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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 30, 2016

Registration No. 333-208052

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Valero Energy Partners LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

Delaware   90-1006559
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (IRS Employer
Identification Number)

One Valero Way

San Antonio, Texas 78249

(210) 345-2000

( Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices )

 

 

Jay D. Browning

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Valero Energy Partners LP

One Valero Way

San Antonio, Texas 78249

(210) 345-2000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service )

 

 

Copy to:

Gerald M. Spedale

Baker Botts L.L.P.

910 Louisiana Street

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 229-1234

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public : From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are being offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

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

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   ☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company  

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each class of

securities to be registered

  Amount
to be
registered
 

Proposed
maximum

offering price
per unit

  Proposed
maximum
aggregate
offering price
  Amount of
registration fee(1)

Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests

               

Preferred Units Representing Limited Partner Interests

               

Debt Securities

               

 

 

(1) An indeterminate aggregate offering price or principal amount or number of the securities is being registered as may be offered from time to time at indeterminate prices. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933, which we refer to as the Securities Act, the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fees, which will be paid from time to time in connection with one or more offerings of securities to be made hereunder.

 

 

 


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Explanatory Note

This registration statement is a post-effective amendment to the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-208052) of Valero Energy Partners LP (the “Registrant”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 16, 2015 (the “Registration Statement”). The Registrant previously registered an unlimited number and amount of common units representing limited partner interests in the Registration Statement. This post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is being filed for the purpose of (i) registering additional securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 and (ii) filing additional exhibits to the Registration Statement. This post-effective amendment shall become effective immediately upon filing with the SEC. A prospectus to be used in connection with offerings of the securities registered hereby is included in this Registration Statement.


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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

Common Units

Preferred Units

Debt Securities

 

 

We may offer, from time to time, the following securities under this prospectus:

 

    common units representing limited partner interests in Valero Energy Partners LP;

 

    preferred units representing limited partner interests in Valero Energy Partners LP; and

 

    debt securities of Valero Energy Partners LP.

We may offer and sell our securities through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to our securities. The specific terms of any offering of our securities will be included in a supplement to this prospectus.

Our common units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “VLP.”

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors described under “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 2 of this prospectus before you make any investment in our securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined whether this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is November 30, 2016


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     2   

VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP

     2   

RISK FACTORS

     2   

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     2   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     4   

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     4   

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     5   

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON UNITS

     13   

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED UNITS

     15   

DESCRIPTION OF OUR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

     16   

CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY

     29   

MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

     40   

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     57   

LEGAL MATTERS

     57   

EXPERTS

     57   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     57   

 

 

We have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the cover page of this prospectus or that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the documents incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell, in one or more offerings, the securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of us and our securities.

Each time we sell securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement also may add to, update or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read carefully this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by reference to the actual documents. For additional information about our business, operations and financial results, please read the documents incorporated by reference herein as described below in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

As used in this prospectus, “we,” “us” and “our” and similar terms mean Valero Energy Partners LP and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP

Valero Energy Partners LP (NYSE: VLP) is a fee-based master limited partnership formed by Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE: VLO) (“Valero”) in July 2013 to own, operate, develop, and acquire crude oil and refined petroleum products pipelines, terminals, and other transportation and logistics assets.

Our general partner, Valero Energy Partners GP LLC, is a Delaware limited liability company and has ultimate responsibility for conducting our business and managing our operations.

Our executive offices are located at One Valero Way, San Antonio, Texas 78249, and our telephone number is (210) 345-2000.

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described in our filings with the SEC referred to under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” as well as the risks included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risk factors incorporated by reference herein from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common units could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. When we offer and sell our securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement, we may include additional relevant risk factors in the prospectus supplement.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the information in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference may contain forward-looking statements. You can identify our forward-looking

 

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statements by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “projection,” “predict,” “budget,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “target,” “could,” “should,” “may,” and similar expressions.

Although we believe the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of these assumptions could prove to be inaccurate and the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions could be incorrect. The matters discussed in these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results and trends to differ materially from those made, projected, or implied in or by the forward-looking statements depending on a variety of uncertainties or other factors including, but not limited to:

 

    the suspension, reduction, or termination of Valero’s obligations under our commercial agreements and our services and secondment agreement;

 

    changes in global economic conditions and the effects of the global economic downturn on Valero’s business and the business of its suppliers, customers, business partners, and credit lenders;

 

    a material decrease in Valero’s profitability;

 

    disruptions due to equipment interruption or failure at our facilities, Valero’s facilities, or third-party facilities on which our business or Valero’s business is dependent;

 

    the risk of contract cancellation, non-renewal, or failure to perform by Valero’s customers, and Valero’s inability to replace such contracts and/or customers;

 

    Valero’s ability to remain in compliance with the terms of its outstanding indebtedness;

 

    the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices and demand for Valero’s refined petroleum products;

 

    our ability to obtain credit and financing on acceptable terms in light of uncertainty and illiquidity in credit and capital markets;

 

    actions of customers and competitors;

 

    changes in our cash flows from operations;

 

    state and federal environmental, economic, health and safety, energy, and other policies and regulations, including those related to climate change and any changes therein, and any legal or regulatory investigations, delays, or other factors beyond our control;

 

    operational hazards inherent in refining operations and in transporting and storing crude oil and refined petroleum products;

 

    earthquakes or other natural disasters affecting operations;

 

    changes in capital requirements or in execution of planned capital projects;

 

    the availability and costs of crude oil, other refinery feedstocks, and refined petroleum products;

 

    changes in the cost or availability of third-party vessels, pipelines, and other means of delivering and transporting crude oil, feedstocks, and refined petroleum products;

 

    direct or indirect effects on our business resulting from actual or threatened terrorist incidents or acts of war;

 

    weather conditions affecting our or Valero’s operations or the areas in which Valero markets its refined petroleum products;

 

    seasonal variations in demand for refined petroleum products;

 

    adverse rulings, judgments, or settlements in litigation or other legal or tax matters, including unexpected environmental remediation costs in excess of any accruals, which affect us or Valero;

 

    risks related to labor relations and workplace safety;

 

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    changes in insurance markets impacting costs and the level and types of coverage available;

 

    political developments; and

 

    other factors set forth in this prospectus supplement and our other filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Any one of these factors, or a combination of these factors, could materially affect our future results of operations and affect whether any forward-looking statements ultimately prove to be accurate. Our forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future performance may differ materially from those suggested in any forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update these statements unless we are required by the securities laws to do so.

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing. We undertake no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we specify otherwise in any prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of our securities for general partnership purposes, which may include, among other things:

 

    paying or refinancing all or a portion of our indebtedness outstanding at the time; and

 

    funding working capital, capital expenditures or acquisitions.

The actual application of proceeds from the sale of any particular offering of securities using this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such offering. The precise amount and timing of the application of these proceeds will depend upon our funding requirements and the availability and cost of other funds.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated are as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2016
     Fiscal Year Ended December 31,(a)  
        2015      2014     2013     2012     2011  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     11.8         9.4         —   (b)      —   (b)      —   (b)      —   (b) 

 

(a) Amounts have been retrospectively adjusted for the acquisitions of businesses under common control.
(b) For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges and the deficiency was $45.0 million, $36.5 million, $24.0 million and $32.8 million, respectively.

We have computed the ratio of earnings to fixed charges by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For these purposes, earnings consist of net income before income tax expense and fixed charges (excluding interest capitalized). Fixed charges consist of interest, whether expensed or capitalized, debt expense and one-third (the proportion deemed representative of the interest factor) of rental expense.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The debt securities covered by this prospectus will be our general senior unsecured obligations. We will issue the debt securities under the Indenture dated as of November 30, 2016 between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, which we refer to herein as the “indenture.” The terms of each series of debt securities issued pursuant to the indenture will be established by a board resolution, and set forth in an officers’ certificate, or established in a supplemental indenture relating to such series. We have summarized selected provisions of the indenture and the debt securities below. This summary is not complete. For a complete description, we encourage you to read the indenture. We have filed the indenture with the SEC, and we will include any other instrument establishing the terms of any debt securities we offer as exhibits to a filing we will make with the SEC in connection with that offering. Please read “Where You Can Find More Information.”

In this summary description of the debt securities, unless we state otherwise or the context clearly indicates otherwise, all references to “we,” “us,” or “our” are references to Valero Energy Partners LP only.

Ranking

The debt securities will constitute senior debt and will rank equally with all of our unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that can be issued under the indenture or the amount of additional indebtedness we or any of our subsidiaries may incur. We may issue debt securities under the indenture, as amended or supplemented, from time to time in one or more series, each in an amount we authorize prior to issuance. The trustee will authenticate and deliver debt securities executed and delivered to it by us as set forth in the indenture, as amended or supplemented.

We are organized as a holding company that owns subsidiary companies. Our subsidiary companies conduct substantially all of our business. The holding company structure results in two principal risks:

 

    Our subsidiaries may be restricted by contractual provisions or applicable laws from providing us the cash that we need to pay parent company debt service obligations, including payments on the debt securities.

 

    In any liquidation, reorganization or insolvency proceeding involving us, your claim as a holder of the debt securities will be effectively junior to the claims of holders of any indebtedness or preferred stock of our subsidiaries.

Terms

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities we are offering will include specific terms relating to that offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

    the title of the debt securities;

 

    any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

    the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable;

 

    any interest rate, or the method of determining the interest rate, on the debt securities, the date from which interest will accrue, interest payment dates and record dates;

 

    any right to defer interest payments by extending the interest payment periods and the duration of the extension;

 

    if other than as set forth in this prospectus, the place or places where payments on the debt securities will be payable;

 

    any optional redemption provisions;

 

    any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to redeem or purchase the debt securities;

 

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    any provisions for the remarketing of the debt securities;

 

    any changes or additions to the events of default or covenants;

 

    whether we will issue the debt securities in individual certificates to each holder in registered or bearer form, or in the form of temporary or permanent global securities held by a depositary on behalf of holders;

 

    the denominations in which we will issue the debt securities, if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

    the terms of any right to convert debt securities into our common units or other securities or property;

 

    whether payments on the debt securities will be payable in foreign currency or currency units (including composite currencies) or another form;

 

    any provisions that would determine the amount of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities by references to an index or pursuant to a formula;

 

    the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that will be payable if the maturity is accelerated, if other than the entire principal amount;

 

    any limit on our right to make distributions with respect to, redeem or purchase any of our limited partner interests; and

 

    any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the indenture.

We may sell the debt securities at a discount, which may be substantial, below their stated principal amount. These debt securities may bear no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below market rates. We will describe in the prospectus supplement any material United States federal income tax consequences applicable to those securities.

If we sell any of the debt securities for any foreign currency or currency unit or if payments on the debt securities are payable in any foreign currency or currency unit, we will describe in the prospectus supplement the restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms and other information relating to those debt securities and the foreign currency or currency unit.

Restrictive Covenants

We have agreed to two principal restrictions on our activities for the benefit of holders of the debt securities. Unless waived or amended, the restrictive covenants summarized below will apply to a series of debt securities issued under the indenture as long as any of those debt securities is outstanding, unless the officers’ certificate or supplemental indenture for the series, along with the prospectus supplement for the series, states otherwise. We have used in this summary description terms that we have defined below under “—Glossary.”

Limitations on Liens

We have agreed that when any debt securities are outstanding neither we nor any of our Subsidiaries will create or assume any liens upon any of our Principal Properties unless those debt securities are secured equally and ratably with or prior to the debt secured by the lien. This covenant has exceptions that permit:

 

    subject to certain limitations, any lien created to secure all or part of the purchase price of any Principal Property or to secure a loan made to finance the acquisition of the Principal Property described in such lien;

 

    subject to certain limitations, any lien existing on any Principal Property at the time of its acquisition or any lien created on Principal Property acquired or constructed by us not later than 12 months thereafter;

 

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    subject to certain limitations, any lien created in connection with the operation or use of any Principal Property acquired or constructed by us and created within 12 months after the acquisition, construction or commencement of full operations on the Principal Property;

 

    any mechanic’s or materialmen’s lien or any lien related to workmen’s compensation or other insurance;

 

    any lien arising by reason of deposits with or the giving of any form of security to any governmental agency, including for taxes and other governmental charges;

 

    liens for taxes or charges which are not delinquent or are being contested in good faith;

 

    liens due to zoning, planning and environmental laws and ordinances and governmental regulations; minor defects or irregularities in or encumbrances on the titles to properties which in the aggregate do not materially impair the use of our Principal Property; easements, exceptions or reservations in any of our Principal Property granted or reserved for the purpose of pipelines, roads, telecommunication equipment and cable, streets, alleys, highways, railroad purposes, the removal of oil, gas, coal or other minerals or timber, and other like purposes, or for the joint or common use of real property, facilities and equipment, which do not materially impair the use of our Principal Property, or materially detract from the value of the Principal Property subject thereto;

 

    any judgment lien the execution of which has been stayed or which has been adequately appealed and secured;

 

    any lien incidental to the conduct of our business which was not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit and which does not materially interfere with the conduct of our business;

 

    any intercompany lien;

 

    any lien on current assets created to secure indebtedness and letter of credit reimbursement obligations incurred in connection with the extension of working capital financing;

 

    any lien existing on the date of the indenture;

 

    liens incurred in connection with the borrowing of funds, if such funds are used within 120 days to repay indebtedness of at least an equal amount secured by a lien on our Principal Property having a fair market value at least equal to the fair market value of the Principal Property securing the new lien;

 

    liens incurred within 90 days (or any longer period, not in excess of one year, as permitted by law) after acquisition of the Principal Property subject to such lien arising solely in connection with the transfer of tax benefits in accordance with any provisions of law similar to former Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954; or

 

    subject to an aggregate limit of 15% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, any liens not otherwise permitted by any of the other exceptions set forth in the indenture.

Limitations on Sale/Leaseback Transactions

We have agreed that neither we nor our Subsidiaries will enter into any sale/leaseback transactions with regard to any Principal Property, providing for the leasing back to us or a Subsidiary by a third party for a period of more than three years of any asset which has been or is to be sold or transferred by us or such Subsidiary to such third party or to any other person. This covenant has exceptions that permit transactions of this nature under the following circumstances:

 

    we would be entitled, pursuant to the “Limitations on Liens” covenant described above, to incur indebtedness secured by a lien on the Principal Property to be leased, without equally and ratably securing the debt securities then outstanding; or

 

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    within 120 days after the effective date of such sale/leaseback transaction, we apply an amount equal to the value of such transaction, subject to certain limitations:

 

    to the voluntary retirement of Funded Debt that is not by its terms, subordinated to the debt securities, or

 

    to the purchase of another Principal Property.

In addition, we are permitted to enter into sale/leaseback transactions in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding, together with indebtedness secured by liens permitted by the last bullet discussed under the “Limitations on Liens” covenant described above, 15% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

Glossary

We define the following terms in the indenture. We use them here with the same definitions. Generally accepted accounting principles should be used to determine all items in this section, unless otherwise indicated.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the total amount of assets shown on a consolidated balance sheet of us and our Subsidiaries (excluding goodwill and other intangible assets), less all current liabilities (excluding notes payable, short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations).

“Funded Debt” means generally any indebtedness for money borrowed, created, issued, incurred, assumed or guaranteed which would be classified as long-term debt or capital lease obligations.

“Principal Property” means any of our or our Subsidiaries’ pipeline, gathering system, terminal, storage facility, processing plant or other plant or facility located in the United States or any territory or political subdivision thereof owned or leased by us or any of our Subsidiaries and used in the transportation, distribution, terminalling, gathering, treating, processing, marketing or storage of crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids and propane and refined petroleum products except (i) any property or asset consisting of inventories, furniture, office fixtures and equipment (including data processing equipment), vehicles and equipment used on, or useful with, vehicles (but excluding vehicles that generate transportation revenues) and (ii) any such property or asset, plant or terminal which, in the good faith opinion of the board of directors of our general partner as evidenced by resolutions of the board of directors of our general partner, is not of material importance to the total business conducted by us and our Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

“Subsidiary” means any entity of which at the time of determination we or one or more of our Subsidiaries owns or controls directly or indirectly more than 50% of the shares of voting stock or the outstanding partnership or similar interests and any limited partnership (i) of which we or any one of our Subsidiaries are a general partner and (ii) which is consolidated with us for financial reporting purposes.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale

We have agreed in the indenture that we will consolidate with, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to, or merge with or into any entity only if:

 

    (i) we are the continuing entity or (ii) if we are not the continuing entity, the successor is organized and existing under the laws of any United States jurisdiction and assumes all of our obligations under the indenture and the debt securities; and

 

    in either case, immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no default or event of default would occur and be continuing under the indenture.

Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances, there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve “all or substantially all” of the assets of a person.

 

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Events of Default

Unless we inform you otherwise in the officers’ certificate or supplemental indenture with respect to a particular series of debt securities, and in the prospectus supplement with respect to such series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture, as amended or supplemented, with respect to a series of debt securities issued thereunder:

 

    our failure to pay interest on any debt security of that series for 30 days;

 

    our failure to pay principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due;

 

    our failure to make any sinking fund payment for any debt security of that series when due;

 

    our failure to perform any of our other covenants or breach of any of our other warranties in the indenture, as amended or supplemented, other than a covenant or warranty included in the indenture solely for the benefit of another series of debt securities, and that failure continues for 60 days after written notice is given or received as provided in the indenture, as amended or supplemented;

 

    certain bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization events involving us; and

 

    any other event of default we may provide for that series.

If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series affected by the default may declare the principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. After any declaration of acceleration of a series of debt securities, but before a judgment or decree for payment has been obtained, the event of default giving rise to the declaration of acceleration will, without further act, be deemed to have been waived, and such declaration and its consequences will, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled if:

 

    we have paid or deposited with the trustee a sum sufficient to pay

 

    all overdue interest;

 

    the principal and premium, if any, due otherwise than by the declaration of acceleration and any interest on such amounts;

 

    any interest on overdue interest, to the extent legally permitted;

 

    all amounts due to the trustee under the indenture, and

 

    all events of default with respect to that series of debt securities, other than the nonpayment of the principal which became due solely by virtue of the declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived.

In most cases, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders have offered to the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee. Subject to this provision for indemnification, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of:

 

    conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; or

 

    exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series.

The indenture requires us to furnish to the trustee annually a statement as to our performance of our obligations under the indenture and as to any default in performance.

 

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Modification and Waiver

We may modify or amend the indenture without the consent of any holders of the debt securities in certain circumstances, including to:

 

    evidence the assumption of our obligations under the indenture and the debt securities by a successor;

 

    add further covenants for the benefit of the holders;

 

    cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in the indenture, so long as such action will not adversely affect the interests of the holders;

 

    establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series;

 

    evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee; or

 

    provide any security for, or to add any guarantees of, any series.

We may modify or amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modification or amendment. Without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected, however, no modification may:

 

    change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any debt security;

 

    reduce the principal amount of, the rate of interest on, or the premium payable on, any debt security;

 

    reduce the amount of principal of discounted debt securities payable upon acceleration of maturity due to an event of default;

 

    change the place of payment or the currency in which any debt security is payable;

 

    impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any debt security; or

 

    reduce quorum or voting rights.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series may waive past defaults by us under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series only. Those holders may not, however, waive any default in any payment on any debt security of that series or compliance with a provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each holder affected.

Discharge

We will be discharged from all obligations relating to any series of debt securities, except for certain surviving obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities and any right by the holders to receive additional amounts under the indenture if:

 

    all debt securities of that series previously authenticated and delivered under the indenture have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation, or

 

    all debt securities of that series have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year, at maturity or by redemption, and we deposit with the trustee, in trust, sufficient money to pay the entire indebtedness of all the debt securities of that series on the dates the payments are due in accordance with the terms of the debt securities.

To exercise the right of deposit described above, we must pay all other sums payable under the indenture, and deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel and an officers’ certificate stating that all conditions precedent to the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture have been complied with.

Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer

Unless we inform you otherwise in the officers’ certificate or supplemental indenture relating to a series of debt securities, and in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities, we will issue the debt

 

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securities of a series only in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Debt securities will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series, the same total principal amount and the same terms in such authorized denominations as may be requested. Holders may present debt securities for registration of transfer at the office of the security registrar or any transfer agent we designate. The security registrar or transfer agent will effect the transfer or exchange when it is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. We will not charge a service charge for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities. We may, however, require payment of any tax or other governmental charge payable for the registration of the transfer or exchange.

We will appoint the trustee as security registrar for the debt securities. We are required to maintain an office or agency for transfers and exchanges in each place of payment. We may at any time designate additional offices or agencies for transfers and exchanges of any series of debt securities.

We will not be required:

 

    to issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of a series during a period beginning 15 business days prior to the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of debt securities of that series selected for redemption and ending on the close of business on the day of mailing of the relevant notice, or

 

    to register the transfer of or exchange any debt security, or portion of any debt security, called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security we are redeeming in part.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless we inform you otherwise in the officers’ certificate or supplemental indenture related to a series of debt securities, and in the prospectus supplement related to such series of debt securities, principal and interest will be payable, and the debt securities of a series will be transferable and exchangeable, at the office or offices of the trustee or any paying agent we designate. At our option, we will pay interest on the debt securities by check mailed to the holder’s registered address or by wire transfer for global debt securities. Unless we inform you otherwise in an officers’ certificate or supplemental indenture related to a series, and in the prospectus supplement related to such series, we will make interest payments to the persons in whose name the debt securities are registered at the close of business on the record date for each interest payment date.

In most cases, the trustee and paying agent will repay to us upon written request any funds held by them for payments on the debt securities that remain unclaimed for two years after the date upon which that payment has become due. After payment to us, holders entitled to the money must look to us for payment.

Book-Entry and Settlement

We may issue the debt securities of a series in the form of one or more global debt securities that would be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will describe:

 

    any circumstances under which beneficial owners may exchange their interests in a global debt security for certificated debt securities of the same series with the same total principal amount and the same terms;

 

    the manner in which we will pay principal of and any premium and interest on a global debt security; and

 

    the terms of any depositary arrangement and the rights and limitations of owners of beneficial interests in any global debt security.

 

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Notices

Notices to holders will be given by mail to the addresses of such holders as they appear in the security register.

Governing Law

New York law will govern the indenture and the debt securities.

The Trustee

U.S. Bank National Association is the trustee under the indenture.

If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be required in the exercise of its powers to use the degree of care and skill of a prudent person in the conduct of his own affairs. The trustee may resign at any time or the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities may remove the trustee. If the trustee resigns, is removed or becomes incapable of acting as trustee or if a vacancy occurs in the office of the trustee for any reason, we will appoint a successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the indenture.

If the trustee becomes one of our creditors, it will be subject to limitations in the indenture on its rights to obtain payment of claims or to realize on certain property received for any claim, as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions with us. If, however, it acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate that conflict or resign as required under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON UNITS

The Units

The common units represent limited partner interests in us. The holders of common units are entitled to participate in partnership distributions and are entitled to exercise the rights and privileges available to limited partners under our partnership agreement. For a description of the rights and preferences of holders of common units in and to partnership distributions, please read “Cash Distribution Policy.” For a general discussion of the expected federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of common units, see “Material Federal Income Tax Consequences.” For a description of the rights and privileges of limited partners under our partnership agreement, including voting rights, please read “Description of Our Partnership Agreement.” Our common units are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “VLP.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Duties

Computershare Investor Services serves as the registrar and transfer agent for our common units. We will pay all fees charged by the transfer agent for transfers of common units, except the following that must be paid by our unitholders:

 

    surety bond premiums to replace lost or stolen certificates, or to cover taxes and other governmental charges in connection therewith;

 

    special charges for services requested by a holder of a common unit; and

 

    other similar fees or charges.

Unless our general partner determines otherwise in respect of some or all of any classes of our partnership interests, our partnership interests will be evidenced by book entry notation on our partnership register and not by physical certificates.

There will be no charge to our unitholders for disbursements of our cash distributions. We will indemnify the transfer agent, its agents and each of their respective stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or entity.

Resignation or Removal

The transfer agent may resign, by notice to us, or be removed by us. The resignation or removal of the transfer agent will become effective upon our appointment of a successor transfer agent and registrar and its acceptance of the appointment. If no successor has been appointed and has accepted the appointment within 30 days after notice of the resignation or removal, our general partner may act as the transfer agent and registrar until a successor is appointed.

Transfer of Common Units

By transfer of common units in accordance with our partnership agreement, each transferee of common units shall be admitted as a limited partner with respect to the common units transferred when such transfer and admission are reflected in our books and records. Each transferee, with or without executing our partnership agreement:

 

    agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of our partnership agreement;

 

    represents and warrants that the transferee has the right, power, authority and capacity to enter into our partnership agreement; and

 

    gives the consents, waivers and approvals contained in our partnership agreement.

