--12-31 false 0001647513 0001647513 2019-11-14 2019-11-14

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 14, 2019

 

IMAGE

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-37640

 

47-3011449

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

Commission

File Number

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

     

1001 Noble Energy Way,

Houston, Texas

77070

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (281) 872-3100

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

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

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

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

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

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Units, Representing Limited Partner Interests

 

NBLX

 

New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Contribution and Simplification Agreement

On November 14, 2019, Noble Midstream Partners LP (the “Partnership”) entered into a Contribution, Conveyance, Assumption and Simplification Agreement (the “Contribution and Simplification Agreement”) by and among the Partnership, Noble Midstream GP LLC, the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), Noble Energy, Inc. (“Noble”), Noble Midstream Services, LLC (“Midstream Services”), NBL Midstream, LLC, a subsidiary of Noble (“NBL Midstream”), and NBL Midstream Holdings LLC (“NBL Holdings”). Pursuant to the terms of the Contribution and Simplification Agreement, the Partnership agreed to acquire from NBL Midstream (i) a 60% limited partner interest in Blanco River DevCo LP (“Blanco River DevCo”), (ii) a 75% limited partner interest in Green River DevCo LP (“Green River DevCo”), (iii) a 75% limited partner interest in San Juan River DevCo LP (“San Juan River DevCo”) and (iv) all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of NBL Holdings (collectively, (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) are referred to herein as the “Contributed Interests” and the acquisition of the Contributed Interests is referred to as the “Drop-Down Transaction”). Additionally, NBL Midstream and the Partnership caused the General Partner to amend the partnership agreement in order to recapitalize and convert the Incentive Distribution Rights (“IDRs”) into common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (“Common Units”) (such recapitalization and conversion, the “Simplification” and together with the Drop-Down Transaction, the “Transaction”). In consideration for the acquisition of the Contributed Interests and the IDRs, the Partnership agreed to pay NBL Midstream total consideration of $1.6 billion, which will consist $670 million in cash and 38,455,018 Common Units issued to NBL Midstream. The Drop-Down Transaction closed on November 14, 2019. Subsequent to the closing of the Drop-Down Transaction, the Partnership indirectly owns a 100% interest in each of Blanco River DevCo, Green River DevCo, San Juan River DevCo and NBL Holdings.

The Contribution and Simplification Agreement includes customary representations and warranties regarding NBL Midstream, Noble, the General Partner, the Partnership, the Contributed Interests and the Transaction, as well as customary covenants and indemnity provisions. The parties have agreed to indemnify each other for any breaches of their respective representations, warranties and covenants set forth in the Contribution and Simplification Agreement.

The terms of the Transaction were approved on behalf of the Partnership by the Board of Directors of the General Partner, after the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner (the “Conflicts Committee”) unanimously recommended that the Board of Directors of the General Partner approve the Transaction. The Conflicts Committee, composed of independent members of the Board of Directors of the General Partner, retained independent legal and financial advisors to assist it in evaluating and negotiating the Transaction. In approving the Transaction, the Conflicts Committee based its decisions in part on an opinion from its independent financial advisor that the total consideration to be paid by the Partnership in connection with the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Partnership and to holders of the Partnership’s Common Units other than Noble and its affiliates.

Unit Purchase Agreement

On November 14, 2019, the Partnership entered into a Common Unit Purchase Agreement (the “Unit Purchase Agreement”) with certain institutional investors (the “Investors”) to sell 12,077,295 Common Units in a private placement for gross proceeds of approximately $250 million (the “Private Placement”). The closing of the Private Placement is anticipated to occur on November 21, 2019. The Common Units will be issued in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for an exemption from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act. The proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to fund a portion of the cash consideration that will be paid to NBL Midstream in connection with the Transaction described above.

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. and BofA Securities, Inc. acted as placement agents in connection with the Private Placement.

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The Unit Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of the Partnership and the Investors. The Partnership, on the one hand, and each of the Investors (severally and not jointly), on the other hand, have agreed to indemnify each other and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and other representatives against certain losses resulting from any breach of their representations, warranties or covenants contained in the Unit Purchase Agreement, subject to certain limitations and survival periods.

In connection with the closing of the Private Placement, the Partnership intends to enter into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) containing provisions by which the Partnership will agree to, among other things and subject to certain restrictions, file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form S-3 providing for the registration of the resale of the Common Units to be issued in the Private Placement.

Relationships

Each of the parties to the Contribution and Simplification Agreement is a direct or indirect subsidiary of Noble. As a result, certain individuals, including officers of Noble and officers and directors of the General Partner, serve as officers and/or directors of one or more of such entities. As of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K and after giving effect to the transactions described herein, we expect NBL Midstream to own Common Units representing a 64% limited partner interest in the Partnership. NBL Midstream also owns a noneconomic general partner interest in the Partnership through its ownership of the General Partner.

Noble or its subsidiaries are party to various gathering, service and revenue agreements with the Partnership or its subsidiaries for the provision of midstream services. In addition, Noble is the Partnership’s largest customer and the Partnership derives substantially all of our revenue from Noble.

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

To the extent required, the information regarding the Transaction set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 3.02 Sale of Unregistered Units.

The information regarding the Transaction and the Common Units issued to NBL Midstream as consideration for the Drop-Down Transaction and Simplification, and the transactions contemplated by the Unit Purchase Agreement, each as set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing transactions were undertaken in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The Partnership believes that exemptions other than the foregoing exemption may exist for these transactions.

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

On November 14, 2019, in connection with the Simplification, the General Partner amended and restated the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership by executing the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “Second Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement”), which reflects the conversion of the IDRs to Common Units of the Partnership.

The foregoing description of the Second Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Second Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On November 15, 2019, the Partnership issued two press releases relating to the Transaction and the Private Placement which are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

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The Partnership is also posting an investor presentation to the ‘Investors’ page of its website at www.nblmidstream.com. A copy of the presentation materials is being furnished as Exhibit 99.3 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information included in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3, is being furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to liabilities of that section.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

  (d) Exhibits.
 

2.1*

   

Contribution, Conveyance, Assumption and Simplification Agreement, dated November 14, 2019, by and among Noble Midstream Partners LP, Noble Midstream GP LLC, Noble Midstream Services, LLC, NBL Midstream, LLC, NBL Midstream Holdings LLC, Blanco River DevCo GP LLC, Green River DevCo GP LLC and San Juan River DevCo GP LLC.

         
 

3.1

   

Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Noble Midstream Partners, LP, dated as of November 14, 2019.

         
 

10.1

   

Common Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2019, by and among the Partnership and the Purchasers named therein.

         
 

99.1

   

Press Release dated November 15, 2019 relating to the Private Placement.

         
 

99.2

   

Press Release dated November 15, 2019 relating to the Transaction.

         
 

99.3

   

Investor Presentation

         
 

104

   

Cover page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

* Schedules and similar attachments have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The registrant will furnish a supplemental copy of any omitted schedule or similar attachment to the Commission upon request.

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SIGNATURE

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

 

 

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 

 

By:

 

Noble Midstream GP LLC,

 

 

 

Its General Partner

             

Date: November 15, 2019

 

 

 

             

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Thomas W Christensen

 

 

 

Thomas W. Christensen

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

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Exhibit 2.1

CONTRIBUTION, CONVEYANCE, ASSUMPTION

AND SIMPLIFICATION AGREEMENT

by and among

NOBLE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

NOBLE MIDSTREAM GP LLC

NOBLE MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC

NBL MIDSTREAM, LLC

and

NBL MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS LLC


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article I Definitions

     6  

Article II Contribution of Subject Interests; Consideration; Acknowledgements

     14  

Section 2.1

   Contribution of Subject Interests      14  

Section 2.2

   Consideration      15  

Section 2.3

   Excluded Liabilities      15  

Section 2.4

   Excluded Assets      15  

Section 2.5

   Transaction Taxes      16  

Section 2.6

   Conveyances of any Excluded Assets      16  

Section 2.7

   Partnership Agreement      16  

Article III Closing

     17  

Section 3.1

   Closing      17  

Section 3.2

   Deliveries by NBL Midstream      17  

Section 3.3

   Deliveries by the Partnership Parties      17  

Article IV Representations and Warranties of Noble and NBL Midstream

     18  

Section 4.1

   Organization and Existence      18  

Section 4.2

   Authority and Approval; Enforceability      18  

Section 4.3

   No Conflict      18  

Section 4.4

   Consents      19  

Section 4.5

   Laws and Regulations; Litigation      19  

Section 4.6

   Management Projections and Budgets      20  

Section 4.7

   The Subject Interests      20  

Section 4.8

   The NBL Holdings Assets      21  

Section 4.9

   Environmental Matters      22  

Section 4.10

   Outstanding Capital Commitments      23  

Section 4.11

   Permits      23  

Section 4.12

   Contracts      23  

Section 4.13

   Insurance      24  

Section 4.14

   Employees      24  

Section 4.15

   Brokerage Arrangements      24  

Section 4.16

   No Preferential Rights      24  

Section 4.17

   Accredited Investor      24  

Section 4.18

   Taxes      24  

Section 4.19

   No Other Representations or Warranties; Independent Investigation      25  

Article V Representations and Warranties of the Partnership Parties

     25  

Section 5.1

   Organization and Existence      25  

Section 5.2

   Authority and Approval; Enforceability      26  

Section 5.3

   No Conflict      26  

 

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Section 5.4

   Consents      26  

Section 5.5

   Laws and Regulations; Litigation      27  

Section 5.6

   Delivery of Fairness Opinion      27  

Section 5.7

   Issuance of New Common Units and Converted Common Units      27  

Section 5.8

   Common Units Listed      27  

Section 5.9

   Brokerage Arrangements      27  

Section 5.10

   No Other Representations or Warranties; Independent Investigation      27  

Article VI Additional Covenants and Agreements

     28  

Section 6.1

   Further Assurances      28  

Section 6.2

   Tax Covenants      28  

Section 6.3

   Post-Closing Distributions      30  

Section 6.4

   Offering      30  

Article VII Indemnification

     30  

Section 7.1

   Indemnification of NBL Midstream      30  

Section 7.2

   Indemnification of the Partnership Parties      30  

Section 7.3

   Demands      31  

Section 7.4

   Right to Contest and Defend      31  

Section 7.5

   Cooperation      32  

Section 7.6

   Right to Participate      32  

Section 7.7

   Payment of Damages      32  

Section 7.8

   Limitations on Indemnification      32  

Section 7.9

   Survival      33  

Section 7.10

   Sole Remedy      34  

Section 7.11

   Express Negligence      34  

Article VIII Miscellaneous

     34  

Section 8.1

   Expenses      34  

Section 8.2

   Deed; Bill of Sale; Assignment      34  

Section 8.3

   Notices      34  

Section 8.4

   Governing Law      35  

Section 8.5

   Public Statements      36  

Section 8.6

   Form of Payment      36  

Section 8.7

   Entire Agreement; Amendments and Waivers      36  

Section 8.8

   Binding Effect and Assignment      37  

Section 8.9

   Severability      37  

Section 8.10

   Interpretation      37  

Section 8.11

   Counterparts      37  

 

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CONTRIBUTION, CONVEYANCE, ASSUMPTION

AND SIMPLIFICATION AGREEMENT

This CONTRIBUTION, CONVEYANCE, ASSUMPTION AND SIMPLIFICATION AGREEMENT, dated as of November 14, 2019 (this “Agreement”), is by and among NOBLE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Noble”), NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), NOBLE MIDSTREAM GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), NOBLE MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership (“Midstream Services”), NBL MIDSTREAM, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Noble (“NBL Midstream”), and NBL MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of NBL Midstream (“NBL Holdings”). Noble, the Partnership, General Partner, Midstream Services, NBL Midstream and NBL Holdings are each referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively, the “Parties”.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Blanco River DevCo GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Midstream Services (“Blanco River DevCo GP”), owns a 40% general partner interest in Blanco River DevCo LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Blanco River DevCo”), and NBL Midstream owns a 60% limited partner interest in Blanco River DevCo (the “Blanco River Interest”);

WHEREAS, Green River DevCo GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Midstream Services (“Green River DevCo GP”), owns a 25% general partner interest in Green River DevCo LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Green River DevCo”), and NBL Midstream owns a 75% limited partner interest in Green River DevCo (the “Green River Interest”);

WHEREAS, San Juan River DevCo GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Midstream Services (“San Juan River DevCo GP”), owns a 25% general partner interest in San Juan River DevCo LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“San Juan River DevCo” and together with Blanco River DevCo and Green River DevCo the “DevCos”), and NBL Midstream owns a 75% limited partner interest in San Juan River DevCo (the “San Juan River Interest”);

WHEREAS, NBL Midstream owns all of the Incentive Distribution Rights (“IDRs”) in the Partnership;

WHEREAS, NBL Midstream owns all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of NBL Holdings (the “NBL Holdings Interest”), which owns the NBL Holdings Assets (as defined below);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Closing (as defined below), (a) NBL Midstream desires to contribute, assign, transfer, convey, and deliver to the Partnership, and the Partnership desires to receive, accept, and acquire from NBL Midstream, (i) the Blanco River Interest, (ii) the Green River Interest (iii) the San Juan River Interest, and (iv) the NBL Holdings Interests, in

 

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exchange for the Drop-Down Consideration (as defined below), and (b) NBL Midstream and the Partnership desire to cause the General Partner to amend the Current Partnership Agreement in order to recapitalize and convert the IDRs into the Converted Common Units (as defined below), all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (the “Transaction”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, the Partnership is proposing to issue and sell Common Units in private placements to certain institutional investors (the “Offering”) in order to fund a portion of the Cash Consideration to be paid by the Partnership in connection with the Transaction. The Transaction is not conditioned upon the consummation of an Offering.

WHEREAS,

(a) the Conflicts Committee (the “Conflicts Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the General Partner (the “Board of Directors”) has previously:

(i) received an opinion (the “Fairness Opinion”) of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, the financial advisor to the Conflicts Committee (the “Financial Advisor”), that the Total Consideration to be paid by the Partnership in the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Partnership and to the holders of the Partnership’s Common Units other than the General Partner, Noble and their Affiliates (collectively, the “Public Unitholders”);

(ii) after an evaluation of, among other things, the Transaction, the Fairness Opinion, the proposed terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (as defined below) and the business and prospects of the Partnership, determined in good faith that the Transaction is not adverse to the interests of the Partnership and the Public Unitholders;

(iii) unanimously approved the Transaction and the Transaction Documents upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Transaction Documents, such approval constituting “Special Approval” for purposes of the Current Partnership Agreement (as defined below); and

(iv) unanimously recommended that the Board of Directors (A) approve the Transaction and the Transaction Documents upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Transaction Documents and (B) cause the Partnership or its designee(s) to enter into the Transaction Documents and consummate the Transaction upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Transaction Documents; and

(b) subsequently, the Board of Directors approved the Transaction, the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Transaction Documents;

WHEREAS, in order to effect the recapitalization and conversion of the IDRs, the General Partner will amend and restate the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of September 20, 2016 (the “Current Partnership Agreement”), to reflect the recapitalization and conversion of the IDRs (such amended and restated agreement, which may include certain other changes approved by the General Partner, being referred to as the “Revised Partnership Agreement”); and

 

5


WHEREAS, the Parties have taken or caused to be taken all corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership action, as applicable, required to approve the Transaction.

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

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms below:

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with such specified Person through one or more intermediaries or otherwise; provided, however, that (a) with respect to Noble, NBL Midstream, NBL Holdings, and the General Partner, the term “Affiliate” shall not include any Group Member and (b) with respect to the Partnership Group, the term “Affiliate” shall not include NBL Midstream, NBL Holdings, the General Partner, or any of their Subsidiaries (other than a Group Member).

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

Assignment Agreement” means that certain Interest Assignment Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto.

Blanco River DevCo” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Blanco River DevCo GP” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Blanco River Interest” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Blanco River Partnership Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Blanco River DevCo, dated as of September 20, 2016.

Board of Directors” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Business Day” means a day other than Saturday, Sunday, or any day on which banks located in the State of New York are authorized or obligated to close.

Cap” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.8(a).

Cash Consideration” means the Offering Proceeds plus $420,000,000.

Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

Code” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(c).

 

6


Common Unit” has the meaning set forth in the Current Partnership Agreement.

Conflicts Committee” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Conflicts Committee Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.

Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.

Contracts” has the meaning set forth in the definition of NBL Holdings Assets.

Control” means, where used with respect to any Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” have correlative meanings.

Converted Common Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).

Current Partnership Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

CWPC” has the meaning set forth in the definition of NBL Holdings Assets.

CWPC Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(e).

Damages” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

Deductible” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.8(a).

De Minimis Claims” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.8(a).

DevCos” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

DLLCA” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. Section 18-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

Drop-Down” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

Drop-Down Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

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

East Pony Assignment Agreement means that certain Assignment and Assumption Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto.

Effective Time” means 12:01 a.m. local time in Houston, Texas on the Closing Date, or such other time and date mutually agreed to by the Parties in writing.

 

7


Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state, and local laws, statutes, regulations, rules, orders, ordinances, rules of common law, approvals, registrations, exemptions, licenses, or permits of any Governmental Authority pertaining to health, safety, the environment, wildlife or natural resources in effect as of the date hereof in any and all jurisdictions in which any of the NBL Holdings Assets are located, including the Clean Air Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Oil Pollution Act, the Pipeline Safety Act, the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act, and the Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act, as each is amended from time to time and any state laws implementing the foregoing federal laws, any state laws pertaining to management of Hazardous Materials, including the handling of oil and gas exploration and production or processing wastes or the use, maintenance, and closure of pits and impoundments, all other federal, state, or local environmental conservation or protection laws, and any common law creating liability for environmental conditions.

Equipment” has the meaning set forth in the definition of NBL Holdings Assets.

Excluded Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

Excluded Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

Fairness Opinion” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Financial Advisor” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

General Partner” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

Governmental Authority” means (a) the United States of America or any state or political subdivision thereof within the United States of America and (b) any court or any governmental or administrative department, commission, board, bureau or agency of the United States of America or of any state or political subdivision thereof within the United States of America.

Green River DevCo” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Green River DevCo GP” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Green River Interest” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Green River Partnership Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Green River DevCo, dated as of September 20, 2016.

Group Member” has the meaning set forth in the Current Partnership Agreement.

 

8


Hazardous Materials” means (a) any pollutants, contaminants, solid wastes, toxic, or hazardous or extremely hazardous substances, materials, wastes, constituents, compounds, or chemicals as these or similar terms are regulated by, or may form the basis of liability under, any Environmental Laws; (b) any asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls or radon; and (c) any petroleum, Hydrocarbons, petroleum products, natural gas, crude oil, and any fractions, components, or derivatives thereof.

Hydrocarbons” means oil, gas, condensate, and other gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons or any combination thereof and sulphur extracted from hydrocarbons.

IDR Recapitalization” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.

IDRs” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Indemnity Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.

knowledge” means, with respect to any Party, the actual, present knowledge of the individual or individuals employed by such Party that have management-level responsibility for the fact or matter in question, in each case after due inquiry.

Liability” or “Liabilities” means any direct or indirect liability, indebtedness, obligation, cost, expense, claim, loss, damage, deficiency, guaranty, or endorsement of or by any Person, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, asserted or unasserted, accrued or unaccrued, due or to become due, liquidated or unliquidated.

Lien” means any security interest, lien, deed of trust, mortgage, pledge, charge, claim, restriction, easement, encumbrance, or other similar interest or right.

Material Contract” means all of the following contracts and agreements to which any of the NBL Holdings Assets will be bound as of the Closing:

 

  (a)

any agreement with any Affiliate of NBL Holdings;

 

  (b)

any agreement or contract for the gathering, processing, transportation, purchase, sale, exchange, or other disposition of Hydrocarbons relating to the NBL Holdings Assets that is not cancelable without penalty or other material payment on not more than 30 days’ prior written notice; and

 

  (c)

any tax partnership agreement of or binding upon NBL Holdings affecting any of the NBL Holdings Assets.

Midstream Services” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

NBL Holdings” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

NBL Holdings Assets” means all of NBL Holdings’ right, title, and interest, real or personal, recorded or unrecorded, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, in and to the following (but excluding the Excluded Assets):

 

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(a) all of the equity interests in Clayton Williams Pipeline Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (f/k/a Clayton Williams Pipeline Corporation) (“CWPC”);

(b) the Systems;

(c) to the extent transferable, all contracts, agreements, instruments, undertakings, or commitments (including intercompany contracts, agreements, instruments, undertakings or commitments), written or oral, by which any System is bound, or that directly relate to any System (including exchange agreements, gathering agreements, connection or interconnect agreements, construction agreements, operating agreements, work orders, purchase orders, service agreements, rental agreements, compression agreements, utility services agreements, non-disturbance agreements for the benefit of NBL Holdings, fractionation agreements, and agreements for the sale and purchase of Hydrocarbons or processing agreements to the extent applicable to any System), including those identified on Schedule 1.1(c) (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Contracts”);

(d) to the extent transferable, all easements, Permits, licenses, servitudes, rights-of-way, surface leases, fee interests in real property, covenants, dedications, releases from dedication and other surface rights appurtenant to, and used or held for use in connection with, any System (including those identified on Schedule 1.1(d)) (“Surface Contracts”);

(e) all equipment, machinery, tools, supplies, parts, work-in-progress, radios, communications equipment, telemetry equipment, temporary buildings, vehicles, leased personal property, fixtures, and other tangible personal property and improvements located on any System or used or held for use primarily in connection with the operation of any System, including those identified on Schedule 1.1(e) (“Equipment”);

(f) all claims, causes of action, indemnities and rights of NBL Holdings under or pursuant to all warranties, representations, and guarantees made by suppliers, vendors, manufacturers, subcontractors, and contractors or others relating to products sold, or services provided, to the extent used or held for use primarily in connection with or affecting any of the NBL Holdings Assets;

(g) to the extent owned by NBL Holdings immediately prior to the Effective Time, all Hydrocarbon linefill, imbalance accounts and Hydrocarbons existing within any System from and after the Effective Time;

(h) all pipelines, gathering, interconnect, compression, dehydration, treating, stabilization, processing, fractionation, meter station, pump station, cathodic protection, pig launcher and gas lift systems and appurtenances thereto being part of any System or used, or held for use, in connection with the operating of any System (“Pipelines”);

(i) all materials and Equipment inventory related to or used primarily in connection with the NBL Holdings Assets;

 

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(j) all (i) accounts, instruments, and general intangibles (as such terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware), cash, cash equivalents, notes payable and receivable, accounts payable and receivable, supplier and customer lists, files and correspondence related thereto, bank accounts, savings accounts, safe deposit boxes and the contents of each of the foregoing, certificates of deposit refunds due customers, refunds from suppliers or contractors, prepaid and deferred items (including taxes) attributable to the ownership or operation of the NBL Holdings Assets on or after the Effective Time; and (ii) Liens in favor of NBL Holdings that exist as of the Effective Time, whether choate or inchoate, under any law or under any of the Contracts (A) arising from the ownership, operation or sale, or other disposition of any of the NBL Holdings Assets or (B) arising in favor of NBL Holdings as the operator of certain of the NBL Holdings Assets, but only to the extent a Partnership Party is appointed successor operator; and

(k) all land files, gas contract files, gas gathering and processing files, land surveys, maps, engineering data and reports, and other books, records, data, files, and accounting records (regardless of whether paper or electronic media), in each case to the extent related primarily to the NBL Holdings Assets, or used or held for use primarily in connection with the maintenance or operation thereof, but excluding (i) computer or communications software of intellectual property (including tapes, codes, data, and program documentation and all tangible manifestations and technical information relating thereto), (ii) attorney-client privileged communications and work product of NBL Holdings’ legal counsel, and (iii) reserve studies and evaluations (subject to such exclusions, the “Records”); provided, however, that NBL Holdings may retain copies of such Records as NBL Holdings has reasonably determined may be required for litigation, tax, accounting, or auditing purposes, or otherwise necessary to perform such Party’s or its Affiliates’ obligations under the Transaction Documents, and provide Partnership Parties with the originals thereof.

NBL Holdings Interest” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

NBL Holdings Organizational Documents” means the Certificate of Formation of NBL Holdings and the limited liability company agreement of NBL Holdings.

NBL Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

NBL Midstream” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

New Common Units” means an aggregate amount of Common Units with a value equal to $1,180,000,000.00 less the Offering Proceeds less the value of the Converted Common Units, based on an agreed value for the New Common Units and the Converted Common Units of $24.1841 per Common Unit.

Offering” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Offering Proceeds” means an amount of cash equal to the proceeds raised from the offer and sale of Common Units in the Offering.

 

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Partnership” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

Partnership Fundamental Representations” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(b).

Partnership Group” has the meaning set forth in the Current Partnership Agreement.

Partnership Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.

Partnership Material Adverse Effect” means any change, circumstance, effect or condition that materially adversely affects, delays or prohibits, or could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect, delay or prohibit, (a) the business, financial condition, assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, or (b) a Partnership Party’s ability to satisfy its obligations under the Transaction Documents or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

Partnership Parties” means the Partnership and Midstream Services.

Party” and “Parties” have the meanings set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

Permits” means all permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises, consents, registrations, exemptions, authorizations, permissions, and approvals of all Governmental Authorities necessary for the lawful ownership and operation of the NBL Holdings Assets.

Permitted Liens” means

(a) the terms, conditions, restrictions, exceptions, reservations, limitations, and other matters contained in any Contract or Surface Contract;

(b) Liens for Taxes that are not yet due and payable or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which an adequate reserve has been established therefor, impositions, assessments, fees, rents, or other governmental charges levied or assessed or imposed not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(c) statutory Liens (including materialmen’s, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, repairmen’s, landlord’s, and other similar Liens) arising in the ordinary course of business securing payments not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(d) utility easements, restrictive covenants, and defects, imperfections, or irregularities of title that do not and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to interfere materially with the ordinary conduct of the business of the NBL Holdings Assets;

(e) required third party Consents to assignment, preferential purchase rights, and other similar agreements with respect to which Consents are obtained from the appropriate Person for the Transaction prior to the Closing or, as to which the appropriate

 

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time for asserting such rights has expired as of the Closing without an exercise of such rights; and

(f) Liens securing debt of NBL Holdings or its Affiliates that will be released prior to or as of the Closing.

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

Pipelines” has the meaning set forth in the definition of NBL Holdings Assets.

Proceedings” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5.

Public Unitholders” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Records” has the meaning set forth in the definition of NBL Holdings Assets.

Release” means any releasing, depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing, emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, migrating, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing, whether intentional or unintentional.

Revised Partnership Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement. The Revised Partnership Agreement shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

San Juan River DevCo” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

San Juan River DevCo GP” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

San Juan River Interest” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

San Juan River Partnership Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of San Juan River DevCo, dated as of September 20, 2016.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Sponsor Fundamental Representations” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a).

Sponsor Material Adverse Effect” means (a) any change, circumstance, effect, or condition that materially adversely affects, delays, or prohibits, or could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect, delay, or prohibit, NBL Midstream’s ability to satisfy its obligations under the Transaction Documents or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or (b) any change, effect, event or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the NBL Holdings Assets, taken as a whole.

Subject Interests” means the Blanco River Interest, the Green River Interest, the San Juan River Interest and the NBL Holdings Interest.

 

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Surface Contracts” has the meaning set forth in the definition of NBL Holdings Assets.

Systems” means the systems set forth on Exhibit D hereto.

Tax” or “Taxes” means any federal, state, local, or foreign income tax, ad valorem tax, excise tax, sales tax, use tax, franchise tax, real or personal property tax, transfer tax, gross receipts tax or other tax, assessment, duty, fee, levy or other governmental charge, together with and including, any and all interest, fines, penalties, assessments, and additions to Tax resulting from, relating to, or incurred in connection with any of those or any contest or dispute thereof.

Tax Proceeding” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(b).

Tax Return” means any report, statement, form, return, or other document or information required to be supplied to a Governmental Authority in connection with Taxes.

Total Consideration” means the Drop-Down Consideration and the Converted Common Units.

Transaction” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Assignment Agreement, the Revised Partnership Agreement and any other document delivered pursuant to Section 3.2 or Section 3.3 of this Agreement.

Transaction Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

ARTICLE II

CONTRIBUTION OF SUBJECT INTERESTS; CONSIDERATION;

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Section 2.1 Contribution of Subject Interests. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Assignment Agreement, at the Closing:

(a) NBL Midstream hereby contributes, transfers, assigns, conveys, and delivers the Subject Interests to the Partnership, free and clear of all Liens (other than restrictions under applicable federal and state securities laws) and the Partnership hereby receives, accepts, and acquires the Subject Interests, from NBL Midstream (the “Drop-Down”);

(b) the Partnership hereby contributes, transfers, assigns, conveys, and delivers, as a capital contribution, the Blanco River Interest to Midstream Services, free and clear of all Liens (other than restrictions under applicable federal and state securities laws), and Midstream Services hereby receives, accepts, and acquires the Blanco River Interest, such that after giving effect to this Section 2.1, Blanco River DevCo GP will hold a 40% general partner interest and Midstream Services will hold a 60% limited partner interest in Blanco River DevCo;

(c) the Partnership hereby contributes, transfers, assigns, conveys, and delivers, as a capital contribution, the Green River Interest to Midstream Services, free and clear of all Liens (other than restrictions under applicable federal and state securities laws), and Midstream Services

 

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hereby receives, accepts, and acquires the Green River Interest, such that after giving effect to this Section 2.1, Green River DevCo GP will hold a 25% general partner interest and Midstream Services will hold a 75% limited partner interest in Green River DevCo;

(d) the Partnership hereby contributes, transfers, assigns, conveys, and delivers, as a capital contribution, the San Juan River Interest to Midstream Services, free and clear of all Liens (other than restrictions under applicable federal and state securities laws), and Midstream Services hereby receives, accepts, and acquires the San Juan River Interest, such that after giving effect to this Section 2.1, San Juan River DevCo GP will hold a 25% general partner interest and Midstream Services will hold a 75% limited partner interest in San Juan River DevCo; and

(e) the Partnership hereby contributes, transfers, assigns, conveys, and delivers, as a capital contribution, the NBL Holdings Interest to Midstream Services, free and clear of all Liens (other than restrictions under applicable federal and state securities laws), and Midstream Services hereby receives, accepts, and acquires the NBL Holdings Interest, such that after giving effect to this Section 2.1, Midstream Services will hold 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of NBL Holdings.

Section 2.2 Consideration.

(a) In consideration for the contribution of the Subject Interests, the Partnership shall pay to NBL Midstream (or its designee(s)) the Cash Consideration and the New Common Units (the “Dropdown Consideration”); and

(b) The IDRs shall be recapitalized and converted into the number of Common Units set forth on Schedule 1 hereto (the “Converted Common Units”).

Section 2.3 Excluded Liabilities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Parties agree that any Liability arising from or related to (a) the Excluded Assets, (b) death or personal injury related to or arising out of NBL Holdings’ or any of its Affiliates’ ownership of the NBL Holdings Assets prior to the Closing, (c) NBL Holdings’, any of its Affiliates’ or any of its or their respective representatives’ actual fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct, (d)(i) NBL Holdings’ or any of its Affiliates’ employment relationship with the employees of NBL Holdings or its Affiliates prior to the Closing, (ii) NBL Holdings’ or any of its Affiliates’ employee benefit plans applicable to such employees, and (iii) NBL Holdings’ or any of its Affiliates’ responsibilities under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, applicable to such employees, (e) the environmental matters set forth on Schedule 4.9 hereto, (f) fines or penalties arising from violations of Environmental Laws by NBL Holdings or any of its Affiliates that occurred prior to the Closing in respect of the NBL Holdings Assets, (g) any contamination or condition that is the result of any offsite disposal of any Hazardous Materials transported or arranged to be transported by NBL Holdings or any of its Affiliates from the NBL Holdings Assets prior to the Closing, or (h) any indebtedness of NBL Holdings or its Affiliates as of the Effective Time (collectively, the “Excluded Liabilities”) is being retained by NBL Midstream.

Section 2.4 Excluded Assets. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the contribution of the NBL Holdings Interest is not intended to include (a) any asset

 

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that is not a NBL Holdings Asset, and (b) the assets specifically set forth on Exhibit E. The assets set forth in (a) and (b) of this Section 2.4 are excepted, reserved, and excluded from the Transaction (collectively, the “Excluded Assets”).

Section 2.5 Transaction Taxes. The Parties do not anticipate that any sales, use, transfer, filing, registration, business, occupation and similar Taxes (other than Taxes based on income) (“Transaction Taxes”) will arise out of or in connection with or attributable to the Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Transaction Taxes arise out of or in connection with or attributable to the Transaction, such Transaction Taxes shall be borne 50% by NBL Midstream and 50% by the Partnership Parties. To the extent under applicable law the transferee is responsible for filing Tax Returns in respect of Transaction Taxes, the Partnership shall prepare and file all such Tax Returns. The Parties shall provide such certificates and other information and otherwise cooperate to the extent reasonably required to minimize Transaction Taxes. The Party that is not responsible under applicable law for paying the Transaction Taxes shall pay its share of the Transaction Taxes to the responsible Party prior to the due date of such Taxes.

Section 2.6 Conveyances of any Excluded Assets. If any of the Excluded Assets, including any responsibilities, coverages, and liabilities under any Permit included in the Excluded Assets, are owned by NBL Holdings as of the Closing Date, NBL Holdings and NBL Midstream agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to transfer to NBL Midstream, in accordance with this Article II, all right, title and interest to such Excluded Assets; provided that such commercially reasonable efforts shall not include any requirement to offer or grant financial accommodations to any third party or to remain secondarily liable with respect to such items. If, subsequent to the Closing Date, any Consents are required in order to transfer any Excluded Assets to NBL Midstream, NBL Holdings shall cooperate with NBL Midstream in such manner as may be reasonably requested in connection therewith, including active participation in visits to and meetings, discussions and negotiations with all Persons with the authority to grant or withhold Consent. During the period before such Consent is obtained or such transfer consummated, NBL Holdings shall provide operating services with respect to such Excluded Assets, and in such instance, NBL Holdings and NBL Midstream will use their commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions as may be possible without violation or breach of any such nonassignable items to effectively grant NBL Midstream the economic benefits of, and impose upon NBL Midstream the economic burdens of, such items. The Parties shall convey and transfer, to the extent reasonably practicable, any such Excluded Assets to which this Section 2.6 applies upon the receipt of the required Consents in the same fashion and manner as required by this Article II for the NBL Holdings Assets actually conveyed and transferred as of the Closing Date.

Section 2.7 Partnership Agreement. Concurrently with the conversion of the IDRs, the General Partner shall execute, deliver and adopt the Revised Partnership Agreement. Immediately upon execution of the Revised Partnership Agreement and the conversion of the IDRs into the Converted Common Units, the IDRs shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist (the “IDR Recapitalization”).

 

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ARTICLE III

CLOSING

Section 3.1 Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties, the closing (the “Closing”) of the Transaction will be held at the offices of Vinson & Elkins LLP, 1001 Fannin St., Suite 1600, Houston, Texas 77002 at 9:00 a.m., Houston, Texas time on the date of this Agreement following delivery by the Parties of the closing deliverables set forth in Sections 3.2 and 3.3 and electronic exchange of signature pages by the Parties (the “Closing Date”). The Closing will be deemed effective as of the Effective Time, and the Drop-Down and the IDR Recapitalization shall occur simultaneously upon the Effective Time.

Section 3.2 Deliveries by NBL Midstream. At the Closing, NBL Midstream will deliver (or cause to be delivered) the following:

(a) a counterpart to the Assignment Agreement, duly executed by NBL Midstream;

(b) a counterpart to the East Pony Assignment Agreement, duly executed by Noble; and

(c) a duly executed Internal Revenue Form W-9 of Noble.

Section 3.3 Deliveries by the Partnership Parties.

(a) At the Closing, the Partnership Parties will deliver (or cause to be delivered) to NBL Midstream (or one or more of its designees) the following:

(i) a counterpart to the Assignment Agreement, duly executed by the Partnership Parties;

(ii) a counterpart to the East Pony Assignment Agreement, duly executed by NBL Midstream; and

(iii) an executed copy of the Revised Partnership Agreement.

(b) At the closing of the Offering, or November 27, 2019, if the Offering has not priced by such date, the Partnership Parties will deliver (or cause to be delivered) to NBL Midstream (or one or more of its designees) the following:

(i) $420,000,000, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by NBL Midstream (or one or more of its designees);

(ii) the Offering Proceeds, if any, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by NBL Midstream (or one or more of its designees);

(iii) the New Common Units; and

 

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(iv) the Converted Common Units.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NOBLE AND NBL MIDSTREAM

NBL Midstream and, only with respect to Section 4.6 and Section 4.19, Noble hereby represent and warrant to the Partnership Parties that, as of the Closing:

Section 4.1 Organization and Existence. Each of NBL Midstream, NBL Holdings and CWPC has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited liability company and is in good standing under the laws of its state of formation, with full limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as and where such properties are owned, leased and operated and such business is conducted as of the date of this Agreement. Each of NBL Midstream, NBL Holdings and CWPC is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Sponsor Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.2 Authority and Approval; Enforceability. Each of NBL Midstream and NBL Holdings has the limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any other Transaction Document to which it is or will be a party, to consummate the Transaction and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and to perform all the terms and conditions hereof and thereof to be performed by it. The execution and delivery by NBL Midstream and NBL Holdings of this Agreement and any other Transaction Document to which it is or will be a party, the performance by it of all the terms and conditions hereof and thereof to be performed by it and the consummation of the Transaction and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized and approved by all requisite limited liability company action of NBL Midstream and NBL Holdings, respectively. Each of this Agreement and any other Transaction Document to which NBL Midstream and NBL Holdings is or will be a party constitutes or will constitute, upon execution and delivery by NBL Midstream and NBL Holdings, the valid and binding obligation of NBL Midstream and NBL Holdings, enforceable against NBL Midstream and NBL Holdings in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity).

Section 4.3 No Conflict. Each of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents to which NBL Midstream and NBL Holdings is or will be a party and the execution and delivery hereof and thereof by NBL Midstream and NBL Holdings do not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and thereof and the consummation of the Transaction and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not:

(a) conflict with any of the provisions of the certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement of NBL Midstream, NBL Holdings or CWPC;

 

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(b) conflict with any provision of any law or administrative regulation or any judicial, administrative, or arbitration order, award, judgment, writ, injunction, or decree applicable to NBL Midstream, NBL Holdings or CWPC;

(c) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination, or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination, or cancellation of, any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture, or other instrument to which NBL Midstream, NBL Holdings or CWPC is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of the Subject Interests are subject;

(d) result in the creation of, or afford any Person the right to obtain, any Lien on the Subject Interests under any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture, or other instrument to which NBL Midstream, NBL Holdings or CWPC is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of the Subject Interests are subject; or

(e) result in the revocation, cancellation, suspension, or modification of any Consent possessed by NBL Midstream, NBL Holdings or CWPC that is necessary or desirable for the ownership, lease, or operation of its properties and other assets in the conduct of its business as now conducted; except, in the case of clauses (b), (c), (d), and (e), as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Sponsor Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.4 Consents. No consent, approval, license, permit, order, waiver, or authorization of, or registration, declaration, or filing with any Governmental Authority or other Person (each a “Consent”) is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to NBL Midstream or the Subject Interests in connection with:

(a) the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, or the consummation of the Transaction and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; or

(b) the enforcement against NBL Midstream and NBL Holdings of their obligations hereunder and thereunder;

except, in each case, as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Sponsor Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.5 Laws and Regulations; Litigation. There are no pending or, to the knowledge of NBL Midstream, threatened claims, fines, actions, suits, demands, investigations, or proceedings or any arbitration or binding dispute resolution proceeding (collectively, “Proceedings”) to which NBL Midstream is a party or against or affecting the Subject Interests or the ownership of the Subject Interests or the IDRs that (a) question or involve the validity or enforceability of any of its obligations under this Agreement, (b) seek to prevent or delay, or seek damages in connection with, the consummation of the Transaction or (c) would individually, or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Sponsor Material Adverse Effect or a material and adverse effect on the Subject Interests or the IDRs or on the Partnership as assignee of the Subject

 

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Interests. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Sponsor Material Adverse Effect, (x) none of NBL Midstream, NBL Holdings or CWPC is the subject of any violation of or default under any law or regulation or under any order of any Governmental Authority and (y) there are no Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of NBL Midstream, threatened against or affecting the ownership of the Subject Interests or the IDRs, at law or in equity, by or before any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over NBL Midstream.

