITH V SINCLAIR ET UX    5/14/2013    99    239    2013022834    Upshur    WV
248160000    WALTER S SINCLAIR JR ET UX    5/13/2013    98    458    2013014701    Upshur    WV
248170000    JESSE H CARPENTER ET UX    6/29/1971    53    530    0    Upshur    WV
249623000    RONALD R AUSTIN ET UX    6/17/2013    98    203    2013011134    Upshur    WV
251513000    ELLEN SMITH    7/17/2013    98    346    2013013718    Upshur    WV
253906000    MATTHEW J BRIGHT ET UX    9/26/2013    98    490    2013017180    Upshur    WV
256564000    CSX TRANSPORTATION INC    2/24/2014    99    619    2014003604    Upshur    WV

 

B-1-17


Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

252608000    CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ET AL    3/22/1972    68    238       Upshur    WV
252608000    CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ET AL    3/22/1972    68    238       Upshur    WV
252608000    CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ET AL    3/22/1972    276    469       Upshur    WV
255572000    EQT PRODUCTION COMPANY    12/3/2012    107    439       Upshur    WV

 

B-1-18


EXHIBIT B-2

DEDICATION AREA

The “ Dedication Area ” consists of the following municipalities and districts outlined in the attached map:

 

State

  

County

  

Municipality

PA    Allegheny    Aleppo Township, Aspinwall Borough, Avalon Borough, Baldwin Borough, Baldwin Borough, Baldwin Township, Bell Acres Borough, Bellevue Borough, Ben Avon Borough, Ben Avon Heights Borough, Bethel Park Borough, Blawnox Borough, Brackenridge Borough, Braddock Borough, Braddock Hills Borough, Brentwood Borough, Bridgeville Borough, Carnegie Borough, Castle Shannon Borough, Chalfant Borough, Cheswick Borough, Churchill Borough, Clairton City, Collier Township, Coraopolis Borough, Crafton Borough, Crescent Township, Dormont Borough, Dravosburg Borough, Duquesne City, East Deer Township, East McKeesport Borough, East Pittsburgh Borough, Edgewood Borough, Edgeworth Borough, Elizabeth Borough, Elizabeth Township, Emsworth Borough, Etna Borough, Findlay Township, Forest Hills Borough, Forward Township, Fox Chapel Borough, Franklin Park Borough, Frazer Township, Glassport Borough, Glenfield Borough, Green Tree Borough, Hampton Township, Harmar Township, Harrison Township, Haysville Borough, Heidelberg Borough, Homestead Borough, Indiana Township, Ingram Borough, Jefferson Hills Borough, Kennedy Township, Kilbuck Township, Leet Township, Leetsdale Borough, Liberty Borough, Lincoln Borough, McCandless Township, McDonald Borough, McKees Rocks Borough, McKeesport City, Millvale Borough, Moon Township, Mount Lebanon Township, Mount Oliver Borough, Munhall Borough, Municipality of Monroeville Borough, Neville Township, North Braddock Borough, North Fayette Township, North Versailles Township, Oakdale Borough, Oakmont Borough, O’Hara Township, O’Hara Township, O’Hara Township, O’Hara Township, Ohio Township, Osborne Borough, Penn Hills Township, Pennsbury Village Borough, Pitcairn Borough, Pittsburgh City, Pleasant Hills Borough, Plum Borough, Port Vue Borough, Rankin Borough, Reserve Township, Robinson Township, Ross Township, Rosslyn Farms Borough, Scott Township, Sewickley Borough, Sewickley Heights Borough, Sewickley Hills Borough, Shaler Township, Sharpsburg Borough, South Fayette Township, South Park Township, South Versailles Township, Springdale Borough, Springdale Township, Stowe Township, Swissvale Borough, Swissvale Borough, Tarentum Borough, Thornburg Borough, Trafford Borough, Turtle Creek Borough, Upper St. Clair Township, Verona Borough, Versailles Borough, Wall Borough, West Deer Township, West Elizabeth Borough, West Homestead Borough, West Mifflin Borough, West View Borough, Whitaker Borough, White Oak Borough, White Oak Borough, Whitehall Borough, Wilkins Township, Wilkinsburg Borough, Wilmerding Borough
PA    Armstrong    Apollo Borough, Burrell Township, Elderton Borough, Freeport Borough, Gilpin Township, Kiskiminetas Township, Kittanning Township, Leechburg Borough, North Apollo Borough, Parks Township, Plumcreek Township, South Bend Township
PA    Beaver    Aliquippa City, Ambridge Borough, Frankfort Springs Borough, Greene Township, Hanover Township, Harmony Township, Hookstown Borough, Hopewell Township, Independence Township, Raccoon Township, Shippingport Borough, South Heights Borough
PA    Fayette    Belle Vernon Borough, Brownsville Township, Brownsville Borough, Fayette City Borough, Jefferson Township, Luzerne Township, Newell Borough, Perry Township, Perryopolis Borough, Washington Township
PA    Greene    Aleppo Township, Center Township, Clarksville Borough, Franklin Township, Freeport Township, Gilmore Township, Gray Township, Jackson Township, Jefferson Borough, Jefferson Township, Morgan Township, Morris Township, Perry Township, Rices Landing Borough, Richhill Township, Springhill Township, Washington Township, Wayne Township, Waynesburg Borough, Whiteley Township
PA    Indiana    Armstrong Township, Black Lick Township, Blairsville Borough, Brush Valley Township, Burrell Township, Center Township, Conemaugh Township, Homer City Borough, Indiana Borough, Saltsburg Borough, Shelocta Borough, White Township, Young Township
PA    Washington    All

 

B-2-1


PA    Westmoreland    Adamsburg Borough, Allegheny Township, Arnold City, Arona Borough, Avonmore Borough, Bell Township, Delmont Borough, Derry Township, Derry Borough, East Huntingdon Township, East Vandergrift Borough, Export Borough, Greensburg City, Hempfield Township, Hempfield Township, Hunker Borough, Hyde Park Borough, Irwin Borough, Jeannette City, Latrobe City, Lower Burrell City, Loyalhanna Township, Madison Borough, Manor Borough, Monessen City, Mount Pleasant Borough, Municipality of Murrysville Borough, New Alexandria Borough, New Kensington City, New Stanton Borough, North Belle Vernon Borough, North Huntingdon Township, North Irwin Borough, Oklahoma Borough, Penn Borough, Penn Township, Rostraver Township, Salem Township, Sewickley Township, Smithton Borough, South Greensburg Borough, South Huntingdon Township, Southwest Greensburg Borough, Sutersville Borough, Trafford Borough, Unity Township, Upper Burrell Township, Vandergrift Borough, Washington Township, West Leechburg Borough, West Newton Borough, Youngstown Borough, Youngwood Borough

 

State

  

County

  

District

WV    Brooke    All districts
WV    Doddridge    All districts
WV    Hancock    All districts
WV    Harrison    All districts
WV    Lewis    All districts
WV    Marion    All districts
WV    Marshall    All districts
WV    Ohio    All districts
WV    Taylor    All districts
WV    Tyler    All districts
WV    Upshur    All districts
WV    Wetzel    All districts
WV    Barbour    Cove District, Elk District, Glade District, Philippi District, Pleasant District, Union District
WV    Gilmer    DeKalb District, Glenville District, Troy District
WV    Monongalia    Battelle District, Clay District, Clinton District, Grant District
WV    Pleasants    Lafayette District, Union District
WV    Ritchie    Clay District, Murphy District, Union District
WV    Brooke    All districts
WV    Doddridge    All districts
WV    Hancock    All districts
WV    Harrison    All districts

 

B-2-2


 

LOGO

 

B-2-1


EXHIBIT B-3

MAJORSVILLE AREA

The “ Majorsville Area ” consists of the following municipalities and districts:

 

State

  

County

  

Municipality

PA    Greene    Richhill
PA    Washington    West Finley
WV    Marshall    Sand Hill and Webster

 

B-3-1


EXHIBIT B-4

MOUNDSVILLE AREA

The “ Moundsville Area ” consists of the following municipalities and districts:

 

State

  

County

  

Municipality

WV    Marshall    Clay, Franklin and Meade

 

B-4-1


EXHIBIT B-5

PIA AREA

The “ PIA Area ” consists of the following municipalities and districts:

 

State

  

County

  

Municipality

PA    Allegheny    Findlay and Moon

 

B-5-1


EXHIBIT B-6

MARCELLUS FORMATION LOG

LOGO

 

B-6-1


LOGO

 

B-6-2


LOGO

 

B-6-3


EXHIBIT C

PARTIES’ ADDRESSES FOR NOTICE PURPOSES

Shipper:

 

NOTICES & CORRESPONDENCE   PAYMENTS BY ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER

Noble Energy, Inc.

1001 Noble Energy Way

Houston, Texas 77070

 

ABA/Routing Number: 021 000 021

Account Number: 0880-5135066

Account Name: Noble Energy, Inc.

For Credit to: Noble Energy, Inc.

Attention:   

Marketing Contract

Administration

 
Telephone:    281-872-3100  
Fax:    281-876-8845  
     INVOICES
    

Noble Energy, Inc.

P.O. Box 909

Ardmore, OK 73402

     Attention:    John Nedelka
     Telephone:    281-872-3100
     Email:    jnedelka@nobleenergyinc.com

Gatherer:

 

NOTICES & CORRESPONDENCE   PAYMENTS BY ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER

CONE Midstream Partners LP

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, PA 15317

 

ABA/Routing Number: 043000096

Account Number: 1028984499

Account Name: CONE Midstream Partners PL

Attention:    Joe Fink, COO   Bank: PNC Bank, N.A., Pittsburg PA
Telephone:    724-485-3254  
Email:    joefink@consolenergy.com  
     INVOICES
    

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, PA 15317

     Attention:    Treasury Director

 

C-1


EXHIBIT D

MEMORANDUM OF GATHERING AGREEMENT

THIS MEMORANDUM OF GATHERING AGREEMENT (this “ Memorandum ”) is entered into by and between Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Shipper ”) and CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Gatherer ”). Shipper and Gatherer are individually referred to in this Memorandum as a “ Party ” and collectively as “ Parties .”

WHEREAS, the Parties hereto have executed that certain Gathering Agreement dated [            ] , 2014 (the “ Gathering Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, Gatherer plans to construct and operate the Gathering System for gathering, dehydrating, treating, and re-delivering Gas and certain Liquid Condensate produced within the certain counties in Pennsylvania and West Virginia;

WHEREAS, Shipper desires to dedicate certain Gas and Liquid Condensate attributable to its right, title and interests in certain leases and/or wells located within a designated area to the Gathering System to be constructed by Gatherer;

WHEREAS, Shipper desires to deliver such Gas and Liquid Condensate to Gatherer for the purpose of gathering, blending, dehydrating, treating, stabilizing, storing, loading and re-delivering of such Gas and Liquid Condensate, and Gatherer desires to provide such services to Shipper on the terms and subject to the conditions in the Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Parties have executed this Memorandum for the purpose of imparting notice to all persons of Shipper’s dedication and commitment of its interests in oil and gas leases and/or oil and gas interests and Shipper’s production from or attributable to such interests to the Gathering Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:

1. The Gathering Agreement is incorporated in its entirety in this Memorandum by reference, and all capitalized terms used but not defined in this Memorandum and defined in the Gathering Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Gathering Agreement.

2. The Parties have entered into the Gathering Agreement, to provide for, among other things, the commitment and dedication by Shipper its Dedicated Properties and the Gas and (to the extent provided from the PIA Area, the Majorsville Area or Moundsville Area) the Joint Dedicated Liquid Condensate therefrom or attributable thereto (subject to any conflicting dedications as of the date hereof). The Dedicated Properties are Shipper’s interests in the oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests jointly owned by Shipper and CNX (in undivided interests) in the Dedication Area as of the date hereof, including those certain oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests described on Exhibit A , that are jointly owned by Shipper and CNX, to the extent and only to the extent that such oil and/or gas leases, mineral interests and other similar interests cover and relate to the Marcellus Formation. The Dedication Area is more particularly described in Exhibit B . “Marcellus Formation” means, (a) in central Pennsylvania, specifically from the top of the Burkett in the DeArmitt #1 (API 37-129-27246)

 

D-1


and 7000’MD through to the top of the Onondaga at 7530’MD and illustrated in the log attached on Exhibit C ; (b) in southwest Pennsylvania, specifically from the top of the Burkett in the GH-10C-CV (API 37-059-25397) at 7600’MD through to the top of the Onondaga at 7900’MD and illustrated in the log attached on Exhibit C ; and (c) in West Virginia, specifically from the top of the Burkett in the DEPI #14815 (API 47-001-02850) at 7350’MD through to the top of the Onondaga at 7710’MD and illustrated in the log attached on Exhibit C .

3. The dedication and commitment made by Shipper under the Gathering Agreement is a covenant running with the land subject to the terms of the Gathering Agreement. Any transfer by Shipper of any of Shipper’s interests in the Dedicated Properties shall comply with Article 14 of the Gathering Agreement, which, among other matters, requires that, except in certain circumstances, the transfer be expressly made subject to the Gathering Agreement.

4. Should any person or firm desire additional information, said person or firm should contact:

CONE Midstream Partners LP

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, PA 15317

Attention:   Chief Operating Officer
Telephone:   724-485-3254
Fax:   724-485-4817

and, subject to an appropriate confidentiality agreement, any person may receive a copy of the Gathering Agreement upon written request to such person at such address.

5. Upon termination of the Agreement, Shipper and Gatherer shall file of record a release and termination of the Agreement and this Memorandum.

6. This Memorandum shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto, and to their respective heirs, devises, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.

[Signature page follows]

 

D-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Memorandum shall be effective as of the      Day of             , 2014.

 

“SHIPPER”     “GATHERER”
NOBLE ENERGY, INC.     CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
   

By: CONE Midstream Partners GP LLC, its

general partner

By:  

 

    By:  

 

Name:       Name:  
Title:       Title:  

[ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO BE ADDED ]

 

D-3


EXHIBIT E

INSURANCE

Each of Gatherer and Shipper shall purchase and maintain in full force and effect at all times during the Term of this Agreement, at such Party’s sole cost and expense and from reliable insurance companies, policies providing the types and limits of insurance indicated below, which insurance shall be regarded as a minimum and, to the extent of the obligations undertaken by such Party in this Agreement, shall be primary (with the exception of the Excess Liability Insurance and Workers’ Compensation) as to any other existing, valid, and collectable insurance. Each Party’s deductibles shall be borne by that Party and shall be in amounts standard for the industry.

 

  A. Where applicable, Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability Insurance, in accordance with the statutory requirements of the state in which the work is to be performed, and endorsed specifically to include the following:

 

  1. Employers’ Liability, subject to a limit of liability of not less than $1,000,000 per accident, $1,000,000 for each employee/disease, and a 1,000,000 policy limit.

The Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability Insurance policy(ies) shall contain an alternate employer endorsement.

 

  B. Commercial General Liability Insurance, with limits of liability of not less than the following:

$1,000,000 general aggregate

$1,000,000 each occurrence, Bodily Injury and/or Property Damage Combined Single Limit

Such insurance shall include the following:

 

  1. Premises and Operations coverage.

 

  2. Contractual Liability covering the liabilities assumed under this Agreement.

 

  3. Broad Form Property Damage Liability endorsement, unless policy is written on November 1988 or later ISO form.

 

  4. Products and Completed Operations.

 

  5. Time Element Limited Pollution coverage.

 

  C. Automobile Liability Insurance, with limits of liability of not less than the following:

$1,000,000 Bodily Injury and/or Property Damage Combined Single Limit, for each occurrence.

 

E-1


Such coverage shall include hired and non-owned vehicles and owned vehicles where applicable.

 

  D. Aircraft Liability Insurance. In any operation requiring the use or charter of aircraft and/or helicopters by Gatherer or Shipper, combined single limit insurance shall be carried or cause to be carried for public liability, passenger liability and property damage liability in an amount of not less than $1,000,000 each occurrence; this insurance shall cover all owned and non-owned aircraft, including helicopters, used by Gatherer in connection with the performance of the work set forth in this Agreement.

 

  E. Excess Liability Insurance, with limits of liability not less than the following:

Limits of Liability - $25,000,000 Occurrence/Aggregate for Bodily Injury and Property Damage in excess of the coverage outlined in Paragraphs A, B, C and D.

The limits of coverage required in this Agreement may be met with any combination of policies as long as the minimum required limits are met.

Each Party to this Agreement shall have the right to acquire, at its own expense, such additional insurance coverage as it desires to further protect itself against any risk or liability with respect to this Agreement and operations and activities under this Agreement or related thereto. All insurance maintained by either Party, where applicable, shall contain a waiver by the insurance company of all rights of subrogation in favor of all of the other Parties.

Neither the minimum policy limits of insurance required of the Parties nor the actual amounts of insurance maintained by the Parties under their insurance program shall operate to modify the Parties’ liability or indemnity obligations in this Agreement.

A Party may self-insure the requirements in this Exhibit E if its parent is considered investment grade (S&P BBB- or equivalent or higher); provided that the Parties agree that each of the initial Parties to this Agreement shall be permitted to self-insure notwithstanding the foregoing required investment grade rating.

 

E-2


EXHIBIT F

RECEIPT POINTS

 

SWPA

                                  
CNX-2 Pad    GH-19 CV    MOR-14B SH    NV-13E CV    NV-20B CV    NV-30C CV    NV-38C HS    NV-42B HS
CNX-2    GH-2 Pad    MOR-14C SH    NV-15 Pad    NV-20C CV    NV-30D CV    NV-38D HS    NV-42C HS
CNX-2A    GH-2 CV    MOR-17 Pad    NV-15B CV    NV-20D CV    NV-30E CV    NV-38E HS    NV-42D HS
CNX-2B    GH-2A CV    MOR-17A SH    NV-15C CV    NV-20E-CV    NV-31 Pad    NV-38F HS    NV-42E HS
CNX-3 Pad    GH-2B CV    MOR-17B SH    NV-15D CV    NV-22 Pad    NV-31B CV    NV-38G HS    NV-48 Pad
CNX-3    GH-34 Pad    MOR-17C SH    NV-15E CV    NV-22 CV    NV-31C CV    NV-39 Pad    NV-48A CV
CNX-4 Pad    GH-34 CV    MOR-20 Pad    NV-15F CV    NV-22A CV    NV-31D CV    NV-39A HS    NV-48B CV
CNX-4    GH-35 Pad    MOR-20A HS    NV-15G CV    NV-25 Pad    NV-31E CV    NV-39B HS    NV-48D CV
GH-10 Pad    GH-35 CV    MOR-20B HS    NV-16 Pad    NV-25 CV    NV-32 Pad    NV-39C HS    NV-48E CV
GH 10 A CV    GH-35B CV    MOR-20F HS    NV-16 CV    NV-25A CV    NV-32A CV    NV-39D HS    NV-55 Pad
GH 10 B CV    GH-6 Pad    MOR-20G HS    NV-16A CV    NV-25B CV    NV-32B CV    NV-39E HS    NV-55A HS
GH 10 CV    GH-6 CV    MOR-9 Pad    NV-16B CV    NV-26 Pad    NV-32C CV    NV-39F HS    NV-55B HS
GH-10C CV    GH-8 Pad    MOR-9 A HS    NV-17 Pad    NV-26 A CV    NV-36 Pad    NV-41 Pad    NV-55C HS
GH-11 Pad    GH-8 CV    MOR-9 B HS    NV-17B CV    NV-26 C CV    NV-36A HS    NV-41A HS    NV-55D HS
GH 11A CV    MOR-10 Pad    MOR-9 C SH    NV-17D CV    NV-26 CV    NV-36B HS    NV-41B HS    NV-55E HS
GH-11 C CV    MOR-10A SH    MOR-9 D SH    NV-17E CV    NV-29 Pad    NV-36C HS    NV-41C HS    NV-55F HS
GH-11 CV    MOR-10B SH    MOR-9 E SH    NV-17F CV    NV-29A CV    NV-36D HS    NV-41D HS    NV-55M HS
GH-11B CV    MOR-10C SH    NV-19 Pad    NV-17G CV    NV-29B CV    NV-36E HS    NV-41E HS    NV-56 Pad
GH-14 Pad    MOR-10D SH    NV 19C CV    NV-17H CV    NV-29C CV    NV-36G HS    NV-41F HS    NV-56A HS
GH-14 CV    MOR-10E SH    NV-19B CV    NV-17J CV    NV-29D CV    NV-36H HS    NV-41G HS    NV-56B HS
GH-15 Pad    MOR-10F SH    NV-19D CV    NV-20 Pad    NV-29E CV    NV-38 Pad    NV-41H HS    NV-56C HS
GH-15 CV    MOR-14 Pad    NV-13 Pad    NV-20 CV    NV-30 Pad    NV-38A HS    NV-42 Pad    NV-56D HS
GH-19 Pad    MOR-14A SH    NV-13D CV    NV-20A CV    NV-30B CV    NV-38B HS    NV-42A HS    NV-56E HS
                     NV-56F HS

 

CPA

                             
DeArmitt 1 Pad    DeArmitt 1H    Hutchinson #4F    Aikens #5C    Gaut #4B    Kuhns #3B    Mamont South #1D
DeArmitt #1A    DeArmitt 1I    Hutchinson #4G    Aikens #5D    Gaut #4C    Kuhns #3C    Mamont South #1E
DeArmitt #1B    Hutchinson 4 Pad    Hutchinson #4H    Aikens #5E    Gaut #4D    Kuhns #3D    Shaw 1 Pad
DeArmitt #1C    Hutchinson #4A    Hutchinson #4I    Aikens #5F    Gaut #4E    Kuhns #3E    Shaw #1A
DeArmitt 1D    Hutchinson #4B    Hutchinson #4J    Aikens #5G    Gaut #4F    Mamont South 1 Pad    Shaw #1B
DeArmitt 1E    Hutchinson #4C    Aikens 5 Pad    Aikens #5H    Gaut #4G    Mamont South #1A    Shaw #1C
DeArmitt 1F    Hutchinson #4D    Aikens #5A    Gaut 4 Pad    Kuhns 3 Pad    Mamont South #1B   
DeArmitt 1G    Hutchinson #4E    Aikens #5B    Gaut #4A    Kuhns #3A    Mamont South #1C   

WV

                             
Philippi 1 Pad    Alton 1C    Alton 2C    PHILIPPI 4A    Audra 7 Pad    Philippi 13C HS    Alton-8C HS
Philippi 1A    Alton 1D    Alton 2D    PHILIPPI 4B    Audra 7B HS    Philippi 13D HS    Alton-8D HS
Philippi 1C    Alton 2 Pad    Alton 2E    PHILIPPI 4C    Philippi 13 Pad    Philippi 13E HS    Alton-8E HS
Alton 1 Pad    Alton 2A    Alton 2F    Audra 3 Pad    Philippi 13A HS    Philippi 13F HS    Century 3 Pad
Alton 1B    Alton 2B    Philippi 4 Pad    Audra 3D HS    Philippi 13B HS    Alton 8 Pad    Century 3A HS

NBL Area

                             
SHL-1 Pad    SHL-6 Pad    WEB-4H HS    SHL-8M HS    SHL-17E HS    WFN-6F HS    OXF-1B HS
SHL-1B HS    SHL-6D HS    WEB-4J HS    SHL-8N HS    SHL-17F HS    WFN-6G HS    OXF-1C HS
SHL-1C HS    SHL-6E HS    WEB-4K HS    WFN-1 Pad    SHL-17G HS    WFN-6H HS    OXF-1D HS
SHL-1D HS    SHL-6F HS    WEB-4L HS    WFN-1B HS    SHL-17J HS    SHL-26 Pad    OXF-1E HS
SHL-1E HS    SHL-6G HS    WEB-4M HS    WFN-1C HS    WFN-3 Pad    SHL-26B HS    OXF-1F HS
SHL-1F HS    SHL-6H HS    SHL-8 Pad    WFN-1D HS    WFN-3B HS    SHL-26C HS    Shirley 1 Pad
SHL-3 Pad    SHL-6J HS    SHL-8C HS    WFN-1E HS    WFN-3E HS    SHL-26D HS    SHR 1A HS
SHL-3A HS    SHL-6K HS    SHL-8D HS    WFN-1F HS    WFN-3G HS    SHL-26E HS    SHR 1B HS
SHL-3B HS    WEB-4 Pad    SHL-8E HS    WFN-1G HS    WFN-3H HS    SHL-26F HS    SHR 1C HS
SHL-3C HS    WEB-4B HS    SHL-8F HS    WFN-1J HS    WFN-6 Pad    Norm-1 Pad    SHR 1D HS
SHL-3D HS    WEB-4C HS    SHL-8G HS    SHL-17 Pad    WFN-6A HS    Norm 1C HS    SHR 1E HS
SHL-3E HS    WEB-4D HS    SHL-8H HS    SHL-17A HS    WFN-6B HS    Norm 1D HS    SHR 1F HS
SHL-3F HS    WEB-4E HS    SHL-8J HS    SHL-17B HS    WFN-6C HS    Norm 1E HS   
SHL-3G HS    WEB-4F HS    SHL-8K HS    SHL-17C HS    WFN-6D HS    OXF-1 Pad   
SHL-3H HS    WEB-4G HS    SHL-8L HS    SHL-17D HS    WFN-6E HS    OXF-1A HS   

 

F


EXHIBIT G

CONFLICTING DEDICATIONS

None.