 

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We are entitled to treat the nominee holder of a common unit as the absolute owner in the event such nominee is the record holder of such common unit. In such case, the beneficial holder’s rights are limited solely to those that it has against the nominee holder as a result of any agreement between the beneficial owner and the nominee holder.

Common units are securities and are transferable according to the laws governing the transfer of securities. Until a common unit has been transferred on our register, we and the transfer agent are entitled to treat the record holder of the common unit as the absolute owner, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED UNITS

Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional partnership securities on the terms and conditions established by our general partner without the approval of any of our limited partners. In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of the partnership agreement, we may issue additional partnership securities that have special voting rights to which our common units are not entitled, which we refer to in this prospectus as “preferred units.” As of the date of this prospectus, we have no preferred units outstanding.

Should we offer preferred units under this prospectus, a prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of preferred units offered will include the specific terms of those preferred units, including, among other things, the following:

 

    the designation, stated value and liquidation preference of the preferred units and the number of preferred units offered;

 

    the initial public offering price at which the preferred units will be issued;

 

    any conversion or exchange provisions of the preferred units;

 

    any redemption or sinking fund provisions of the preferred units;

 

    the distribution rights of the preferred units, if any;

 

    a discussion of any additional material federal income tax considerations regarding the preferred units; and

 

    any additional rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions of the preferred units.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

The following is a summary of the material provisions of our partnership agreement. Our partnership agreement is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part. We will provide prospective investors with a copy of our partnership agreement upon request at no charge.

We summarize the following provisions of our partnership agreement elsewhere in this prospectus:

 

    with regard to distributions of available cash, please read “Cash Distribution Policy”;

 

    with regard to the transfer of common units, please read “Description of the Common Units—Transfer of Common Units”; and

 

    with regard to allocations of taxable income and taxable loss, please read “Material Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

Organization and Duration

Our partnership was organized on July 24, 2013 and will have a perpetual existence unless terminated pursuant to the terms of our partnership agreement.

Purpose

Our purpose under our partnership agreement is limited to any business activity that is approved by our general partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized under Delaware law; provided, however , that our general partner shall not cause us to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that our general partner determines would be reasonably likely to cause us to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes.

Although our general partner has the ability to cause us and our subsidiaries to engage in activities other than the business of owning, operating, developing and acquiring crude oil and refined petroleum products pipelines, terminals and other transportation and logistics assets, our general partner has no current plans to do so and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in the best interests of us or our limited partners, other than the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Our general partner is authorized in general to perform all acts it determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out our purposes and to conduct our business.

Capital Contributions

Unitholders are not obligated to make additional capital contributions, except as described below under “—Limited Liability.”

For a discussion of our general partner’s right to contribute capital to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest if we issue additional units, please read “—Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests.”

Voting Rights

The following is a summary of the unitholder vote required for the matters specified below. Matters requiring the approval of a “unit majority” require the approval of a majority of the outstanding common units.

 

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In voting their common units, our general partner and its affiliates will have no duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in the best interests of us or the limited partners, other than the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

Issuance of additional units

  

No unitholder approval right.

 

Amendment of our partnership agreement

  

Certain amendments may be made by our general partner without the approval of the unitholders. Other amendments generally require the approval of a unit majority. Please read “—Amendment of Our Partnership Agreement.”

 

Merger of our partnership or the sale of all or substantially all of our assets

  

Unit majority in certain circumstances. Please read “—Merger, Consolidation, Conversion, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets.”

 

Dissolution of our partnership

  

Unit majority. Please read “—Termination and Dissolution.”

 

Continuation of our business upon dissolution

  

Unit majority. Please read “—Termination and Dissolution.”

 

Withdrawal of our general partner

  

Under most circumstances, the approval of unitholders holding at least a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates, is required for the withdrawal of our general partner prior to December 31, 2023 in a manner that would cause a dissolution of our partnership. Please read “—Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner.”

 

Removal of our general partner

  

Not less than 66 2/3% of the outstanding units, voting as a single class, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates. Please read “—Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner.”

 

Transfer of the general partner interest

  

Our general partner may transfer all, but not less than all, of its general partner interest in us without a vote of our unitholders to an affiliate or another person in connection with its merger or consolidation with or into, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets to, such person. The approval of a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates, is required in other circumstances for a transfer of the general partner interest to a third party prior to December 31, 2023. Please read “—Transfer of General Partner Units.”

 

Transfer of incentive distribution rights

   Our general partner may transfer any or all of the incentive distribution rights without a vote of our unitholders. Please read “—Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights.”

 

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Reset of incentive distribution levels

  

No unitholder approval required.

 

Transfer of ownership interests in our general partner

   No unitholder approval required. Please read “—Transfer of Ownership Interests in our General Partner.”

Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction

Our partnership agreement is governed by Delaware law. Our partnership agreement requires that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings:

 

    arising out of or relating in any way to our partnership agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of our partnership agreement or the duties, obligations or liabilities among limited partners or of limited partners to us, or the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the limited partners or us);

 

    brought in a derivative manner on our behalf;

 

    asserting a claim of breach of a duty (including a fiduciary duty) owed by any director, officer or other employee of us or our general partner, or owed by our general partner, to us or the limited partners;

 

    asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, or the Delaware Act; or

 

    asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine

shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, any other court located in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction), 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. By purchasing a common unit, a limited partner is irrevocably consenting to these limitations and provisions regarding claims, suits, actions or proceedings and submitting to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or such other Delaware courts) in connection with any such claims, suits, actions or proceedings. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation or similar governing documents have been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that, in connection with any action, a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our partnership agreement to be inapplicable or unenforceable in such action.

Limited Liability

Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the control of our business within the meaning of the Delaware Act and that it otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of our partnership agreement, its liability under the Delaware Act will be limited, subject to possible exceptions, to the amount of capital it is obligated to contribute to us for its common units plus its share of any undistributed profits and assets. If it were determined, however, that the right, or exercise of the right, by the limited partners as a group:

 

    to remove or replace our general partner;

 

    to approve some amendments to our partnership agreement; or

 

    to take other action under our partnership agreement;

constituted “participation in the control” of our business for the purposes of the Delaware Act, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the laws of Delaware, to the same extent as our general partner. This liability would extend to persons who transact business with us who reasonably believe that the limited partner is a general partner. Neither our partnership agreement nor the Delaware Act specifically

 

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provides for legal recourse against our general partner if a limited partner were to lose limited liability through any fault of our general partner. While this does not mean that a limited partner could not seek legal recourse, we know of no precedent for this type of a claim in Delaware case law.

Under the Delaware Act, a limited partnership may not make a distribution to a partner if, after the distribution, all liabilities of the limited partnership, other than liabilities to partners on account of their limited partner interests and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specific property of the partnership, would exceed the fair value of the assets of the limited partnership. For the purpose of determining the fair value of the assets of a limited partnership, the Delaware Act provides that the fair value of property subject to liability for which recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the assets of the limited partnership only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds the non-recourse liability. The Delaware Act provides that a limited partner who receives a distribution and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution was in violation of the Delaware Act shall be liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years. Under the Delaware Act, a substituted limited partner of a limited partnership is liable for the obligations of its assignor to make contributions to the partnership, except that such person is not obligated for liabilities unknown to him at the time it became a limited partner and that could not be ascertained from our partnership agreement.

Our subsidiaries conduct business in several states and we may have subsidiaries that conduct business in other states in the future. Maintenance of our limited liability as a limited partner or member of our operating subsidiaries may require compliance with legal requirements in the jurisdictions in which our operating subsidiaries conduct business, including qualifying our subsidiaries to do business there.

Limitations on the liability of limited partners or members for the obligations of a limited partnership or limited liability company have not been clearly established in many jurisdictions. If, by virtue of our limited partner interest in our operating company or otherwise, it were determined that we were conducting business in any state without compliance with the applicable limited partnership or limited liability company statute, or that the right or exercise of the right by the limited partners as a group to remove or replace our general partner, to approve some amendments to our partnership agreement, or to take other action under our partnership agreement constituted “participation in the control” of our business for purposes of the statutes of any relevant jurisdiction, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the law of that jurisdiction to the same extent as our general partner under the circumstances. We will operate in a manner that our general partner considers reasonable and necessary or appropriate to preserve the limited liability of the limited partners.

Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests

Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional partnership interests for the consideration and on the terms and conditions determined by our general partner without the approval of the unitholders.

It is possible that we will fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units or other partnership interests. Holders of any additional common units we issue will be entitled to share equally with the then-existing holders of common units in our distributions of available cash. In addition, the issuance of additional common units or other partnership interests may dilute the value of the interests of the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.

In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may also issue additional partnership interests that, as determined by our general partner, may have special voting rights to which the common units are not entitled. In addition, our partnership agreement does not prohibit the issuance by our subsidiaries of equity interests, which may effectively rank senior to the common units.

 

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Upon issuance of additional limited partner interests (other than the issuance of common units in connection with a reset of the incentive distribution target levels or the issuance of common units upon conversion of outstanding partnership interests), our general partner will be entitled, but not required, to make additional capital contributions up to the amount necessary to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest in us. Our general partner’s 2.0% interest in us will be reduced if we issue additional units in the future and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest. Moreover, our general partner will have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to purchase common units or other partnership interests whenever, and on the same terms that, we issue those interests to persons other than our general partner and its affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the percentage interest of our general partner and its affiliates, including such interest represented by common units, that existed immediately prior to each issuance. The other holders of common units will not have preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other partnership interests.

Amendment of Our Partnership Agreement

General

Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by our general partner. However, our general partner will have no duty or obligation to propose any amendment and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in the best interests of us or the limited partners, other than the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. In order to adopt a proposed amendment, other than the amendments discussed below, our general partner is required to seek written approval of the holders of the number of units required to approve the amendment or call a meeting of the limited partners to consider and vote upon the proposed amendment. Except as described below, an amendment must be approved by a unit majority.

Prohibited Amendments

No amendment may be made that would:

 

    enlarge the obligations of any limited partner without its consent, unless such is deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved by at least a majority of the type or class of limited partner interests so affected; or

 

    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 by us to our general partner or any of its affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at its option.

The provisions of our partnership agreement preventing the amendments having the effects described in any of the clauses above can be amended upon the approval of the holders of at least 90.0% of the outstanding units voting together as a single class (including units owned by our general partner and its affiliates).

No Limited Partner Approval

Our general partner may generally make amendments to our partnership agreement without the approval of any limited partner to reflect:

 

    a change in our name, the location of our principal office, our registered agent or our registered office;

 

    the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of partners in accordance with our partnership agreement;

 

    a change that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue our qualification 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 neither we nor any of our subsidiaries will be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes;

 

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    a change in our fiscal year or taxable year and any other changes that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of such change;

 

    an amendment that is necessary, in the opinion of our counsel, to prevent us or our 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, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, each as amended, whether or not substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor;

 

    an amendment that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the authorization or issuance of additional partnership interests;

 

    any amendment expressly permitted in our partnership agreement to be made by our general partner acting alone;

 

    an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement or plan of conversion that has been approved under the terms of our partnership agreement;

 

    any amendment that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by us of, or our investment in, any corporation, partnership joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with our conduct of activities permitted by our partnership agreement;

 

    conversions into, mergers with or conveyances to another limited liability entity that is newly formed and has no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of the conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives by way of the conversion, merger or conveyance; or

 

    any other amendments substantially similar to any of the matters described in the clauses above.

In addition, our general partner may make amendments to our partnership agreement without the approval of any limited partner if our general partner determines that those amendments:

 

    do not adversely affect in any material respect the limited partners considered as a whole or any particular class of partnership interests as compared to other classes of partnership interests;

 

    are necessary or appropriate to 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;

 

    are necessary or appropriate to facilitate the trading of limited partner interests or to comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any securities exchange on which the limited partner interests are or will be listed or admitted to trading;

 

    are necessary or appropriate for any action taken by our general partner relating to splits or combinations of units under the provisions of our partnership agreement; or

 

    are required to effect the intent expressed in this prospectus or the intent of the provisions of our partnership agreement or are otherwise contemplated by our partnership agreement.

Opinion of Counsel and Unitholder Approval

For amendments of the type not requiring unitholder approval, our general partner will not be required to obtain an opinion of counsel to the effect that an amendment will not affect the limited liability of any limited partner under Delaware law. No other amendments to our partnership agreement will become effective without the approval of holders of at least 90.0% of the outstanding units voting as a single class unless we first obtain such an opinion.

 

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In addition to the above restrictions, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any type or class of partnership interests in relation to other classes of partnership interests will require the approval of at least a majority of the type or class of partnership interests so affected. Any amendment that would reduce the percentage of units required to take any action, other than to remove our general partner or call a meeting of unitholders, must be approved by the affirmative vote of limited partners whose aggregate outstanding units constitute not less than the percentage sought to be reduced. Any amendment that would increase the percentage of units required to remove our general partner must be approved by the affirmative vote of limited partners whose aggregate outstanding units constitute not less than 90.0% of outstanding units. Any amendment that would increase the percentage of units required to call a meeting of unitholders must be approved by the affirmative vote of limited partners whose aggregate outstanding units constitute at least a majority of the outstanding units.

Merger, Consolidation, Conversion, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets

A merger, consolidation or conversion of our partnership requires the prior consent of our general partner. However, our general partner will have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in the best interests of us or the limited partners, other than the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

In addition, our partnership agreement generally prohibits our general partner without the prior approval of the holders of a unit majority, from causing us to, among other things, sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions. Our general partner may, however, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of our assets without that approval. Our general partner may also sell any or all of our assets under a foreclosure or other realization upon those encumbrances without that approval. Finally, our general partner may consummate any merger with another limited liability entity without the prior approval of our unitholders if we are the surviving entity in the transaction, our general partner has received an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters, the transaction would not result in an amendment to our partnership agreement requiring unitholder approval, each of our units will be an identical unit of our partnership following the transaction, and the partnership interests to be issued by us in such merger do not exceed 20.0% of our outstanding partnership interests immediately prior to the transaction.

If the conditions specified in our partnership agreement are satisfied, our general partner may convert us or any of our subsidiaries into a new limited liability entity or merge us or any of our subsidiaries into, or convey all of our assets to, a newly formed entity if the sole purpose of that conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in our legal form into another limited liability entity, our general partner has received an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters, and our general partner determines that the governing instruments of the new entity provide the limited partners and our general partner with the same rights and obligations as contained in our partnership agreement. The unitholders are not entitled to dissenters’ rights of appraisal under our partnership agreement or applicable Delaware law in the event of a conversion, merger or consolidation, a sale of substantially all of our assets or any other similar transaction or event.

Termination and Dissolution

We will continue as a limited partnership until dissolved and terminated under our partnership agreement. We will dissolve upon:

 

    the withdrawal or removal of our general partner or any other event that results in its ceasing to be our general partner, other than by reason of a transfer of its general partner interest in accordance with our partnership agreement or a withdrawal or removal followed by approval and admission of a successor;

 

    the election of our general partner to dissolve us, if approved by the holders of units representing a unit majority;

 

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    the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of our partnership; or

 

    there being no limited partners, unless we are continued without dissolution in accordance with applicable Delaware law.

Upon a dissolution under the first bullet point above, the holders of a unit majority may also elect, within specific time limitations, to continue our business on the same terms and conditions described in our partnership agreement by appointing as a successor general partner an entity approved by the holders of units representing a unit majority, subject to our receipt of an opinion of counsel to the effect that:

 

    the action would not result in the loss of limited liability of any limited partner; and

 

    neither our partnership nor any of our subsidiaries 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 that right to continue.

Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds

Upon our dissolution, unless we are continued as a new limited partnership, the liquidator authorized to wind up our affairs will, acting with all of the powers of our general partner that are necessary or appropriate, liquidate our assets and apply the proceeds of the liquidation as described in “Cash Distribution Policy—Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation.” The liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of our assets for a reasonable period of time or distribute assets to partners in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to our partners.

Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner

Except as described below, our general partner has agreed not to withdraw voluntarily as our general partner prior to December 31, 2023 without obtaining the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates, and furnishing an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. On or after December 31, 2023, our general partner may withdraw as general partner without first obtaining approval of any unitholder by giving 90 days’ written notice, and that withdrawal will not constitute a violation of our partnership agreement. Notwithstanding the information above, our general partner may withdraw without unitholder approval upon 90 days’ notice to the limited partners if at least 50.0% of the outstanding units are held or controlled by one person and its affiliates other than our general partner and its affiliates. In addition, our partnership agreement permits our general partner to sell or otherwise transfer all of its general partner interest in us without the approval of the unitholders. Please read “—Transfer of General Partner Units” and “—Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights.”

Upon voluntary withdrawal of our general partner by giving notice to the other partners, the holders of a unit majority may select a successor to that withdrawing general partner. If a successor is not elected, or is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters cannot be obtained, we will be dissolved, wound up and liquidated, unless within a specified period after that withdrawal, the holders of a unit majority agree to continue our business by appointing a successor general partner. Please read “—Termination and Dissolution.”

Our general partner may not be removed unless that removal is approved by the vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of the outstanding common units, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates, and we receive an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. Any removal of our general partner is also subject to the approval of a successor general partner by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding common units. The ownership of more than 33 1/3% of the outstanding units by our general partner and its affiliates would give them the practical ability to prevent our general partner’s removal.

Our partnership agreement also provides that, if our general partner is removed as our general partner under circumstances where cause does not exist and units held by our general partner and its affiliates are not voted in

 

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favor of that removal, our general partner will have the right to convert its general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in exchange for those interests based on the fair market value of those interests as of the effective date of its removal.

In the event of removal of our general partner under circumstances where cause exists or withdrawal of our general partner where that withdrawal violates our partnership agreement, a successor general partner will have the option to purchase the general partner interest and incentive distribution rights of the departing general partner for a cash payment equal to the fair market value of those interests. Under all other circumstances where our general partner withdraws or is removed by the limited partners, the departing general partner will have the option to require the successor general partner to purchase the general partner interest of the departing general partner and its incentive distribution rights for fair market value. In each case, this fair market value will be determined by agreement between the departing general partner and the successor general partner. If no agreement is reached, an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the departing general partner and the successor general partner will determine the fair market value. Or, if the departing general partner and the successor general partner cannot agree upon an expert, then an expert chosen by agreement of the experts selected by each of them will determine the fair market value.

If the option described above is not exercised by either the departing general partner or the successor general partner, the departing general partner will become a limited partner and its general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights will automatically convert into common units pursuant to a valuation of those interests as determined by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected in the manner described in the preceding paragraph.

In addition, we will be required to reimburse the departing general partner for all amounts due the departing general partner, including, without limitation, all employee-related liabilities, including severance liabilities, incurred for the termination of any employees employed by the departing general partner or its affiliates for our benefit.

Transfer of General Partner Units

Except for transfer by our general partner of all, but not less than all, of its general partner interest to (1) an affiliate of our general partner (other than an individual), or (2) another entity as part of the merger or consolidation of our general partner with or into such entity or the transfer by our general partner of all or substantially all of its assets to such entity, our general partner may not transfer all or any part of its general partner interest to another person prior to December 31, 2023 without the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates. As a condition of this transfer, the transferee must assume, among other things, the rights and duties of our general partner, agree to be bound by the provisions of our partnership agreement, and furnish an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters.

Our general partner and its affiliates may at any time, transfer common units to one or more persons, without unitholder approval.

Transfer of Ownership Interests in Our General Partner

At any time, Valero and its subsidiaries may sell or transfer all or part of their membership interest in our general partner to an affiliate or third party without the approval of our unitholders.

Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights

At any time, our general partner may sell or transfer its incentive distribution rights to an affiliate or third party without the approval of our unitholders.

 

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Change of Management Provisions

Our partnership agreement contains specific provisions that are intended to discourage a person or group from attempting to remove Valero Energy Partners GP LLC as our general partner or otherwise change our management. If any person or group other than our general partner and its affiliates acquires beneficial ownership of 20.0% or more of any class of units, that person or group loses voting rights on all of its units. This loss of voting rights does not apply to any person or group that acquires the units from our general partner or its affiliates and any transferees of that person or group who are notified by our general partner that they will not lose their voting rights or to any person or group who acquires the units with the prior approval of the board of directors of our general partner.

Our partnership agreement also provides that, if our general partner is removed as our general partner under circumstances where cause does not exist and units held by our general partner and its affiliates are not voted in favor of that removal, our general partner will have the right to convert its general partner units and its incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in exchange for those interests based on the fair market value of those interests as of the effective date of its removal.

Limited Call Right

If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80.0% of the then-issued and outstanding limited partner interests of any class, our general partner will have the right, which it may assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the limited partner interests of such class held by unaffiliated persons as of a record date to be selected by our general partner, on at least 10 but not more than 60 days’ notice. The purchase price in the event of this purchase is the greater of:

 

    the highest cash price paid by either of our general partner or any of its affiliates for any limited partner interests of the class purchased within the 90 days preceding the date on which our general partner first mails notice of its election to purchase those limited partner interests; and

 

    the current market price calculated in accordance with our partnership agreement as of the date three business days before the date the notice is mailed.

As a result of our general partner’s right to purchase outstanding limited partner interests, a holder of limited partner interests may have its limited partner interests purchased at a price that may be lower than market prices at various times prior to such purchase or lower than a unitholder may anticipate the market price to be in the future. The tax consequences to a unitholder of the exercise of this call right are the same as a sale by that unitholder of its common units in the market. Please read “Material Federal Income Tax Consequences—Disposition of Common Units.”

Meetings; Voting

Except as described below regarding a person or group owning 20.0% or more of any class of units then outstanding, record holders of units on the record date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, meetings of our limited partners and to act upon matters for which approvals may be solicited.

Our general partner does not anticipate that any meeting of unitholders will be called in the foreseeable future. Any action that is required or permitted to be taken by the unitholders may be taken either at a meeting of the unitholders or, if authorized by our general partner, without a meeting if consents in writing describing the action so taken are signed by holders of the number of units that would be necessary to authorize or take that action at a meeting where all limited partners were present and voted. Meetings of the unitholders may be called by our general partner or by unitholders owning at least 20.0% of the outstanding units of the class for which a meeting is proposed. Unitholders may vote either in person or by proxy at meetings. The holders of a majority of the outstanding units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called represented in person or by

 

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proxy will constitute a quorum unless any action by the unitholders requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of the units, in which case the quorum will be the greater percentage. The units representing the general partner interest are units for distribution and allocation purposes, but do not entitle our general partner to any vote other than its rights as general partner under our partnership agreement, will not be entitled to vote on any action required or permitted to be taken by the unitholders and will not count toward or be considered outstanding when calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum, or for similar purposes.

Each record holder of a unit has a vote according to its percentage interest in us, although additional limited partner interests having special voting rights could be issued. Please read “—Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests.” However, if at any time any person or group, other than our general partner and its affiliates, a direct transferee of our general partner and its affiliates or a transferee of such direct transferee who is notified by our general partner that it will not lose its voting rights, acquires, in the aggregate, beneficial ownership of 20.0% or more of any class of units then outstanding, that person or group will lose voting rights on all of its units and the units may not be voted on any matter and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes. Common units held in nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in accordance with the instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and its nominee provides otherwise.

Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy material required or permitted to be given or made to record holders of common units under our partnership agreement will be delivered to the record holder by us or by the transfer agent or an exchange agent.

Status as Limited Partner

By transfer of common units in accordance with our partnership agreement, each transferee of common units shall be admitted as a limited partner with respect to the common units transferred when such transfer and admission is reflected in our register. Except as described under “—Limited Liability,” the common units will be fully paid, and unitholders will not be required to make additional contributions.

Ineligible Holders; Redemption

Under our partnership agreement, an “Eligible Holder” is a limited partner whose (a) federal income tax status is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the rates that can be charged by us on assets that are subject to regulation by FERC or an analogous regulatory body and (b) nationality, citizenship or other related status would not create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which we have an interest, in each case as determined by our general partner with the advice of counsel.

If at any time our general partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that one or more limited partners are not Eligible Holders (any such limited partner, an “Ineligible Holder”), then our general partner may request any limited partner to furnish to our general partner an executed certification or other information about its federal income tax status and/or nationality, citizenship or related status. If a limited partner fails to furnish such certification or other requested information within 30 days (or such other period as our general partner may determine) after a request for such certification or other information, or our general partner determines after receipt of the information that the limited partner is not an Eligible Holder, the limited partner may be treated as an Ineligible Holder. An Ineligible Holder does not have the right to direct the voting of its units and may not receive distributions in kind upon our liquidation.

Furthermore, we have the right to redeem all of the common units of any holder that our general partner concludes is an Ineligible Holder or fails to furnish the information requested by our general partner. The redemption price in the event of such redemption for each unit held by such unitholder will be the current market price of such unit (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption). The redemption

 

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price will be paid, as determined by our general partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note. Any such promissory note will bear interest at the rate of 5.0% annually and be payable in three equal annual installments of principal and accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.