Section 4.6 Management Projections and Budgets. Over the course of the negotiation and review of the Transaction, Noble, NBL Midstream and representatives of certain of their respective Affiliates have provided various materials to the Conflicts Committee (including those provided to the Financial Advisor) as part of the Conflicts Committee’s review of the Transaction, the Subject Interests and the IDRs, including various presentations, budgets and financial models of the Partnership, Noble and the NBL Holdings Assets and including all updates and revisions to such materials (all such materials, collectively, the “Conflicts Committee Information”). With respect to the Conflicts Committee Information:

(a) the projections, budgets and other forward-looking information included in the Conflicts Committee Information, when considering all updates and revisions provided as a part thereof, have a reasonable basis, were prepared in good faith and are consistent with the current expectations of the management of Noble, NBL Midstream and their respective Affiliates; and

(b) to the knowledge of Noble and NBL Midstream, the Conflicts Committee Information (considering all updates and revisions provided as a part thereof) does not contain any misstatement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact necessary to make the Conflicts Committee Information, taken as a whole and in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, not misleading.

Section 4.7 The Subject Interests.

(a) The Blanco River Interest (i) represents a 60% limited partner interest in Blanco River DevCo and (ii) was duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607, and 17-804 of the DRULPA).

(b) The Green River Interest (i) represents a 75% limited partner interest in Green River DevCo and (ii) was duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607, and 17-804 of the DRULPA).

(c) The San Juan River Interest (i) represents a 75% limited partner interest in San Juan River DevCo and (ii) was duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607, and 17-804 of the DRULPA).

 

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(d) The NBL Holdings Interest (i) represents 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of NBL Holdings and (ii) was duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable.

(e) The ownership interest of CWPC owned by NBL Holdings (the “CWPC Interest”) (i) represents 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interest of CWPC and (ii) was duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 18-607, and 18-804 of the DLLCA).

(f) The Subject Interests and IDRs are not subject to and were not issued in violation of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right, or any similar right under any provision of local or state law applicable to the Subject Interests, the Blanco River Partnership Agreement, the Green River Partnership Agreement, the San Juan River Partnership Agreement, the NBL Holdings Organizational Documents, the Current Partnership Agreement or any contract, arrangement, or agreement to which NBL Midstream or any of its Affiliates is a party or to which it or any of their respective properties or assets is otherwise bound.

(g) NBL Midstream has good and valid record and beneficial title to the Subject Interests and the IDRs, free and clear of any and all Liens (other than restrictions on transfer under applicable federal and state securities laws), and, except as provided or created by the Blanco River Partnership Agreement, the Green River Partnership Agreement, the San Juan River Partnership Agreement, the NBL Holdings Organizational Documents, the Current Partnership Agreement, the Securities Act or applicable securities laws, the Subject Interests are free and clear of any restrictions on transfer, Taxes, or claims. There are no options, warrants, purchase rights, contracts, commitments, or other securities exercisable or exchangeable for the Subject Interests or the IDRs, or for the repurchase or redemption of the Subject Interests or the IDRs. Immediately after the Closing, the applicable Partnership Party will have good and valid record ownership and beneficial title to the applicable Subject Interests free and clear of any Liens (other than restrictions on transfer under applicable federal and state securities laws).

(h) NBL Holdings has good and valid record and beneficial title to the CWPC Interest, free and clear of any and all Liens (other than restrictions on transfer under applicable federal and state securities laws), and, except as provided or created by the organizational documents of CWPC, the Securities Act or applicable securities laws, the CWPC Interest is free and clear of any restrictions on transfer, Taxes, or claims. There are no options, warrants, purchase rights, contracts, commitments, or other securities exercisable or exchangeable for the CWPC Interest, or for the repurchase or redemption of the CWPC Interest.

(i) Schedule 4.7(i) sets forth all cash distributions declared or paid on the Subject Interests since January 1, 2019.

Section 4.8 The NBL Holdings Assets.

(a) NBL Holdings is, directly or through CWPC, the owner of valid and indefeasible easement rights, leasehold, and/or fee ownership interests (including rights of way) in and to the lands on which are located any NBL Holdings Assets sufficient to enable the

 

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Partnership Parties to use or operate the NBL Holdings Assets in substantially the same manner that the NBL Holdings Assets were used and operated by NBL Holdings immediately prior to the Closing Date, in each case except as would not have a Sponsor Material Adverse Effect. A true and complete list of all material Surface Contracts is set forth on Schedule 1.1(c). NBL Holdings, directly or through CWPC, has good and valid title in fee to all real property and interests in real property included in the NBL Holdings Assets purported to be owned in fee, and good and valid title to the leasehold estates in all real property and interests in real property (including rights of way) included in the NBL Holdings Assets purported to be leased or held pursuant to an easement, in each case except as would not have a Sponsor Material Adverse Effect. NBL Holdings, directly or through CWPC, owns all such Surface Contracts, real property, and interests in real property free and clear of any Liens (other than Permitted Liens).

(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.8(b), to the knowledge of Noble and NBL Midstream, NBL Holdings has, directly or through CWPC, good and marketable title to all tangible personal property included in the NBL Holdings Assets, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), other than tangible personal property owned on the date of this Agreement but subsequently sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice.

(c) Since December 31, 2018, (a) the NBL Holdings Assets have been operated only in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of NBL Holdings and CWPC, as the case may be, (b) there has not been any material damage, destruction or loss with respect to the NBL Holdings Assets, and (c) none of the NBL Holdings Assets have become subject to any material obligation or liability, other than those (i) contained in approved budgets, true and complete copies of which have been delivered to the Partnership Parties or (ii) incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since December 31, 2018.

Section 4.9 Environmental Matters. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.9 hereto, or as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Sponsor Material Adverse Effect:

(a) NBL Holdings’ and CWPC’s assets, operations and business are in compliance with Environmental Laws, which compliance includes the timely application for, or possession and maintenance of and, to the extent received, compliance with, all permits, permit exemptions, licenses or similar authorizations required under all Environmental Laws;

(b) no circumstances exist with respect to NBL Holdings’ and CWPC’s assets, operations or business that give rise to an obligation by NBL Holdings, CWPC, NBL Midstream or their respective operators to investigate or remediate the presence, on-site or offsite, of Hazardous Materials under any Environmental Laws;

(c) None of NBL Midstream, NBL Holdings or CWPC have received any written communication from a Governmental Authority that remains unresolved alleging that it may be in violation of any Environmental Law or any permit, permit exemption, license or similar authorizations issued pursuant to Environmental Law;

 

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(d) NBL Holdings’ and CWPC’s assets, operations or business are not subject to any pending or, to NBL Midstream’s knowledge, threatened claim, action, suit, investigation or proceeding under any Environmental Law (including designation as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA or any analogous state law);

(e) all permits, permit exemptions, licenses or similar authorizations, if any, required to be obtained under any Environmental Law in connection with NBL Holdings’ and CWPC’s assets, operations and business have been timely applied for or duly obtained, are valid and currently in effect, and NBL Holdings’ and CWPC’s assets, operations and business are in compliance with such received permits, permit exemptions, licenses or authorizations;

(f) there has been no Release of any Hazardous Material into the environment by NBL Holdings’ or CWPC’s assets, operations or business, except in compliance with Environmental Law; and

(g) neither NBL Holdings, CWPC nor their respective assets are the subject of any outstanding administrative or judicial order or judgment, consent agreement or arbitration award from a Governmental Authority under any Environmental Law that requires remediation or the payment of a fine or penalty.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IV to the contrary, this Section 4.9 contains the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of NBL Midstream with respect to matters arising under Environmental Law, including Hazardous Materials.

Section 4.10 Outstanding Capital Commitments. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding capital commitments or other expenditure commitments that are binding on NBL Holdings, CWPC or the NBL Holdings Assets and which NBL Holdings or CWPC reasonably anticipates will individually or in the aggregate require expenditures by the owner of the NBL Holdings Assets after the Closing Date and until January 1, 2020 in excess of $600,000.00 other than those shown on Schedule 4.10.

Section 4.11 Permits. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.11:

(a) NBL Holdings and CWPC collectively hold or have a valid right to use all material Permits that are necessary for the conduct of the ownership and operation of the NBL Holdings Assets, each in compliance with applicable laws and regulations of applicable Governmental Authorities. NBL Holdings, CWPC and their respective Affiliates have complied in all material respects with all terms and conditions of such Permits.

(b) No Permits that are material to the operation of the NBL Holdings Assets will be subject to suspension, modification, revocation or nonrenewal as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transaction.

Section 4.12 Contracts. Schedule 4.12 contains a true and correct list, as of the date of this Agreement, of all Material Contracts. Neither NBL Holdings nor CWPC is in default, and there is no event or circumstance that with notice, or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default by NBL Holdings or CWPC, under the terms of any Material Contract. All of the

 

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Material Contracts are in full force and effect, and to NBL Midstream’s knowledge, no counterparty to any Material Contract is in default under the terms of such Material Contract.

Section 4.13 Insurance. Schedule 4.13 lists all material insurance policies separately maintained by (or on behalf of) NBL Holdings with respect to the Subject Interests or the NBL Holdings Assets.

Section 4.14 Employees. NBL Holdings and CWPC have no employees and do not sponsor or maintain any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

Section 4.15 Brokerage Arrangements. Neither NBL Midstream nor any of its Affiliates has entered, directly or indirectly, into any agreement with any Person that would obligate any Group Member to pay any commission, brokerage or “finder’s fee” or other fee in connection with this Agreement or the Transaction.

Section 4.16 No Preferential Rights. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.16, none of the Subject Interests or the NBL Holdings Assets are subject to any right or agreement that enables any Person to purchase or acquire, including by way of a right of first refusal, right of first offer, or similar right, the Subject Interests, NBL Holdings Assets or any portion of or interest in the Subject Interests or NBL Holdings Assets as a result of or in connection with (a) the contribution, assignment, or other transfer of the Subject Interests, (b) the execution, delivery, or performance of this Agreement or (c) the consummation of the Transaction.

Section 4.17 Accredited Investor. NBL Midstream (or its designees that receive the New Common Units or Converted Common Units) is an “accredited investor,” as such term is defined in Regulation D of the Securities Act, and will acquire the New Common Units and Converted Common Units for its own account and not with a view to a sale or distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, any applicable state blue sky laws, or any other applicable securities laws. NBL Midstream (or its designees that receive the New Common Units or Converted Common Units) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the New Common Units to be acquired hereby. NBL Midstream (or its designees that receive the New Common Units or Converted Common Units) acknowledges that the New Common Units and Converted Common Units have not been registered under applicable federal and state securities laws and that the New Common Units and Converted Common Units may not be sold, transferred, offered for sale, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise disposed of unless such transfer, sale, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, or other disposition is registered under applicable federal and state securities laws or is made pursuant to an exemption from registration under any federal or state securities laws.

Section 4.18 Taxes. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.18 hereto, or as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Sponsor Material Adverse Effect, (i) all Tax Returns required to be filed with respect to the NBL Holdings Assets have been filed on a timely basis (taking into account all extensions of due dates); (ii) all Taxes owed with respect to the NBL Holdings Assets, which are or have become due, have been timely paid in all material respects; (iii) there are no Liens on any of the NBL Holdings Assets that arose in

 

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connection with any failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax on the NBL Holdings Assets other than Permitted Liens; and (iv) there is no pending action, proceeding or investigation for assessment or collection of Taxes and no Tax assessment, deficiency or adjustment has been asserted or proposed in writing with respect to the NBL Holdings Assets. Each of NBL Midstream and NBL Holdings is properly disregarded as an entity separate from Noble for United States federal income tax purposes, and none of the NBL Holdings Assets (A) are treated as an interest in a partnership or as an interest in any corporation or any other entity for United States federal income tax purposes or (B) are subject to any operating agreement, arrangement or other agreement treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.

Section 4.19 No Other Representations or Warranties; Independent Investigation.

(a) Except for the representations and warranties made in this Article IV, NBL Midstream makes no other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Subject Interests or the Transaction and disclaims any other representations or warranties.

(b) Noble and NBL Midstream acknowledge that in making the decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Transaction, they have relied solely on their own independent investigation of the New Common Units and Converted Common Units and upon the express written representations, warranties, and covenants of the Partnership Parties in this Agreement. Without diminishing the scope of the express written representations, warranties, and covenants of the Partnership Parties in this Agreement and without affecting or impairing its right to rely thereon, NOBLE AND NBL MIDSTREAM ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PARTNERSHIP PARTIES HAVE NOT MADE, AND THE PARTNERSHIP PARTIES HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM AND NEGATE, ANY OTHER REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, RELATING TO THE NEW COMMON UNITS AND CONVERTED COMMON UNITS (INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED OR EXPRESS WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR CONFORMITY TO MODELS OR SAMPLES OF MATERIALS).

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP PARTIES

The Partnership Parties hereby, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to NBL Midstream that, as of the Closing:

Section 5.1 Organization and Existence. Each Partnership Party has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited liability company or limited partnership, as the case may be, and is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full limited liability company power or limited partnership power, as the case may be, and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as and where such properties are owned, leased and operated and such business is conducted as of the date of this Agreement. Each Partnership Party is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company or limited partnership, as the case may be, to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Partnership Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 5.2 Authority and Approval; Enforceability. Each Partnership Party has the limited liability company power or limited partnership power, as the case may be, and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any other Transaction Document to which it is or will be a party, to consummate the Transaction and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and to perform all the terms and conditions hereof and thereof to be performed by it. The execution and delivery by each Partnership Party of this Agreement and any other Transaction Document to which it is or will be a party, the performance by it of all the terms and conditions hereof and thereof to be performed by it and the consummation of the Transaction and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized and approved by all requisite limited liability company or limited partnership, as the case may be, action of such Partnership Party. Each of this Agreement and any other Transaction Document to which each Partnership Party is or will be a party constitutes or will constitute, upon execution and delivery by such Partnership Party, the valid and binding obligation of such Partnership Party, enforceable against such Partnership Party in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity).

Section 5.3 No Conflict. Each of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents to which each Partnership Party is or will be a party and the execution and delivery hereof and thereof by such Partnership Party do not, and the fulfillment and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and thereof and the consummation of the Transaction and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not:

(a) conflict with any of the provisions of the certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, or other organizational document of such Partnership Party;

(b) conflict with any provision of any law or administrative regulation or any judicial, administrative, or arbitration order, award, judgment, writ, injunction, or decree applicable to such Partnership Party;

(c) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under (whether with notice or the lapse of time or both), or accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, or require any consent, authorization or approval under, or result in the suspension, termination, or cancellation of, or in a right of suspension, termination, or cancellation of, any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract, commitment, license, concession, permit, lease, joint venture, or other instrument to which such Partnership Party is a party or by which it is bound; or

(d) result in the revocation, cancellation, suspension or modification of any Consent possessed by such Partnership Party that is necessary or desirable for the ownership, lease or operation of its properties and other assets in the conduct of its business as now conducted; except, in the case of clauses (b), (c), and (d), as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Partnership Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.4 Consents. No Consent is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to any Partnership Party in connection with:

 

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(a) the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, or the consummation of the Transaction and the transactions contemplated thereby; or

(b) the enforcement against such Partnership Party of its obligations hereunder and thereunder;

except, in each case, as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Partnership Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.5 Laws and Regulations; Litigation. There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, threatened Proceedings to which any Partnership Party is a party that (a) question or involve the validity or enforceability of any of its obligations under this Agreement, (b) seek to prevent or delay, or seek damages in connection with, the consummation of the Transaction or (c) would individually, or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect, no Partnership Party is the subject of any violation of or default under any law or regulation or under any order of any Governmental Authority.

Section 5.6 Delivery of Fairness Opinion. The Financial Advisor has delivered an opinion to the Conflicts Committee that the Total Consideration to be paid by the Partnership in connection with the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Partnership and to the Public Unitholders.

Section 5.7 Issuance of New Common Units and Converted Common Units. The New Common Units and the Converted Common Units issued by the Partnership under this Agreement, and the limited partner interests represented thereby, have been duly authorized for issuance in accordance with this Agreement and the Current Partnership Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the Current Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 or 17-804 of the DRULPA).

Section 5.8 Common Units Listed. The New Common Units and the Converted Common Units have been approved for listing on The New York Stock Exchange upon official notice of issuance.

Section 5.9 Brokerage Arrangements. None of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates has entered, directly or indirectly, into any agreement with any person, firm or corporation that would obligate NBL Midstream or its Affiliates to pay any commission, brokerage or “finder’s fee” or other fee in connection with this Agreement or the Transaction.

Section 5.10 No Other Representations or Warranties; Independent Investigation.

(a) Except for the representations and warranties made in this Article V, the Partnership Parties make no other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Transaction and disclaim any other representations or warranties.

 

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(b) Each of the Partnership Parties acknowledges that in making the decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Transaction, it has relied solely on its own independent investigation of Subject Interests and upon the express written representations, warranties, and covenants of NBL Midstream in this Agreement. Without diminishing the scope of the express written representations, warranties, and covenants of NBL Midstream in this Agreement and without affecting or impairing their right to rely thereon, EACH OF THE PARTNERSHIP PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGES THAT NBL MIDSTREAM HAS NOT MADE, AND NBL MIDSTREAM HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS AND NEGATES, ANY OTHER REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, RELATING TO THE SUBJECT INTERESTS (INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED OR EXPRESS WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR CONFORMITY TO MODELS OR SAMPLES OF MATERIALS).

ARTICLE VI

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

Section 6.1 Further Assurances. On and after the Closing Date, the Parties shall cooperate and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all appropriate actions and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or appropriate to make effective the Transaction, the execution of any additional assignment or similar documents or instruments of transfer of any kind as it relates to the exclusion of the Excluded Assets or otherwise, the obtaining of Consents that may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to carry out any of the provisions hereof and the taking of all such other actions as such Party may reasonably be requested to take by the other Party from to time to time, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in order to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the Transaction.

Section 6.2 Tax Covenants.

(a) The Parties agree that the income related to the Subject Interests (including the NBL Holdings Assets) and IDRs for the period up to and including the Closing Date will be reflected on the federal (and applicable state) income Tax Return of Noble and that Noble shall bear the liability for any Taxes associated with such income. The Parties further agree that the income related to the Subject Interests for the period after the Closing Date will be reflected on the federal (and applicable state) income Tax Return of the Partnership and that the partners of the Partnership shall bear the liability for any Taxes associated with such income. NBL Midstream shall be liable for, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Partnership Parties from any liability for, all other Taxes imposed on or incurred by or with respect to the NBL Holdings Assets attributable to any taxable period or portion thereof ending on or prior to the Closing Date (such amount to be deemed to be the amount of such Tax for the entire applicable taxable period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the taxable period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of days in the entire taxable period).

(b) The Parties shall cooperate fully, and cause their Affiliates to cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other Party, to accomplish the purposes of this Section 6.2, requests for the provision of any information or documentation within the

 

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knowledge or possession of the other Party as reasonably necessary to facilitate compliance with financial reporting obligations arising under ASC 740 (formerly FASB Statement No. 109) (including compliance with FIN 48) promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and any audit, litigation or other proceeding (each a “Tax Proceeding”) with respect to Taxes. Such cooperation shall include access to, the retention and (upon the other Party’s request) the provision of records and information which are reasonably relevant to any Tax Return or Tax Proceeding, and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder. The Partnership and NBL Midstream will use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to retain all books and records with respect to Tax matters pertinent to the Subject Interests and IDRs relating to any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the later of six years after the Closing Date or the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations of the respective taxable periods (including any extensions thereof), and to abide by all record retention agreements entered into with any Governmental Authority. The Partnership and NBL Midstream each agree, upon request, to use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any certificate or other document from any Governmental Authority or any other Person as may be necessary to mitigate, reduce, or eliminate any Tax that could be imposed with respect to the Transaction.

(c) To the extent an election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), is not already in effect for each of Blanco River DevCo, Green River DevCo, and San Juan River DevCo, the Parties shall provide all necessary consents (and evidence thereof) to cause the election provided by Code Section 754 in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.754-1(b) to be made effective for the taxable period of each of Blanco River DevCo, Green River DevCo and San Juan River DevCo that includes the Closing Date.

(d) The Parties will use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to agree upon an allocation of the Cash Consideration to the Subject Interests and further among the assets of Blanco River DevCo, Green River DevCo, San Juan River DevCo and NBL Holdings for U.S. federal income tax purposes in compliance with the principles of Section 1060 of the Code, and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, and Treasury Regulation Section 1.755-1, as applicable.

(e) The Parties acknowledge and agree that for all U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Drop-Down will (i) with respect to NBL Holdings qualify in part for nonrecognition of gain or loss pursuant to Section 721(a) of the Code and will be characterized in part as a disguised sale transaction described in Section 707(a)(2)(B) of the Code and its implementing Treasury Regulations with respect to any portion of the Drop-Down Consideration being treated as a transfer of consideration pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.707-3(a)(1) and (ii) with respect to the DevCos, the contribution of each DevCo will be treated as an assets-over merger under Treasury Regulation Section 1.708-1(c) and the Parties will make the election under Treasury Regulation Section 1.708-1(c)(4) to treat the cash portion of the consideration attributable to each DevCo as cash paid by the Partnership to Noble for the purchase of a portion of Noble’s interests in each DevCo. The Parties acknowledge and agree that for all U.S. federal income tax purposes, the IDR Recapitalization shall be treated as a recapitalization of the interests among existing partners of a partnership not involving a sale or exchange. As a result, (i) no taxable gain or loss will be recognized by the Partnership and (ii) in the case of the existing Public Unitholders owning Common Units, taxable gain will be reported only to the extent such Public Unitholder’s share of the Partnership’s liabilities under Section 752 of the Code is decreased by an amount that

 

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is greater than such Public Unitholder’s adjusted tax basis in its Common Units. Each Party shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, file all Tax Returns and other reports consistent with such intended Tax treatment of the Drop-Down and the IDR Recapitalization, unless required by applicable law to do otherwise.

Section 6.3 Post-Closing Distributions. The Parties acknowledge that NBL Midstream is assigning to the Partnership all of NBL Midstream’s right, title, and interest in the Blanco River Interest, the Green River Interest, the San Juan River Interest and the NBL Holdings Interest and that, notwithstanding anything in the Blanco River Partnership Agreement, the Green River Partnership Agreement, the San Juan River Partnership Agreement, the NBL Holdings Organizational Documents or herein to the contrary, the Partnership is entitled to any distributions by or payments from Blanco River DevCo, Green River DevCo, San Juan River DevCo or NBL Holdings (or any predecessor holders of such Subject Interests) in respect of such Subject Interests made on or after the Closing Date. NBL Midstream covenants and agrees that, should NBL Midstream or its Affiliates receive any distribution or payment in respect of the Blanco River Interest, the Green River Interest, the San Juan River Interest or the NBL Holdings Interest from Blanco River DevCo, Green River DevCo, San Juan River DevCo, or NBL Holdings (or any predecessor holder of such Subject Interests) on or after the Closing Date, whether pursuant to the terms of the Blanco River Partnership Agreement, the Green River Partnership Agreement, the San Juan River Partnership Agreement, the NBL Holdings Organizational Documents, or otherwise, NBL Midstream shall promptly remit such amounts to the Partnership.

Section 6.4 Offering. The Partnership shall take commercially reasonable efforts to offer and sell Common Units in the Offering. If the Offering is not priced by November 27, 2019, the Offering Proceeds shall be deemed to equal $0 for all purposes of this Agreement.

ARTICLE VII

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 7.1 Indemnification of NBL Midstream. Solely for the purpose of indemnification in this Section 7.1, the representations and warranties of the Partnership Parties in this Agreement shall be deemed to have been made without regard to any materiality or Partnership Material Adverse Effect or knowledge qualifiers. From and after the Closing Date, subject to the other provisions of this Article VII, the Partnership Parties shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold NBL Midstream, Noble and their Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, and representatives (together with NBL Midstream and Noble, the “NBL Indemnitees”) harmless from and against any and all damages (including exemplary damages and penalties), losses, deficiencies, costs, expenses, obligations, fines, expenditures, claims, and liabilities, including reasonable counsel fees and reasonable expenses of investigation, defending and prosecuting litigation (collectively, the “Damages”), suffered by the NBL Indemnitees as a result of, caused by, arising out of, or in any way relating to (a) any breach of a representation or warranty of the Partnership Parties contained in this Agreement or (b) any breach of any agreement or covenant contained in this Agreement on the part of the Partnership Parties.

Section 7.2 Indemnification of the Partnership Parties. Solely for the purpose of indemnification in this Section 7.2, the representations and warranties of NBL Midstream and, only with respect to Section 4.6 and Section 4.19, Noble in this Agreement shall be deemed to

 

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have been made without regard to any materiality or Sponsor Material Adverse Effect or knowledge qualifiers. From and after the Closing Date, subject to the other provisions of this Article VII, NBL Midstream and, only with respect to Section 4.6 and Section 4.19, Noble shall indemnify and hold the Partnership Parties and their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, and representatives, and the directors, officers, employees, agents, and representatives of the General Partner (together with the Partnership Parties, the “Partnership Indemnitees”) harmless from and against any and all Damages suffered by the Partnership Indemnitees as a result of, caused by, arising out of, or in any way relating to (a) any breach of a representation or warranty of NBL Midstream or Noble contained in this Agreement, (b) any breach of any agreement or covenant contained in this Agreement on the part of NBL Midstream, or (c) any of the Excluded Liabilities.

Section 7.3 Demands. Each indemnified party agrees that promptly upon its discovery of facts giving rise to a claim for indemnity under the provisions of this Agreement, including receipt by it of notice of any demand, assertion, claim, action, or proceeding, judicial or otherwise, by any third party (such third party actions being collectively referred to herein as the “Indemnity Claim”), with respect to any matter as to which it claims to be entitled to indemnity under the provisions of this Agreement, it will give prompt notice thereof in writing to the indemnifying party, together with a statement of such information respecting any of the foregoing as it shall have. Such notice shall include a formal demand for indemnification under this Agreement. The indemnifying party shall not be obligated to indemnify the indemnified party with respect to any Indemnity Claim if the indemnified party knowingly failed to notify the indemnifying party thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement to the extent that knowing failure to notify actually results in material prejudice or damage to the indemnifying party.

Section 7.4 Right to Contest and Defend.

(a) The indemnifying party shall be entitled at its cost and expense to contest and defend by all appropriate legal proceedings any Indemnity Claim with respect to which it is called upon to indemnify the indemnified party under the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that notice of the intention to so contest shall be delivered by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party within 20 days from the date of receipt by the indemnifying party of notice by the indemnified party of the assertion of the Indemnity Claim. Any such contest may be conducted in the name and on behalf of the indemnifying party or the indemnified party as may be appropriate. Such contest shall be conducted and prosecuted diligently to a final conclusion or settled in accordance with this Section 7.4(a) by reputable counsel employed by the indemnifying party and not reasonably objected to by the indemnified party, but the indemnified party shall have the right but not the obligation to participate in such proceedings and to be represented by counsel of its own choosing at its sole cost and expense. The indemnifying party shall have full authority to determine all action to be taken with respect thereto; provided, however, that the indemnifying party will not have the authority to subject the indemnified party to any obligation whatsoever, other than the performance of purely ministerial tasks or obligations not involving material expense. If the indemnifying party does not elect to contest any such Indemnity Claim or elects to contest such Indemnity Claim but fails diligently and promptly to prosecute or settle such claim, the indemnifying party shall be bound by the result obtained with respect thereto by the indemnified party. If the indemnifying party shall have assumed the defense of an Indemnity Claim, the indemnified party shall agree to any settlement, compromise or discharge of an

 

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Indemnity Claim that the indemnifying party may recommend and that by its terms obligates the indemnifying party to pay the full amount of the liability in connection with such Indemnity Claim, which releases the indemnified party completely in connection with such Indemnity Claim and which would not otherwise adversely affect the indemnified party.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying party shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Indemnity Claim (and shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel incurred by the indemnified party in defending such Indemnity Claim) if the Indemnity Claim seeks an order, injunction or other equitable relief or relief for other than money damages against the indemnified party which the indemnified party reasonably determines, after conferring with its outside counsel, cannot be separated from any related claim for money damages. If such equitable relief or other relief portion of the Indemnity Claim can be so separated from that for money damages, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to assume the defense of the portion relating to money damages.

Section 7.5 Cooperation. If requested by the indemnifying party, the indemnified party agrees to cooperate with the indemnifying party and its counsel in contesting any Indemnity Claim that the indemnifying party elects to contest or, if appropriate, in making any counterclaim against the third party asserting the Indemnity Claim, or any cross-complaint against any third party, and the indemnifying party will reimburse the indemnified party for any expenses incurred by it in so cooperating. At no cost or expense to the indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall cooperate with the indemnified party and its counsel in contesting any Indemnity Claim.

Section 7.6 Right to Participate. The indemnified party agrees to afford the indemnifying party and its counsel the opportunity to be present at, and to participate in, conferences with all persons, including Governmental Authorities, asserting any Indemnity Claim against the indemnified party or conferences with representatives of or counsel for such persons.

Section 7.7 Payment of Damages. The indemnification required hereunder shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, within 10 days as and when reasonably specific bills are received or loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense is incurred and reasonable evidence thereof is delivered. In calculating any amount to be paid by an indemnifying party by reason of the provisions of this Agreement, the amount shall be reduced by all reimbursements (including insurance proceeds) credited to or received by the indemnified party related to the Damages. The Parties agree that any payment for indemnification of Damages made hereunder will be treated as an adjustment to the Drop-Down Consideration for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Section 7.8 Limitations on Indemnification.

(a) To the extent the Partnership Indemnitees are entitled to indemnification for Damages pursuant to Section 7.2(a) (but not including Damages for breaches of Sponsor Fundamental Representations), NBL Midstream and Noble shall not be liable for those Damages unless (i) the individual Indemnity Claim or series of related Indemnity Claims is for Damages in excess of $100,000 (“De Minimis Claims”); and (ii) the aggregate amount of Damages (that are not De Minimis Claims) exceeds $16,000,000 (the “Deductible”), and then only to the extent of any such excess; provided, however, that NBL Midstream and Noble shall not be liable for

 

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Damages pursuant to Section 7.2(a) (but not including Damages for breaches of Sponsor Fundamental Representations) that exceed, in the aggregate, $160,000,000 (the “Cap”) less the Deductible.

(b) Notwithstanding clause (a) above, to the extent the Partnership Indemnitees are entitled to indemnification for Damages for claims arising from actual fraud or related to or arising from Taxes (including from the breach of any of the representations set forth in Section 4.18), NBL Midstream shall be fully liable for such Damages without regard to the Deductible, the Cap or the De Minimis Claims limitation. For the avoidance of doubt, NBL Midstream shall be fully liable for Damages pursuant to Section 7.2(b) or Section 7.2(c) and for breaches of Sponsor Fundamental Representations without regard to the De Minimis Claims limitation, the Deductible or the Cap.

(c) To the extent the NBL Indemnitees are entitled to indemnification for Damages pursuant to Section 7.1(a), the Partnership Parties shall not be liable for those Damages unless the aggregate amount of Damages exceeds, in the aggregate, the Deductible, and then only to the extent of any such excess; provided, however, that the Partnership Parties shall not be liable for Damages that exceed, in the aggregate, the Cap less the Deductible.

(d) Notwithstanding clause (c) above, to the extent the NBL Indemnitees are entitled to indemnification for Damages for claims arising from actual fraud or related to or arising from Taxes, the Partnership Parties shall be fully liable for such Damages without regard to the Deductible, the Cap or the De Minimis Claims limitation. For the avoidance of doubt, the Partnership Parties shall be fully liable for Damages pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or Section 7.1(b) and for breaches of Partnership Fundamental Representations without regard to the De Minimis Claims limitation , the Deductible or the Cap.

Section 7.9 Survival.

(a) The liability of NBL Midstream for the breach of any of the representations and warranties of NBL Midstream set forth in Section 4.1, Section 4.2, Section 4.3(a) and (d), Section 4.7, Section 4.8(a) and (b), Section 4.9 and Section 4.10 (the “Sponsor Fundamental Representations”) shall be limited to claims for which the Partnership Parties deliver written notice to NBL Midstream on or before the date that is three years after the Closing Date. The liability of NBL Midstream and Noble for the breach of any of the representations and warranties of NBL Midstream set forth in Article IV other than the Sponsor Fundamental Representations shall be limited to claims for which the Partnership Parties deliver written notice to NBL Midstream and Noble on or before the date that is eighteen months after the Closing Date. The liability of NBL Midstream for Damages for claims related to or arising from Taxes (including the breach of any of the representations set forth in Section 4.18) shall be limited to claims for which the Partnership Parties deliver written notice to NBL Midstream on or before the date that is 90 days after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations for assessment of the applicable Tax. The liability of NBL Midstream for Damages for claims related to or arising from the Excluded Assets shall not be limited by this Section 7.9(a).

(b) The liability of the Partnership Parties for the breach of any of the representations and warranties of the Partnership Parties set forth in Section 5.1, Section 5.2,

 

33


Section 5.3(a), Section 5.9, and Section 5.10 (the “Partnership Fundamental Representations”) shall be limited to claims for which NBL Midstream delivers written notice to the Partnership Parties on or before the date that is three years after the Closing Date. The liability of the Partnership Parties for the breach of any of the representations and warranties of the Partnership Parties set forth in Article V other than the Partnership Fundamental Representations shall be limited to claims for which NBL Midstream delivers written notice to the Partnership Parties on or before the date that is eighteen months after the Closing Date. The liability of the Partnership for Damages for claims related to or arising from Taxes shall be limited to claims for which NBL Midstream delivers written notice to the Partnership on or before the date that is 90 days after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations for assessment of the applicable Tax.

Section 7.10 Sole Remedy. After the Closing, no Party shall have liability under this Agreement or the Transaction except as is provided in this Article VII (other than claims or causes of action arising from actual fraud, and other than claims for specific performance or claims arising under any Transaction Documents (which claims shall be subject to the liability provisions of such Transaction Documents)).

Section 7.11 Express Negligence. THE INDEMNIFICATION AND ASSUMPTION PROVISIONS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSLY NEGOTIATED IN EVERY DETAIL, ARE INTENDED TO BE GIVEN FULL AND LITERAL EFFECT, AND SHALL BE APPLICABLE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS, LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES IN QUESTION ARISE OR AROSE SOLELY OR IN PART FROM THE GROSS, ACTIVE, PASSIVE, OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHER FAULT OF ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY. THIS SECTION 7.11 IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE OR ALTER THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES, ALL OF WHICH ARE SPECIFIED ELSEWHERE IN THIS AGREEMENT.

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 8.1 Expenses. Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, each of the Parties shall pay its own expenses incident to (a) this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and (b) all action taken in preparation for effecting the provisions of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.

Section 8.2 Deed; Bill of Sale; Assignment. To the extent required and permitted by applicable law, this Agreement shall also constitute a “deed,” “bill of sale,” or “assignment” of the assets and the liabilities referenced herein.

Section 8.3 Notices. Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, any notice, request, instruction, correspondence, or other document to be given under or in relation to this Agreement shall be made in writing and shall be deemed to have been properly given if: (i) personally delivered (with written confirmation of receipt), (ii) delivered by a recognized overnight delivery service (delivery fees prepaid), or (iii) sent by electronic mail with a PDF of the notice or other communication attached (provided that any such electronic mail is confirmed by written confirmation), in each case to the appropriate address set forth below:

 

34


If to Noble, addressed to:

Noble Energy, Inc.

1001 Noble Energy Way

Houston, Texas 77070

Attention: Secretary

If to NBL Midstream, addressed to:

NBL Midstream LLC

1001 Noble Energy Way

Houston, Texas 77070

Attention: Secretary

If to any of the Partnership Parties, addressed to:

 

  (a)

Noble Midstream GP LLC

1001 Noble Energy Way

Houston, Texas 77070

Attention: Secretary

 

  (b)

Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of

Noble Midstream GP LLC

1001 Noble Energy Way

Houston, Texas 77070

Attention: Chairman

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

Baker Botts L.L.P.

910 Louisiana Street

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Joshua Davidson

Andrew J. Ericksen

Any Party may change any address to which notice is to be given to it by giving notice as provided above of such change of address.

Section 8.4 Governing Law. This Agreement and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract or tort) that may be based upon, arise out of, or relate to this Agreement or the Transaction or the negotiation, execution, termination, performance, or nonperformance of this Agreement or the Transaction (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement or the Transaction or as an inducement to enter into this Agreement or the Transaction) shall be subject to and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts-of-law rule or principle that might otherwise require the application of the laws of another state. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT INVOLVES AT LEAST U.S. $100,000.00 AND THAT THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN ENTERED INTO IN EXPRESS

 

35


RELIANCE UPON 6 Del. C. § 2708. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES (a) TO BE SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND OF THE FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND (b) TO THE EXTENT SUCH PARTY IS NOT OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, TO APPOINT AND MAINTAIN AN AGENT IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE AS SUCH PARTY’S AGENT FOR ACCEPTANCE OF LEGAL PROCESS AND TO NOTIFY THE OTHER PARTIES OF THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF SUCH AGENT. EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION.

Section 8.5 Public Statements. The Parties shall consult with each other with respect to public announcements or statements, and no Party shall issue any public announcement or statement with respect to the Transaction without the consent of the other Parties, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, unless the Party desiring to make such announcement or statement, after seeking such consent from the other Parties, obtains advice from legal counsel that a public announcement or statement is required by applicable law or securities exchange regulations.

Section 8.6 Form of Payment. All payments hereunder shall be made in United States dollars and, unless the Parties making and receiving such payments shall agree otherwise or the provisions hereof provide otherwise, shall be made by wire or interbank transfer of immediately available funds on the date such payment is due to such account as the Party receiving payment may designate at least three Business Days prior to the proposed date of payment.