 

G


EXHIBIT H-1

ROFO PROPERTIES

 

Lease #

  

Original Lessor/Grantor

  

Date

  

Book

  

Page

  

Instrument #

  

County

  

State

126659000    C RAYMOND GLASSER ET AL    3/8/1973    651    395    0    Indiana    Pennsylvania
122121000    CSX TRANSPORTATION INC    12/1/2011    609    910       Jefferson    Pennsylvania
131557000    CLYDE E. MCKEE ET UX    12/18/1953    295    295    0    Jefferson    Pennsylvania
131567000    NED C BOWERS ET UX    1/20/1954    D296    247    0    Jefferson    Pennsylvania
131631000    ROBERT V MAINE ET UX    5/18/1955    D306    32    0    Jefferson    Pennsylvania
132278000    DAVID F NICHOLS    12/9/1964    D372    552    0    Jefferson    Pennsylvania
133238000    ROBERT V. MAINE ET AL    2/18/1975    424    724       Jefferson    Pennsylvania
111303000    DOLLIE TALLHAMMER ET VIR    6/20/1945    153    434-E    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
121824000    H SCOTT SCHIMMEL ET UX    10/12/2010    499    93    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131001    CHARLES RICHARD BLACK    2/15/2012    505    370    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131002    SANDRA K HOYMAN    2/27/2012    505    375    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131003    MILLIE S BEALL    2/20/2012    505    365    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131004    JOHN D STUMP ET UX    3/15/2012    509    219    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131005    S&R GAS VENTURES LTD    3/15/2012    509    214    9431    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131007    BARBARA C SULLIVAN    5/1/2012    509    419    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131008    BARBARA C SULLIVAN    10/18/2012    509    311    10519    Gilmer    West Virginia
122131009    HUNTER MESSINEO ET VIR    5/6/2012    511    44    12712    Gilmer    West Virginia
130856000    L J PEARCY ET AL    10/13/2015    79    422    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
130863000    L J PEARCY ET AL    10/13/2015    79    497    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
130865000    E M BOGGS ET AL    10/20/2015    81    128    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
130887000    L B MEADOWS ET AL    6/2/2016    81    492    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
130890000    A B MEADOWS    7/3/2016    83    15    0    Gilmer    West Virginia
131006000    J E ARBUCKLE ET AL    10/24/2021    98    36    0    Gilmer    West Virginia

 

H-1-1


EXHIBIT H-2

ROFO AREA

The “ ROFO Area ” consists of the following municipalities and outlined in the attached map:

 

State

  

County

  

Municipality

PA    Allegheny    Bradfordwoods Borough, Fawn Township, Marshall Township, Pine Township, Richland Township
PA    Armstrong    Applewold Borough, Atwood Borough, Bethel Township, Boggs Township, Bradys Bend Township, Cadogan Township, Cowanshannock Township, Dayton Borough, East Franklin Township, Ford City Borough, Ford Cliff Borough, Hovey Township, Kittanning Borough, Madison Township, Mahoning Township, Manor Township, Manorville Borough, North Buffalo Township, Parker City, Perry Township, Pine Township, Rayburn Township, Redbank Township, Rural Valley Borough, South Bethlehem Borough, South Buffalo Township, Sugarcreek Township, Valley Township, Washington Township, Wayne Township, West Franklin Township, West Kittanning Borough, Worthington Borough
PA    Beaver    Baden Borough, Beaver Borough, Beaver Falls City, Big Beaver Borough, Bridgewater Borough, Brighton Township, Center Township, Chippewa Township, Conway Borough, Darlington Township, Darlington Borough, Daugherty Township, East Rochester Borough, Eastvale Borough, Economy Borough, Ellwood City Borough, Fallston Borough, Franklin Township, Freedom Borough, Georgetown Borough, Glasgow Borough, Homewood Borough, Industry Borough, Koppel Borough, Marion Township, Midland Borough, Monaca Borough, New Brighton Borough, New Galilee Borough, New Sewickley Township, North Sewickley Township, Ohioville Borough, Patterson Township, Patterson Heights Borough, Potter Township, Pulaski Township, Rochester Township, Rochester Borough, South Beaver Township, Vanport Township, West Mayfield Borough, White Township
PA    Butler    All
PA    Cambria    All
PA    Cameron    All
PA    Clarion    All
PA    Clearfield    All
PA    Clinton    All
PA    Elk    All
PA    Fayette    Bullskin Township, Connellsville Township, Connellsville City, Dawson Borough, Dunbar Township, Dunbar Borough, Everson Borough, Fairchance Borough, Franklin Township, Georges Township, German Township, Henry Clay Township, Lower Tyrone Township, Markleysburg Borough, Masontown Borough, Menallen Township, Nicholson Township, North Union Township, Ohiopyle Borough, Point Marion Borough, Redstone Township, Saltlick Township, Seven Springs Borough, Smithfield Borough, South Connellsville Borough, South Union Township, Springfield Township, Springhill Township, Stewart Township, Uniontown City, Upper Tyrone Township, Vanderbilt Borough, Wharton Township
PA    Forest    All
PA    Greene    Carmichaels Borough, Cumberland Township, Dunkard Township, Greene Township, Greensboro Borough, Monongahela Township

 

H-2-1


State

  

County

  

Municipality

PA    Indiana    Armagh Borough, Banks Township, Buffington Township, Canoe Township, Cherry Tree Borough, Cherryhill Township, Clymer Borough, Creekside Borough, East Mahoning Township, East Wheatfield Township, Ernest Borough, Glen Campbell Borough, Grant Township, Green Township, Marion Center Borough, Montgomery Township, North Mahoning Township, Pine Township, Plumville Borough, Rayne Township, Smicksburg Borough, South Mahoning Township, Washington Township, West Mahoning Township, West Wheatfield Township
PA    Jefferson    All
PA    Lawrence    All
PA    Mercer    All
PA    Somerset    All
PA    Venango    All
PA    Westmoreland    Bolivar Borough, Cook Township, Donegal Township, Donegal Borough, Fairfield Township, Laurel Mountain Borough, Ligonier Borough, Ligonier Township, Mount Pleasant Township, New Florence Borough, Scottdale Borough, Seward Borough, St. Clair Township

State

  

County

  

District

WV    Barbour    Barker District, Valley District
WV    Braxton    All districts
WV    Calhoun    All districts
WV    Clay    All districts
WV    Gilmer    Center District
WV    Grant    All districts
WV    Jackson    All districts
WV    Monongalia    Cass District, Morgan District, Union District
WV    Nicholas    All districts
WV    Pleasants    Grant District, Jefferson District, McKim District, Washington District
WV    Preston    All districts
WV    Randolph    All districts
WV    Ritchie    Grant District
WV    Roane    All districts
WV    Tucker    All districts
WV    Webster    All districts
WV    Wirt    All districts
WV    Wood    All districts

 

H-2-2


 

LOGO

 

H-2-3


EXHIBIT I-1

DOWNTIME FEE REDUCTION

 

Gathering System Downtime Percentage

(per calendar quarter)

   Percentage Reduction of Dry Gas
and Wet Gas Fee
 

Greater than 4% and up to and including 5%

     5

Greater than 5% and up to and including 6%

     10

Greater than 6% and up to and including 7%

     15

Greater than 7%

     20

 

Individual System Downtime Percentage

(per calendar quarter)

   Percentage Reduction of Dry Gas
and Wet Gas Fee with respect to
such Individual System
 

Greater than 10% and up to and including 12%

     5

Greater than 12% and up to and including 14%

     10

Greater than 14% and up to and including 16%

     15

Greater than 16%

     20

 

Individual System Downtime Percentage

(per two consecutive calendar quarters)

   Percentage Reduction of Dry Gas
and Wet Gas Fee with respect to
such Individual System
 

Greater than 6% and up to and including 7%

     5

Greater than 7% and up to and including 8%

     10

Greater than 8% and up to and including 9%

     15

Greater than 9%

     20

 

I-1-1


EXHIBIT I-2

OPERATING PRESSURE FEE REDUCTION

 

Pressure Overage Percentage

   Percentage Reduction of Dry Gas
and Wet Gas Fee with respect to
such Individual System
 

Less than 5%

     None   

Greater than 5% and up to and including 15%

     5

Greater than 15% and up to and including 25%

     10

Greater than 25% and up to and including 35%

     15

Greater than 35% and up to and including 45%

     20

Greater than 45%

     25

 

I-2-1


EXHIBIT J

THIRD PARTIES

None.

 

J-1


EXHIBIT K

VERTICAL MARCELLUS WELLS

 

Well Name

  

Lease

  

Operator

  

API

30875    ALAWEST 30875    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    4704702768
15437    STEPP, JAMES A #6A    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3705924518
15757    GLASSER, C R #4    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3706336255
CNX4    CNX4 SHALE    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3705924719
34624    BENNETT, HUNTER M    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    4704105518
GH6CV SHALE    GH6CV SHALE    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3705924928
GH2CV SHALE    GH2CV SHALE    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3705924921
33172    ODELL 33172    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    4709703664
33306    FREY 33306    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    4700102985
GH14CV    GH14CV    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3705925052
GH19CV    GH19CV    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3705925034
15844    KEROTEST MFG CO #9    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3712927866
33914    MINER 33914    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    4700103072
030873A    ALAWEST 30873A    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    4704702801
R V MAINE 14 (WPA15982)    Robert V. Maine #14    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3706526891
15590    MAWC TR 21 DeARMITT #1    CNX GAS COMPANY LLC    3712927246

 

K-2-1

Exhibit 10.6

EMPLOYEE SECONDMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYEE SECONDMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of September 8, 2014 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Noble Energy, Inc., 1001 Noble Energy Way, Houston, Texas 77070, a Delaware corporation, (“COMPANY”), and CONE Midstream Partner LP, 1000 CONSOL Energy Drive, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317, a Delaware limited partnership (“MLP”).

R E C I T A L S:

WHEREAS, COMPANY agrees, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, to second Stephen Milbourne (“EMPLOYEE”) to MLP;

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the Parties agree to the terms of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 1. SCOPE.

This Agreement sets forth the terms under which COMPANY shall second to MLP from time to time, commencing on the Effective Date, EMPLOYEE, who shall remain for all purposes an employee of COMPANY, but shall be assigned by COMPANY to work on behalf of MLP.

 

SECTION 2. POSITIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

2.1 Employee to be Seconded From Time to Time . COMPANY hereby agrees to second to MLP EMPLOYEE (the “Seconded Employee”).

2.2 Term . The secondment of the Seconded Employee shall be for a period commencing as of the Effective Date and continuing on a month-to-month basis until terminated as provided herein. Either Party, at its sole option and without cause, may terminate this Agreement at any time by written notice to the other Party given at least thirty (30) days in advance of such termination date. Seconded Employee does not have an employment agreement or contract with either COMPANY or MLP; therefore, the MLP may terminate this Agreement at any time, with thirty (30) days’ notice as provided above, without cost or penalty, and the COMPANY or Seconded Employee may terminate the Seconded Employee’s employment in accordance with applicable law. The discontinuance of the employment relationship of the Seconded Employee with the COMPANY shall constitute a termination of this Agreement.

2.3 Duties of Seconded Employee . COMPANY and MLP agree that the Seconded Employee shall perform services for the benefit of MLP, of a nature and scope as determined and directed by or on behalf of MLP, who shall be responsible for supervision and control of the Seconded Employee with respect to the services provided by the Seconded Employee to MLP. COMPANY and MLP further agree that the majority of the Seconded Employee’s total available working time will be spent performing services for MLP; however, COMPANY and MLP also agree that COMPANY has the right to second the Seconded Employee to perform services for other entities or third parties at COMPANY’s sole discretion. The Seconded Employee will comply with all policies and procedures of MLP and COMPANY, as applicable.

 

SECTION 3. RESPONSIBILITY FOR SALARIES, BENEFITS, EMPLOYMENT TAXES AND OTHER COSTS.

Except to the extent the Seconded Employee is performing services for the Company or its other affiliates (or other secondees), in which case employee costs shall be allocated based on methodologies to be reasonably agreed between the Company and MLP, MLP shall pay and


reimburse COMPANY, and shall be responsible for such payment and provision of, all salaries, wages, bonuses, benefits, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, flex spending accounts, 401(k) matching, profit sharing, payroll taxes and other employment expenses (collectively, “Payment Obligations”) for the Seconded Employee. MLP understands that the Payment Obligations are subject to change from year to year, and agrees to pay and reimburse COMPANY for the Payment Obligations regardless of the nature of any such changes or the reason(s) for any such changes, provided that any material changes to the Seconded Employees’ compensation and benefits shall be subject to the prior approval of the MLP. The foregoing Payment Obligations, to the extent incurred prior to termination of this Agreement, shall survive termination of this Agreement. COMPANY shall continue to have the responsibility for complying with all requirements of all income and tax laws and unemployment compensation laws applicable to the Seconded Employee. COMPANY shall be responsible for providing insurance for all amounts required to be paid by an employer because of injury to, or death of, the Seconded Employee covering the liability of both COMPANY and MLP.

 

SECTION 4. PAYMENT.

COMPANY will invoice MLP, and MLP agrees to pay COMPANY, on a monthly basis for all Payment Obligations described herein for services rendered by the Seconded Employee to MLP for providing the services and accommodations described herein. MLP agrees to remit payment for any such invoices to COMPANY as soon as practicable upon receipt of such invoices.

 

SECTION 5. MISCELLANEOUS.

5.1 Notices . All consents, approvals, notices, requests, demands, instructions, and other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be (i) delivered personally; (ii) mailed by U.S. mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; (iii) delivered by reputable international overnight courier service; or (iv) delivered by facsimile transmission, to the address of each respective Party as set forth on the signature page(s) of this Agreement, or to such other place as any Party may designate as to itself by written notice to the other Party. All notices shall be deemed given on the date of receipt at the appropriate address, except in the case of facsimile transmissions received after the normal close of business, which shall be deemed given on the next business day.

5.2 Compliance with Laws . MLP shall be responsible for compliance with all employment and occupational health and safety laws, rules, regulations, or executive orders concerning the Seconded Employee. This obligation shall survive termination of this Agreement.

5.3 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed by the Parties in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original instrument, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.

5.4 Amendment . This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument signed by each Party.

5.5 Governing Law . This Agreement is to be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Texas.

 

-2-


5.6 Waiver . No waiver of any term, provision or condition of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced.

5.7 Assignment; Binding Effect . This Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned by any Party, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the other Party, and any such assignment that is made without such consent shall be void and of no force or effect. No permitted assignment shall release any Party from any of its obligations under this Agreement to the extent such obligations arose prior to such assignment. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assignees. This Agreement is intended for the exclusive benefit of the Parties to this Agreement and their respective personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns, and nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as creating any rights or benefits in or to any third party.

5.8 Severability . This Agreement is intended to be performed in accordance with, and only to the extent permitted by, all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is for any reason or to any extent invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the Agreement and the application of such provision to the other persons or circumstance shall not be affected thereby, but rather is to be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law, and the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable and legally enforceable manner, to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby may be completed to the extent possible.

5.9 Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, superseding any and all prior negotiations, discussions, agreements, and understandings, whether oral or written, relating to such subject matter.

THIS AGREEMENT IS HEREBY EXECUTED to be effective as of the Effective Date.

 

Noble Energy, Inc.
By:  

/s/ David Larson

Name:   David Larson
Title:   Vice President, Investor Relations

CONE Midstream Partners LP

by CONE Midstream GP LLC,

its General Partner

By:  

/s/ Kirk A. Moore

Name:   Kirk A. Moore
Title:   General Counsel and Secretary

 

-3-

Exhibit 10.7

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

2014 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

  SECTION 1. Purpose of the Plan .

This CONE Midstream Partners LP 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) has been adopted by CONE Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), the general partner of CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”). The Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Partnership and the Company by providing incentive compensation awards denominated in or based on Units to Employees, Consultants and Directors to encourage superior performance. The Plan is also intended to enhance the ability of the Partnership, the Company and their Affiliates to attract and retain the services of individuals who are essential for the growth and profitability of the Partnership, the Company and their Affiliates and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to advancing the business of the Partnership, the Company and their Affiliates.

 

  SECTION 2. Definitions .

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

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

ASC Topic 718 ” means Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation , or any successor accounting standard.

Award ” means an Option, Restricted Unit, Phantom Unit, DER, Substitute Award, Unit Appreciation Right, Unit Award, Profits Interest Unit or Other Unit-Based Award granted under the Plan.

Award Agreement ” means the written or electronic agreement by which an Award shall be evidenced and which agreement may include a separate plan, policy, agreement or other written document.

Board ” means the board of directors or board of managers, as the case may be, 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 under any written agreement between the Participant and the Company or its Affiliate(s); (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 ” means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon one or more of the following events:

(i) any “person” or “group” within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, CONE, CONSOL, Noble or an Affiliate of the Company, CONE, CONSOL or Noble (as determined immediately prior to such event), shall become the beneficial owner, by way of merger, acquisition, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or otherwise, of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the equity interests in the Company, the Partnership or CONE;

(ii) the limited partners of the Partnership approve, in one or a series of transactions, a plan of complete liquidation of the Partnership;

(iii) the sale or other disposition by either the Company or the Partnership of all or substantially all of the Company’s or the Partnership’s assets, respectively, in one or more transactions to any Person other than the Company, the Partnership, CONE, CONSOL, Noble or an Affiliate of the Company, the Partnership, CONE, CONSOL or Noble; or

(iv) a transaction resulting in a Person other than the Company, CONE, CONSOL, Noble or an Affiliate of the Company, CONE, CONSOL, or Noble (as determined immediately prior to such event) being the sole general partner of the Partnership.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award which provides for the deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A or if compensation under an Award otherwise would be subject to Section 409A as a result of using the definition of “Change in Control” provided above, then to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A or to avoid the application of Section 409A with respect to such Award, “Change in Control” shall mean a transaction or event that is both described in subsection (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above and constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5).

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 may be appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, or as necessary to comply with applicable legal requirements or listing standards.

 

-2-


CONE ” means CONE Gathering LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or its successor.

CONSOL ” means CONSOL Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation, or its successor.

Consultant ” means an individual who renders consulting services to the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates.

DER ” means a distribution equivalent right, representing a contingent right to receive an amount in cash, Units, Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units equal in value to the distributions made by the Partnership with respect to a Unit during the period such Award is outstanding.

Director ” means a member of the board of directors or board of managers, as the case may be, of the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates who is not an Employee or a Consultant (other than in that individual’s capacity as a Director).

Disability ” means, unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Company, the Partnership or one of their Affiliates and the applicable Participant, as determined by the Committee 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, as applicable, 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 of the Company, the Partnership or one of their Affiliates 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; provided, however, that if a Disability constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award which provides for the deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A or if compensation under an Award would otherwise be subject to Section 409A as a result of using the definition of “Disability” provided above, then, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A or to avoid the application of Section 409A with respect to such Award, unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Company, the Partnership or one of their Affiliates and the applicable Participant, the Participant must also be considered “disabled” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Code. A determination of Disability may be made by a physician selected or approved by the Committee and, in this respect, Participants shall submit to an examination by such physician upon request by the Committee.

Employee ” means an employee of the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Fair Market Value ”, as of any given date, means the closing sales price for transactions during normal trading hours on the immediately preceding date (or, if there are no reported sales on such date, on the most recent preceding date which there were such sales) of the Units on the

 

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New York Stock Exchange or, if not listed on such exchange, on any other national securities exchange on which the Units are listed or on an inter-dealer quotation system, in any case, as reported in such source as the Committee shall select. If there is no regular public trading market for the Units, the Fair Market Value of the Units shall be determined by the Committee in good faith and, to the extent applicable, in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A.

Noble ” means Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or its successor.

Option ” means an option to purchase Units granted pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Plan.

Other Unit-Based Award ” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 6(f) of the Plan.

Participant ” means an Employee, Consultant or Director who has been granted and holds an outstanding Award under the Plan and any authorized transferee of such individual.

Partnership Agreement ” means the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as it may be amended or amended and restated from time to time.

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.

Phantom Unit ” means a notional interest granted under the Plan that, to the extent vested, entitles the Participant to receive a Unit or an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

Profits Interest Unit ” means, to the extent authorized by the Partnership Agreement, a unit representing an equity interest in the Partnership that is intended to constitute a “profits interest” within the meaning of the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and any published guidance by the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto.

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.

Restricted Unit ” means a Unit granted pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Plan that is subject to a Restricted Period.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor thereto.

Section 409A ” means Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be amended or issued after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 9 below).

 

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Service ” means service as an Employee, Consultant or Director. The Committee, 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, 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 Partnership, the Company or any of their Affiliates as an Employee, Director or Consultant or (b) a termination which results in a temporary severance of the service relationship. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the determination that a termination of Service of or by a Participant has or has not occurred would affect whether an Award provides for the deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A, or if an Award provides for the deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A and the termination of Service of or by a Participant constitutes a payment event with respect to such Award, then, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A or to avoid the application of Section 409A with respect to such Award, a termination of Service of or by the Participant will be deemed to have occurred only if the Committee determines that there has been a termination of Service and that such termination also constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.

Substitute Award ” means an award granted pursuant to Section 6(g) of the Plan.

Unit ” means a Common Unit of the Partnership.

Unit Appreciation Right ” or “ UAR ” means a contingent right that entitles the holder to receive the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the exercise date of the UAR over the exercise price of the UAR.

Unit Award ” means an award granted pursuant to Section 6(d) of the Plan.