Indemnification

Under our partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will indemnify the following persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims, damages or similar events:

 

    our general partner;

 

    any departing general partner;

 

    any person who is or was an affiliate of our general partner or any departing general partner;

 

    any person who is or was a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of us, our subsidiaries or any entity set forth in the preceding three bullet points;

 

    any person who is or was serving as manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of another person owing a fiduciary duty to us or any of our subsidiaries at the request of our general partner or any departing general partner or any of their affiliates; and

 

    any person designated by our general partner.

Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Unless it otherwise agrees, our general partner will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or lend funds or assets to us to enable us to effectuate, indemnification. We will purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for our activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to indemnify the person against such liabilities under our partnership agreement.

Reimbursement of Expenses

Our partnership agreement requires us to reimburse our general partner for all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on our behalf and all other expenses allocable to us or otherwise incurred by our general partner in connection with operating our business. These expenses include salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to persons who perform services for us or on our behalf and expenses allocated to our general partner by its affiliates. Our general partner is entitled to determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to us. The expenses for which we are required to reimburse our general partner are not subject to any caps or other limits.

Books and Reports

Our general partner is required to keep appropriate books of our business at our principal offices. The books will be maintained for financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis. For tax and fiscal reporting purposes, our fiscal year is the calendar year.

We will mail or make available to record holders of common units, within 105 days after the close of each fiscal year, an annual report containing audited financial statements and a report on those financial statements by our independent public accountants. Except for our fourth quarter, we will also mail or make available summary financial information within 50 days after the close of each quarter.

We will furnish each record holder of a unit with information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year. This information is expected to be furnished in summary form so that some complex calculations normally required of partners can be avoided. Our ability to furnish this summary information to unitholders will depend on the cooperation of unitholders in supplying us with specific

 

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information. Every unitholder will receive information to assist him in determining its federal and state tax liability and filing its federal and state income tax returns, regardless of whether it supplies us with information.

Right to Inspect Our Books and Records

Our partnership agreement provides that a limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to its interest as a limited partner, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at its own expense, have furnished to him:

 

    a current list of the name and last known address of each record holder;

 

    copies of our partnership agreement and our certificate of limited partnership and all amendments thereto; and

 

    certain information regarding the status of our business and financial condition.

Our general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from the limited partners, trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which our general partner determines is not in our best interests or that we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep confidential. Our partnership agreement limits the right to information that a limited partner would otherwise have under Delaware law.

Registration Rights

Under our partnership agreement, we have agreed to register for resale under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws any common units or other partnership interests proposed to be sold by our general partner or any of its affiliates or their assignees if an exemption from the registration requirements is not otherwise available. These registration rights will continue for two years following any withdrawal or removal of our general partner. We are obligated to pay all expenses incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

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CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY

Set forth below is a summary of the significant provisions of our partnership agreement that relate to cash distributions.

Distributions of Available Cash

General

Our partnership agreement requires that, within 45 days after the end of each quarter, we distribute all of our available cash to unitholders of record on the applicable record date.

Definition of Available Cash

Available cash generally means, for any quarter, all cash and cash equivalents on hand at the end of that quarter:

 

    less , the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner to:

 

    provide for the proper conduct of our business (including reserves for our future capital expenditures and anticipated future credit needs requirements and refunds of collected rates reasonably likely to be refunded as a result of a settlement or hearing related to FERC rate proceedings or rate proceedings under applicable law subsequent to that quarter);

 

    comply with applicable law, any of our or our subsidiaries’ debt instruments or other agreements; or

 

    provide funds for distributions to our unitholders and to our general partner for any one or more of the next four quarters (provided that our general partner may not establish cash reserves for distributions if the effect of the establishment of such reserves will prevent us from paying the minimum quarterly distribution on all common units for the current quarter);

 

    plus , if our general partner so determines, all or any portion of the cash on hand on the date of determination of available cash for the quarter resulting from working capital borrowings made subsequent to the end of such quarter.

The purpose and effect of the last bullet point above is to allow our general partner, if it so decides, to use cash from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter but on or before the date of determination of available cash for that quarter to pay distributions to unitholders. Under our partnership agreement, working capital borrowings are generally borrowings that are made under a credit facility, commercial paper facility or similar financing arrangement, and in all cases are used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to partners, and with the intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within twelve months with funds other than from additional working capital borrowings.

Intent to Distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution

We intend to make minimum quarterly distributions to holders of our common units of at least $0.2125 per unit, or $0.85 per unit on an annualized basis, to the extent we have sufficient available cash after the establishment of cash reserves and the payment of costs and expenses, including reimbursements of expenses to our general partner. However, there is no guarantee that we will pay the minimum quarterly distribution on our units in any quarter. Even if our cash distribution policy is not modified or revoked, the amount of distributions we pay and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our general partner, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement.

General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights

Our general partner is entitled to 2.0% of all quarterly distributions that we make prior to our liquidation. Our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to contribute up to a proportionate amount of capital to

 

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us to maintain its current general partner interest. The general partner’s 2.0% interest in these distributions will be reduced if we issue additional units in the future and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest.

In addition, our general partner holds incentive distribution rights that entitle it to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 48.0%, of the cash we distribute from operating surplus (as defined below) in excess of $0.244375 per unit per quarter. The maximum distribution of 48.0% does not include any distributions that our general partner or its affiliates may receive on common or general partner units that they own. Please read “—General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights” below for additional information.

Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus

General

All cash distributed to unitholders is characterized as either being paid from “operating surplus” or “capital surplus.” We treat distributions of available cash from operating surplus differently than distributions of available cash from capital surplus.

Operating Surplus

We define operating surplus as:

 

    $50.0 million (as described below); plus

 

    all of our cash receipts, excluding cash from interim capital transactions (as defined below), provided that cash receipts from the termination of a commodity hedge or interest rate hedge prior to its specified termination date shall be included in operating surplus in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such commodity hedge or interest rate hedge; plus

 

    working capital borrowings made after the end of a quarter but on or before the date of determination of operating surplus for that quarter; plus

 

    cash distributions (including incremental distributions on incentive distribution rights) paid in respect of equity issued to finance all or a portion of expansion capital expenditures in respect of the period from the date that we enter into a binding obligation to commence the construction, development, replacement, improvement or expansion of a capital asset and ending on the earlier to occur of the date the capital asset commences commercial service and the date that it is abandoned or disposed of; plus

 

    cash distributions (including incremental distributions on incentive distribution rights) paid in respect of equity issued to pay interest and related fees on debt incurred, or to pay distributions on equity issued, to finance the expansion capital expenditures referred to in the prior bullet point; less

 

    all of our operating expenditures (as defined below); less

 

    the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner to provide funds for future operating expenditures; less

 

    all working capital borrowings not repaid within twelve months after having been incurred, or repaid within such twelve month period with the proceeds of additional working capital borrowings.

As described above, operating surplus does not reflect actual cash on hand that is available for distribution to our unitholders and is not limited to cash generated by our operations. For example, it includes a provision that will enable us, if we choose, to distribute as operating surplus up to $50.0 million of cash we receive from non-operating sources such as asset sales, issuances of securities and long-term borrowings that would otherwise be distributed as capital surplus. In addition, the effect of including, as described above, certain cash distributions on equity interests in operating surplus will be to increase operating surplus by the amount of any such cash distributions. As a result, we may also distribute as operating surplus up to the amount of any such cash that we receive from non-operating sources.

 

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The proceeds of working capital borrowings increase operating surplus and repayments of working capital borrowings are generally operating expenditures (as described below) and thus reduce operating surplus when repayments are made. However, if working capital borrowings, which increase operating surplus, are not repaid during the twelve-month period following the borrowing, they will be deemed repaid at the end of such period, thus decreasing operating surplus at such time. When such working capital borrowings are in fact repaid, they will not be treated as a further reduction in operating surplus because operating surplus will have been previously reduced by the deemed repayment.

We define interim capital transactions as (i) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than working capital borrowings and items purchased on open account or for a deferred purchase price in the ordinary course of business) and sales of debt securities; (ii) issuances of equity securities; (iii) sales or other dispositions of assets, other than sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business and sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal asset retirements or replacements; and (iv) capital contributions received by a group member.

We define operating expenditures as all of our cash expenditures, including, but not limited to, taxes, reimbursements of expenses of our general partner and its affiliates, director, officer and employee compensation, debt service payments, payments made in the ordinary course of business under interest rate hedge contracts and commodity hedge contracts (provided that payments made in connection with the termination of any interest rate hedge contract or commodity hedge contract prior to the expiration of its settlement or termination date specified therein will be included in operating expenditures in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such interest rate hedge contract or commodity hedge contract and amounts paid in connection with the initial purchase of a rate hedge contract or a commodity hedge contract will be amortized at the life of such rate hedge contract or commodity hedge contract), maintenance capital expenditures (as discussed in further detail below), and repayment of working capital borrowings; provided, however , that operating expenditures will not include:

 

    repayments of working capital borrowings where such borrowings have previously been deemed to have been repaid (as described above);

 

    payments of principal of and premium on indebtedness other than working capital borrowings;

 

    expansion capital expenditures;

 

    payment of transaction expenses (including taxes) relating to interim capital transactions;

 

    distributions to our partners; or

 

    repurchases of partnership interests (excluding repurchases we make to satisfy obligations under employee benefit plans).

Capital Surplus

Capital surplus is defined in our partnership agreement as any distribution of available cash in excess of our cumulative operating surplus. Accordingly, except as described above, capital surplus would generally be generated by:

 

    borrowings other than working capital borrowings;

 

    sales of our equity and debt securities;

 

    sales or other dispositions of assets, other than inventory, accounts receivable and other assets sold in the ordinary course of business or as part of ordinary course retirement or replacement of assets; and

 

    capital contributions received.

 

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Characterization of Cash Distributions

Our partnership agreement requires that we treat all available cash distributed as coming from operating surplus until the sum of all available cash distributed since the closing of our initial public offering equals our operating surplus from the closing of our initial public offering through the end of the quarter immediately preceding that distribution. Our partnership agreement requires that we treat any amount distributed in excess of operating surplus, regardless of its source, as capital surplus. Our partnership agreement treats a distribution of capital surplus as the repayment of the initial unit price from our initial public offering and as a return of capital. We do not anticipate that we will make any distributions from capital surplus.

Capital Expenditures

Maintenance capital expenditures are cash expenditures (including expenditures for the construction or development of new capital assets or the replacement, improvement or expansion of existing capital assets) made to maintain, over the long-term, our operating capacity or operating income. Examples of maintenance capital expenditures are expenditures to repair, refurbish and replace pipelines and terminals, to maintain equipment reliability, integrity and safety and to address environmental laws and regulations. Maintenance capital expenditures are included in operating expenditures and thus will reduce operating surplus.

Expansion capital expenditures are cash expenditures incurred for acquisitions or capital improvements that we expect will increase our operating income or operating capacity over the long term. Examples of expansion capital expenditures include the acquisition of equipment and the construction, development or acquisition of additional pipeline or terminaling capacity to the extent such capital expenditures are expected to expand our operating capacity or our operating income. Expansion capital expenditures include interest payments (and related fees) on debt incurred to finance all or a portion of expansion capital expenditures in respect of the period from the date that we enter into a binding obligation to commence the construction, development, replacement, improvement or expansion of a capital asset and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such capital improvement commences commercial service and the date that such capital improvement is abandoned or disposed of.

Capital expenditures that are made in part for maintenance capital purposes and in part for expansion capital purposes will be allocated as maintenance capital expenditures or expansion capital expenditures by our general partner.

Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus

We will make distributions of available cash from operating surplus for any quarter in the following manner:

 

    first , 98.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2.0% to our general partner, until we distribute for each outstanding unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter; and

 

    thereafter , in the manner described in “—General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights” below.

The preceding discussion is based on the assumptions that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights

Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner is entitled, with respect to its general partner interest, to 2.0% of all distributions that we make prior to our liquidation. Our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to contribute up to a proportionate amount of capital to us in order to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest if we issue additional units. Our general partner’s 2.0% interest, and the percentage of our

 

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cash distributions to which it is entitled from such 2.0% interest, will be proportionately reduced if we issue additional units in the future (other than the issuance of common units upon a reset of the incentive distribution rights) and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us in order to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest. Our partnership agreement does not require that our general partner fund its capital contribution with cash. It may instead fund its capital contribution by the contribution to us of common units or other property.

Incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage (13.0%, 23.0% and 48.0%) of the quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus after the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels have been achieved. Our general partner currently holds the incentive distribution rights, but may transfer these rights separately from its general partner interest.

The following discussion assumes that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and that our general partner continues to own the incentive distribution rights.

If for any quarter we have distributed available cash from operating surplus to the common unitholders in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution, we will distribute any additional available cash from operating surplus for that quarter among the unitholders and our general partner in the following manner:

 

    first , 98.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2.0% to our general partner, until each unitholder receives a total of $0.244375 per unit for that quarter (the “first target distribution”);

 

    second , 85.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 15.0% to our general partner, until each unitholder receives a total of $0.265625 per unit for that quarter (the “second target distribution”);

 

    third , 75.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 25.0% to our general partner, until each unitholder receives a total of $0.31875 per unit for that quarter (the “third target distribution”); and

 

    thereafter , 50.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 50.0% to our general partner.

Percentage Allocations of Available Cash from Operating Surplus

The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of available cash from operating surplus between the unitholders and our general partner based on the specified target distribution levels. The amounts set forth under “Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions” are the percentage interests of our general partner and the unitholders in any available cash from operating surplus we distribute up to and including the corresponding amount in the column “Target Quarterly Distribution per Unit Target Amount.” The percentage interests shown for our unitholders and our general partner for the minimum quarterly distribution are also applicable to quarterly distribution amounts that are less than the minimum quarterly distribution. The percentage interests set forth below for our general partner include its 2.0% general partner interest and assume that our general partner has contributed any additional capital necessary to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest and that our general partner has not transferred its incentive distribution rights.

 

    

Target Quarterly

Distribution per Unit

Target Amount

   Marginal Percentage
Interest in Distributions
 
      Unitholders     General Partner  

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

   $0.2125      98.0     2.0

First Target Distribution

   above $0.2125 up to $0.244375      98.0     2.0

Second Target Distribution

   above $0.244375 up to $0.265625      85.0     15.0

Third Target Distribution

   above $0.265625 up to $0.31875      75.0     25.0

Thereafter

   $0.31875      50.0     50.0

 

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General Partner’s Right to Reset Incentive Distribution Levels

Right to Reset Incentive Distribution Levels

Our general partner, as the holder of our incentive distribution rights, has the right under our partnership agreement, subject to certain conditions, to elect to relinquish the right to receive incentive distribution payments based on the initial target distribution levels and to reset, at higher levels, the minimum quarterly distribution amount and target distribution levels upon which the incentive distribution payments to our general partner would be set. If our general partner transfers all or a portion of the incentive distribution rights in the future, then the holder or holders of a majority of our incentive distribution rights will be entitled to exercise this right. The following discussion assumes that our general partner holds all of the incentive distribution rights at the time that a reset election is made. Our general partner’s right to reset the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels upon which the incentive distributions payable to our general partner are based may be exercised, without approval of our unitholders or the conflicts committee, at any time when there are no subordinated units outstanding, we have made cash distributions to the holders of the incentive distribution rights at the highest level of incentive distributions for each of the four consecutive fiscal quarters immediately preceding such time and the amount of each such distribution did not exceed the adjusted operating surplus for such quarter. If our general partner and its affiliates are not the holders of a majority of the incentive distribution rights at the time an election is made to reset the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels, then the proposed reset will be subject to the prior written concurrence of the general partner that the conditions described above have been satisfied. The reset minimum quarterly distribution amount and target distribution levels will be higher than the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels prior to the reset such that our general partner will not receive any incentive distributions under the reset target distribution levels until cash distributions per unit following this event increase as described below. We anticipate that our general partner would exercise this reset right in order to facilitate acquisitions or internal expansion projects that would otherwise not be sufficiently accretive to cash distributions per common unit, taking into account the existing levels of incentive distribution payments being made to our general partner.

In connection with the resetting of the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels and the corresponding relinquishment by our general partner of incentive distribution payments based on the target distributions prior to the reset, our general partner will be entitled to receive a number of newly issued common units based on a predetermined formula described below that takes into account the “cash parity” value of the average cash distributions related to the incentive distribution rights received by our general partner for the two quarters immediately preceding the reset event as compared to the average cash distributions per common unit during that two-quarter period. In addition, our general partner will be issued the number of general partner units necessary to maintain our general partner’s interest in us immediately prior to the reset election.

The number of common units that our general partner (or the then holder of the incentive distribution rights, if other than our general partner) would be entitled to receive from us in connection with a resetting of the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels then in effect would be equal to the quotient determined by dividing (x) the average aggregate amount of cash distributions received by our general partner in respect of its incentive distribution rights during the two consecutive fiscal quarters ended immediately prior to the date of such reset election by (y) the average of the aggregate amount of cash distributed per common unit during each of these two quarters.

Following a reset election, the minimum quarterly distribution amount will be reset to an amount equal to the average cash distribution amount per common unit for the two fiscal quarters immediately preceding the reset election (which amount we refer to as the “reset minimum quarterly distribution”) and the target distribution levels will be reset to be correspondingly higher such that we would distribute all of our available cash from operating surplus for each quarter thereafter as follows:

 

    first , 98.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2.0% to our general partner, until each unitholder receives an amount equal to 115.0% of the reset minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter;

 

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    second , 85.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 15.0% to our general partner, until each unitholder receives an amount per unit equal to 125.0% of the reset minimum quarterly distribution for the quarter;

 

    third , 75.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 25.0% to our general partner, until each unitholder receives an amount per unit equal to 150.0% of the reset minimum quarterly distribution for the quarter; and

 

    thereafter , 50.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 50.0% to our general partner.

The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of available cash from operating surplus between the unitholders and our general partner at various cash distribution levels (i) pursuant to the cash distribution provisions of our partnership agreement in effect as of the date of this prospectus, as well as (ii) following a hypothetical reset of the minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels based on the assumption that the average quarterly cash distribution amount per common unit during the two fiscal quarters immediately preceding the reset election was $0.50.

 

   

Quarterly Distribution
per Unit Prior to Reset

  Marginal Percentage
Interest in Distribution
   

Quarter Distribution
per Unit Following
Hypothetical Reset

    Common
Unitholders
    General
Partner
Units
    Incentive
Distribution
Rights
   

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

  $0.2125     98.0     2.0     —        $0.50

First Target Distribution

 

above $0.2125

up to $0.244375

    98.0     2.0     —       

above $0.50

up to $0.575(1)

Second Target Distribution

 

above $0.244375

up to $0.265625

    85.0     2.0     13.0  

above $0.575

up to $0.625(2)

Third Target Distribution

  above $0.265625 up to $0.31875     75.0     2.0     23.0  

above $0.625

up to $0.75(3)

Thereafter

  above $0.31875     50.0     2.0     48.0   above $0.75

 

(1) This amount is 115.0% of the hypothetical reset minimum quarterly distribution.
(2) This amount is 125.0% of the hypothetical reset minimum quarterly distribution.
(3) This amount is 150.0% of the hypothetical reset minimum quarterly distribution.

 

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The following table illustrates the total amount of available cash from operating surplus that would be distributed to the unitholders and our general partner and its affiliates, including in respect of incentive distribution rights, based on an average of the amounts distributed for the two quarters immediately prior to the reset. The table assumes that immediately prior to the reset there would be 67,354,766 common units outstanding, our general partner’s 2.0% interest has been maintained, and the average distribution to each common unit would be $0.50 per quarter for the two consecutive non-overlapping quarters prior to the reset.

 

   

Prior to Reset

 
              Cash Distributions to
General Partner and its Affiliates
       
(in thousands, except per unit
amounts)
 

Quarterly

Distribution
per Unit

  Cash
Distributions
to Public
Common
Unitholders
    Common
Units
    General
Partner
Units
    Incentive
Distribution
Rights
    Total     Total
Distributions
 

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

  $0.2125   $ 4,604      $ 9,709      $ 292      $ —        $ 10,001      $ 14,605   

First Target Distribution

  above $0.2125 up to $0.244375     691        1,456        44        —          1,500        2,191   

Second Target Distribution

  above $0.244375 up to $0.265625     460        971        34        219        1,224        1,684   

Third Target Distribution

  above $0.265625 up to $0.31875     1,152        2,427        95        1,097        3,619        4,771   

Thereafter

  above $0.31875     3,927        8,281        488        11,720        20,489        24,416   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    $ 10,834      $ 22,844      $ 953      $ 13,036      $ 36,833      $ 47,667   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table illustrates the total amount of available cash from operating surplus that would be distributed to the unitholders and the general partner and its affiliates, including in respect of incentive distribution rights, with respect to the quarter after the reset occurs. The table reflects that as a result of the reset there would be 93,426,673 common units outstanding, our general partner has maintained its 2.0% general partner interest, and that the average distribution to each common unit would be $0.50. The number of common units issued as a result of the reset was calculated by dividing (i) $13,035,954 as the average of the amounts received by the general partner in respect of its incentive distribution rights for the two consecutive non-overlapping quarters prior to the reset as shown in the table above, by (ii) the average of the cash distributions made on each common unit per quarter for the two consecutive non-overlapping quarters prior to the reset as shown in the table above, or $0.50.

 

    

After Reset

 
(in thousands, except per unit
amounts)
  

Quarterly

Distribution

per Unit

   Cash
Distributions
to Public
Common
Unitholders
     Cash Distributions to
General Partner and its Affiliates
        
         Common
Units
     General
Partner
Units
     Incentive
Distribution
Rights
     Total      Total
Distributions
 

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

   $0.50    $ 10,834       $ 35,880       $ 953       $ —         $ 36,833       $ 47,667   

First Target Distribution

   above $0.50 up to $0.575      —           —           —           —           —           —     

Second Target Distribution

   above $0.575 up to $0.625      —           —           —           —           —           —     

Third Target Distribution

   above $0.625 up to $0.75      —           —           —           —           —           —     

Thereafter

   $0.75      —           —           —           —           —           —     
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
      $ 10,834       $ 35,880       $ 953       $ —           36,833       $ 47,667   
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Our general partner will be entitled to cause the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels to be reset on more than one occasion, provided that it may not make a reset election except at a time when it has received incentive distributions for the immediately preceding four consecutive fiscal quarters based on the highest level of incentive distributions that it is entitled to receive under our partnership agreement.

Adjusted Operating Surplus

Adjusted operating surplus is intended to reflect the cash generated from operations during a particular period and therefore excludes net drawdowns of reserves of cash established in prior periods. Adjusted operating surplus for a period consists of:

 

    operating surplus generated with respect to that period (excluding any amounts attributable to the item described in the first bullet point under the caption “—Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus—Operating Surplus” above); less

 

    any net increase in working capital borrowings with respect to that period; less

 

    any net decrease in cash reserves for operating expenditures with respect to that period not relating to an operating expenditure made with respect to that period; plus

 

    any net decrease in working capital borrowings with respect to that period; plus

 

    any net decrease made in subsequent periods to cash reserves for operating expenditures initially established with respect to that period to the extent such decrease results in a reduction in adjusted operating surplus in subsequent periods; plus

 

    any net increase in cash reserves for operating expenditures with respect to that period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium.

Distributions from Capital Surplus

How Distributions from Capital Surplus Will Be Made

We will make distributions of available cash from capital surplus, if any, in the following manner:

 

    first , 98.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2.0% to our general partner, until the minimum quarterly distribution is reduced to zero, as described below under “—Effect of a Distribution from Capital Surplus”; and

 

    thereafter , as if such distributions were from operating surplus.

The preceding discussion is based on the assumptions that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

Effect of a Distribution from Capital Surplus

Our partnership agreement treats a distribution of capital surplus as the repayment of the initial unit price from our initial public offering, which is a return of capital. The initial public offering price less any distributions of capital surplus per unit is referred to as the “unrecovered initial unit price.” Each time a distribution of capital surplus is made, the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will be reduced in the same proportion as the corresponding reduction in the unrecovered initial unit price. Because distributions of capital surplus will reduce the minimum quarterly distribution after any of these distributions are made, it may be easier for our general partner to receive incentive distributions. However, any distribution of capital surplus before the unrecovered initial unit price is reduced to zero cannot be applied to the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution.

Once we distribute capital surplus on a unit sold in our initial public offering in an amount equal to the initial unit price, we will reduce the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels to zero.

 

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Thereafter, we will make all future distributions from operating surplus, with 50.0% being paid to the unitholders, pro rata, and 2.0% to our general partner and 48.0% to the holder of our incentive distribution rights.