Section 8.7 Entire Agreement; Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement and the documents and instruments and other agreements specifically referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto, including the exhibits hereto, constitute the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and are not intended to confer upon any other Person or entity any rights or remedies hereunder except as Article VII or Article VIII contemplates or except as otherwise expressly provided herein or therein. Each Party agrees that no other Party (including its agents and representatives) has made any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement to or with such Party relating to this Agreement or the Transaction, other than those expressly set forth in the documents and instruments and other agreements specifically referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto, including the exhibits hereto, and such Party has not relied upon any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement relating to this Agreement or the Transaction other than those referred to in clause (i) above. No supplement, modification or waiver of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by all of the Parties. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (regardless of whether similar), nor shall any such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided. Any amendment or waiver of this Agreement by the Partnership Parties, and any determination, decision, approval, or consent of a Partnership Party required pursuant to this Agreement, shall be approved in advance by the Conflicts Committee.

 

36


Section 8.8 Binding Effect and Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns, but neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, benefits, or obligations hereunder shall be assigned, by operation of law or otherwise, by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties hereto.

Section 8.9 Severability. If any provision of the Agreement is rendered or declared illegal or unenforceable by reason of any existing or subsequently enacted legislation or by decree of a court of last resort, the Parties shall meet promptly and negotiate substitute provisions for those rendered or declared illegal or unenforceable, but all of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and will not be affected or impaired in any way thereby.

Section 8.10 Interpretation.

(a) As used in this Agreement, unless expressly stated otherwise or the context requires otherwise, (i) all references to an “Article,” “Section,” or “subsection” shall be to an Article, Section, or subsection of this Agreement; (ii) all references to an “Exhibit” shall be to an Exhibit to this Agreement, and all references to a “Schedule” shall be to the Disclosure Schedule; (iii) the words “this Agreement,” “hereof,” “hereunder,” “herein,” “hereby,” or words of similar import shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to a particular Article, Section, subsection, clause, or other subdivision hereof; (iv) the words used herein shall include the masculine, feminine, and neuter gender, and the singular and the plural; (v) wherever the word “include,” “includes,” or “including” is used in this Agreement, it shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (vi) the word “or” shall not be exclusive, unless the context in which such word appears dictates otherwise; (vii) the word “day” or “days” means a calendar day or days, unless otherwise denoted as a Business Day; (viii) if any date on which any action is required to be taken hereunder by any of the Parties is not a Business Day, such action shall be required to be taken on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day; (ix) any reference to a law shall include any amendment thereof or any successor thereto and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (x) references herein to the “United States” mean the United States of America and its territories and possessions.

(b) The Parties agree that they have been represented by counsel during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and, therefore waive the application of any law, regulation, holding, or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against the party drafting such agreement or document.

Section 8.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, including electronic, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the Party or other Person executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

37


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

 

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
By:   /s/ Aaron G. Carlson
Name:  

Aaron G. Carlson

Title:  

Vice President

 

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
By:       Noble Midstream GP LLC, its general partner
             By:   /s/ Thomas W. Christensen
             Name:  

Thomas W. Christensen

             Title:  

Chief Financial Officer

 

NOBLE MIDSTREAM GP LLC
By:   /s/ Thomas W. Christensen
Name:  

Thomas W. Christensen

Title:  

Chief Financial Officer

 

NOBLE MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC
By:   /s/ Thomas W. Christensen
Name:  

Thomas W. Christensen

Title:  

Chief Financial Officer

 

NBL MIDSTREAM, LLC
By:   /s/ Aaron G. Carlson
Name:   Aaron G. Carlson
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to

Contribution, Conveyance, Assumption and Simplification Agreement


NBL MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS, LLC
By:   /s/ Aaron G. Carlson
Name:  

Aaron G. Carlson

Title:  

Vice President

 

Signature Page to

Contribution, Conveyance, Assumption and Simplification Agreement


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF INTEREST ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

This Interest Assignment Agreement, dated as of [•], 2019, (this “Agreement”) is entered into by and among NBL Midstream, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NBL Midstream”), Noble Midstream Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Midstream Services”) and Noble Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership” and, together with NBL Midstream and Midstream Services, the “Parties”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, NBL Midstream, Midstream Services and the Partnership are parties to that certain Contribution, Conveyance, Assumption and Simplification Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”), dated as of [•], 2019, by and among Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Noble”), the Partnership, Noble Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Partnership, Midstream Services, NBL Midstream, and NBL Midstream Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company;

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Contribution Agreement;

WHEREAS, NBL Midstream is a wholly owned subsidiary of Noble and Midstream Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership;

WHEREAS, prior to the consummation of the transaction contemplated by the Contribution Agreement (the “Transaction”), NBL Midstream owns the Subject Interests; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, NBL Midstream desires to assign and transfer to the Partnership the Subject Interests in exchange for the Drop-Down Consideration, and the Partnership desires to accept such assignment of the Subject Interests, and subsequently desires to assign and transfer to Midstream Services the Subject Interests, and Midstream Services desires to accept such assignment of the Subject Interests.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as follows:

1. Assignment and Assumption. NBL Midstream hereby assigns, transfers and conveys to the Partnership all of NBL Midstream’s right, title and interest in, under and to the Subject Interests. The Partnership hereby accepts, and takes assignment of, the Subject Interests. Subsequently, the Partnership hereby assigns, transfers and conveys to Midstream Services all of the Partnership’s right, title and interest in, under and to the Subject Interests. Midstream Services hereby accepts, and takes assignment of, the Subject Interests.

2. Further Assurances. From time to time after the date hereof, each Party agrees to promptly take such further actions and execute and deliver such additional instruments of sale,

 

A-1


transfer, assignment, conveyance and delivery, and such consents, assurances and other similar instruments as may be reasonably requested by the other Party in order to vest in the Partnership and subsequently Midstream Services (a) all right, title and interest in and to the Subject Interests and (b) all duties and obligations under the Subject Interests, and to otherwise carry out the purpose and intent of this Agreement.

3. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard for any conflict of law rules or principles that would require the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

4. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

5. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, including by facsimile signature, portable document format (.pdf) signature or similar electronic signature delivery, all of which shall be considered originals and taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

A-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf by a representative duly authorized as of the date first set forth above.

 

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
By:      Noble Midstream GP LLC, its general partner
           By:     
           Name:    
      Title:    

 

NOBLE MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

NBL MIDSTREAM, LLC
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

[Signature Page to Interest Assignment Agreement]


EXHIBIT B

EAST PONY ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

This ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of November 12, 2019 (“Execution Date”), is made by and between Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Assignor”), and NBL Midstream Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Assignee”). (Assignor and Assignee, each a “Party” and, together, the “Parties”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, pursuant to this Agreement, Assignor shall assign to Assignee all of its right, title and interest in and to the contracts listed in Schedule 1 (“Assigned Contracts”) and Assignee has agreed to assume all of Assignor’s duties and obligations under the Assigned Contracts on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1. Assignment and Assumption. Effective as of the Execution Date, Assignor hereby assigns, grants, conveys and transfers all of its right, title, and interest, and delegates all of the obligations, responsibilities, and duties arising under the Assigned Contracts to Assignee. Assignee hereby accepts such assignment and assumes all of Assignor’s duties and obligations under the Assigned Contracts and agrees to pay, perform and discharge, as and when due, all of the obligations of Assignor under the Assigned Contracts.

2. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the Parties and shall be enforceable by the legal representatives, respective successors and permitted assigns of the Parties.

3. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the Parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, representations and warranties and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

4. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Texas without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule.

5. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which is an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by facsimile, email or other means of electronic

 

B-1


transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows.]

 

B-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the Execution Date.

 

Noble Energy, Inc.
By:    
Name: Aaron G. Carlson
Title:   Vice President
NBL Midstream Holdings LLC
By:    
Name: Aaron G. Carlson
Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Assignment Agreement]


Schedule 1

Assigned Contracts

 

  1.

That certain Connection Agreement Noble-Keota Gas Processing Plant dated October 9, 2013, by and between Overland Pass Pipeline Company, LLC and Noble Energy Inc.

 

  2.

That certain Facility Construction, Ownership and Operating Agreement dated February 17, 2014, by and between Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. and Noble Energy Inc.

 

  3.

That certain Facility Construction, Ownership and Operating Agreement dated October 31, 2013, by and between Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. and Noble Energy, Inc.

 

  4.

That certain Reimbursement, Construction, Ownership, Operation, and Connection Agreement dated February 1, 2013, by and between Overland Pass Pipeline Company, LLC and Noble Energy Inc.

Schedule 1 to Exhibit B


EXHIBIT C

REVISED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

Exhibit C


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

A Delaware Limited Partnership

Dated as of

November 14, 2019


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1  

Section 1.1

   Definitions      1  

Section 1.2

   Construction      15  

ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION

     16  

Section 2.1

   Formation      16  

Section 2.2

   Name      16  

Section 2.3

   Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices      16  

Section 2.4

   Purpose and Business      16  

Section 2.5

   Powers      17  

Section 2.6

   Term      17  

Section 2.7

   Title to Partnership Property      17  

ARTICLE III RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

     18  

Section 3.1

   Limitation of Liability      18  

Section 3.2

   Management of Business      18  

Section 3.3

   Rights of Limited Partners      18  
ARTICLE IV CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS      19  

Section 4.1

   Certificates      19  

Section 4.2

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates      20  

Section 4.3

   Record Holders      20  

Section 4.4

   Transfer Generally      21  

Section 4.5

   Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests      21  

Section 4.6

   Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest      22  

Section 4.7

   Reserved      23  

Section 4.8

   Restrictions on Transfers      23  

Section 4.9

   Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders      25  

Section 4.10

   Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders      26  

ARTICLE V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

     27  

Section 5.1

   Incentive Distribution Rights      27  

Section 5.2

   Contributions by Limited Partners      27  

Section 5.3

   Interest and Withdrawal      27  

Section 5.4

   Capital Accounts      27  

 

i


Section 5.5

   Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests      30  

Section 5.6

   [Reserved]      31  

Section 5.7

   Limited Preemptive Right      31  

Section 5.8

   Splits and Combinations      31  

Section 5.9

   Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests      32  

ARTICLE VI ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

     32  

Section 6.1

   Allocations for Capital Account Purposes      32  

Section 6.2

   Allocations for Tax Purposes      36  

Section 6.3

   Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders      37  

ARTICLE VII MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

     38  

Section 7.1

   Management      38  

Section 7.2

   Certificate of Limited Partnership      40  

Section 7.3

   Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority to Sell Assets of the Partnership Group      40  

Section 7.4

   Reimbursement of and Other Payments to the General Partner      40  

Section 7.5

   Outside Activities      42  

Section 7.6

   Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members      43  

Section 7.7

   Indemnification      43  

Section 7.8

   Liability of Indemnitees      45  

Section 7.9

   Standards of Conduct; Resolution of Conflicts of Interest and Replacement of Duties      46  

Section 7.10

   Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and Other Indemnitees      49  

Section 7.11

   Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests      49  

Section 7.12

   Registration Rights of the General Partner and Its Affiliates      49  

Section 7.13

   Reliance by Third Parties      54  

Section 7.14

   Replacement of Fiduciary Duties      54  

ARTICLE VIII BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

     54  

Section 8.1

   Records and Accounting      54  

Section 8.2

   Fiscal Year      55  

Section 8.3

   Reports      55  

ARTICLE IX TAX MATTERS

     55  

Section 9.1

   Tax Returns and Information      55  

Section 9.2

   Tax Elections      56  

Section 9.3

   Tax Controversies      56  

 

ii


Section 9.4

   Withholding      57  

ARTICLE X ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

     57  

Section 10.1

   Admission of Limited Partners      57  

Section 10.2

   Admission of Successor General Partner      58  

Section 10.3

   Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership      58  

ARTICLE XI WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

     58  

Section 11.1

   Withdrawal of the General Partner      58  

Section 11.2

   Removal of the General Partner      60  

Section 11.3

   Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner      60  

Section 11.4

   Withdrawal of Limited Partners      62  

ARTICLE XII DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

     62  

Section 12.1

   Dissolution      62  

Section 12.2

   Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution      62  

Section 12.3

   Liquidator      63  

Section 12.4

   Liquidation      64  

Section 12.5

   Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership      64  

Section 12.6

   Return of Contributions      64  

Section 12.7

   Waiver of Partition      65  

Section 12.8

   Capital Account Restoration      65  

ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

     65  

Section 13.1

   Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner      65  

Section 13.2

   Amendment Procedures      66  

Section 13.3

   Amendment Requirements      67  

Section 13.4

   Special Meetings      68  

Section 13.5

   Notice of a Meeting      68  

Section 13.6

   Record Date      68  

Section 13.7

   Postponement and Adjournment      68  

Section 13.8

   Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting      69  

Section 13.9

   Quorum and Voting      69  

Section 13.10

   Conduct of a Meeting      70  

Section 13.11

   Action Without a Meeting      70  

Section 13.12

   Right to Vote and Related Matters      71  

ARTICLE XIV MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

     71  

Section 14.1

   Authority      71  

Section 14.2

   Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion      71  

 

iii


Section 14.3

   Approval by Limited Partners      73  

Section 14.4

   Certificate of Merger or Certificate of Conversion      75  

Section 14.5

   Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion      75  

ARTICLE XV RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

     76  

Section 15.1

   Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests      76  

ARTICLE XVI GENERAL PROVISIONS

     77  

Section 16.1

   Addresses and Notices; Written Communications      77  

Section 16.2

   Further Action      78  

Section 16.3

   Binding Effect      78  

Section 16.4

   Integration      78  

Section 16.5

   Creditors      78  

Section 16.6

   Waiver      78  

Section 16.7

   Third-Party Beneficiaries      78  

Section 16.8

   Counterparts      79  

Section 16.9

   Applicable Law; Forum; Venue and Jurisdiction; Attorneys’ Fee; Waiver of Trial by Jury      79  

Section 16.10

   Invalidity of Provisions      80  

Section 16.11

   Consent of Partners      80  

Section 16.12

   Facsimile and Email Signatures      80  

 

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SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP, dated as of November 14, 2019, is entered into by and between NOBLE MIDSTREAM GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, and NBL MIDSTREAM, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NBL Midstream”), as a Limited Partner, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein.

WHEREAS, the General Partner and the other parties entered into that certain First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of September 20, 2016 (the “2016 Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the Partnership has entered into a Contribution, Conveyance, Assumption and Simplification Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2019 (the “Contribution and Simplification Agreement”), among the Partnership, the General Partner, Noble Energy, Inc., Noble Midstream Services, LLC, Noble Midstream and Noble Midstream Holdings, LLC, pursuant to which, among other things, NBL Midstream will contribute certain equity interests specified therein to the Partnership, in exchange for a combination of cash and Common Units;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Contribution and Simplification Agreement, NBL Midstream and the Partnership desire to cause the General Partner to amend the 2016 Agreement in order to recapitalize and convert all of the outstanding Incentive Distribution Rights (as defined in the 2016 Agreement) into Common Units;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Contribution and Simplification Agreement, the 2016 Agreement is required to be amended to reflect the conversion of the Incentive Distribution Rights; and

WHEREAS, the General Partner desires to amend and restate the 2016 Agreement in its entirety to provide for the conversion of the Incentive Distribution Rights and such other changes as the General Partner has determined are necessary and appropriate in connection with the issuance of such securities and/or do not adversely affect the Limited Partners considered as a whole (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect.

NOW, THEREFORE, the General Partner does hereby amend and restate the 2016 Agreement, pursuant to its authority under Section 13.1 of the 2016 Agreement, to provide, in its entirety, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

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

 

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2016 Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Adjusted Capital Account” means, with respect to any Partner, the balance in such Partner’s Capital Account at the end of each taxable period of the Partnership, after giving effect to the following adjustments:

(a) Credit to such Capital Account any amounts that such Partner is obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c), including any amount that such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and

(b) Debit to such Capital Account the items described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6).

The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest was the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.

Adjusted Property” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.4(d).

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

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

Agreed Value” of (a) a Contributed Property means the fair market value of such Contributed Property at the time of contribution and (b) an Adjusted Property means the fair market value of such Adjusted Property on the date of the Revaluation Event, in each case as determined by the General Partner.

Agreement” means this Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Noble Midstream Partners LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, including pursuant to any Supplemental Terms Annex.

Associate” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer, manager, general partner or managing member or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest, (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20%

 

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beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.

Authorized Officers” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

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

(a) the sum of:

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

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

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

(i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter;

(ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject; or

(iii) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.4 or Section 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters;

provided, however, that the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to subclause (iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute $0.375 (subject to proportionate adjustments in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise)) on all Common Units; provided further, that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.

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

 

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

Book-Tax Disparity” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for U.S. federal income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.4 and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with U.S. federal income tax accounting principles.

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

Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.4. The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest was the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.

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

Carrying Value” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property or an Adjusted Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in respect of such property and (b) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for U.S. federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 5.4(d) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.

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

Certificate” means a certificate, in such form (including in global form if permitted by applicable rules and regulations of The Depository Trust Company or its successors and assigns) as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership and evidencing ownership of

 

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Partnership Interests. The initial form of Certificate approved by the General Partner for Common Units is attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Unit” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement.

Conflicts Committee” means any committee of the Board of Directors (whether designated as a “Conflicts Committee” or otherwise) composed of two or more directors, each of whom (a) is not an officer or employee of the General Partner, (b) is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the General Partner (other than Group Members), (c) is not a holder

 

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of any ownership interest in the General Partner or its Affiliates or the Partnership Group other than (i) Common Units and (ii) awards that are granted to such director in his or her capacity as a director under any long-term incentive plan, equity compensation plan or similar plan implemented by the General Partner or the Partnership and (d) is determined by the Board of Directors to be independent under the independence standards for directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading (or if no such National Securities Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange).

Contributed Property” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.4(d), such property or other asset shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.

Contribution Agreement” means that certain Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date, by and among Noble, the Organizational Limited Partner, NBL Midstream, the General Partner, the Partnership and certain other Persons party thereto, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Contribution and Simplification Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

General Partner Interest” means the non-economic management interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it) and includes any and all rights, powers and benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. The General Partner Interest does not include any rights to profits or losses or any rights to receive distributions from operations or upon the liquidation or winding-up of the Partnership.

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

Group” means two or more Persons that have, or with or through any of their respective Affiliates or Associates have, any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising investment power over or disposing of any Partnership Interests.

Group Member” means a member of the Partnership Group.

Group Member Agreement” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or similar organizational documents of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint

 

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venture and the governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, in each case, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Holder” means any of the following:

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

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

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

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

(e) a transferee and current Record Holder of Registrable Securities to whom the transferor of such Registrable Securities, who was a Holder at the time of such transfer, assigns its rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided, such transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and provides its name and address to the Partnership promptly upon such transfer.

Incentive Distribution Right” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights in the 2016 Agreement.

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

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

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

 

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

IPO Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-207560), as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Public Offering.

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

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

Limited Partner Interest” means an equity interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units or other Partnership Interests (other than a General Partner Interest) or a combination thereof (but excluding Derivative Partnership Interests), and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

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

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

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

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

NBL Midstream” has the meaning given such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Net Agreed Value” means (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such Contributed Property reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such Contributed Property is subject when contributed and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.4(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed,

 

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reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution.

Net Income” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.4 but shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

Net Loss” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.4 but shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Omnibus Agreement” means that certain Omnibus Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date, among Noble, the Organizational Limited Partner, NBL Midstream, the General Partner, the Partnership and the other Persons party thereto from time to time, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

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Operational Services and Secondment Agreement” means that certain Operational Services and Secondment Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date, among Noble, the Partnership, the General Partner and the other Persons party thereto from time to time, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

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

Organizational Limited Partner” means Noble Midstream Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Outstanding” means, with respect to Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding in the Partnership Register as of the date of determination; provided, however, that if at any time any Person or Group (other than the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class, all Partnership Interests owned by or for the benefit of such Person or Group shall not be entitled to be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Partnership Interests so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Partnership Interests shall not, however, be treated as a separate class or group of Partnership Interests for purposes of this Agreement or the Delaware Act); provided, further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than the Partnership), (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i), provided, that, upon or prior to such acquisition, the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, or (iii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership with the prior approval of the Board of Directors.

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

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

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

Partners” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

Partnership” means Noble Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

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

 

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

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

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

Percentage Interest” means, as of any date of determination, (a) as to any Unitholder with respect to Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Units held by such Unitholder by (B) the total number of Outstanding Units, and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.5, the percentage calculated in accordance with the method established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interest shall at all times be zero.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Record Date” means the date established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to receive notice of, or entitled to exercise rights in respect of, any lawful action of Limited Partners (including voting) or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 13.6 of the Agreement shall not apply to any Record Date set by the General Partner for purposes of determining the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or participate in any offer.

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

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

Registrable Security” means any Partnership Interest other than the General Partner Interest; provided, however, that any Registrable Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security: (a) at the time a Registration Statement covering such Registrable Security is declared effective by the Commission, or otherwise becomes effective under the Securities Act, and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement; (b) at the time such Registrable Security may be disposed of without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor or similar rule or regulation under the Securities Act); (c) when such Registrable Security is held by a Group Member and (d) at the time such Registrable Security has been sold in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under Section 7.12 have not been assigned to the transferee of such securities.

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

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

Revaluation Event” means an event that results in adjustment of the Carrying Value of each Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.4(d).

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

 

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

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

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

Supplemental Terms Annex” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.5(b).

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

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

Tenth Anniversary” means September 20, 2026.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Unit” means a Partnership Interest that is designated by the General Partner as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units but shall not include the General Partner Interest.

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

Unitholders” means the Record Holders of Units.

Unrealized Gain” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.4(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.4(d) as of such date).

Unrealized Loss” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.4(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.4(d)).

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

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

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

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

Section 1.2 Construction. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation” and (d) the terms “hereof,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement

 

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as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The General Partner has the power to construe and interpret this Agreement and to act upon any such construction or interpretation. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any construction or interpretation of this Agreement by the General Partner, any action taken pursuant thereto and any determination made by the General Partner in good faith shall, in each case, be conclusive and binding on all Record Holders, each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and all other Persons for all purposes.

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION

Section 2.1 Formation. The Partnership was previously formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The parties hereby amend and restate the 2016 Agreement in its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties and Liabilities of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes.

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

Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices. Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 1001 Noble Energy Way, Houston, Texas 77070, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 1001 Noble Energy Way, Houston, Texas 77070, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.

Section 2.4 Purpose and Business. The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a) engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware

 

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Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity and (b) do anything necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however, that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would be reasonably likely to cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve the conduct by the Partnership of any business and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in declining to so propose or approve, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in determining whether to propose or approve the conduct by the Partnership of any business shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion.

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

Section 2.6 Term. The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.

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

 

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recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Partnership property is held.

ARTICLE III

RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability. The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.

Section 3.2 Management of Business. No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. No action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall be deemed to be participating in the control of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) nor shall any such action affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.

Section 3.3 Rights of Limited Partners.

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

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

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

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

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the rights to information granted the Limited Partners pursuant to Section 3.3(a) and Section 8.3 replace in their entirety any rights to information provided for in Section 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act, and each of the Limited Partners, each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement hereby agrees to the fullest extent permitted by law that they do not have any rights as Limited Partners, interest holders or otherwise to receive any

 

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information either pursuant to Sections 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act or otherwise except for the information identified in Section 3.3(a) and Section 8.3.

(c) The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.3).

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

ARTICLE IV

CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS;

REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 4.1 Certificates. Record Holders of Partnership Interests and, where appropriate, Derivative Partnership Interests, shall be recorded in the Partnership Register and ownership of such interests shall be evidenced by a physical certificate or book entry notation in the Partnership Register. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes of Partnership Interests, Partnership Interests shall not be evidenced by physical certificates. Certificates, if any, shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by any one senior officer of the General Partner (including, as applicable, the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President) and the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any other officer or officers of the General Partner as the Board of Directors may authorize to execute Certificates (collectively, the “Authorized Officers”) acting on behalf of the General Partner, and shall bear the legend set forth in Section 4.8(f). The signatures of such Authorized Officers upon a Certificate may, to the extent permitted by law, be facsimiles. In case any officer who has signed or whose signature has been placed upon such Certificate shall have ceased to hold the applicable office before such Certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Partnership with the same effect as if he or she were such officer at the date of its issuance. If a Transfer Agent has been appointed for a class of Partnership Interests, no Certificate for such class of Partnership Interests shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided, however, that, if the General Partner elects to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests of such class in global form, the Certificate shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Partnership Interests have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership. With respect to any Partnership Interests that are represented by physical

 

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certificates, the General Partner may determine that such Partnership Interests will no longer be represented by physical certificates and may, upon written notice to the holders of such Partnership Interests and subject to applicable law, take whatever actions it deems necessary or appropriate to cause such Partnership Interests to be registered in book entry or global form and may cause such physical certificates to be cancelled or deemed cancelled.

Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.

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

(b) The Authorized Officers, acting on behalf of the General Partner, acting on behalf of the Partnership, shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued that is no longer available due to loss, destruction or theft, if the Record Holder of the Certificate:

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

(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate at a time when the General Partner does not have actual knowledge that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;

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

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

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

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

Section 4.3 Record Holders. The names and addresses of holders of a Partnership Interest as they appear in the Partnership Register shall be the official list of Record Holders of the

 

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Partnership Interests for all purposes. The Partnership and the General Partner shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person or Group, regardless of whether the Partnership or the General Partner shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person or Group in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Person on the other hand, such representative Person shall be the Limited Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest upon becoming the Record Holder in accordance with Section 10.1(b) and have the rights and obligations of a Limited Partner hereunder as and to the extent provided herein, including Section 10.1(c).

Section 4.4 Transfer Generally.

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

(b) No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be null and void, and the Partnership shall have no obligation to effect any such transfer or purported transfer.

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

Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.

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

(b) The General Partner shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are duly endorsed and surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided, however, that as a condition to the issuance of any new

 

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Certificate under this Section 4.5, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of this Section 4.5(b), the Authorized Officers, acting on behalf of the General Partner, acting on behalf of the Partnership, shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered. Upon the proper surrender of a Certificate, such transfer shall be recorded in the Partnership Register. Notwithstanding this paragraph, if the General Partner has determined that Certificates will no longer be issued with respect to any class of Limited Partner Interests, then the General Partner shall be under no obligation to deliver replacement Certificates to a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest of such class and shall cancel the returned Certificate upon the surrender of same by the transferor and shall only be required to reflect the transfer in the Partnership Register.

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

(d) Except as provided in Section 4.9, by acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests pursuant to a transfer in accordance with this Article IV, each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee, agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person or Group) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person when any such transfer or admission is reflected in the Partnership Register and such Person becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) shall be deemed to represent that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, and (iv) shall be deemed to make the consents, acknowledgements and waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.

(e) Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section 4.3, (iii) Section 4.8, (iv) Section 4.9, (v) with respect to any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the provisions of any statement of designations or an amendment to this Agreement (including any Supplemental Terms Annex) establishing such class or series, (vi) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vii) provisions of applicable law including the Securities Act, Limited Partner Interests shall be freely transferable.

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

Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partners General Partner Interest.

 

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

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

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

Section 4.7 Reserved.

Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers.

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

(b) The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it receives an Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary to (i) avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) or (ii) preserve the uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The

 

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

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

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

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT) WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR (C) CAUSE NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). THE GENERAL PARTNER OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO (A) AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED) OR (B) PRESERVE THE UNIFORMITY OF THE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS IN NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP (OR ANY CLASS OR CLASSES THEREOF). THIS SECURITY MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ITS TRANSFER PROVIDED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS SECURITY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL PARTNER AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE PARTNERSHIP. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 4.9 OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO

 

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THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

Section 4.9 Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders.

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

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

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

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

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

(f) If at any time a transferee of a Partnership Interest fails to furnish an Eligibility Certificate or any other information requested by the General Partner pursuant to Section 4.9 within 30 days of such request, or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that such transferee is an Ineligible

 

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Holder, the Partnership may, unless the transferee establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such transferee is not an Ineligible Holder, prohibit and void the transfer, including by placing a stop order with the Transfer Agent.

Section 4.10 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

(c) Nothing in this Section 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement and the transferor provides notice of such transfer to the General Partner. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such transferee is not an Ineligible Holder. If the transferee fails to make such certification within 30 days after the request and, in any event, before the redemption date, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 5.1 Incentive Distribution Rights. As of the date hereof, pursuant to the Contribution and Simplification Agreement, the Incentive Distribution Rights held by the General Partner will be converted into Common Units. From the date hereof, effective immediately following the aforementioned transactions, the Incentive Distribution Rights shall no longer exist.

Section 5.2 Contributions by Limited Partners. Except for the Capital Contributions made or to required be made by or on behalf of a Person acquiring Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests in connection with future issuances in accordance with Section 5.5, no Limited Partner will be required to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 5.3 Interest and Withdrawal. No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.

Section 5.4 Capital Accounts.

(a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee, agent or representative in any case in which the nominee, agent or representative has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made by the Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain computed in

 

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accordance with Section 5.4(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made to the Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest, and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.4(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1.

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

(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 5.4, the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement or governing, organizational or similar documents) of all property owned by (x) any other Group Member that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and (y) any other partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes of which a Group Member is, directly or indirectly, a partner, member or other equity holder.

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

(iii) The computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made (x) except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership, and (y) as to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

(iv) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership property pursuant to Section 734(b) of the Code (including pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.734-2(b)(1)) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.

(v) In the event the Carrying Value of Partnership property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.4(d), any Unrealized Gain resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain, and any Unrealized Loss resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of loss.

 

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

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

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

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

(d) (i) Consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of a Noncompensatory Option, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property; provided, however, that in the event of the issuance of a Partnership Interest pursuant to the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option where the right to share in Partnership capital represented by such Partnership Interest differs from the consideration paid to acquire and exercise such option, the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately after the issuance of such Partnership Interest shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s); provided further, that in the event of an issuance of Partnership Interests for a de minimis amount of cash or Contributed Property, in the event of an issuance of a Noncompensatory Option to acquire a de minimis Partnership Interest, or in the event of an issuance of a de minimis amount of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the General Partner may determine that such adjustments are unnecessary for the proper administration of the Partnership. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests (or, in the case of a Revaluation Event resulting from the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option, immediately after the issuance of the Partnership Interest acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Noncompensatory Option) shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt. In making its determination of the fair market values of individual properties, the General Partner may first determine an aggregate value for the assets of the Partnership that takes into account the current trading price of the Common Units, the fair market value of all other Partnership Interests at such time and the value of Partnership Liabilities. The

 

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General Partner may allocate such aggregate value among the individual properties of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines appropriate). Absent a contrary determination by the General Partner, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a Revaluation Event shall be the value that would result in the Capital Account for each Common Unit that is Outstanding prior to such Revaluation Event being equal to the Event Issue Value.

(ii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any distribution to a Partner of any Partnership property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the Carrying Value of all Partnership property shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of a distribution other than one made pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.4(d)(i) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined by the Liquidator using such method of valuation as it may adopt.

Section 5.5 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests.

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

(b) Each additional Partnership Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Interests), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may, or shall be required to, redeem the Partnership Interest; (v) whether such Partnership Interest is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Interest will be issued, evidenced by Certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Interest and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Interest to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Interest. The designations, powers, duties, rights and preferences of any additional class of Partnership Interests issued pursuant to this Section 5.5 may be set forth in an amendment to, or amendment and restatement of, this Agreement or in an annex to this Agreement (a “Supplemental Terms Annex”), the provisions of which shall supplement and, to the extent inconsistent with any other provision of this Agreement, supersede and amend the provisions hereof. To the extent that more than one Supplemental Terms Annex is

 

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in effect at any time and the terms of such Supplemental Terms Annexes conflict with each other, then the terms set forth in the most recently adopted Supplemental Terms Annex shall control.

(c) The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.2 or this Section 5.5, including Common Units issued in connection with the Deferred Issuance, (ii) reflecting admission of such additional Limited Partners in the Partnership Register as the Record Holders of such Limited Partner Interests and (iii) all additional issuances of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.

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

Section 5.6 [Reserved]

Section 5.7 Limited Preemptive Right. Except as provided in this Section 5.7 or as otherwise provided in a separate agreement by the Partnership, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Interest, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. Other than with respect to the issuance of Partnership Interests in connection with the Initial Public Offering, the General Partner shall have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Interests from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Interests to Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Interests.

Section 5.8 Splits and Combinations.

(a) Subject to Section 5.8(d) (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Interests to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.

(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests is declared, the General Partner shall select a date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such distribution date to each Record Holder as of a date that is not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice (or such shorter periods as required by applicable law). The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of

 

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Partnership Interests to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate, letter or other official medium of communication provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.

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

(d) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of Section 5.5(d) and this Section 5.8(d), each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit, with fractional Units equal to or greater than a 0.5 Unit being rounded to the next higher Unit.

Section 5.9 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests. All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303(a), 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Act.

ARTICLE VI

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes. Subject to the terms of any Supplemental Terms Annex, for purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 5.4(b)) for each taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners as provided herein below.

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

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

(ii) The balance, if any, 100% to the Unitholders, Pro Rata.

 

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(b) Net Loss. After giving effect to the special allocations in Section 6.1(d), Net Loss for each taxable period (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Loss for such taxable period) shall be allocated as follows:

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

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

(c) Reserved.

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

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

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

(iii) Reserved.

 

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

(v) Gross Income Allocation. In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, however, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if Section 6.1(d)(iv) and this Section 6.1(d)(v) were not in this Agreement.

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

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

(viii) Nonrecourse Liabilities. For purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated first, to any Partner that contributed property to the Partnership in proportion to and to the extent of the amount by which each such Partner’s share of any Section 704(c) built-in gains exceeds such Partner’s share of Nonrecourse Built-in Gain, and second, among the Partners Pro Rata.

 

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(ix) Code Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership property pursuant to Section 734(b) of the Code (including pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.734-2(b)(1)) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution to a Partner in complete liquidation of such Partner’s interest in the Partnership, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) taken into account pursuant to Section 5.4, and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.

(x) Economic Uniformity. For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall (1) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (2) make special allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss; and (3) without the consent of any Limited Partner or any other Person, amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof) that are publicly traded as a single class. The General Partner may adopt such conventions, make such allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement as provided in this Section 6.1(d)(x) only if it determines that such conventions, allocations or amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the Partners, the holders of any class or classes of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or the Partnership.

(xi) Curative Allocation.

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

(B) The General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) in whatever order is most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required

 

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Allocations, and (2) divide all allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.

Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes.

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

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

(c) The General Partner may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6) or any successor regulations thereto. If the General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the Partnership’s property. If the General Partner chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other depreciation and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests, so long as such conventions would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.

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

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

 

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(f) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction shall, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be determined for each taxable period and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each month; provided, however, that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership or any other extraordinary item of income, gain, loss or deduction as determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the month in which such item is recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.

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

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

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

(a) Within 45 days following the end of each Quarter commencing with the Quarter ending on December 31, 2016, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner in accordance with each Limited Partner’s Percentage Interest. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Partnership shall not make a distribution to any Partner on account of its interest in the Partnership if such distribution would violate the Delaware Act or any other applicable law.

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

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

(d) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such

 

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payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.

ARTICLE VII

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

Section 7.1 Management.

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

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

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

(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii) being subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3 and Article XIV);

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

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

 

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(vi) the distribution of cash held by the Partnership;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each Record Holder and each other Person who may acquire an interest in a Partnership Interest or that is otherwise bound by this Agreement hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement and the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member, the Omnibus Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, the Operational Services and Secondment Agreement and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the IPO Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the IPO Registration Statement (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) (in each case other than this Agreement, without giving effect to any amendments, supplements or restatements thereof entered

 

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into after the date such Person becomes bound by the provisions of this Agreement); (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or on behalf of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the IPO Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or are otherwise bound by this Agreement; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV) shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership. The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the General Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.3(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.

Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partners Authority to Sell Assets of the Partnership Group. Except as provided in Article XII and Article XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation or other combination or sale of ownership interests of the Partnership’s Subsidiaries) without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance.

Section 7.4 Reimbursement of and Other Payments to the General Partner.

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

 

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(b) Except as may be otherwise provided in the Omnibus Agreement or the Operational Services and Secondment Agreement, the General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner, to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group) and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner or its Affiliates in connection with managing and operating the Partnership Group’s business and affairs (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7. Any allocation of expenses to the Partnership by the General Partner in a manner consistent with its or its Affiliates’ past business practices shall be deemed to have been made in good faith.

(c) The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of officers, employees, consultants and directors of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any officers, employees, consultants and directors pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6.

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

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

 

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Section 7.5 Outside Activities.

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

(b) Each Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise to any Group Member or any Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement; provided, that such Unrestricted Person does not engage in such business or activity using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such Unrestricted Person. None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any Unrestricted Person.

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

 

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pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Partnership; provided, that such Unrestricted Person does not engage in such business or activity using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such Unrestricted Person.

(d) The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Interests in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units and/or other Partnership Interests acquired by them. The term “Affiliates” when used in this Section 7.5(d) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.

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

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

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

Section 7.7 Indemnification.

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee and acting (or refraining to act) in such capacity on behalf of or for the benefit of the Partnership; provided, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless pursuant to this Agreement if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in intentional fraud, willful misconduct

 

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or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful; provided, further, no indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be available to any Affiliate of the General Partner (other than a Group Member), or to any other Indemnitee, with respect to any such Affiliate’s obligations pursuant to the Transaction Documents. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

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

(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under this Agreement or any other agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators of the Indemnitee.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners or any other Persons who are bound by this Agreement for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in intentional fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

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

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

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

 

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

(a) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any action, or any Affiliate of the General Partner causes the General Partner to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless a lesser standard is provided for in this Agreement, or the determination, action or failure to act has been approved as provided in Section 7.9(b)(i) or Section 7.9(b)(ii), the General Partner, or such Affiliate causing it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such action in good faith. Whenever the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee) or any Affiliate of the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any action, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless a lesser standard is provided for in this Agreement or the determination, action or failure to act has been approved as provided in Section 7.9(b)(i) or Section 7.9(b)(ii), the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee) or any Affiliate of the General Partner shall make such determination or take or decline to take such action in good faith. The foregoing and other lesser standards governing any determination, action or failure to act provided for in this Agreement are the sole and exclusive standards governing any such determinations, actions and failures to act of the General Partner, the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee) and any Affiliate of the General Partner, and none of the General Partner, the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee) or any Affiliate of the General Partner shall be subject to any fiduciary duty or other duty or obligation, or any other, different or higher standard (all of which duties, obligations and standards are hereby eliminated, waived and disclaimed), under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. Any such determination, action or failure to act by the General Partner, the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any committee thereof (including the Conflicts Committee) or any Affiliate of the General Partner will be deemed to be in good faith unless the General Partner, the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any committee thereof (including the Conflicts Committee) or any Affiliate of the General Partner subjectively believed such determination, action or failure to act was adverse to the interests of the Partnership. The subjective belief of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) that voted on, or provided written consent to, any determination, action or failure to act of the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) as to whether a determination, action or failure to act was adverse to the interests of the Partnership shall constitute the subjective belief of the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof). In any proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Partnership, any Limited Partner, any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement challenging such determination, action or failure to act, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of proving that such determination, action or failure to act was not in good faith or such other applicable lesser standard under this Agreement.