 

  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 each Award; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, or forfeited; (vi) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to an Award made under the Plan; (vii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (viii) make any other determination

 

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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, the Partnership, any of their 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 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) Limits on Units Deliverable . Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), the number of Units that may be delivered with respect to Awards under the Plan is 5,800,000. If any Award is forfeited, cancelled, exercised, paid or is settled, or otherwise terminates or expires, any Units subject to such Award that are not actually delivered pursuant to such Award and any Units reacquired from the forfeiture of Restricted Units shall again be available for Awards under the Plan. To the extent permitted by applicable law and securities exchange rules, Substitute Awards and Units issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity (including an existing Affiliate of the Partnership) that is (or whose securities are) acquired in any form by the Partnership or any Affiliate thereof shall not be counted against the Units available for issuance pursuant to the Plan. There shall not be any limitation on the number of Awards that may be paid in cash. For the avoidance of doubt, any Units subject to an Award that are withheld to satisfy all or any portion of any tax withholding obligation or the payment of any exercise price owed under the Award shall be considered Units not delivered under an Award and as available for other Awards under the Plan.

(b) Sources of Units Deliverable Under Awards . Any Units to be delivered pursuant to an Award shall consist, in whole or in part, of Units acquired in the open market, from the Partnership, any Affiliate thereof or any other Person, or Units otherwise issuable by the

 

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Partnership (including Units issued by the Partnership directly to the Participant for payment or satisfaction the Award), or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

(c) Anti-dilution Adjustments .

(i) Equity Restructuring . With respect to any “equity restructuring” event (within the meaning of ASC Topic 718) 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 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.

(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 Partnership assets to unitholders, or any other change affecting the Units of the Partnership, 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 an Award under the Plan.

 

  SECTION 6. Awards .

(a) Options and UARs . The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Options and/or UARs shall be granted, the number of Units to be covered by each Option or UAR, the exercise price therefor, the Restricted Period and other conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option or UAR, including the following terms and conditions and such additional terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan. Options which are intended to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(A) and UARs which are intended to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(B) or, in each

 

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case, any successor regulation, may be granted only if the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii), or any successor regulation, are satisfied. Options and UARs that are otherwise exempt from or compliant with Section 409A may be granted to any eligible Employee, Consultant or Director.

(i) Exercise Price . The exercise price per Unit purchasable under an Option or subject to a UAR shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Option or UAR is granted. Except with respect to a Substitute Award or an Option or UAR that is not intended to satisfy the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(A) or (B), as applicable, the exercise price per Unit purchasable under an Option or subject to a UAR may not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit as of the date of grant of the Option or UAR.

(ii) Time and Method of Exercise . The Committee shall determine the exercise terms and any applicable Restricted Period with respect to an Option or UAR, which may include, without limitation, provisions for accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals and/or other events, and the method or methods by which payment of the exercise price with respect to an Option may be made or deemed to have been made, which may include, without limitation, cash, check acceptable to the Company, withholding Units having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price from the Award, a “cashless” exercise through procedures approved by the Company, or any combination of the foregoing methods.

(iii) Exercise of Options and UARs on Termination of Service . Each Option and UAR Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Option or UAR (to the extent such Option or UAR is vested and exercisable as of the termination of Service) following a termination of the Participant’s Service. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if the Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause, the Participant’s right to exercise the Option or UAR, whether or not otherwise vested and exercisable, shall terminate as of the start of business on the effective date of the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, to the extent the Option or UAR is not vested and exercisable as of the termination of Service, the Option or UAR shall terminate when the Participant’s Service terminates.

(iv) Term of Options and UARs . The term of each Option and UAR shall be stated in the Award Agreement, provided , that the term shall be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. Upon the expiration of its term, an Option or UAR, whether or not otherwise vested and exercisable, shall terminate and shall not be exercisable thereafter.

(b) Restricted Units and Phantom Units . The Committee shall have the authority to determine, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Plan, the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units shall be granted, the number of Restricted Units or Phantom Units to be granted to each such Participant, the applicable

 

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Restricted Period, the conditions under which the Restricted Units or Phantom Units may become vested or forfeited and such other terms and conditions, including, without limitation, restrictions on transferability, as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards.

(i) Payment of Phantom Units . The Committee shall specify, or permit the Participant to elect in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A, the conditions and dates or events upon which the cash or Units underlying an award of Phantom Units shall be issued, which dates or events shall not be earlier than the date on which the Phantom Units vest and become nonforfeitable and which conditions and dates or events shall be subject to compliance with Section 409A (unless the Phantom Units are exempt therefrom).

(ii) Vesting of Restricted Units . Upon or as soon as reasonably practicable following the vesting of each Restricted Unit, subject to satisfying the tax withholding obligations of Section 8(b), the Participant shall be entitled to have the restrictions removed from his or her Unit certificate (or book-entry account, as applicable) so that the Participant then holds an unrestricted Unit.

(c) DERs . The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and/or Directors to whom DERs are granted, whether such DERs are tandem or separate Awards, whether the DERs shall be paid directly to the Participant, be credited to a bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion of the Committee), any vesting restrictions and payment provisions applicable to the DERs, and such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion, all of which shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreements. Distributions in respect of DERs shall be credited as of the distribution dates during the period between the date an Award is granted to a Participant and the date such Award vests, is exercised, is distributed or expires, as determined by the Committee. Such DERs shall be converted to cash, Units, Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee. Tandem DERs may be subject to the same or different vesting restrictions as the tandem Award, or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, DERs shall only be paid in a manner that is either exempt from or in compliance with Section 409A and that does not adversely affect the exemption from, or compliance with, Section 409A of any other Award, whether such Award is tandem with or separate from the DER. By way of clarification and not limitation of the foregoing, a DER that is Awarded in tandem with an Option or UAR that is intended to be exempt from Section 409A under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(A) or (B) shall not condition the right to payment, or base the time of payment, on the exercise of the Option or UAR.

(d) Unit Awards . Awards of Units that are not subject to Restricted Periods may be granted under the Plan (i) to such Employees, Consultants and/or Directors and in such amounts as the Committee, in its discretion, may select, and (ii) subject to such other terms and conditions, including, without limitation, restrictions on transferability, as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards.

 

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(e) Profits Interest Units . Any Award consisting of Profits Interest Units may be granted to an Employee, Consultant or Director for the performance of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership (i) in the Participant’s capacity as a partner of the Partnership, (ii) in anticipation of the Participant becoming a partner of the Partnership, or (iii) as otherwise determined by the Committee. At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the Profits Interest Units shall vest and become nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate. Profits Interest Units shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose.

(f) 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 otherwise based on or related to Units, in whole or in part. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any Other Unit-Based Award. Subject to vesting, an Other Unit-Based Award may be paid in cash, Units (including Restricted Units) or any combination thereof as provided in the Award Agreement.

(g) Substitute Awards . Awards may be granted under the Plan in substitution of similar awards held by individuals who are or who become Employees, Consultants or Directors in connection with a merger, consolidation or acquisition by the Partnership or an Affiliate of another entity or the securities or assets of another entity (including in connection with the acquisition by the Partnership or one of its Affiliates of additional securities of an entity that is an existing Affiliate of the Partnership). Such Substitute Awards that are Options or UARs may have exercise prices less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the date of the substitution if such substitution satisfies the requirements for exemption from or compliance with Section 409A and complies with all other applicable laws and securities exchange rules.

(h) General .

(i) Award Agreements . Each Award shall be evidenced in writing in an Award Agreement that shall reflect any vesting conditions or restrictions imposed by the Committee covering a period of time specified by the Committee and shall also contain such other terms, conditions and limitations as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Where signature or electronic acceptance of the Award Agreement by the Participant is required, any such Awards for which the Award Agreement is not signed or electronically accepted shall be forfeited.

(ii) 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, unvested Awards held by such Participant shall be automatically forfeited by the Participant. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to any such Award; provided , that any such waiver shall be effective only to the extent that such waiver will not cause (i) any Award intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A to fail to satisfy such requirements or (ii) any Award intended to be exempt from Section 409A to become subject to and to fail to satisfy such requirements.

 

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(iii) 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. 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.

(iv) Limits on Transfer of Awards .

(A) Except as provided in paragraph (C) below, each Option and UAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative in the case of the Participant’s Disability or incapacitation) during the Participant’s lifetime, or by the person to whom the Participant’s rights pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

(B) Except as provided in paragraph (C) below, no Award and no right under any such Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant 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, the Partnership or any Affiliate.

(C) The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement or in its discretion that an Award may, on such terms and conditions as the Committee may from time to time establish, be transferred by a Participant without consideration to any “family member” of the Participant, as defined in the instructions to use of the Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act, as applicable, or any other transferee specifically approved by the Committee after taking into account any state, federal, local or foreign tax and securities laws applicable to transferable Awards. In addition, vested Units may be transferred to the extent permitted by the Partnership Agreement and not otherwise prohibited by the Award Agreement or any other agreement or policy restricting the transfer of such Units.

(v) Term of Awards . Subject to Section 6(a)(iv) above, the term of each Award, if any, shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee.

(vi) Unit Certificates . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by any applicable law, rule or regulation, neither the Company nor the Partnership shall 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 Partnership (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or equity plan administrator). All

 

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certificates for Units or other securities of the Partnership 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.

(vii) Consideration for Grants . To the extent permitted by applicable law, Awards may be granted for such consideration, including services, as the Committee shall determine.

(viii) 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 pursuant to the exercise or vesting of any Award, unless and until the Board or the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such Units is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Units are listed or traded, and the Units 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 pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an Award may be deferred for any period during which, in the good faith determination of the Committee, the Company is not reasonably able to obtain 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 (including, without limitation, any exercise price or tax withholding) 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 at any time for any reason or for no reason without the consent of any partner, Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award, or any other Person. The Board shall obtain securityholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or securities exchange listing standards or rules.

 

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(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 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.

(c) Actions Upon the Occurrence of Certain Events . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, including Section 8(e), upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, any transaction or event described in Section 4(c) 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, which need not be uniform with respect to all Participants or all Awards, may take any one or more of the following actions:

(i) provide for either (A) the termination 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 (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 options, 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;

(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; and

(v) provide that the Award cannot be exercised or become payable after such event and shall terminate upon such event.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) with respect to an above event that constitutes an “equity restructuring” that would be subject to a compensation expense pursuant to ASC Topic 718, the

 

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provisions in Section 4(c) above shall control to the extent they are in conflict with the discretionary provisions of this Section 7, provided, however , that nothing in this Section 7(c) or Section 4(c) above shall be construed as providing any Participant or any beneficiary of an Award any rights with respect to the “time value,” “economic opportunity” or “intrinsic value” of an Award or limiting in any manner the Committee’s actions that may be taken with respect to an Award as set forth in this Section 7 or in Section 4(c) above; and (ii) no action shall be taken under this Section 7 which shall cause an Award to result in taxation under Section 409A, to the extent applicable to such Award.

 

  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 or pursuant to Section 7(c). 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 the Company, the Company 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 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 the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, or to continue to serve as a Consultant or a Director, as applicable. Furthermore, the Company, the Partnership and/or an Affiliate thereof 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) No Rights as Unitholder . Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a unitholder with respect to Units covered by any Award unless and until the Participant becomes the record owner of such Units.

(e) 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

 

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shall be drafted with the intention to 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, the Partnership, the Company or any of their Affiliates to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action, nor shall the Committee, the Partnership, the Company or any of their Affiliates have any liability for failing to do so. If any termination of Service constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award which provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to Section 409A, such termination of Service must also constitute a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A. 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). Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A as of the date of such Participant’s termination of Service and the Company determines that immediate payment of any amounts or benefits under this Plan would cause a violation of Section 409A, then any amounts or benefits which are payable under this Plan upon the Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A that: (i) are subject to the provisions of Section 409A; (ii) are not otherwise exempt under Section 409A; and (iii) would otherwise be payable during the first six-month period following such separation from service, shall be paid, without interest, on the first business day following the earlier of: (1) the date that is six months and one day following the date of termination; or (2) the date of the Participant’s death. Each payment or amount due to a Participant under this Plan shall be considered a separate payment, and a Participant’s entitlement to a series of payments under this Plan is to be treated as an entitlement to a series of separate payments.

(f) Lock-Up Agreement . Each Participant shall agree, if so requested by the Company or the Partnership and any underwriter in connection with any public offering of securities of the Partnership or any Affiliate, 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 Units held by it 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 the Partnership may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of such 180-day period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the 180-day period may be extended for up to such number of additional days as is deemed necessary by such underwriter or the Company or Partnership to continue coverage by research analysts in accordance with FINRA Rule 2711 or any successor rule.

 

-15-


(g) Compliance with Laws . The Plan, the granting and vesting of 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, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or the Partnership, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such restrictions, and the Person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company or the Partnership, provide such assurances and representations to the Company or the Partnership as the Company or the Partnership 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, vesting, settlement or retention of Awards in order to comply with such foreign law and/or to minimize the Company’s or the Partnership’s obligations with respect to tax equalization for Participants employed outside their home country.

(h) 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.

(i) 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.

(j) Other Laws . The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Units or other consideration under an Award if, in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Units or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation, the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the Units are then traded, or entitle the Partnership or an Affiliate to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.

(k) 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

 

-16-


Company, the Partnership or any of their 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 Partnership or any participating Affiliate of the Partnership.

(l) No Fractional Units . No fractional Units shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Units or whether such fractional Units or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.

(m) 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.

(n) No Guarantee of Tax Consequences . None of the Board, the Committee, the Company or the Partnership 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, local or other tax treatment will (or will not) apply or be available to any Participant or other Person and assumes no liability with respect to any tax or associated liabilities to which any Participant or other Person may be subject.

(o) Clawback . To the extent required by applicable law or any applicable securities exchange listing standards, or as otherwise determined by the Committee, Awards and amounts paid or payable pursuant to or with respect to Awards shall be subject to the provisions of any clawback policy implemented by the Company or the Partnership, which clawback policy may provide for forfeiture, repurchase and/or recoupment of Awards and amounts paid or payable pursuant to or with respect to Awards. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Company and the Partnership reserve the right, without the consent of any Participant, to adopt any such clawback policies and procedures, including such policies and procedures applicable to this Plan or any Award Agreement with retroactive effect.

(p) Unit Retention Policy . The Committee may provide in its sole and absolute discretion, subject to applicable law, that any Units received by a Participant in connection with an Award granted hereunder shall be subject to a unit ownership, unit retention or other policy restricting the sale or transfer of units, as the Committee may determine to adopt, amend or terminate in its sole discretion from time to time.

(q) Limitation of Liability . No member of the Board or the Committee or Employee to whom the Board or the Committee has delegated authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of this Plan shall be liable for anything done or omitted to be done by him or her by any member of the Board or the Committee or by any Employee in connection with the performance of any duties under this Plan, except for his or her own willful misconduct or as expressly provided by statute.

(r) 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

 

-17-


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 Partnership, the Company and all of their 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 until the date 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.

 

-18-

Exhibit 10.8

$250,000,000

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of September 30, 2014

among

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP,

as the Borrower,

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER,

as Guarantors,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer,

and

The Other Lenders and L/C Issuers Party Hereto

 

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC,

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS, INC.,

and

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

as

Joint Lead Arrangers and Book Runners


Table of Contents

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

     1   

1.01 Defined Terms

     1   

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions

     20   

1.03 Accounting Terms

     21   

1.04 Rounding

     21   

1.05 References to Agreements and Laws

     21   

1.06 Times of Day

     21   

1.07 Letter of Credit Amounts

     21   

ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS

     22   

2.01 The Loans

     22   

2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans

     22   

2.03 Letters of Credit

     23   

2.04 Swing Line Loans

     29   

2.05 Prepayments

     31   

2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments

     32   

2.07 Repayment of Loans

     32   

2.08 Interest

     32   

2.09 Fees

     32   

2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

     33   

2.11 Evidence of Debt

     33   

2.12 Payments Generally

     34   

2.13 Sharing of Payments

     35   

2.14 Cash Collateral

     35   

2.15 Increase in Aggregate Commitment

     36   

2.16 Defaulting Lenders

     37   

ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

     39   

3.01 Taxes

     39   

3.02 Illegality

     42   

3.03 Inability to Determine Rates

     43   

3.04 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy

     43   

3.05 Funding Losses

     44   

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Designation of a Different Lending Office

     44   

3.07 Matters Applicable to all Requests for Compensation

     45   

3.08 Survival

     45   

ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING DATE AND TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     45   

4.01 Conditions of Closing Date and Initial Credit Extension

     45   

4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions

     47   

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     47   

5.01 Corporate Existence and Power

     47   

5.02 Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention; No Default

     47   

5.03 Binding Effect

     47   

5.04 Financial Information

     48   

5.05 Litigation

     48   

5.06 Compliance with ERISA

     48   

5.07 Environmental Matters

     48   

5.08 Taxes

     49   

5.09 Subsidiaries

     49   

 

i


5.10 Regulatory Restrictions on Borrowing; Margin Regulations

     49   

5.11 Full Disclosure

     49   

5.12 Compliance with Laws

     49   

5.13 Reserved

     49   

5.14 Ownership of Property; No Liens; Insurance

     49   

5.15 Solvency

     50   

5.16 Patriot Act

     50   

5.17 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions

     50   

ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     50   

6.01 Information

     50   

6.02 Payment of Taxes and Obligations

     52   

6.03 Maintenance of Property; Insurance

     52   

6.04 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence

     53   

6.05 Compliance with Laws

     53   

6.06 Inspection of Property, Books and Records

     53   

6.07 Use of Proceeds

     53   

6.08 Governmental Approvals and Filings

     53   

6.09 Material Contracts

     53   

6.10 Additional Subsidiaries

     53   

ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     54   

7.01 Liens

     54   

7.02 Financial Covenants

     56   

7.03 Transactions with Affiliates

     56   

7.04 Restricted Payments

     56   

7.05 Mergers and Fundamental Changes

     57   

7.06 Change in Nature of Business

     57   

7.07 Use of Proceeds

     57   

7.08 Dispositions

     57   

7.09 Debt

     58   

7.10 Investments

     59   

7.11 Changes in Fiscal Year; Organization Documents

     59   

7.12 Subsidiaries

     60   

7.13 Swap Contracts

     60   

ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

     60   

8.01 Events of Default

     60   

8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default

     62   

8.03 Application of Funds

     62   

ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     63   

9.01 Appointment and Authorization of Administrative Agent

     63   

9.02 Rights as a Lender

     63   

9.03 Exculpatory Provisions

     63   

9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent

     64   

9.05 Indemnification of Administrative Agent

     64   

9.06 Delegation of Duties

     65   

9.07 Resignation of Administrative Agent

     65   

9.08 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

     66   

9.09 No Other Duties, Etc

     66   

9.10 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

     66   

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

     66   

10.01 Amendments, Etc

     66   

10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

     67   

 

ii


10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

     69   

10.04 Attorney Costs, Expenses and Taxes

     69   

10.05 Indemnification; Damage Waiver

     69   

10.06 Payments Set Aside

     70   

10.07 Successors and Assigns

     71   

10.08 Confidentiality

     75   

10.09 Set-off

     75   

10.10 Interest Rate Limitation

     75   

10.11 Counterparts

     76   

10.12 Integration

     76   

10.13 Survival of Representations and Warranties

     76   

10.14 Severability

     76   

10.15 Reserved

     76   

10.16 Replacement of Lenders

     76   

10.17 Governing Law

     77   

10.18 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

     77   

10.19 Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury

     78   

10.20 USA PATRIOT Act Notice

     78   

10.21 Entire Agreement

     78   

10.22 No General Partner’s Liability for Revolving Facility

     78   

ARTICLE XI GUARANTY

     79   

11.01 The Guaranty

     79   

11.02 Obligations Unconditional

     79   

11.03 Reinstatement

     80   

11.04 Certain Additional Waivers

     80   

11.05 Remedies

     80   

11.06 Rights of Contribution

     80   

11.07 Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee

     80   

11.08 Termination or Release

     80   

11.09 No General Partner’s Liability for Revolving Facility

     81   

 

iii


SCHEDULES

2.01

  

Commitments and Pro Rata Shares

5.09

  

Subsidiaries

7.03

  

Affiliate Contracts as of the Closing Date

7.10

  

Investments as of the Closing Date

7.12

  

Certain Agreements as of the Closing Date

10.02

  

Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices

EXHIBITS

Form of

  

A-1

  

Loan Notice

A-2

  

Swing Line Loan Notice

B-1

  

Revolving Note

B-2

  

Swing Line Note

C

  

Compliance Certificate

D

  

Assignment and Assumption

E

  

Guarantor Joinder

F-1

  

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Form 1)

F-2

  

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Form 2)

F-3

  

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Form 3)

F-4

  

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Form 4)

 

iv


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) is entered into as of September 30, 2014, among CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), the Guarantors party hereto, each lender from time to time party hereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, and the other L/C Issuers named herein.

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders extend certain credit to the Borrower, and the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

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

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1.01 Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Acquisition ” by any Person, means (a) the acquisition by such Person, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of (i) property or assets (other than capital expenditures or acquisitions of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business) constituting a business unit or division of another Person or (ii) the Capital Stock of another Person resulting in such other Person becoming a Subsidiary, in each case whether or not involving a merger or consolidation with such other Person and whether for cash, property, services, assumption of Debt, securities or otherwise and (b) any Midstream Acquisition.

Adjusted Eurodollar Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

Administrative Agent ” means JPM in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any 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. “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. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender be deemed an Affiliate of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Agent-Related Persons ” means each of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, together with its respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.

Aggregate Commitment ” means the aggregate Commitments of all the Lenders.

 

1


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

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all Laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

Applicable Rate ” means, (a) until the Borrower has obtained an Investment Grade Rating from either S&P or Moody’s, the percentages per annum set forth in the Leverage Based Pricing Grid below, based upon the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Borrower:

LEVERAGE BASED PRICING GRID

 

Pricing Level

  

Consolidated Leverage Ratio

   Commitment
Fee Rate
    Eurodollar
Rate
    Letters of
Credit
    Base
Rate
 

1

   Less than 3.00 to 1.00      0.250     1.50     1.50     0.50

2

   Greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 but less than 3.75 to 1.00      0.275     1.750     1.750     0.750

3

   Greater than or equal to 3.75 to 1.00      0.350     2.00     2.00     1.00

and (b) on the date and at all times after the Borrower obtains an Investment Grade Rating from either S&P or Moody’s, the percentages per annum set forth in the Ratings Based Pricing Grid below, based upon the Public Debt Ratings of the Borrower:

RATINGS BASED PRICING GRID

 

Pricing Level

  

Public Debt RatingsS&P/Moody’s/Fitch

   Commitment
Fee Rate
    Eurodollar
Rate
    Letters of
Credit
    Base
Rate
 

1

   BBB+/Baa1/BBB+ or higher      0.150     1.125     1.125     0.125

2

   BBB/Baa2/BBB      0.200     1.25     1.25     0.25

3

   BBB-/Baa3/BBB-      0.225     1.50     1.50     0.50

4

   BB+/Ba1/BB+      0.300     1.75     1.75     0.75

5

   BB/Ba2/BB or lower or unrated by S&P and Moody’s      0.350     2.00     2.00     1.00

The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date until the date the first Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(c) shall be determined based upon Pricing Level 1 of the Leverage Based Pricing Grid (subject to the proviso below if such Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due). Thereafter, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the Compliance Certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(c) , until the date that the Borrower shall have obtained an Investment Grade Rating from either S&P or Moody’s, on which date the Applicable Rate shall be determined as set forth above. Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date that the Compliance Certificate is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(c) ; provided , however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon Pricing Level 3 of the Leverage Based Pricing Grid and shall continue to apply until the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered in accordance with Section 6.01(c) , whereupon the Applicable Rate shall be adjusted based upon the calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio contained in such Compliance Certificate. Each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Public Debt Ratings shall be effective during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

Approved Fund ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h) .