Adjustment to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels

In addition to adjusting the minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels to reflect a distribution of capital surplus, if we combine our units into fewer units or subdivide our units into a greater number of units, we will proportionately adjust:

 

    the minimum quarterly distribution;

 

    target distribution levels;

 

    the unrecovered initial unit price; and

 

    the number of general partner units comprising the general partner interest.

For example, if a two-for-one split of the common units should occur, the minimum quarterly distribution, the target distribution levels and the unrecovered initial unit price would each be reduced to 50.0% of its initial level, and each general partner unit would be split into two units. We will not make any adjustment by reason of the issuance of additional units for cash or property (including the issuance of additional units under any compensation or benefit plans).

In addition, if legislation is enacted or if the official interpretation of existing law is modified by a governmental authority, so that we become taxable as a corporation or otherwise subject to taxation as an entity for federal, state or local income tax purposes, our partnership agreement specifies that the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels for each quarter may be reduced by multiplying each distribution level by a fraction, the numerator of which is available cash for that quarter (reduced by the amount of the estimated tax liability for such quarter payable by reason of such legislation or interpretation) and the denominator of which is the sum of available cash for that quarter (reduced by the amount of the estimated tax liability for such quarter payable by reason of such legislation or interpretation) plus our general partner’s estimate of our aggregate liability for the quarter for such income taxes payable by reason of such legislation or interpretation. To the extent that the actual tax liability differs from the estimated tax liability for any quarter, the difference may be accounted for in subsequent quarters.

Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation

General

If we dissolve in accordance with our partnership agreement, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets in a process called liquidation. We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors. We will distribute any remaining proceeds to the unitholders and our general partner, in accordance with their capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our assets in liquidation.

Manner of Adjustments for Gain

The manner of the adjustment for gain is set forth in our partnership agreement. Upon liquidation, we will allocate any gain to the capital accounts of our partners in the following manner:

 

    first , to our general partner to the extent of any negative balance in its capital account;

 

    second , 98.0% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 2.0% to our general partner, until the capital account for each common unit is equal to the sum of: (i) the unrecovered initial unit price; and (ii) the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution for the quarter during which our liquidation occurs;

 

   

third , 98.0% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 2.0% to our general partner, until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: (i) the sum of the excess of the first target

 

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distribution per unit over the minimum quarterly distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less (ii) the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the minimum quarterly distribution per unit that we distributed 98.0% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 2.0% to our general partner, for each quarter of our existence;

 

    fourth , 85.0% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 15.0% to our general partner, until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: (i) the sum of the excess of the second target distribution per unit over the first target distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less (ii) the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the first target distribution per unit that we distributed 85.0% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 15.0% to our general partner for each quarter of our existence;

 

    fifth , 75.0% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 25.0% to our general partner, until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: (i) the sum of the excess of the third target distribution per unit over the second target distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less (ii) the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the second target distribution per unit that we distributed 75.0% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 25.0% to our general partner for each quarter of our existence; and

 

    thereafter , 50.0% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 50.0% to our general partner.

The percentages set forth above are based on the assumption that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest, has not transferred its incentive distribution rights and has not previously exercised its right to reset incentive distribution levels, and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

Manner of Adjustments for Losses

Upon liquidation, we will generally allocate any loss to the capital accounts of our general partner and unitholders in the following manner:

 

    first, 98.0% to the holders of common units in proportion to the positive balances in their capital accounts and 2.0% to our general partner, until the capital accounts of the common unitholders have been reduced to zero; and

 

    thereafter , 100.0% to our general partner.

The percentages set forth above are based on the assumption that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and has not transferred its incentive distribution rights and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

Adjustments to Capital Accounts

Our partnership agreement requires that we make adjustments to capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units. In this regard, our partnership agreement specifies that we allocate any unrealized and, for tax purposes, unrecognized gain resulting from the adjustments to the unitholders and the general partner in the same manner as we allocate gain upon liquidation. In the event that we make positive adjustments to the capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units, our partnership agreement requires that we generally allocate any later negative adjustments to the capital accounts resulting from the issuance of additional units or upon our liquidation in a manner which results, to the extent possible, in the partners’ capital account balances equaling the amount which they would have been if no earlier positive adjustments to the capital accounts had been made. In contrast to the allocations of gain, and except as provided above, we generally will allocate any unrealized and unrecognized loss resulting from the adjustments to capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units to the unitholders and our general partner based on their respective percentage ownership of us. If we make negative adjustments to the capital accounts as a result of such loss, future positive adjustments resulting from the issuance of additional units will be allocated in a manner designed to reverse the prior negative adjustments, and special allocations will be made upon liquidation in a manner that results, to the extent possible, in our unitholders’ capital account balances equaling the amounts they would have been if no earlier adjustments for loss had been made.

 

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MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

This section is a summary of the material tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the U.S. and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel to our general partner and us, insofar as it relates to legal conclusions with respect to matters of U.S. federal income tax law. This section is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), existing and proposed Treasury regulations promulgated under the Internal Revenue Code (the “Treasury Regulations”) and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Later changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to “us” or “we” are references to Valero Energy Partners LP and our operating subsidiaries.

The following discussion does not comment on all federal income tax matters affecting us or our unitholders. Moreover, the discussion focuses on unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the U.S. and has only limited application to corporations, estates, entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, trusts, nonresident aliens, U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions, tax-exempt institutions, foreign persons (including, without limitation, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies and non-U.S. persons eligible for the benefits of an applicable income tax treaty with the U.S.), IRAs, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) or mutual funds, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities, U.S. persons whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar, persons holding their units as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction” or other risk reduction transaction, and persons deemed to sell their units under the constructive sale provisions of the Code. In addition, the discussion only comments to a limited extent on state, local and foreign tax consequences. Accordingly, we encourage each prospective unitholder to consult his own tax advisor in analyzing the state, local and foreign tax consequences particular to him of the ownership or disposition of common units and potential changes in applicable tax laws.

All statements as to matters of federal income tax law and legal conclusions with respect thereto, but not as to factual matters, contained in this section, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. and are based on the accuracy of the representations made by us.

No ruling has been requested from the IRS regarding our characterization as a partnership for tax purposes. Instead, we will rely on opinions of Baker Botts L.L.P. Unlike a ruling, an opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinions and statements made herein may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. Any contest of this sort with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for the common units and the prices at which common units trade. In addition, the costs of any contest with the IRS, principally legal, accounting and related fees, will result in a reduction in our distributable cash flow and thus will be borne indirectly by our unitholders and our general partner. Furthermore, the tax treatment of us, or of an investment in us, may be significantly modified by future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions. Any modifications may or may not be retroactively applied.

For the reasons described below, Baker Botts L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following specific federal income tax issues: (i) the treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units (please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Treatment of Short Sales”); (ii) whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please read “—Disposition of Common Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees”); and (iii) whether our method for taking into account Section 743 adjustments is sustainable in certain cases (please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election” and “—Uniformity of Units”).

 

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Partnership Status

A partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no federal income tax liability. Instead, each partner of a partnership is required to take into account his share of items of income, gain, loss and deduction of the partnership in computing his federal income tax liability, regardless of whether cash distributions are made to him by the partnership. Distributions by a partnership to a partner are generally not taxable to the partnership or the partner unless the amount of cash distributed to him is in excess of the partner’s adjusted basis in his partnership interest.

Section 7704 of the Code provides that publicly traded limited partnerships will, as a general rule, be taxed as corporations. However, an exception, referred to as the “Qualifying Income Exception,” exists with respect to publicly traded limited partnerships of which 90% or more of the gross income for every taxable year consists of “qualifying income.” Qualifying income includes income and gains derived from the transportation, processing, storage and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and products thereof. Other types of qualifying income include interest (other than from a financial business), dividends, gains from the sale of real property and gains from the sale or other disposition of capital assets held for the production of income that otherwise constitutes qualifying income. We estimate that less than 5% of our current gross income is not qualifying income; however, this estimate could change from time to time. Based upon and subject to this estimate, the factual representations made by us and our general partner and a review of the applicable legal authorities, Baker Botts L.L.P. is of the opinion that at least 90% of our current gross income constitutes qualifying income. The portion of our income that is qualifying income may change from time to time.

No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS and the IRS has made no determination as to our status or the status of our operating subsidiaries for federal income tax purposes or whether our operations generate “qualifying income” under Section 7704 of the Code. Instead, we will rely on the opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. on such matters. It is the opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. that, based upon the Code, Treasury Regulations, published revenue rulings and court decisions and the representations described below that:

 

    we will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes; and

 

    each of our operating subsidiaries will be treated as a partnership or will be disregarded as an entity separate from us for federal income tax purposes.

In rendering its opinion, Baker Botts L.L.P. has relied on factual representations made by us and our general partner. The representations made by us and our general partner upon which Baker Botts L.L.P. has relied include:

 

    neither we nor any of the operating subsidiaries has elected or will elect to be treated as a corporation; and

 

    for each taxable year, more than 90% of our gross income has been and will be income of the type that Baker Botts L.L.P. has opined or will opine is “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code.

We believe these representations are true and expect that these representations will continue to be true in the future.

If we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery (in which case the IRS may also require us to make adjustments with respect to our unitholders or pay other amounts), we will be treated as if we had transferred all of our assets, subject to liabilities, to a newly formed corporation, on the first day of the year in which we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, in return for stock in that corporation, and then distributed that stock to the unitholders in liquidation of their interests in us. This deemed contribution and liquidation should be tax-free to unitholders and us so long as we, at that time, do not have liabilities in excess of the tax basis of our assets. Thereafter, we would be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.

 

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If we were treated as an association taxable as a corporation in any taxable year, either as a result of a failure to meet the Qualifying Income Exception or otherwise, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction would be reflected only on our tax return rather than being passed through to our unitholders, and our net income would be taxed to us at corporate rates. In addition, any distribution made to a unitholder would be treated as taxable dividend income, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, then a nontaxable return of capital, to the extent of the unitholder’s tax basis in his common units, and thereafter as taxable capital gain. Accordingly, taxation as a corporation would result in a material reduction in a unitholder’s cash flow and after-tax return and thus would likely result in a substantial reduction of the value of the units.

The discussion below is based on Baker Botts L.L.P.’s opinion that we will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

Limited Partner Status

Unitholders who are admitted as limited partners of Valero Energy Partners LP will be treated as partners of Valero Energy Partners LP for federal income tax purposes. Also, unitholders whose common units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of their common units will be treated as partners of Valero Energy Partners LP for federal income tax purposes.

A beneficial owner of common units whose units have been transferred to a short seller to complete a short sale would appear to lose his status as a partner with respect to those units for federal income tax purposes. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Treatment of Short Sales.”

Income, gains, losses or deductions would not appear to be reportable by a unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes, and any cash distributions received by a unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes would therefore appear to be fully taxable as ordinary income. These holders are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences to them of holding common units in Valero Energy Partners LP. The references to “unitholders” in the discussion that follows are to persons who are treated as partners in Valero Energy Partners LP for federal income tax purposes.

Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership

Flow-through of Taxable Income

Subject to the discussion below under “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Entity-level Collections” we will not pay any federal income tax. Instead, each unitholder will be required to report on his income tax return his share of our income, gains, losses and deductions without regard to whether we make cash distributions to him. Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder even if he has not received a cash distribution. The income we allocate to unitholders will generally be taxable as ordinary income. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his allocable share of our income, gains, losses and deductions for our taxable year ending with or within his taxable year. Our taxable year ends on December 31.

Treatment of Distributions

Distributions by us to a unitholder generally will not be taxable to the unitholder for federal income tax purposes, except to the extent the amount of any such cash distribution exceeds his tax basis in his common units immediately before the distribution. Our cash distributions in excess of a unitholder’s tax basis generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of the common units, taxable in accordance with the rules described under “—Disposition of Common Units.” Any reduction in a unitholder’s share of our liabilities for which no partner, including the general partner, bears the economic risk of loss, known as “nonrecourse liabilities,” will be treated as a distribution by us of cash to that unitholder. To the extent our distributions cause a unitholder’s “at-risk” amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year, he must recapture any losses deducted in previous years. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Limitations on Deductibility of Losses.”

 

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A decrease in a unitholder’s percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional common units will decrease his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, and thus will result in a corresponding deemed distribution of cash. This deemed distribution may constitute a non-pro rata distribution. A non-pro rata distribution of money or property may result in ordinary income to a unitholder, regardless of his tax basis in his common units, if the distribution reduces the unitholder’s share of our “unrealized receivables,” including depreciation recapture and/or substantially appreciated “inventory items,” each as defined in the Code, and collectively, “Section 751 Assets.” To that extent, the unitholder will be treated as having been distributed his proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and then having exchanged those assets with us in return for the non-pro rata portion of the actual distribution made to him. This latter deemed exchange will generally result in the unitholder’s realization of ordinary income, which will equal the excess of (i) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (ii) the unitholder’s tax basis (generally zero) for the share of Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.

Basis of Common Units

A unitholder’s initial tax basis for his common units will be the amount he paid for the common units plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be increased by his share of our income and by any increases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be decreased, but not below zero, by distributions from us, by the unitholder’s share of our losses, by any decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and by his share of our expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income and are not required to be capitalized. A unitholder will have no share of our debt that is recourse to our general partner to the extent of the general partner’s “net value” as defined in Treasury Regulations under Section 752 of the Code, but will have a share, generally based on his share of profits, of our nonrecourse liabilities. Please read “—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

Limitations on Deductibility of Losses

The deduction by a unitholder of his share of our losses will be limited to the tax basis in his units and, in the case of an individual unitholder, estate, trust, or corporate unitholder (if more than 50% of the value of the corporate unitholder’s stock is owned directly or indirectly by or for five or fewer individuals or some tax-exempt organizations) to the amount for which the unitholder is considered to be “at risk” with respect to our activities, if that is less than his tax basis. A common unitholder subject to these limitations must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions cause his at-risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year. Losses disallowed to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of these limitations will carry forward and will be allowable as a deduction to the extent that his at-risk amount is subsequently increased, provided such losses do not exceed such common unitholder’s tax basis in his common units. Upon the taxable disposition of a unit, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by losses that were previously suspended by the at-risk limitation but may not be offset by losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any loss previously suspended by the at-risk limitation in excess of that gain would no longer be utilizable.

In general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the tax basis of his units, excluding any portion of that basis attributable to his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, reduced by (i) any portion of that basis representing amounts otherwise protected against loss because of a guarantee, stop loss agreement or other similar arrangement and (ii) any amount of money he borrows to acquire or hold his units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to the unitholder or can look only to the units for repayment. A unitholder’s at-risk amount will increase or decrease as the tax basis of the unitholder’s units increases or decreases, other than tax basis increases or decreases attributable to increases or decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities.

In addition to the basis and at-risk limitations on the deductibility of losses, the passive loss limitations generally provide that individuals, estates, trusts and some closely-held corporations and personal service corporations can deduct losses from passive activities, which are generally trade or business activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate, only to the extent of the taxpayer’s income from those passive

 

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activities. The passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly traded limited partnership. Consequently, any passive losses we generate will only be available to offset our passive income generated in the future and will not be available to offset income from other passive activities or investments, including our investments or a unitholder’s investments in other publicly traded limited partnerships, or the unitholder’s salary, active business or other income. Passive losses that are not deductible because they exceed a unitholder’s share of income we generate may be deducted in full when he disposes of his entire investment in us in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The passive loss limitations are applied after other applicable limitations on deductions, including the at-risk rules and the basis limitation.

A unitholder’s share of our net income may be offset by any of our suspended passive losses, but it may not be offset by any other current or carryover losses from other passive activities, including those attributable to other publicly traded limited partnerships.

Limitations on Interest Deductions

The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayer’s “investment interest expense” is generally limited to the amount of that taxpayer’s “net investment income.” Investment interest expense includes:

 

    interest on indebtedness properly allocable to property held for investment;

 

    our interest expense attributed to portfolio income; and

 

    the portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry an interest in a passive activity to the extent attributable to portfolio income.

The computation of a unitholder’s investment interest expense will take into account interest on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a unit. Net investment income includes gross income from property held for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income under the passive loss rules, less deductible expenses, other than interest, directly connected with the production of investment income, but generally does not include gains attributable to the disposition of property held for investment or (if applicable) qualified dividend income. The IRS has indicated that the net passive income earned by a publicly traded limited partnership will be treated as investment income to its unitholders. In addition, the unitholder’s share of our portfolio income will be treated as investment income.

Entity-level Collections

If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any federal, state, local or foreign income tax on behalf of any unitholder or our general partner or any former unitholder, we are authorized to pay those taxes from our funds. That payment, if made, will be treated as a distribution of cash to the unitholder on whose behalf the payment was made. If the payment is made on behalf of a person whose identity cannot be determined, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to all current unitholders. We are authorized to amend our partnership agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax characteristics of units and to adjust later distributions, so that after giving effect to these distributions, the priority and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under our partnership agreement is maintained as nearly as is practicable. Payments by us as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of an individual unitholder in which event the unitholder would be required to file a claim in order to obtain a credit or refund. Please Read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Entity-level Audits and Adjustments.”

Entity-level Audits and Adjustments

Pursuant to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, if the IRS makes audit adjustments to our income tax returns for tax years beginning after 2017, it may collect any resulting taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) directly from us. We will generally have the ability to shift any such tax liability to our general partner

 

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and our unitholders in accordance with their interests in us during the year under audit, but there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so under all circumstances. If we are required to make payments of taxes, penalties and interest resulting from audit adjustments, our cash available for distribution to our unitholders might be substantially reduced.

Pursuant to this new legislation, we will designate a person (our general partner) to act as the partnership representative who shall have the sole authority to act on behalf of the partnership with respect to dealings with the IRS under these new audit procedures.

Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction

In general, if we have a net profit, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated among our general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us. At any time that distributions are made to the common units in excess of distributions to the subordinated units, or incentive distributions are made to our general partner, gross income will be allocated to the recipients to the extent of these distributions. If we have a net loss, that loss will be allocated first to our general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us to the extent of their positive capital accounts, as adjusted to take into account the unitholders’ share of nonrecourse debt, and, second, to our general partner.

Section 704(c) of the Code requires us to assign each asset contributed to us in connection with this offering a “book” basis equal to the fair market value of the asset at the time of this offering. Purchasers of units in this offering are entitled to calculate tax depreciation and amortization deductions and other relevant tax items with respect to our assets based upon that “book” basis, which effectively puts purchasers in this offering in the same position as if our assets had a tax basis equal to their fair market value at the time of this offering. In this context, we use the term “book” as that term is used in Treasury Regulations under Section 704 of the Code. The “book” basis assigned to our assets for this purpose may not be the same as the book value of our property for financial reporting purposes.

Upon any issuance of units by us after this offering, rules similar to those of Section 704(c) described above will apply for the benefit of recipients of units in that later issuance. This may have the effect of decreasing the amount of our tax depreciation or amortization deductions thereafter allocated to purchasers of units in this offering or of requiring purchasers of units in this offering to thereafter recognize “remedial income” rather than depreciation and amortization deductions.

In addition, items of recapture income will be allocated to the extent possible to the unitholder who was allocated the deduction giving rise to the treatment of that gain as recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income by some unitholders. Finally, although we do not expect that our operations will result in the creation of negative capital accounts, if negative capital accounts nevertheless result, items of our income and gain will be allocated in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the negative balance as quickly as possible.

An allocation of items of our income, gain, loss or deduction, other than an allocation required under the Section 704(c) principles described above, will generally be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partner’s share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation has “substantial economic effect.” In any other case, a partner’s share of an item will be determined on the basis of his interest in us, which will be determined by taking into account all the facts and circumstances, including:

 

    his relative contributions to us;

 

    the interests of all the partners in profits and losses;

 

    the interest of all the partners in cash flows; and

 

    the rights of all the partners to distributions of capital upon liquidation.

 

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Baker Botts L.L.P. is of the opinion that, with the exception of the issues described in “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election” and “—Disposition of Common Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees,” and “Uniformity of Units,” allocations under our partnership agreement will be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partner’s share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction.

Treatment of Short Sales

A unitholder whose units are loaned to a “short seller” to cover a short sale of units may be considered as having disposed of those units. If so, he would no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a result, during this period:

 

    any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those units would not be reportable by the unitholder;

 

    any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units would be fully taxable; and

 

    while not entirely free from doubt, all of these distributions would appear to be ordinary income.

Because there is no direct or indirect controlling authority on the issue relating to partnership interests, Baker Botts L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion regarding the tax treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units; therefore, unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller are urged to consult a tax advisor to discuss whether it is advisable to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing and loaning their units. The IRS has previously announced that it is studying issues relating to the tax treatment of short sales of partnership interests. Please read “—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

Alternative Minimum Tax

Each unitholder will be required to take into account his distributive share of any items of our income, gain, loss or deduction for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. For 2016, the current minimum tax rate for non-corporate taxpayers is 26% on the first $186,300 of alternative minimum taxable income in excess of the exemption amount and 28% on any additional alternative minimum taxable income. Prospective unitholders are urged to consult with their tax advisors as to the impact of an investment in units on their liability for the alternative minimum tax. Both the $186,300 amount and the exemption amount are adjusted for inflation each year.

Tax Rates

The highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income of individuals currently is 39.6% and the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to long-term capital gains (generally, capital gains on certain assets held for more than twelve months) of individuals currently is 20%. Such rates are subject to change by new legislation at any time.

In addition, a 3.8% Medicare tax, or NIIT, on certain net investment income earned by individuals, estates and trusts currently applies. For these purposes, net investment income generally includes a unitholder’s allocable share of our income and gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of units. In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) the unitholder’s net investment income and (ii) the amount by which the unitholder’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), $125,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing separately) or $200,000 (in any other case). In the case of an estate or trust, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) undistributed net investment income and (ii) the excess adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest income tax bracket applicable to an estate or trust begins. Prospective unitholders are urged to consult with their tax advisors as to the impact of the NIIT on an investment in our common units.

 

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Section 754 Election

We have made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Code. That election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS unless there is a constructive termination of the partnership. Please read “—Disposition of Common Units—Constructive Termination.” The election generally permits us to adjust a common unit purchaser’s tax basis in our assets (“inside basis”) under Section 743(b) of the Code to reflect his purchase price. This election does not apply with respect to a person who purchases common units directly from us. The Section 743(b) adjustment belongs to the purchaser and not to other unitholders. For purposes of this discussion, the inside basis in our assets with respect to a unitholder will be considered to have two components: (i) his share of our tax basis in our assets, or common basis, and (ii) his Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.

The timing of deductions attributable to a Section 743(b) adjustment to our common basis will depend upon a number of factors, including the nature of the assets to which the adjustment is allocable, the extent to which the adjustment offsets any Section 704(c) type gain or loss with respect to an asset and certain elections we make as to the manner in which we apply Section 704(c) principles with respect to an asset with respect to which the adjustment is allocable. Please read “—Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction.” The timing of these deductions may affect the uniformity of our units. Please read “—Uniformity of Units.”

A Section 754 election is advantageous if the transferee’s tax basis in his units is higher than the units’ share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets immediately prior to the transfer. In that case, as a result of the election, the transferee would have, among other items, a greater amount of depreciation deductions and his share of any gain or loss on a sale of our assets would be less. Conversely, a Section 754 election is disadvantageous if the transferee’s tax basis in his units is lower than those units’ share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets immediately prior to the transfer. Thus, the fair market value of the units may be affected either favorably or unfavorably by the election. A basis adjustment is required regardless of whether a Section 754 election is made in the case of a transfer of an interest in us if we have a substantial built-in loss immediately after the transfer, or if we distribute property and have a substantial basis reduction. Generally a built-in loss or a basis reduction is substantial if it exceeds $250,000.

The calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and will be made on the basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and other matters. For example, the allocation of the Section 743(b) adjustment among our assets must be made in accordance with the Code. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment allocated by us to our tangible assets to goodwill instead. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is generally nonamortizable or amortizable over a longer period of time or under a less accelerated method than our tangible assets. We cannot assure you that the determinations we make will not be successfully challenged by the IRS and that the deductions resulting from them will not be reduced or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our opinion, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek permission from the IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If permission is granted, a subsequent purchaser of units may be allocated more income than he would have been allocated had the election not been revoked.

Tax Treatment of Operations

Accounting Method and Taxable Year

We use the year ending December 31 as our taxable year and the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our taxable year ending within or with his taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who has a taxable year ending on a date other than December 31 and who disposes of all of his units following the close of our taxable year but before the close of his taxable year must include his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction in income for his taxable year, with the result that he will be required to include in income for his taxable year his share of more than twelve months of our income, gain, loss and deduction. Please read “—Disposition of Common Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees.”