(b) Unless a lesser standard is otherwise provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General

 

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Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, on the other hand, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, or any agreement contemplated herein or therein or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval or (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval or Unitholder approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action in respect of any such conflict of interest that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval. If the General Partner does not submit the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest as provided in either clause (i) or clause (ii) of the first sentence of this Section 7.9(b), then any such resolution or course of action shall be governed by Section 7.9(a). Whenever the General Partner makes a determination whether or not to refer any potential conflict of interest to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval, whether or not to seek Unitholder approval or whether or not to adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval, then the General Partner shall be entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and the General Partner shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard or duty imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in making such determination shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion. If Special Approval is sought, then it shall be presumed that, in making its determination, the Conflicts Committee acted in good faith, and if the Board of Directors determines that a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee, then it shall be presumed that, in making its determination, the Board of Directors acted in good faith. In any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any other Limited Partner or the Partnership or by or on behalf of any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person bound by this Agreement challenging any action, failure to act or determination by the Conflicts Committee with respect to any matter referred to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval, or challenging any determination by the Board of Directors that a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming the presumption that the Conflicts Committee or the Board of Directors, as applicable, did not act in good faith. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the conflicts of interest described in the IPO Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any such duty.

(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any action, or any Affiliate of the General Partner causes the General Partner to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then (i) the General Partner, or such Affiliate causing it to do so, is entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such

 

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action free of any duty (including any fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement, (ii) the General Partner, or such Affiliate causing it to do so, shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity and (iii) the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such action shall be permitted to do so in their sole and absolute discretion. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrases “at its option,” “its sole and absolute discretion” or some variation of those phrases, are used in this Agreement, they indicate that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership Interests, or refrains from voting or transferring its Partnership Interests, it shall be acting in its individual capacity.

(d) The General Partner’s organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or shall be determined by its members, if the General Partner is a limited liability company, stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or the members or stockholders of the General Partner’s general partner, if the General Partner is a general or limited partnership.

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

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

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

 

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

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

(b) The General Partner and any other Indemnitee may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisors selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner or such Indemnitee, respectively, reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been taken or omitted to be taken in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

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

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

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

(a) Demand Registration. Upon receipt of a Notice from any Holder at any time after the 180th day after the Closing Date, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as reasonably practicable a registration statement under the Securities Act (each, a “Registration Statement”) providing for the resale of the Registrable Securities identified in such Notice, which may, at the option of the Holder giving such Notice, be a Registration Statement that provides for the resale of the Registrable Securities from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the initial filing of the Registration Statement and to remain effective and available for the resale of the Registrable Securities by the Selling Holders named therein until the earlier of (i) six months following such Registration Statement’s effective date and (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold. In the event one or more Holders request in a Notice to dispose of a number of Registrable Securities that such Holder or Holders reasonably anticipates will result in gross proceeds of at least $30 million in the aggregate pursuant to a Registration Statement in an Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall retain underwriters that are reasonably acceptable to such Selling Holders in order to permit such Selling Holders to effect such disposition through an Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that the Partnership shall

 

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

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

 

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this Section 7.12(b) prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement or the pricing date of the Underwritten Offering, as applicable.

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

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

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

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

(iv) immediately notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter, at any time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (A) the occurrence of any event or existence of any fact (but not a description of such event or fact) as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of the prospectus contained therein, in the light of the

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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(g) Indemnification.

(i) In addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership’s obligation under Section 7.7, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, “Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.12(g) as a “claim” and in the plural as “claims”) based upon, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus under which any Registrable Securities were registered or sold by such Selling Holder under the Securities Act, or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be liable to any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or results from an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

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

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

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

 

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ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any such party from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity that such party may have.

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

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

ARTICLE VIII

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

Section 8.1 Records and Accounting. The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.3(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including

 

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the Partnership Register, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Partnership shall not be required to keep books maintained on a cash basis, and the General Partner shall be permitted to calculate cash-based measures by making such adjustments to its accrual basis books to account for non-cash items and other adjustments as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

Section 8.2 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.

Section 8.3 Reports.

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

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

ARTICLE IX

TAX MATTERS

Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information. The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable period or year that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined by the General Partner. In the event the Partnership is required to use a taxable period other than a year ending on December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts

 

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to change the taxable period of the Partnership to a year ending on December 31. The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal, state and local income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable period shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s taxable period ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Section 9.2 Tax Elections.

(a) The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General Partner’s determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the General Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited Partner Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(f) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.

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

Section 9.3 Tax Controversies. (a) Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the “tax matters partner” (as defined in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code) (the “Tax Matters Partner”) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the Tax Matters Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the Tax Matters Partner to conduct such proceedings. Each Partner agrees that notice of or updates regarding tax controversies shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made by the Tax Matters Partner if the Partnership has either (i) filed the information for which notice is required with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and such information is publicly available on such system or (ii) made the information for which notice is required available on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership, whether or not such Partner remains a Partner in the Partnership at the time such information is made publicly available.

(b) With respect to tax returns filed for taxable years beginning on or after December 31, 2017, the General Partner (or its designee) will be designated as the “partnership representative” in accordance with the rules prescribed pursuant to Section 6223 of the Code and shall have the sole authority to act on behalf of the Partnership in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. The General Partner (or its designee) shall exercise, in its sole discretion, any and all authority of the “partnership representative” under the Code, including, without limitation, (i)

 

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binding the Partnership and its Partners with respect to tax matters and (ii) determining whether to make any available election under Section 6226 of the Code. The General Partner shall amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations implementing the partnership audit, assessment and collection rules adopted by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, including any amendments to those rules.

Section 9.4 Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code, or established by any foreign law. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income or from a distribution to any Partner (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 or Section 12.4(c) in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.

ARTICLE X

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

Section 10.1 Admission of Limited Partners.

(a) Each of the Limited Partners shall continue as a limited partner of the Partnership on the date hereof.

(b) By acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests transferred in accordance with Article IV or acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to Article V or pursuant to a merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to Article XIV, each transferee of, or other such Person acquiring, a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee, agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person or Group, who shall be subject to Section 10.1(d) below) (i) except as provided in Section 4.9, shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or issued to such Person when such Person becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or acquired, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) shall be deemed to represent that the transferee or acquirer has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, and (iv) shall be deemed to make any consents, acknowledgements or waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement. A Person may become a Limited Partner without the consent or approval of any of the Partners. A Person may not become a Limited Partner without acquiring a Limited Partner Interest and becoming the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest. The rights and obligations of a Person who is an Ineligible Holder shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.9.

(c) With respect to any Limited Partner that holds Units representing Limited Partner Interests for another Person’s account (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Units are registered, such Limited Partner shall, in exercising the rights of a Limited Partner in respect of such Units on any

 

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matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, take all action as a Limited Partner by virtue of being the Record Holder of such Units at the direction of the Person who is the beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume such Limited Partner is so acting without further inquiry.

(d) The name and mailing address of each Record Holder shall be listed in the Partnership Register maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent. The General Partner shall update the Partnership Register from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable).

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

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

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

ARTICLE XI

WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

(b) Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time, on the Tenth Anniversary, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided, that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel”) that such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time, on the Tenth Anniversary, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; (iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General

 

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Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2 or (iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal, a successor is not elected by the Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with Section 12.1 unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.

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

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

(a) In the event of withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement, if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1, then the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal of such Departing General Partner, to require such successor General Partner to purchase such Departing General Partner’s or its Affiliates’ economic general partner interests (or equivalent interests), if any, in the Partnership and the other Group Members (the “Combined Interest”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal

 

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

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

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

 

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(c) If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the option described in Section 11.3(a) is not exercised by the party entitled to do so, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner’s admission, the successor General Partner’s interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations, if any, shall be its Percentage Interest.

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

ARTICLE XII

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

Section 12.1 Dissolution. The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to Section 11.1, Section 11.2 or Section 12.2, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

(a) an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless (i) a successor General Partner is elected and a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Section 11.1(b) or Section 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2 or (ii) the holders of a Unit Majority elect to continue the business of the Partnership and to appoint a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 12.2;

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

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

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

(e) the conveyance of all the Partnership’s assets to another limited liability entity in accordance with Section 14.3(d).

Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution. Upon (a) an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or (iii) and the failure of the Unitholders to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, then, to the maximum extent

 

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

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

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

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

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

Section 12.3 Liquidator. Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2, the General Partner (or in the event of dissolution pursuant to Section 12.1(a), the holders of a Unit Majority) shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.3) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator

 

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hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.

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

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

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

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

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

Section 12.6 Return of Contributions. The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners

 

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or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership property.

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

Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration. No Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Partnership.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

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

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

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

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

(d) a change that the General Partner determines (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners considered as a whole or any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests in any material respect (except as permitted by subsection (g) of this Section 13.1); provided that for purposes of determining whether an amendment satisfies the requirements of this Section 13.1(d)(i), the General Partner may in its sole discretion disregard any adverse effect on any class or classes of Partnership Interests the holders of which have approved such amendment pursuant to Section 13.3(c), (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Units (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.8 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the IPO Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

 

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

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

(g) an amendment that (i) sets forth the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of any class or series of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests issued pursuant to Section 5.5 or (ii) the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate or advisable in connection with the authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.5, including such an amendment effectuated through a Supplemental Terms Annex;

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

(i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement or a Plan of Conversion approved in accordance with Section 14.3;

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

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

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

Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and, in declining to propose or approve an amendment to this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in determining whether to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement shall be permitted to do so in its sole and

 

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absolute discretion. An amendment to this Agreement shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and, except as otherwise provided by Section 13.1 or Section 13.3, the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage of Outstanding Units is required under this Agreement. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The General Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any amendments. The General Partner shall be deemed to have notified all Record Holders as required by this Section 13.2 if it has posted or made accessible such amendment through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website.

Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements.

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of (i) in the case of any provision of this Agreement other than Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, reducing such percentage or (ii) in the case of Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, increasing such percentages, unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute (x) in the case of a reduction as described in subclause (a)(i) hereof, not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced, (y) in the case of an increase in the percentage in Section 11.2, not less than 90% of the Outstanding Units or (z) in the case of an increase in the percentage in Section 13.4, not less than a majority of the Outstanding Units.

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

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

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

 

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

Section 13.4 Special Meetings. All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the General Partner one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called and the class or classes of Units for which the meeting is proposed. No business may be brought by any Limited Partner before such special meeting except the business listed in the related request. Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting, the General Partner shall send or cause to be sent a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the General Partner on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the time notice of the meeting is given as provided in Section 16.1. Limited Partners shall not be permitted to vote on matters that would cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state or jurisdiction in which the Partnership is qualified to do business. If any such vote were to take place, to the fullest extent permitted by law, it shall be deemed null and void to the extent necessary so as not to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.

Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting. Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with Section 16.1.

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

Section 13.7 Postponement and Adjournment. Prior to the date upon which any meeting of Limited Partners is to be held, the General Partner may postpone such meeting one or more times for any reason by giving notice to each Limited Partner entitled to vote at the meeting so postponed of the place, date and hour at which such meeting would be held. Such notice shall be given not fewer than two days before the date of such meeting and otherwise in accordance

 

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

Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting. The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except (i) when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and (ii) that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove of any matters submitted for consideration or to object to the failure to submit for consideration any matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if such objection is expressly made at the beginning of the meeting.

Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting. Except as otherwise provided by this Agreement or required by the rules or regulations of any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are admitted to trading, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Partnership or its Partnership Interests, the presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority in voting power of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes. Abstentions and broker non-votes in respect of such Units shall be deemed to be Units present at such meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum. For all matters presented to the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units at a meeting at which a quorum is present for which no minimum or other vote of Limited Partners is required by any other provision of this Agreement, the rules or regulations of any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are admitted to trading, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Partnership or its Partnership Interests, a majority of the votes cast by the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners (with abstentions and broker non-votes being deemed to not have been cast with respect to such matter). On any matter where a minimum or other vote of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units is provided by any other provision of this Agreement or required by the rules or regulations of any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are admitted to trading, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Partnership or its Partnership Interests, such minimum or other vote shall be the vote of Limited Partners required to approve such matter (with the effect of

 

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abstentions and broker non-votes to be determined based on the vote of Limited Partners required to approve such matter; provided that if the effect of abstentions and broker non-votes is not specified by such applicable rule, regulation or law, and there is no prevailing interpretation of such effect, then abstentions and broker non-votes shall be deemed to not have been cast with respect to such matter; provided further, that, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any matter on which this Agreement requires the approval of a specified percentage of the Outstanding Units, abstentions and broker non-votes shall be counted as votes against such matter). The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum has been established may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the exit of enough Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum.

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

Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting. If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Outstanding Units held by such Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Outstanding Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any permitted action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are first deposited with the Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken

 

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with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and Liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.

Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters.

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

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

ARTICLE XIV

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

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

Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners.

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

(b) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority unless the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, effects an amendment to any provision of this Agreement that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement adopted pursuant to Article XIII, would require for its approval the vote or consent of a greater percentage of the Outstanding Units or of any class of

 

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Limited Partners, in which case such greater percentage vote or consent shall be required for approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

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

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

(e) Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another limited liability entity if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner under the laws of the jurisdiction governing the other limited liability entity (if that jurisdiction is not Delaware) as compared to its limited liability under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed), (ii) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to this Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1, (iii) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (iv) each Unit Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation and (v) the number of Partnership Interests to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation does not exceed 20% of the Partnership Interests Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.

(f) Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (i) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (ii) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the

 

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Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.3 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.

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

Section 14.5 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.

(a) At the effective time of the merger or consolidation:

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

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

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

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

(b) At the effective time of the conversion:

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

ARTICLE XV

RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time the General Partner and its Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three Business Days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed.

(b) If the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the General Partner shall deliver to the applicable Transfer Agent or exchange agent notice of such election to purchase (the “Notice of Election to Purchase”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent or exchange agent to mail a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner), together with such information as may be required by law, rule or regulation, at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be filed and distributed as may be required by the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state that the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, or instructions agreeing to such redemption in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent or exchange agent as the

 

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Transfer Agent or exchange agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at such Record Holder’s address as reflected in the Partnership Register shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent or exchange agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in accordance with this Section 15.1. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate or redemption instructions shall not have been surrendered for purchase or provided, respectively, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI and Article XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent or exchange agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, or instructions agreeing to such redemption, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the Partnership Register, and the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the Record Holder of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI and Article XII).

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

ARTICLE XVI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices; Written Communications.

(a) Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner at the address described below. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interests at such Record Holder’s address as shown in the Partnership Register, regardless of any claim of any Person who

 

77


may have an interest in such Partnership Interests by reason of any assignment or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) a Partner shall consent to receiving notices, demands, requests, reports or proxy materials via electronic mail or by the Internet or (ii) the rules of the Commission shall permit any report or proxy materials to be delivered electronically or made available via the Internet, any such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials shall be deemed given or made when delivered or made available via such mode of delivery. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing in the Partnership Register is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in such Record Holder’s address) if they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other Partners. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by the General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 16.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each Partner agrees that (a) any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with

 

78


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

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

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

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

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

(i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings (A) arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of this Agreement or the duties or Liabilities among Partners or of Partners to the Partnership, or the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the Partners or the Partnership), (B) brought in a derivative manner on behalf of the Partnership, (C) asserting a claim of breach of a duty (including any fiduciary duty) owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, or owed by the General Partner, to the Partnership or the Partners, (D) asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Act or (E) asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, in each case regardless of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or are derivative or direct claims; provided, however, that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings over which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction shall be brought in any other court in the State of Delaware having jurisdiction;

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

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

 

79


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

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

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

(vii) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUCH CLAIM, SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.

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

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

Section 16.12 Facsimile and Email Signatures. The use of facsimile signatures and signatures delivered by email in portable document format (.pdf) or other similar electronic format affixed in the name and on behalf of the Transfer Agent on Certificates representing Common Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

80


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

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
NOBLE MIDSTREAM GP LLC
By:  

/s/ Thomas W. Christensen

Name:  

Thomas W. Christensen

Title:  

Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Agreement of

Limited Partnership of Noble Midstream Partners LP


LIMITED PARTNER:
NBL MIDSTREAM, LLC
By:   /s/ Aaron G. Carlson
Name:  

Aaron G. Carlson

Title:  

Vice President

 

Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Agreement of

Limited Partnership of Noble Midstream Partners LP


EXHIBIT A

to the Second Amended and Restated

Agreement of Limited Partnership of

Noble Midstream Partners LP

Certificate Evidencing Common Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests in

Noble Midstream Partners LP

 

No                                     Common Units

In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Noble Midstream Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “Partnership Agreement”), Noble Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), hereby certifies that (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Common Units”) transferable in the records of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the Partnership located at 1001 Noble Energy Way, Houston, Texas 77070. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT) WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR (C) CAUSE NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). THE GENERAL PARTNER OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO (A) AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED) OR (B) PRESERVE THE UNIFORMITY OF THE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS IN NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP (OR ANY CLASS OR CLASSES THEREOF). THIS SECURITY MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ITS TRANSFER PROVIDED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT.

 

A-1


COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS SECURITY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL PARTNER AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE PARTNERSHIP. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 4.9 OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

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

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

Dated:                                     

 

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
By:  

NOBLE MIDSTREAM GP LLC,

its general partner

By:    
By:    

 

Countersigned and Registered by:

 

as a Transfer Agent

By:    
  Authorized Signature

 

A-2


[Reverse of Certificate]

ABBREVIATIONS

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

 

TEN COM — as tenants in common

 

TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties

 

JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

  

UNIF GIFT TRANSFERS MIN ACT—

 

_______________ Custodian _____________

(Cust)                                (Minor)

 

under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors

Act: _________________________________

(State)

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

 

A-3


ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS OF

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,

   hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address of assignee)

  

(Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee)

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

 

Date: _______________________________   

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

THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15

    
   (Signature)
     
   (Signature)

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

 

A-4


EXHIBIT D

SYSTEMS

 

Name

  

Entity

Morris Compressor Station    CWPC
McElroy Compressor Station    CWPC
Collier Compressor Station    CWPC
Christopher Columbus Crude Gathering Lines and LACTS    CWPC
Christopher Columbus Produced Water Gathering Lines    CWPC
Christopher Columbus Gas Gathering Lines    CWPC
Lilli Gas Processing Plant    Holdings
East Pony Gas Gathering System    Holdings
Keota Gas Processing Plant    Holdings
Keota LNG Plant    Holdings
Sterling Grover Connect    Holdings
Ball Ranch Pipeline    Holdings
Tampa Pipeline    Holdings
Platteville Facilities    Holdings
Misc. Tampa    Holdings
Tampa Rail Facility    Holdings
Oscar Pipeline    Holdings
Waste Management Facility    Holdings
Gutterson Ranch Facility    Holdings
Roan Storage Facility    Holdings
Grover/Lilli Pipeline    Holdings
West Pony Pipeline    Holdings
Lilli to OPPL Pipeline    Holdings
Clay Basket Pipeline    Holdings
Non-System Pipelines in Northern Colorado    Holdings
Columbus Oil Gathering Station    CWPC
Collier Oil Gathering Station    CWPC
Perry Oil Gathering Station    CWPC
Columbus Oil Gathering Station Tanks    CWPC
70 Ranch Offload Pipe    Holdings
00 Compressor Station    CWPC
Wolfbone Facility    CWPC
Colley State Produced Water Gathering System    CWPC
Colley State Oil LACT    CWPC
Clayton Williams Concho Gathering Systems (Red Cloud, Screaming Eagle)    CWPC

Exhibit D


EXHIBIT E

EXCLUDED ASSETS

 

Asset

  

State

  

County

  

Description

70 Ranch Pipeline System

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

Larson Pipeline System

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

3” LF Ranch Pipeline System

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

Cervi Pipeline System

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

Sater Pipeline System

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

Miscellaneous Mustang Pipeline

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

UPV            25-214
UPV            25-714
UPV            25-114
UPV            25-814
PTF            C32-9
PTF            C32-16
UPV 9-5K3

Miscellaneous Greely Crescent Pipeline

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

UPV            27-1H6

UPV 27-8H6

Aufrecht Pipeline System

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

Johnson Rudolph Pipeline System

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

Booth Pipeline System

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

Domenico Pipeline System

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

Grant Arens Pipeline System

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

UPV 5-5J3 Pipeline System

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

UPV 9-5K3 Pipeline System

  

Colorado

  

Weld

  

Vermejo Gathering Lines

  

Texas

  

Loving and Ward

  

Dewitt-Parke Gathering Line

  

Texas

  

Pecos

  

Hokit Gathering System

  

Texas

  

Pecos

  

Burns Gathering System

  

Texas

  

Frio and La Salle

  

Burns Compressor Station

  

Texas

  

Frio

  

Mentone Compressor Station

  

Texas

  

Loving

  

Luby Gasoline Plant

  

Texas

  

Nueces

  

Little Brazos Plant

  

Texas

  

Robertson

  

Nicholson Compressor Station

  

Texas

  

Frio

  

Hokit Compressor Station

  

Texas

  

Pecos

  

Mumford Plant

  

Texas

  

Robertson

  

Exhibit E-1


Asset

  

State

  

County

  

Description

Hudson-Destefano

  

Texas

  

Robertson

  

Clajon Industrial Gas Pipeline

  

Louisiana

  

Ascension Parish

  

Gataga Gathering System

  

Texas

  

Loving

  

Gataga Plant

  

Texas

  

Loving

  

Mentone Gathering System

  

Texas

  

Reeves

  

Exhibit E-2

Exhibit 3.1

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

A Delaware Limited Partnership

Dated as of

November 14, 2019


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1  

Section 1.1

   Definitions      1  

Section 1.2

   Construction      15  

ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION

     16  

Section 2.1

   Formation      16  

Section 2.2

   Name      16  

Section 2.3

   Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices      16  

Section 2.4

   Purpose and Business      16  

Section 2.5

   Powers      17  

Section 2.6

   Term      17  

Section 2.7

   Title to Partnership Property      17  

ARTICLE III RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

     18  

Section 3.1

   Limitation of Liability      18  

Section 3.2

   Management of Business      18  

Section 3.3

   Rights of Limited Partners      18  
ARTICLE IV CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS      19  

Section 4.1

   Certificates      19  

Section 4.2

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates      20  

Section 4.3

   Record Holders      20  

Section 4.4

   Transfer Generally      21  

Section 4.5

   Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests      21  

Section 4.6

   Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest      22  

Section 4.7

   Reserved      23  

Section 4.8

   Restrictions on Transfers      23  

Section 4.9

   Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders      25  

Section 4.10

   Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders      26  

ARTICLE V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

     27  

Section 5.1

   Incentive Distribution Rights      27  

Section 5.2

   Contributions by Limited Partners      27  

Section 5.3

   Interest and Withdrawal      27  

Section 5.4

   Capital Accounts      27  

 

i


Section 5.5

   Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests      30  

Section 5.6

   [Reserved]      31  

Section 5.7

   Limited Preemptive Right      31  

Section 5.8

   Splits and Combinations      31  

Section 5.9

   Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests      32  

ARTICLE VI ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

     32  

Section 6.1

   Allocations for Capital Account Purposes      32  

Section 6.2

   Allocations for Tax Purposes      36  

Section 6.3

   Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders      37  

ARTICLE VII MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

     38  

Section 7.1

   Management      38  

Section 7.2

   Certificate of Limited Partnership      40  

Section 7.3

   Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority to Sell Assets of the Partnership Group      40  

Section 7.4

   Reimbursement of and Other Payments to the General Partner      40  

Section 7.5

   Outside Activities      42  

Section 7.6

   Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members      43  

Section 7.7

   Indemnification      43  

Section 7.8

   Liability of Indemnitees      45  

Section 7.9

   Standards of Conduct; Resolution of Conflicts of Interest and Replacement of Duties      46  

Section 7.10

   Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and Other Indemnitees      49  

Section 7.11

   Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests      49  

Section 7.12

   Registration Rights of the General Partner and Its Affiliates      49  

Section 7.13

   Reliance by Third Parties      54  

Section 7.14

   Replacement of Fiduciary Duties      54  

ARTICLE VIII BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

     54  

Section 8.1

   Records and Accounting      54  

Section 8.2

   Fiscal Year      55  

Section 8.3

   Reports      55  

ARTICLE IX TAX MATTERS

     55  

Section 9.1

   Tax Returns and Information      55  

Section 9.2

   Tax Elections      56  

Section 9.3

   Tax Controversies      56  

 

ii


Section 9.4

   Withholding      57  

ARTICLE X ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

     57  

Section 10.1

   Admission of Limited Partners      57  

Section 10.2

   Admission of Successor General Partner      58  

Section 10.3

   Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership      58  

ARTICLE XI WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

     58  

Section 11.1

   Withdrawal of the General Partner      58  

Section 11.2

   Removal of the General Partner      60  

Section 11.3

   Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner      60  

Section 11.4

   Withdrawal of Limited Partners      62  

ARTICLE XII DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

     62  

Section 12.1

   Dissolution      62  

Section 12.2

   Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution      62  

Section 12.3

   Liquidator      63  

Section 12.4

   Liquidation      64  

Section 12.5

   Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership      64  

Section 12.6

   Return of Contributions      64  

Section 12.7

   Waiver of Partition      65  

Section 12.8

   Capital Account Restoration      65  

ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

     65  

Section 13.1

   Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner      65  

Section 13.2

   Amendment Procedures      66  

Section 13.3

   Amendment Requirements      67  

Section 13.4

   Special Meetings      68  

Section 13.5

   Notice of a Meeting      68  

Section 13.6

   Record Date      68  

Section 13.7

   Postponement and Adjournment      68  

Section 13.8

   Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting      69  

Section 13.9

   Quorum and Voting      69  

Section 13.10

   Conduct of a Meeting      70  

Section 13.11

   Action Without a Meeting      70  

Section 13.12

   Right to Vote and Related Matters      71  

ARTICLE XIV MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

     71  

Section 14.1

   Authority      71  

Section 14.2

   Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion      71  

 

iii


Section 14.3

   Approval by Limited Partners      73  

Section 14.4

   Certificate of Merger or Certificate of Conversion      75  

Section 14.5

   Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion      75  

ARTICLE XV RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

     76  

Section 15.1

   Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests      76  

ARTICLE XVI GENERAL PROVISIONS

     77  

Section 16.1

   Addresses and Notices; Written Communications      77  

Section 16.2

   Further Action      78  

Section 16.3

   Binding Effect      78  

Section 16.4

   Integration      78  

Section 16.5

   Creditors      78  

Section 16.6

   Waiver      78  

Section 16.7

   Third-Party Beneficiaries      78  

Section 16.8

   Counterparts      79  

Section 16.9

   Applicable Law; Forum; Venue and Jurisdiction; Attorneys’ Fee; Waiver of Trial by Jury      79  

Section 16.10

   Invalidity of Provisions      80  

Section 16.11

   Consent of Partners      80  

Section 16.12

   Facsimile and Email Signatures      80  

 

iv


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP, dated as of November 14, 2019, is entered into by and between NOBLE MIDSTREAM GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, and NBL MIDSTREAM, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NBL Midstream”), as a Limited Partner, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein.

WHEREAS, the General Partner and the other parties entered into that certain First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of September 20, 2016 (the “2016 Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the Partnership has entered into a Contribution, Conveyance, Assumption and Simplification Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2019 (the “Contribution and Simplification Agreement”), among the Partnership, the General Partner, Noble Energy, Inc., Noble Midstream Services, LLC, Noble Midstream and Noble Midstream Holdings, LLC, pursuant to which, among other things, NBL Midstream will contribute certain equity interests specified therein to the Partnership, in exchange for a combination of cash and Common Units;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Contribution and Simplification Agreement, NBL Midstream and the Partnership desire to cause the General Partner to amend the 2016 Agreement in order to recapitalize and convert all of the outstanding Incentive Distribution Rights (as defined in the 2016 Agreement) into Common Units;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Contribution and Simplification Agreement, the 2016 Agreement is required to be amended to reflect the conversion of the Incentive Distribution Rights; and

WHEREAS, the General Partner desires to amend and restate the 2016 Agreement in its entirety to provide for the conversion of the Incentive Distribution Rights and such other changes as the General Partner has determined are necessary and appropriate in connection with the issuance of such securities and/or do not adversely affect the Limited Partners considered as a whole (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect.

NOW, THEREFORE, the General Partner does hereby amend and restate the 2016 Agreement, pursuant to its authority under Section 13.1 of the 2016 Agreement, to provide, in its entirety, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

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

 

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2016 Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Adjusted Capital Account” means, with respect to any Partner, the balance in such Partner’s Capital Account at the end of each taxable period of the Partnership, after giving effect to the following adjustments:

(a) Credit to such Capital Account any amounts that such Partner is obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c), including any amount that such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and

(b) Debit to such Capital Account the items described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6).

The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest was the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.

Adjusted Property” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.4(d).

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

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

Agreed Value” of (a) a Contributed Property means the fair market value of such Contributed Property at the time of contribution and (b) an Adjusted Property means the fair market value of such Adjusted Property on the date of the Revaluation Event, in each case as determined by the General Partner.

Agreement” means this Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Noble Midstream Partners LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, including pursuant to any Supplemental Terms Annex.

Associate” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer, manager, general partner or managing member or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest, (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20%

 

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beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.

Authorized Officers” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

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

(a) the sum of:

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

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

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

(i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter;

(ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject; or

(iii) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.4 or Section 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters;

provided, however, that the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to subclause (iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute $0.375 (subject to proportionate adjustments in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise)) on all Common Units; provided further, that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.

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

 

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

Book-Tax Disparity” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for U.S. federal income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.4 and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with U.S. federal income tax accounting principles.

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

Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.4. The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest was the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.

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

Carrying Value” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property or an Adjusted Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in respect of such property and (b) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for U.S. federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 5.4(d) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.

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

Certificate” means a certificate, in such form (including in global form if permitted by applicable rules and regulations of The Depository Trust Company or its successors and assigns) as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership and evidencing ownership of

 

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Partnership Interests. The initial form of Certificate approved by the General Partner for Common Units is attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Unit” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement.

Conflicts Committee” means any committee of the Board of Directors (whether designated as a “Conflicts Committee” or otherwise) composed of two or more directors, each of whom (a) is not an officer or employee of the General Partner, (b) is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the General Partner (other than Group Members), (c) is not a holder

 

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of any ownership interest in the General Partner or its Affiliates or the Partnership Group other than (i) Common Units and (ii) awards that are granted to such director in his or her capacity as a director under any long-term incentive plan, equity compensation plan or similar plan implemented by the General Partner or the Partnership and (d) is determined by the Board of Directors to be independent under the independence standards for directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading (or if no such National Securities Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange).

Contributed Property” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.4(d), such property or other asset shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.

Contribution Agreement” means that certain Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date, by and among Noble, the Organizational Limited Partner, NBL Midstream, the General Partner, the Partnership and certain other Persons party thereto, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Contribution and Simplification Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

General Partner Interest” means the non-economic management interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it) and includes any and all rights, powers and benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. The General Partner Interest does not include any rights to profits or losses or any rights to receive distributions from operations or upon the liquidation or winding-up of the Partnership.

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

Group” means two or more Persons that have, or with or through any of their respective Affiliates or Associates have, any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising investment power over or disposing of any Partnership Interests.

Group Member” means a member of the Partnership Group.

Group Member Agreement” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or similar organizational documents of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint

 

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venture and the governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, in each case, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Holder” means any of the following:

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

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

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

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

(e) a transferee and current Record Holder of Registrable Securities to whom the transferor of such Registrable Securities, who was a Holder at the time of such transfer, assigns its rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided, such transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and provides its name and address to the Partnership promptly upon such transfer.

Incentive Distribution Right” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights in the 2016 Agreement.

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

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

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

 

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

IPO Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-207560), as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Public Offering.

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

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

Limited Partner Interest” means an equity interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units or other Partnership Interests (other than a General Partner Interest) or a combination thereof (but excluding Derivative Partnership Interests), and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

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

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

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

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

NBL Midstream” has the meaning given such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Net Agreed Value” means (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such Contributed Property reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such Contributed Property is subject when contributed and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.4(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed,

 

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reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution.

Net Income” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.4 but shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

Net Loss” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.4 but shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Omnibus Agreement” means that certain Omnibus Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date, among Noble, the Organizational Limited Partner, NBL Midstream, the General Partner, the Partnership and the other Persons party thereto from time to time, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

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Operational Services and Secondment Agreement” means that certain Operational Services and Secondment Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date, among Noble, the Partnership, the General Partner and the other Persons party thereto from time to time, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

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

Organizational Limited Partner” means Noble Midstream Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Outstanding” means, with respect to Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding in the Partnership Register as of the date of determination; provided, however, that if at any time any Person or Group (other than the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class, all Partnership Interests owned by or for the benefit of such Person or Group shall not be entitled to be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Partnership Interests so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Partnership Interests shall not, however, be treated as a separate class or group of Partnership Interests for purposes of this Agreement or the Delaware Act); provided, further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than the Partnership), (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i), provided, that, upon or prior to such acquisition, the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, or (iii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership with the prior approval of the Board of Directors.

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

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

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

Partners” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

Partnership” means Noble Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

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

 

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

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

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

Percentage Interest” means, as of any date of determination, (a) as to any Unitholder with respect to Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Units held by such Unitholder by (B) the total number of Outstanding Units, and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.5, the percentage calculated in accordance with the method established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interest shall at all times be zero.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Record Date” means the date established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to receive notice of, or entitled to exercise rights in respect of, any lawful action of Limited Partners (including voting) or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 13.6 of the Agreement shall not apply to any Record Date set by the General Partner for purposes of determining the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or participate in any offer.

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

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

Registrable Security” means any Partnership Interest other than the General Partner Interest; provided, however, that any Registrable Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security: (a) at the time a Registration Statement covering such Registrable Security is declared effective by the Commission, or otherwise becomes effective under the Securities Act, and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement; (b) at the time such Registrable Security may be disposed of without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor or similar rule or regulation under the Securities Act); (c) when such Registrable Security is held by a Group Member and (d) at the time such Registrable Security has been sold in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under Section 7.12 have not been assigned to the transferee of such securities.

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

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

Revaluation Event” means an event that results in adjustment of the Carrying Value of each Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.4(d).

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

 

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

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

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

Supplemental Terms Annex” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.5(b).

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

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

Tenth Anniversary” means September 20, 2026.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Unit” means a Partnership Interest that is designated by the General Partner as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units but shall not include the General Partner Interest.

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

Unitholders” means the Record Holders of Units.

Unrealized Gain” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.4(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.4(d) as of such date).

Unrealized Loss” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.4(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.4(d)).

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

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

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

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

Section 1.2 Construction. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation” and (d) the terms “hereof,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement

 

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as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The General Partner has the power to construe and interpret this Agreement and to act upon any such construction or interpretation. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any construction or interpretation of this Agreement by the General Partner, any action taken pursuant thereto and any determination made by the General Partner in good faith shall, in each case, be conclusive and binding on all Record Holders, each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and all other Persons for all purposes.

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION

Section 2.1 Formation. The Partnership was previously formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The parties hereby amend and restate the 2016 Agreement in its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties and Liabilities of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes.

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

Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices. Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 1001 Noble Energy Way, Houston, Texas 77070, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 1001 Noble Energy Way, Houston, Texas 77070, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.

Section 2.4 Purpose and Business. The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a) engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware

 

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Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity and (b) do anything necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however, that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would be reasonably likely to cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve the conduct by the Partnership of any business and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in declining to so propose or approve, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in determining whether to propose or approve the conduct by the Partnership of any business shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion.

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

Section 2.6 Term. The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.

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

 

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recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Partnership property is held.

ARTICLE III

RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability. The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.

Section 3.2 Management of Business. No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. No action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall be deemed to be participating in the control of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) nor shall any such action affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.

Section 3.3 Rights of Limited Partners.

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

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

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

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

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the rights to information granted the Limited Partners pursuant to Section 3.3(a) and Section 8.3 replace in their entirety any rights to information provided for in Section 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act, and each of the Limited Partners, each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement hereby agrees to the fullest extent permitted by law that they do not have any rights as Limited Partners, interest holders or otherwise to receive any

 

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information either pursuant to Sections 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act or otherwise except for the information identified in Section 3.3(a) and Section 8.3.

(c) The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.3).

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

ARTICLE IV

CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS;

REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 4.1 Certificates. Record Holders of Partnership Interests and, where appropriate, Derivative Partnership Interests, shall be recorded in the Partnership Register and ownership of such interests shall be evidenced by a physical certificate or book entry notation in the Partnership Register. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes of Partnership Interests, Partnership Interests shall not be evidenced by physical certificates. Certificates, if any, shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by any one senior officer of the General Partner (including, as applicable, the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President) and the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any other officer or officers of the General Partner as the Board of Directors may authorize to execute Certificates (collectively, the “Authorized Officers”) acting on behalf of the General Partner, and shall bear the legend set forth in Section 4.8(f). The signatures of such Authorized Officers upon a Certificate may, to the extent permitted by law, be facsimiles. In case any officer who has signed or whose signature has been placed upon such Certificate shall have ceased to hold the applicable office before such Certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Partnership with the same effect as if he or she were such officer at the date of its issuance. If a Transfer Agent has been appointed for a class of Partnership Interests, no Certificate for such class of Partnership Interests shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided, however, that, if the General Partner elects to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests of such class in global form, the Certificate shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Partnership Interests have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership. With respect to any Partnership Interests that are represented by physical

 

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certificates, the General Partner may determine that such Partnership Interests will no longer be represented by physical certificates and may, upon written notice to the holders of such Partnership Interests and subject to applicable law, take whatever actions it deems necessary or appropriate to cause such Partnership Interests to be registered in book entry or global form and may cause such physical certificates to be cancelled or deemed cancelled.

Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.

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

(b) The Authorized Officers, acting on behalf of the General Partner, acting on behalf of the Partnership, shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued that is no longer available due to loss, destruction or theft, if the Record Holder of the Certificate:

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

(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate at a time when the General Partner does not have actual knowledge that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;

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

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

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

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

Section 4.3 Record Holders. The names and addresses of holders of a Partnership Interest as they appear in the Partnership Register shall be the official list of Record Holders of the

 

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Partnership Interests for all purposes. The Partnership and the General Partner shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person or Group, regardless of whether the Partnership or the General Partner shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person or Group in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Person on the other hand, such representative Person shall be the Limited Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest upon becoming the Record Holder in accordance with Section 10.1(b) and have the rights and obligations of a Limited Partner hereunder as and to the extent provided herein, including Section 10.1(c).

Section 4.4 Transfer Generally.

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

(b) No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be null and void, and the Partnership shall have no obligation to effect any such transfer or purported transfer.

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

Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.

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

(b) The General Partner shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are duly endorsed and surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided, however, that as a condition to the issuance of any new

 

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Certificate under this Section 4.5, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of this Section 4.5(b), the Authorized Officers, acting on behalf of the General Partner, acting on behalf of the Partnership, shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered. Upon the proper surrender of a Certificate, such transfer shall be recorded in the Partnership Register. Notwithstanding this paragraph, if the General Partner has determined that Certificates will no longer be issued with respect to any class of Limited Partner Interests, then the General Partner shall be under no obligation to deliver replacement Certificates to a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest of such class and shall cancel the returned Certificate upon the surrender of same by the transferor and shall only be required to reflect the transfer in the Partnership Register.