Arranger ” means each of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, in their capacity as joint lead arrangers and book runners.

 

2


Assignee Group ” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

Assignment and Assumption ” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit D .

Attorney Costs ” means and includes all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel.

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited financial statements of the Borrower’s predecessor and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2013, as presented in the Registration Statement.

Authorizations ” means all filings, recordings, and registrations with, and all validations or exemptions, approvals, orders, authorizations, consents, franchises, licenses, certificates, and permits from, any Governmental Authority.

Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the Maturity Date.

Base Rate ” means, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus  1 2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its “prime rate” and (c) the Adjusted Eurodollar 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%; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of calculating the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate pursuant to clause (c)  above, the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for any day shall be based on the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such day but shall otherwise be calculated in accordance with the definition of Eurodollar Rate, subject to the interest rate floor therein. The “prime rate” is a rate set by the Administrative Agent based upon various factors, including the Administrative Agent’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in such rate announced by the Administrative Agent, in the Federal Funds Effective Rate or in the one-month Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

Base Rate Loan ” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate. All Base Rate Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.

Benefit Arrangement ” means, at any time, an employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which is not a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan and which is maintained or otherwise contributed to by any member of the ERISA Group.

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01 .

Borrowing ” means Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01 .

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, New York City or the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

 

3


Capital Lease ” means any lease of any property by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as lessee, that should, in accordance with GAAP (subject to Section 1.03(b) ), be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

Capital Stock ” means shares of capital stock in a corporation, partnership interests in a partnership, 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 interest (other than any debt security which by its terms is convertible at the option of the holder into Capital Stock, to the extent such holder has not so converted such debt security).

Cash Collateralize ” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of one or more of the L/C Issuer or the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of the Lenders to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances or, if the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer shall agree, in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer.

Cash Collateral ”, in such context, shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such Cash Collateral and other credit support.

Cash Equivalents ” means, collectively, (a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof maturing within twelve (12) months from the date of acquisition thereof, (b) commercial paper maturing no more than one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of creation thereof and currently having the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s, (c) certificates of deposit maturing no more than one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of creation thereof issued by commercial banks incorporated under the Laws of the United States, each having combined capital, surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000 and having a rating of “A” or better by a nationally recognized rating agency; provided that the aggregate amount invested in such certificates of deposit shall not at any time exceed $5,000,000 for any one such certificate of deposit and $10,000,000 for any one such bank, (d) time deposits maturing no more than thirty (30) days from the date of creation thereof with commercial banks or savings banks or savings and loan associations each having membership either in the FDIC or the deposits of which are insured by the FDIC and in amounts not exceeding the maximum amounts of insurance thereunder and (e) money market investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 which are administered by reputable financial institutions having capital of at least $500,000,000 or having portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000 and the portfolios of which are limited to investments of the character described in the foregoing subdivisions (a) through (d).

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), 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, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) 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.

Change of Control ” means the failure of (i) the Borrower to own and control 100% of the Capital Stock of Opco, (ii) the General Partner to be the general partner of the Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Agreement or (iii) either CONSOL or Noble to each own and control, directly or indirectly, at least 35% of the Capital Stock of the General Partner.

Closing Date ” means September 30, 2014, which is the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 4.01 .

 

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Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Commercial Operation Date ” means the date on which a Qualified Project is substantially complete and commercially operable.

Commitment ” means, (a) with respect to each Lender listed on Schedule 2.01 , the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on such Schedule, (b) with respect to any financial institution which becomes a Lender pursuant to Section 2.15 , the amount of the Commitment extended by it as of the applicable Increase Effective Date and (c) with respect to any assignee which becomes a Lender pursuant to Section 10.07(b) , the amount of the transferor Lender’s Commitment assigned to it pursuant to Section 10.07(b) , in each case as such amount may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to this Agreement; provided that, if the context so requires, the term “ Commitment ” means the obligation of a Lender to extend credit up to such amount to the Borrower hereunder.

Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C .

CONE ” means CONE Gathering LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

CONSOL ” means CONSOL Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Consolidated Funded Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, the outstanding Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, excluding Debt described in clauses (c) and (g) (to the extent of Guarantees not for borrowed money) of the definition thereof and to the extent of undrawn letters of credit, clause (b) of the definition thereof.

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any period, subject to Section 1.03(c) , an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (b) to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, the aggregate amount of (i) Consolidated Interest Charges, (ii) Taxes based on or measured by income, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) goodwill or other impairment charges and other non-cash charges, (v) non-recurring expenses, (vi) non-cash losses resulting from mark to market accounting of Swap Agreements, (vii) reasonable and customary out-of-pocket cash fees and expenses incurred in connection with the proposed or consummated incurrence or repayment of any Debt permitted by Section 7.09 , the proposed or consummated making of any Disposition permitted by Section 7.08 , the proposed or consummated making of any Investment (including any Acquisition) permitted by Section 7.10 or the proposed or consummated issuance of Capital Stock in a public offering, in an aggregate annual amount for all such transactions not to exceed $5,000,000 and (viii) one-time transaction expenses related to execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Transactions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30,000,000 minus (c) to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the aggregate amount of (i) all non-cash items and (ii) extraordinary or non-recurring gains. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of calculating compliance for the first three periods for which the financial covenants are tested, Consolidated EBITDA will be annualized by multiplying Consolidated EBITDA (x) for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2014, times four, (y) for the two fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2015, times two and (z) for the three fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2015, times four-thirds. For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Net Income and the expenses and other items described above shall be adjusted with respect to the portion of Consolidated Net Income and the portion of such expenses and other items which are attributable to any non-wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Borrower, to reflect only the Borrower’s pro rata ownership interest in such Subsidiaries. The calculation of Consolidated EBITDA may be subject from time to time to the pro forma adjustments described in Section 1.03(c) .

Consolidated Interest Charges ” means, for any period determined on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, all cash interest expense (including, without limitation, interest expense attributable to Capital Leases and all net payment obligations pursuant to interest rate Swap Contracts) for such period, in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of calculating compliance for the first three periods for which the financial covenants are tested, Consolidated Interest Charges will be annualized by multiplying Consolidated Interest Charges (x) for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2014, times four, (y) for the two fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2015, times two and (z) for the three fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2015, times four-thirds.

 

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Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such day to (b) Consolidated Interest Charges for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such day.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Debt on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such day.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that Consolidated Net Income shall not include (a) extraordinary gains or extraordinary losses, (b) net gains and losses in respect of dispositions of assets other than in the ordinary course of business, (c) gains or losses attributable to write-ups or write-downs of assets, including hedging and derivative activities in the ordinary course of business and (d) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles, all as reported in the Borrower’s consolidated statement(s) of operations for the relevant period(s) prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means, at any date of determination, the total amount of consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries minus the value (net of any applicable reserves) of all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and other like intangible assets, all as set forth, or on a pro forma basis would be set forth, on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the most recently completed fiscal quarter, in accordance with GAAP.

Control ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Affiliate.”

Credit Extension ” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

Debt ” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as Debt or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b) the amount available to be drawn under all letters of credit (including standby and commercial) (other than letter of credit obligations relating to indebtedness included in Debt pursuant to another clause of this definition) and, without duplication, the unreimbursed amount of all drafts drawn thereunder;

(c) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than current liabilities and trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the purchase of goods and services which are not greater than ninety (90) days past the due date therefor or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP);

(d) debt (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including debt arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such debt shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(e) Capital Leases;

(f) to the extent required to be included on the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet as debt or liabilities in accordance with GAAP, Synthetic Lease Obligations; and

(g) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

For all purposes hereof, the Debt of the Borrower shall include the Debt of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary

 

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of the Borrower is a general partner or a joint venturer (provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, as used in this sentence “joint venturer” shall not include a limited partner in a limited partnership), unless such Debt is expressly made non-recourse to the Borrower or Subsidiary, as applicable.

Debtor Relief Laws ” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Default ” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

Default Rate ” means, at any time, an interest rate equal to the interest rate applicable to the outstanding Obligations (inclusive of the Applicable Margin with respect thereto) plus two percent (2.00%).

Defaulting Lender ” means, subject to Section 2.16(b) , any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of the Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within two Business Days following the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans) within two Business Days following the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender in writing or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c)  upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a)  through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(b) ) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and each Lender.

Designated Rating Agency ” means S&P, Moody’s and/or Fitch.

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by a Loan Party (including the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

Dollar ” and “ $ ” mean lawful money of the United States.

Domestic ” means organized under the Laws of any state of the United States.

 

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Eligible Assignee ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h) .

Environmental Laws ” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

Environmental Liability ” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Substances, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Substances, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substances into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

ERISA Group ” means the Borrower, any Subsidiary and all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with the Borrower or any Subsidiary, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001(b)(i) of ERISA.

Eurodollar Rate ” means, for any Interest Period for each Eurodollar Loan, the London interbank offered rate as administered by Intercontinental Exchange Benchmark Administration Ltd. (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for dollars) for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion; in each case the “ LIBOR Screen Rate ”) at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period; provided that, if the LIBOR Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement and provided , further, if the LIBOR Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “ Impacted Interest Period ”) with respect to dollars then the Eurodollar Rate shall be the Interpolated Rate ( provided , that, if any Interpolated Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement).

Eurodollar Rate Loan ” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate of interest based on the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate (excluding a Base Rate Loan bearing interest by reference to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate by virtue of clause (c) of the definition of Base Rate).

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01 .

Excluded Taxes ” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the Laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment or otherwise under a Loan Document pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment or becomes a Lender hereunder (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 10.16 ) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01(b) , amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(f) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

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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 current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code.

Federal Funds Effective Rate ” shall mean, for any day, the weighted average of the per annum rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, 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 date that is a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 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 Letter ” means that certain Fee Letter, dated as of the date hereof, between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

Fitch ” means Fitch Ratings Inc. and any successor thereto.

Foreign Lender ” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Fronting Exposure ” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders.

Fund ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h) .

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

General Partner ” means CONE Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor entity thereto for which CONSOL and Noble each own and control (directly or indirectly) at least 35% of its Voting Stock.

Governmental Authority ” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, any (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the

 

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obligee in respect of such Debt or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Debt or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Debt or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Debt or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Debt or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Debt or other obligation is assumed by such Person. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Guarantors ” means, collectively, Opco, each other entity appearing as a Guarantor on the signature pages hereto and any direct or indirect Material Subsidiary of the Borrower that becomes a Guarantor hereunder pursuant to Section 6.10 .

Hazardous Substances ” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Increase Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b) .

Indemnified Liabilities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05(a) .

Indemnified Taxes ” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a), Other Taxes.

Indemnitees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05(a) .

Information ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.08 .

Interest Payment Date ” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the first Business Day of each January, April, July and October and the Maturity Date.

Interest Period ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, or such other periods as agreed to by all of the relevant Lenders, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that:

(a) any Interest Period applicable to any Eurodollar Rate Loan which would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;

(b) any Interest Period applicable to any Eurodollar Rate Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall, subject to the provisions of clause (a)  above, end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

 

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Interpolated Rate ” shall mean, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the LIBOR Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the longest period for which the LIBOR Screen Rate is available for Dollars) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period; and (b) the LIBOR Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available for dollars) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time.

Investment ” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of the Capital Stock of another Person, (b) an Acquisition or (c) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor guarantees Debt of such other Person.

Investment Grade Rating ” means (a) a BBB- rating or higher from S&P, (b) a Baa3 rating or higher from Moody’s or (c) a BBB- rating or higher from Fitch.

IPO ” means an initial registered public offering of common units representing limited partner interests in the Borrower to the public pursuant to the Registration Statement which results in the common units representing limited partner interests in the Borrower being traded on a national securities exchange.

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

ISP ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(g) .

JPM ” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and its successors.

Laws ” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

L/C Advance ” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Pro Rata Share.

L/C Borrowing ” means an extension of credit from the L/C Issuer resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed by the Borrower on the date when made or refinanced as a Borrowing.

L/C Credit Extension ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

L/C Issuer ” means each of JPM, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Citibank, N.A. and Bank of America, N.A. in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. References herein and in the other Loan Documents to “ L/C Issuer ” shall be deemed to refer to the L/C Issuer in respect of the applicable Letter of Credit or to all L/C Issuers, as the context requires.

L/C Obligations ” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts (including all L/C Borrowings). For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07 . For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

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Lenders ” means those Lenders with a Commitment, or if the Commitments have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 , Lenders holding the outstanding Loans, if any, and as the context requires, the Swing Line Lender.

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Letter of Credit ” means any standby letter of credit issued on or after the Closing Date hereunder.

Letter of Credit Application ” means an application, an application and agreement, or other similar document in the nature of an application required by the L/C Issuer, for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit, in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.

Letter of Credit Expiration Date ” means the day that is seven days prior to the Stated Maturity Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

Letter of Credit Sublimit ” means an amount equal to $100,000,000, as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.06 ; provided that no L/C Issuer shall be obligated to issue Letters of Credit in an aggregate face amount in excess of $25,000,000 outstanding at any time. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitment.

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Loan (including a Swing Line Loan).

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each Note and the Fee Letter.

Loan Notice ” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing of Loans, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 .

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Guarantors.

Master Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Swap Contract.

Material Adverse Effect ” means (a) a material adverse change in the operations, business or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their payment obligations under the Loan Documents or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Loan Parties of the Loan Documents, taken as a whole.

Material Contracts ” means (a) the Gathering Agreement dated as of September 30, 2014, by and between CNX Gas Company LLC and the Borrower, (b) the Gathering Agreement dated as of September 30, 2014, by and between Noble and the Borrower and (c) any other documents, agreements or instruments entered into between CONE or its Affiliates (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall include in this case CONSOL, Noble and their respective Affiliates) and any Loan Party, and which, if breached, terminated or cancelled, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Material Debt ” means Debt (other than the Loans) of the Borrower and one or more Subsidiaries, arising in one or more related or unrelated transactions, in an aggregate principal or face amount exceeding $25,000,000.

Material Disposition ” means the Disposition by any Person, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of either (a) property or assets constituting a business unit or division of such Person to another Person or (b) a majority or greater of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managing general partners or the equivalent of a Subsidiary of such Person to another Person, in each case whether or not involving a merger or consolidation with such other Person.

Material Plan ” means, at any time, a Plan or Plans having aggregate Unfunded Liabilities in excess of $25,000,000.

Material Subsidiary ” means any Domestic Subsidiary of Borrower for which (a) its assets and the assets of its consolidated Subsidiaries comprise more than 5% of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, or (b) its revenue and the revenue of its consolidated Subsidiaries comprise more than 5% of the revenue of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of the end of the most recent fiscal year.

Maturity Date ” means the earlier of (a) the Stated Maturity Date and (b) the effective date of any other termination, cancellation, or acceleration of all Commitments under this Agreement.

Midstream Acquisition ” means the acquisition by any Loan Party or one or more of its Subsidiaries, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of property or assets from another Person (other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) so long as the property or assets being acquired is engaged or used (or intended to be used), as applicable, primarily in an activity that would generate qualifying income within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code.

Minimum Collateral Amount ” means, at any time, an amount equal to 102% of the Fronting Exposure applicable to any Defaulting Lender with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Multiemployer Plan ” means, at any time, an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) or Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any member of the ERISA Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within the preceding five plan years made contributions, including for these purposes any Person which ceased to be a member of the ERISA Group during such five year period.

Multiple Employer Plan ” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

Noble ” means Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Non-Consenting Lender ” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of each Lender or all directly affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

Non-Defaulting Lender ” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

Note ” means a Revolving Note or a Swing Line Note.

Obligations ” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now

 

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existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

Opco ” means CONE Midstream Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

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-U.S. 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, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient (or an agent or affiliate thereof) and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient 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, court, documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any 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 10.16) .

Outstanding Amount ” means (a) with respect to Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of such Loans occurring on such date; (b) with respect to Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of such Swing Line Loans occurring on such date; and (c) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

Participant ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(d) .

Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(d) .

Partnership Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Borrower, dated as of September 30, 2014 by and between the General Partner and CONE, as modified from time to time in a manner not prohibited by this Agreement.

Patriot Act ” has the meaning set specified in Section 10.20 .

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

Pension Act ” means the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

Pension Funding Rules ” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth in, with respect to plan years ending prior to the effective date of the Pension Act, Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, each as in effect prior to the Pension Act and, thereafter, Section 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.

 

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Pension Plan ” means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Borrower and any member of the ERISA Group and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.

Permitted Acquisition ” means an Acquisition other than an Acquisition of a less than wholly-owned Subsidiary for which the minority or non-controlling interest in such Subsidiary is not owned by CONE or its Affiliates (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall include in this case CONSOL, Noble and their respective Affiliates).

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan ” means at any time an employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code and either (i) is maintained, or contributed to, by any member of the ERISA Group for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (ii) has at any time within the preceding five years been maintained, or contributed to, by any Person which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group for employees of any Person which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.

Platform ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01 .

Pro Forma Financial Statements ” means the pro forma unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as presented in the Registration Statement.

Pro Rata Share ” means, with respect to each Lender at any time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitment of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitment at such time; provided that, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 , then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof. When a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Pro Rata Share” shall be calculated without including any Defaulting Lender’s Commitment. The initial Pro Rata Shares of each Lender are set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or, if such Lender becomes a Lender pursuant to Section 2.15 , then in the applicable amendment to this Agreement giving effect to the applicable Increase Effective Date, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

Public Debt Ratings ” means a rating to be based on the Borrower’s long-term senior unsecured non-credit enhanced debt ratings established by S&P, Moody’s, and/or Fitch. If at any time there is a Public Debt Rating issued by each Designated Rating Agency and such Public Debt Ratings differ, and (a) two Public Debt Ratings are equal to one another, then the pricing shall be based on such Public Debt Ratings that are equal or (b) no Public Debt Ratings are equal, the intermediate Public Debt Rating will apply. In the event that the Borrower shall maintain Public Debt Ratings from only two of S&P, Moody’s, or Fitch, and there is a split in such Public Debt Ratings, (i) in the event of a single level split, the higher Public Debt Rating (i.e. the lower pricing) will apply and (ii) in the event of a multiple level split, the pricing will be based on the rating one level lower than the higher of the two. If only one Public Debt Rating is available, it must be from S&P or Moody’s and such Public Debt Rating shall apply. In the event that the Borrower does not have a Public Debt Rating from at least one of S&P or Moody’s, then the Applicable Rate shall be calculated at Pricing Level 5.

Qualified Acquisition ” means an Acquisition or an Investment in any Subsidiary pursuant to Section 7.10 by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, the aggregate purchase price for which, when combined with the aggregate purchase price for all other Acquisitions or such Investments by the Borrower or any Subsidiary over the trailing twelve (12) month period, is greater than or equal to $25,000,000.

 

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Qualified Acquisition Period ” means the period beginning on the date the Borrower or any Subsidiary consummates a Qualified Acquisition and ending on the last day of the second full fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter in which such Qualified Acquisition occurred.

Qualified Project ” means the construction or expansion of any capital project of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the aggregate capital cost of which exceeds $20,000,000.

Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments ” shall mean, with respect to each Qualified Project:

(a) prior to the Commercial Operation Date of a Qualified Project (but including the fiscal quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs), a percentage (based on the then-current completion percentage of such Qualified Project) of an amount (determined by the Borrower in good faith in a commercially reasonable manner and certified by the chief financial officer of the General Partner, on behalf of the Borrower) to be approved by the Administrative Agent as the projected Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for the first twelve (12) month period following the scheduled Commercial Operation Date of such Qualified Project (such amount to be determined based on customer commitments and related contracts in connection with such Qualified Project, the creditworthiness of the other parties to such contracts, and projected revenues from such contracts, capital costs and expenses, scheduled Commercial Operation Date and other reasonable factors deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent), which may, at the Borrower’s option, be added to actual Consolidated EBITDA for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter in which construction of such Qualified Project commences and for each fiscal quarter thereafter until the Commercial Operation Date of such Qualified Project (including the fiscal quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs, but net of any actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project following such Commercial Operation Date); provided that if the actual Commercial Operation Date does not occur by the scheduled Commercial Operation Date, then the foregoing amount shall be reduced, for quarters ending after the scheduled Commercial Operation Date to (but excluding) the first full quarter after its actual Commercial Operation Date, by the following percentage amounts depending on the period of delay (based on the period of actual delay or then-estimated delay, whichever is longer): (i) 90 days or less, 0%, (ii) longer than 90 days, but not more than 180 days, 25%, (iii) longer than 180 days but not more than 270 days, 50%, and (iv) longer than 270 days, 100%; and

(b) thereafter, actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for each full fiscal quarter after the Commercial Operation Date, plus the amount approved by Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) above as the projected Consolidated EBITDA of Borrower and its Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for the fiscal quarters constituting the balance of the full four fiscal quarter period following such Commercial Operation Date; provided , in the event the actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for any full fiscal quarter after the Commercial Operation Date shall materially differ from the projected Consolidated EBITDA approved by Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) above for such fiscal quarter, the projected Consolidated EBITDA of Borrower and its Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project for any remaining fiscal quarters included in the foregoing calculation shall be redetermined in the same manner as set forth in paragraph (a) above, such amount to be approved by the Administrative Agent, which may, at the Borrower’s option, be added to actual Consolidated EBITDA for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarters.

Notwithstanding the foregoing:

(A) no such additions shall be allowed with respect to any Qualified Project unless:

(1) not later than 30 days (or such shorter time as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) prior to the delivery of any certificate required by the terms and provisions of Section 6.01(c) to the extent Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments will be made to Consolidated EBITDA in determining compliance with Section 7.02 , the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent written pro forma projections of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries attributable to such Qualified Project; and

 

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(2) prior to the date such certificate is required to be delivered, the Administrative Agent shall have approved (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) such projections and shall have received such other information and documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and

(B) the aggregate amount of all Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments during any period shall be limited to 15% of the total actual Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period (which total actual Consolidated EBITDA shall be determined without including any Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments).

Recipient ” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) the L/C Issuer, as applicable.

Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(c) .

Registration Statement ” means the Borrower’s Form S-1 Registration Statement No. 333-198352 filed August 25, 2014 with the SEC with respect to the IPO, as amended from time to time.

Reimbursement Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c)(i) .

Related Parties ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Request for Credit Extension ” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Loans, a Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

Required Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having greater than 50% of the Aggregate Commitment or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 , Lenders holding in the aggregate greater than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Responsible Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer, president, executive vice president, senior vice president, chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of such Person. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of the General Partner, on behalf of the Borrower, shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Borrower.

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to Capital Stock of a Loan Party or any Subsidiary, 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 Capital Stock or on account of any return of capital to a Loan Party’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof), or any setting apart of funds or assets for any of the foregoing.

Revolving Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 .

 

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S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Sanctioned Country ” means, at any time, a country or territory which is, or whose government is, the subject or target of any Sanctions.

Sanctioned Person ” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person controlled by any such Person.

Sanctions ” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

Solvent ” means, with respect to any Person as of a particular date, that on such date (a) such Person is able to pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (b) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature in their ordinary course, (c) such Person is not engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or a transaction, for which such Person’s assets would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practice in the industry in which such Person is engaged or is to engage, (d) the fair value of the assets of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities, of such Person and (e) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured. In computing the amount of contingent liabilities at any time, it is intended that such liabilities will be computed as the amount which, 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.

Stated Maturity Date ” means September 30, 2019.

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 percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the FRB). Such reserve percentage 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.

Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

Swap Contract ” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions,

 

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floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, futures contracts traded on or subject to the rules of a designated contract market, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, any North American Energy Standard Board Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “ Master Agreement ”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Swap Termination Value ” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts 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 Swap Contracts, as determined based upon the average of at least two mid-market or other readily available commercially reasonable quotations provided by any leading dealer in such Swap Contracts (one of which may be a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender).

Swing Line ” means the revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04 .

Swing Line Borrowing ” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04 .

Swing Line Lender ” means JPM in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

Swing Line Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a) .

Swing Line Loan Notice ” means a notice of a Borrowing of Swing Line Loans, which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 .

Swing Line Note ” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of the Swing Line Lender evidencing Swing Line Loans made by the Swing Line Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2 .

Swing Line Sublimit ” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitment. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitment.

Synthetic Lease Obligation ” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

Taxes ” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, fines, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Total Outstandings ” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans (including Swing Line Loans) and all L/C Obligations.

Transactions ” means, collectively, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof, the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, the consummation of the IPO and the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing.

Type ” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

 

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Unfunded Liabilities ” means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the amount (if any) by which (a) the value of all benefit liabilities under such Plan, determined on a plan termination basis using the assumptions prescribed by the PBGC for purposes of Section 4044 of ERISA, exceeds (b) the fair market value of all Plan assets allocable to such liabilities under Title IV of ERISA (excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions), all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Plan, but only to the extent that such excess represents a potential liability of a member of the ERISA Group to the PBGC or any other Person under Title IV of ERISA.

United States ” and “ U.S. ” mean the United States of America.

Unreimbursed Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c)(i) .

U.S. Person ” means any Person that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01(f) .

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors (or similar governing body) of such Person.

Withholding Agent ” means any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions . With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b) (i) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(ii) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.

(iii) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(iv) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

(v) The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”

(vi) Unless the context requires otherwise, any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns.

(vii) The words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

(c) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including.”

(d) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

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1.03 Accounting Terms .

(a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time.

(b) If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, for purposes of calculations made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, GAAP will be deemed to treat leases that would have been classified as operating leases in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect on December 31, 2013 in a manner consistent with the treatment of such leases under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect on December 31, 2013, notwithstanding any modifications or interpretive changes thereto that may occur thereafter.

(c) Calculations . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary:

(i) For purposes of calculating compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.02 , with respect to all Acquisitions, Investments in Subsidiaries permitted pursuant to Section 7.10 and Material Dispositions subsequent to the Closing Date, Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Interest Charges and Consolidated Funded Debt with respect to such newly acquired or Disposed assets shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as if such Acquisition, Investment or Material Disposition had occurred at the beginning of the applicable twelve month period of determination.

(ii) For purposes of calculating compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.02 , Consolidated EBITDA may include, at Borrower’s option, any Qualified Project EBITDA Adjustments as provided in the definition thereof.

1.04 Rounding . Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

1.05 References to Agreements and Laws . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

1.06 Times of Day . Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

1.07 Letter of Credit Amounts . Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to mean the maximum face amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all increases thereof contemplated by such Letter of Credit or the Letter of Credit Application therefor, whether or not such maximum face amount is in effect at such time.

 

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ARTICLE II

THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS

2.01 The Loans . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans to the Borrower from time to time, in Dollars, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01 , prepay under Section 2.05 , and reborrow under this Section 2.01 . Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans .

(a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s delivery to the Administrative Agent of an irrevocable written Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by or on behalf of the Borrower, which may be delivered via facsimile. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each Borrowing of, conversion or continuation of Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice shall specify (iii) whether the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (iv) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (v) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (vi) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted and (vii) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify, each Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share of the applicable Borrowing, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each applicable Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding Section. Each Lender shall make the amount of the applicable Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of JPM with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date the Loan Notice with respect a Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied, first, to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings and second, to the Borrower as provided above.

 

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(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in JPM’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

(e) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Loans.

2.03 Letters of Credit .

(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment .

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03 , from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b) below; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that the L/C Issuer shall not be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension that would result in the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it to exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit; and provided further that the L/C Issuer shall not be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, and no Lender shall be obligated to participate in any Letter of Credit if as of the date of such L/C Credit Extension (x) the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitment and (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans, would exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

(ii) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit and, in the case of clauses (B)  and (C)  below shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:

(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of Letters of Credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

 

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(B) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii) , the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last renewal, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date;

(C) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date;

(D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer; or

(E) such Letter of Credit is (1) in an initial amount less than $100,000, (2) is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars, or (3) is to be issued for a purpose other than to support surety bonds (including appeal bonds), worker’s compensation requirements and other general corporate purposes.

(iii) The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under any of Sections 2.03(a)(ii)(B) , (C)  or (E)(2) or (3) .

(iv) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Renewal Letters of Credit .

(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by or on behalf of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (G) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require.

(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, the Borrower will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof upon the Administrative Agent’s request therefor. Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not be satisfied, then, upon receipt by the L/C Issuer of confirmation from the Administrative Agent that the requested issuance or amendment is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter into the

 

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applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “ Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “ Non-Extension Notice Date ”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment or a report containing information with respect thereto including the face amount of such Letter of Credit, the date of issuance or amendment and such other information as may be required by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall give the Lenders notice of the issuance of any Letter of Credit and any amendment thereto.

(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. The Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent by paying an amount equal to the amount of any drawing under a Letter of Credit not later than (A) if the Borrower shall have received notice of such drawing prior to 10:00 a.m. on any Business Day, then 2:00 p.m. on such Business Day or (B) otherwise, 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice (each such date for reimbursement, a “ Reimbursement Date ”). If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Reimbursement Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “ Unreimbursed Amount ”), and the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Reimbursement Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitment and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Loan Notice). Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

 

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(ii) Each Lender (including the Lender acting as L/C Issuer) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii) , each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer.

(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03 .

(iv) Until each Lender funds its Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.

(v) Each Lender’s obligation to make Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c) , shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default; (C) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto; (D) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, set-off, defense or other right that such Lender may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction; (E) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit; (F) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or (G) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided , however , that each Lender’s obligation to make Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

(vi) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii) , the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(d) Repayment of Participations.

(i) At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c) , if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is paid by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect.

(e) Obligations Absolute . The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

 

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(iv) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or

(v) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower.

The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

(f) Role of L/C Issuer . Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuer, any Agent-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Application. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided , however , that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, any Agent-Related Person, any Lender, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of the L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible to the Borrower for any of the matters described in clauses (i)  through (v)  of Section 2.03(e) ; provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which damages have been determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have been caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

(g) Applicability of ISP . Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer 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 “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance) (the “ ISP ”) shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit.

(h) Letter of Credit Fees . The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share a Letter of Credit fee for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is then in effect under such Letter of Credit). Such Letter of Credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such Letter of Credit fees shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the first Business Day of each January, April, July and October, commencing with the first such date to occur after

 

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the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily maximum amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(i) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer . The Borrower shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account (A) a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit equal to 0.125% per annum times the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is then in effect under such Letter of Credit); provided that in no event shall such fee be less than $500 during any quarter, and (B) customary fees for the issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing of Letters of Credit, and other standard costs and charges of the L/C Issuer relating to Letters of Credit as from time to time in effect. The fees pursuant to clause (A) shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the first Business Day of each January, April, July and October, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. The fees pursuant to clause (B) are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

(j) Conflict with Letter of Credit Application . In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of Credit Application, the terms hereof shall control.

2.04 Swing Line Loans .

(a) The Swing Line . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04 , to make loans (each such loan, a “ Swing Line Loan ”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided , however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and provided , further , that the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04 , prepay under Section 2.05 , and reborrow under this Section 2.04 . Each Swing Line Loan will be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

(b) Borrowing Procedures . Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000 and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by or on behalf of the Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 3:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a) , or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 4:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower.

 

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(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans .

(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Loan Notice for a Loan for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02 , without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitment and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 . The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the amount specified in such Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii) , each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i) , the request for Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

(iii) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i) , the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii)  shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(iv) Each Lender’s obligation to make Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided , however , that each Lender’s obligation to make Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 . No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(d) Repayment of Participations.

(i) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

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(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender . The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender funds its Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Pro Rata Share shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender . The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

2.05 Prepayments .

(a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify (x) the date and amount of such prepayment and (y) the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender, as the case may be, of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein; provided that, a notice of prepayment of all outstanding Loans may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or any incurrence or issuance of debt or equity or the occurrence of any other transaction, in which case such notice may be revoked, subject to Section 3.05 , by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05 . Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans in accordance with the Lenders’ Pro Rata Shares.

(b) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

(c) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitment then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans, the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitment then in effect.

 

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2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments . The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitment, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon three Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitment if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitment, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitment, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitment, such Letter of Credit Sublimit or such Swing Line Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess; provided further that, a notice of termination of the Aggregate Commitment may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or any incurrence or issuance of debt or equity or the occurrence of any other transaction, in which case such notice may be revoked, subject to Section 3.05 , by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitment. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitment shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Pro Rata Share. All commitment fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitment shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

2.07 Repayment of Loans .

(a) The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

(b) The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date ten Business Days after such Swing Line Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date.

2.08 Interest .

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Loan (other than Swing Line Loans) shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) While any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall (i) automatically, in the case of an Event of Default under any of Sections 8.01(a) , (f)  or (g)  or (ii) upon the request of the Required Lenders, in the case of any other Event of Default, pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal to the Default Rate, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws. Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

2.09 Fees .

(a) Commitment Fee . The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Commitment exceeds the sum of (y) the Outstanding Amount of Loans and (z) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16 . For the

 

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avoidance of doubt, the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans shall not be counted towards or considered usage of the Aggregate Commitment for purposes of determining the commitment fee. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Section 4.02 is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the first Business Day of each January, April, July and October, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the Maturity Date (and, if applicable, thereafter on demand). The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately (but not invoiced separately) for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(b) Other Fees . The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders, as applicable, such other fees as may be set forth herein (including those set forth in Section 2.03(h) and 2.03(i) ) or as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing (including pursuant to the Fee Letter) in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate .

(a) All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans based on the prime commercial lending rate of the Administrative Agent shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a) , bear interest for one day.

(b) If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Borrower or for any other reason, the Borrower or the Required Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Borrower as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders (or former Lenders), promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as the case may be, under Section 2.08(b) or under Article VIII . The Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitment and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

2.11 Evidence of Debt .

(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the L/C Issuer and each Lender shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Revolving Note which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Upon the request of the Swing Line Lender to the Borrower, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Swing Line Lender a Swing Line Note, which shall evidence the applicable Swing Line Loans to the Borrower in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender and the Swing Line Lender may attach schedules to its Revolving Note or its Swing Line Note, as applicable, and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a) , each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

 

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2.12 Payments Generally .

(a) All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

(b) If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(c) (i) Unless the Borrower has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer hereunder, that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds, then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender or the L/C Issuer in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender or the L/C Issuer to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds 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.

(ii) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Loans accruing interest at the Base Rate, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such 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 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02 ) 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 in immediately available funds 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 (A) 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 plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base

 

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Rate 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.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(d) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II , and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 9.05 on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, purchase its participation or make its payment under Section 9.05 .

(f) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any 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 any Loan in any particular place or manner.

2.13 Sharing of Payments . If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (i) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (ii) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them, and/or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans held by them, as the case may be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other applicable Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, without interest thereon. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off, but subject to Section 10.09 ) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.

2.14 Cash Collateral . At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one Business Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the Fronting Exposure of the L/C Issuer and/or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount.

(a) Grant of Security Interest . The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders (including the Swing Line Lender), a first priority security interest in all such Cash Collateral as security for the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of the applicable L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans, to be applied pursuant to Section 2.14(b) below. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Borrower will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency (after giving effect to any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

 

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(b) Application . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under this Section 2.14 or Section 2.16 in respect of Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

(c) Termination of Requirement . Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce the Fronting Exposure of the L/C Issuer and/or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, shall no longer be required to be held as Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.14 following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender), or (ii) the good faith determination by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided that, subject to Section 2.16 , the Person providing Cash Collateral, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may agree that Cash Collateral shall be held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations; and provided further that to the extent such Cash Collateral was provided by the Borrower, such Cash Collateral shall remain subject to the security interest granted pursuant to the Loan Documents.

2.15 Increase in Aggregate Commitment .

(a) Upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders identified by the Borrower), the Borrower may from time to time during the term of this Agreement request an increase in the Aggregate Commitment to an amount not exceeding $500,000,000 (after giving effect to any such increase) at any time; provided that (i) any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; (ii) immediately before and after giving effect to such increase in the Aggregate Commitment, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (iii) after giving to such increase in the Aggregate Commitment (including any Borrowings to be made on the Increase Effective Date), the Borrower shall be in compliance on a pro forma basis with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.02 . At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each applicable Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders). Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees, in its sole discretion, to increase its Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Pro Rata Share of such requested increase. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Commitment. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder. To achieve the full amount of a requested increase, the Borrower may also invite additional Eligible Assignees (including prior to, and in lieu of, inviting Lenders) to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

(b) If the Aggregate Commitment is increased in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “ Increase Effective Date ”) and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date. As a condition precedent to such increase, the Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent the following, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i) copies of corporate resolutions certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the General Partner, or such other evidence as may be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, demonstrating that Borrower’s incurrence of indebtedness hereunder in the amount of the Aggregate Commitment as increased pursuant to this Section 2.15 and with a maturity date of the Stated Maturity Date, has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, together with, upon request of the Administrative Agent, an opinion of counsel to the Borrower (which, as to certain matters as agreed by the Administrative Agent, may be internal counsel) to such effect and as to such other customary matters regarding the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.15 as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, and

(ii) a certificate dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the General Partner, on behalf of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) on and as of the Increase Effective Date, (or, if such representation speaks as of an earlier date, as of such earlier date), (B) no Default or Event of Default exists and (C) the Borrower is in compliance, on a pro forma basis, with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.02 hereof.

 

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(c) The Borrower shall prepay any Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05 ) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Loans ratable with any revised Pro Rata Shares arising from any nonratable increase in the Aggregate Commitment under this Section.

(d) This Section shall supersede any provisions in Sections 2.12 or 10.01 to the contrary.

2.16 Defaulting Lenders .

(a) Defaulting Lender Adjustments . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender:

(i) Waivers and Amendments . Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of Required Lenders.

(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall . Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.09 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first , to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second , to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender hereunder; third , to Cash Collateralize the Fronting Exposure of the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.14 ; fourth , as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan or funded participation in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (A) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans and funded participations under this Agreement and (B) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s and the Swing Line Lender’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.14 ; sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender as a result of any final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any

 

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Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh , so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (1) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or funded participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (2) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and funded participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or funded participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.16(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(iii) Certain Fees.

(A) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any commitment fee payable under Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender except as set forth in clause (C) below).

(B) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit fees pursuant to Section 2.03(h) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Pro Rata Share of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.14 .

(C) With respect to any fee payable under Section 2.09 or Letter of Credit fee that would otherwise have been paid to any Defaulting Lender if it were not a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower shall (1) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv)  below, (2) pay to the L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent that the Defaulting Lender’s Fronting Exposure has been reallocated to the L/C Issuer’s or Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (3) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

(iv) Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure . All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares of the Commitments (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that (x) the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied at the time of such reallocation (and, unless the Borrower shall have otherwise notified the Administrative Agent at such time, the Borrower shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such conditions are satisfied at such time), and (y) such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of

 

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all Swing Line Loans to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Commitment. No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of the Borrower or a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

(v) Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swing Line Loans . If the reallocation described in clause (iv)  above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under Law, within one Business Day following the Borrower’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent, (x) as to Swing Line Loans, repay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Fronting Exposure applicable to the Defaulting Lender or, if such Swing Line Loans cannot be repaid, Cash Collateralize the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to the Fronting Exposure applicable to the Defaulting Lender in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.14 and (y) as to Letters of Credit, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to the Defaulting Lender in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.14 .

(b) Defaulting Lender Cure . If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), such Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held by the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares of their respective Commitments (without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) ), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

(c) New Swing Line Loans/Letters of Credit . So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swing Line Lender shall not be required to fund any Swing Line Loans and L/C Issuer shall not be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swing Line Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, is satisfied that the related Fronting Exposure and the then outstanding Fronting Exposure applicable to the Defaulting Lender (x) will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the Non-Defaulting Lenders and/or (y) Cash Collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.14 , and participating interests in any newly made Swing Line Loan or any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.16(a)(iv) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).

ARTICLE III

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes .

(a) L/C Issuer . For purposes of this Section 3.01 , the term “Lender” includes the L/C Issuer and the term “Law” includes FATCA.

(b) Payments Free of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of a Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by Law. If any Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law and, if

 

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such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01(b) ), the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding for Indemnified Tax been made.

(c) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower . The Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(d) Indemnification by the Borrower . The Loan Parties shall indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) days after receipt by the Borrower of demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01 ) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified 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 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, accompanied by the calculations by which such determination was made by such Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(e) Evidence of Payments . As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 3.01 , such Loan Party 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 (which solely for purposes of this Section 3.01(f) shall include the Administrative Agent) that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative 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 3.01(f)(ii) , (B)  and ( D)  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,

(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative 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 reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent), 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, properly completed and executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN (or applicable successor form) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. 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, properly completed and executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN (or applicable successor form) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

 

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(2) properly completed and 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 F-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is neither 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 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, nor a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) properly completed and executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN (or applicable successor form);

(4) properly completed and executed originals of IRS Form W-8EXP claiming an exemption from withholding Tax; or

(5) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, properly completed and executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN (or applicable successor form), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2 or Exhibit F-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 F-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail 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

 

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deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and 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 purposes of this clause (D) , “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(g) Treatment of Certain Refunds . If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 3.01 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01 ), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this Section 3.01(g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.01(g) , in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 3.01(g) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid. This Section 3.01(g) shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

(h) Indemnification of the Administrative Agent . Each Lender and the L/C Issuer shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Loan Parties have 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 10.07(d) 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 Section 3.01(h) . The agreements in this Section 3.01(h) shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent.

(i) Survival . Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

3.02 Illegality . If any Lender determines that any Change in Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate,

 

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then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted. Each Lender agrees to designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

3.03 Inability to Determine Rates . In connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for the ascertaining the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

3.04 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy .

(a) 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 Eurodollar Rate) or the L/C Issuer;

(ii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes and (B) Excluded Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

(iii) impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or 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, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan the interest on which is determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the L/C Issuer 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 the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

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(b) If any Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital adequacy or liquidity, or compliance by such Lender (or its Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity and such Lender’s desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction.

(c) A certificate of a Lender, the L/C Issuer or such other Recipient setting forth the Change in Law giving rise to a claim for compensation under paragraph (a)  or (b)  of this Section, the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender, the Issuing Lender, such other Recipient or any of their respective holding companies, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a)  or (b)  of this Section (including an explanation in reasonable detail of the manner in which such amount or amounts was determined) and delivered to the Borrower, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender, the L/C Issuer or such other Recipient, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.04 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 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than 180 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 (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

3.05 Funding Losses . Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment of principal or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower (even if permitted to revoke such notice); or

(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.16 ;

including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan (excluding loss of anticipated profits) or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Designation of a Different Lending Office . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) 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,

 

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branches or affiliates, if, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04 , 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 materially 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.

3.07 Matters Applicable to all Requests for Compensation . A certificate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III and setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder (including, if requested by the Borrower, an explanation in reasonable detail of the manner in which such amount or amounts was determined) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, the Administrative Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

3.08 Survival . All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitment and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING DATE AND TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

4.01 Conditions of Closing Date and Initial Credit Extension . The obligation of each Lender to enter into this Agreement and make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Loan Party (or of the general partner, board of directors or other governing body, as applicable, of each Loan Party), each dated the Closing Date (unless otherwise specified) and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i) counterparts of this Agreement, in such number as may be requested by counsel to the Administrative Agent;

(ii) for each Lender so requesting, (A) a Revolving Note executed by the Borrower in favor of such Lender and (B) a Swing Line Note executed by the Borrower in favor of the Swing Line Lender;

(iii) a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each Responsible Officer of such Loan Party executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying that attached thereto is a true, correct and complete copy of (A) the certificate or articles of limited partnership, formation or incorporation, as applicable, of such Loan Party and all amendments thereto, certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction of organization, (B) the limited partnership agreement, operating agreement, bylaws or other governing document, as applicable, of such Loan Party as in effect on the Closing Date and (C) resolutions duly adopted by the general partner, board of directors, or other governing body, as applicable, of such Loan Party authorizing and approving the transactions contemplated hereunder and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party;

(iv) certificates as of a recent date setting forth the good standing of each Loan Party under the Laws of (A) its jurisdiction of organization and (B) each other jurisdiction in which the failure to be qualified to do business in such jurisdiction would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(v) (A) an opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel to the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in each case as to such customary matters regarding

 

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the transactions contemplated herein as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request, which opinion shall permit reliance thereon by assignees permitted by Section 10.07(b) , subject to customary conditions;

(vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the General Partner, on behalf of the Borrower, certifying (A) that the representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V are true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) on and as of the Closing Date, (B) that no Default exists or would result from the execution of this Agreement, (C) since December 31, 2013, there has not occurred any event or condition that has had or would be reasonably expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect and (D) as to the matters set forth in Section 5.02(c) ;

(vii) a certificate signed by the chief financial officer of the General Partner or another Responsible Officer of the General Partner primarily responsible for the financial affairs of the Borrower, on behalf of the Borrower, certifying that on and as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are Solvent on a consolidated basis;

(viii) UCC search certificates in each jurisdiction reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or its counsel, in each case reflecting no Liens on the property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 ;

(ix) the Audited Financial Statements and the Pro Forma Financial Statements; and

(x) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

(b) The Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, to the extent requested at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date, (i) the documentation and other information requested by the Administrative Agent and any Lender in order to comply with the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, (ii) the documentation and other information requested by the Administrative Agent in order to comply with all “know your customer” requirements and (iii) all anti-money laundering documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

(c) The Borrower shall have received all material governmental, partner and third party consents and approvals necessary (or any other material consents as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent) in connection with the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

(d) There shall not have occurred any event, change, occurrence or circumstance since December 31, 2013 that, either individually or in the aggregate, has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) Prior to or substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of this Agreement, the IPO shall have been consummated.

(f) Any fees and expenses (including Attorney Costs) required to be paid in connection with the Loan Documents and for which invoices have been presented at least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date shall have been paid.

(g) The Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders evidence that it is carrying the insurance required to be maintained under Section 6.03(b) .

(h) After giving effect to the Borrowing on the Closing Date (if any), neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have any material Debt for borrowed money other than Debt under this Agreement.

 

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4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions . The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than (i) a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type or (ii) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V or in any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (or if qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension (or, if such representation speaks as of an earlier date, as of such earlier date).

(b) No Default or Event of Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension.

(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than (i) a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type or (ii) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Loan Parties represent and warrant to the Lenders, as of the Closing Date and thereafter as of each date required by Section 4.02 and as of any other date as agreed by a Loan Party, that:

5.01 Corporate Existence and Power . The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly incorporated or formed, as applicable, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, as applicable, and has all organizational powers and all material Authorizations required to carry on its business as now conducted.

5.02 Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention; No Default . The Transactions, including the Borrower’s incurrence of Debt hereunder, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party, (a) are within the corporate or other organizational powers of such Person, (b) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, (c) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority (except such as has been obtained and any reports required to be filed by such Person with the SEC), (d) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, (i) any provision of applicable law or regulation or of any Organization Documents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any material agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries that is not permitted hereunder. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the Transaction, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

5.03 Binding Effect . Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by, and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of, each Loan Party that is party thereto, and each Note, when executed and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, in each case enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar Laws of general application relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights.