 

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Initial Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization

The tax basis of our assets will be used for purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of these assets. The federal income tax burden associated with the difference between the fair market value of our assets and their tax basis immediately prior to (i) this offering will be borne by our general partner and its affiliates, and (ii) any other offering will be borne by our general partner and all of our unitholders as of that time. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction.”

To the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation and cost recovery methods, including bonus depreciation to the extent available, that will result in the largest deductions being taken in the early years after assets subject to these allowances are placed in service. Please read “—Uniformity of Units.” Property we subsequently acquire or construct may be depreciated using accelerated methods permitted by the Code.

If we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure or otherwise, all or a portion of any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation previously deducted and the nature of the property, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gain. Similarly, a unitholder who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with respect to property we own will likely be required to recapture some or all of those deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of his interest in us. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction” and “—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

The costs we incur in selling our units (called “syndication expenses”) must be capitalized and cannot be deducted currently, ratably or upon our termination. There are uncertainties regarding the classification of costs as organization expenses, which may be amortized by us, and as syndication expenses, which may not be amortized by us. The underwriting discounts and commissions we incur will be treated as syndication expenses.

Valuation and Tax Basis of Our Properties

The federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative fair market values, and the initial tax bases, of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make many of the relative fair market value estimates ourselves. These estimates and determinations of basis are subject to challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or basis are later found to be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deductions previously reported by unitholders might change, and unitholders might be required to adjust their tax liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.

Disposition of Common Units

Recognition of Gain or Loss

Gain or loss will be recognized on a sale of units equal to the difference between the amount realized and the unitholder’s tax basis for the units sold. A unitholder’s amount realized will be measured by the sum of the cash or the fair market value of other property received by him plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities with respect to the units sold. Because the amount realized includes a unitholder’s share of our nonrecourse liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of units could result in a tax liability in excess of any cash received from the sale.

Prior distributions from us that in the aggregate were in excess of cumulative net taxable income for a common unit and, therefore, decreased a unitholder’s tax basis in that common unit will, in effect, become taxable income if the common unit is sold at a price greater than the unitholder’s tax basis in that common unit, even if the price received is less than his original cost.

 

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Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder, other than a “dealer” in units, on the sale or exchange of a unit will generally be taxable as capital gain or loss. Capital gain recognized by an individual on the sale of units held for more than twelve months will generally be taxed at the U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to long-term capital gains. However, a portion of this gain or loss, which will likely be substantial, will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Code to the extent attributable to assets giving rise to depreciation recapture or other “unrealized receivables” or to “inventory items” we own. The term “unrealized receivables” includes potential recapture items, including depreciation recapture. Ordinary income attributable to unrealized receivables, inventory items and depreciation recapture may exceed net taxable gain realized upon the sale of a unit and may be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of a unit. Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a sale of units. Capital losses may offset capital gains and no more than $3,000 of ordinary income, in the case of individuals, and may only be used to offset capital gains in the case of corporations. Both ordinary income and capital gain recognized on a sale of units may be subject to the NIIT in certain circumstances. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Tax Rates.”

The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all those interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an “equitable apportionment” method, which generally means that the tax basis allocated to the interest sold equals an amount that bears the same relation to the partner’s tax basis in his entire interest in the partnership as the value of the interest sold bears to the value of the partner’s entire interest in the partnership. Treasury Regulations under Section 1223 of the Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify common units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the common units transferred. Thus, according to the ruling discussed above, a common unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis common units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but, according to the Treasury Regulations, he may designate specific common units sold for purposes of determining the holding period of units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding period of common units transferred must consistently use that identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of common units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional units or a sale of common units purchased in separate transactions is urged to consult his tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the Treasury Regulations.

Specific provisions of the Code affect the taxation of some financial products and securities, including partnership interests, by treating a taxpayer as having sold an “appreciated” partnership interest, one in which gain would be recognized if it were sold, assigned or terminated at its fair market value, if the taxpayer or related persons enter(s) into:

 

    a short sale;

 

    an offsetting notional principal contract; or

 

    a futures or forward contract;

in each case, with respect to the partnership interest or substantially identical property.

Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest, the taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related person then acquires the partnership interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to issue regulations that treat a taxpayer that enters into transactions or positions that have substantially the same effect as the preceding transactions as having constructively sold the financial position.

 

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Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees

In general, our taxable income and losses will be determined annually, will be prorated on a monthly basis and will be subsequently apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of units owned by each of them as of the opening of the applicable exchange on the first business day of the month, which we refer to in this prospectus as the “Allocation Date.” However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets other than in the ordinary course of business will be allocated among the unitholders on the Allocation Date in the month in which that gain or loss is recognized. As a result, a unitholder transferring units may be allocated income, gain, loss and deduction realized after the date of transfer.

Although simplifying conventions are contemplated by the Code and most publicly traded limited partnerships use similar simplifying conventions, the use of this method may not be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. Recently, however, the Department of the Treasury and the IRS issued Treasury Regulations pursuant to which a publicly traded partnership may use a similar monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items among transferor and transferee unitholders. However, such Treasury Regulations do not specifically authorize the use of the proration method we have currently adopted. Accordingly, Baker Botts L.L.P. is unable to opine on the validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between transferor and transferee unitholders. If this method is not allowed under the Treasury Regulations, or only applies to transfers of less than all of the unitholder’s interest, our taxable income or losses might be reallocated among the unitholders. We are authorized to revise our method of allocation between transferor and transferee unitholders, as well as unitholders whose interests vary during a taxable year, to conform to a method permitted under applicable law. If a unitholder who owns units at any time during a quarter and who disposes of them prior to the record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our income, gain, loss and deductions attributable to that quarter through the month of disposition but will not be entitled to receive that cash distribution.

Notification Requirements

A unitholder who sells any of his units is generally required to notify us in writing of that sale within 30 days after the sale (or, if earlier, January 15 of the year following the sale). A purchaser of units who purchases units from another unitholder is also generally required to notify us in writing of that purchase within 30 days after the purchase. Upon receiving such notifications, we are required to notify the IRS of that transaction and to furnish specified information to the transferor and transferee. Failure to notify us of a purchase may, in some cases, lead to the imposition of penalties. However, these reporting requirements do not apply to a sale by an individual who is a citizen of the U.S. and who effects the sale or exchange through a broker who will satisfy such requirements.

Constructive Termination

We will be considered to have technically terminated our partnership for federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a 12-month period. For purposes of determining whether the 50% threshold has been met, multiple sales of the same interest will be counted only once. Our technical termination would, among other things, result in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders, which would result in us filing two tax returns (and our unitholders could receive two Schedules K-1 if relief was not available, as described below) for one fiscal year and could result in a deferral of depreciation deductions allowable in computing our taxable income. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a fiscal year ending December 31, the closing of our taxable year may also result in more than twelve months of our taxable income or loss being includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. Our termination currently would not affect our classification as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, but instead we would be treated as a new partnership for federal income tax purposes. If treated as a new partnership, we must make new tax elections, including a new election under Section 754 of the Code, and could be subject to penalties if we are unable to determine that a termination occurred. The IRS has

 

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recently announced a publicly traded limited partnership technical termination relief program whereby, if a publicly traded limited partnership that technically terminated requests publicly traded limited partnership technical termination relief and such relief is granted by the IRS, among other things, the partnership will only have to provide one Schedule K-1 to unitholders for the year notwithstanding two partnership tax years.

Uniformity of Units

Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of units, we must maintain uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the units to a purchaser of these units. In the absence of uniformity, we may be unable to completely comply with a number of federal income tax requirements, both statutory and regulatory. Any non-uniformity could have an impact upon the value of our units. The timing of deductions attributable to Section 743(b) adjustments to the common basis of our assets with respect to persons purchasing units from another unitholder may affect the uniformity of our units. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election.”

For example, some types of depreciable assets are not subject to the typical rules governing depreciation (under Section 168 of the Code) or amortization (under Section 197 of the Code). If we were to acquire any assets of that type, the timing of a unit purchaser’s deductions with respect to Section 743(b) adjustments to the common basis of those assets might differ depending upon when and to whom the unit he purchased was originally issued. We do not currently expect to acquire any assets of that type. However, if we were to acquire a material amount of assets of that type, we intend to adopt tax positions as to those assets that will not result in any such lack of uniformity. Any such tax positions taken by us might result in allocations to some unitholders of smaller depreciation deductions than they would otherwise be entitled to receive. Baker Botts L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion with respect to those types of tax positions. Moreover, the IRS might challenge those tax positions. If we took such a tax position and the IRS successfully challenged the position, the uniformity of our units might be affected, and the gain from the sale of our units might be increased without the benefit of additional deductions. Please read “—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors

Ownership of units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt organizations, non-resident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign persons raises issues unique to those investors and, as described below to a limited extent, may have substantially adverse tax consequences to them. If you are a tax-exempt entity or a non-U.S. person, you should consult your tax advisor before investing in our common units. Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from federal income tax, including individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, are subject to federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of our income allocated to a unitholder that is a tax-exempt organization will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to it.

Non-resident aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates that own units will be considered to be engaged in business in the U.S. because of the ownership of units. As a consequence, they will be required to file federal tax returns to report their share of our income, gain, loss or deduction and pay federal income tax at regular rates on their share of our net income or gain. Moreover, under rules applicable to publicly traded limited partnerships, our quarterly distribution to foreign unitholders will be subject to withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Each foreign unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8BEN, Form W-8BEN-E or applicable substitute form in order to obtain credit for these withholding taxes. A change in applicable law may require us to change these procedures.

In addition, because a foreign corporation that owns units will be treated as engaged in a U.S. trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the U.S. branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal income tax, on its share of our earnings and profits, as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporation’s “U.S. net equity,” that is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. That tax may be

 

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reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the U.S. and the country in which the foreign corporate unitholder is a “qualified resident.” In addition, this type of unitholder is subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C of the Code.

A foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a common unit will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized from the sale or disposition of that unit to the extent the gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the foreign unitholder. Under a ruling published by the IRS, interpreting the scope of “effectively connected income,” a foreign unitholder would be considered to be engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. by virtue of the U.S. activities of the partnership, and part or all of that unitholder’s gain would be effectively connected with that unitholder’s indirect U.S. trade or business. Moreover, under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, a foreign common unitholder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax upon the sale or disposition of a common unit if (i) he owned (directly or constructively applying certain attribution rules) more than 5% of our common units at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of such disposition and (ii) 50% or more of the fair market value of all of our assets consisted of U.S. real property interests at any time during the shorter of the period during which such unitholder held the common units or the five-year period ending on the date of disposition. Currently, more than 50% of our assets consist of U.S. real property interests and we do not expect that to change in the foreseeable future. Therefore, foreign unitholders may be subject to federal income tax on gain from the sale or disposition of their units.

Administrative Matters

Information Returns and Audit Procedures

We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each calendar year, specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1, which describes his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, which will not be reviewed by counsel, we will take various accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine each unitholder’s share of income, gain, loss and deduction. We cannot assure you that those positions will yield a result that conforms to the requirements of the Code, Treasury Regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS. Neither we nor Baker Botts L.L.P. can assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully contend in court that those positions are impermissible. Any challenge by the IRS could negatively affect the value of the units.

The IRS may audit our federal income tax information returns. Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior year’s tax liability, and possibly may result in an audit of his return. Any audit of a unitholder’s return could result in adjustments not related to our returns as well as those related to our returns.

Partnerships generally are treated as separate entities for purposes of federal tax audits, judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement proceedings. The tax treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership proceeding rather than in separate proceedings with the partners. The Code requires that one partner be designated as the “Tax Matters Partner” for these purposes. Our partnership agreement names our general partner as our Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner has made and will make some elections on our behalf and on behalf of unitholders. In addition, the Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items in our returns. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS unless a statement is timely filed with the IRS in accordance with applicable Treasury Regulations, either (i) to deny that authority to the Tax Matters Partner or (ii) to become a member of a notice group (generally, a group of unitholders with an aggregate profits interest in us of 5% or more and that has requested treatment as a notice partner). The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder having at least a 1% interest in profits or

 

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by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5% interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review will go forward, and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate.

A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on his federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on our return. Intentional or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial penalties.

Due to the recent enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, the audit procedures discussed above will change for partnership taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Entity-level Audits and Adjustments.”

Additional Withholding Requirements

Withholding taxes may apply to certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” (as specially defined in the Code) and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on interest, dividends and other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gains, profits and income from sources within the U.S. (“FDAP Income”), or gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any property of a type which can produce interest or dividends from sources within the U.S. (“Gross Proceeds”) paid to a foreign financial institution or to a “non-financial foreign entity” (as specially defined in the Code), unless (i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting, (ii) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial U.S. owner or (iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in clause (i) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain U.S. persons or U.S.-owned foreign entities, annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on payments to noncompliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. governing these requirements may be subject to different rules.

These rules generally are currently applicable to payments of FDAP Income and will apply to payments of relevant Gross Proceeds made on or after January 1, 2019. Thus, to the extent we have FDAP Income, or Gross Proceeds on or after January 1, 2019, that are not treated as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (please read “—Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors”), unitholders who are foreign financial institutions or certain other non-US entities may be subject to withholding on distributions they receive from us, or their distributive share of our income, pursuant to the rules described above.

Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential application of these withholding provisions to their investment in our common units.

Nominee Reporting

Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to us:

 

    the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee;

 

    whether the beneficial owner is:

 

    a person that is not a U.S. person;

 

    a foreign government, an international organization or any wholly owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing; or

 

    a tax-exempt entity;

 

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    the amount and description of units held, acquired or transferred for the beneficial owner; and

 

    specific information including the dates of acquisitions and transfers, means of acquisitions and transfers, and acquisition cost for purchases, as well as the amount of net proceeds from dispositions.

Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are U.S. persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. A penalty per failure, which is generally capped at a maximum penalty per calendar year and the amount of which is adjusted for inflation each year, is imposed by the Code for failure to report that information to us. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the units with the information furnished to us.

Accuracy-Related Penalties

An additional tax equal to 20% of the amount of any portion of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to one or more specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial valuation misstatements, is imposed by the Code. Such penalty may be avoided, however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding that portion.

For individuals, a substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists if the amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax required to be shown on the return for the taxable year or $5,000 ($10,000 for most corporations). The amount of any understatement subject to penalty generally is reduced if any portion is attributable to a position adopted on the return:

 

    for which there is, or was, “substantial authority”; or

 

    as to which there is a reasonable basis and the pertinent facts of that position are disclosed on the return.

If any item of income, gain, loss or deduction included in the distributive shares of unitholders might result in that kind of an “understatement” of income for which no “substantial authority” exists, we must disclose the pertinent facts on our return. In addition, we will make a reasonable effort to furnish sufficient information for unitholders to make adequate disclosure on their returns and to take other actions as may be appropriate to permit unitholders to avoid liability for this penalty. More stringent rules apply to “tax shelters,” which we do not believe includes us, or any of our investments, plans or arrangements.

A substantial valuation misstatement exists if (a) the value of any property, or the adjusted basis of any property, claimed on a tax return is 150% or more of the amount determined to be the correct amount of the valuation or adjusted basis, (b) the price for any property or services (or for the use of property) claimed on any such return with respect to any transaction between persons described in Code Section 482 is 200% or more (or 50% or less) of the amount determined under Section 482 to be the correct amount of such price, or (c) the net Code Section 482 transfer price adjustment for the taxable year exceeds the lesser of $5.0 million or 10% of the taxpayer’s gross receipts. No penalty is imposed unless the portion of the underpayment attributable to a substantial valuation misstatement exceeds $5,000 ($10,000 for most corporations). If the valuation claimed on a return is 200% or more than the correct valuation or certain other thresholds are met, the penalty imposed increases to 40%. We do not anticipate making any valuation misstatements.

In addition, the 20% accuracy-related penalty also applies to any portion of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to transactions lacking economic substance. To the extent that such transactions are not disclosed, the penalty imposed is increased to 40%. Additionally, there is no reasonable cause defense to the imposition of this penalty to such transactions.

 

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Reportable Transactions

If we were to engage in a “reportable transaction,” we (and possibly you and others) would be required to make a detailed disclosure of the transaction to the IRS. Penalties may be imposed for failure to comply with these disclosure requirements. A transaction may be a reportable transaction based upon any of several factors, including the fact that it is a type of tax avoidance transaction publicly identified by the IRS as a “listed transaction” or that it produces certain kinds of losses for partnerships, individuals, S corporations, and trusts in excess of $2 million in any single year, or $4 million in any combination of six successive tax years (beginning with the year the transaction is entered into). Our participation in a reportable transaction could increase the likelihood that our federal income tax information return (and possibly your tax return) would be audited by the IRS. Please read “—Administrative Matters—Information Returns and Audit Procedures.”

Moreover, if we were to participate in a reportable transaction with a significant purpose to avoid or evade tax, or in any listed transaction, you may be subject to the following additional consequences:

 

    accuracy-related penalties with a broader scope, significantly narrower exceptions, and potentially greater amounts than described above at “—Administrative Matters—Accuracy-Related Penalties”;

 

    for those persons otherwise entitled to deduct interest on federal tax deficiencies, non-deductibility of interest on any resulting tax liability; and

 

    in the case of a listed transaction, an extended statute of limitations.

We do not expect to engage in any “reportable transactions.”

Recent Legal Developments

The present federal income tax treatment of publicly traded limited partnerships, including us, or an investment in our common units may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial interpretation at any time. For example, from time to time, members of Congress and the President propose and consider substantive changes to the existing federal income tax laws that affect publicly traded limited partnerships. Any modification to the federal income tax laws and interpretations thereof may or may not be retroactively applied and could make it more difficult or impossible to meet the exception for us to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Please read “—Partnership Status.” We are unable to predict whether any such changes will ultimately be enacted. However, it is possible that a change in law could affect us, and any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our common units.

State, Local, Foreign and Other Tax Considerations

In addition to federal income taxes, you likely will be subject to other taxes, such as state, local and foreign income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property or in which you are a resident. Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder should consider their potential impact on his investment in us. We currently own property or do business in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Each of those states imposes an income or franchise tax on corporations and other entities. Except for Texas, all of those states currently impose a personal income tax on individuals. We may also own property or do business in other jurisdictions in the future. Although you may not be required to file a return and pay taxes in some jurisdictions because your income from that jurisdiction falls below the filing and payment requirement, you will be required to file income tax returns and to pay income taxes in many of these jurisdictions in which we do business or own property and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. In some jurisdictions, tax losses may not produce a tax benefit in the year incurred and may not be available to offset income in subsequent taxable years. Some of the jurisdictions may require us, or we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be distributed to a unitholder who is not a resident of the jurisdiction. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or less than

 

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a particular unitholder’s income tax liability to the jurisdiction, generally does not relieve a nonresident unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return. Amounts withheld will be treated as if distributed to unitholders for purposes of determining the amounts distributed by us. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Entity-level Collections.” Based on current law and our estimate of our future operations, our general partner anticipates that any amounts required to be withheld will not be material.

It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent states, localities and foreign jurisdictions, of his investment in us. Accordingly, each prospective unitholder is urged to consult his own tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all state, local and foreign, as well as U.S. federal tax returns, that may be required of him. Baker Botts L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion on the state, local or foreign tax consequences of an investment in us.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of the plan of distribution of our securities that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the issuance of certain of the securities offered by this prospectus and certain other legal matters will be passed upon for us by Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas. Baker Botts L.L.P. will also render an opinion on the material federal income tax considerations regarding such securities. If certain legal matters in connection with an offering of the securities made by this prospectus are passed on by counsel for the underwriters of such offering, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement related to that offering.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Valero Energy Partners LP and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The combined financial statements of the Meraux and Three Rivers Terminal Services Business as of December 31, 2015, and for the year then ended, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act that registers the securities offered by this prospectus. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit some information included in the registration statement from this prospectus.

In addition, we file annual, quarterly and other reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room. Our SEC filings are available on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. We also make available free of charge on our website at www.valeroenergypartners.com all materials that we file electronically with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, Section 16 reports and amendments to these reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we have filed with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. These other documents contain

 

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important information about us, our financial condition and results of operations. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and may replace information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC.

We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below and any subsequent filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (excluding information deemed to be furnished and not filed with the SEC) until all offerings under this registration statement are completed:

 

    our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as modified by our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 8, 2016;

 

    our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016;

 

    our current reports on Form 8-K filed on April 1, 2016, August 4, 2016, August 15, 2016, September 1, 2016, September 16, 2016 (concerning the equity distribution agreement), September 16, 2016 (concerning supplemental consolidated financial statements) and November 8, 2016 (in each case to the extent filed and not furnished); and

 

    the description of our common units in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-36232) filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on December 10, 2013.

You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC through the SEC’s web site at the address provided above. You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (including exhibits to those documents specifically incorporated by reference in those documents), at no cost, by visiting our internet website at www.valeroenergypartners.com , or by writing or calling us at the following address:

Valero Energy Partners LP

Attention: Investor Relations

One Valero Way

San Antonio, Texas 78249

(210) 345-2000.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

Set forth below are the expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) expected to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered hereby.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee

   $             *   

Legal Fees and Expenses

     **   

Accounting Fees and Expenses

     **   

Printing Expenses

     **   

Miscellaneous

     **   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ **   
  

 

 

 

 

* The registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee in reliance on Rule 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933.
** These fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Valero Energy Partners LP

Subject to any terms, conditions or restrictions set forth in the partnership agreement, Section 17-108 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to indemnify and hold harmless any partner or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever. The section of the prospectus entitled “Our Partnership Agreement—Indemnification” discloses that we will generally indemnify officers, directors and affiliates of our general partner to the fullest extent permitted by the law against all losses, claims, damages or similar events and is incorporated herein by reference.

Any underwriting agreement to be entered into in connection with the sale of the securities offered pursuant to this registration statement, the form of which will be filed as an exhibit to this registration statement, will provide for indemnification of Valero Energy Partners LP and our general partner, their officers and directors, and any person who controls our general partner, including indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act.

Valero Energy Partners GP LLC

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

Under the limited liability agreement of our general partner, in most circumstances, our general partner will indemnify the following persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (joint or several), expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings (whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative):

 

    any person who is or was an affiliate of our general partner (other than us and our subsidiaries);

 

    any person who is or was a member, partner, officer, director, employee, agent or trustee of our general partner or any affiliate of our general partner;

 

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    any person who is or was serving at the request of our general partner or any affiliate of our general partner as an officer, director, employee, member, partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another person; and

 

    any person designated by our general partner.

Our general partner has purchased insurance covering its officers and directors against liabilities asserted and expenses incurred in connection with their activities as officers and directors of our general partner or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries.

 

Item 16. Exhibits

The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration statement:

 

Exhibit
Number

         
  1.1*       Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  3.1       Certificate of Limited Partnership of Valero Energy Partners LP—incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Partnership’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed September 19, 2013 (SEC File No. 333-191259).
  3.2       First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Valero Energy Partners LP dated December 16, 2013—incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 16, 2013, and filed December 20, 2013 (SEC File No. 1-36232).
  3.3       Certificate of Formation of Valero Energy Partners GP LLC—incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Partnership’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed September 19, 2013 (SEC File No. 333-191259).
  3.4       First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Valero Energy Partners GP LLC dated December 16, 2013—incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 16, 2013, and filed December 20, 2013 (SEC File No. 1-36232).
  4.1†       Indenture dated as of November 30, 2016 between Valero Energy Partners LP and U.S. Bank National Association.
  5.1†       Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered.
  8.1†       Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. relating to tax matters.
12.1†       Statement of Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
23.1†       Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2†       Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.3†       Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P. (contained in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1).
24.1**       Power of Attorney.
25.1†       Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, on Form T-1.

 

* To be filed as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K of the registrant.
** Previously filed.
Filed herewith.

 

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Item 17. Undertakings

I. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20.0% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

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

provided, however , that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrants pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

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

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

II. That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(a) Each prospectus filed by the registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(b) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement

 

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will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

III. That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, each undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(a) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(b) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(c) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(d) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

IV. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

V. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of any registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, each registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

VI. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

(a) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

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

VII. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purposes of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

 

II-4


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Antonio, State of Texas, on November 30, 2016.

 

Valero Energy Partners LP
By:  

Valero Energy Partners GP LLC,

its general partner

By:   /s/ Donna M. Titzman
  Donna M. Titzman
  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons, as of November 30, 2016, in the capacities and the dates indicated.