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

(d) Except as provided in Section 4.9, by acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests pursuant to a transfer in accordance with this Article IV, each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee, agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person or Group) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person when any such transfer or admission is reflected in the Partnership Register and such Person becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) shall be deemed to represent that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, and (iv) shall be deemed to make the consents, acknowledgements and waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.

(e) Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section 4.3, (iii) Section 4.8, (iv) Section 4.9, (v) with respect to any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the provisions of any statement of designations or an amendment to this Agreement (including any Supplemental Terms Annex) establishing such class or series, (vi) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vii) provisions of applicable law including the Securities Act, Limited Partner Interests shall be freely transferable.

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

Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partners General Partner Interest.

 

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

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

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

Section 4.7 Reserved.

Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers.

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

(b) The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it receives an Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary to (i) avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) or (ii) preserve the uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The

 

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

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

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

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT) WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR (C) CAUSE NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). THE GENERAL PARTNER OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO (A) AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED) OR (B) PRESERVE THE UNIFORMITY OF THE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS IN NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP (OR ANY CLASS OR CLASSES THEREOF). THIS SECURITY MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ITS TRANSFER PROVIDED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS SECURITY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL PARTNER AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE PARTNERSHIP. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 4.9 OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO

 

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THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

Section 4.9 Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders.

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

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

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

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

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

(f) If at any time a transferee of a Partnership Interest fails to furnish an Eligibility Certificate or any other information requested by the General Partner pursuant to Section 4.9 within 30 days of such request, or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that such transferee is an Ineligible

 

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Holder, the Partnership may, unless the transferee establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such transferee is not an Ineligible Holder, prohibit and void the transfer, including by placing a stop order with the Transfer Agent.

Section 4.10 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

(c) Nothing in this Section 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement and the transferor provides notice of such transfer to the General Partner. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such transferee is not an Ineligible Holder. If the transferee fails to make such certification within 30 days after the request and, in any event, before the redemption date, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 5.1 Incentive Distribution Rights. As of the date hereof, pursuant to the Contribution and Simplification Agreement, the Incentive Distribution Rights held by the General Partner will be converted into Common Units. From the date hereof, effective immediately following the aforementioned transactions, the Incentive Distribution Rights shall no longer exist.

Section 5.2 Contributions by Limited Partners. Except for the Capital Contributions made or to required be made by or on behalf of a Person acquiring Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests in connection with future issuances in accordance with Section 5.5, no Limited Partner will be required to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 5.3 Interest and Withdrawal. No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.

Section 5.4 Capital Accounts.

(a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee, agent or representative in any case in which the nominee, agent or representative has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made by the Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain computed in

 

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accordance with Section 5.4(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made to the Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest, and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.4(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1.

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

(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 5.4, the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement or governing, organizational or similar documents) of all property owned by (x) any other Group Member that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and (y) any other partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes of which a Group Member is, directly or indirectly, a partner, member or other equity holder.

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

(iii) The computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made (x) except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership, and (y) as to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

(iv) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership property pursuant to Section 734(b) of the Code (including pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.734-2(b)(1)) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.

(v) In the event the Carrying Value of Partnership property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.4(d), any Unrealized Gain resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain, and any Unrealized Loss resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of loss.

 

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

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

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

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

(d) (i) Consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of a Noncompensatory Option, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property; provided, however, that in the event of the issuance of a Partnership Interest pursuant to the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option where the right to share in Partnership capital represented by such Partnership Interest differs from the consideration paid to acquire and exercise such option, the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately after the issuance of such Partnership Interest shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s); provided further, that in the event of an issuance of Partnership Interests for a de minimis amount of cash or Contributed Property, in the event of an issuance of a Noncompensatory Option to acquire a de minimis Partnership Interest, or in the event of an issuance of a de minimis amount of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the General Partner may determine that such adjustments are unnecessary for the proper administration of the Partnership. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests (or, in the case of a Revaluation Event resulting from the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option, immediately after the issuance of the Partnership Interest acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Noncompensatory Option) shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt. In making its determination of the fair market values of individual properties, the General Partner may first determine an aggregate value for the assets of the Partnership that takes into account the current trading price of the Common Units, the fair market value of all other Partnership Interests at such time and the value of Partnership Liabilities. The

 

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General Partner may allocate such aggregate value among the individual properties of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines appropriate). Absent a contrary determination by the General Partner, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a Revaluation Event shall be the value that would result in the Capital Account for each Common Unit that is Outstanding prior to such Revaluation Event being equal to the Event Issue Value.

(ii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any distribution to a Partner of any Partnership property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the Carrying Value of all Partnership property shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of a distribution other than one made pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.4(d)(i) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined by the Liquidator using such method of valuation as it may adopt.

Section 5.5 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests.

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

(b) Each additional Partnership Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Interests), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may, or shall be required to, redeem the Partnership Interest; (v) whether such Partnership Interest is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Interest will be issued, evidenced by Certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Interest and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Interest to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Interest. The designations, powers, duties, rights and preferences of any additional class of Partnership Interests issued pursuant to this Section 5.5 may be set forth in an amendment to, or amendment and restatement of, this Agreement or in an annex to this Agreement (a “Supplemental Terms Annex”), the provisions of which shall supplement and, to the extent inconsistent with any other provision of this Agreement, supersede and amend the provisions hereof. To the extent that more than one Supplemental Terms Annex is

 

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in effect at any time and the terms of such Supplemental Terms Annexes conflict with each other, then the terms set forth in the most recently adopted Supplemental Terms Annex shall control.

(c) The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.2 or this Section 5.5, including Common Units issued in connection with the Deferred Issuance, (ii) reflecting admission of such additional Limited Partners in the Partnership Register as the Record Holders of such Limited Partner Interests and (iii) all additional issuances of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.

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

Section 5.6 [Reserved]

Section 5.7 Limited Preemptive Right. Except as provided in this Section 5.7 or as otherwise provided in a separate agreement by the Partnership, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Interest, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. Other than with respect to the issuance of Partnership Interests in connection with the Initial Public Offering, the General Partner shall have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Interests from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Interests to Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Interests.

Section 5.8 Splits and Combinations.

(a) Subject to Section 5.8(d) (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Interests to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.

(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests is declared, the General Partner shall select a date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such distribution date to each Record Holder as of a date that is not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice (or such shorter periods as required by applicable law). The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of

 

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Partnership Interests to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate, letter or other official medium of communication provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.

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

(d) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of Section 5.5(d) and this Section 5.8(d), each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit, with fractional Units equal to or greater than a 0.5 Unit being rounded to the next higher Unit.

Section 5.9 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests. All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303(a), 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Act.

ARTICLE VI

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes. Subject to the terms of any Supplemental Terms Annex, for purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 5.4(b)) for each taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners as provided herein below.

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

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

(ii) The balance, if any, 100% to the Unitholders, Pro Rata.

 

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(b) Net Loss. After giving effect to the special allocations in Section 6.1(d), Net Loss for each taxable period (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Loss for such taxable period) shall be allocated as follows:

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

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

(c) Reserved.

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

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

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

(iii) Reserved.

 

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

(v) Gross Income Allocation. In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, however, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if Section 6.1(d)(iv) and this Section 6.1(d)(v) were not in this Agreement.

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

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

(viii) Nonrecourse Liabilities. For purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated first, to any Partner that contributed property to the Partnership in proportion to and to the extent of the amount by which each such Partner’s share of any Section 704(c) built-in gains exceeds such Partner’s share of Nonrecourse Built-in Gain, and second, among the Partners Pro Rata.

 

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(ix) Code Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership property pursuant to Section 734(b) of the Code (including pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.734-2(b)(1)) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution to a Partner in complete liquidation of such Partner’s interest in the Partnership, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) taken into account pursuant to Section 5.4, and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.

(x) Economic Uniformity. For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall (1) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (2) make special allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss; and (3) without the consent of any Limited Partner or any other Person, amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof) that are publicly traded as a single class. The General Partner may adopt such conventions, make such allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement as provided in this Section 6.1(d)(x) only if it determines that such conventions, allocations or amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the Partners, the holders of any class or classes of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or the Partnership.

(xi) Curative Allocation.

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

(B) The General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) in whatever order is most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required

 

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Allocations, and (2) divide all allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.

Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes.

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

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

(c) The General Partner may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6) or any successor regulations thereto. If the General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the Partnership’s property. If the General Partner chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other depreciation and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests, so long as such conventions would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.

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

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

 

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(f) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction shall, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be determined for each taxable period and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each month; provided, however, that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership or any other extraordinary item of income, gain, loss or deduction as determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the month in which such item is recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.

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

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

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

(a) Within 45 days following the end of each Quarter commencing with the Quarter ending on December 31, 2016, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner in accordance with each Limited Partner’s Percentage Interest. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Partnership shall not make a distribution to any Partner on account of its interest in the Partnership if such distribution would violate the Delaware Act or any other applicable law.

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

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

(d) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such

 

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payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.

ARTICLE VII

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

Section 7.1 Management.

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

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

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

(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii) being subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3 and Article XIV);

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

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

 

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(vi) the distribution of cash held by the Partnership;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each Record Holder and each other Person who may acquire an interest in a Partnership Interest or that is otherwise bound by this Agreement hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement and the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member, the Omnibus Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, the Operational Services and Secondment Agreement and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the IPO Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the IPO Registration Statement (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) (in each case other than this Agreement, without giving effect to any amendments, supplements or restatements thereof entered

 

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into after the date such Person becomes bound by the provisions of this Agreement); (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or on behalf of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the IPO Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or are otherwise bound by this Agreement; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV) shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership. The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the General Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.3(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.

Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partners Authority to Sell Assets of the Partnership Group. Except as provided in Article XII and Article XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation or other combination or sale of ownership interests of the Partnership’s Subsidiaries) without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance.

Section 7.4 Reimbursement of and Other Payments to the General Partner.

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

 

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(b) Except as may be otherwise provided in the Omnibus Agreement or the Operational Services and Secondment Agreement, the General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner, to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group) and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner or its Affiliates in connection with managing and operating the Partnership Group’s business and affairs (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7. Any allocation of expenses to the Partnership by the General Partner in a manner consistent with its or its Affiliates’ past business practices shall be deemed to have been made in good faith.

(c) The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of officers, employees, consultants and directors of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any officers, employees, consultants and directors pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6.

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

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

 

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Section 7.5 Outside Activities.

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

(b) Each Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise to any Group Member or any Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement; provided, that such Unrestricted Person does not engage in such business or activity using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such Unrestricted Person. None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any Unrestricted Person.

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

 

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pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Partnership; provided, that such Unrestricted Person does not engage in such business or activity using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such Unrestricted Person.

(d) The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Interests in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units and/or other Partnership Interests acquired by them. The term “Affiliates” when used in this Section 7.5(d) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.

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

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

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

Section 7.7 Indemnification.

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee and acting (or refraining to act) in such capacity on behalf of or for the benefit of the Partnership; provided, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless pursuant to this Agreement if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in intentional fraud, willful misconduct

 

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or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful; provided, further, no indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be available to any Affiliate of the General Partner (other than a Group Member), or to any other Indemnitee, with respect to any such Affiliate’s obligations pursuant to the Transaction Documents. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

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

(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under this Agreement or any other agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators of the Indemnitee.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners or any other Persons who are bound by this Agreement for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in intentional fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

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

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

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

 

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

(a) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any action, or any Affiliate of the General Partner causes the General Partner to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless a lesser standard is provided for in this Agreement, or the determination, action or failure to act has been approved as provided in Section 7.9(b)(i) or Section 7.9(b)(ii), the General Partner, or such Affiliate causing it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such action in good faith. Whenever the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee) or any Affiliate of the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any action, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless a lesser standard is provided for in this Agreement or the determination, action or failure to act has been approved as provided in Section 7.9(b)(i) or Section 7.9(b)(ii), the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee) or any Affiliate of the General Partner shall make such determination or take or decline to take such action in good faith. The foregoing and other lesser standards governing any determination, action or failure to act provided for in this Agreement are the sole and exclusive standards governing any such determinations, actions and failures to act of the General Partner, the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee) and any Affiliate of the General Partner, and none of the General Partner, the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors (including the Conflicts Committee) or any Affiliate of the General Partner shall be subject to any fiduciary duty or other duty or obligation, or any other, different or higher standard (all of which duties, obligations and standards are hereby eliminated, waived and disclaimed), under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. Any such determination, action or failure to act by the General Partner, the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any committee thereof (including the Conflicts Committee) or any Affiliate of the General Partner will be deemed to be in good faith unless the General Partner, the Board of Directors of the General Partner or any committee thereof (including the Conflicts Committee) or any Affiliate of the General Partner subjectively believed such determination, action or failure to act was adverse to the interests of the Partnership. The subjective belief of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) that voted on, or provided written consent to, any determination, action or failure to act of the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) as to whether a determination, action or failure to act was adverse to the interests of the Partnership shall constitute the subjective belief of the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof). In any proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Partnership, any Limited Partner, any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement challenging such determination, action or failure to act, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of proving that such determination, action or failure to act was not in good faith or such other applicable lesser standard under this Agreement.

(b) Unless a lesser standard is otherwise provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General

 

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Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, on the other hand, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, or any agreement contemplated herein or therein or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval or (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval or Unitholder approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action in respect of any such conflict of interest that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval. If the General Partner does not submit the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest as provided in either clause (i) or clause (ii) of the first sentence of this Section 7.9(b), then any such resolution or course of action shall be governed by Section 7.9(a). Whenever the General Partner makes a determination whether or not to refer any potential conflict of interest to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval, whether or not to seek Unitholder approval or whether or not to adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval, then the General Partner shall be entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and the General Partner shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard or duty imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in making such determination shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion. If Special Approval is sought, then it shall be presumed that, in making its determination, the Conflicts Committee acted in good faith, and if the Board of Directors determines that a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee, then it shall be presumed that, in making its determination, the Board of Directors acted in good faith. In any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any other Limited Partner or the Partnership or by or on behalf of any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person bound by this Agreement challenging any action, failure to act or determination by the Conflicts Committee with respect to any matter referred to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval, or challenging any determination by the Board of Directors that a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming the presumption that the Conflicts Committee or the Board of Directors, as applicable, did not act in good faith. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the conflicts of interest described in the IPO Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any such duty.

(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any action, or any Affiliate of the General Partner causes the General Partner to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then (i) the General Partner, or such Affiliate causing it to do so, is entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such

 

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action free of any duty (including any fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement, (ii) the General Partner, or such Affiliate causing it to do so, shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity and (iii) the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such action shall be permitted to do so in their sole and absolute discretion. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrases “at its option,” “its sole and absolute discretion” or some variation of those phrases, are used in this Agreement, they indicate that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership Interests, or refrains from voting or transferring its Partnership Interests, it shall be acting in its individual capacity.

(d) The General Partner’s organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or shall be determined by its members, if the General Partner is a limited liability company, stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or the members or stockholders of the General Partner’s general partner, if the General Partner is a general or limited partnership.

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

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

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

 

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

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

(b) The General Partner and any other Indemnitee may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisors selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner or such Indemnitee, respectively, reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been taken or omitted to be taken in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

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

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

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

(a) Demand Registration. Upon receipt of a Notice from any Holder at any time after the 180th day after the Closing Date, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as reasonably practicable a registration statement under the Securities Act (each, a “Registration Statement”) providing for the resale of the Registrable Securities identified in such Notice, which may, at the option of the Holder giving such Notice, be a Registration Statement that provides for the resale of the Registrable Securities from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the initial filing of the Registration Statement and to remain effective and available for the resale of the Registrable Securities by the Selling Holders named therein until the earlier of (i) six months following such Registration Statement’s effective date and (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold. In the event one or more Holders request in a Notice to dispose of a number of Registrable Securities that such Holder or Holders reasonably anticipates will result in gross proceeds of at least $30 million in the aggregate pursuant to a Registration Statement in an Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall retain underwriters that are reasonably acceptable to such Selling Holders in order to permit such Selling Holders to effect such disposition through an Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that the Partnership shall

 

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

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

 

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this Section 7.12(b) prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement or the pricing date of the Underwritten Offering, as applicable.

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

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

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

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

(iv) immediately notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter, at any time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (A) the occurrence of any event or existence of any fact (but not a description of such event or fact) as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of the prospectus contained therein, in the light of the

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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(g) Indemnification.

(i) In addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership’s obligation under Section 7.7, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, “Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.12(g) as a “claim” and in the plural as “claims”) based upon, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus under which any Registrable Securities were registered or sold by such Selling Holder under the Securities Act, or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be liable to any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or results from an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

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

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

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

 

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ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any such party from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity that such party may have.

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

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

ARTICLE VIII

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

Section 8.1 Records and Accounting. The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.3(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including

 

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the Partnership Register, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Partnership shall not be required to keep books maintained on a cash basis, and the General Partner shall be permitted to calculate cash-based measures by making such adjustments to its accrual basis books to account for non-cash items and other adjustments as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

Section 8.2 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.

Section 8.3 Reports.

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

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

ARTICLE IX

TAX MATTERS

Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information. The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable period or year that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined by the General Partner. In the event the Partnership is required to use a taxable period other than a year ending on December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts

 

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to change the taxable period of the Partnership to a year ending on December 31. The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal, state and local income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable period shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s taxable period ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Section 9.2 Tax Elections.

(a) The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General Partner’s determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the General Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited Partner Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(f) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.

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

Section 9.3 Tax Controversies. (a) Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the “tax matters partner” (as defined in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code) (the “Tax Matters Partner”) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the Tax Matters Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the Tax Matters Partner to conduct such proceedings. Each Partner agrees that notice of or updates regarding tax controversies shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made by the Tax Matters Partner if the Partnership has either (i) filed the information for which notice is required with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and such information is publicly available on such system or (ii) made the information for which notice is required available on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership, whether or not such Partner remains a Partner in the Partnership at the time such information is made publicly available.

(b) With respect to tax returns filed for taxable years beginning on or after December 31, 2017, the General Partner (or its designee) will be designated as the “partnership representative” in accordance with the rules prescribed pursuant to Section 6223 of the Code and shall have the sole authority to act on behalf of the Partnership in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. The General Partner (or its designee) shall exercise, in its sole discretion, any and all authority of the “partnership representative” under the Code, including, without limitation, (i)

 

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binding the Partnership and its Partners with respect to tax matters and (ii) determining whether to make any available election under Section 6226 of the Code. The General Partner shall amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations implementing the partnership audit, assessment and collection rules adopted by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, including any amendments to those rules.

Section 9.4 Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code, or established by any foreign law. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income or from a distribution to any Partner (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 or Section 12.4(c) in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.

ARTICLE X

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

Section 10.1 Admission of Limited Partners.

(a) Each of the Limited Partners shall continue as a limited partner of the Partnership on the date hereof.

(b) By acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests transferred in accordance with Article IV or acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to Article V or pursuant to a merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to Article XIV, each transferee of, or other such Person acquiring, a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee, agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person or Group, who shall be subject to Section 10.1(d) below) (i) except as provided in Section 4.9, shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or issued to such Person when such Person becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or acquired, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) shall be deemed to represent that the transferee or acquirer has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, and (iv) shall be deemed to make any consents, acknowledgements or waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement. A Person may become a Limited Partner without the consent or approval of any of the Partners. A Person may not become a Limited Partner without acquiring a Limited Partner Interest and becoming the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest. The rights and obligations of a Person who is an Ineligible Holder shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.9.

(c) With respect to any Limited Partner that holds Units representing Limited Partner Interests for another Person’s account (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Units are registered, such Limited Partner shall, in exercising the rights of a Limited Partner in respect of such Units on any

 

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matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, take all action as a Limited Partner by virtue of being the Record Holder of such Units at the direction of the Person who is the beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume such Limited Partner is so acting without further inquiry.

(d) The name and mailing address of each Record Holder shall be listed in the Partnership Register maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent. The General Partner shall update the Partnership Register from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable).

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

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

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

ARTICLE XI

WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

(b) Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time, on the Tenth Anniversary, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided, that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel”) that such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time, on the Tenth Anniversary, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; (iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General

 

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Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2 or (iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal, a successor is not elected by the Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with Section 12.1 unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.

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

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

(a) In the event of withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement, if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1, then the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal of such Departing General Partner, to require such successor General Partner to purchase such Departing General Partner’s or its Affiliates’ economic general partner interests (or equivalent interests), if any, in the Partnership and the other Group Members (the “Combined Interest”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal

 

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

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

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

 

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(c) If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the option described in Section 11.3(a) is not exercised by the party entitled to do so, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner’s admission, the successor General Partner’s interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations, if any, shall be its Percentage Interest.

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

ARTICLE XII

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

Section 12.1 Dissolution. The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to Section 11.1, Section 11.2 or Section 12.2, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

(a) an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless (i) a successor General Partner is elected and a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Section 11.1(b) or Section 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2 or (ii) the holders of a Unit Majority elect to continue the business of the Partnership and to appoint a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 12.2;

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

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

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

(e) the conveyance of all the Partnership’s assets to another limited liability entity in accordance with Section 14.3(d).

Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution. Upon (a) an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or (iii) and the failure of the Unitholders to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, then, to the maximum extent

 

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

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

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

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

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

Section 12.3 Liquidator. Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2, the General Partner (or in the event of dissolution pursuant to Section 12.1(a), the holders of a Unit Majority) shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.3) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator

 

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hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.

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

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

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

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

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

Section 12.6 Return of Contributions. The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners

 

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or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership property.

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

Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration. No Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Partnership.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

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

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

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

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

(d) a change that the General Partner determines (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners considered as a whole or any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests in any material respect (except as permitted by subsection (g) of this Section 13.1); provided that for purposes of determining whether an amendment satisfies the requirements of this Section 13.1(d)(i), the General Partner may in its sole discretion disregard any adverse effect on any class or classes of Partnership Interests the holders of which have approved such amendment pursuant to Section 13.3(c), (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Units (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.8 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the IPO Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

 

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

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

(g) an amendment that (i) sets forth the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of any class or series of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests issued pursuant to Section 5.5 or (ii) the General Partner determines to be necessary, appropriate or advisable in connection with the authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.5, including such an amendment effectuated through a Supplemental Terms Annex;

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

(i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement or a Plan of Conversion approved in accordance with Section 14.3;

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

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

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

Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and, in declining to propose or approve an amendment to this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in determining whether to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement shall be permitted to do so in its sole and

 

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absolute discretion. An amendment to this Agreement shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and, except as otherwise provided by Section 13.1 or Section 13.3, the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage of Outstanding Units is required under this Agreement. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The General Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any amendments. The General Partner shall be deemed to have notified all Record Holders as required by this Section 13.2 if it has posted or made accessible such amendment through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website.

Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements.

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of (i) in the case of any provision of this Agreement other than Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, reducing such percentage or (ii) in the case of Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, increasing such percentages, unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute (x) in the case of a reduction as described in subclause (a)(i) hereof, not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced, (y) in the case of an increase in the percentage in Section 11.2, not less than 90% of the Outstanding Units or (z) in the case of an increase in the percentage in Section 13.4, not less than a majority of the Outstanding Units.

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

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

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

 

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

Section 13.4 Special Meetings. All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the General Partner one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called and the class or classes of Units for which the meeting is proposed. No business may be brought by any Limited Partner before such special meeting except the business listed in the related request. Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting, the General Partner shall send or cause to be sent a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the General Partner on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the time notice of the meeting is given as provided in Section 16.1. Limited Partners shall not be permitted to vote on matters that would cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state or jurisdiction in which the Partnership is qualified to do business. If any such vote were to take place, to the fullest extent permitted by law, it shall be deemed null and void to the extent necessary so as not to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.

Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting. Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with Section 16.1.

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

Section 13.7 Postponement and Adjournment. Prior to the date upon which any meeting of Limited Partners is to be held, the General Partner may postpone such meeting one or more times for any reason by giving notice to each Limited Partner entitled to vote at the meeting so postponed of the place, date and hour at which such meeting would be held. Such notice shall be given not fewer than two days before the date of such meeting and otherwise in accordance

 

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

Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting. The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except (i) when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and (ii) that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove of any matters submitted for consideration or to object to the failure to submit for consideration any matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if such objection is expressly made at the beginning of the meeting.

Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting. Except as otherwise provided by this Agreement or required by the rules or regulations of any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are admitted to trading, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Partnership or its Partnership Interests, the presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority in voting power of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes. Abstentions and broker non-votes in respect of such Units shall be deemed to be Units present at such meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum. For all matters presented to the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units at a meeting at which a quorum is present for which no minimum or other vote of Limited Partners is required by any other provision of this Agreement, the rules or regulations of any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are admitted to trading, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Partnership or its Partnership Interests, a majority of the votes cast by the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners (with abstentions and broker non-votes being deemed to not have been cast with respect to such matter). On any matter where a minimum or other vote of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units is provided by any other provision of this Agreement or required by the rules or regulations of any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are admitted to trading, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Partnership or its Partnership Interests, such minimum or other vote shall be the vote of Limited Partners required to approve such matter (with the effect of

 

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abstentions and broker non-votes to be determined based on the vote of Limited Partners required to approve such matter; provided that if the effect of abstentions and broker non-votes is not specified by such applicable rule, regulation or law, and there is no prevailing interpretation of such effect, then abstentions and broker non-votes shall be deemed to not have been cast with respect to such matter; provided further, that, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any matter on which this Agreement requires the approval of a specified percentage of the Outstanding Units, abstentions and broker non-votes shall be counted as votes against such matter). The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum has been established may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the exit of enough Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum.

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

Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting. If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Outstanding Units held by such Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Outstanding Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any permitted action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are first deposited with the Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken

 

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with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and Liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.

Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters.

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

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

ARTICLE XIV

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

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

Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners.

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

(b) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority unless the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, effects an amendment to any provision of this Agreement that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement adopted pursuant to Article XIII, would require for its approval the vote or consent of a greater percentage of the Outstanding Units or of any class of

 

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Limited Partners, in which case such greater percentage vote or consent shall be required for approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

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

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

(e) Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another limited liability entity if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner under the laws of the jurisdiction governing the other limited liability entity (if that jurisdiction is not Delaware) as compared to its limited liability under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed), (ii) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to this Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1, (iii) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (iv) each Unit Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation and (v) the number of Partnership Interests to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation does not exceed 20% of the Partnership Interests Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.

(f) Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (i) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (ii) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the

 

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Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.3 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.

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

Section 14.5 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.

(a) At the effective time of the merger or consolidation:

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

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

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

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

(b) At the effective time of the conversion:

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

ARTICLE XV

RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time the General Partner and its Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three Business Days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed.

(b) If the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the General Partner shall deliver to the applicable Transfer Agent or exchange agent notice of such election to purchase (the “Notice of Election to Purchase”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent or exchange agent to mail a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner), together with such information as may be required by law, rule or regulation, at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be filed and distributed as may be required by the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state that the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, or instructions agreeing to such redemption in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent or exchange agent as the

 

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Transfer Agent or exchange agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at such Record Holder’s address as reflected in the Partnership Register shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent or exchange agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in accordance with this Section 15.1. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate or redemption instructions shall not have been surrendered for purchase or provided, respectively, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI and Article XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent or exchange agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, or instructions agreeing to such redemption, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the Partnership Register, and the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the Record Holder of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI and Article XII).

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

ARTICLE XVI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices; Written Communications.

(a) Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner at the address described below. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interests at such Record Holder’s address as shown in the Partnership Register, regardless of any claim of any Person who

 

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may have an interest in such Partnership Interests by reason of any assignment or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) a Partner shall consent to receiving notices, demands, requests, reports or proxy materials via electronic mail or by the Internet or (ii) the rules of the Commission shall permit any report or proxy materials to be delivered electronically or made available via the Internet, any such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials shall be deemed given or made when delivered or made available via such mode of delivery. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing in the Partnership Register is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in such Record Holder’s address) if they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other Partners. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by the General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 16.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each Partner agrees that (a) any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with

 

78


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

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

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

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

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

(i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings (A) arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of this Agreement or the duties or Liabilities among Partners or of Partners to the Partnership, or the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the Partners or the Partnership), (B) brought in a derivative manner on behalf of the Partnership, (C) asserting a claim of breach of a duty (including any fiduciary duty) owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, or owed by the General Partner, to the Partnership or the Partners, (D) asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Act or (E) asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, in each case regardless of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or are derivative or direct claims; provided, however, that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings over which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction shall be brought in any other court in the State of Delaware having jurisdiction;

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

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

 

79


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

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

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

(vii) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUCH CLAIM, SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.

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

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

Section 16.12 Facsimile and Email Signatures. The use of facsimile signatures and signatures delivered by email in portable document format (.pdf) or other similar electronic format affixed in the name and on behalf of the Transfer Agent on Certificates representing Common Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

80


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

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
NOBLE MIDSTREAM GP LLC
By:  

/s/ Thomas W. Christensen

Name:  

Thomas W. Christensen

Title:  

Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Agreement of

Limited Partnership of Noble Midstream Partners LP


LIMITED PARTNER:
NBL MIDSTREAM, LLC
By:   /s/ Aaron G. Carlson
Name:  

Aaron G. Carlson

Title:  

Vice President

 

Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Agreement of

Limited Partnership of Noble Midstream Partners LP


EXHIBIT A

to the Second Amended and Restated

Agreement of Limited Partnership of

Noble Midstream Partners LP

Certificate Evidencing Common Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests in

Noble Midstream Partners LP

 

No                                     Common Units

In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Noble Midstream Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “Partnership Agreement”), Noble Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), hereby certifies that (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Common Units”) transferable in the records of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the Partnership located at 1001 Noble Energy Way, Houston, Texas 77070. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT) WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR (C) CAUSE NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). THE GENERAL PARTNER OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO (A) AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED) OR (B) PRESERVE THE UNIFORMITY OF THE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS IN NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP (OR ANY CLASS OR CLASSES THEREOF). THIS SECURITY MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ITS TRANSFER PROVIDED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT.

 

A-1


COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS SECURITY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL PARTNER AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE PARTNERSHIP. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 4.9 OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

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

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

Dated:                                     

 

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
By:  

NOBLE MIDSTREAM GP LLC,

its general partner

By:    
By:    

 

Countersigned and Registered by:

 

as a Transfer Agent

By:    
  Authorized Signature

 

A-2


[Reverse of Certificate]

ABBREVIATIONS

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

 

TEN COM — as tenants in common

 

TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties

 

JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

  

UNIF GIFT TRANSFERS MIN ACT—

 

_______________ Custodian _____________

(Cust)                                (Minor)

 

under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors

Act: _________________________________

(State)

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

 

A-3


ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS OF

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,

   hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address of assignee)

  

(Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee)

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

 

Date: _______________________________   

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

THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15

    
   (Signature)
     
   (Signature)

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

 

A-4

Exhibit 10.1

COMMON UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

by and among

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

and

THE PURCHASERS NAMED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     2  

Section 1.1

 

Definitions

     2  

ARTICLE II AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE

     11  

Section 2.1

 

Sale and Purchase

     11  

Section 2.2

 

Closing

     11  

Section 2.3

 

Mutual Conditions

     11  

Section 2.4

 

Each Purchaser’s Conditions

     11  

Section 2.5

 

The Partnership’s Conditions

     12  

Section 2.6

 

Partnership Deliveries

     13  

Section 2.7

 

Purchaser Deliveries

     14  

Section 2.8

 

Independent Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights

     14  

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP

     14  

Section 3.1

 

Formation and Qualification of the Partnership Entities

     14  

Section 3.2

 

Purchased Units; Capitalization

     15  

Section 3.3

 

No Conflicts

     21  

Section 3.4

 

No Defaults

     21  

Section 3.5

 

Authority

     21  

Section 3.6

 

No Consents

     21  

Section 3.7

 

Authorization, Execution and Delivery of the Common Unit Purchase Agreement

     22  

Section 3.8

 

Authorization, Execution, Delivery and Enforceability of the Registration Rights Agreement

     22  

Section 3.9

 

Contribution Agreement

     22  

Section 3.10

 

Authorization of Contribution Equity Consideration

     22  

Section 3.11

 

Valid Issuance; No Options or Preemptive Rights of Common Units

     23  

Section 3.12

 

No Registration Rights

     23  

Section 3.13

 

Periodic Reports

     23  

Section 3.14

 

Financial Statements

     23  

Section 3.15

 

Legal Proceedings

     24  

Section 3.16

 

No Material Changes

     24  

Section 3.17

 

Title to Properties

     24  

Section 3.18

 

Rights of Way

     25  

Section 3.19

 

Permits

     25  

Section 3.20

 

Intellectual Property

     25  

Section 3.21

 

Insurance

     26  

Section 3.22

 

No Labor Dispute

     26  

Section 3.23

 

Environmental Compliance

     26  

Section 3.24

 

FERC

     26  

Section 3.25

 

Tax Returns

     27  

Section 3.26

 

ERISA

     27  

 

i


Section 3.27

 

No Employment Law Violations

     27  

Section 3.28

 

Anti-Corruption

     27  

Section 3.29

 

OFAC

     28  

Section 3.30

 

Sanctions

     28  

Section 3.31

 

Certain Fees

     28  

Section 3.32

 

No Side Agreements

     29  

Section 3.33

 

No Registration

     29  

Section 3.34

 

No Integration

     29  

Section 3.35

 

MLP Status

     29  

Section 3.36

 

Qualifying Income of Contributed Interests

     29  

Section 3.37

 

Investment Company

     29  

Section 3.38

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

     29  

Section 3.39

 

Internal Controls

     30  

Section 3.40

 

Placement Agent Reliance

     30  

Section 3.41

 

Legal Sufficiency of the Contribution Agreement

     30  

Section 3.42

 

Absence of Price Manipulation

     30  

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASERS

     31  

Section 4.1

 

Existence

     31  

Section 4.2

 

Authorization, Enforceability

     31  

Section 4.3

 

No Breach

     31  

Section 4.4

 

Certain Fees

     31  

Section 4.5

 

No Side Agreements

     31  

Section 4.6

 

Investment

     32  

Section 4.7

 

Nature of Purchaser

     32  

Section 4.8

 

Restricted Securities

     32  

Section 4.9

 

Legend

     32  

Section 4.10

 

Partnership Information

     33  

Section 4.11

 

Placement Agent Reliance

     33  

Section 4.12

 

Short Selling

     33  

ARTICLE V COVENANTS

     34  

Section 5.1

 

Taking of Necessary Action

     34  

Section 5.2

 

Other Actions

     34  

Section 5.3

 

Expenses

     35  

Section 5.4

 

Non-Public Information

     35  

Section 5.5

 

Use of Proceeds

     35  

ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION

     35  

Section 6.1

 

Indemnification by the Partnership

     35  

Section 6.2

 

Indemnification Procedure

     35  

ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS

     37  

Section 7.1

 

Interpretation

     37  

 

ii


Section 7.2

 

Survival of Provisions

     37  

Section 7.3

 

No Waiver; Modifications in Writing

     37  

Section 7.4

 

Binding Effect; Assignment

     38  

Section 7.5

 

Confidentiality

     38  

Section 7.6

 

Communications

     38  

Section 7.7

 

Removal of Legend

     39  

Section 7.8

 

Entire Agreement

     40  

Section 7.9

 

Governing Law

     40  

Section 7.10

 

Execution in Counterparts

     40  

Section 7.11

 

Termination

     40  

Section 7.12

 

Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting the Common Units

     41  

 

Schedule A      List of Purchasers and Commitment Amounts
Exhibit A      Form of Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit B      Form of Opinion of Vinson & Elkins LLP
Exhibit C      Form of Lock-Up Agreement

 

 

iii


COMMON UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This COMMON UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of November 14, 2019 (this “Agreement”), is by and among NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and each of the purchasers listed on Schedule A hereof (each a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).

WHEREAS, Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Noble”), the Partnership, Noble Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the sole general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), Noble Midstream Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership (“Noble Midstream Services”), NBL Midstream, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Noble (“NBL Midstream”) and NBL Midstream Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NBL Holdings”) will enter into the Contribution Agreement (as defined below), pursuant to which NBL Midstream will, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Contribution Agreement, contribute to the Partnership (i) a 60% limited partner interest (the “Blanco River Interest”) in Blanco River DevCo LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Blanco River DevCo”), (ii) a 75% limited partner interest (the “Green River Interest”) in Green River DevCo LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Green River DevCo”), (iii) a 75% limited partner interest (the “San Juan River Interest”) in San Juan River DevCo LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“San Juan River DevCo”) and (iv) all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests (the “NBL Holdings Interest”) of NBL Holdings (collectively, (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) are referred to herein as the “Contributed Interests”). Additionally, NBL Midstream and the Partnership, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, will cause the General Partner to amend the Partnership Agreement in order to recapitalize and convert the Incentive Distribution Rights (“IDRs” or “Incentive Distribution Rights”) into common units. In consideration for the acquisition of the Contributed Interests and the IDRs, the Partnership agrees to pay NBL Midstream total aggregate consideration of $1.6 billion, consisting of cash (the “Cash Consideration”) and common units (“Common Units”) representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Unit Consideration”).

WHEREAS, to fund the Cash Consideration for the Contribution (as defined below), the Partnership desires to sell to the Purchasers, and the Purchasers desire to purchase from the Partnership, certain Common Units, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Partnership and the Purchasers will enter into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, pursuant to which the Partnership will provide the Purchasers with certain registration rights with respect to the Common Units acquired pursuant hereto.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Partnership and each of the Purchasers, severally and not jointly, hereby agree as follows:

 

1


ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, and unless the context requires a different meaning, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

Advantage” means Advantage Pipeline Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Advantage LLC Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(l).

Advantage Logistics” means Advantage Pipeline Logistics LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

Advantage Management” means Advantage Pipeline Management, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

Advantage Pipeline” means Advantage Pipeline, L.L.C., a Texas limited liability company.

Advantage Sub LLC Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(l).

Advantage Subsidiaries” means Advantage Pipeline, Advantage Logistics and Advantage Management.

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

Agreement” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.

Black Diamond” means Black Diamond Gathering LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Black Diamond Cushing” means Black Diamond Cushing LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Black Diamond Gathering Holdings” means Black Diamond Gathering Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Black Diamond LLC Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(v).

Black Diamond Rockies” means Black Diamond Rockies Midstream LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Black Diamond Storage” means Black Diamond Rockies Storage and Terminals LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

2


Black Diamond Sub LLC Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(w).

Black Diamond Subsidiaries” means Black Diamond, Black Diamond Cushing, Black Diamond Rockies, Black Diamond Storage and Optimized.

Blanco River DevCo” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

Blanco River DevCo GP” means Blanco River DevCo GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Blanco River Interest” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

Business Day” means a day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday or (b) any day on which banks located in New York, New York, U.S.A. are authorized or obligated to close.

Cash Consideration” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

Closing” has the meaning specified in Section 2.2.

Closing Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.2.

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

Colorado River DevCo” means Colorado River DevCo LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

Colorado River DevCo GP” means Colorado River DevCo GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Carrier Pipelines” has the meaning specified in Section 3.24.

Common Unit Price” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(b).

Common Units” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

Consent” has the meaning specified in Section 3.6.