 

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5.04 Financial Information .

(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such dates and for such periods in conformity with GAAP and (ii) show, to the extent required by GAAP and together with all footnotes to such financial statements, all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Debt.

(b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2014, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the three months then ended, set forth in the Registration Statement, fairly present, in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the Audited Financial Statements, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such three month period (subject to normal year-end adjustments).

(c) The Pro Forma Financial Statements were prepared on the basis of assumptions, data, information, tests or conditions believed to be reasonable at the time such Pro Forma Financial Statements were furnished. The Pro Forma Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of date thereof and after giving effect to the Transactions and were prepared in a manner consistent with GAAP (except as otherwise noted therein) consistently applied.

(d) The financial information delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b)  (i) fairly presents, in all material respects, in conformity with GAAP, the financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows as of such date (subject, in the case of interim statements, to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes), and (ii) shows, to the extent required by GAAP and together with all footnotes to such financial statements, all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Debt.

(e) Since the later of the date of (i) the Audited Financial Statements or (ii) the most recent audited financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(i) , there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.05 Litigation . There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending against, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any Governmental Authority which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.06 Compliance with ERISA . Each member of the ERISA Group has fulfilled its obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan and is in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan. No member of the ERISA Group has (i) sought a waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules, (ii) failed to make any contribution or payment to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect of any Benefit Arrangement, or made any amendment to any Plan or Benefit Arrangement, which has resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security under ERISA or the Code, or (iii) incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA other than a liability to the PBGC for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA.

5.07 Environmental Matters . In the ordinary course of its business, the Borrower conducts an ongoing review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated liabilities and costs (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up or closure of properties presently or previously owned, any capital or operating expenditures required to achieve or maintain compliance with environmental protection standards imposed by law or as a condition of any license, permit or contract, any related constraints on operating activities, including any periodic or permanent shutdown of any facility or reduction in the level of or change in the nature of operations conducted thereat, any costs or liabilities in connection with off-site disposal of wastes or Hazardous Substances, and any actual or potential liabilities to third parties, including employees, and any related costs and expenses). On the basis of this review, the Borrower has concluded that such associated liabilities and costs, including the costs of compliance with Environmental Laws, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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5.08 Taxes . The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have properly and timely filed all United States Federal and state income tax returns and all other material tax returns which are required to have been filed by them, and have paid all taxes due and payable by them pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any material assessment received by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than those not yet delinquent and payable without premium or penalty, and except for those being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and in each case, for which adequate reserves and provisions for taxes have been made on the books of the applicable Person). The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of taxes or other governmental charges are, in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower, adequate.

5.09 Subsidiaries . Set forth on Schedule 5.09 is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of each of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, together with its jurisdiction of formation and the Borrower’s direct or indirect percentage ownership therein. Each Subsidiary is duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, and has all corporate or other organizational powers and all material governmental authorizations required to carry on its business as now conducted, except where the absence of any of the foregoing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.10 Regulatory Restrictions on Borrowing; Margin Regulations .

(a) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary is an “ investment company ” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(b) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing or carrying margin stock. No part of the proceeds of any Credit Extension will be used for any purpose which violates the provisions of Regulations T, U or X of the FRB.

5.11 Full Disclosure . No statement, information, report, representation, or warranty (collectively, the “ Information ”) made by any Loan Party in any Loan Document or furnished to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in writing by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with any Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other Information so furnished), taken as a whole, contains, as of the date such Information was furnished (or, if such Information expressly relates to a specific date, as of such specific date) any untrue statement of a material fact or omits, as of the date such Information was furnished (or, if such Information expressly related to a specific date, as of such specific date), any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, provided, that with respect to projected financial information, each Loan Party represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by it to be reasonable at the time.

5.12 Compliance with Laws . The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, orders, decrees and requirements of Governmental Authorities applicable to it or to its properties (including, without limitation, the Code), except where the necessity or fact of compliance therewith is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or such failure to comply could not have or be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.13 Reserved .

5.14 Ownership of Property; No Liens; Insurance . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have good record and indefeasible title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property, and good title to all material personal property, in each case necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for defects that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of its business or (ii) could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of such property is subject to any Lien, except for Liens permitted by Section 7.01 . The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is insured in the manner required pursuant to Section 6.03(b) .

 

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5.15 Solvency . The Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are, and after giving effect to the Transactions will be, Solvent.

5.16 Patriot Act . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with the material provisions of the Patriot Act, and each such Person has provided to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all information related to it (including but not limited to its name, address and tax identification numbers (if applicable)) reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent that is required by the Patriot Act to be obtained by the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

5.17 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions . CONSOL and Noble have implemented and maintain in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and CONSOL’s and Noble’s respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions (and such policies and procedures are applicable to such directors, officers, employees and agents of CONSOL and Noble that serve as the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries), and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees (or, as applicable, the officers and employees of CONSOL and Noble that serve as the officers and employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries), and to the knowledge of the Borrower, its directors and agents (or, as applicable, the directors and agents of CONSOL and Noble that serve as the directors and agents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries), are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, or to the knowledge of the Borrower, any of their respective directors, officers or employees (or, as applicable, the directors, officers and employees of CONSOL and Noble that serve as the directors, officers and employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (or, as applicable, any agent of CONSOL and Noble that serves as an agent of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit or use of proceeds therefrom will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.

ARTICLE VI

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

The Borrower agrees that, so long as any Lender has any Commitment hereunder, any Letter of Credit remains outstanding (unless such Letter of Credit has been cash collateralized in a manner acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer or other arrangements with respect thereto have been made that are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer) or any Obligation payable hereunder remains unpaid:

6.01 Information . The Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) as soon as available, and in any event within the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower and (ii) five (5) days after such information is required to be filed with the SEC, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and changes in partners’ capital for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail (and which shall include, for the avoidance of doubt, a reconciliation of the net income and EBITDA attributable to the non-controlling interest in any Subsidiary that is not wholly-owned by the Loan Parties, in each case in the same or similar manner as set forth in the Registration Statement or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing selected by the Borrower, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit;

(b) as soon as available, and in any event within the earlier of (i) forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower beginning with the fiscal quarter ended

 

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September 30, 2014 and (ii) five (5) days after such information is required to be filed with the SEC, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for such quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year ended at the end of such quarter, setting forth in the case of such statements of operations and cash flows, in comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the Borrower’s previous fiscal year (and which shall include, for the avoidance of doubt, a reconciliation of the net income and EBITDA attributable to the non-controlling interest in any Subsidiary that is not wholly-owned by the Loan Parties, in each case in the same or similar manner as set forth in the Registration Statement or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), all certified (subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes) as to fairness of presentation, conformity to GAAP and consistency by the chief financial officer or the chief accounting officer of the General Partner, on behalf of the Borrower;

(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b)  above, a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the General Partner, on behalf of the Borrower, substantially in the form of the Compliance Certificate attached hereto, including a complete and accurate list, as of the last day of the period covered by such financial statements, of each of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, together with its jurisdiction of formation and the Borrower’s direct or indirect percentage ownership therein and whether it is a Material Subsidiary;

(d) promptly (and in any event within five Business Days) after any officer of the General Partner, on behalf of the Borrower, obtains actual knowledge thereof (i) of any Default, if such Default is then continuing, a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the General Partner, on behalf of the Borrower, setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and (ii) of any other event, circumstance or development (including any environmental matters and/or litigation or governmental proceedings pending against the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(e) promptly upon the mailing thereof to the unitholders of the Borrower generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so mailed;

(f) promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (other than the exhibits thereto and any registration statements on Form S-8 or its equivalent) and reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or their equivalents) which the Borrower shall have filed with the SEC;

(g) if and when any member of the ERISA Group (i) gives or is required to give notice to the PBGC of any “reportable event” (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan which might constitute grounds for a termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan administrator of any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable event, a copy of the notice of such reportable event given or required to be given to the PBGC; (ii) receives notice of complete or partial withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA or notice that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization, is insolvent or has been terminated, a copy of such notice; (iii) receives notice from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of an intent to terminate, impose liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, a copy of such notice; (iv) applies for a waiver of the minimum funding standard under the Pension Funding Rules, a copy of such application; (v) gives notice of intent to terminate any Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, a copy of such notice and other information filed with the PBGC; (vi) gives notice of withdrawal from any Plan pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA, a copy of such notice; (vii) fails to make any payment or contribution to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect of any Benefit Arrangement or makes any amendment to any Plan or Benefit Arrangement which has resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security, a certificate of the chief financial officer or the chief accounting officer of the General Partner, on behalf of the Borrower, setting forth details as to such occurrence and action, if any, which the Borrower or applicable member of the ERISA Group is required or proposes to take; or (viii) determines that any Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA, a certification of funding status from the enrolled actuary for the Pension Plan, which in the case of each of clauses (i) , (ii) , (iii)  and (viii)  above, could cause one or more members of the ERISA Group to incur liability;

 

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(h) promptly upon any announcement by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch of any issuance of or change in a Public Debt Rating notice of such issuance or change; and

(i) from time to time, such additional information regarding the financial position or business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent, at the request of any Lender, may reasonably request.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) , (b) , (e)  or (f)  (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) (A) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02 ; or (B) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent), and (ii) on which the Borrower notifies (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent and each Lender of the posting of any such documents; provided that the Borrower shall deliver paper copies or soft copies (by electronic mail) of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies or soft copies. Information required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 6.01 may also be delivered by facsimile or electronic mail pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent. Except for Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.01(c) , the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any request for delivery of such documents, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “ Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “ Public Lender ”). The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders 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 Arranger, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information 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 10.08 ); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger 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 Investor.”

6.02 Payment of Taxes and Obligations . Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, pay or discharge its material obligations, including material Tax liabilities, before the same shall become delinquent, except where the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and such Loan Party or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.

6.03 Maintenance of Property; Insurance .

(a) Each Loan Party will keep, and will cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to keep, all material property useful and necessary in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

(b) Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, maintain (either in the name of such Loan Party or in such Subsidiary’s own name), or will cause to be maintained on its behalf through the insurance program of CONE, with financially sound and responsible insurance companies,

 

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insurance with respect to their respective properties and business in at least such amounts, against at least such risks and with such risk retention as are customarily maintained, insured against or retained, as the case may be, by companies of established repute engaged in the same or a similar business, to the extent available at the time in question on commercially reasonable terms; and will furnish to the Lenders, upon request from the Administrative Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried.

6.04 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence . Each Loan Party will preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect, and will cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect their respective legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and their respective rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of business; provided that nothing in this Section 6.04 shall prohibit (i) a merger permitted pursuant to Section 7.05 , or (ii) the termination of the legal existence of any Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party if the Borrower reasonably determines in good faith that such termination is in the best interest of the Borrower and is not materially adverse to the Lenders.

6.05 Compliance with Laws . Each of the Loan Parties will comply, and cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects with all applicable material Laws and requirements of Governmental Authorities (including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, the Patriot Act and ERISA and the rules and regulations thereunder) except where the necessity or fact of compliance therewith is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. CONSOL and Noble will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, and CONSOL’s and Noble’s respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions (and such policies and procedures will be applicable to such directors, officers, employees and agents of CONSOL and Noble that serve as the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries).

6.06 Inspection of Property, Books and Records . Each Loan Party will keep, and will cause its respective Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct, in all material respects, entries shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities to the extent required by GAAP or applicable Law; and will permit, and will cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to permit, representatives of any Lender at such Lender’s expense to visit and inspect any of their respective properties, to examine and make abstracts from any of their respective books and records, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers, employees and independent public accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as may reasonably be desired; provided , however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any visit and inspection by a Lender shall be at the sole expense of the Borrower.

6.07 Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Loans made under this Agreement will be used by the Loan Parties (i) to pay fees and expenses in connection with the Transactions and (ii) for working capital, capital expenditures, Acquisitions, dividends, distributions, unit repurchases, and other lawful partnership purposes.

6.08 Governmental Approvals and Filings . Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, keep and maintain in full force and effect all action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority necessary in connection with (a) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or any Note issued hereunder by the Borrower, (b) the consummation by the Borrower of the Transactions, (c) the performance of or compliance with the terms and conditions hereof or thereof by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or (d) any other actions required to ensure the legality, validity, binding effect, enforceability or admissibility in evidence hereof or thereof.

6.09 Material Contracts . Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, perform and observe all the terms and provisions of, and comply with, each Material Contract to be performed or observed by it, except where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.10 Additional Subsidiaries . Within thirty (30) days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in writing) after the acquisition or formation of any Material Subsidiary (including upon a non-Material Subsidiary becoming a Material Subsidiary), the Borrower shall cause such Person to (i) become a

 

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Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E and (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent (A) documents of the types referred to in Sections 4.01(a)(iii) and (iv) and (B) favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which, as to certain matters as agreed to by the Administrative Agent, may be internal counsel and which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to in clause (i)), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided that (x) for the avoidance of doubt, no less than wholly-owned Subsidiary existing on the Closing Date shall be required to become a Guarantor hereunder until such time as such Subsidiary becomes a wholly-owned Subsidiary and (y) no less than wholly-owned Material Subsidiary formed or acquired after the Closing Date shall be required to become a Guarantor hereunder unless the minority or non-controlling interest in such Subsidiary is owned by CONE or its Affiliates (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall include in this case CONSOL, Noble and their respective Affiliates).

ARTICLE VII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

The Borrower agrees that so long as any Lender has any Commitment hereunder, any Letter of Credit remains outstanding (unless such Letter of Credit has been cash collateralized in a manner acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer or other arrangements with respect thereto have been made that are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer) or any Obligation payable hereunder remains unpaid:

7.01 Liens . Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

(a) Liens (other than Liens imposed under ERISA) for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies not past due for more than 60 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(b) Liens of landlords (other than to secure Debt) and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and suppliers and other Liens imposed by law or pursuant to customary reservations or retentions of title arising in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Liens secure only amounts not past due for more than 60 days or, if delinquent, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce the same or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established;

(c) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

(d) Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Debt), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(e) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which do not materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

(f) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money (or appeal or other surety bonds relating to such judgments) not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h) ;

(g) leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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(h) any interest of title of a lessor under, and Liens arising from UCC financing statements (or equivalent filings, registrations or agreements in foreign jurisdictions) relating to, leases permitted by this Agreement, including, without limitation, operating leases;

(i) normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions;

(j) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;

(k) Liens of sellers of goods to the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries arising under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code or similar provisions of applicable law in the ordinary course of business, covering only the goods sold and securing only the unpaid purchase price for such goods and related expenses;

(l) Liens, if any, in favor of the Administrative Agent on Cash Collateral delivered pursuant to Section 2.14(a) ;

(m) Liens created pursuant to construction, operating and maintenance agreements, transportation agreements and other similar agreements and related documents entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(n) rights of first refusal entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Liens consisting of any (i) rights reserved to or vested in any municipality or governmental, statutory or public authority to control or regulate any property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or to use such property, (ii) obligations or duties to any municipality or public authority with respect to any franchise, grant, license, lease or permit and the rights reserved or vested in any Governmental Authority or public utility to terminate any such franchise, grant, license, lease or permit or to condemn or expropriate any property, or (iii) zoning laws, ordinances or municipal regulations;

(p) Liens on cash margin collateral, deposits or securities required by any Person with whom the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries enters into a Swap Contract, to the extent such Swap Contracts are entered into in accordance with Section 7.13 ;

(q) Liens imposed by ERISA which do not constitute an Event of Default and which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided therefor;

(r) Liens on Capital Stock of joint ventures and Persons that are not Affiliates of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries securing Debt of such joint venture or Person;

(s) Liens securing Debt permitted by Section 7.09(h) ; provided that (i) such Lien shall be created within 90 days of the acquisition, repair, improvement or lease, as applicable, of the related property, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than the property financed by such Debt and proceeds thereof, (iii) the principal amount of Debt secured thereby is not increased and (iv) the principal amount of the Debt secured by such Lien shall not exceed 100% of the cost of acquiring, repairing, improving or leasing such property;

(t) any easements, exceptions or reservations in any property or assets granted or reserved for the purpose of pipelines, roads, the removal of oil, gas or other minerals, and other like purposes, or for the joint or common use of real property, facilities and equipment that are incidental to, and do not materially interfere with, the ordinary conduct of the Borrower’s and/or its Subsidiaries’ business; and

(u) Liens not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section securing Debt or other obligations; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all such Debt and obligations does not exceed an amount equal to 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time of creation, incurrence or assumption of such Lien.

 

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7.02 Financial Covenants .

(a) The Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2014), shall be less than or equal to 5.00 to 1.0; provided , that, during a Qualified Acquisition Period, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be less than or equal to 5.50 to 1.0.

(b) The Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2014), shall not be less than 3.00 to 1.0.

7.03 Transactions with Affiliates . A Loan Party will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, pay any funds to or for the account of, make any investment in, lease, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any assets, tangible or intangible, to, or participate in, or effect, any transaction with, any officer, director, employee or Affiliate (other than a Loan Party) (each such Person, an “Affiliated Person”) unless any such transactions between a Loan Party or its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Affiliated Person, on the other hand, shall be on an arm’s-length basis and on terms no less favorable to such Loan Party or such Subsidiary than could have been obtained from a third party who was not an Affiliated Person; provided , that the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not prohibit (a) Restricted Payments permitted pursuant to Section 7.04 , (b) a Loan Party or a Subsidiary from providing credit support for its Subsidiaries as it deems appropriate in the ordinary course of business to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 7.09 and Section 7.10 , (c) transactions that are not on an arm’s length basis or are not on terms as favorable as could have been obtained from a third party, provided that such transaction or transactions occurs within a related series of transactions, which, in the aggregate, are on an arm’s-length basis and are on terms as favorable as could have been obtained from a third party, (d) non-material transactions with an Affiliated Person (including Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties) that are not on an arm’s-length basis or are not on terms as favorable as could have been obtained from a third party but are entered in the ordinary course of such Loan Party’s or such Subsidiary’s business, so long as, in each case, after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, such transaction is entered into in good faith and such transaction is in the best interests of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (e) (i) Midstream Acquisitions with CONE or its Affiliates (which for the avoidance of doubt, in this case shall include CONSOL, Noble and their respective Affiliates) and the transactions related thereto, (ii) Investments in Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date made pursuant to Section 7.10(h) and (iii) Investments in other Subsidiaries to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 7.10 , in each case not prohibited by the Partnership Agreement so long as (A) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom and (B) the Loan Parties are in pro forma compliance with Section 7.02 after giving effect to such transaction, (f) any corporate sharing agreements with respect to tax sharing and general overhead and administrative matters, (g) transactions approved by the conflicts committee of the General Partner in accordance with the Partnership Agreement, (h) transactions among or between Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties, (i) transactions involving any employee benefit or compensation plans or related trusts, (j) the payment of reasonable compensation, fees and expenses (as determined by the applicable Loan Party) to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, the General Partner and directors, employees and officers of the General Partner, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (k) transactions pursuant to any contract in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.03 (without giving effect to any amendment, waiver or modification thereto that is materially adverse to the Lenders).

7.04 Restricted Payments . No Loan Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except:

(a) each Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower, any Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are Loan Parties and any other Person that owns a direct Capital Stock in such Subsidiary, ratably according to their respective holdings of the type of Capital Stock in respect of which such Restricted Payment is being made;

 

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(b) the Borrower and each Subsidiary may declare and make Restricted Payments solely in the Capital Stock of such Person and the Borrower may issue common Capital Stock upon the conversion of subordinated or any other class of Capital Stock;

(c) the Borrower and each Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire its Capital Stock with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of new Capital Stock;

(d) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to CONE on the Closing Date as described in the “Use of Proceeds” section in the Registration Statement; and

(e) so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with Section 7.02(a) , in each case on the date of declaration thereof, the Borrower may declare and pay no later than 60 days after such date of declaration Restricted Payments in cash to the holders of its Capital Stock to the extent not prohibited by the Partnership Agreement.

7.05 Mergers and Fundamental Changes . A Loan Party will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) enter into any transaction or merger or (b) consolidate, liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution); provided , that: (i) a Person (including a Subsidiary of the Borrower but not the Borrower) may be merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower so long as (A) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving entity, (B) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or be caused thereby, (C) the Borrower remains liable for its obligations under this Agreement and all the rights and remedies hereunder remain in full force and effect, (ii) a Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge with or into another Subsidiary of the Borrower or any other Person, provided that if one of such Subsidiaries is a Guarantor, the surviving entity must be a Guarantor, and (iii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than Opco may liquidate, wind up or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; and (iv) any Investments and Dispositions otherwise permitted by this Agreement shall be permitted.

7.06 Change in Nature of Business . The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business other than the midstream oil and gas business or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

7.07 Use of Proceeds . The Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, for a purpose that entails a violation of Regulation T, U or X of the FRB. The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (a) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (b) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country or (c) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

7.08 Dispositions . No Loan Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to make any Disposition except:

(a) Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Dispositions of assets no longer used or useful in the conduct of business of a Loan Party and its Subsidiaries that are Disposed of in the ordinary course of business;

(c) Dispositions of assets to a Subsidiary or (if from a Subsidiary) to the Borrower, provided that if the transferor of such assets is a Loan Party, the transferee thereof must be a Loan Party;

(d) Dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof;

 

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(e) Dispositions of licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases not interfering in any material respect with the business of a Loan Party and its Subsidiaries;

(f) Dispositions of cash or Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;

(g) Dispositions in which: (i) the assets being disposed of are exchanged, within 365 days of such Disposition, for replacement assets or (ii) the net proceeds thereof are either (A) reinvested within 365 days from such Disposition in assets to be used in the ordinary course of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and/or (B) used to permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitment on a dollar for dollar basis;

(h) Dispositions permitted by Sections 7.04 , 7.05 , and 7.10 ;

(i) Dispositions resulting from any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset of a Loan Party or any Subsidiary; and

(j) other Dispositions not exceeding in the aggregate for all Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries 35% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets over the term of this Agreement, measured as of the date of determination.

7.09 Debt . No Loan Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Debt except:

(a) Debt pursuant to this Agreement;

(b) Investments permitted under Section 7.10 that would constitute Debt;

(c) reserved;

(d) Debt in the form of taxes, assessments, governmental charges or levies and claims for labor, materials and supplies to the extent that payment therefor shall not be past due;

(e) Debt of (i) a Loan Party owing to another Loan Party, (ii) a Loan Party owing to a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, so long as such Debt is evidenced by an intercompany note and subject to subordination terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent, to the extent permitted by Requirements of Law and not giving rise to material adverse tax consequences, (iii) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party owing to any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (iv) to the extent permitted by Section 7.10 , any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party owing to a Loan Party;

(f) all obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial);

(g) Debt of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof, incurred prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, that is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary and that is not assumed or Guaranteed by any other Subsidiary; and Debt secured by a Lien on property acquired by a Subsidiary, incurred prior to the acquisition thereof by such Subsidiary, that is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition and that is not assumed or Guaranteed by any other Subsidiary; and Debt refinancing (but not increasing the principal amount thereof, except by an amount equal to amounts paid for any accrued interest, breakage, premium, fees and expenses in connection with such refinancing) the Indebtedness described in this clause (g); provided that the aggregate amount of all such Debt referred to in this clause (g) at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $15,000,000;

(h) Debt incurred in connection with Capital Leases and purchase money Debt in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any time;

 

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(i) all Guarantees otherwise permitted by this Agreement;

(j) other Debt in an aggregate outstanding principal amount that, when added to the aggregate principal amount of Debt outstanding under this clause (j), does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and

(k) (i) prior to the Borrower obtaining either (A) a BBB- rating or higher from S&P or (B) a Baa3 rating or higher from Moody’s, an unlimited amount of unsecured Debt incurred by any Loan Party, so long as the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt, does not exceed 3.50 to 1.00; and (ii) after the Borrower obtains either (x) a BBB- rating or higher from S&P or (y) a Baa3 rating or higher from Moody’s, an unlimited amount of unsecured Debt incurred by any Loan Party, so long as the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis, with the Consolidated Leverage Ratio after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt.