 

Name

  

Title

*

Joseph W. Gorder

  

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Donna M. Titzman

Donna M. Titzman

  

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

*

Richard F. Lashway

  

President, Chief Operating Officer and Director

*

Robert S. Beadle

  

Director

*

Timothy J. Fretthold

  

Director

*

Randall J. Larson

  

Director

*

R. Lane Riggs

  

Director

 

* Donna M. Titzman hereby signs this post-effective amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on behalf of the indicated persons for whom she is attorney-in-fact on November 30, 2016, pursuant to powers of attorney previously included with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Valero Energy Partners LP filed on November 16, 2015 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

By:   /s/ Donna M. Titzman
  Donna M. Titzman
  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

II-5


Table of Contents

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

         
  1.1*       Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  3.1       Certificate of Limited Partnership of Valero Energy Partners LP—incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Partnership’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed September 19, 2013 (SEC File No. 333-191259).
  3.2       First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Valero Energy Partners LP dated December 16, 2013—incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 16, 2013, and filed December 20, 2013 (SEC File No. 1-36232).
  3.3       Certificate of Formation of Valero Energy Partners GP LLC—incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Partnership’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed September 19, 2013 (SEC File No. 333-191259).
  3.4       First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Valero Energy Partners GP LLC dated December 16, 2013—incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 16, 2013, and filed December 20, 2013 (SEC File No. 1-36232).
  4.1†       Indenture dated as of November 30, 2016 between Valero Energy Partners LP and U.S. Bank National Association.
  5.1†       Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered.
  8.1†       Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. relating to tax matters.
12.1†       Statement of Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
23.1†       Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2†       Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.3†       Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P. (contained in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1).
24.1**       Power of Attorney.
25.1†       Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, on Form T-1.

 

* To be filed as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K of the registrant.
** Previously filed.
Filed herewith.

Exhibit 4.1

INDENTURE

VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP

AND

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

Indenture

Dated as of November 30, 2016

Debt Securities


Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and

Indenture, dated as of November 30, 2016

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

     Indenture Section   

Sec. 310(a)(1)

     608   

      (a)(2)

     608   

      (a)(3)

     Not Applicable   

      (a)(4)

     Not Applicable   

      (a)(5)

     608   

      (b)

     608   

      (c)

     Not Applicable   

Sec. 311(a)

     609   

      (b)

     605   

      (c)

     Not Applicable   

Sec. 312(a)

     701   

      (b)

     701, 702   

      (c)

     702   

Sec. 313(a)

     703(a)   

      (b)(1)

     Not Applicable   

      (b)(2)

     703(b)   

      (c)

     703(c)   

      (d)

     703(c)   

Sec. 314(a)(1)

     704   

      (a)(2)

     704   

      (a)(3)

     704   

      (a)(4)

     1005   

      (b)

     Not Applicable   

      (c)(1)

     102   

      (c)(2)

     102   

      (c)(3)

     Not Applicable   

      (d)

     Not Applicable   

      (e)

     102   

Sec. 315(a)

     601(a)   

      (b)

     602   

      (c)

     601(b)   

      (d)

     601(c)   

      (d)(1)

     601(a)(1), (c)(1)   

      (d)(2)

     601(c)(2)   

      (d)(3)

     601(c)(3)   

      (e)

     514   

Sec. 316(a)(1)(A)

     502, 512   

      (a)(1)(B)

     513   

      (a)(2)

     Not Applicable   

      (b)

     508   

      (c)

     Not Applicable   

Sec. 317(a)(1)

     503   

      (a)(2)

     504   

      (b)

     1003   

Sec. 318(a)

     108   

      (b)

     Not Applicable   

      (c)

     108   

 

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

               Page  
PARTIES      1   
RECITALS      1   
ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION      1   
   SECTION 101.    Definitions      1   
  

“Act”

     2   
  

“Additional Amounts”

     2   
  

“Affiliate”

     2   
  

“Authenticating Agent”

     2   
  

“Authorized Newspaper”

     2   
  

“Bearer Security”

     2   
  

“Board of Directors”

     2   
  

“Board Resolution”

     2   
  

“Business Day”

     2   
  

“Commission”

     2   
  

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets”

     2   
  

“Corporate Trust Office”

     3   
  

“coupon”

     3   
  

“Defaulted Interest”

     3   
  

“Dollars” or “$”

     3   
  

“Event of Default”

     3   
  

“Funded Debt”

     3   
  

“General Partner”

     3   
  

“Holder”

     3   
  

“Indenture”

     3   
  

“interest”

     3   
  

“Interest Payment Date”

     3   
  

“Maturity”

     3   
  

“Mortgages”

     4   
  

“Officers’ Certificate”

     4   
  

“Opinion of Counsel”

     4   
  

“Original Issue Discount Security”

     4   
  

“Outstanding”

     4   
  

“Partnership”

     5   
  

“Partnership Request” and “Partnership Order”

     5   
  

“Paying Agent”

     5   
  

“Person”

     5   
  

“Place of Payment”

     5   
  

“Predecessor Security”

     5   
  

“Principal Property”

     5   
  

“Redemption Date”

     6   
  

“Redemption Price”

     6   
  

“Registered Security”

     6   

 

i


               Page  
  

“Regular Record Date”

     6   
  

“Responsible Officer”

     6   
  

“Sale and Leaseback Transactions”

     6   
  

“Security” or “Securities”

     6   
  

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar”

     6   
  

“Special Record Date”

     6   
  

“Stated Maturity”

     6   
  

“Subsidiary”

     6   
  

“Trustee”

     6   
  

“Trust Indenture Act”

     7   
  

“United States”

     7   
  

“United States Alien”

     7   
  

“U.S. Depository” or “Depository”

     7   
  

“Vice President”

     7   
  

“Voting Stock”

     7   
   SECTION 102.    Compliance Certificates and Opinions      7   
   SECTION 103.    Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      8   
   SECTION 104.    Acts of Holders      8   
   SECTION 105.    Notices etc. to Trustee and Partnership      10   
   SECTION 106.    Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver      11   
   SECTION 107.    Language of Notices, etc.      12   
   SECTION 108.    Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      12   
   SECTION 109.    Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      12   
   SECTION 110.    Successors and Assigns      12   
   SECTION 111.    Severability Clause      12   
   SECTION 112.    Benefits of Indenture      12   
   SECTION 113.    Governing Law      12   
   SECTION 114.    Legal Holidays      13   
   SECTION 115.    No Recourse Against Others      13   
ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS      13   
   SECTION 201.    Forms Generally      13   
   SECTION 202.    Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      14   
ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES      14   
   SECTION 301.    Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series      14   
   SECTION 302.    Denominations      17   
   SECTION 303.    Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      17   
   SECTION 304.    Temporary Securities      18   
   SECTION 305.    Registration, Transfer and Exchange      19   
   SECTION 306.    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      22   
   SECTION 307.    Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      23   
   SECTION 308.    Persons Deemed Owners      24   
   SECTION 309.    Cancellation      25   
   SECTION 310.    Computation of Interest      25   
   SECTION 311.    CUSIP Numbers      25   

 

ii


               Page  
ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE      25   
   SECTION 401.    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      25   
   SECTION 402.    Application of Trust Money      27   
ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES      27   
   SECTION 501.    Events of Default      27   
   SECTION 502.    Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      28   
   SECTION 503.    Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      29   
   SECTION 504.    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      29   
   SECTION 505.    Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons      30   
   SECTION 506.    Application of Money Collected      30   
   SECTION 507.    Limitation on Suits      31   
   SECTION 508.    Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest      31   
   SECTION 509.    Restoration of Rights and Remedies      31   
   SECTION 510.    Rights and Remedies Cumulative      32   
   SECTION 511.    Delay or Omission Not Waiver      32   
   SECTION 512.    Control by Holders of Securities      32   
   SECTION 513.    Waiver of Past Defaults      32   
   SECTION 514.    Undertaking for Costs      33   
   SECTION 515.    Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws      33   
ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE      33   
   SECTION 601.    Certain Duties and Responsibilities      33   
   SECTION 602.    Notice of Defaults      35   
   SECTION 603.    Certain Rights of Trustee      35   
   SECTION 604.    Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities      36   
   SECTION 605.    May Hold Securities      37   
   SECTION 606.    Money Held in Trust      37   
   SECTION 607.    Compensation and Reimbursement      37   
   SECTION 608.    Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility      37   
   SECTION 609.    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      38   
   SECTION 610.    Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      39   
   SECTION 611.    Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      40   
   SECTION 612.    Appointment of Authenticating Agent      41   
ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND PARTNERSHIP      42   
   SECTION 701.    Partnership to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      42   
   SECTION 702.    Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      43   
   SECTION 703.    Reports by Trustee      43   
   SECTION 704.    Reports by Partnership      43   

 

iii


               Page  
ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE OR CONVEYANCE      44   
   SECTION 801.    Consolidations and Mergers of Partnership and Sales, Leases and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions      44   
   SECTION 802.    Rights and Duties of Successor Person      45   
   SECTION 803.    Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel      45   
ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES      45   
   SECTION 901.    Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders      45   
   SECTION 902.    Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders      46   
   SECTION 903.    Execution of Supplemental Indentures      47   
   SECTION 904.    Effect of Supplemental Indentures      48   
   SECTION 905.    Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      48   
   SECTION 906.    Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures      48   
ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS      48   
   SECTION 1001.    Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest      48   
   SECTION 1002.    Maintenance of Office or Agency      48   
   SECTION 1003.    Money for Securities Payments to be Held in Trust      49   
   SECTION 1004.    Additional Amounts      51   
   SECTION 1005.    Statement as to Compliance      51   
   SECTION 1006.    Waiver of Certain Covenants      52   
   SECTION 1007.    Statement by Officers as to Default      52   
ARTICLE ELEVEN NEGATIVE COVENANTS      52   
   SECTION 1101.    Limitations on Mortgages      52   
   SECTION 1102.    Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions      56   
ARTICLE TWELVE REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES      57   
   SECTION 1201.    Applicability of Article      57   
   SECTION 1202.    Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      57   
   SECTION 1203.    Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed      57   
   SECTION 1204.    Notice of Redemption      57   
   SECTION 1205.    Deposit of Redemption Price      58   
   SECTION 1206.    Securities Payable on Redemption Date      58   
   SECTION 1207.    Securities Redeemed in Part      59   
ARTICLE THIRTEEN SINKING FUNDS      60   
   SECTION 1301.    Applicability of Article      60   
   SECTION 1302.    Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      60   
   SECTION 1303.    Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      60   
ARTICLE FOURTEEN REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS      61   
   SECTION 1401.    Applicability of Article      61   
ARTICLE FIFTEEN MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES      61   
   SECTION 1501.    Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called      61   
   SECTION 1502.    Call, Notice and Place of Meetings      62   
   SECTION 1503.    Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings      62   

 

iv


               Page  
   SECTION 1504.    Quorum; Action      62   
   SECTION 1505.    Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings      63   
   SECTION 1506.    Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings      64   
ARTICLE SIXTEEN MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS      64   
   SECTION 1601.    Securities in Foreign Currencies      64   

 

v


INDENTURE, dated as of November 30, 2016, between VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP, a Delaware limited partnership (hereinafter called the “Partnership”), having its principal office at One Valero Way, San Antonio, Texas 78249, and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee (hereinafter called the “Trustee”), having its Corporate Trust Office at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005.

RECITALS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

The Partnership has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter called the “Securities”), unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such time or times, to be issued in one or more series and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided.

The Partnership has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture and all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Partnership, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the sum of one dollar duly paid by the Partnership to the Trustee, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted at the date of such computation; and

(4) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

Certain terms used principally in Article Six are defined in that Article.

 

1


“Act” when used with respect to any Holder has the meaning specified in Section 104.

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required by a Security or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified therein, to be paid by the Partnership in respect of certain matters, including, without limitation, taxes imposed on certain Holders, and which are owing to such Holders.

“Affiliate” has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 612 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in an official language of the country of publication or in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in the place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.

“Bearer Security” means any Security in the form established pursuant to Section 201 which is payable to bearer.

“Board of Directors” means either the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any committee thereof duly authorized, with respect to any particular matter, to act by or on behalf of the Board of Directors of the General Partner.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the General Partner to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day” means any day other than a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York or in the City of San Antonio, Texas are authorized or required by law to close, except as may otherwise be provided in the form of Securities of any particular series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties on such date.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the total amount of assets shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, less (i) all current liabilities (except current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations, short-term debt and notes payable) and (ii) goodwill and other intangible assets included on such balance sheet.

 

2


“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee in the City of New York at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office on the date hereof is located at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005.

“coupon” means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

“Dollars” or “$” or any similar reference shall mean the currency of the United States, except as may otherwise be provided in the form of Securities of any particular series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

“Funded Debt” means any indebtedness for money borrowed, created, issued, incurred, assumed or guaranteed which would, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, be classified as long-term debt or capital lease obligations, but in any event including all indebtedness for money borrowed, whether secured or unsecured, maturing more than one year, or extendible at the option of the obligor to a date more than one year, after the date of determination thereof (excluding any amount thereof included in current liabilities).

“General Partner” means Valero Energy Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of the Partnership or as the business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of the Partnership.

“Holder”, when used with respect to any Security, means in the case of a Registered Security, the Person in whose name the Security is registered in the Security Register and in the case of a Bearer Security, the bearer thereof and, when used with respect to any coupon, means the bearer thereof.

“Indenture” means this instrument as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and shall include each Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303.

“interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, includes interest payable after Maturity, and, when used with respect to a Security which provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004, includes such Additional Amounts.

“Interest Payment Date” means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on the applicable Securities.

“Maturity” when used with respect to any Security means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption, request for redemption or otherwise.

 

3


“Mortgages” means mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests or other encumbrances.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President or the Treasurer, and by an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership, and delivered to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 102.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture) be an employee of or counsel for the Partnership, the General Partner, or any Affiliate of the foregoing, that meets the requirements of Section 102.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means a Security issued pursuant to this Indenture which provides for declaration of an amount less than the principal thereof to be due and payable upon acceleration pursuant to Section 502.

“Outstanding” when used with respect to Securities means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

(i) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(ii) Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Partnership) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Partnership (if the Partnership shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities and any coupons thereto appertaining, provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

(iii) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Partnership;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that could be declared to be due and payable pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security at the time the taking of such action by the Holders of such requisite principal amount is evidenced to the Trustee as provided in Section 104(a), and, provided further, that Securities owned beneficially by the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Partnership or such other obligor, other than Securities purchased in connection with the distribution or trading thereof, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee

 

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actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Partnership or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Partnership or such other obligor.

“Partnership” means the Person named as the “Partnership” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Partnership” shall mean such successor Person.

“Partnership Request” and “Partnership Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Partnership by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, Chief Financial Officer, a Vice President or by the Treasurer, and by an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Partnership to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Partnership.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or other entity of any kind.

“Place of Payment” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as provided pursuant to Section 301.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security or a Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security or the Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.

“Principal Property” shall mean whether currently owned or leased or subsequently acquired, any pipeline, gathering system, terminal, storage facility, processing plant or other plant or facility located in the United States or any territory or political subdivision thereof owned or leased by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries and used in the transportation, distribution, terminalling, gathering, treating, processing, marketing or storage of crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids and propane and refined petroleum products except (i) any property or asset consisting of inventories, furniture, office fixtures and equipment (including data processing equipment), vehicles and equipment used on, or useful with, vehicles (but excluding vehicles that generate transportation revenues) and (ii) any such property or asset, plant or terminal which, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors as evidenced by a Board Resolution, is not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

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“Redemption Date” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Redemption Price” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed means the price at which it is to be redeemed as determined pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

“Registered Security” means any Security established pursuant to Section 201 which is registered in the Security Register.

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on a Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date means the date, if any, specified in such Security as the “Regular Record Date”.

“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means, any officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“Sale and Leaseback Transactions” has the meaning specified in Section 1102.

“Security” or “Securities” means any Security or Securities, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

“Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon means the date specified in such Security or a coupon representing such installment of interest as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

“Subsidiary” means (i) any corporation of which at the time of determination the Partnership and/or one or more Subsidiaries owns or controls directly or indirectly more than 50% of the shares of Voting Stock, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, of which, at the time of determination, the Partnership and/or one or more Subsidiaries owns or controls directly or indirectly more than 50% of the outstanding partnership or similar interests and (iii) any limited partnership of which at the time of determination the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner and which is consolidated with the Partnership for financial reporting purposes pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to the Securities of that series.

 

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“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and any reference herein to the Trust Indenture Act or a particular provision thereof shall mean such Act or provision, as the case may be, as amended or replaced from time to time or as supplemented from time to time by rules or regulations adopted by the Commission under or in furtherance of the purposes of such Act or provision, as the case may be.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories and possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

“United States Alien” means any Person who, for United States Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a nonresident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

“U.S. Depository” or “Depository” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global Securities, the Person designated as U.S. Depository by the Partnership pursuant to Section 301, which must be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, if so provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, any successor to such Person. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “U.S. Depository” shall mean, with respect to any series of Securities, the qualifying entity which has been appointed with respect to the Securities of that series.

“Vice President” when used with respect to the General Partner shall mean any Vice President of the General Partner whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”.

“Voting Stock” means stock of the class or classes having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such corporation provided that, for the purposes hereof, stock which carries only the right to vote conditionally on the happening of an event shall not be considered Voting Stock whether or not such event shall have happened.

SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

Upon any application or request by the Partnership to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Partnership shall furnish to the Trustee (a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and (b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

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Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act) must comply with the provisions of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act and shall include:

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such condition or covenant and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such condition or covenant has been complied with; and

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the General Partner may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the General Partner stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Partnership, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

SECTION 104. Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of a series may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders of Securities of such series in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. If, but only if, Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, any request,

 

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demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Securities of such series voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article Fifteen, or a combination of such instruments and any such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Partnership. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments and so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Partnership and any agent of the Trustee or the Partnership, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1506.

Without limiting the generality of this Section 104, unless otherwise established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or set forth or determined in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, pursuant to Section 301, a Holder, including a U.S. Depository that is a Holder of a global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy, or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a U.S. Depository that is a Holder of a global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security through such U.S. Depository’s standing instructions and customary practices.

The Partnership shall fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interest in any permanent global Security held by a U.S. Depository entitled under the procedures of such U.S. Depository to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of a series. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders of such Securities of a series on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such Holders of such Securities of a series remain Holders of such Securities of a series after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any reasonable manner which the Trustee deems sufficient and in accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.

(c) The ownership of Registered Securities and the principal amount and serial numbers of Registered Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

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(d) The principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, may be proved by the production of such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed, as depositary, by any trust company, bank, banker or other depositary reasonably acceptable to the Partnership, wherever situated, if such certificate shall be deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depositary, or exhibited to it, the Bearer Securities therein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer Securities, if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory. The Trustee and the Partnership may assume that such ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (1) another certificate or affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Bearer Security is produced, or (2) such Bearer Security is produced to the Trustee by some other Person, or (3) such Bearer Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security, or (4) such Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding. The principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by the Person so executing such instrument or writing and the date of holding the same may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

(e) If the Partnership shall solicit from the Holders of any Registered Securities of a series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Partnership may, at its option, by Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Registered Securities of such series entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Partnership shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of Registered Securities of the applicable series of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of the applicable series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders of Registered Securities of the applicable series on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

(f) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Security of a series shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent or the Partnership in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

SECTION 105. Notices etc. to Trustee and Partnership.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

 

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(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Partnership shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, or

(2) the Partnership by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, postage prepaid, via certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Partnership addressed to the attention of its Treasurer at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Partnership.

SECTION 106. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the form of Securities of any particular series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities of any event,

(1) such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Registered Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Registered Security affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such Notice; and

(2) such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Bearer Securities, if any, if published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if the Securities of such series are then listed on any stock exchange outside the United States, in an Authorized Newspaper in such city as the Partnership shall advise the Trustee that such stock exchange so requires, on a Business Day at least twice, the first such publication to be not earlier than the earliest date and not later than the latest date prescribed for the giving of such notice.

In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Registered Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities given as provided herein. In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

In case by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to publish any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, then such notification to Holders of Bearer Securities as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice to such Holders for every purpose hereunder. Neither failure to give notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, nor any defect in any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of any notice mailed to Holders of Registered Securities as provided above.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such

 

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waiver shall be equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders of Securities shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

SECTION 107. Language of Notices, etc.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that, if the Partnership so elects, any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

SECTION 108. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provisions shall control.

SECTION 109. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 110. Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the parties hereto shall bind the successors and assigns of such parties, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 111. Severability Clause.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities or coupons shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 112. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities or coupons, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent and their successors hereunder and the Holders of Securities or coupons, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 113. Governing Law.

This Indenture and the Securities and coupons shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof.

 

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SECTION 114. Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or the Securities or coupons other than a provision in the Securities of the particular series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, except that if such next succeeding Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, then on the immediately preceding Business Day, at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, and no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

SECTION 115. No Recourse Against Others.

A director, officer, employee, stockholder, partner, limited partner or other owner of the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates or the Trustee, as such, shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Partnership under the Securities or for any obligations of the Partnership or the Trustee under this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of Securities.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201. Forms Generally.

The Registered Securities, if any, of each series and the Bearer Securities, if any, of each series, related coupons, if any, and temporary global Securities, if any, shall be in the form established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, shall have appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, the Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons. If so provided as contemplated by Section 301, the Securities of a series also shall be issuable in bearer form, with or without interest coupons attached.

The definitive Securities and coupons shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on a steel engraved border or steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities or coupons.

 

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SECTION 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

  U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  as Trustee
  Dated:                                                          
  By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:

(1) the title of the Securities and the series in which such Securities shall be included;

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such title or the Securities of such series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1207);

(3) whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, Bearer Securities (with or without coupons) or both; any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of Bearer Securities and the terms upon which Bearer Securities of the series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the series and vice versa; and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in global form and, if so, (i) whether beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner specified in Section 305 and (ii) the name of the depository or the U.S. Depository, as the case may be, with respect to any global Security;

(4) the date as of which any Bearer Securities of the series and any temporary global Security representing Outstanding Securities of the series shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;

 

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(5) if Securities of the series are to be issuable as Bearer Securities, whether interest in respect of any portion of a temporary Bearer Security in global form (representing all of the Outstanding Bearer Securities of the series) payable in respect of an Interest Payment Date prior to the exchange of such temporary Bearer Security for definitive Securities of the series shall be paid to any clearing organization with respect to the portion of such temporary Bearer Security held for its account and, in such event, the terms and conditions (including any certification requirements) upon which any such interest payment received by a clearing organization will be credited to the Persons entitled to interest payable on such Interest Payment Date;

(6) the date or dates on which the principal of such Securities is payable;

(7) the rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on Registered Securities on any Interest Payment Date, whether and under what circumstances Additional Amounts on such Securities shall be payable in respect of specified taxes, assessments or other governmental charges withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Partnership has the option to redeem the affected Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

(8) the place or places, if any, in addition to or other than the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Securities shall be payable;

(9) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which such Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Partnership;

(10) the obligation, if any, of the Partnership to redeem or purchase such Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and any provisions for the remarketing of such Securities;

(11) the denominations in which Registered Securities of the series, if any, shall be issuable if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, and the denominations in which Bearer Securities of the series, if any, shall be issuable if other than the denomination of $5,000;

(12) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

(13) if other than the currency of the United States, the coin or currency, including composite currencies, in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities shall be payable;

 

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(14) if the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such Securities are to be payable, at the election of the Partnership or a Holder thereof, in a coin or currency, including composite currencies, other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

(15) if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such Securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method or based on a coin or currency other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(16) the right, if any, of the Partnership to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment periods and specify the duration of such extension, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and whether and under what circumstances additional interest on amounts deferred shall be payable;

(17) the limitation, if any, on the Partnership’s right to make distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its common units or other limited partner interests or other comparable equity interests;

(18) if the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

(19) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock, other debt securities (including Securities of another series), warrants, other equity securities or any other securities or property of the Partnership or any other Person, at the option of the Partnership or the Holder or upon the occurrence of any condition or event, the terms and conditions for such conversion or exchange; and

(20) any other terms of such Securities (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).

All Securities of any one series and the coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities of such series, if any, shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and the rate or rates of interest, if any, and Stated Maturity, the date from which interest, if any, shall accrue and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time, and unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series.

If any of the terms of the Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the General Partner and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of such series.

 

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SECTION 302. Denominations.

Unless other denominations and amounts may from time to time be fixed by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Registered Securities of each series, if any, shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and the Bearer Securities of each series, if any, shall be issuable in the denomination of $5,000, or in such other denominations and amounts as may from time to time be fixed by or pursuant to a Board Resolution.

SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner’s Chief Executive Officer, President, Vice President serving as Chief Financial Officer or its Treasurer and attested by the General Partner’s Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile. Coupons shall bear the facsimile signature of the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the General Partner.