Contributed Interests” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

Contribution” means, collectively, the contribution, conveyance, transfer and assignment by NBL Midstream of the Contributed Interests to the Partnership pursuant to the Contribution Agreement.

Contribution Agreement” means the Contribution, Conveyance, Assumption and Simplification Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2019, by and among, Noble, the Partnership, the General Partner, Midstream Services, NBL Midstream and NBL Holdings.

 

3


Delaware Crossing” means Delaware Crossing LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Delaware Crossing Holdings” means Delaware Crossing Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Delaware Crossing LLC Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(n).

Delaware Crossing Operating” means Delaware Crossing Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Delaware Crossing Sub LLC Agreements” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(o).

Delaware Crossing Subsidiaries” means Delaware Crossing Holdings, Delaware Crossing Operating and DX Constellation.

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

Delaware LP Act” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.

Development Companies” means, collectively, Blanco River DevCo, Colorado River DevCo, Dos Rios DevCo, Green River DevCo, Gunnison River DevCo, Laramie River DevCo, San Juan River DevCo and Trinity River DevCo.

Development Company Operating Agreements” has the meaning specified in the Section 3.2(l).

Dos Rios Crude” means Dos Rios Crude Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Dos Rios Crude Intermediate” means Dos Rios Crude Intermediate LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Dos Rios Delaware” means Dos Rios Delaware Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Dos Rios DevCo” means Dos Rios DevCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Dos Rios Sub LLC Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(m).

Dos Rios Subsidiaries” means Dos Rios Delaware, Dos Rios Crude and Dos Rios Y-Grade.

Dos Rios Y-Grade” means Dos Rios Y-Grade Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

DX Constellation” means DX Constellation LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Enforceability Exceptions” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

 

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Environmental Laws” has the meaning specified in Section 3.23.

EPIC Crude GP” means EPIC Crude Holdings GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

EPIC Crude LP” means EPIC Crude Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

EPIC Crude Operating Agreements” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(p).

EPIC Crude Pipeline” means EPIC Crude Pipeline, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

EPIC Crude Subsidiaries” means EPIC Crude Services, EPIC Crude Marketing, EPIC Crude Terminal, EPIC Pipeline and EPIC Crude Pipeline.

EPIC Crude Marketing” means EPIC Crude Marketing, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

EPIC Pipeline” means EPIC Pipeline Company, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

EPIC Crude Services” means EPIC Crude Services, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

EPIC Crude Terminal” means EPIC Crude Terminal Company, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

EPIC Y-Grade GP” means EPIC Y-Grade GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

EPIC Y-Grade Logistics” means EPIC Y-Grade Logistics, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

EPIC Y-Grade LP” means EPIC Y-Grade, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

EPIC Y-Grade Marketing” means EPIC Y-Grade Marketing, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

EPIC Y-Grade Operating Agreements” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(q).

EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline” means EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

EPIC Y-Grade Services” means EPIC Y-Grade Services, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

EPIC Y-Grade Subsidiaries” means EPIC Y-Grade Services, EPIC Y-Grade Logistics, EPIC Y-Grade Marketing and EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline.

ERISA” has the meaning specified in Section 3.26.

ERISA Affiliate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.26.

 

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

FCPA” has the meaning specified in Section 3.28(a).

FERC” has the meaning specified in Section 3.24.

Fundamental Representations” has the meaning specified in Section 7.2.

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

General Partner” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

General Partner Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(e).

Governmental Authority” means, with respect to a particular Person, any country, state, county, city and political subdivision in which such Person or such Person’s property is located or that exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person’s property, and any court, agency, department, commission, board, bureau or instrumentality of any of them and any monetary authority that exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person’s property. Unless otherwise specified, all references to Governmental Authority herein with respect to the Partnership mean a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Partnership, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets.

GP LLC Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(d).

GP Subsidiaries” means, collectively, Blanco River DevCo GP, Colorado River DevCo GP, Green River DevCo GP, Gunnison River DevCo GP, Laramie River DevCo GP, San Juan River DevCo GP and Dos Rios DevCo.

GP Subsidiaries LLC Agreements” has the meaning specified in the Section 3.2(j).

Green River DevCo” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

Green River DevCo GP” means Green River DevCo GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Green River Interest” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

Gunnison River DevCo” means Gunnison River DevCo LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

Gunnison River DevCo GP” means Gunnison River DevCo GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Hazardous Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 3.23.

Incentive Distribution Rights” or “IDRs” means all of the incentive distribution rights representing limited partner interests in the Partnership.

 

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Intellectual Property” has the meaning specified in Section 3.20.

Investment Company Act” has the meaning specified in Section 3.37.

Laramie River DevCo” means Laramie River DevCo LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

Laramie River DevCo GP” means Laramie River DevCo GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign order, writ, injunction, judgment, settlement, award, decree, statute, law, rule or regulation.

Lien” means any interest in property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and including the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes. For the purpose of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be the owner of any property that it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement, or leases under a financing lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the property has been retained by or vested in some other Person in a transaction intended to create a financing.

Material Adverse Effect” has the meaning specified in Section 3.1.

Midstream Services” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

Midstream Services LLC Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(h).

Money Laundering Laws” has the meaning specified in Section 3.28(b).

NBL Holdings” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

NBL Holdings Interest” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

NBL Midstream” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

Noble” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

Noble Entities” means Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Noble Energy Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Noble Midstream Marketing” means Noble Midstream Marketing LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Noble Midstream Marketing LLC Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(i).

Noble Midstream Services” is defined in the recitals.

 

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NYSE” means The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

OFAC” has the meaning specified in Section 3.29.

Omnibus Agreement” means the Omnibus Agreement, dated September 20, 2016, by and between the Noble Entities, NBL Midstream, Midstream Services, the General Partner and the Partnership, as amended to date.

Operational Services and Secondment Agreement” means the Operational Services and Secondment Agreement, dated September 20, 2016, by and between the Noble Entities, Midstream Services, the General Partner and the Partnership.

Operative Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and any amendments, supplements, continuations or modifications thereto.

Optimized” means Optimized Energy Solutions, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Organizational Documents” has the meaning specified in Section 3.11.

Partnership” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.

Partnership Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership dated as of September 20, 2016, as amended to date.

Partnership Entities” means, collectively, the Partnership, the General Partner and the Subsidiaries.

Permits” has the meaning specified in Section 3.19.

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

Placement Agent Engagement Letter” means that certain Placement Agent Engagement Letter, dated as of November 7, 2019, among the Partnership and the Placement Agents.

Placement Agents” means BofA Securities, Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 3.26.

Press Release” has the meaning specified in Section 5.4.

Purchase Price” means, with respect to each Purchaser, the dollar amount set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name in the column titled “Commitment Amount” set forth on Schedule A hereto, as adjusted in accordance with Section 7.12, if applicable; provided that in no event shall the Purchase Price applicable to such Purchaser be increased without the prior written consent of such Purchaser.

 

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Purchased Units” means, with respect to each Purchaser, the number of Common Units (rounded, if necessary, to the nearest whole number) equal to the quotient of (a) the Purchase Price applicable to such Purchaser divided by (b) the Common Unit Price.

Purchaser” and “Purchasers” have the meanings specified in the introductory paragraph.

Purchaser Related Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 6.1.

Registration Rights Agreement” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

Registration Statement” has the meaning specified in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Representatives” of any Person means the Affiliates, officers, directors, managers, employees, agents, counsel, accountants, investment bankers and other representatives of such Person.

Revolving Credit Facility” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 20, 2016, among Midstream Services, the Partnership, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the guarantors and lenders party thereto, as amended.

rights-of-way” has the meaning specified in Section 3.18.

San Juan River DevCo” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

San Juan River DevCo GP” means San Juan River DevCo GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

San Juan River Interest” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

Sanctioned Countries” and “Sanctioned Country” have the meaning specified in the Section 3.30.

Sanctioned Person” has the meaning specified in the Section 3.29.

Sanctions” has the meaning specified in Section 3.29.

SEC Reports” means reports and statements filed by the Partnership under the Exchange Act and statements filed by the Partnership under the Securities Act (in the form that became effective), including all amendments, exhibits and schedules thereto.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Short Sales” means, without limitation, all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, whether or not against the box, and forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, short sales, “put equivalent positions” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) and similar arrangements, and sales and other transactions through non-U.S. broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers.

 

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Sponsor Units” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(g).

Subsidiaries” means, collectively, Midstream Services, Noble Midstream Marketing, the Development Companies and the GP Subsidiaries.

Trinity River DevCo” means Trinity River DevCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Unit Consideration” has the meaning specified in the recitals.

Walled Off Person” has the meaning specified in Section 4.12.

White Cliffs” means White Cliffs Pipeline, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company.

White Cliffs LLC Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(t).

 

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ARTICLE II

AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE

Section 2.1 Sale and Purchase.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Partnership hereby agrees to issue and sell to each Purchaser and each Purchaser hereby agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Partnership, its respective Purchased Units, and each Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to pay the Partnership the Common Unit Price for each Purchased Unit as set forth in Section 2.1(b) below.

(b) The amount per Common Unit each Purchaser will pay to the Partnership to purchase the Purchased Units hereunder shall be $20.70 (the “Common Unit Price”).

Section 2.2 Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the consummation of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Units hereunder (the “Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Vinson & Elkins LLP, 1001 Fannin St., Suite 2500 Houston, Texas 77002, or such other location as mutually agreed by the parties, and upon the first Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Sections 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 (other than those conditions that are by their terms to be satisfied at the Closing) (the date of such closing, the “Closing Date”). The parties agree that the Closing may occur via delivery of facsimiles or photocopies of the Operative Documents and the closing deliverables contemplated hereby and thereby. Unless otherwise provided herein, all proceedings to be taken and all documents to be executed and delivered by all parties at the Closing will be deemed to have been taken and executed simultaneously, and no proceedings will be deemed to have been taken or documents executed or delivered until all have been taken, executed or delivered.

Section 2.3 Mutual Conditions. The respective obligations of each party to consummate the purchase and issuance and sale of the Purchased Units shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by a party on behalf of itself in writing, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law):

(a) No Law shall have been enacted or promulgated, and no action shall have been taken, by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction that temporarily, preliminarily or permanently restrains, precludes, enjoins or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or makes the transactions contemplated hereby illegal;

(b) There shall not be pending any suit, action or proceeding by any Governmental Authority seeking to restrain, preclude, enjoin or prohibit the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

(c) The closing of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement shall have occurred, or shall occur concurrently with the Closing.

Section 2.4 Each Purchasers Conditions. The obligation of each Purchaser to consummate the purchase of its Purchased Units shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by a particular Purchaser on behalf of itself in writing with respect to its Purchased Units, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law):

(a) The Partnership shall have performed and complied with the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed and complied with by the Partnership on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

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(b) (i) The representations and warranties of the Partnership contained in this Agreement that are qualified by materiality or a Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct when made and as of the Closing Date and (ii) all other representations and warranties of the Partnership shall be true and correct in all material respects when made and as of the Closing Date, in each case as though made at and as of the Closing Date (except that representations and warranties made as of a specific date shall be required to be true and correct as of such date only);

(c) The NYSE shall have authorized, upon official notice of issuance, the listing of the Purchased Units;

(d) No notice of delisting from the NYSE shall have been received by the Partnership with respect to the Common Units;

(e) The Common Units shall not have been suspended by the Commission or the NYSE from trading on the NYSE nor shall suspension by the Commission or the NYSE have been threatened in writing by the Commission or the NYSE;

(f) No Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(g) The Partnership shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Purchasers at the Closing, the Partnership’s closing deliveries described in Section 2.6.

Section 2.5 The Partnerships Conditions. The obligation of the Partnership to consummate the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units to a Purchaser shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions with respect to such Purchaser (any or all of which may be waived by the Partnership in writing, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law):

(a) (i) The representations and warranties of such Purchaser contained in this Agreement that are qualified by materiality shall be true and correct when made and as of the Closing Date and (ii) all other representations and warranties of such Purchaser shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date (except that representations of such Purchaser made as of a specific date shall be required to be true and correct as of such date only);

(b) A duly executed (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or (ii) applicable Internal Revenue Service Form W-8; and

(c) Such Purchaser shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Partnership at the Closing, such Purchaser’s closing deliveries described in Section 2.7.

 

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Section 2.6 Partnership Deliveries. At the Closing, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Partnership will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to each Purchaser:

(a) evidence of the Purchased Units credited to book-entry accounts maintained by the transfer agent of the Partnership (registered in the name of such Purchaser or its nominee in accordance with its instructions), bearing the legend or restrictive notation set forth in Section 4.9, free and clear of all Liens, other than transfer restrictions under the Partnership Agreement and applicable federal and state securities laws;

(b) the Registration Rights Agreement in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A, which shall have been duly executed by the Partnership;

(c) A certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated a recent date, to the effect that each of the Partnership Entities is in good standing;

(d) An opinion addressed to the Purchasers from Vinson & Elkins LLP, legal counsel to the Partnership, dated as of the Closing, in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit B;

(e) A certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by each of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, in their capacities as such, stating that:

(i) The Partnership has performed and complied with the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed and complied with by the Partnership on or prior to the Closing Date; and

(ii) The representations and warranties of the Partnership contained in this Agreement that are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect are true and correct as of the Closing Date and all other representations and warranties of the Partnership are true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date (except that representations and warranties made as of a specific date shall be required to be true and correct as of such date only);

(f) A certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, certifying as to (i) the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as amended, and the Partnership Agreement, (ii) board resolutions authorizing the execution and delivery of the Operative Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units, and (iii) its incumbent officers authorized to execute the Operative Documents, setting forth the name and title and bearing the signature of each such officer;

(g) The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, among (i) each of the Placement Agents, on the one hand, and (ii) each of Noble, the Partnership, and the officers and directors of the General Partner, on the other hand, related to sales and certain other dispositions of Common Units or certain other securities, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.

 

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Section 2.7 Purchaser Deliveries. At the Closing, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Purchaser will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Partnership:

(a) Payment to the Partnership of the Purchase Price set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name under the column titled “Commitment Amount” on Schedule A hereto by wire transfer of immediately available funds (to an account designated by the Partnership in writing at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date); provided that such delivery shall be required only after delivery of the Purchased Units as set forth in Section 2.6(a); and

(b) The Registration Rights Agreement in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A, which shall have been duly executed by such Purchaser.

Section 2.8 Independent Nature of Purchasers Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Purchaser under any Operative Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under any Operative Document. The failure or waiver of performance under any Operative Document by any Purchaser does not excuse performance by any other Purchaser or by the Partnership with respect to the other Purchasers. It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in the Operative Documents is between the Partnership and a Purchaser, solely, and not between the Partnership and the Purchasers, collectively, and not between and among the Purchasers. Nothing contained herein or in any other Operative Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Operative Documents. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other Operative Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP

The Partnership represents and warrants to each Purchaser as follows:

Section 3.1 Formation and Qualification of the Partnership Entities. Each of the Partnership Entities has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing as a limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other business entity under the laws of its jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, as applicable, is duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other business entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, and has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the business in which it is engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified, in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, (a) have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position or results of operations of the Partnership Entities taken as a whole; (b) materially impair the ability of any of the Partnership Entities to consummate the Contribution or to perform their

 

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respective obligations under this Agreement or the other Operative Documents (each of clause (a) and (b), a “Material Adverse Effect”); or (c) subject the limited partners of the Partnership to any material liability or disability. Each of the Partnership Entities has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the business in which it is engaged. The Partnership does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the Subsidiaries, Advantage, the Advantage Subsidiaries, White Cliffs, Black Diamond, Black Dimond Gathering Holdings, the Black Diamond Subsidiaries, the Dos Rios Subsidiaries, Dos Rios Crude Intermediate, Delaware Crossing, the Delaware Crossing Subsidiaries, EPIC Crude GP, EPIC Crude LP, EPIC Y-Grade GP, EPIC Y-Grade GP, the EPIC Crude Subsidiaries and the EPIC Y-Grade Subsidiaries.

Section 3.2 Purchased Units; Capitalization.

(a) On the Closing Date, the Purchased Units shall have those rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions governing the Common Units as set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

(b) General Partner. The General Partner has, and at the Closing Date will have, full limited liability company power and authority to serve as general partner of the Partnership. The General Partner is the sole general partner of the Partnership.

(c) Common Units Held. As of the date hereof, immediately prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement, the issued and outstanding partnership interests of the Partnership consist of (i) 39,707,343 Common Units and the IDRs, which are the only limited partner interests of the Partnership issued and outstanding (other than limited partner interests issued under the Partnership’s long-term incentive plan), and (ii) the General Partner Interest; all of such Common Units have been duly authorized and validly issued pursuant to the Partnership Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).

(d) Ownership of the General Partner. NBL Midstream owns, and on the Closing Date will own, a 100% membership interest in the General Partner; such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of the General Partner ( the “GP LLC Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and NBL Midstream owns such membership interest free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Partnership Agreement and (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LP Act).

(e) Ownership of the General Partner Interest in the Partnership. The General Partner is, and on the Closing Date will be, the sole general partner of the Partnership, with a noneconomic general partner interest in the Partnership (the “General Partner Interest”); such General Partner Interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement; and the General Partner owns such General Partner Interest free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Partnership Agreement and (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LP Act).

 

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(f) Ownership of the Incentive Distribution Rights. Immediately prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement, NBL Midstream owns all of the Incentive Distribution Rights; the Incentive Distribution Rights and the limited partner interests represented thereby have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and NBL Midstream owns such Incentive Distribution Rights free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Partnership Agreement and (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LP Act).

(g) Ownership of the Sponsor Units. Immediately prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement, NBL Midstream owns 17,992,598 Common Units (the “Sponsor Units”); the Sponsor Units and the limited partner interests represented thereby have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act); and NBL Midstream owns such Sponsor Units free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Partnership Agreement and (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LP Act).

(h) Ownership of Midstream Services. The Partnership owns, and on the Closing Date will own, 100% of the limited liability company interests in Midstream Services; such limited liability company interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Midstream Services (the “Midstream Services LLC Agreement”) and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Midstream Services LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and the Partnership owns such limited liability company interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Midstream Services LLC Agreement, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

(i) Ownership of Noble Midstream Marketing. Midstream Services owns, and on the Closing Date will own, 100% of the limited liability company interests in Noble Midstream Marketing; such limited liability company interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Noble Midstream Marketing (the “Noble Midstream Marketing LLC Agreement”) and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Noble Midstream Marketing LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and Midstream Services owns such limited liability company interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Noble Midstream Marketing LLC Agreement, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

 

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(j) Ownership of GP Subsidiaries. Midstream Services owns, and on the Closing Date will own, a 100% membership interest in each of the GP Subsidiaries; such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreements of the GP Subsidiaries time (the “GP Subsidiaries LLC Agreements”) and are fully paid (to the extent required under the GP Subsidiaries LLC Agreements) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and Midstream Services owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the GP Subsidiaries LLC Agreements, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

(k) Ownership of Development Companies. On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Contribution, (i) Colorado River DevCo GP will own an 80% general partner interest and Midstream Services will own a 20% limited partner interest in Colorado River DevCo, (ii) Blanco River DevCo GP will own a 40% general partner interest and Midstream Services will own a 60% limited partner interest in Blanco River DevCo, (iii) Green River DevCo GP will own a 25% general partner interest and Midstream Services will own a 75% limited partner interest in Green River DevCo, (iv) San Juan River DevCo GP will own a 25% general partner interest and Midstream Services will own a 75% limited partner interest in San Juan River DevCo, (v) Gunnison River DevCo GP will own a 5% general partner interest and Midstream Services will own a 95% limited partner interest in Gunnison River DevCo, (vi) Laramie River DevCo GP will own a 5% general partner interest and Midstream Services will own a 95% limited partner interest in Laramie River DevCo, and (vii) Midstream Services will own a 100% membership interest in Trinity River DevCo; such interests will have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the agreements of limited partnership or limited liability company agreements, as applicable, of the Development Companies (the “Development Company Operating Agreements”); the GP Subsidiaries and the Partnership, as applicable, will own such interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Development Company Operating Agreements, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LP Act, (iii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iv) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

(l) Ownership of Advantage. Trinity River DevCo owns, and on the Closing Date will own, a 50% membership interest in Advantage; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Advantage (the “Advantage LLC Agreement”); Trinity River DevCo owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Advantage LLC Agreement, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

(m) Ownership of the Advantage Subsidiaries. Advantage owns, and on the Closing Date will own, a 100% membership interest in each of the Advantage Subsidiaries; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreements of the Advantage Subsidiaries (the “Advantage Sub LLC Agreement”); Advantage owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Advantage LLC Agreement, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

 

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(n) Ownership of Dos Rios Subsidiaries. Dos Rios DevCo owns, and on the Closing Date will own, a 100% membership interest in each of the Dos Rios Subsidiaries; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreements of the Dos Rios Subsidiaries (the “Dos Rios Sub LLC Agreement”); Dos Rios DevCo owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Advantage LLC Agreement, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

(o) Ownership of Delaware Crossing. Dos Rios Delaware owns, and on the Closing Date will own, a 50% membership interest in Delaware Crossing; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Delaware Crossing (the “Delaware Crossing LLC Agreement”); Dos Rios Delaware owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Delaware Crossing LLC Agreement, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

(p) Ownership of the Delaware Crossing Subsidiaries. Delaware Crossing owns, and on the Closing Date will own, a 100% membership interest in each of the Delaware Crossing Subsidiaries; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreements of the Delaware Crossing Subsidiaries (the “Delaware Crossing Sub LLC Agreements”); Delaware Crossing owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Delaware Crossing LLC Agreements, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

(q) Ownership of EPIC Crude. Dos Rios Crude Intermediate owns, and on the Closing Date, will own, a 30% general partner interest in EPIC Crude GP and a 30% limited partner interest in EPIC Crude LP; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the agreements of limited partnership or limited liability company agreements, as applicable, of EPIC Crude GP and EPIC Crude LP (the “EPIC Crude Operating Agreements”); Dos Rios Crude Intermediate owns such interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the EPIC Crude Operating Agreements, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

(r) Ownership of EPIC Y-Grade. Dos Rios Y-Grade owns, and on the Closing Date, will own, a 15% general partner interest in EPIC Y-Grade GP and a 15% limited partner interest in EPIC Y-Grade LP; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the agreements of limited partnership or limited liability company agreements, as applicable, of EPIC Y-Grade GP and EPIC Y-Grade LP (the “EPIC Y-Grade Operating Agreements”); Dos Rios Y-Grade owns such interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the EPIC Y-Grade Operating Agreements, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

 

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(s) Ownership of EPIC Y-Grade Subsidiaries.

(i) EPIC Y-Grade GP is, and on the Closing Date will be, the sole general partner of EPIC Y-Grade LP, EPIC Y-Grade Services, EPIC Y-Grade Logistics, EPIC Y-Grade Marketing and EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline, with a noneconomic general partner interest in such entities; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the agreements of limited partnership of such entities; and EPIC Y-Grade GP owns such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens (except for (A) restrictions on transferability contained in such agreements of limited partnership and (B) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LP Act).

(ii) EPIC Y-Grade LP owns, and on the Closing Date, will own, 100% of the limited partner interests in EPIC Y-Grade Services, EPIC Y-Grade Logistics, EPIC Y-Grade Marketing and EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such limited partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the agreements of limited partnership of such entities; and EPIC Y-Grade LP owns such limited partner interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (A) restrictions on transferability contained in such agreements of limited partnership and (B) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LP Act).

(t) Ownership of EPIC Crude Subsidiaries.

(i) EPIC Crude GP is, and on the Closing Date will be, the sole general partner of EPIC Crude LP, EPIC Crude Services, EPIC Crude Marketing, EPIC Crude Terminal, EPIC Pipeline, EPIC Crude Pipeline, with a noneconomic general partner interest in such entities; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the agreements of limited partnership of such entities; and EPIC Crude GP owns such general partner interest free and clear of all Liens (except for (A) restrictions on transferability contained in such agreements of limited partnership and (B) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LP Act).

(ii) EPIC Crude LP owns, and on the Closing Date, will own, 100% of the limited partner interests in EPIC Crude Services, EPIC Crude Marketing, EPIC Crude Terminal, EPIC Pipeline, EPIC Crude Pipeline; such limited partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the agreements of limited partnership of such entities; to the knowledge of the Partnership, EPIC Y-Grade LP owns such limited partner interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (A) restrictions on transferability contained in such agreements of limited partnership and (B) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LP Act).

(u) Ownership of White Cliffs. Midstream Services owns, and on the Closing Date will own, a 3.33% membership interest in White Cliffs; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of White Cliffs (the “White Cliffs LLC Agreement”); Midstream Services owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the White Cliffs LLC Agreement, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

 

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(v) Ownership of Black Diamond Gathering Holdings. Laramie River DevCo owns, and on the Closing Date, will own, a 100% membership interest in Black Diamond Gathering Holdings; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such member interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Black Diamond Gathering Holdings; Laramie River DevCo owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in such limited liability company agreement, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

(w) Ownership of Black Diamond. Black Diamond Gathering Holdings owns, and on the Closing Date, will own, a 54.4% membership interest in Black Diamond; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Black Diamond (the “Black Diamond LLC Agreement”); Black Diamond Gathering Holdings owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Black Diamond LLC Agreement, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

(x) Ownership of the Black Diamond Subsidiaries. Black Diamond owns, and on the Closing Date will own, a 100% membership interest in each of the Black Diamond Subsidiaries; to the knowledge of the Partnership, such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreements of the Black Diamond Subsidiaries (the “Black Diamond Sub LLC Agreements”); Black Diamond owns such membership interests free and clear of all Liens (except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Black Diamond Sub LLC Agreements, (ii) Liens created or arising under the Delaware LLC Act and (iii) Liens created or arising under the Revolving Credit Facility).

(y) No Other Subsidiaries. On the Closing Date, and after giving effect to the Contribution, the General Partner will not own or control, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity, other than the Subsidiaries, Advantage, the Advantage Subsidiaries, White Cliffs, Black Diamond, the Black Diamond Subsidiaries, the Dos Rios Subsidiaries, Dos Rios Crude Intermediate, Delaware Crossing, the Delaware Crossing Subsidiaries, EPIC Crude GP, EPIC Crude LP, EPIC Y-Grade GP, EPIC Y-Grade GP, the EPIC Crude Subsidiaries and the EPIC Y-Grade Subsidiaries. On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Contribution, the Partnership will not own or control, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity, other than the Subsidiaries, Advantage, the Advantage Subsidiaries, White Cliffs, Black Diamond, Black Diamond Gathering Holdings, the Black Diamond Subsidiaries, the Dos Rios Subsidiaries, Dos Rios Crude Intermediate, Delaware Crossing, the Delaware Crossing Subsidiaries, EPIC Crude GP, EPIC Crude LP, EPIC Y-Grade GP, EPIC Y-Grade GP, the EPIC Crude Subsidiaries and the EPIC Y-Grade Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 3.3 No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Partnership Entities of the Contribution Agreement, this Agreement and each of the other Operative Documents to which they are a party, the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units, the consummation of the Contribution and any other transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement, this Agreement and the other Operative Documents and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Purchased Units will not (a) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of any of the Partnership Entities pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of the Partnership Entities is a party or by which any of the Partnership Entities is bound or to which any of the property, right or assets of any of the Partnership Entities is subject; (b) result in any violation of the provisions of the Organizational Documents of any of the Partnership Entities; or (c) result in any violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, decree, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (a) and (c) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.4 No Defaults. None of the Partnership Entities is (a) in violation of its Organizational Documents; (b) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which any of the Partnership Entities is a party or by which any of the Partnership Entities is bound or to which any of the property or assets of any of the Partnership Entities is subject; or (c) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority; except, in the case of clauses (b) and (c) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.5 Authority. The Partnership has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver the Contribution Agreement, this Agreement and the other Operative Documents and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The Partnership has all requisite limited partnership power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the Purchased Units, in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Partnership Agreement. On the Closing Date, all limited partnership or limited liability company action, as the case may be, required to be taken by the General Partner or the Partnership for the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Purchased Units, the execution and delivery of the Contribution Agreement and the Operative Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, shall have been validly taken.

Section 3.6 No Consents. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification (“Consent”) of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for (a) the execution, delivery and performance by any of the Partnership Entities of any of the Operative Documents; (b) the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units; (c) the consummation of the Contribution or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Contribution Agreement or the other Operative Documents; or (d) the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Purchased Units, except (i) such as have been, or prior to the

 

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Closing Date will be, obtained or made, and (ii) for the registration of the Purchased Units under the Securities Act and Consents as may be required under the Exchange Act, applicable state securities laws, the listing standards of the NYSE and the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. in connection with the purchase and sale of the Purchased Units by the Purchasers, and (iii) for such consents that, if not obtained, have not or would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.7 Authorization, Execution and Delivery of the Common Unit Purchase Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Partnership and constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its terms; provided, that the enforceability thereof may be limited by (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) relating to enforceability and (b) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).

Section 3.8 Authorization, Execution, Delivery and Enforceability of the Registration Rights Agreement. On the Closing Date the Registration Rights Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

Section 3.9 Contribution Agreement.

(a) On the Closing Date, the Contribution Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by (i) Noble, the Partnership, the General Partner, NBL Midstream, Midstream Services and NBL Holdings and (ii) to the knowledge of the Partnership and NBL Midstream, assuming the due authorization of the parties thereto other than the Noble, the Partnership, the General Partner, NBL Midstream, Midstream Services and NBL Holdings, the Contribution Agreement will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Noble, Partnership, the General Partner, NBL Midstream, Midstream Services and NBL Holdings, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

(b) Prior to the execution and delivery hereof by the Purchasers, the Partnership has provided the Purchasers with, or made available to the Purchasers, a copy of the Contribution Agreement (other than exhibits and schedules, except to the extent they will be filed with the Commission within four Business Days of the date hereof) that is complete in all material respects.

Section 3.10 Authorization of Contribution Equity Consideration. The Unit Consideration to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, and the limited partner interests represented thereby, have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement and the Contribution Agreement as consideration therefor as provided therein, will be fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-303, 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).

 

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Section 3.11 Valid Issuance; No Options or Preemptive Rights of Common Units. The Purchased Units to be issued and sold by the Partnership and the limited partner interests represented thereby have been duly authorized in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and, when issued and delivered to the Purchasers against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act). Except as provided in the Operative Documents, the Partnership Agreement and the Omnibus Agreement, there are no options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, or any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any equity securities of any of the Partnership Entities pursuant to any of their certificate of limited partnership, formation or incorporation, agreement of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement, bylaws or any other organizational documents (“Organizational Documents”). Except as provided for in the Partnership Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Omnibus Agreement, neither the filing of the Registration Statement pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement nor the offering or sale of the Common Units as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any Common Units or other securities of the Partnership.

Section 3.12 No Registration Rights. Except as contemplated by this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement or pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between any of the Partnership and any Person granting such Person the right to require the Partnership to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Partnership owned or to be owned by such Person or to require the Partnership to include such securities in the Registration Statement or in any securities registered or to be registered pursuant to any registration statement filed by or required to be filed by the Partnership under the Securities Act.

Section 3.13 Periodic Reports. The SEC Reports have been filed with the Commission on a timely basis. The SEC Reports, including, without limitation, any audited or unaudited financial statements and any notes thereto or schedules included therein, at the time filed (or in the case of registration statements, solely on the dates of effectiveness) (except to the extent corrected by a subsequent SEC Report) (a) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (b) complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as the case may be.

Section 3.14 Financial Statements. The historical financial statements of the Partnership (including its predecessor for accounting purposes) and subsidiaries (including the related notes and supporting schedules) included in the SEC Reports comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby at the dates and for the periods indicated and have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.

 

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Section 3.15 Legal Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Partnership, threatened, against or affecting the Partnership Entities, which (a) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (b) could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets of the Partnership and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (c) could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement or the performance by the Partnership Entities of the obligations contemplated hereunder and thereunder. The aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which any of the Partnership Entities is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject that are not described in the SEC Reports, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.16 No Material Changes. Since the date of the most recent audited financial statements included in the SEC Reports, except as may otherwise be stated therein or contemplated thereby, none of the Partnership Entities or, to the Partnership’s knowledge, Advantage, White Cliffs or Black Diamond has (a) sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, (b) issued or granted any securities, (c) incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than liabilities and obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (d) entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business, or (e) declared or paid any distribution or dividend on its equity interests, and since such date, there has not been any change in the equity interests or long-term debt of any of the Partnership Entities or any adverse change, or any development involving a prospective adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, partners’ equity, properties, management, business or prospects of the Partnership Entities taken as a whole, in each case, except as could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.17 Title to Properties. Each of the Partnership and the Subsidiaries has legal, valid and defensible title to all of their interests in all real and personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all Liens and defects of any kind, except (a) such as are described in the SEC Reports or (b) those that do not materially affect or interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such properties taken as a whole. Any property held under lease or sublease by the Partnership or any of the Subsidiaries is held under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases or subleases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such properties taken as a whole by the Partnership and the Subsidiaries or except such as are described in the SEC Reports. None of the Partnership and the Subsidiaries has any notice or knowledge of any claim of any sort that has been, or may be, asserted by anyone adverse to the Partnership’s or the Subsidiaries’ rights as lessee or sublessee under any lease or sublease described above, or affecting or questioning the Partnership’s or any of the Subsidiaries’ rights to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease in conflict with the terms thereof except for such claims that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 3.18 Rights of Way. Each of the Partnership and the Subsidiaries has such consents, easements, rights-of-way, permits or licenses from each Person (collectively, “rights-of-way”) as are necessary to conduct its business in the manner described in the SEC Reports, subject to the limitations described in the SEC Reports, if any, except for (a) qualifications, reservations and encumbrances with respect thereto that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (b) such rights-of-way that, if not obtained, could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and each of the Partnership and the Subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed, in all material respects, its obligations with respect to such rights-of-way and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any impairment of the rights of the holder of any such rights-of-way, except for such revocations, terminations and impairments that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.19 Permits. None of the Partnership Entities is in violation of any law, ordinance, governmental rule or regulation or court decree to which it may be subject or has failed to obtain any license, permit, franchise or other governmental authorization necessary to the ownership of its property or to the conduct of its business, which violation or failure would have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Partnership Entities own or possess or have obtained all governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations (“Permits”) and have properly filed with the appropriate authorities all notices, applications and other documents necessary to lease or own their respective properties and to carry on their respective businesses as presently conducted, except where the failure to possess such licenses or authorizations or make such filings would not have a Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred that would prevent the Permits from being renewed or reissued or which allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit. None of the Partnership Entities has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Permits or has any reason to believe that any such Permits will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

Section 3.20 Intellectual Property. Each of the Partnership and the Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them, and none of the Partnership nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances that would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 3.21 Insurance. Each of the Partnership and the Subsidiaries has insurance from insurers that have (or whose reinsurers have) recognized financial responsibility and such insurance is in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries. All policies of insurance covering the Partnership and the Subsidiaries are in full force and effect; each of the Partnership and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with the terms of such policies in all material respects; and none of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiaries has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance; there are no claims by any of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; and none of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.22 No Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of any of the Noble Entities that are working on behalf of any of the Partnership Entities pursuant to the Omnibus Agreement, Operational Services and Secondment Agreement or otherwise, exists or, to the knowledge of the Partnership, is imminent that would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.23 Environmental Compliance. Except as described in the SEC Reports, (a) neither the Partnership nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances or petroleum or petroleum products (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (b) the Partnership and the Subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (c) there are no pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Partnership or any of the Subsidiaries, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, and (d) there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Partnership or any of the Subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws, except, in the case of (a), (b) or (d), as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.24 FERC. White Cliffs, EPIC Crude Pipeline Company, LP, and EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline, LP provide “common carrier” service (“Common Carrier Pipelines”) subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) under the Interstate Commerce Act. To the knowledge of the Partnership, there are no administrative or regulatory proceedings pending or threatened against the Common Carrier Pipelines the result of which are reasonably likely to materially change, alter or modify the rates, charges or fees for transportation services related to any FERC-regulated line or any other terms or conditions of service currently in effect under any tariffs issued by the Common Carrier Pipelines.

 

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Section 3.25 Tax Returns. The Partnership Entities have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, subject to permitted extensions, and have paid all taxes due, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Partnership Entities, nor does the Partnership have any knowledge of any tax deficiencies that have been, or could reasonably be expected to be asserted against the Partnership Entities, that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.26 ERISA. (a) Each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)) for which the Partnership Entities or any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is considered a single employer with a Partnership Entity within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (such an entity, an “ERISA Affiliate”) would have any actual or potential liability (each a “Plan”) has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations including ERISA and the Code; (b) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or any similar applicable law, has occurred with respect to any Plan, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (c) no Partnership Entity or any ERISA Affiliate of any of the foregoing (i) sponsors, maintains, contributes to or is required to contribute to any plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA; or (ii) would reasonably be expected to have any material liability with respect to any plan described in the preceding clause (i) that any such entity has sponsored, maintained, or contributed to or was required to contribute to during the past six (6) years; and (d) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.

Section 3.27 No Employment Law Violations. None of the Partnership Entities is in violation of or has received notice of any violation with respect to any federal or state law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, nor any applicable federal or state wage and hour laws, nor any state law precluding the denial of credit due to the neighborhood in which a property is situated, the violation of any of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.28 Anti-Corruption.

(a) None of the Partnership Entities nor, to the Partnership’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of any of the Partnership Entities has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA, or of the Bribery

 

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Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, and the Partnership Entities and, to the knowledge of the Partnership, their Affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(b) The operations of the Partnership Entities are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any court, arbitrator, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or other authority or agency that, in each case, are applicable to the business and operations of the Partnership and the Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”). No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court, arbitrator, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or other authority or agency involving the Partnership Entities with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Partnership’s knowledge, threatened.

Section 3.29 OFAC. None of the Partnership Entities nor, to the Partnership’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of any of the Partnership Entities is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”). The Partnership will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds from the sale of the Purchased Units, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds, to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity in any manner that, to the Partnership’s knowledge, would result in a violation of any economic sanctions imposed by the United States (including any administered or enforced by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, or the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, or the United Kingdom (including sanctions administered or controlled by Her Majesty’s Treasury) (collectively, “Sanctions” and such persons, “Sanctioned Persons”).

Section 3.30 Sanctions. None of the Partnership Entities nor, to the knowledge of the Partnership, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of any of the Partnership Entities, is a person that is, or is 50% or more owned or otherwise controlled by a person that is: (a) the subject of any Sanctions; or (b) located, organized or resident in Burma (Myanmar), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria (collectively, “Sanctioned Countries” and each, a “Sanctioned Country”). Except as has been disclosed to the Purchasers or is not material to the analysis under any Sanctions, none of the Partnership Entities has engaged in any dealings or transactions with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person, or with or in a Sanctioned Country, in the preceding 3 years, nor does any Partnership Entity have any plans to initiate any dealings or transactions with Sanctioned Persons, or with or in Sanctioned Countries.

Section 3.31 Certain Fees. Other than as described in the Placement Agent Engagement Letter, none of the Partnership Entities is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any Person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or the Purchasers for a brokerage commission, finders’ fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Purchased Units. The Partnership agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless each Purchaser from and against any and all claims, demands or liabilities for broker’s, finder’s, placement or other similar fees or commissions incurred by the Partnership in connection with the purchase of the Purchased Units or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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Section 3.32 No Side Agreements. There are no agreements by, among or between the Partnership or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and any Purchaser or any of their Affiliates, on the other hand, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than the Operative Documents nor promises or inducements for future transactions between or among any of such parties.