7.10 Investments . No Loan Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, make any Investments, except:

(a) Investments held by a Loan Party or such Subsidiary in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

(b) Investments existing as of the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.10 and any Investments consisting of an extension, modification or renewal of any such Investment existing on, or made pursuant to a binding commitment existing on, the Closing Date;

(c) Investments in any Person that is a Loan Party prior to or contemporaneously with giving effect to such Investment;

(d) Investments by any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Loan Party in any other Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Loan Party;

(e) Permitted Acquisitions not in violation of such Loan Party’s Organization Documents;

(f) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in compromise or resolution of (i) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer or (ii) litigation, arbitration or other disputes;

(g) Investments in connection with cash margin collateral, deposits or securities permitted under Section 7.01(p) ;

(h) Investments after the Closing Date by any Loan Party in any Subsidiary existing on the Closing Date; provided that such Investments shall otherwise comply with Section 7.03 ; and

(i) other Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed, at any one time outstanding, an amount equal to the greater of $15,000,000 and 3% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets;

Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon receiving an Investment Grade Rating from any one of S&P or Moody’s, the Borrower shall not be required to comply with the restrictions set forth in this Section 7.10 .

7.11 Changes in Fiscal Year; Organization Documents . The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, (a) change the fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or (b) amend, modify or supplement any of the Loan Party’s or their Subsidiaries’ Organization Documents unless, in each case, such action could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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7.12 Subsidiaries . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to:

(a) Dispose of any Capital Stock in any Subsidiary except in compliance with Section 7.08 ; provided no Loan Party will Dispose of less than 100% of the Capital Stock that it directly or indirectly owns in any Guarantor.

(b) Dispose of any Capital Stock in any wholly-owned Subsidiary that is the general partner of a less than wholly-owned Subsidiary, or otherwise transfer or permit any Person which is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower to be the general partner of any Subsidiary, except in connection with a Disposition of 100% of the Capital Stock that it directly or indirectly owns in any Subsidiary that is permitted pursuant to Section 7.08 and Section 7.12(a) .

(c) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any contract, agreement or understanding which prohibits or restricts any Subsidiary from paying dividends or making distributions to the Borrower or any Guarantor, or which requires the consent of or notice to other Persons in connection therewith, except:

(i) this Agreement;

(ii) restrictions binding on a Subsidiary at the time such Subsidiary first becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such restrictions were not created under contracts or agreements entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Borrower;

(iii) restrictions imposed by Law;

(iv) agreements existing as of the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.12;

(v) restrictions existing in agreements governing Debt permitted by this Agreement, provided that such restrictions, taken as a whole, are no more restrictive than the restrictions hereunder;

(vi) customary restrictions and conditions contained in purchase, merger or sale agreements relating to the Capital Stock or assets of a Subsidiary pending such transaction, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is subject to such transaction and such transaction is permitted by this Agreement; and

(vii) restrictions contained in, or existing by reason of, any agreement or instrument relating to any Subsidiary at the time such Subsidiary was merged or consolidated with or into, or acquired by, the Borrower or a Subsidiary or became a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation thereof.

7.13 Swap Contracts . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Swap Contracts, other than Swap Contracts that are otherwise entered into not for speculative purposes, in respect of changes in interest rates, commodity prices or foreign exchange rates.

ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

8.01 Events of Default . Any of the following events shall constitute an “ Event of Default ”:

(a) Non-Payment . Any Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or (ii) within five days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any facility or other fee due hereunder, or any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

 

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(b) Specific Covenants . Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Sections 6.01(d) , 6.04 (with respect to the Borrower’s existence), 6.07 or 6.08 or Article VII ; or

(c) Other Defaults . Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(a) or (b)  above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date notice of such failure is given by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower or (ii) the date on which such failure first became known to a Responsible Officer of the General Partner; or

(d) Representations and Warranties . Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party, in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect (except to the extent qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case they shall be true and correct in all respects) when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross Default . (i) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Material Debt, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any Material Debt or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Material Debt to cause, the maturity of such Material Debt to be accelerated or to cause such Material Debt to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Debt to be made, prior to its stated maturity or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than $25,000,000; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment . (i) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

(h) Judgments . There is entered against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding $25,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), and (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

(i) ERISA . (i) Any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to pay when due an amount or amounts aggregating in excess of $25,000,000 which it shall have become liable to pay under Title IV of ERISA; or (ii) notice of intent to terminate a Material Plan shall be filed under Title IV of ERISA by any member of the ERISA Group, any plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing; or (iii) the PBGC shall institute proceedings

 

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under Title IV of ERISA to terminate, to impose liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or to cause a trustee to be appointed to administer, any Material Plan; or (iv) a condition shall exist by reason of which the PBGC would be entitled to obtain a decree adjudicating that any Material Plan must be terminated; or (v) there shall occur a complete or partial withdrawal from, or a default, within the meaning of Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA, with respect to, one or more Multiemployer Plans, which, in the case of each of clauses (ii) - (v)  above, could cause one or more members of the ERISA Group to incur a current payment obligation in excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate; or

(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents . (i) Any Loan Document at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document; or

(k) Change of Control . There occurs any Change of Control.

8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default . If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligations of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document with respect to the Commitments, Loans or Letters of Credit to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

(d) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable law;

provided , however , in each case, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) or Section 8.01(g) , the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

8.03 Application of Funds . After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02 ), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

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Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit fees pursuant to Section 2.03(h) and interest on the Loans, Swing Line Loans and the L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, Swing Line Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth , to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not Cash Collateralized by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.16 ; and

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section 2.03(c) , amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

ARTICLE IX

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

9.01 Appointment and Authorization of Administrative Agent . Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints JPM 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 or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

9.02 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.

9.03 Exculpatory Provisions . The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

(b) shall not have any 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

 

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the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may affect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

(c) 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.

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 Sections 10.01 and 8.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. 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 the L/C Issuer.

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 or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

9.04 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 the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely on 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.

9.05 Indemnification of Administrative Agent . Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, (a) the Lenders shall severally indemnify upon demand the Administrative Agent and each Agent-Related Person related to the Administrative Agent and (b) the Lenders shall severally indemnify upon demand the L/C Issuer and each Agent-Related Person related to the L/C Issuer (in each case, to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), pro rata (determined as of the time at which such indemnification is sought), and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it, provided that such unreimbursed Indemnified Liabilities were incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer in each case in its capacity as such or against any Agent-Related Persons acting for the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities to the extent determined in a final, nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent-Related Person’s own gross

 

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negligence or willful misconduct; and provided, further, that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall severally reimburse the Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower. The obligations of the Lenders in this Section are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(e) and shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitment, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent.

9.06 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 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. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

9.07 Resignation of Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent becomes a Defaulting Lender, then such Administrative Agent may be removed as the Administrative Agent at the reasonable request of the Borrower and the Required Lenders. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation or removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower (so long as no Event of Default exists), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If, in the case of resignation, no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, 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 (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (2) 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 the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. 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 Section). 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 and Section 10.04 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.

Any resignation by JPM as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

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9.08 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders . Each Lender and the L/C Issuer 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 the L/C Issuer 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 or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

9.09 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Arrangers listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.

9.10 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, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation 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, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations 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, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(h) and (i) , 2.09 , 10.04 and 10.05 ) 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;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, 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 Sections 2.09 , 10.04 and 10.05 .

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 or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations 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.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

10.01 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided , however , that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 ) without the written consent of such Lender;

 

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(b) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (v)  of the second proviso to this Section 10.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly 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 Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate or to amend any financial term affecting principal, interest, fees or other amounts not for the express purpose of reducing such amounts;

(d) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments or order of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

(e) amend Section 2.03(a)(ii)(C) in any manner that would permit a Letter of Credit to expire after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date without the written consent of each Lender;

(f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; or

(g) release the Borrower or, except in connection with a merger or consolidation permitted under Section 7.05 or a Disposition permitted under Section 7.08 , all or substantially all of the Guarantors without the written consent of each Lender;

and, provided further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto; and (v) no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (A) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (B) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender disproportionately adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication .

(a) Notices Generally . Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 10.02(b) below), 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 telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to the Borrower or any other Loan Party, the Administrative Agent or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 ; and

(ii) if to any other Lender or the L/C Issuer, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

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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 telecopier 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 10.02(b) below, shall be effective as provided in such Section 10.02(b) .

(b) Electronic Communications . Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer 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 the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article 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.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) 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 (ii) 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 (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(c) The Platform . THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT/ARRANGER PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT/ARRANGER PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any of their Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent/Arranger Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent/Arranger Party; provided , however , that in no event shall any Agent/Arranger Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d) Change of Address, Etc . Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the

 

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Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.

(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders . The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies . No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

10.04 Attorney Costs, Expenses and Taxes . The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including all Attorney Costs (but limited to one primary outside counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and to the extent necessary, one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) and (b) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and each Lender for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement, attempted enforcement, or preservation of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any “workout” or restructuring in respect of the Obligations and during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law), including all Attorney Costs (but limited to one primary outside counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and to the extent necessary, (i) one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and (ii) one counsel for each group of similarly situated Persons in the case of an actual or asserted conflict of interest among the Administrative Agent and the Lenders). The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all search, filing, recording, title insurance and appraisal charges and fees and Other Taxes related thereto, and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the cost of independent public accountants and other outside experts retained by the Administrative Agent or any Lender. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be payable within ten Business Days after demand therefor. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitment and repayment of all other Obligations.

10.05 Indemnification; Damage Waiver .

(a) Indemnification by the Loan Parties . Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Loan Parties shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person, each Lender and their respective Affiliates, and the directors, officers, employees, counsel, agents and attorneys-in-fact of each of the foregoing (collectively the “ Indemnitees ”) from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs but limited to one primary outside counsel for the Indemnitees, and to the extent necessary, (x) one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Indemnitees and (y) one counsel for each group of similarly situated Persons in the case of an actual or asserted conflict of interest among the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against

 

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any such Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of or in connection with (i) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) any Commitment, Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer 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), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Substances on or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, in each case whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto and regardless of whether brought by the Borrower or any third party (all the foregoing, collectively, the “ Indemnified Liabilities ”), in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from (x) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, (y) material breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations under the Loan Documents or (z) a dispute solely among Indemnitees so long as such dispute does not involve, or result from, (I) an action or inaction by any Loan Party or any Affiliate of a Loan Party or (II) a dispute against the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be payable within ten Business Days after demand therefore. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitment and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01 , this Section 10.05(a) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

(b) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc . Without limiting the Loan Parties’ indemnification obligations under Section 10.05(a) , to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no party hereto shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any other party hereto, 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 entered into or delivered pursuant hereto, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in Section 10.05(a) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

10.06 Payments Set Aside . To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Loan Party is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of set-off, and such payment or the proceeds of such set-off or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such set-off had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect.

 

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10.07 Successors and Assigns .

(a) 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 the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(b) , (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(d) or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.07(f) or (j)  (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 10.07(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) 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 (including for purposes of this Section 10.07(b) , participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment 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 10.07(b)(i)(A) , the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the 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 Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided , however , that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single assignee (or to an assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

(ii) Proportionate Amounts . Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii)  shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans.

(iii) Required Consents . No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by clause (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, in the case of an assignment of Loans or a Commitment, to a Person that is a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; 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 ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

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(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is in the case of an assignment of Loans or a Commitment, to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender;

(C) the consent of the L/C Issuer (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 exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding); and

(D) the consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of Loans or a Commitment.

(iv) Assignment and Assumption . The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, and the assignor or assignee, as the case may be, shall deliver a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided , however , that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons . No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) , or (C) to a natural person.

(vi) Certain Additional Payments . In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full Pro Rata Share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this subsection, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.07(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, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided hereunder, and only 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 Sections 3.01 , 3.04 , 3.05 , 10.04 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee

 

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Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.07(b) 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 10.07(d) .

(c) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall 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.

(d) 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 (including for purposes of this Section 10.07(d) , participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) 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. 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, waiver or other modification described in subsections (a)  through (g)  of Section 10.01 that directly affects such Participant. Subject to Section 10.07(e) , the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(b) . To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 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) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. A Participant shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01 (including Section 3.01(f) ), and be subject to Sections 3.06 and 10.16 as though it were a Lender (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender).

(f) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any

 

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pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(g) 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.

(h) As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:

Eligible Assignee ” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.07(b)(iii) and (b)(v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.07(b)(iii) ).

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.

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.

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender that is a Fund may create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it to the trustee for holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities, provided that unless and until such trustee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07 , (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) such trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such trustee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise.

(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time JPM or any L/C Issuer assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(b) above, (i) JPM or such L/C Issuer may, upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) JPM may, upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders (only if such Lender accepts such appointment) a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided , however , that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of (A) JPM or such L/C Issuer as L/C Issuer or (B) JPM as Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If JPM or such L/C Issuer resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights and obligations of L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c) ). If JPM resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c) . Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (I) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be and (II) the successor L/C Issuer (or another L/C Issuer hereunder) shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the resigning L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the resigning L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

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10.08 Confidentiality . Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (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 or self-regulatory authority (i.e. FINRA) purporting to have jurisdiction over it; (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; (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any direct or indirect contractual counterparty or prospective counterparty (or such contractual counterparty’s or prospective counterparty’s professional advisor) to any derivative transaction relating to obligations of the Borrower; (g) with the consent of the Borrower; (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower; or (i) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization (including any credit insurance provider relating to the Borrower and its obligations). In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose, after the Closing Date, the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary relating to such Loan Party or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by a Loan Party or any Subsidiary. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 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.

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (i) the Information may include material non-public information concerning a Loan Party or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (iii) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including Federal and state securities Laws.

10.09 Set-off . In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being waived by the Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party) to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender or such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or indebtedness. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender or such Affiliate; provided , however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

10.10 Interest Rate Limitation . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

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10.11 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of manually executed counterpart hereof and shall constitute an agreement to deliver an original executed counterpart if requested.

10.12 Integration . This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.

10.13 Survival of Representations and Warranties . All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

10.14 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

10.15 Reserved .

10.16 Replacement of Lenders . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 10.16(a) , or if any Lender suspends its obligations to make, maintain or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans pursuant to Section 3.02 or 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 10.07 ), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 3.04 or Section 3.01 ) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 10.07(b) ;

(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) 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);

 

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(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws;

(e) in the case of any assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent; and

(f) In the event that such Lender is the L/C Issuer and any one or more Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer under this Agreement remain outstanding, the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize such Letters of Credit upon terms reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer to secure the Borrower’s obligations to reimburse for drawings under such Letters of Credit or make other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit including providing other credit support.

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. Solely for purposes of effecting any assignment involving a Defaulting Lender under this Section 10.16 and to the extent permitted under applicable Laws, each Lender hereby agrees that any Assignment and Acceptance done in accordance with this Section 10.16 shall be effective against a Defaulting Lender one (1) Business Day after it has been given notice of the same, whether or not such Defaulting Lender has executed such Assignment and Acceptance, and such Defaulting Lender shall be bound thereby as fully and effectively as if such Defaulting Lender had personally executed, acknowledged and delivered the same.

10.17 Governing Law .

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR OF THE COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH LOAN PARTY, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. EACH LOAN PARTY, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING 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 ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. EACH LOAN PARTY, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS, WHICH MAY BE MADE BY ANY OTHER MEANS PERMITTED BY THE LAW OF SUCH STATE.

10.18 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility . In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the Loan Parties acknowledge and agree that: (i) the credit facility provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Loan Parties and their Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Arrangers, on the other hand, and the Loan Parties are capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with

 

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the process leading to such transaction, each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Arrangers, is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for any Loan Party or any of their Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person; (iii) none of the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any Arranger has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Loan Parties with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any Arranger has advised or is currently advising any Loan Party or any of their Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any Arranger has any obligation to any Loan Party or any of their Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv) the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Loan Parties and their Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Arrangers have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Loan Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. The Loan Parties hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.

10.19 Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury . EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

10.20 USA PATRIOT Act Notice . Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Patriot Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act.

10.21 Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent the final agreement AMONG the parties and may not be contradicted by evidence of prior, contemporaneous, or subsequent oral agreements of the parties. There are no unwritten oral agreements AMONG the parties.

10.22 No General Partner’s Liability for Revolving Facility . It is hereby understood and agreed that the General Partner shall have no personal liability, as general partner or otherwise, for the payment of any amount owing or to be owing hereunder or under any other Loan Document with respect to the Commitments, Loans or Letters of Credit. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree for themselves and their respective successors and assigns that no claim arising against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any Loan Document with respect to the Commitments, Loans or Letters of Credit shall be asserted against the General Partner (in its individual capacity), any claim arising against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any Loan Document with respect to the Commitments, Loans or Letters of Credit shall be made only against and shall be limited to the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and no judgment, order or execution entered in any suit, action or proceeding, whether legal or equitable, on this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents with respect to the Commitments, Loans or Letters of Credit shall be obtained or enforced against the General

 

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Partner (in its individual capacity) or its assets for the purpose of obtaining satisfaction and payment of the Obligations with respect to the Commitments, Loans or Letters of Credit or any claims arising under this Agreement or any other Loan Document with respect to the Commitments, Loans or Letters of Credit, any right to proceed against the General Partner individually or its respective assets being hereby expressly waived by the Lenders for themselves and their respective successors and assigns.

ARTICLE XI

GUARANTY

11.01 The Guaranty . Each of the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably, guarantees to each Lender and the Administrative Agent as hereinafter provided, as primary obligor and not as surety, the prompt payment of the Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof. The Guarantors hereby further agree that if any of the Obligations are not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise), the Guarantors will, jointly and severally, promptly pay the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Loan Documents, the obligations of each Guarantor under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under Debtor Relief Laws or any comparable provisions of any applicable state law.

11.02 Obligations Unconditional . Except as provided under Section 11.08 , the obligations of the Guarantors under Section 11.01 are joint and several, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to therein, or any substitution, release, impairment or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 11.02 that the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. Each Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution against either the Borrower or any other Guarantor for amounts paid under this Article XI until such time as the Obligations have been paid in full, the Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (other than Letters of Credit as to which other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer have been made) and the Commitments have expired or terminated. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of any Guarantor hereunder, which shall remain absolute and unconditional as described above:

(a) at any time or from time to time, without notice to any Guarantor, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

(b) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of any of the Loan Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to in the Loan Documents, shall be done or omitted;

(c) the maturity of any of the Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any right under any of the Loan Documents, or any other agreement or instrument referred to in the Loan Documents, shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Obligations or any security therefor shall be released, impaired or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

 

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(d) any Lien granted to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any Lender or Lenders as security for any of the Obligations shall fail to attach or be perfected; or

(e) any of the Obligations shall be determined to be void or voidable (including, without limitation, for the benefit of any creditor of any Guarantor) or shall be subordinated to the claims of any Person (including, without limitation, any creditor of any Guarantor).

With respect to its obligations hereunder, each Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Administrative Agent or any Lender exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against any Person under any of the Loan Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to in Loan Documents, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Obligations.

11.03 Reinstatement . The obligations of the Guarantors under this Article XI shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of any Person in respect of the Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, and each Guarantor agrees that it will indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

11.04 Certain Additional Waivers . Each Guarantor further agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of recourse to security for the Obligations, except through the exercise of rights of subrogation pursuant to Section 11.02 and through the exercise of rights of contribution pursuant to Section 11.06 .

11.05 Remedies . The Guarantors agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, the Obligations may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in Section 8.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in said Section 8.02 ) for purposes of Section 11.01 notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or preventing the Obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against any other Person and that, in the event of such declaration (or the Obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), the Obligations (whether or not due and payable by any other Person) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 11.01 .

11.06 Rights of Contribution . The Guarantors agree among themselves that, in connection with payments made hereunder, each Guarantor shall have contribution rights against the other Guarantors as permitted under applicable law. Such contribution rights shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the obligations of such Guarantors under the Loan Documents and no Guarantor shall exercise such rights of contribution until all Obligations have been paid in full, the Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (other than Letters of Credit as to which other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer have been made) and the Commitments have terminated.

11.07 Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee . The guarantee in this Article XI is a guaranty of payment and not of collection, is a continuing guarantee, and shall apply to all Obligations whenever arising.

11.08 Termination or Release . The guarantees in this Article XI shall terminate when the Obligations have been paid in full, the Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (other than Letters of Credit as to which other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer have been made) and the Commitments have expired or terminated. Furthermore, upon the consummation of a merger or consolidation permitted under Section 7.05 or a Disposition of all of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor permitted under Section 7.08 , a Guarantor shall be automatically released from its guarantee in this Article XI ; provided that the Borrower shall promptly provide notice to the Administrative Agent of such release. Upon written request, the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to the Borrower or any Guarantor, at such Guarantor’s expense, all documents that such Guarantor shall reasonably request to evidence such release or termination.

 

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11.09 No General Partner’s Liability for Revolving Facility . For the avoidance of doubt, the guarantee in this Article XI with respect to the Commitments, Loans or Letters of Credit is subject to Section 10.22 of this Agreement.

 

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

 

BORROWER:     CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP , a Delaware limited partnership
    By:   CONE Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its general partner
    By:  

/s/ David Khani

    Name:   David Khani
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer
GUARANTORS:     CONE MIDSTREAM OPERATING LLC , a Delaware limited liability company
    By:   CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership, its sole member
    By:   CONE Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its general partner
    By:  

/s/ David Khani

    Name:   David Khani
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer
    CONE DEVCO I GP LLC , a Delaware limited liability company;
    CONE DEVCO II GP LLC , a Delaware limited liability company;
    CONE DEVCO III GP LLC , a Delaware limited liability company;
    By:   CONE Midstream Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its sole member
    By:   CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited liability company, its sole member
    By:   CONE Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its general partner
    By:  

/s/ David Khani

    Name:   David Khani
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:     JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
    as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer
    By:  

/s/ Anson D. Williams

    Name:   Anson D. Williams
    Title:   Authorized Officer

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


LENDERS:     Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
    as Lender and L/C Issuer
    By:  

/s/ Jacob L. Osterman

    Name:   Jacob L. Osterman
    Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


Citibank, N.A.,
as Lender and L/C Issuer
By:  

/s/ Lawrence Martin

Name:   Lawrence Martin
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


Bank of America, N.A.,
as Lender and L/C Issuer
By:  

/s/ Adam H. Fey

Name:   Adam H. Fey
Title:   Director

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


The Bank of Tokyo – Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Kevin Sparks

Name:   Kevin Sparks
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


Barclays Bank PLC,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Alicia Borys

Name:   Alicia Borys
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


Branch Banking & Trust Company,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ DeVon J. Lang

Name:   DeVon J. Lang
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


Compass Bank,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Umar Hassan

Name:   Umar Hassan
Title:   Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


BNP Paribas,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Sriram Chandrasekaran

Name:   Sriram Chandrasekaran
Title:   Vice President
By:  

/s/ Julien Pegoud-Bouvet

Name:   Julien Pegoud-Bouvet
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Nupur Kumar

Name:   Nupur Kumar
Title:   Authorized Signatory
By:  

/s/ Whitney Gaston

Name:   Whitney Gaston
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Ming K. Chu

Name:   Ming K. Chu
Title:   Vice President
By:  

/s/ Virginia Cosenza

Name:   Virginia Cosenza
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


DNB Capital LLC,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Robert Dupree

Name:   Robert Dupree
Title:   Senior Vice President
By:  

/s/ Jill Ilskl

Name:   Jill Ilskl
Title:   First Vice President

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Mark Walton

Name:   Mark Walton
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


Mizuho Bank, Ltd.,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Leon Mo

Name:   Leon Mo
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Michael King

Name:   Michael King
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


PNC Bank, National Association,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ James P. O’Brien

Name:   James P. O’Brien
Title:   Assistant Vice President

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


Royal Bank of Canada,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Kristin Spivey

Name:   Kristin Spivey
Title:   Royal Bank of Canada

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


The Bank of Nova Scotia,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Mark Sparrow

Name:   Mark Sparrow
Title:   Director

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


The Toronto Dominion (New York) LLC,
as Lender
By:  

/s/ Masood Fikree

Name:   Masood Fikree
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

 

Signature Page to CONE Midstream Partners LP Credit Agreement


SCHEDULE 2.01

COMMITMENTS AND PRO RATA SHARES

 

Lender

   Commitment      Applicable
Percentage
 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

   $ 21,250,000         8.500000000

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

   $ 21,250,000         8.500000000

Citibank, N.A.