Securities and coupons bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the General Partner shall bind the Partnership, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Partnership may deliver Securities of any series, together with any coupons appertaining thereto, executed by the Partnership to the Trustee for authentication, together with the Board Resolution and Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture with respect to such Securities referred to in Section 301 and a Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Partnership Order and subject to the provisions hereof shall authenticate and make available for delivery such Securities. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

1. the form and terms of such Securities and coupons, if any, have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

2. that all conditions precedent to the authentication and delivery of such Securities, together with the coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, have been complied with and that such Securities and coupons, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Partnership in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Partnership, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles,

3. that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Partnership of such Securities and coupons, if any, have been complied with; and

 

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4. as to such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that such action may not lawfully be taken.

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Each Bearer Security and any temporary Bearer Security in global form shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated by Section 301.

No Security or coupon appertaining thereto shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for in Section 202 or 612 executed by or on behalf of the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized signers, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Except as permitted by Section 306 or 307, the Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all appurtenant coupons for interest then matured have been detached and cancelled.

SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Partnership may execute and deliver to the Trustee, and upon Partnership Order the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the manner provided in Section 303, temporary Securities of such series which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form, or, if authorized, in bearer form with one or more coupons or without coupons, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. In the case of Bearer Securities of any series, such temporary Securities may be in global form, representing all of the Outstanding Bearer Securities of such series.

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form, which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions thereof, if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Partnership will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series containing identical terms and provisions upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at an office or agency of the Partnership maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series (accompanied by any unmatured coupons appertaining thereto) the Partnership shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of authorized denominations of the same series containing identical terms and provisions; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security, except as provided pursuant to Section 301, shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary

 

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Registered Security; and provided, further, that a definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions set forth therein. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to a temporary global Security, until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

SECTION 305. Registration, Transfer and Exchange.

With respect to the Registered Securities of each series, if any, the Partnership shall cause to be kept at an office or agency of the Partnership maintained pursuant to Section 1002, a register (herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Partnership shall provide for the registration of the Registered Securities of each series and of transfers of the Registered Securities of each series. Such office or agency shall be the “Security Registrar” for the Registered Securities, if any, of each series of Securities. In the event that the Trustee shall not be the Security Registrar, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register at all reasonable times.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any office or agency of the Partnership maintained for that series pursuant to Section 1002, the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding and containing identical terms and provisions.

At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency. Whenever any Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, the Registered Securities which the holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

At the option of the Holder, Bearer Securities of any series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the same series containing identical terms and provisions, of any authorized denominations and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency, with all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured coupon or coupons or matured coupon or coupons in default, such exchange may be effected if the Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Partnership and the Trustee in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing coupon or coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Partnership and the Trustee if there is furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, interest represented by coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency located outside the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a

 

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Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at any such office or agency in exchange for a Registered Security of the same series and like tenor after the close of business at such office or agency on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date or proposed date of payment, as the case may be (or, if such coupon is so surrendered with such Bearer Security, such coupon shall be returned to the person so surrendering the Bearer Security), and interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

If expressly provided with respect to the Securities of any series, at the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of such series may be exchanged for Bearer Securities upon such terms and conditions as may be provided with respect to such series.

Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any global Security shall be exchangeable only if (i) the Securities Depository notifies the Partnership that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Securities Depository and a successor depository is not appointed by the Partnership within 60 days, (ii) the Partnership executes and delivers to the Trustee a Partnership Order to the effect that such global Security shall be so exchangeable, or (iii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities and the Security Registrar has received a request from the Securities Depository to issue Securities in lieu of all or a portion of the global Security. If the beneficial owners of interests in a global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of any authorized form and denomination, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Partnership shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of that series in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such global Security, executed by the Partnership. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such global Securities shall be surrendered from time to time by the U.S. Depository or such other depository as shall be specified in the Partnership Order with respect thereto, and in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the U.S. Depository or such depository, as the case may be (which instructions shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), as shall be specified in the Partnership Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Partnership’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without charge. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for each portion of such surrendered global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such global Security to be exchanged which (unless the Securities of the series are not issuable both as Bearer Securities and as Registered Securities, in which case the definitive Securities exchanged

 

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for the global Security shall be issuable only in the form in which the Securities are issuable, as specified as contemplated by Section 301) shall be in the form of Bearer Securities or Registered Securities, or any combination thereof, as shall be specified by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities of that series to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date; and provided, further, that (unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301) no Bearer Security delivered in exchange for a portion of a global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such global Security shall be returned by the Trustee to such depository or the U.S. Depository, as the case may be, or such other depository or U.S. Depository referred to above in accordance with the instructions of the Partnership referred to above. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, interest will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Partnership, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer, or for exchange or redemption shall (if so required by the Partnership or the Security Registrar for such series of Security presented) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Partnership and such Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, or redemption of Securities, but the Partnership may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1206 not involving any transfer.

The Partnership shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 1203 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer Security so selected for redemption except that such a Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of that series, provided that such Registered Security shall be immediately surrendered for redemption with written instruction for payment consistent with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to the Trustee, the Partnership shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to the surrendered Securities.

If there be delivered to the Partnership and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security or coupon, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Partnership or the Trustee that such Security or coupon has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Partnership shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or in exchange for the Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains (with all appurtenant coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen), a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Partnership in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security or coupon; provided, however, that payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and any interest on Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any interest on Bearer Securities shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Partnership 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 Trustee and its counsel) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series, with its coupons, if any, issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security, or in exchange for a Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Partnership, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security and its coupons, if any, or the destroyed, lost or stolen coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series and their coupons, if any, duly issued hereunder.

 

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The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or coupons.

SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Interest on any Registered Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, if so provided in such Security, be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest. In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business (at an office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series) on any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business (at such office or agency) on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date and interest will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Any interest on any Registered Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for such Registered Security (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Partnership, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Partnership may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities affected (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Partnership shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Registered Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Partnership shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Partnership of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Partnership, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of such Registered Securities at his address as it appears in the Security Register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. The Trustee may in the name and at the expense of the Partnership, cause a similar notice to be published at least once in a newspaper, customarily published in the English language on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, but such publication shall not be a condition precedent to the establishment of such Special Record Date. Notice of the

 

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proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Registered Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2). In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business at such office or agency on any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such proposed date of payment and Defaulted Interest will not be payable on such proposed date of payment in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

(2) The Partnership may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Partnership to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

At the option of the Partnership, interest on Registered Securities of any series that bear interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue interest, which were carried by such other Security.

SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Partnership, the Trustee and any agent of the Partnership or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered Security be overdue, and neither the Partnership, the Trustee nor any agent of the Partnership or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

The Partnership, the Trustee and any agent of the Partnership or the Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security and the bearer of any coupon as the absolute owner of such Security or coupon for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security or coupon be overdue, and neither the Partnership, the Trustee nor any agent of the Partnership or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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SECTION 309. Cancellation.

All Securities and coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and coupons and Securities and coupons surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Partnership may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Partnership may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities and coupons held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in its customary manner.

SECTION 310. Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, or as set forth in any supplemental indenture, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months or, for any period shorter than a full three months, on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in such period.

SECTION 311. CUSIP Numbers.

The Partnership in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

Upon the direction of the Partnership by a Partnership Order this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for and any right to receive Additional Amounts, as provided in Section 1004), and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Partnership, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

(1) either

(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered and all coupons appertaining thereto (other than (i) coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities surrendered for

 

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exchange for Registered Securities and maturing after such exchange, whose surrender is not required or has been waived as provided in Section 305, (ii) Securities and coupons which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, (iii) coupons appertaining to Securities called for redemption and maturing after the relevant Redemption Date, whose surrender has been waived as provided in Section 1206, and (iv) Securities and coupons for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Partnership and thereafter repaid to the Partnership or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all such Securities and, in the case of (i) or (ii) below, any such coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

(i) have become due and payable, or

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

(iii) if redeemable at the option of the Partnership, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Partnership, and the Partnership, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities and coupons not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

(2) the Partnership has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Partnership; and

(3) the Partnership has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

In the event there are Securities of two or more series hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to Securities of all series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions thereto are met. In the event there are two or more Trustees hereunder, then the effectiveness of any such instrument shall be conditioned upon receipt of such instrument from all Trustees hereunder.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Partnership to the Trustee under Section 607 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

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SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities, the coupons and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Partnership acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and any interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

SECTION 501. Events of Default.

“Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when such interest becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Partnership in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; or

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable at Maturity; or

(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series; or

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Partnership in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Partnership by the Trustee or to the Partnership and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

(5) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Partnership in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Partnership or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

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(6) the Partnership shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Partnership or for any substantial part of its property, or shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or shall take any corporate action in furtherance of any of the foregoing; or

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal of all the Securities of that series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of that series, to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Partnership (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser amount shall become immediately due and payable.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Event of Default giving rise to such declaration of acceleration shall, without further act, be deemed to have been waived, and such declaration and its consequences shall, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if

(1) the Partnership has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

(A) all overdue installments of interest on all Securities of that series,

(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities,

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel;

and

 

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(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 502 (1) or Section 502 (2) occurs and is continuing, the Partnership will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and coupons, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, with interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

If the Partnership fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Partnership or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Partnership or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series and any related coupons by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

SECTION 504. Trustee 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 Partnership or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Partnership or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Partnership for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of that series, of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents or counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

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(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of Securities and coupons to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders of Securities and coupons, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security or coupon any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or coupons or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a Security or coupon in any such proceeding.

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Securities or coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or coupons or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery or judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities and coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected.

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities or coupons, or both, as the case may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and its agents and counsel under Section 607;

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the aggregate amounts due and payable on such Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively;

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Partnership.

 

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The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Securities pursuant to this Section 506.

SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Security of any series or any related coupons shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other such Holders or Holders of any other series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security or coupon shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on such Security or payment of such coupon on the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security or coupon (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security or coupon has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or

 

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abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Partnership, the Trustee and the Holders of Securities and coupons shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or coupons in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or coupons is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion of employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security or coupon to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or coupons may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities or coupons, as the case may be.

SECTION 512. Control by Holders of Securities.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

(3) such direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Securities of such series.

SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series and any related coupons waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

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(1) in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, or

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security or coupon by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit, other than the Trustee, of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, including the Trustee, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant, but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Partnership, the Trustee or by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder of any Security or coupon for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security or the payment of any coupon on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date) or interest on any overdue principal of any Security.

SECTION 515. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.

The Partnership covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Partnership (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

 

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(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties, and only such duties, as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee; and

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any facts or mathematical calculations stated therein).

(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

(1) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;

(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

(4) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

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SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults.

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series that is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 703(c), notice of such default hereunder, unless such default shall have been cured or waived, provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of Securities and coupons of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 601:

(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties and the Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated therein;

(b) any request or direction of the Partnership mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Partnership Request or Partnership Order (other than delivery of any Security to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely on an Officers’ Certificate, an Opinion of Counsel or both, and will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith and in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel;

(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any

 

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series or any related coupons pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Partnership, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Partnership and shall incur no liability of any kind solely by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

(h) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

(i) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

(j) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder; and

(k) the Trustee may request that the Partnership deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, and in any coupons shall be taken as the statements of the Partnership, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities or coupons. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Partnership of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

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SECTION 605. May Hold Securities.

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Partnership, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and coupons and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Partnership with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Partnership.

SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Partnership agrees

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as the parties shall agree to in writing from time to time for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursements or advance as shall be determined to have been caused by its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct; and

(3) to indemnify each of the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee and their respective agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including taxes other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on their part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Partnership under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any series upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on Securities. The benefits of this Section shall survive termination of this Indenture and resignation or removal of the Trustee.

SECTION 608. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation (or other Person permitted to so act by the Commission) permitted by the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and that has a combined capital and

 

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surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $100,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section or Section 310(a)(5) of the Trust Indenture Act, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article. The Trustee is subject to Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 609. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 610.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series giving written notice thereof to the Partnership. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 610 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may at the expense of the Partnership petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Partnership. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 610 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the removed Trustee may at the expense of the Partnership petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

(d) If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the obligations imposed upon it under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to Securities of any series after written request therefor by the Partnership or by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 608 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Partnership or by any such Holder of a Security, or

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (i) the Partnership by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or the Securities of such series, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of any series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

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(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Partnership, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 610. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Partnership and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 610, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Partnership. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Partnership or the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 610, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(f) The Partnership shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register and, if Securities of such series are issued as Bearer Securities, by publishing notice of such event once in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment located outside the United States. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

SECTION 610. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Partnership and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Partnership or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

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(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Partnership, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no Trustee shall be responsible for any notice given to, or received by, or any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder, and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture other than as hereinafter expressly set forth, and each such successor Trustee without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Partnership or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Partnership shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

SECTION 611. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have

 

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been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

SECTION 612. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue or exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Partnership and shall at all times be a corporation, association, company, limited liability company or business trust organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by U.S. federal or state authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

Any Person into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such Person shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Partnership. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Partnership. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Partnership and shall (i) mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, and (ii) if Securities of the series are issued as Bearer Securities, publish notice of such appointment at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the place where such

 

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successor Authenticating Agent has its principal office if such office is located outside the United States. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

The Partnership agrees to pay each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and to the extent the Trustee makes such payments, the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 607.

The provisions of Sections 308, 604 and 605 shall be applicable to each Authenticating Agent.

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form.

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

  U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,      
  as Trustee    
  Dated:                                                               By:  

 

 
  As Authenticating Agent        

 

 

By:

 

 

  Authorized Signatory

If all of the Securities of any series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Partnership wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested in writing (which writing need not comply with Section 102) by the Partnership, shall appoint in accordance with this Section 612 an Authenticating Agent having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Partnership with respect to such series of Securities.

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND PARTNERSHIP

SECTION 701. Partnership to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

The Partnership will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

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(a) semi-annually, not later than fifteen days after the Regular Record Date for interest for each series of Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Registered Securities of such series as of such Regular Record Date, or if there is no Regular Record Date for interest for such series of Securities, semi-annually, upon such dates as are set forth in the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto authorizing such series, and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Partnership of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished,

provided, however, that, so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar, no such list shall be required to be furnished.

SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.

Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. Every Holder of Securities or coupons, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Partnership and the Trustee that neither the Partnership, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or any Security Registrar shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee.

(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 301, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit, pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of such May 15 with respect to any of the events specified in said Section 313(a) which may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding May 15 and the date of this Indenture.

(b) The Trustee shall transmit the reports required by Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein.

(c) Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted in the manner and to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee when any series of Securities are listed on any securities exchange.

SECTION 704. Reports by Partnership.

(a) The Partnership shall:

 

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(1) file with the Trustee, within 30 days after the Partnership is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Partnership may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Partnership is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said sections, then it shall file with the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations and shall file a copy thereof with the Trustee within 30 days after such supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports would have been required to be filed with the Commission;

(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Partnership with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

(3) transmit within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 703(c) with respect to reports pursuant to Section 703(a), such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Partnership pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

(b) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Partnership’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the availability of the foregoing information or reports on the Commission’s website will be deemed to satisfy the foregoing delivery requirements with respect to delivery to the Trustee.

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE OR CONVEYANCE

SECTION 801. Consolidations and Mergers of Partnership and Sales, Leases and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions.

The Partnership may consolidate with, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its assets to, or merge with or into any other Person, provided that in any such case, (i) either the Partnership shall be the continuing Person, or the successor Person shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States or a state thereof and such successor Person shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any)

 

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and any interest on all the Securities, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Partnership by supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee by such Person, and (ii) the Partnership or such successor Person, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale, lease or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any such covenant or condition.

SECTION 802. Rights and Duties of Successor Person.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance and upon any such assumption by the successor Person, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Partnership, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part, and the predecessor Person, except in the event of a lease, shall be relieved of any further obligation under this Indenture and the Securities and coupons. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Partnership, any or all of the Securities and coupons issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Partnership and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor Person, instead of the Partnership, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Securities and coupons which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the General Partner to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities or coupons which such successor Person thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Securities and coupons so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities and coupons theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities and coupons had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities and coupons thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

SECTION 803. Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 601 and 603, shall be provided with an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance, and any such assumption, complies with the provisions of this Article.

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

Without the consent of any Holders of Securities or coupons, the Partnership, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

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(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Partnership, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Partnership herein and in the Securities contained; or

(2) to add to the covenants of the Partnership, for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Partnership; or

(3) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal (or premium, if any) on Registered Securities or of principal (or premium, if any) or any interest on Bearer Securities, to permit Registered Securities to be exchanged for Bearer Securities or to permit the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form, provided any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or

(4) to establish the form of terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or

(5) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 610(b); or

(6) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture which shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect;

(7) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth; or

(8) to provide any security for, or to add any guarantees of, any series of Securities.

SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Partnership and the Trustee, the Partnership, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

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(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any Additional Amounts payable in respect thereof, or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the obligation of the Partnership to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004 (except as contemplated by Section 801(i) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 1504 for quorum or voting, or

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, or Section 513, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby.

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders of Securities under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder and of any coupons appertaining thereto shall be bound thereby.

SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Partnership shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Partnership, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Partnership and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series. Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Security will not affect the validity and effect of such supplemental indenture.

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest.

The Partnership covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of such series of Securities, any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture. Any interest due on Bearer Securities on or before Maturity, other than Additional Amounts, if any, payable as provided in Section 1004 in respect of principal of (or premium, if any, on) such a Security, shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the several coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature.

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Partnership will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series (but not Bearer Securities, except as otherwise provided below, unless such Place of Payment is located outside the United States) may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Partnership in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Partnership will maintain, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, an office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series which is located outside the United States where Securities of such series and the related coupons may be

 

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presented and surrendered for payment (including payment of any Additional Amounts payable on Securities of such series pursuant to Section 1004); provided, however, that if the Securities of such series are listed on any stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, the Partnership will maintain a Paying Agent in any other required city located outside the United States so long as the Securities of such series are listed on such exchange. The Partnership will give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Partnership shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, except that Bearer Securities of that series and the related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment (including payment of any Additional Amounts payable on Bearer Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1004) at the place specified for the purpose pursuant to Section 301, and the Partnership hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

Except as otherwise provided in the form of Bearer Security of any particular series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, no payment of principal, premium or interest on Bearer Securities shall be made at any office or agency of the Partnership in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States; provided, however, payment of principal of and any premium and interest in Dollars on any Bearer Security may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York if (but only if) payment of the full amount of such principal, premium or interest at all offices outside the United States maintained for the purpose by the Partnership in accordance with this Indenture is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.

The Partnership may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Partnership of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Partnership will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto with respect to a series of Securities, the Partnership hereby designates as the Place of Payment for each series of Securities the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and initially appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as the Partnership’s office or agency for each of such purposes in such city.

SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to be Held in Trust.

If the Partnership shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any), or interest on, any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

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Whenever the Partnership shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any), or interest on, any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Partnership will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

The Partnership will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Partnership (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series; and

(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

The Partnership may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Partnership Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Partnership or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Partnership or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

Except as otherwise provided in the form of Securities of any particular series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Partnership, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Partnership on Partnership Request, or (if then held by the Partnership) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security or any coupon appertaining thereto shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Partnership for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Partnership as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Partnership cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment or to be mailed to Holders of Registered Securities, or both, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Partnership.

 

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SECTION 1004. Additional Amounts.

If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Partnership will pay to the Holder of any Security of any series or any coupon appertaining thereto Additional Amounts as provided therein. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or any related coupon or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for in this Section to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal (and premium, if any) is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Partnership will furnish the Trustee and the Partnership’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series or the related coupons who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that Series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities or coupons and the Partnership will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by this Section. The Partnership covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section.

SECTION 1005. Statement as to Compliance.

The Partnership will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a written statement, which need not comply with Section 102, signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller or an Assistant Controller of the General Partner, stating, as to each signer thereof, that

(a) a review of the activities of the Partnership during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made under his supervision, and

(b) to the best of his knowledge, based on such review, (i) the Partnership has fulfilled all of its obligations under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default known to him and

 

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the nature and status thereof, and (ii) no event has occurred and is continuing which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default, or, if such an event has occurred and is continuing, specifying each such event known to him and the nature and status thereof.

SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

The Partnership may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 1004 or 1005, subject to the limitations set out in the Trust Indenture Act, with respect to the Securities of any series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Partnership and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 1007. Statement by Officers as to Default.

The Partnership shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as practicable and in any event within five days after the Partnership becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default and the action which the Partnership proposes to take with respect thereto.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

SECTION 1101. Limitations on Mortgages

Nothing in this Indenture or in any Securities shall in any way restrict or prevent the Partnership or any Subsidiary from incurring any indebtedness; provided that the Partnership covenants and agrees that neither it nor any Subsidiary will create or assume any Mortgages upon any Principal Property, without effectively providing that any Securities then Outstanding and thereafter created (together with, if the Partnership so determines, any other indebtedness or obligation then existing and any other indebtedness or obligation thereafter created ranking equally with such series of Securities) shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such indebtedness or obligation as long as such indebtedness or obligation shall be so secured, except that the foregoing provision shall not apply to:

(a) Any Mortgage created by the Partnership or a Subsidiary to secure all or part of the purchase price of any Principal Property (or to refund or refinance all or part of such purchase price within 12 months of the acquisition of such Principal Property) or to secure a loan made to enable the Partnership or a Subsidiary to acquire the Principal Property described in such Mortgage; provided, however, that (i) such Mortgage shall not encumber any other Principal Property of the Partnership or a Subsidiary (other than Principal Property constituting substitutions or replacements for, or accessions to, Principal Property which is encumbered

 

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pursuant to after-acquired Principal Property provisions of the agreements in accordance with which such Mortgages were granted) and (ii) the principal amount of the indebtedness secured by any such Mortgage, together with all other indebtedness secured by a Mortgage on such Principal Property, shall not exceed the purchase price of such Principal Property;

(b) Any Mortgage existing on any Principal Property at the time of the acquisition thereof by the Partnership or a Subsidiary whether or not assumed by the Partnership or a Subsidiary, any Mortgage on any Principal Property acquired or constructed by the Partnership or a Subsidiary and created not later than 12 months after (i) such acquisition or completion of such construction or (ii) commencement of full operation of such Principal Property, whichever is later, and any Mortgage on any Principal Property with respect to which the Partnership or a Subsidiary has made additions, substantial repairs, alterations or improvements and created not later than 12 months after completion of such additions, repairs, alterations or improvements; provided, however, that (A) the principal amount of the indebtedness secured by such Mortgage, together with all other indebtedness secured by a Mortgage on such Principal Property, shall not exceed the purchase price of the Principal Property acquired, the cost of the Principal Property constructed and/or the costs of such additions, repairs, alterations or improvements and (B) such Mortgage does not extend to or cover any Principal Property other than such Principal Property acquired, constructed, repaired, altered and/or improved (other than Principal Property constituting substitutions or replacements for, or accessions to, Principal Property which is encumbered pursuant to after-acquired Principal Property provisions of the agreements in accordance with which such Mortgages were granted);

(c) Any Mortgage created or assumed by the Partnership or a Subsidiary on any contract for the sale of any product or service or any rights thereunder or any proceeds therefrom, including accounts and other receivables, related to the operation or use of any Principal Property acquired or constructed by the Partnership or a Subsidiary and created not later than 12 months after (i) such acquisition or completion of such construction or (ii) commencement of full operation of such Principal Property, whichever is later;

(d) Any Mortgage existing on any Principal Property of an entity at the time it is acquired by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, whether through merger, consolidation, purchase of assets or otherwise; provided, however, that such Mortgage does not extend to any other Principal Property of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Principal Property constituting substitutions or replacements for, or accessions to, Principal Property which is encumbered pursuant to after-acquired Principal Property provisions of the agreements in accordance with which such Mortgages were granted);

(e) Mechanic’s or materialmen’s liens or any lien or charge arising by reason of pledges or deposits to secure payment of workmen’s compensation or other insurance, good faith deposits in connection with tenders or leases of real estate, bids or contracts, deposits to secure public or statutory obligations, deposits to secure or in lieu of surety, stay or appeal bonds and deposits as security for the payment of taxes or assessments or other similar charges, and Mortgages arising in connection with statutory or contractual set-off provisions granted or arising in the ordinary course of business;

(f) Any Mortgage arising by reason of deposits with or the giving of any form of security to any governmental agency or any body created or approved by law or governmental

 

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regulation for any purpose at any time as required by law or governmental regulation as a condition to the transaction of any business or the exercise of any privilege or license, or to enable the Partnership or a Subsidiary to maintain self-insurance or to participate in any fund for liability on any insurance risks or in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pensions or other social security or to share in the privileges or benefits required for companies participating in such arrangements;

(g) The right reserved to, or vested in, any municipality or governmental or other public authority or railroad by the terms of any right, power, franchise, grant, license, permit, or by any provision of law, to terminate or to require annual or other periodic payments as a condition to the continuance of such right, power, franchise, grant, license or permit;