Section 3.33 No Registration. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 4.6 and Section 4.7, the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units pursuant to this Agreement is exempt from registration requirements of the Securities Act, and neither the Partnership nor, to the knowledge of the Partnership, any authorized Representative acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action hereafter that would cause the loss of such exemption.

Section 3.34 No Integration. The Partnership has not, directly or through any agent, issued, sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any security (as defined in the Securities Act), that is or will be integrated with the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Securities Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.

Section 3.35 MLP Status. The Partnership is properly treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes, and more than 90% of the Partnership’s gross income for the current period is, and for each of the Partnership’s taxable years ending after September 20, 2016 has been, “qualifying income” under Section 7704(d) of the Code.

Section 3.36 Qualifying Income of Contributed Interests. After the closing date of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement, the Partnership expects that more than 90% of the gross income of the Partnership in 2019 will be “qualifying income” under Section 7704(d) of the Code.

Section 3.37 Investment Company. The Partnership is and, as of the Closing Date after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Purchased Units and the application of the proceeds therefrom, will not be, (a) an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”) or (b) a “business development company” (as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act).

Section 3.38 Disclosure Controls and Procedures. To the extent required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, the Partnership has established and maintains an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act; the Partnership’s “disclosure controls and procedures” are reasonably designed to ensure that all information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed by the Partnership in the reports to be filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the

 

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time periods specified in the Exchange Act, and that all such information is accumulated and communicated to the Partnership’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports.

Section 3.39 Internal Controls. The Partnership Entities maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (a) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (b) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (c) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (d) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. As of the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries reviewed or audited by KPMG LLP, there were no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the Partnership’s internal controls. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Partnership is not aware of (i) any material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting or (ii) any change in internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

Section 3.40 Placement Agent Reliance. The Partnership acknowledges that each of the Placement Agents may rely upon the representations and warranties made by the Partnership to each Purchaser in this Agreement.

Section 3.41 Legal Sufficiency of the Contribution Agreement. The Contribution Agreement is legally sufficient to transfer or convey to the Partnership (a) all of the transferor’s right, title and interest in and to the Contributed Interests and (b) all of the ownership interests, assets and rights in and to the Contributed Interests purported to be transferred thereby, subject to the conditions, reservations, encumbrances and limitations contained in the Contribution Agreement. The Partnership, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement, will directly or indirectly succeed in all material respects to the Contributed Interests.

Section 3.42 Absence of Price Manipulation. Neither the Partnership nor, to the knowledge of the Partnership, any of its Affiliates or its or their respective directors or officers, has taken, or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might reasonably be expected to, cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Units to facilitate the sale or resale of the Purchased Units in violation of Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

 

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ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASERS

Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to the Partnership that:

Section 4.1 Existence. Such Purchaser is duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with all requisite power and authority to own, lease, use and operate its properties and to conduct its business as currently conducted, except where the failure to have such power or authority would not prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

Section 4.2 Authorization, Enforceability. Such Purchaser has all necessary corporate, limited liability company or partnership power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the execution, delivery and performance by such Purchaser of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such Purchaser; and this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

Section 4.3 No Breach. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement by such Purchaser and the consummation by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (a) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement to which such Purchaser is a party or by which such Purchaser is bound or to which any of the property or assets of such Purchaser is subject, (b) conflict with or result in any violation of the provisions of any certificate of limited partnership, formation or incorporation, agreement of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement, bylaws or any other organizational documents of such Purchaser, or (c) violate any statute, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over such Purchaser or the property or assets of such Purchaser, except in the cases of clauses (a) and (c), for such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults as would not prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

Section 4.4 Certain Fees. No fees or commissions are or will be payable by such Purchaser to brokers, finders, or investment bankers with respect to the purchase of any of the Purchased Units or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 4.5 No Side Agreements. There are no other agreements by, among or between such Purchaser and any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, other than the Operative Documents, nor promises or inducements for future transactions between or among any of such parties.

 

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Section 4.6 Investment. The Purchased Units are being acquired for such Purchaser’s own account, the account of its Affiliates, or the accounts of clients for whom such Purchaser exercises discretionary investment authority (all of whom such Purchaser hereby represents and warrants are “accredited investors” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act), not as a nominee or agent, and with no present intention of distributing the Purchased Units or any part thereof, and such Purchaser has no present intention of selling or granting any participation in or otherwise distributing the same in any transaction in violation of the securities laws of the United States or any state, without prejudice, however, to such Purchaser’s right at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Purchased Units under a registration statement under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or under an exemption from such registration available thereunder (including, without limitation, if available, Rule 144 promulgated thereunder). If such Purchaser should in the future decide to dispose of any of the Purchased Units, the Purchaser understands and agrees (a) that it may do so only in compliance with the Securities Act and applicable state securities law, as then in effect, including a sale contemplated by any registration statement pursuant to which such securities are being offered, or pursuant to an exemption from the Securities Act, and (b) that stop-transfer instructions to that effect will be in effect with respect to such securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Purchaser may at any time enter into one or more over-the-counter transactions with respect to such Purchaser’s Purchased Units with a third party, provided that such transactions referencing the Common Units are exempt from registration under the Securities Act.

Section 4.7 Nature of Purchaser. Such Purchaser represents and warrants to, and covenants and agrees with, the Partnership that, (a) it is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, (b) by reason of its business and financial experience it has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in making similar investments and in business and financial matters generally so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Purchased Units and (c) is able to bear the economic risk of such investment and, at the present time, would be able to afford a complete loss of such investment.

Section 4.8 Restricted Securities. Such Purchaser understands that the Purchased Units are characterized as “restricted securities” under the federal securities Laws inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Partnership in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under such Laws and applicable regulations such securities may not be resold absent registration under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom. In this connection, such Purchaser represents that it is knowledgeable with respect to Rule 144 of the Commission promulgated under the Securities Act.

Section 4.9 Legend. Such Purchaser understands that the book entry evidencing the Purchased Units will bear the legend required by the Partnership Agreement as well as a legend substantively consistent with the following legend: “These securities have not been registered under the Securities Act. These securities may not be sold or offered for sale except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from registration thereunder, in each case in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the states or other jurisdictions, and in the case of a transaction exempt from registration, such securities may only be transferred if the transfer agent for such securities has received documentation satisfactory to it that such transaction does not require registration under the Securities Act.”

 

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Section 4.10 Partnership Information. Such Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Partnership has provided or made available to such Purchaser (through EDGAR, the Partnership’s website or otherwise) all SEC Reports, as well as all press releases or investor presentations issued by the Partnership through the date of this Agreement that are included in a filing by the Partnership on Form 8-K or clearly posted on the Partnership’s website.

Section 4.11 Placement Agent Reliance. Such Purchaser agrees that each of the Placement Agents may rely upon the representations and warranties made by such Purchaser to the Partnership in this Agreement. In addition, such Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that (i) each of the Placement Agents is acting solely as a placement agent in connection with the private placement by the Partnership of the Common Units contemplated hereunder and is not acting as an underwriter or in any other capacity and is not and shall not be construed as a fiduciary for any Purchaser, the Partnership or any other person or entity in connection with the transactions set forth hereunder, (ii) none of the Placement Agents has made and will not make any representations, declarations or warranties, whether express or implied, of any kind or character and has not provided any advice or recommendation to such Purchaser regarding the Partnership or its offering of the Common Units; (iii) such Purchaser, in making its investment decision with respect to whether to invest in the Common Units offered by the Partnership hereunder has relied on its own analysis and decision, and has not relied on any of the Placement Agents or their respective representatives for any purpose; and (iv) none of the Placement Agents has offered to sell, or solicited an offer to buy, any of the Common Units, which such Purchaser proposes to acquire from the Partnership. Such Purchaser further acknowledges and agrees that (A) except for the representations, warranties and agreements of the Partnership expressly set forth in the Purchase Agreement, such Purchaser is relying exclusively on its own sources of information, investment analysis and due diligence (including professional advice such Purchaser deems appropriate) with respect to the Purchased Units, the transactions contemplated hereunder and the business, condition (financial and otherwise), management, operations, properties and prospects of the Partnership, including but not limited to all business, legal, regulatory, accounting, credit and tax matters, (B) no Placement Agent shall have responsibility with respect to (i) any representations, warranties or agreements made by any person or entity under or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder or any of the documents furnished pursuant thereto or in connection therewith, or the execution, legality, validity or enforceability (with respect to any person) or any thereof, or (ii) the business, affairs, financial condition, operations, properties or prospects of, or any other matter concerning the Partnership or the transactions contemplated hereunder, and (C) no Placement Agent shall have any liability or obligation (including without limitation, for or with respect to any losses, claims, damages, obligations, penalties, judgments, awards, liabilities, costs, expenses or disbursements incurred by such Purchaser, the Partnership or any other person or entity), whether in contract, tort or otherwise, to such Purchaser, or to any person claiming through such Purchaser, in respect of the transactions contemplated hereunder.

Section 4.12 Short Selling. Such Purchaser represents that it has not entered into any Short Sales of the Common Units owned by it since the time it first began discussions with the Partnership or the Placement Agents about the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, subject to such Purchaser’s compliance with its obligations under the U.S.

 

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federal securities laws and its internal policies, the above shall not apply, in the case of a Purchaser that is a large multi-unit investment or commercial banking organization, to activities in the normal course of trading units of such Purchaser; provided, further, that subject to such Purchaser’s compliance with its obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws and its internal policies: (a) such Purchaser, for purposes hereof, shall not be deemed to include any employees, subsidiaries or Affiliates that are effectively walled off by appropriate “Chinese Wall” information barriers approved by such Purchaser’s legal or compliance department (and thus have not been privy to any information concerning this transaction) (a “Walled Off Person”) and (b) the foregoing representations in this paragraph shall not apply to any transaction by or on behalf of such Purchaser that was effected by a Walled Off Person in the ordinary course of trading without the advice or participation of such Purchaser or receipt of confidential or other information regarding this transaction provided by such Purchaser to such entity.

ARTICLE V

COVENANTS

Section 5.1 Taking of Necessary Action. Each of the parties hereto shall use its commercially reasonable efforts promptly to take or cause to be taken all action and promptly to do or cause to be done all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law and regulations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Partnership and each Purchaser shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to make all filings and obtain all Consents of Governmental Authorities that may be necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of the other parties, as the case may be, advisable for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Operative Documents; provided, however, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary, that no Purchaser is under any obligation by reason of this Section 5.1 to make, seek or receive any filings, notifications, consents, determinations, authorizations, permits, approvals, licenses or the like with or provide any documentation or information to any regulatory or self-regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Partnership or Purchaser other than information that is already included in this Agreement or is otherwise in the public domain other than as may be requested by the Commission or pursuant to any applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the United States. The Partnership shall promptly and accurately respond, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its transfer agent to respond, to reasonable requests for information (which is otherwise not publicly available) made by a Purchaser or its auditors relating to the actual holdings of such Purchaser or its accounts; provided, that the Partnership shall not be obligated to provide any such information that could reasonably result in a violation of applicable Law or conflict with the Partnership’s insider trading policy or a confidentiality obligation of the Partnership. The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its transfer agent to reasonably cooperate with each Purchaser to ensure that the Purchased Units are validly and effectively issued to such Purchaser and that such Purchaser’s ownership of the Purchased Units following the Closing is accurately reflected on the appropriate books and records of the Partnership’s transfer agent.

Section 5.2 Other Actions. The Partnership shall file prior to the Closing a supplemental listing application with the NYSE to list the Purchased Units.

 

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Section 5.3 Expenses. The Partnership shall pay up to $75,000 of legal fees of reasonably acceptable counsel to certain of the Purchasers, incurred in connection with the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, provided that any request for such payment is accompanied by a satisfactory written invoice for such expenses. If any action at law or equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of any Operative Document, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.

Section 5.4 Non-Public Information. On or before 8:30 a.m., New York local time, on the Business Day immediately following the date hereof, the Partnership shall issue a press release (the “Press Release”) announcing the entry into this Agreement and describing the terms of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other material, nonpublic information that the Partnership may have provided any Purchaser at any time prior to the issuance of the Press Release. On or before the fourth Business Day following the date hereof, the Partnership shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission describing the terms of the transactions contemplated by the Operative Documents, and including as an exhibit to such Current Report on Form 8-K the Operative Documents, in the form required by the Exchange Act.

Section 5.5 Use of Proceeds. The Partnership shall use the net proceeds from the sale of the Purchased Units (after the payment of all related fees and expenses, including commissions and reimbursement of expenses to the Placement Agents) to fund a portion of the Cash Consideration for the Contribution.

ARTICLE VI

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 6.1 Indemnification by the Partnership. The Partnership agrees to indemnify each Purchaser and its Representatives (collectively, “Purchaser Related Parties”) from, and hold each of them harmless against, any and all actions, suits, proceedings (including any investigations, litigation or inquiries), demands, and causes of action, and, in connection therewith, and promptly upon demand, pay or reimburse each of them for all costs, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and all other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such matter that may be incurred by them or asserted against or involve any of them as a result of, arising out of, or in any way related to the breach of any of the representations, warranties or covenants of the Partnership contained herein, provided that such claim for indemnification relating to a breach of the representations or warranties is made prior to the expiration of the survival period for such representations or warranties; and provided further, that no Purchaser Related Party shall be entitled to recover special, consequential (including lost profits) or punitive damages. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, consequential damages shall not be deemed to include diminution in value of the Purchased Units, which is specifically included in damages covered by Purchaser Related Parties’ indemnification above.

Section 6.2 Indemnification Procedure. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Article VI of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Article VI, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from

 

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any liability which it may have under Section 6.1 of this Article VI except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights and defenses) by such failure and, provided, further, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Article VI. If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this Article VI for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the indemnified party shall have the right to employ counsel to represent jointly the indemnified party and those other indemnified parties and their respective directors, officers, employees and controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this Article VI if (a) the indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall have so mutually agreed; (b) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (c) the indemnified party and its directors, officers, employees and controlling persons shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to them that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party; or (d) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified parties or their respective directors, officers, employees or controlling persons, on the one hand, and the indemnifying party, on the other hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, and in any such event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include a statement as to, or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party, or (ii) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel to the extent required by Section 6.1 hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (x) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (y) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request or disputed in good faith the indemnified party’s entitlement to such reimbursement prior to the date of such settlement.

 

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ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1 Interpretation. Article, Section, Schedule, and Exhibit references are to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. All references to instruments, documents, contracts, and agreements are references to such instruments, documents, contracts, and agreements as the same may be amended, supplemented, and otherwise modified from time to time, unless otherwise specified. The word “including” shall mean “including but not limited to.” Whenever any party has an obligation under the Operative Documents, the expense of complying with that obligation shall be an expense of such party unless otherwise specified. Whenever any determination, consent, or approval is to be made or given by any Purchaser, such action shall be in such Purchaser’s sole discretion unless otherwise specified in this Agreement. If any provision in the Operative Documents is held to be illegal, invalid, not binding, or unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable and the Operative Documents shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, not binding, or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part of the Operative Documents, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. The Operative Documents have been reviewed and negotiated by sophisticated parties with access to legal counsel and shall not be construed against the drafter.

Section 7.2 Survival of Provisions. The representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.11, 3.31, 3.33, 3.40 and 3.41 (collectively, the “Fundamental Representations”) shall survive indefinitely, Sections 3.10, 3.12, 3.16, 3.17, 3.18, 3.19, 3.20, 3.21, 3.22, 3.23, 3.24, 3.25, 3.26, 3.27, 3.28, 3.29, 3.30, 4.4, 4.5, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9 and 4.11 hereunder shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement for two years, and the other representations and warranties set forth herein shall survive for a period of twelve (12) months following the Closing Date regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Partnership or any Purchaser. The covenants made in this Agreement shall survive the Closing of the transactions described herein and remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of acceptance of any of the Purchased Units and payment therefor and repayment, conversion, exercise or repurchase thereof. All indemnification obligations of the Partnership and the Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement and the provisions of Article VI shall remain operative and in full force and effect unless such obligations are expressly terminated in a writing by the parties, regardless of any purported general termination of this Agreement.

Section 7.3 No Waiver; Modifications in Writing.

(a) Delay. No failure or delay on the part of any party in exercising any right, power, or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power, or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or remedy. The remedies provided for herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to a party at law or in equity or otherwise.

(b) Specific Waiver. Except as otherwise provided herein, no amendment, waiver, consent, modification, or termination of any provision of this Agreement or any other Operative Document shall be effective unless signed by each of the parties hereto or thereto affected by such amendment, waiver, consent, modification, or termination. Any amendment,

 

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supplement or modification of or to any provision of this Agreement, any waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and any consent to any departure by the Partnership from the terms of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which made or given. Except where notice is specifically required by this Agreement, no notice to or demand on the Partnership in any case shall entitle the Partnership to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

Section 7.4 Binding Effect; Assignment.

(a) Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Partnership, the Purchasers, and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any right or benefit upon any Person other than the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

(b) Assignment of Rights. All or any portion of the rights and obligations of any Purchaser under this Agreement may be transferred by such Purchaser to any Affiliate of such Purchaser without the consent of the Partnership. No portion of the rights and obligations of any Purchaser under this Agreement may be transferred by such Purchaser to a non-Affiliate without the written consent of the Partnership (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld by the Partnership).

Section 7.5 Confidentiality. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent that any Purchaser has executed or is otherwise bound by a confidentiality agreement in favor of the Partnership, such Purchaser shall continue to be bound by such confidentiality agreement in accordance with the terms thereof.

Section 7.6 Communications. All notices and demands provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, electronic mail, air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery or personal delivery to the following addresses:

(a) If to any Purchaser, to the respective address listed on Schedule A to the Registration Rights Agreement; and

(b) If to the Partnership:

Noble Midstream Partners LP

1001 Noble Energy Way

Houston, Texas 77070

Attention:  Aaron Carlson

Email:

 

38


with a copy to:

Vinson & Elkins LLP

1001 Fannin Street

Suite 2500

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Ramey Layne

Email:      

or to such other address as the Partnership or such Purchaser may designate in writing. All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; at the time of transmittal, if sent via electronic mail; upon actual receipt if sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or regular mail, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if sent via facsimile; and upon actual receipt when delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

Section 7.7 Removal of Legend. The Partnership, at its sole cost, shall remove the legend described in Section 4.9 (or instruct its transfer agent to so remove such legend) from the certificates evidencing Purchased Units issued and sold to each Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement if (a) such Purchased Units are sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (b) such Purchased Units are sold or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 (if the transferor is not an Affiliate of the Partnership), or (c) such Purchased Units are eligible for sale under Rule 144, without the requirement for the Partnership to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) as to such securities and without volume or manner of sale restrictions. In connection with a sale of the Purchased Units by a Purchaser in reliance on Rule 144, the applicable Purchaser shall deliver to the transfer agent and the Partnership a customary representation letter providing to the transfer agent and the Partnership any information the Partnership deems reasonably necessary to determine that the sale of the Purchased Units is made in compliance with Rule 144, including, as may be appropriate, a certification that the Purchaser is not an Affiliate of the Partnership and regarding the length of time the Purchased Units have been held. Upon receipt of such representation letter, the Partnership shall promptly direct its transfer agent to remove the legend referred to in Section 4.9 from the appropriate book-entry accounts maintained by the transfer agent, and the Partnership shall bear all costs associated therewith. After any Purchaser or its permitted assigns have held the Purchased Units for such time as non-Affiliates are permitted to sell without volume limitations under Rule 144, if the certificate for such Purchased Units still bears the restrictive legend referred to in Section 4.9, the Partnership agrees, upon request of the Purchaser or permitted assignee, to take all steps necessary to promptly effect the removal of the legend described in Section 4.9 from the Purchased Units, and the Partnership shall bear all costs associated therewith, regardless of whether the request is made in connection with a sale or otherwise, so long as such Purchaser or its permitted assigns provide to the Partnership any information the Partnership deems reasonably necessary to determine that the legend is no longer required under the Securities Act or applicable state laws, including a certification that the holder is not an Affiliate of the Partnership (and a covenant to inform the Partnership if it should thereafter become an Affiliate and to consent to exchange its certificates for certificates bearing an appropriate restrictive legend) and regarding the length of time the Purchased Units have been held.

 

39


Section 7.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the other Operative Documents and the other agreements and documents referred to herein are intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein. There are no restrictions, promises, representations, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein or the other Operative Documents with respect to the rights granted by the Partnership or any of its Affiliates or any Purchaser or any of its Affiliates set forth herein or therein. This Agreement, the other Operative Documents and the other agreements and documents referred to herein or therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

Section 7.9 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflict of laws principles (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law).

Section 7.10 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

Section 7.11 Termination.

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time at or prior to the Closing by any Purchaser (with respect to such Purchaser only), upon a breach in any material respect by the Partnership of any covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement shall automatically terminate at any time at or prior to the Closing if a statute, rule, order, decree or regulation shall have been enacted or promulgated, or if any action shall have been taken by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction that permanently restrains, permanently precludes, permanently enjoins or otherwise permanently prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or makes the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal.

(c) In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in this Section 7.11, this Agreement shall forthwith become null and void. In the event of such termination, there shall be no liability on the part of any party hereto, except as set forth in Section 5.3 and Article VI of this Agreement.

 

40


Section 7.12 Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting the Common Units. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any and all equity interests of the Partnership or any successor or assign of the Partnership (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Common Units, and shall be appropriately adjusted for combinations, unit splits, recapitalizations and the like occurring after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing.

[Signature pages to follow]

 

41


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

 

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
By:   NOBLE MIDSTREAM GP LLC,
  its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Thomas W. Christensen

Name:   Thomas W. Christensen
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


PURCHASERS:
Fidelity Select Portfolios: Natural Gas Portfolio
By:  

/s/ Colm Hogan

Name:   Colm Hogan
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


FIDELITY CENTRAL INVESTMENT

PORTFOLIOS LLC: Fidelity Energy Central Fund

By:  

/s/ Colm Hogan

Name:   Colm Hogan
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


FIDELITY SELECT PORTFOLIOS: Energy

Portfolio

By:  

/s/ Colm Hogan

Name:   Colm Hogan
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


FIDELITY ADVISOR SERIES VII: Fidelity

Advisor Energy Fund

By:  

/s/ Colm Hogan

Name:   Colm Hogan
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND

IV: Energy Portfolio

By:  

/s/ Colm Hogan

Name:   Colm Hogan
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


Fidelity Salem Street Trust: Fidelity Strategic

Dividend & Income Fund

By:  

/s/ Colm Hogan

Name:   Colm Hogan
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


FIDELITY SELECT PORTFOLIOS: Natural

Resources Portfolio

By:  

/s/ Colm Hogan

Name:   Colm Hogan
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Benjamin Morton

Name:   Benjamin Morton
Title:   Executive Vice President
Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc.
Cohen & Steers MLP Income and Energy Opportunity Fund, Inc.
Cohen & Steers MLP & Energy Opportunity Fund Focus, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Benjamin Morton

Name:   Benjamin Morton
Title:   Vice President
Cohen & Steers Alternative Income Fund, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Chris Rine

Name:   Chris Rhine
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


CLEARBRIDGE INVESTMENTS, LLC, As discretionary manager on behalf of:

ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Fund Inc.
ClearBridge Energy Midstream Opportunity Fund Inc.
ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund Inc.
Kansas State University Foundation
ClearBridge Energy Midstream Infrastructure Portfolio
By:  

/s/ Barbara Brooke Manning

Name:   Barbara Brooke Manning
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


Salient MLP Fund L.P.
By:   Salient Capital Advisors, LLC
  Its Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Gregory A. Reid

Name:   Gregory A. Reid
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


Salient MLP Total Return Fund, L.P.
By:   Salient Capital Advisors, LLC
  Its Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Gregory A. Reid

Name:   Gregory A. Reid
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


Salient MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund
By:   Salient Capital Advisors, LLC
  Its Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Gregory A. Reid

Name:   Gregory A. Reid
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


Salient MLP & Midstream Income Fund, L.P.
By:   Salient Capital Advisors, LLC
  Its Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Gregory A. Reid

Name:   Gregory A. Reid
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


Salient Midstream & MLP Fund
By:   Salient Capital Advisors, LLC
  Its Investment Manager
By:  

/s/ Gregory A. Reid

Name:   Gregory A. Reid
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


STATE OF UTAH, SCHOOL AND

INSTITUTIONAL TRUST FUNDS

By:  

/s/ Ryan Kulig

Name:   Ryan Kulig
Title:   Administrative Analyst

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


PURCHASERS:
Fiduciary/Claymore Energy Infrastructure Fund
By:  

/s/ Quinn T. Kiley

Name:   Quinn T. Kiley
Title:   Managing Director, Sr. Portfolio Manager

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


Tortoise MLP & Energy Income Fund
By:  

/s/ Quinn T. Kiley

Name:   Quinn T. Kiley
Title:   Managing Director, Sr. Portfolio Manager

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


Nuveen Energy MLP Total Return Fund
By:  

/s/ Quinn T. Kiley

Name:   Quinn T. Kiley
Title:   Managing Director, Sr. Portfolio Manager

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


Nuveen All Cap Energy MLP Opportunities Fund
By:  

/s/ Quinn T. Kiley

Name:   Quinn T. Kiley
Title:   Managing Director, Sr. Portfolio Manager

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


Tortoise MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund
By:  

/s/ Quinn T. Kiley

Name:   Quinn T. Kiley
Title:   Managing Director, Sr. Portfolio Manager

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


By:   Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC, as Investment Adviser for the accounts on Schedule A
By:  

/s/ Brian Hourihan

Name:   Brian Hourihan
Title:   Managing Director, Chief Compliance
Officer and Regulatory Counsel

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


Kayne Anderson MLP/Midstream Investment Company
By:  

/s/ James C. Baker

Name:   James C. Baker
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


TORTOISE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE CORP.
By:   TORTOISE CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.L.C. as its Investment Adviser
By:  

/s/ Brian Kessens

Name:   Brian Kessens
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


TORTOISE MIDSTREAM ENERGY FUND, INC.
By:   TORTOISE CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.L.C. as its Investment Adviser
By:  

/s/ Brian Kessens

Name:   Brian Kessens
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


TORTOISE POWER AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.
By:   TORTOISE CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.L.C. as its Investment Adviser
By:  

/s/ Brian Kessens

Name:   Brian Kessens
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


TORTOISE PIPELINE & ENERGY FUND, INC.
By:   TORTOISE CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.L.C. as its Investment Adviser
By:  

/s/ Brian Kessens

Name:   Brian Kessens
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


TORTOISE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE FUND, INC.
By:   TORTOISE CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.L.C. as its Investment Adviser
By:  

/s/ Brian Kessens

Name:   Brian Kessens
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


TORTOISE MLP & PIPELINE FUND
By:   TORTOISE CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.L.C. as its Investment Adviser
By:  

/s/ Brian Kessens

Name:   Brian Kessens
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


TORTOISE ESSENTIAL ASSETS INCOME TERM FUND
By:   TORTOISE CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.L.C. as its Investment Adviser
By:  

/s/ Brian Kessens

Name:   Brian Kessens
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


TORTOISE DIRECT OPPORTUNITIES FUND II, LP
By:   TORTOISE CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.L.C. as its Investment Adviser
By:  

/s/ Kyle Krueger

Name:   Kyle Krueger
Title:   Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


TEXAS MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
By:   TORTOISE CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.L.C. as its Investment Adviser
By:  

/s/ Brian Kessens

Name:   Brian Kessens
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


PRINCIPAL DIVERSIFIED SELECT REAL ASSET FUND
By:   TORTOISE CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.L.C. as its Investment Adviser
By:  

/s/ Brian Kessens

Name:   Brian Kessens
Title:   Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


HITE Hedge LP
By:  

/s/ James Jampel

Name:   James Jampel
Title:   President

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


HITE Hedge QP LP
By:  

/s/ James Jampel

Name:   James Jampel
Title:   President

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


HITE MLP Advantage LP
By:  

/s/ James Jampel

Name:   James Jampel
Title:   President

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


HITE MLP LP
By:  

/s/ James Jampel

Name:   James Jampel
Title:   President

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


HITE Energy LP
By:  

/s/ James Jampel

Name:   James Jampel
Title:   President

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


INVESCO OPPENHEIMER STEELPATH MLP

SELECT 40 FUND

By:  

/s/ Beth Zayicek

Name:   Beth Zayicek
Title:   Vice President, Invesco Advisers, Inc.

 

Signature Page to Common Unit Purchase Agreement


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

AND

THE PURCHASERS NAMED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

 

1


FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of November [    ], 2019, by and among Noble Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and each of the Persons set forth on Schedule A to this Agreement (each, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).

WHEREAS, this Agreement is made and entered into in connection with the Closing of the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units pursuant to the Common Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2019, by and among the Partnership and the Purchasers (the “Common Unit Purchase Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, the Partnership has agreed to provide the registration and other rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Purchasers pursuant to the Common Unit Purchase Agreement.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE VIII

DEFINITIONS

Section 8.1 Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given to them in the Common Unit Purchase Agreement. The terms set forth below are used herein as so defined:

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

Aggregate Purchase Price” means the product of (i) the Common Unit Price multiplied by (ii) the aggregate number of Purchased Units purchased by the Purchasers.

Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Unit Price” has the meaning given to such term in the Common Unit Purchase Agreement.

Common Unit Purchase Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

2


Effectiveness Period” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.

General Partner” means Noble Midstream GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Holder” means the record holder of any Registrable Securities.

Included Registrable Securities” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.

Liquidated Damages” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(b) of this Agreement.

Liquidated Damages Multiplier” means, with respect to a particular Purchaser, (i) the product of the Common Unit Price multiplied by (ii) the number of Purchased Units purchased by such Purchaser that may not be disposed of without restriction and without the need for current public information pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act.

Losses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(a) of this Agreement.

Managing Underwriter” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the book-running lead manager or managers of such Underwritten Offering.

Opt-Out Notice” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a) of this Agreement.

Parity Securities” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(b) of this Agreement.

Partnership” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

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

Purchaser” and “Purchasers” have the meanings specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Registrable Securities” means (i) the Common Units comprising the Purchased Units and (ii) any Common Units issued as Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section 2.01(b) of this Agreement, in each case, as subject to exchange, substitution or adjustment pursuant to Section 3.04 of this Agreement, all of which Registrable Securities are subject to the rights provided herein until such rights terminate pursuant to the provisions hereof.

Registration Expenses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.08(b) of this Agreement.

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

3


Registration Statement” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.

Selling Expenses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.08(b) of this Agreement.

Selling Holder” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement.

Selling Holder Indemnified Persons” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(a) of this Agreement.

Underwritten Offering” means an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Registration Statement) in which Common Units are sold to an underwriter on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public or an offering that is a “bought deal” with one or more investment banks.

Section 8.2 Registrable Securities. Any Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security (a) when a registration statement covering such Registrable Security becomes or has been declared effective by the Commission and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement; (b) when such Registrable Security has been disposed of (excluding transfers or assignments by a Holder to an Affiliate) pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act; (c) when such Registrable Security is held by the Partnership or one of its subsidiaries or Affiliates; (d) when such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of such securities pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof or (e) when such Registrable Security becomes eligible for resale without restriction and without the need for current public information pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act.

ARTICLE IX

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Section 9.1 Registration.

(a) Effectiveness Deadline. Following the date hereof, but no later than 30 days following the Closing Date, the Partnership shall prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the public resale of Registrable Securities then outstanding from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act with respect to all of the Registrable Securities (the “Registration Statement”). The Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) shall be on such appropriate registration form or forms of the Commission as shall be selected by the Partnership so long as it permits the continuous offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act at then-prevailing market prices. The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

4


effective on or as soon as practicable after the filing thereof. Any Registration Statement shall provide for the resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Holders of any and all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement. The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) to be effective, supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for the resale of all Registrable Securities by the Holders until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have ceased to be Registrable Securities (the “Effectiveness Period”). The Registration Statement when effective (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus contained in such Registration Statement or documents incorporated therein by reference, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made). As soon as practicable following the date that the Registration Statement becomes effective, but in any event within two (2) Business Days of such date, the Partnership shall provide the Holders with written notice of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

(b) Failure to Go Effective. If the Registration Statement required by Section 2.01(a) is not declared effective within 90 days after the Closing Date, then each Holder shall be entitled to a payment (with respect to the Purchased Units of each such Holder), as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, of 0.25% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period, that shall accrue daily, for the first 30 days following the 90th day, increasing by an additional 0.25% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period, that shall accrue daily, for each subsequent 30 days, up to a maximum of 1.00% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period (the “Liquidated Damages”). The Liquidated Damages payable pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall be payable within ten (10) Business Days after the end of each such 30-day period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall the aggregate of all Liquidated Damages payable by the Partnership hereunder exceed 5.00% of the Aggregate Purchase Price. Any Liquidated Damages shall be paid to each Holder in immediately available funds; provided, however, if the Partnership certifies that it is unable to pay Liquidated Damages in cash because such payment would result in a breach of or constitute a default under a credit facility or other debt instrument, then the Partnership shall pay such Liquidated Damages using as much cash as is permitted without causing a breach of or default under such credit facility or other debt instrument and may pay the balance of any such Liquidated Damages in kind in the form of the issuance of additional Common Units. Upon any issuance of Common Units as Liquidated Damages, the Partnership shall promptly (i) prepare and file an amendment to the Registration Statement prior to its effectiveness adding such Common Units to such Registration Statement as additional Registrable Securities and (ii) prepare and file a supplemental listing application with the NYSE (or such other national securities exchange on which the Common Units are then-listed and traded) to list such additional Common Units. The determination of the number of Common Units to be issued as Liquidated Damages shall be equal to the quotient of (i) the dollar amount of the balance of such Liquidated Damages due to each such Holder and (ii) the volume-weighted average closing price of the Common Units on the NYSE, or any other national securities exchange on which the Common Units are then-traded, for the ten (10) trading days ending on the first trading day immediately preceding the date on which the Liquidated Damages payment is due, less a discount to such average closing price of 2.00%. The payment of Liquidated Damages to a Holder shall cease at the earlier of (i) the Registration Statement becoming effective or (ii) when such Holder no longer holds Registrable Securities, assuming that each Holder is not an Affiliate of the Partnership, and any payment of Liquidated

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

5


Damages shall be prorated for any period of less than 30 days in which the payment of Liquidated Damages ceases. If the Partnership is unable to cause a Registration Statement to go effective within 90 days after the Closing Date as a result of an acquisition, merger, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction, then the Partnership may request a waiver of the Liquidated Damages, and each Holder may individually grant or withhold its consent to such request in its discretion.

(c) Termination of Holder’s Rights. A Holder’s rights under this Section 2.01 shall terminate upon the termination of the Effectiveness Period.

Section 9.2 Piggyback Rights.

(a) Participation. If the Partnership proposes to file (i) a shelf registration statement other than the Registration Statement contemplated by Section 2.01(a), (ii) a prospectus supplement to an effective shelf registration statement, other than the Registration Statement contemplated by Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement and Holders may be included without the filing of a post-effective amendment thereto, or (iii) a registration statement, other than a shelf registration statement, in each case, for the sale of Common Units in an Underwritten Offering for its own account and/or another Person, then as soon as practicable following the engagement of counsel by the Partnership to prepare the documents to be used in connection with an Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall give notice (including, but not limited to, notification by electronic mail) of such proposed Underwritten Offering to each Holder (together with its Affiliates) holding at least $50 million of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities (based on the Common Unit Price) and such notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering such number of Registrable Securities (the “Included Registrable Securities”) as each such Holder may request in writing; provided, however, that if the Partnership has been advised by the Managing Underwriter that the inclusion of Registrable Securities for sale for the benefit of the Holders will have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units in the Underwritten Offering, then (A) if no Registrable Securities can be included in the Underwritten Offering in the opinion of the Managing Underwriter, the Partnership shall not be required to offer such opportunity to the Holders or (B) if any Registrable Securities can be included in the Underwritten Offering in the opinion of the Managing Underwriter, then the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the accounts of Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.02(b). Any notice required to be provided in this Section 2.02(a) to Holders shall be provided on a Business Day pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof and receipt of such notice shall be confirmed and kept confidential by the Holder until such proposed Underwritten Offering is (i) publicly announced or (ii) such Holder receives notice that such proposed Underwritten Offering has been abandoned, which such notice shall be provided promptly by the Partnership to each Holder. Each such Holder shall then have two (2) Business Days (or one (1) Business Day in connection with any overnight or bought Underwritten Offering) after notice has been delivered to request in writing the inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering. If no written request for inclusion from a Holder is received within the specified time, each such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Underwritten Offering. If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to undertake an Underwritten Offering and prior to the closing of such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall determine for any reason not to undertake or to delay such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Selling Holders and, (x) in the case of a determination not to

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

6


undertake such Underwritten Offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to sell any Included Registrable Securities in connection with such terminated Underwritten Offering, and (y) in the case of a determination to delay such Underwritten Offering, shall be permitted to delay offering any Included Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in the Underwritten Offering. Any Selling Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Selling Holder’s request for inclusion of such Selling Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering by giving written notice to the Partnership of such withdrawal at or prior to the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering. Any Holder may deliver written notice (an “Opt-Out Notice”) to the Partnership requesting that such Holder not receive notice from the Partnership of any proposed Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that such Holder may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing. Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from a Holder (unless subsequently revoked), the Partnership shall not be required to deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) and such Holder shall no longer be entitled to participate in Underwritten Offerings by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 2.02(a). The Holders indicated on Schedule A hereto as having opted out shall each be deemed to have delivered an Opt-Out Notice as of the date hereof.

(b) Priority. If the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering advises the Partnership that the total amount of Registrable Securities that the Selling Holders and any other Persons intend to include in such offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units offered or the market for the Common Units, then the Common Units to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall include the number of Registrable Securities that such Managing Underwriter or Underwriters advises the Partnership can be sold without having such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated (i) first, to the Partnership and (ii) second, pro rata among the Selling Holders who have requested participation in such Underwritten Offering and, except as provided in clause (b), any other holder of securities of the Partnership having rights of registration that are neither expressly senior nor subordinated to the Registrable Securities (the “Parity Securities”). The pro rata allocations for each Selling Holder who has requested participation in such Underwritten Offering shall be the product of (a) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such Underwritten Offering multiplied by (b) the fraction derived by dividing (x) the number of Registrable Securities owned on the Closing Date by such Selling Holder by (y) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned on the Closing Date by all Selling Holders plus the aggregate number of Parity Securities owned on the Closing Date by all holders of Parity Securities that are participating in the Underwritten Offering.

(c) Termination of Piggyback Registration Rights. Each Holder’s rights under this Section 2.02 shall terminate upon such Holder (together with its Affiliates) ceasing to hold at least $50 million of Registrable Securities (based on the Common Unit Price). Each Holder shall notify the Partnership in writing when such Holder holds less than $50 million of Registrable Securities (based on the Common Unit Price).