   $ 21,250,000         8.500000000

Bank of America, N.A.

   $ 21,250,000         8.500000000

The Bank of Tokyo – Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

Barclays Bank PLC

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

Branch Banking & Trust Company

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

Compass Bank

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

BNP Paribas

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

DNB Capital LLC

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

PNC Bank, National Association

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

Royal Bank of Canada

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

The Bank of Nova Scotia

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000

The Toronto Dominion (New York) LLC

   $ 11,000,000         4.400000000
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 250,000,000         100.000000000
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Schedule 2.01


SCHEDULE 5.09

SUBSIDIARIES

 

Name of Subsidiary

   Jurisdiction of
Organization
   Direct/Indirect
Ownership
Percentage
 

CONE Midstream Operating Company LLC

   Delaware      100

CONE Midstream DevCo I GP LLC

   Delaware      100

CONE Midstream DevCo II GP LLC

   Delaware      100

CONE Midstream DevCo III GP LLC

   Delaware      100

CONE Midstream DevCo I LP

   Delaware      75

CONE Midstream DevCo II LP

   Delaware      5

CONE Midstream DevCo III LP

   Delaware      5

 

Schedule 5.09


SCHEDULE 7.03

AFFILIATE CONTRACTS AS OF THE CLOSING DATE

 

1. CONE Midstream Partners LP 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan dated September 30, 2014 adopted by CONE Midstream GP LLC.

 

2. Employee Secondment Agreement dated September 8, 2014 by and between Noble Energy, Inc. and CONE Midstream Partners LP.

 

3. Gathering Agreement dated September 30, 2014 by and between Noble Energy, Inc. and CONE Midstream Partners LP.

 

4. Gathering Agreement dated September 30, 2014 by and between CNX Gas Company LLC and CONE Midstream Partners LP.

 

5. Omnibus Agreement dated September 30, 2014 by and among Consol Energy Inc., Noble Energy, Inc., CONE Gathering LLC, CONE Midstream GP LLC, CONE Midstream Partners LP, CONE Midstream Operating Company LLC, CONE Midstream DevCo I LP, CONE Midstream DevCo II LP and CONE Midstream DevCo III LP.

 

6. Operational Services Agreement dated September 30, 2014 by and between CONE Midstream Partners LP and CNX Gas Company LLC.

 

Schedule 7.03


SCHEDULE 7.10

INVESTMENTS AS OF THE CLOSING DATE

NONE.

 

Schedule 7.10


SCHEDULE 7.12

CERTAIN AGREEMENTS AS OF THE CLOSING DATE

NONE.

 

Schedule 7.12


SCHEDULE 10.02

CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES

LOAN PARTIES:

CONE Midstream Partners, LP

c/o CONE Midstream GP LLC, its general partner

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, PA 15317-6506

Attention: Steve Aspinall

steveaspinall@consolenergy.com

Telephone: (724) 485-4219

With a copy to:

Noble Energy, Inc.

1001 Noble Energy Way

Houston, TX 77070

Attention: Gerry Stevenson, VP Treasurer

GStevenson@nobleenergyinc.com

Telephone: (281) 872-3107

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

712 Main Street

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Ronald L. Dierker

ronald.dierker@jpmorgan.com

Telephone: (713) 216-7722

Facsimile: (713) 216-7770

SWING LINE LENDER:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

712 Main Street

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Ronald L. Dierker

ronald.dierker@jpmorgan.com

Telephone: (713) 216-7722

Facsimile: (713) 216-7770

 

Schedule 10.02


EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF LOAN NOTICE

Date:             ,         

To: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2014 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Agreement ”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

The undersigned hereby requests (select one):

A. ¨ A Borrowing of Loans comprised of (select one):

¨ Base Rate Loans

¨ Eurodollar Rate Loans

B. ¨ A conversion of Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans

C. ¨ A conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans, with a current Interest Period ending on                     , to Base Rate Loans

D. ¨ A continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, with a current Interest Period ending on                     ,

1. On                      (a Business Day). 1

2. In the amount of $            . 2

and, if applicable:

3. For Eurodollar Rate Loans: with an Interest Period of              month(s).

If and only if either ‘A’ or ‘B’ is selected above (and not ‘C’ or ‘D’), the undersigned hereby certifies:

(a) the representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V of the Agreement or in any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection therewith, are true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) on and as of the date of the Credit Extension contemplated herein (or, if such representation speaks as of an earlier date, as of such earlier date); and

(b) no Default exists, or would result immediately after giving effect to the Credit Extension contemplated herein.

 

1   If requesting (i) a new Eurodollar Rate Loan, (ii) converting a Loan or (iii) continuing a Eurodollar Rate Loan, must be at least 3 Business Days after the date of this Loan Notice. If requesting a new Base Rate Loan, may be same day as date of this Loan Notice.
2   Each borrowing/conversion/continuation must be at least $2,000,000 (or in integral multiples of $500,000 in excess thereof).

 

Exhibit A-1-1


CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP , a Delaware limited partnership
By: CONE Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its general partner
  By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

 

Exhibit A-1-2


EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF SWING LINE LOAN NOTICE

Date:             ,         

To: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Swing Line Lender

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2014 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Agreement ”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

The undersigned hereby requests (select one):

A Borrowing of Swing Line Loans:

1. On                      (a Business Day). 3

2. In the amount of $            . 4

 

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP , a Delaware limited partnership
By: CONE Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its general partner
By:  

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

3   May be same day as date of this Swing Line Notice, if received by 2:00 p.m. on such date.
4   Each new borrowing of a Swing Line Loan must be at least $100,000.

 

Exhibit A-2-1


EXHIBIT B-1

FORM OF REVOLVING NOTE

[Date]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (the “ Borrower ”), hereby promises to pay to                      or registered assigns (the “ Lender ”), in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the principal amount of each Loan from time to time made by the Lender to the Borrower under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2014 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Agreement ”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the Borrower, the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan from the date of such Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates and at such times as provided in the Agreement. All payments of principal and interest shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lender in Dollars in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office. If any amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, such unpaid amount shall bear interest, to be paid upon demand, from the due date thereof until the date of actual payment (and before as well as after judgment) computed at the per annum rate set forth in the Agreement.

This Revolving Note is one of the Revolving Notes referred to in the Agreement, is entitled to the benefits thereof and may be prepaid in whole or in part subject to the terms and conditions provided therein. Upon the occurrence and continuation of one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Revolving Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable all as provided in the Agreement. Loans made by the Lender shall be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by the Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Lender may also attach schedules to this Revolving Note and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

This Revolving Note is a Loan Document and is subject to Section 10.10 of the Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference the same as if set forth herein verbatim.

The Borrower, for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest and demand and notice of protest, demand, dishonor and non-payment of this Revolving Note.

THIS REVOLVING NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP , a Delaware limited partnership
By: CONE Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its general partner
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Exhibit B-1-1


Loans and Payments with Respect Thereto

 

Date

   Type of Loan
Made
   Amount of
Loan Made
   End of
Interest
Period
   Amount of
Principal or
Interest Paid
This Date
   Outstanding
Principal
Balance This
Date
   Notation
Made By
                 
                 
                 

 

Exhibit B-1-2


EXHIBIT B-2

FORM OF SWING LINE NOTE

[Date]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (the “ Borrower ”), hereby promises to pay to                      or registered assigns (the “ Lender ”), in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the principal amount of each Swing Line Loan from time to time made by the Swing Line Lender to the Borrower under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2014 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Agreement ”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the Borrower, the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Swing Line Loan from the date of such Swing Line Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates and at such times as provided in the Agreement. All payments of principal and interest shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender in Dollars in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office. If any amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, such unpaid amount shall bear interest, to be paid upon demand, from the due date thereof until the date of actual payment (and before as well as after judgment) computed at the per annum rate set forth in the Agreement.

This Swing Line Note is one of the Swing Line Notes referred to in the Agreement, is entitled to the benefits thereof and may be prepaid in whole or in part subject to the terms and conditions provided therein. Upon the occurrence and continuation of one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Swing Line Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable all as provided in the Agreement. Loans made by the Swing Line Lender shall be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by the Swing Line Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Swing Line Lender may also attach schedules to this Swing Line Note and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Swing Line Loans and payments with respect thereto.

This Swing Line Note is a Loan Document and is subject to Section 10.10 of the Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference the same as if set forth herein verbatim.

The Borrower, for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest and demand and notice of protest, demand, dishonor and non-payment of this Swing Line Note.

THIS SWING LINE NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP , a Delaware limited partnership
By: CONE Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its general partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Exhibit B-2-1


Swing Line Loans and Payments with Respect Thereto

 

Date

   Amount of Loan
Made
   Amount of
Principal or
Interest Paid This
Date
   Outstanding
Principal Balance
This Date
   Notation Made By
           
           
           

 

Exhibit B-2-2


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

Financial Statement Date:             ,         

To: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2014 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Agreement ”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

The undersigned Responsible Officer hereby certifies as of the date hereof that he/she is the                      5 of the General Partner, and that, as such, he/she is authorized to execute and deliver this Certificate to the Administrative Agent on the behalf of the General Partner, acting on behalf of the Borrower, and that:

[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal year-end financial statements]

1. The year-end audited financial statements required by Section 6.01(a) of the Agreement for the fiscal year of the Borrower ended as of the above date, together with the report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant required by such section, are:

[select one]:

[attached hereto as Schedule 1 ]

— or —

[available in electronic format and have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 of the Agreement].

[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal quarter-end financial statements]

1. The unaudited financial statements required by Section 6.01(b) of the Agreement for the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended as of the above date, are:

[select one]:

[attached hereto as Schedule 1 ]

— or —

[available in electronic format and have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 of the Agreement].

Such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (and include a reconciliation of the net income and EBITDA attributable to the non-controlling interest in any Subsidiary that is not wholly-owned by the Loan Parties, in each case in the same or similar manner set forth in the Registration Statement or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) in accordance with GAAP consistently applied as at such date and for such period, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

5   If this is a quarterly compliance certificate, it must be signed by the chief financial officer or the chief accounting officer.

 

Exhibit C-1


2. The undersigned has reviewed and is familiar with the terms of the Agreement and has made, or has caused to be made under his/her supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower during the accounting period covered by the financial statements referenced in paragraph 1 above.

3. A review of the activities of the Borrower during such fiscal period has been made under the supervision of the undersigned with a view to determining whether during such fiscal period the Borrower performed and observed all its obligations under the Loan Documents, and

[select one]:

[to the best knowledge of the undersigned during such fiscal period, (a) the Borrower performed and observed each covenant and condition of the Loan Documents applicable to it, and (b) no Default exists.]

—or—

[the following covenants or conditions have not been performed or observed [or: the following Default exists] and the following is a list of each such Default and its nature and status:]

4. The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V of the Agreement or in any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection therewith, are true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) on and as of the date hereof (or, if such representation speaks as of an earlier date, as of such earlier date).

5. The financial covenant analyses and information set forth on Schedule 2 attached hereto are true and accurate on and as of the date of this Certificate. 6

6. Attached hereto as Schedule 3 is a complete and accurate list as of the last day of the fiscal period referenced above of each of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, together with its jurisdiction of formation, the Borrower’s direct or indirect percentage ownership therein and whether it is a Material Subsidiary. As of the date hereof, each such Subsidiary is duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, and has all corporate or other organizational powers and all material governmental authorizations required to carry on its business as now conducted, except where the absence of any of the foregoing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate as of                     ,                     .

 

CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP , a Delaware limited partnership
By: CONE Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its general partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

6   Omit this paragraph and Schedule 2 for the Certificate delivered for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2014.

 

Exhibit C-2


Schedule 1

to the Compliance Certificate

Financial Statements

[select one]:

[See attached]

— or —

[Available in electronic format and have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 of the Agreement]

 

Exhibit C-3


Schedule 2

to the Compliance Certificate

($ in 000’s)

For the Quarter/Year ended

(“ Statement Date ”)

Section 7.02(a) — Consolidated Leverage Ratio.

 

I.   Consolidated Funded Debt on the Statement Date:    $            
II.   Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended on the Statement Date 7
  A.    Consolidated Net Income for such period:    $            
  B.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, Consolidated Interest Charges:    $            
  C.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, Taxes based on or measured by income:    $            
  D.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, depreciation and amortization expense:    $            
  E.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, goodwill or other impairment charges and other non-cash charges:    $            
  F.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, non-recurring expenses:    $            
  G.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, non-cash losses resulting from mark to market accounting of Swap Agreements:    $            
  H.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, reasonable and customary out-of-pocket cash fees and expenses incurred in connection with the proposed or consummated incurrence or repayment of any Debt permitted by Section 7.09 , the proposed or consummated making of any Disposition permitted by Section 7.08 , the proposed or consummated making of any Investment (including any Acquisition) permitted by Section 7.10 or the proposed or consummated issuance of Capital Stock in a public offering, in an aggregate annual amount for all such transactions not to exceed $5,000,000:    $            

 

7   For purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Net Income and the expenses and other items described below shall be adjusted with respect to the portion of Consolidated Net Income and the portion of such expenses and other items which are attributable to any non-wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Borrower, to reflect only the Borrower’s pro rata ownership interest in such Subsidiaries.

 

Exhibit C-4


  I.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, one-time transaction expenses related to execution and delivery of the Agreement and the Transactions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30,000,000:    $            
  J.    to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income for such period, all non-cash items:    $            
  K.    to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income for such period, extraordinary or non-recurring gains:    $            
  L.    Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended on the Statement Date (Lines II.A. + II.B. + II.C. + II.D. + II.E. + II.F. + II.G. + II.H. + II.I. – II.J. – II.K.) 8 :    $            
III.   Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the Statement Date (Line I. ÷ Line II.L.) (cannot exceed 5.00 to 1.00) 9 :

 

8   For purposes of calculating compliance for the first three periods for which the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is tested, Consolidated EBITDA will be annualized by multiplying Consolidated EBITDA (x) for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2014, times four, (y) for the two fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2015, times two and (z) for the three fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2015, times four-thirds.
9   During a Qualified Acquisition Period, this line III cannot exceed 5.50 to 1.00.

 

Exhibit C-5


Section 7.02(b) — Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio.

 

I.   Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended on the Statement Date 10
  A.    Consolidated Net Income for such period:    $            
  B.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, Consolidated Interest Charges:    $            
  C.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, Taxes based on or measured by income:    $            
  D.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, depreciation and amortization expense:    $            
  E.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, goodwill or other impairment charges and other non-cash charges:    $            
  F.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, non-recurring expenses:    $            
  G.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, non-cash losses resulting from mark to market accounting of Swap Agreements:    $            
  H.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, reasonable and customary out-of-pocket cash fees and expenses incurred in connection with the proposed or consummated incurrence or repayment of any Debt permitted by Section 7.09 , the proposed or consummated making of any Disposition permitted by Section 7.08 , the proposed or consummated making of any Investment (including any Acquisition) permitted by Section 7.10 or the proposed or consummated issuance of Capital Stock in a public offering, in an aggregate annual amount for all such transactions not to exceed $5,000,000:    $            
  I.    to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, one-time transaction expenses related to execution and delivery of the Agreement and the Transactions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30,000,000:    $            
  J.    to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income for such period, all non-cash items:    $            
  K.    to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income for such period, extraordinary or non-recurring gains:    $            

 

10   For purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Net Income and the expenses and other items described below shall be adjusted with respect to the portion of Consolidated Net Income and the portion of such expenses and other items which are attributable to any non-wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Borrower, to reflect only the Borrower’s pro rata ownership interest in such Subsidiaries.

 

Exhibit C-6


  L.    Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended on the Statement Date (Lines I.A. + I.B. + I.C. + I.D. + I.E. + I.F. + I.G. + I.H. + I.I. – I.J. – I.K.) 11 :    $            
II.   Consolidated Interest Charges for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended on the Statement Date 12 :    $            
III.   Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as of the Statement Date (Line I.L. ÷ Line II.) (must equal or exceed 3.00 to 1.00):   

 

11   For purposes of calculating compliance for the first three periods for which the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio is tested, Consolidated EBITDA will be annualized by multiplying Consolidated EBITDA (x) for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2014, times four, (y) for the two fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2015, times two and (z) for the three fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2015, times four-thirds.
12   For purposes of calculating compliance for the first three periods for which the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio is tested, Consolidated Interest Charges will be annualized by multiplying Consolidated Interest Charges (x) for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2014, times four, (y) for the two fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2015, times two and (z) for the three fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2015, times four-thirds.

 

Exhibit C-7


Schedule 3

 

Name of Subsidiary

   Jurisdiction of
Organization
   Direct/Indirect
Ownership Percentage
   Material Subsidiary
(Yes or No)
        
        
        

 

Exhibit C-8


EXHIBIT D

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (this “ Assignment and Assumption ”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [the] [each] 13 Assignor identified in item 1 below ([the][each, an] “ Assignor ”) and [the][each] 14 Assignee identified in item 2 below ([the][each], an] “ Assignee ”). [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignors][the Assignees] 15 hereunder are several and not joint.] 16 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (the “ Credit Agreement ”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, [the][each] the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to [the Assignee] [the respective Assignees], and [the][each] Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from [the Assignor][the respective Assignors], subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of [the Assignor’s] [the respective Assignors’] rights and obligations in [its capacity as a Lender][their respective capacities as Lenders] under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of [the Assignor] [the respective Assignors] under the Revolving Facility identified below (including, without limitation, Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans, if applicable) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of [the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender)] [the respective Assignors (in their respective capacities as Lenders)] against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i)  above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned by [the][any] Assignor to [the][any] Assignee pursuant to clauses (i)  and (ii)  above being referred to herein collectively as [the][an] “ Assigned Interest ”). Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to [the][any] Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by [the][any]Assignor.

 

1. Assignor[s]:

 

2. Assignee[s]:                      [for each Assignee, indicate [Affiliate] [Approved Fund] of [identify Lender]]

 

3. Borrower: CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership

 

4. Administrative Agent: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement

 

5. Credit Agreement: The Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2014 among CONE Midstream Partners LP, the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time

 

13   For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignor(s), if the assignment is from a single Assignor, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is from multiple Assignors, choose the second bracketed language.
14   For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignee(s), if the assignment is to a single Assignee, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is from multiple Assignees, choose the second bracketed language.
15   Select as appropriate.
16   Include bracketed language if there are either multiple Assignors or multiple Assignees.

 

Exhibit D-1


6. Assigned Interest:

Revolving Facility

 

Assignor[s]

   Assignee[s]    Aggregate
Amount of
Commitment/
Loans for all
Lenders
     Amount of
Commitment/
Loans Assigned
     Percentage
Assigned of
Commitment/
Revolving 17
 
      $                   $                         

 

[7. Trade Date:                     ] 18

Effective Date:             , 20     [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

17   Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment of all Lenders thereunder.
18   To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.

 

Exhibit D-2


ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Exhibit D-3


[Consented to and] 19 Accepted:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
[Consented to:] 20

[                    ],

as [                    ]

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

19 To be included if required pursuant to Section 10.07(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement.
20   To be included if required pursuant to Section 10.07(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement.

 

Exhibit D-4


Annex 1

to Assignment and Assumption

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1. Representations and Warranties.

1.1 Assignor. [The][Each] Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the [relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the][such] Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim, (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) it is [not] a Defaulting Lender; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2 Assignee. [The][Each] Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.07(b)(iii) and (v)  of the Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.07(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of [the][relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by [the][such] Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire [the][such] Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, (vi) it has independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, and (vii) attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by [the][such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, [the][any] the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of [the][each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the [relevant] Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the [relevant] Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

Exhibit D-5


EXHIBIT E

FORM OF GUARANTOR JOINDER

THIS GUARANTOR JOINDER AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of             , 201     is by and between                     , a                     (the “ New Subsidiary ”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent under that certain Credit Agreement dated as of September 30, 2014 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

The Borrower is required by Section 6.10 of the Credit Agreement to cause the New Subsidiary to become a “Guarantor” thereunder. Accordingly, the New Subsidiary hereby agrees as follows with the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of each Lender and the Administrative Agent:

1. The New Subsidiary hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Agreement, the New Subsidiary will be deemed to be a party to the Credit Agreement and a “Guarantor” for all purposes of the Credit Agreement, and shall have all of the obligations of a Guarantor thereunder as if it had executed the Credit Agreement. The New Subsidiary hereby ratifies, as of the date hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions applicable to the Guarantors contained in the Credit Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing terms of this paragraph 1 , the New Subsidiary hereby jointly and severally together with the other Guarantors, guarantees to each Lender and the Administrative Agent, as provided in Article XI of the Credit Agreement, the prompt payment of the Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof.

2. The New Subsidiary hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent that the New Subsidiary’s exact legal name and jurisdiction of formation are as set forth on the signature pages hereto.

3. The address of the New Subsidiary for purposes of all notices and other communications is the address designated for all Loan Parties on Schedule 10.02 to the Credit Agreement or such other address as the New Subsidiary may from time to time notify the Administrative Agent in writing.

4. The New Subsidiary hereby waives acceptance by each Lender and the Administrative Agent of the guaranty by the New Subsidiary under Article XI of the Credit Agreement upon the execution of this Agreement by the New Subsidiary.

5. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of manually executed counterpart hereof.

6. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Exhibit E-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by its authorized officer, and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of each Lender and the Administrative Agent, has caused the same to be accepted by its authorized officer, as of the day and year first above written.

 

[NEW SUBSIDIARY]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Acknowledged and accepted:

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Exhibit E-2


EXHIBIT F-1

FORM OF

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of September 30, 2014 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender, and L/C Issuer.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Date:             , 20[    ]

 

Exhibit F-1-1


EXHIBIT F-2

FORM OF

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of September 30, 2014 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender, and L/C Issuer.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Date:             , 20[    ]

 

Exhibit F-2-1


EXHIBIT F-3

FORM OF

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of September 30, 2014 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender, and L/C Issuer.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect to such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Date:             , 20[    ]

 

Exhibit F-3-1


EXHIBIT F-4

FORM OF

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of September 30, 2014 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among CONE Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”), the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Date:             , 20[    ]

 

Exhibit F-4-1