(h) Mortgages for taxes, assessments and governmental charges which are not at the time delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings by the Partnership or a Subsidiary;

(i) Mortgages due to zoning, planning and environmental laws and ordinances and governmental regulations; minor defects or irregularities in or encumbrances on the titles to any Principal Property which in the aggregate do not materially impair the use of the Principal Property of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, for the purposes for which it is held in the operation of the business of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries; easements, exceptions or reservations in any Principal Property of the Partnership or a Subsidiary granted or reserved for the purpose of pipelines, roads, telecommunication equipment and cable, streets, alleys, highways, railroad purposes, the removal of oil, gas, coal or other minerals or timber, and other like purposes, or for the joint or common use of real Principal Property, facilities and equipment, which do not materially impair the use of the Principal Property of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, for the purposes for which it is held in the operation of the business of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, or materially detract from the value of the Principal Property subject thereto;

(j) Mortgages securing any obligation incurred in connection with the rendering of a final judgment or award the execution of which has been stayed or which has been appealed and secured, if necessary, by the filing of an appeal bond and the claims secured thereby are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(k) Mortgages incidental to the conduct of the business of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries or the ownership of the Principal Property of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries (including warehousemen’s liens, attorneys’ liens, operator’s liens, brokers’ liens, landlords’ liens and liens granted in favor of partnerships or joint ventures or the participants therein) which were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money (or as full or partial payment for Principal Property) or the obtaining of advances or credit (other than trade credit, including margin accounts with brokerage firms), and which do not materially interfere with the conduct of the business of the Partnership and of its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(l) Mortgages on Principal Property of any Subsidiary to secure obligations of such Subsidiary to the Partnership or to another Subsidiary; provided, however, that the obligations secured by such Mortgages may not be assigned, sold or otherwise transferred to a Person other than the Partnership or a Subsidiary unless such Mortgage would otherwise be permitted to be granted to such Person under another exception in this Section;

 

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(m) Mortgages on current assets of the Partnership or any Subsidiary created to secure indebtedness and letter of credit reimbursement obligations incurred in connection with the extension of working capital financing;

(n) Any Mortgage on any Principal Property of the Partnership or any Subsidiary existing at the date of this Indenture (or Principal Property constituting substitutions or replacements for, or accessions to, Principal Property which is encumbered pursuant to after-acquired Principal Property provisions of the agreements in accordance with which such Mortgages were granted);

(o) Mortgages (which may include customary after-acquired Principal Property provisions relating to substitutions or replacements for, or accessions to, the Principal Property encumbered thereby) incurred in connection with the borrowing of funds if, within 120 days following the date of such borrowing, such funds are utilized to repay indebtedness in the same (or greater) principal amount secured by other Mortgages (other than Mortgages referred to in clause (m) above) on Principal Property of the Partnership or any Subsidiary having a fair market value (as determined by the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner) at least equal to the fair market value of the Principal Property which secures the new Mortgage;

(p) Mortgages incurred within 90 days (or any longer period, not in excess of one year, as permitted by law) after acquisition of the Principal Property subject to such Mortgage arising solely in connection with the transfer of tax benefits in accordance with any provisions of law similar to former Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954;

(q) Any renewal, refunding or extension of maturity, in whole or in part, of any Mortgage created or assumed in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (a),(b),(c),(d),(l),(m),(n),(o) or (p) above; provided, however, that the principal amount of the indebtedness secured by such renewal Mortgage, refunding Mortgage or extended Mortgage shall not exceed the principal amount of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage to be renewed, refunded or extended outstanding at the time of such renewal, refunding or extension; provided, further, that in the case of any revolving credit or similar facility which allows the Partnership or any Subsidiary to borrow any money thereunder immediately prior to the time of such renewal, refunding or extension of maturity, the principal amount of indebtedness secured by the renewal Mortgage, refunding Mortgage or extended Mortgage shall not exceed the maximum stated amount which could be borrowed under such facility immediately prior to such renewal, refunding or extension (without regard to any borrowing base, collateral value, debt to equity, debt service or other provisions then purporting to limit any borrowings thereunder); and in any case the lien of such renewal Mortgage, refunding Mortgage or extended Mortgage shall be limited to the same Principal Property (or Principal Property constituting substitutions or replacements for, or accessions to, Principal Property which is encumbered pursuant to after-acquired Principal Property provisions of the agreements in accordance with which such Mortgages were granted) that secured the Mortgage so renewed, refunded or extended; and

 

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(r) Mortgages not otherwise permitted by any of the foregoing provisions securing debt in an aggregate principal or face amount at any date not to exceed 15% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 1102. Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

The Partnership covenants and agrees that neither it nor any Subsidiary will enter into any arrangement with any Person (other than the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries), or to which any such Person is a party, providing for the leasing to the Partnership or a Subsidiary for a period of more than three years of Principal Property which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Partnership or such Subsidiary to such Person or to any other Person (other than the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries), and with respect to which the funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of the leased Principal Property (in this Article Eleven called “Sale and Leaseback Transactions”) unless either:

(i) the Partnership or such Subsidiary would be entitled, pursuant to Section 1101, to incur indebtedness secured by a Mortgage on the Principal Property to be leased, without equally and ratably securing the Securities, or

(ii) the Partnership during or immediately after the expiration of 120 days after the effective date of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction (whether made by the Partnership or a Subsidiary) applies an amount equal to the value of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction (A) to the purchase of other property that will constitute Principal Property or (B) to the voluntary retirement of Funded Debt that is not, by its terms, subordinated to the Securities; provided, however, that the amount to be applied to the retirement of Funded Debt shall be reduced by (A) the principal amount of Securities delivered, within 120 days after the effective date of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, to the Trustee for retirement and cancellation and (B) the principal amount of other Funded Debt voluntarily retired by the Partnership within such 120-day period, excluding retirements of Securities and other Funded Debt pursuant to mandatory sinking fund or prepayment provisions or by payment at maturity.

For purposes of this Section 1102, the term “value” shall mean, with respect to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction, as of any particular time, the amount equal to the greater of (1) the net proceeds of the sale or transfer of the property leased pursuant to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction or (2) the fair value in the opinion of the Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Finance or Treasurer of the General Partner of such property at the time of entering into such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, in either case divided first by the number of full years of the term of the lease and then multiplied by the number of full years of such term remaining at the time of determination, without regard to any renewal or extension options contained in the lease.

Notwithstanding this Section 1102, the Partnership and any Subsidiary may enter into Sale and Leaseback Transactions in an aggregate principal amount at any date not to exceed, together with the aggregate outstanding principal or face amount of all indebtedness of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries secured by Mortgages permitted as a result of clause(s) of Section 1101, 15% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries.

 

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ARTICLE TWELVE

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article.

Redemption of Securities of any series at the option of the Partnership as permitted or required by the terms of such Securities shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Article.

SECTION 1202. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Partnership to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Partnership Order. In case of any redemption at the election of the Partnership of less than all of the Securities of any series with the same issue date, interest rate and Stated Maturity, the Partnership shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Partnership (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed.

SECTION 1203. Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed.

If less than all the Securities of any series with the same issue date, interest rate and Stated Maturity are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal amount of Registered Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Registered Security of such series not redeemed to less than the minimum denomination for a Security of that series established pursuant to Section 302.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Partnership and the Security Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

SECTION 1204. Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed, to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed. Failure to give notice by mailing in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Registered Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portion thereof.

 

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Any notice that is mailed to the Holder of any Registered Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not such Holder receives the notice.

All notices of redemption shall include the CUSIP Number, if any, and shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price,

(3) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amount) of the particular Securities to be redeemed,

(4) in case any Registered Security is to be redeemed in part only, that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder of such Security will receive, without charge, a new Registered Security or Registered Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,

(5) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed, and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date,

(6) the place or places where such Securities, together in the case of Bearer Securities with all coupons appertaining thereto, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, and

(7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 106 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Partnership shall be given by the Partnership or, at the Partnership’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Partnership.

SECTION 1205. Deposit of Redemption Price.

On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Partnership shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Partnership is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on all the Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date.

SECTION 1206. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Partnership shall default in the payment of the

 

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Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, together with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Partnership at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of coupons for such interest (at an office or agency located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002), and provided, further, that installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Partnership and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency located outside of the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

SECTION 1207. Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Registered Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at any office or agency of the Partnership maintained for that purpose pursuant to Section 1002 (with, if the Partnership or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Partnership and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Partnership shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, containing identical terms and provisions, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a Security in global form is so surrendered, the Partnership shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the U.S. Depository or other depository for such Security in global form as shall be specified in the Partnership Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, without service charge, a new Security in global form in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security in global form so surrendered.

 

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ARTICLE THIRTEEN

SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 1301. Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment”, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1302. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

SECTION 1302. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Partnership may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any of such Securities previously called for redemption or any of such Securities in respect of which cash shall have been released to the Partnership), together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto, and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of such series of Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such series of Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities of any series in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 1302, the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such series for redemption, except upon Partnership Request, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall at the request of the Partnership from time to time pay over and deliver to the Partnership any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Partnership to the Trustee of Securities of that series purchased by the Partnership having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment requested to be released to the Partnership.

SECTION 1303. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Partnership will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series,

 

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the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1302, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so credited and not theretofore delivered. If such Officers’ Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Partnership shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1203 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Partnership in the manner provided in Section 1204. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1206 and 1207.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

SECTION 1401. Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series. The repayment of any principal amount of Securities pursuant to such option of the Holder to require repayment of Securities before their Stated Maturity, for purposes of Section 309, shall not operate as a payment, redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the Partnership, at its option, shall deliver or surrender the same to the Trustee with a directive that such Securities be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article Fourteen, in connection with any repayment of Securities, the Partnership may arrange for the purchase of any Securities by an agreement with one or more investment bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Securities by paying to the Holders of such Securities on or before the close of business on the repayment date an amount not less than the repayment price payable by the Partnership on repayment of such Securities, and the obligation of the Partnership to pay the repayment price of such Securities shall be satisfied and discharged to the extent such payment is so paid by such purchasers.

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

 

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SECTION 1502. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

(a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

(b) In case at any time the Partnership, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Partnership or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

SECTION 1503. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Partnership and its counsel.

SECTION 1504. Quorum; Action.

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series that is less or greater than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, then, with respect to such action (and only such action) the Persons entitled to vote such lesser or greater percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the

 

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meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1502(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than 66-2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly convened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of 66-2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; and provided, further, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the related coupons, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

SECTION 1505. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination or proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 or by having the signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 104 to certify to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Partnership or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1502(b), in which case the Partnership or the Holders of

 

63


Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

(c) At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

(d) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1502 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

SECTION 1506. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in triplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1502 and, if applicable, Section 1504. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Partnership, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 1601. Securities in Foreign Currencies.

Whenever this Indenture provides for (i) any action by, or the determination of any of the rights of, Holders of Securities of any series in which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same currency, or (ii) any distribution to Holders of Securities, in the absence of any provision to the contrary in the form of Security of any particular series, any amount in respect of any Security denominated in a currency other than Dollars shall be treated for any such action or

 

64


distribution as that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount on such reasonable basis of exchange and as of the record date with respect to Registered Securities of such series (if any) for such action, determination of rights or distribution (or, if there shall be no applicable record date, such other date reasonably proximate to the date of such action, determination of rights or distribution) as the Partnership may specify in a written notice to the Trustee or, in the absence of such written notice, as the Trustee may determine.

*     *     *     *     *

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

65


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written:

 

VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP
By:   Valero Energy Partners GP LLC,
  its general partner
By:  

/s/ Donna M. Titzman

  Name:   Donna M. Titzman
  Title:  

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial

Officer and Treasurer

Attest:

 

/s/ Jay D. Browning

Jay D. Browning
Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Valero Energy Partners GP LLC

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Shazia Flores

  Name:   Shazia Flores
  Title:   Vice President

Signature Page to Indenture

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO   

ONE SHELL PLAZA

910 LOUISIANA

HOUSTON, TEXAS

77002-4995

 

TEL +1 713.229.1234

FAX +1 713.229.1522

BakerBotts.com

  

AUSTIN

BEIJING

BRUSSELS

DALLAS

DUBAI

HONG KONG

HOUSTON

  

LONDON

MOSCOW

NEW YORK

PALO ALTO

RIYADH

SAN FRANCISCO

WASHINGTON

November 30, 2016

Valero Energy Partners LP

One Valero Way

San Antonio, Texas 78249

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for Valero Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), with respect to certain legal matters in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 (the “ Amendment ”) to the registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-208052) (as amended by the Amendment, the “ Registration Statement ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), registering (i) common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Common Units ”), (ii) preferred units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Preferred Units ”) and (iii) senior debt securities of the Partnership (the “ Debt Securities ” and collectively with the Common Units and the Preferred Units, the “ Securities ”), in each case that may be issued and sold by the Partnership from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

In our capacity as your counsel in the connection referred to above and as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed, we have examined (i) the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership and the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, each as amended to the date hereof, (ii) the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Valero Energy Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Partnership (the “ General Partner ”), and the Certificate of Formation of the General Partner, each as amended to the date hereof, (iii) statutes, including the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “ Delaware LP Act ”) and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “ Delaware LLC Act ”), (iv) originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified, of the partnership and limited liability company records of the Partnership and the General Partner, including minute books of the General Partner as furnished to us by the General Partner, (v) originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified, of certificates of public officials and of representatives of the Partnership and the General Partner, statutes and other instruments and documents, (vi) the Registration Statement and the prospectus contained therein (the “ Prospectus ”), (vii) the Indenture, dated as of November 30, 2016, between the Partnership and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Indenture ”) and (viii) other instruments and documents as we deemed necessary or advisable, in each case as a basis for the opinions hereafter expressed.

In connection with the opinions hereinafter expressed, we have assumed that (i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective; (ii) a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby; (iii) all Securities will be issued and


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Valero Energy Partners LP   - 2 -    November 30, 2016

 

sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the appropriate prospectus supplement; (iv) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Partnership and the other parties thereto; (v) any securities issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange or exercise of any Securities being offered will be duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, redemption, exchange or exercise; (vi) the certificates for the Common Units or Preferred Units, if any, will conform to the specimens thereof examined by us and will have been duly countersigned by a transfer agent and duly registered by a registrar of the Common Units or Preferred Units, or, if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations will have been made in the unit register of the Partnership, in each case in accordance with the provisions of the governing documents of the Partnership, applicable Delaware law and either: (A) the provisions of the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement under which the Partnership will sell those Securities; or (B) if issued on conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of any other Securities, the applicable provisions of that Security or the agreement or instrument under which that conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise will be effected; and (vii) each document submitted to us for review is accurate and complete, each such document that is an original is authentic, each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original and all signatures on each such document are genuine.

In addition, we have relied, without independent investigation, upon the factual accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in the certificates we examined.

Based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. With respect to Common Units, when (a) the Partnership has taken all necessary action to approve the issuance of such Common Units, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters and (b) such Common Units have been issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Partnership upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, such Common Units will be duly authorized and validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable.

2. With respect to Preferred Units, when (a) the Partnership has taken all necessary action to approve the issuance of such Preferred Units, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters and caused the Partnership Agreement to be amended to reflect the terms of the Preferred Units and (b) such Preferred Units have been issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Partnership upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, such Preferred Units will be duly authorized and validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable.


LOGO

 

Valero Energy Partners LP   - 3 -    November 30, 2016

 

3. With respect to the Debt Securities to be issued under the Indenture, when (a) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (b) the Partnership has taken all necessary action to approve the issuance and terms of such Debt Securities, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters and (c) the forms of securities complying with the terms of the Indenture under which those Debt Securities have been issued and evidencing those Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and either: (A) the provisions of the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Partnership upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein; or (B) if issued on conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of any other Securities, the applicable provisions of that Security or the agreement or instrument under which that conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise has been effected, such Debt Securities will, when issued, constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof is subject to the effect of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) or (iii) any implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.

The opinions set forth above are limited in all respects to matters of the contract laws of the State of New York, the Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act and applicable federal law of the United States of America, in each case as published and in effect on the date hereof, and express no opinion as to the law of any other jurisdiction.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Baker Botts L.L.P.

Exhibit 8.1

 

LOGO

   2001 ROSS AVENUE      AUSTIN      LONDON
   SUITE 600      BEIJING      MOSCOW
   DALLAS, TEXAS      BRUSSELS      NEW YORK
   75201-2980      DALLAS      PALO ALTO
        DUBAI      RIYADH
   TEL +1 214.953.6500      HONG KONG      SAN FRANCISCO
   FAX +1 214.953.6503      HOUSTON      WASHINGTON
   BakerBotts.com          

November 30, 2016

Valero Energy Partners LP

One Valero Way

San Antonio, Texas 78249

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for Valero Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), with respect to certain legal matters in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) of a Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 (the “ Amendment ”) to the registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-208052) (as amended by the Amendment, the “ Registration Statement ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), registering common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership, preferred units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership and debt securities of the Partnership. In connection therewith, we prepared the discussion set forth under the caption “Material Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the Registration Statement (the “ Discussion ”).

This opinion is based on various facts and assumptions, and is conditioned upon certain representations made to us by the Partnership as to factual matters through a certificate of an officer of the Partnership (the “ Officer’s Certificate ”). In addition, this opinion is based upon the factual representations of the Partnership concerning its business, properties and governing documents as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Partnership’s responses to our examinations and inquiries.

In our capacity as counsel to the Partnership, we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such documents, corporate records and other instruments, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. In our examination, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures thereon, the legal capacity of natural persons executing such documents and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. For purposes of our opinion, we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in the above-referenced documents or representations. In addition, in rendering this opinion we have assumed the truth and accuracy of all representations and statements made to us which are qualified as to knowledge or belief, without regard to such qualification.

We hereby confirm that all statements of legal conclusions contained in the Discussion constitute the opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. with respect to the matters set forth therein as of the effective date of the Registration Statement, subject to the assumptions, qualifications, and limitations set forth therein. This opinion is based on various statutory provisions, regulations promulgated thereunder and interpretations thereof by the Internal Revenue Service and the courts having jurisdiction over such matters, all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Also, any variation or difference in the facts from those set forth in the representations described above, including in the Registration Statement and the Officer’s Certificate, may affect the conclusions stated herein.

No opinion is expressed as to any matter not discussed in the Discussion. We are opining herein only as to the federal income tax matters described above, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability to, or the effect on, any transaction of other federal laws, foreign laws, the laws of any state or any other jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any other local agencies within any state. This letter speaks as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation to update it.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Baker Botts L.L.P.

Exhibit 12.1

VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP

STATEMENTS OF COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(In Thousands)

 

     Nine Months
Ended
September 30, 2016
    Year Ended December 31, (a)  
       2015      2014      2013      2012     2011  

Earnings:

               

Income before income taxes

   $ 129,812      $ 71,563       $ (32,813    $ (23,969    $ (36,453   $ (44,954

Add:

               

Fixed charges

     11,983        8,521         1,352         714         942        883   

Amortization of capitalized interest

     3        1         —           —           —          —     

Less:

               

Capitalized interest

     (48     (31      —           —           —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total earnings

   $ 141,750      $ 80,054       $ (31,461    $ (23,255    $ (35,511   $ (44,071
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed charges:

               

Interest and debt expense, net of capitalized interest

   $ 9,582      $ 6,113       $ 872       $ 198       $ 307      $ 429   

Capitalized interest

     48        31         —           —           —          —     

Rental expense interest factor (b)

     2,353        2,377         480         516         635        454   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed charges

   $ 11,983      $ 8,521       $ 1,352       $ 714       $ 942      $ 883   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     11.8     9.4      (c)         (c)         (c)        (c)   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) Financial information has been retrospectively adjusted for the acquisitions of businesses under common control.
(b) The interest portion of rental expense represents one-third of rents, which is deemed representative of the interest portion of rental expense.
(c) For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges and the deficiency was $45.0 million, $36.5 million, $24.0 million and $32.8 million, respectively.

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Unitholders of Valero Energy Partners LP and

the Board of Directors of Valero Energy Partners GP LLC

We consent to the use of our report dated September 16, 2016, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Valero Energy Partners LP and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income, partners’ capital, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015 included in its Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 8, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission incorporated by reference herein, and our report dated February 26, 2016, with respect to the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, incorporated by reference herein; and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-208052) and related Prospectus.

/s/ KPMG LLP

San Antonio, Texas

November 30, 2016

Exhibit 23.2

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Unitholders of Valero Energy Partners LP and

the Board of Directors of Valero Energy Partners GP LLC

We consent to the use of our report dated September 1, 2016, with respect to the combined balance sheets of the Meraux and Three Rivers Terminal Services Business as of December 31, 2015, and the related combined statements of operations, changes in net investment, and cash flows for the year then ended, incorporated by reference herein, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-208052) and related Prospectus.

/s/ KPMG LLP

San Antonio, Texas

November 30, 2016

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER

THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A

CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

31-0841368

I.R.S. Employer Identification No.

 

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota

  55402
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Shazia Flores

U.S. Bank National Association

8 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1100

Houston, TX 77046

(713) 212-7579

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

 

 

Valero Energy Partners LP

(Issuer with respect to the Securities)

 

 

 

Delaware   90-1006559

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

One Valero Way

San Antonio, Texas

  78249
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Debt Securities

(Title of the Indenture Securities)

 

 

 


FORM T-1

 

Item 1. GENERAL INFORMATION . Furnish the following information as to the Trustee.

 

  a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency

Washington, D.C.

 

  b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes

 

Item 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None

 

Items 3-15 Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee.

 

Item 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification.

 

  1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee.*

 

  2. A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2.

 

  3. A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, attached as Exhibit 3.

 

  4. A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee.**

 

  5. A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable.

 

  6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6.

 

  7. Report of Condition of the Trustee as of September 30, 2016 published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7.

 

* Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to Amendment No. 2 to registration statement on S-4, Registration Number 333-128217 filed on November 15, 2005.
** Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to registration statement on form S-3ASR, Registration Number 333-199863 filed on November 5, 2014.

 

2


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Houston, State of Texas on the 28 th of November, 2016.

 

By:  

/s/ Shazia Flores

  Shazia Flores
  Vice President

 

3


Exhibit 2

 

LOGO     Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
  Washington, DC 20219

CERTIFICATE OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE

I, Thomas J. Curry, Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that:

1. The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations.

2. “U.S. Bank National Association,” Cincinnati, Ohio (Charter No. 24), is a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States and is authorized thereunder to transact the business of banking on the date of this certificate.

 

LOGO

  

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today,

 

June 15, 2016, I have hereunto

 

subscribed my name and caused my seal

 

of office to be affixed to these presents at

 

the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in

 

the City of Washington, District of

 

Columbia.

 

  

LOGO

        Comptroller of the Currency

 

4


Exhibit 3

 

LOGO     Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
  Washington, DC 20219

CERTIFICATION OF FIDUCIARY POWERS

I, Thomas J. Curry, Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that:

1. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations.

2. “U.S. Bank National Association,” Cincinnati, Ohio (Charter No. 24), was granted, under the hand and seal of the Comptroller, the right to act in all fiduciary capacities authorized under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved September 28, 1962, 76 Stat. 668, 12 USC 92a, and that the authority so granted remains in full force and effect on the date of this certificate.

 

LOGO

  

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today,

 

June 15, 2016, I have hereunto subscribed

 

my name and caused my seal of office to be

 

affixed to these presents at the U.S.

 

Department of the Treasury, in the City of

 

Washington, District of Columbia.

 

  

LOGO

            Comptroller of the Currency

  

 

5


Exhibit 6

CONSENT

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

Dated: November 28, 2016

 

By:  

/s/ Shazia Flores

  Shazia Flores
  Vice President

 

6


Exhibit 7

U.S. Bank National Association

Statement of Financial Condition

As of 9/30/2016

($000’s)

 

     9/30/2016  

Assets

  

Cash and Balances Due From Depository Institutions

   $ 23,641,632   

Securities

     109,767,226   

Federal Funds

     38,946   

Loans & Lease Financing Receivables

     272,221,647   

Fixed Assets

     5,761,293   

Intangible Assets

     12,599,811   

Other Assets

     24,370,650   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 448,401,205   

Liabilities

  

Deposits

   $ 345,417,164   

Fed Funds

     1,412,924   

Treasury Demand Notes

     0   

Trading Liabilities

     1,823,679   

Other Borrowed Money

     36,430,473   

Acceptances

     0   

Subordinated Notes and Debentures

     3,800,000   

Other Liabilities

     13,542,899   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ 402,427,139   

Equity

  

Common and Preferred Stock

     18,200   

Surplus

     14,266,915   

Undivided Profits

     30,877,711   

Minority Interest in Subsidiaries

     811,240   
  

 

 

 

Total Equity Capital

   $ 45,974,066   

Total Liabilities and Equity Capital

   $ 448,401,205   

 

7