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

7


Section 9.3 Delay Rights.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Partnership may, upon written notice to any Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, suspend such Selling Holder’s use of any prospectus which is a part of the Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement (in which event the Selling Holder shall discontinue sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or such other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement but may settle any previously made sales of Registrable Securities) if (i) the Partnership is pursuing an acquisition, merger, reorganization, disposition, financing or other similar transaction and the Partnership determines in good faith that the Partnership’s ability to pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially adversely affected by any required disclosure of such transaction in the Registration Statement or such other registration statement or (ii) the Partnership has experienced some other material non-public event, the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of the Partnership, would materially adversely affect the Partnership; provided, however, in no event shall the Selling Holders be suspended from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or such other registration statement for a period that exceeds an aggregate of 60 days in any 180-day period or 105 days in any 365-day period, in each case, exclusive of days covered by any lock-up agreement executed by a Selling Holder in connection with any Underwritten Offering. Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, the Partnership shall provide prompt notice to the Selling Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other reasonable actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated in this Agreement.

Section 9.4 Underwritten Offerings.

(a) General Procedures. In connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Agreement, the Partnership shall be entitled to select the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters. In connection with an Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Agreement in which a Selling Holder participates, each Selling Holder and the Partnership shall be obligated to enter into an underwriting agreement that contains such representations, covenants, indemnities and other rights and obligations as are customary in underwriting agreements for firm commitment offerings of securities. No Selling Holder may participate in such Underwritten Offering unless such Selling Holder agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in such underwriting agreement and completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreement. Each Selling Holder may, at its option, require that any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Partnership to and for the benefit of such underwriters also be made to and for such Selling Holder’s benefit and that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting agreement also be conditions precedent to its obligations. No Selling Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Partnership or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder, its authority to enter into such underwriting agreement and to sell, and its ownership of, the securities being registered on its behalf, its intended method of distribution and any other representation required by Law. If any Selling Holder disapproves of the terms of an underwriting, such Selling Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by notice to the Partnership and the Managing Underwriter; provided, however, that such withdrawal must be made up to and including the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering. No such withdrawal or abandonment shall affect the Partnership’s obligation to pay Registration Expenses. The Partnership’s management may but shall not be required to participate in a roadshow or similar marketing effort in connection with any Underwritten Offering.

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

8


(b) No Demand Rights. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Holder shall be entitled to any “demand” rights or similar rights that would require the Partnership to effect an Underwritten Offering solely on behalf of the Holders.

Section 9.5 Sale Procedures. In connection with its obligations under this Article II, the Partnership will, as expeditiously as possible:

(a) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus and any prospectus supplement used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement;

(b) if a prospectus or prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an Underwritten Offering from the Registration Statement and any Managing Underwriter at any time shall notify the Partnership in writing that, in the sole judgment of such Managing Underwriter, inclusion of detailed information to be used in such prospectus or prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success of the Underwritten Offering of such Registrable Securities, the Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include such information in such prospectus or prospectus supplement;

(c) furnish to each Selling Holder (i) as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any supplement or amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the Commission), and provide each such Selling Holder the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to such Selling Holder and its plan of distribution that is contained therein and make the corrections reasonably requested by such Selling Holder with respect to such information prior to filing the Registration Statement or such other registration statement or supplement or amendment thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of the Registration Statement or such other registration statement and the prospectus and any prospectus supplement included therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Selling Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or other registration statement;

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

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

9


(e) promptly notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered by any of them under the Securities Act, of (i) the filing of the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and, with respect to such Registration Statement or any such other registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; and (ii) the receipt of any written comments from the Commission with respect to any filing referred to in clause (e) and any written request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or any such other registration statement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereto;

(f) promptly notify each Selling Holder of (i) the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus or prospectus supplement contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which such statement is made); (ii) the issuance or express threat of issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; or (iii) the receipt by the Partnership of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction. Following the provision of such notice, the Partnership agrees, subject to Section 2.03 of this Agreement, to as promptly as practicable amend or supplement the prospectus or prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus supplement does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing and to take such other commercially reasonable action as is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto;

(g) upon request and subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations, furnish to each Selling Holder copies of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence with the Commission or any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to such offering of Registrable Securities;

(h) in the case of an Underwritten Offering, furnish upon request, (i) an opinion of counsel for the Partnership dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement and (ii) a “comfort” letter, dated the pricing date of such Underwritten Offering and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, in each case, signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Partnership’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference into the applicable registration statement, and each of the opinion and the “comfort” letter shall be in customary form and covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus and any prospectus supplement included therein) as have been customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ letters delivered to the underwriters in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Partnership and such other matters as such underwriters and Selling Holders may reasonably request;

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

10


(i) otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder;

(j) make available to the appropriate representatives of the Managing Underwriter and Selling Holders access to such information and Partnership personnel as is reasonable and customary to enable such parties to establish a due diligence defense under the Securities Act; provided, that the Partnership need not disclose any non-public information to any such representative unless and until such representative has entered into a confidentiality agreement with the Partnership;

(k) cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement to be listed on each securities exchange or nationally recognized quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Partnership are then listed;

(l) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Partnership to enable the Selling Holders to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(m) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

(n) enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the Selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities; and

(o) if requested by a Selling Holder, (i) incorporate in a prospectus or prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement such information as such Selling Holder reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering and (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus or prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus or prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment.

The Partnership shall not name a Holder as an underwriter as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act in any registration statement without such Holder’s consent. If the staff of the Commission requires the Partnership to name any Holder as an underwriter as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, and such Holder does not consent thereto, then such Holder’s Registrable Securities shall not be included on the Registration Statement (or any other

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

11


registration statement contemplated by this Agreement), such Holder shall no longer be entitled to receive Liquidated Damages under this Agreement with respect thereto, the Partnership shall have no further obligations hereunder with respect to Registrable Securities held by such Holder and such Holder shall be deemed to have terminated this Agreement with respect to such Holder.

Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from the Partnership of the happening of any event of the kind described in subsection (f) of this Section 2.05, shall forthwith discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities by means of a prospectus or prospectus supplement until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus or prospectus supplement contemplated by subsection (f) of this Section 2.05 or until it is advised in writing by the Partnership that the use of the prospectus or prospectus supplement may be resumed and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings incorporated by reference in the prospectus or prospectus supplement, and, if so directed by the Partnership, such Selling Holder will, or will request the Managing Underwriter(s), if any, to deliver to the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) all copies in their possession or control, other than permanent file copies then in such Selling Holder’s possession, of the prospectus or prospectus supplement covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

Section 9.6 Cooperation by Holders. The Partnership shall have no obligation to include in the Registration Statement, or in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.02(a), Registrable Securities of a Holder who has failed to timely furnish such information that the Partnership determines, after consultation with its counsel, is reasonably required in order for the registration statement or prospectus or prospectus supplement, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act.

Section 9.7 Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees, if requested by the underwriters of an Underwritten Offering, to enter into a customary letter agreement with such underwriters providing such Holder will not effect any public sale or distribution of Registrable Securities during the 60 calendar day period beginning on the date of a prospectus or prospectus supplement filed with the Commission with respect to the pricing of any Underwritten Offering, provided that (i) the duration of the foregoing restrictions shall be no longer than the duration of the shortest restriction generally imposed by the underwriters on the Partnership or the officers, directors or any other Affiliate of the Partnership on whom a restriction is imposed and (ii) the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.07 shall not apply to any Registrable Securities that are included in such Underwritten Offering by such Holder. In addition, this Section 2.07 shall not apply to any Holder that is not entitled to participate in such Underwritten Offering, whether because such Holder delivered an Opt-Out Notice prior to receiving notice of the Underwritten Offering or because such Holder holds less than $50 million of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities.

Section 9.8 Expenses.

(a) Expenses. The Partnership will pay all reasonable Registration Expenses as determined in good faith, including, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, whether or not any sale is made pursuant to such Underwritten Offering. Each Selling Holder shall pay its pro rata share of all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of its Registrable Securities hereunder. In addition, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.09 hereof, the Partnership shall not be responsible for professional fees incurred by Holders in connection with the exercise of such Holders’ rights hereunder.

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

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(b) Certain Definitions. “Registration Expenses” means all expenses incident to the Partnership’s performance under or compliance with this Agreement to effect the registration of Registrable Securities on the Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.01(a) or an Underwritten Offering covered under this Agreement, and the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, all registration, filing, securities exchange listing and NYSE fees, all registration, filing, qualification and other fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, fees of transfer agents and registrars, all word processing, duplicating and printing expenses, any transfer taxes and the fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for the Partnership, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance. “Selling Expenses” means all underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions or similar fees or arrangements allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities.

Section 9.9 Indemnification.

(a) By the Partnership. In the event of a registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, the Partnership will indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder thereunder, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls such Selling Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees or agents (collectively, the “Selling Holder Indemnified Persons”), against any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (collectively, “Losses”), joint or several, to which such Selling Holder Indemnified Person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact (in the case of any prospectus or prospectus supplement, in the light of the circumstances under which such statement is made) contained in the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, preliminary prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus or final prospectus or prospectus supplement contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus or prospectus supplement, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and will reimburse each such Selling Holder Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss or actions or proceedings; provided, however, that the Partnership will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Selling Holder Indemnified Person in writing specifically for use in the Registration Statement or such other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, preliminary prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus, or final prospectus or prospectus supplement contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Selling Holder Indemnified Person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Selling Holder.

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

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(b) By Each Selling Holder. Each Selling Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership, the General Partner, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls the Partnership within the meaning of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees and agents, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Partnership to the Selling Holders, but only with respect to information regarding such Selling Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Holder expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, preliminary prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus or final prospectus or prospectus supplement contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof; provided, however, that the liability of each Selling Holder shall not be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of any Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.

(c) Notice. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party other than under this Section 2.09. In any action brought against any indemnified party, it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 2.09 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel so selected; provided, however, that, (i) if the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party or (ii) if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and counsel to the indemnified party shall have concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, then the indemnified party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defense and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the reasonable expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other reasonable expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no indemnifying party shall settle any action brought against any indemnified party with respect to which such indemnified party is entitled to indemnification hereunder without the consent of the indemnified party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, and includes a complete and unconditional release from all liability of, the indemnified party.

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

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(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.09 is held by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to any indemnified party or is insufficient to hold them harmless in respect of any Losses, then each such indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Loss in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of such indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that in no event shall such Selling Holder be required to contribute an aggregate amount in excess of the dollar amount of proceeds (net of Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification. The relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact has been made by, or relates to, information supplied by such party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any Loss that is the subject of this paragraph. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(e) Other Indemnification. The provisions of this Section 2.09 shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that an indemnified party may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.

Section 9.10 Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Partnership agrees to:

(a) use commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep public information regarding the Partnership available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act, at all times from and after the date hereof;

(b) use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Partnership under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date hereof; and

(c) so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish (i) to the extent accurate, forthwith upon request, a written statement of the Partnership that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act, and (ii) unless otherwise available via EDGAR, to such Holder forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Partnership, and such other reports and documents so filed as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration.

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

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Solely for purposes of this Section 2.10, the term “Registrable Securities” shall be read without regard to the limitation set forth in Section 1.02(e).

Section 9.11 Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause the Partnership to register Registrable Securities granted to the Purchasers by the Partnership under this Article II may be transferred or assigned by any Purchaser to one or more transferees or assignees of Registrable Securities; provided, however, that (a) unless the transferee or assignee is an Affiliate of, and after such transfer or assignment continues to be an Affiliate of, such Purchaser, the amount of Registrable Securities transferred or assigned to such transferee or assignee shall represent at least $50 million of Registrable Securities (based on the Common Unit Price), (b) the Partnership is given written notice prior to any said transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each such transferee or assignee and identifying the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (c) each such transferee or assignee assumes in writing responsibility for its portion of the obligations of such Purchaser under this Agreement and (d) the transferor or assignor is not relieved of any obligations or liabilities hereunder arising out of events occurring prior to such transfer.

Section 9.12 Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date hereof, the Partnership shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, enter into any agreement with any current or future holder of any securities of the Partnership that would allow such current or future holder to require the Partnership to include securities in any registration statement filed by the Partnership on a basis other than pari passu with, or expressly subordinate to the rights of, the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.1 Communications. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by facsimile, electronic mail, courier service or personal delivery:

(a) if to a Purchaser, to the respective address listed on Schedule A hereof;

(b) if to a transferee of a Purchaser, to such Holder at the address provided pursuant to Section 2.11 above; and

(c) if to the Partnership:

Noble Midstream Partners LP

1001 Noble Energy Way

Houston, Texas 77070

Attention: Aaron Carlson

Email:         

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

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with a copy to:

Vinson & Elkins LLP

1001 Fannin Street

Suite 2500

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Ramey Layne

Email:

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been received at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; when receipt acknowledged, if sent via facsimile or sent via Internet electronic mail; and when actually received, if sent by courier service or any other means.

Section 10.2 Successor and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties, including subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities to the extent permitted herein.

Section 10.3 Assignment of Rights. All or any portion of the rights and obligations of any Purchaser under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by such Purchaser only in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.

Section 10.4 Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting the Common Units. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any and all units of the Partnership or any successor or assign of the Partnership (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) that may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Registrable Securities, and shall be appropriately adjusted for combinations, unit splits, recapitalizations, pro rata distributions of units and the like occurring after the date of this Agreement.

Section 10.5 Aggregation of Registrable Securities. All Registrable Securities held or acquired by Persons who are Affiliates of one another shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights and applicability of any obligations under this Agreement.

Section 10.6 Specific Performance. Damages in the event of breach of this Agreement by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that each such Person, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any such Person from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity that such Person may have.

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

17


Section 10.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

Section 10.8 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

Section 10.9 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 10.10 Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting or impairing the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 10.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Common Unit Purchase Agreement and the other agreements and documents referred to herein are intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties, representations or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the rights granted by the Partnership set forth herein. This Agreement and the Common Unit Purchase Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

Section 10.12 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only by means of a written amendment signed by the Partnership and the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities; provided, however, that no such amendment shall materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder hereunder without the consent of such Holder.

Section 10.13 No Presumption. If any claim is made by a party relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular party or its counsel.

Section 10.14 Obligations Limited to Parties to Agreement. Each of the parties hereto covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no Person other than the Purchasers (and their permitted transferees and assignees) and the Partnership shall have any obligation hereunder and that, notwithstanding that one or more of the Purchasers may be a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, no recourse under this Agreement or under any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be had against any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the Purchasers or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

18


of any applicable Law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the Purchasers or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, as such, for any obligations of the Purchasers under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligation or its creation, except in each case for any transferee or assignee of a Purchaser hereunder.

Section 10.15 Independent Nature of Purchasers Obligations. The obligations of each Purchaser (and their permitted transferees and assignees) under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under this Agreement. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

Section 10.16 Interpretation. Article and Section references to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. All references to instruments, documents, contracts and agreements are references to such instruments, documents, contracts and agreements as the same may be amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time, unless otherwise specified. The word “including” shall mean “including but not limited to.” Whenever any determination, consent or approval is to be made or given by a Purchaser under this Agreement, such action shall be in such Purchaser’s sole discretion unless otherwise specified.

[Signature pages to follow]

 

Exhibit A to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

19


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

 

NOBLE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
By:   NOBLE MIDSTREAM GP, LLC,
  its General Partner
By:  

 

Name:   Thomas W. Christensen
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


[●][●]  
By:  

                 

Name:   [●]
Title:   [●]

 

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF OPINION OF VINSON & ELKINS LLP

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

  i.

The Partnership is a limited partnership organized under the Delaware LP Act with all limited partnership power and authority, as applicable, (i) to enter into the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, to the extent a party thereto, and to perform its obligations thereunder, and (ii) to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in the SEC Reports. We confirm that the Partnership is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business as a foreign limited partnership in the states set forth opposite its name on Exhibit A hereto.

 

  ii.

The General Partner is a limited liability company organized under the Delaware LLC Act with all limited liability company power and authority to own its properties, to conduct its business and to act as the general partner of the Partnership, as applicable, as described in the SEC Reports. We confirm that the General Partner is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business as a foreign limited liability company in the states set forth opposite its name on Exhibit A hereto.

 

  i.

The Units to be issued and sold by the Partnership pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the limited partner interests represented thereby have been duly authorized in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Partnership against payment therefore in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement), nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act) and free of preemptive rights arising from the Partnership Agreement.

 

  ii.

The execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase Agreement by the Partnership have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action; and the Purchase Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Partnership.

 

  iii.

The execution, delivery and performance of the Registration Rights Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action of the Partnership, and the Registration Rights Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Partnership and is the legally valid and binding agreement of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (ii) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.

Exhibit B to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

 

1


  iv.

As of the date hereof, the execution and delivery of the Operative Documents by the Partnership, the offering, issuance and sale of the Units by the Partnership to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Operative Documents do not:

 

  a.

violate the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership or the Partnership Agreement;

 

  b.

result in the breach of or a default under any material agreements filed as an exhibit 10 to the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 19, 2019 and any subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q; or

 

  c.

violate any federal or New York statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Partnership Entities or the Delaware LP Act or the Delaware LLC Act; or

 

  d.

require any consents, approvals, or authorizations to be obtained by the Partnership Entities from, or any registrations, declarations or filings to be made by the Partnership Entities with, any governmental authority under any federal or New York statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Partnership Entities or the Delaware LP Act or the Delaware LLC Act on or prior to the date hereof that have not been obtained or made;

except in clauses (b), (c) and (d) above for any such breaches, defaults, violations, consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, declarations or filings that, individually or in the aggregate, the occurrence of which or the failure to have obtained have not materially impaired and will not materially impair the ability of any of the Partnership Entities to consummate the transactions provided for in the Operative Documents or would not reasonably be expected to have a Partnership Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that we express no opinion in this paragraph (vi) with respect to federal or state securities laws.

 

  v.

The Partnership is not and, immediately after giving effect to the issuance and sale of the Units in accordance with the Purchase Agreement and the application of the proceeds therefrom, it will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

  vi.

Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of each Purchaser and the Partnership contained in the Purchase Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Units pursuant to the Purchase Agreement are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. We express no opinion, however, as to when or under what circumstances you may reoffer or resell any Units.

Exhibit B to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

 

2


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

ONE BRYANT PARK

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

388 GREENWICH STREET,

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10013

 

  Re:

Private Placement by Noble Midstream Partners LP

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned understands that Noble Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”) has entered into a Common Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of November [    ], 2019 (the “Purchase Agreement”), with the purchasers party thereto providing for the private placement of common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Common Units”).

It is anticipated that in connection with the private placement, the Partnership shall, following completion of the private placement, file a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), with respect to the possible resale, from time to time, of the Common Units and that such Registration Statement will be filed by the Partnership within the time period specified by, and the Partnership will keep the Registration Statement effective until such time as may be provided in, the definitive agreements entered into in connection with the private placement of the Common Units.

In recognition of the benefit that such a private placement will confer upon the undersigned, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each of BofA Securities, Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (together, the “Agents”), and each investor named in the Purchase Agreement that, during the period beginning on the Closing Date (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and ending on the date that is [                ] days1 from consummation of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Units (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Agents, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any Common Units or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Units, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “Lock-Up Units”), or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any of the Lock-up Units, or file or cause to be filed any registration statement in connection therewith, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (other

 

1 

180 days for Noble Energy, Inc. and 60 days for all other parties.

 

Exhibit C to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

1


than pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement between the Partnership and the purchasers, the form of which is attached to the Purchase Agreement), or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Units, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer the Lock-Up Units without the prior written consent of the Agents, provided that (i) the Agents receive a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the Lock-Up Period from each donee, trustee, distributee or transferee, as the case may be, (ii) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (iii) such transfers are not required to be reported with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on Form 4 in accordance with Section 16 (“Section 16”) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and (iv) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers:

 

  (i)

as a bona fide gift or gifts;

 

  (ii)

to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin);

 

  (iii)

as a distribution to limited partners or unitholders of the undersigned;

 

  (iv)

to the undersigned’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the undersigned; and

 

  (v)

any exercise of options or vesting or exercise of any other equity-based award, in each case, outstanding on the date of this Lock-Up Agreement, and in each case under the Partnership’s equity incentive plan or any other plan or agreement described in the prospectus included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, and the withholding of Common Units by the Company for the payment of taxes due upon such exercise or vesting, provided that any Common Units received upon such exercise or vesting will also be subject to this Lock-Up Agreement.

Furthermore, the restrictions in the third paragraph of this letter agreement shall not apply to (i) the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Common Units, provided that (a) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Common Units during the Lock-up Period and (b) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Partnership regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Common Units may be made under such plan during the Lock-up Period, (ii) sales pursuant to any Rule 10b5-1 plan currently in effect on the date hereof, (iii) existing pledges pursuant to loan or similar agreements in effect on the date hereof, as amended from time to time, or any successor to any such agreement, or any transfers pursuant to any such agreement, or (iv) the deemed disposition of Common Units under Section 16 upon the cash settlement of phantom units or unit appreciation rights outstanding as of the date of this Agreement.

 

Exhibit C to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

2


Furthermore, the undersigned may sell Common Units of the Partnership purchased by the undersigned on the open market following the private placement if and only if (i) such sales are not required to be reported in any public report or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 4 in accordance with Section 16 and (ii) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such sales.

 

Exhibit C to Common Unit Purchase Agreement

3

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

NEWS RELEASE

 

November 15, 2019

Noble Midstream Announces Private Placement of Common Units

HOUSTON—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Noble Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: NBLX) (“Noble Midstream” or the “Partnership”) today announced that it has priced a private placement of 12,077,295 common units representing limited partner interests of the Partnership for gross proceeds of approximately $250 million. Noble Midstream expects to use the proceeds from the private placement to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the acquisition of additional interests in Blanco Rover DevCo LP, Green River DevCo LP, San Juan River DevCo LP and all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of NBL Midstream Holdings LLC. The private placement is expected to close November 21, 2019, and is subject to customary closing conditions.

Citigroup and BofA Securities acted as joint placement agents for the private placement of common units.

The securities offered in the private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein.

About Noble Midstream Partners

Noble Midstream is a growth-oriented master limited partnership formed by Noble Energy, to own, operate, develop and acquire domestic midstream infrastructure assets. Noble Midstream currently provides crude oil, natural gas, and water-related midstream services in the DJ Basin in Colorado and the Delaware Basin in Texas. For more information, please visit www.nblmidstream.com.

Contacts

Tom Christensen

Chief Financial Officer

(832) 639-7524

tom.christensen@nblmidstream.com

Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO

  NEWS RELEASE

 

November 15, 2019

Noble Midstream Announces Simplification and Acquisition of Midstream Interests from Noble Energy

HOUSTON—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Noble Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: NBLX) (“Noble Midstream” or the “Partnership”) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement (the “Contribution and Simplification Agreement” or “the Transactions”) to acquire the Partnership’s incentive distribution rights (IDRs) and substantially all of Noble Energy’s (NYSE: NBL) (“Noble Energy”) remaining midstream interests for $1.6 billion. The total consideration will consist of both cash and common units of limited partner interests in the Partnership (“common units”).

Highlights Include:

 

   

The Transactions are expected to be approximately 5% accretive to Noble Midstream’s estimated distributable cash flow1 per unit in 2020.

 

   

The acquired interests include $160 million in anticipated 2020 Adjusted EBITDA1 and $40 million in IDR distributions, implying an aggregate 8x 2020 transaction multiple.

 

   

Concurrent with the transaction, NBLX has reset the long-term distribution growth rate target to 10 percent annually, resulting in an estimated distribution coverage ratio1 of 1.3x in 2020.

 

   

The Transactions reduce pro-forma 2019 Last Quarter Annualized (LQA) EBITDA1 leverage to ~3.8x and 2020 LQA EBITDA leverage to 3.1x.

 

   

The Transactions fully align Noble Midstream with Noble Energy through the Partnership’s now 100% ownership in Noble Energy’s current U.S. onshore focus areas.

 

   

Acquired assets include NBLX’s first gas processing complex in the DJ Basin and incremental 3-stream gathering in the southern Delaware Basin.

 

   

Private unit offering of $250 million increases common unit float by 50%, which is expected to enhance trading liquidity.

Commenting on the acquisition, Brent J. Smolik, Chief Executive Officer of Noble Midstream, said “Noble Energy has completed its midstream strategic review. We are excited to announce the resulting simplification and drop transaction. This financially-attractive acquisition of essentially all of Noble Energy’s remaining midstream assets will enhance operational synergies and increase economic alignment in Noble’s growth basins. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to distributable cash flow per unit.

 

1

Adjusted EBITDA, LQA EBITDA, DCF and Distribution Coverage Ratio are not Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) measures. Please see the Non-GAAP disclaimer herein for additional information.

 

1


With a significant amount of the backbone infrastructure complete and Noble Energy’s deep inventory of drilling inventory in both the DJ and Delaware basins, these assets are expected to further drive our capital efficiency beyond our successful 2019 levels. The long-term strategic alignment with Noble Energy will enhance the growth in Noble Midstream LP unit distributions to NBL’s ownership interest.”

Tom Christensen, Chief Financial Officer added, “The elimination of the IDRs and the acquisition simplifies our structure and enhances alignment with the sponsor, immediately lowering our cost of capital and supporting strategic long-term growth and value creation. Pro-forma for the acquisition, NBLX maintains peer-leading leverage, and with the added scale, commands a high return opportunity set to deliver top tier returns to its unitholders. This transaction results in a self-funding midstream entity with increased exposure to two high return onshore basins as well as promising equity barrel value opportunities. By recalibrating our distribution, we retain a leading distribution growth rate relative to peers while better aligning the distribution with midstream investor expectations.”

Acquisition Simplifies Story and Fully Aligns to Noble Energy Focus Areas

Noble Midstream Partners has acquired the Noble Energy L.P. interests in the Green River, Blanco River and San Juan River DevCos. Included in the transaction, Noble Midstream will acquire the following:

 

   

The remaining 60% interest in Blanco River DevCo LP in the Delaware Basin, including oil, gas and produced water in-field gathering

 

   

The remaining 75% interest in Green River DevCo LP, including oil, gas and produced water in-field gathering as well as fresh water delivery

 

   

The remaining 75% interest in the San Juan River DevCo LP, which provides fresh water delivery in Noble Energy’s East Pony IDP

At close of the Transactions, Noble Midstream will own 100% of these aforementioned DevCos and will service substantially all of Noble Energy’s U.S. onshore activity in the DJ and Delaware Basins. This increases NBLX and NBL’s strategic alignment. 90% of NBL 2019 U.S. onshore capital is expected to be invested in these two basins, which reduces the volatility in activity mix for NBLX.


New Assets Provide Third Party Expansion Opportunity

In addition to the DevCo interests, Noble Midstream has acquired NBL Holdings, which owns Noble Energy’s East Pony gas gathering complex in the DJ Basin and the Clayton Williams gathering system in the Delaware Basin.

The East Pony gas gathering system includes the Keota and Lilli gas processing plants and associated gas gathering pipelines. The two gas processing plants have a combined capacity of approximately 45 MMcf/d and are currently ~80% utilized. The plants can be expanded to a capacity of 60 MMcf/d through additional compression with minimal capital. This asset marks NBLX’s first entry into DJ Basin gas processing. With the need for incremental gas processing capacity in the DJ Basin, the Keota and Lilli plants provide an additional opportunity for NBLX to grow its third-party business.

In addition, NBL Holdings owns the legacy Clayton Williams pipeline system, which includes more than 300 miles of oil, gas, and produced water gathering pipelines. These pipelines service Noble Energy’s central and southern Delaware Basin positions and will provide additional opportunities to drive capital efficiency through new well connections and secure third-party dedications.

Accretive Transaction Improves Distribution Coverage and Leverage

As consideration for the acquisition, the Partnership will issue to Noble Energy approximately $930 million in NBLX common units 2. Noble Midstream expects to fund the remaining $670 million in cash consideration with approximately $420 million from its revolving credit facility and approximately $250 million in proceeds from a private placement of common units.

In the first year, the transaction is expected to be 5% accretive to DCF/unit1 and the transaction is expected to be accretive long term. Upon closing of the acquisition and the private placement, Noble Energy is expected to own a 63% limited partner interest in NBLX. The acquisition closed on November 14, 2019.

 

2 

Units issued to NBL will be issued at the 30-day VWAP through close of business November 6, at $24.18/sh.


2020 Guidance Highlighted by Strong Core Business Growth

Pro-forma for the Transactions, Noble Midstream anticipates 2020 Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the Partnership to be between $500 million and $560 million. This is underpinned by approximately 11% estimated midpoint growth in combined oil and gas throughput as well as anticipated 20% midpoint growth in produced water gathering volumes. Included in these estimates, Noble Midstream has assumed the exercise of its option to acquire a 20% ownership in the Saddlehorn Pipeline in the DJ Basin via the Black Diamond Gathering.

The Partnership estimates 2020 Distributable Cash Flow (“DCF”) to range between $325 million and $370 million. Noble Midstream is targeting a sustainable Distribution per Unit (“DPU”) annual growth rate of 10% on an organic basis, resulting in expected pro-forma DCF coverage in a range of 1.2x to 1.4x.

The Partnership anticipates capital expenditures attributable to the Partnership in 2020 between $260 million and $300 million. Additionally, expected capital investments in our equity method assets and joint ventures of $130 million to $150 million are expected to be down 75% compared to 2019 as the partnership completes investment in long-haul pipelines. At the end of 2020, NBLX’s LQA EBITDA leverage ratio is expected to be 3.1x; beyond 2020, the Partnership is targeting a long-term leverage ratio of below 3.5x.

 

     Q4 2019 Guidance    Full Year
     Previously
Reported
   Pro Forma5    2020E

Oil Gathered (MBbl/d)

   248 – 258    251 – 261    250 – 275

Gas Gathered (MMcf/d)

   482 – 502    525 – 545    530 – 590

Oil and Gas Gathered (MBoe/d)

   328 – 342    338 – 352    338 – 373

Produced Water Gathered (MBw/d)

   195 – 205    206 – 216    210 – 235

Fresh Water Delivered (MBw/d)

   110 – 145    110 – 145    180 – 235

($MM)

        

Adjusted Net EBITDA 1,2

   64 – 69    81 – 86    500 – 560

Distributable Cash Flow 1,6

   53 – 58    67 – 72    325 – 370

Distribution Coverage Ratio 1,3

   1.5x –  1.7x    1.1x – 1.2x    1.2x – 1.4x

Net Capex 4

   40 – 50    60 – 70    260 – 300

Equity Investments, net 2

   104 – 134    104 – 134    130 – 150

 

(1)

Please see the Non-GAAP disclaimer herein for additional information.


(2)

Assumes the exercise of NBLX’s 20% option in Saddlehorn

(3)

Pro forma estimates include forecasted DPU growth of 10% annually

(4)

Excludes equity investments

(5)

Gross pro forma adjustments reflect full quarter / year adjustments for previously non-consolidating assets (East Pony gas gathering and processing and Clayton Williams pipeline). Net pro forma adjustments reflect results following the assumed effective date of 11/15/2019 for previously consolidating assets (additional ownership interests in Green River DevCo, San Juan River DevCo, and Blanco River DevCo) and previously non-consolidating assets (East Pony gas gathering and processing and Clayton Williams pipeline).

(6)

Guidance for Distributable Cash Flow will not include any new pipeline project cash flow distributions until the projects are online and making consistent distributions

 

     Q4 2019E      FY 2020E  

($ thousands)

   Low      High      Low      High  

Reconciliation from Net Income

           

Net Income

     50,500        58,000        230,000        290,000  

Add:

           

Depreciation and Amortization

     25,500        25,500        105,000        105,000  

Interest Expense, Net of Amount Capitalized

     5,250        5,050        54,000        54,000  

Income Tax Provision

     100        100        400        400  

Transaction and Integration Expenses

     7,500        5,000        —          —    

Unit-Based Compensation and Other

     450        450        1,600        1,600  

Proportionate Share of Equity Method Investment EBITDA Adjustments

     7,500        7,500        79,000        69,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

     96,800        101,600        470,000        520,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less:

           

Adjusted EBITDA Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

     15,800        15,600        30,000        40,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA Attributable to Noble Midstream Partners LP

     81,000        86,000        500,000        560,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Plus:

           

Distributions from Equity Method Investments

     1,500        1,500        15,000        25,000  

Less:

           

Proportionate Share of Equity Method Investment Adjusted EBITDA

     (5,000      (3,500      75,000        85,000  

Cash Interest Paid

     13,000        11,000        65,000        67,000  

Maintenance Capital Expenditures

     7,500        8,000        50,000        63,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable Cash Flow of Noble Midstream Partners LP

     67,000        72,000        325,000        370,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 


Financial and Legal Advisors

The terms of the Transactions were approved by the Board of Directors following a unanimous recommendation for approval from the conflicts committee of the Board of Directors, which consists entirely of independent directors. The Board of Directors of Noble Midstream GP LLC was advised by BofA Securities on financial matters and Mayer Brown L.L.P. on legal matters, the conflicts committee was advised by Baird on financial matters and Baker Botts L.L.P. on legal matters, and Noble Energy was advised by Citi on financial matters and Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. on legal matters.

Presentation Available

A presentation summarizing the acquisition has been made available on the ‘Investors’ page on the Partnership’s website at www.nblmidstream.com.

About Noble Midstream

Noble Midstream is a growth-oriented master limited partnership formed by Noble Energy to own, operate, develop and acquire domestic midstream infrastructure assets. Noble Midstream currently provides crude oil, natural gas, and water-related midstream services in the DJ Basin in Colorado and the Delaware Basin in Texas. For more information, please visit www.nblmidstream.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities law. Words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”, “intends”, “will”, “should”, “may”, “estimates”, and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements.


Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect the Partnership’s current views about future events. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this news release will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include, without limitation, the Partnership’s targeted leverage and distribution growth, its customers’ ability to meet their drilling and development plans, changes in general economic conditions, competitive conditions in the Partnership’s industry, actions taken by third-party operators, gatherers, processors and transporters, the demand for crude oil and natural gas gathering and processing services, the Partnership’s ability to successfully implement its business plan, the Partnership’s ability to complete internal growth projects on time and on budget, the ability of third parties to complete construction of pipelines in which the Partnership holds equity interests on time and on budget, the price and availability of debt and equity financing, the availability and price of crude oil and natural gas to the consumer compared to the price of alternative and competing fuels, and other risks inherent in the Partnership’s business, including those described under “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” in the Partnership’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports are also available from the Partnership’s office or website, www.nblmidstream.com. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Noble Midstream does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances, management’s estimates, or opinions change.

Non-GAAP Measures

This news release also contains certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures of financial performance that management believes are good tools for internal use and the investment community in evaluating the Partnership’s overall financial performance. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before income taxes, net interest expense, depreciation and amortization, transaction expenses, unit-based compensation and certain other items that we do not view as indicative of our ongoing performance. We define distributable cash flow as Adjusted EBITDA plus distributions received from our equity method investments less our proportionate share of Adjusted EBITDA from such equity method investments, estimated maintenance capital expenditures and cash interest paid. We define Last Quarter Annualized Leverage Ratio as total


debt divided by the last quarter of the fiscal year adjusted EBITDA attributable to the Partnership, annualized for four quarters. Annualized Leverage Ratio is used by management to assess our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures. We define Distribution Coverage Ratio as Distributable Cash Flow divided by total distributions declared.

Noble Midstream does not provide guidance on forecasted Net Income or the reconciling items between forecasted Net Income, forecasted Adjusted EBITDA, forecasted Distributable Cash Flow and forecasted Distribution Coverage Ratio due to the uncertainty regarding timing and estimates of these items. Noble Midstream provides a range for the forecasts of Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Distribution Coverage Ratio to allow for the variability in timing and uncertainty of estimates of reconciling items between forecasted Net Income, forecasted Adjusted EBITDA, forecasted Distributable Cash Flow and forecasted Distribution Coverage Ratio. Therefore, the Partnership cannot reconcile forecasted Net Income to forecasted Adjusted EBITDA, forecasted Distributable Cash Flow or forecasted Distribution Coverage Ratio without unreasonable effort.

In addition to Net Income, the GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow is net cash provided by operating activities. Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow should not be considered alternatives to net income, net cash provided by operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Due to the forward-looking nature of net cash provided by operating activities, management cannot reliably predict certain of the necessary components of the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measures, such as future impairments and future changes in working capital. Accordingly, Noble Midstream is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of the aforementioned forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to net cash provided by operating activities. Amounts excluded from these non-GAAP measures in future periods could be significant.

Contacts

Tom Christensen

Chief Financial Officer

(832) 639-7524

tom.christensen@nblmidstream.com

Park Carrere

Investor Relations

(281) 872-3208

park.carrere@nblenergy.com

Exhibit 99.3 IDR Simplification & Acquisition November 2019 www.nblmidstream.comExhibit 99.3 IDR Simplification & Acquisition November 2019 www.nblmidstream.com


Forward Looking Statements This presentation contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities law. Words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”, “intends”, “will”, “should”, “may”, “estimates”, and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Noble Midstream Partners LP’s (Noble Midstream or the Partnership) current views about future events. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include, without limitation, our customers’ ability to meet their drilling and development plans, changes in general economic conditions, competitive conditions in the Partnership’s industry, actions taken by third-party operators, gatherers, processors and transporters, the demand for crude oil and natural gas gathering and processing services, the Partnership’s ability to successfully implement its business plan, the Partnership’s ability to complete internal growth projects on time and on budget, the ability of third parties to complete construction of pipelines in which the Partnership holds equity interests on time and on budget, the price and availability of debt and equity financing, the availability and price of crude oil and natural gas to the consumer compared to the price of alternative and competing fuels, and other risks inherent in the Partnership’s business, including those described under “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” in the Partnership's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other reports on we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports are also available from the Partnership’s office or website, www.nblmidstream.com. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Noble Midstream does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances, management’s estimates, or opinions change. This presentation also contains certain non-GAAP measures of financial performance that management believes are good tools for internal use and the investment community in evaluating Noble Midstream’s overall financial performance. Please see Slide 24 for definitions and reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this presentation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Confidentiality Notice This presentation is confidential and is subject to confidentiality obligations you have confirmed. This presentation has been prepared by the Partnership solely for use in connection with the proposed placement of the securities described in this presentation. This presentation is personal to each prospective investor and does not constitute an offer to any other person or to the public generally to subscribe for or otherwise acquire securities. You are authorized to use this presentation solely for the purpose of considering the purchase of the Partnership’s securities. Distribution of this presentation to any other person other than the prospective investor and any person retained to advise such prospective investor with respect to its purchase is unauthorized, and any disclosure of any of its contents, without the Partnership’s prior written consent, is prohibited. 2 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mForward Looking Statements This presentation contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities law. Words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”, “intends”, “will”, “should”, “may”, “estimates”, and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Noble Midstream Partners LP’s (Noble Midstream or the Partnership) current views about future events. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include, without limitation, our customers’ ability to meet their drilling and development plans, changes in general economic conditions, competitive conditions in the Partnership’s industry, actions taken by third-party operators, gatherers, processors and transporters, the demand for crude oil and natural gas gathering and processing services, the Partnership’s ability to successfully implement its business plan, the Partnership’s ability to complete internal growth projects on time and on budget, the ability of third parties to complete construction of pipelines in which the Partnership holds equity interests on time and on budget, the price and availability of debt and equity financing, the availability and price of crude oil and natural gas to the consumer compared to the price of alternative and competing fuels, and other risks inherent in the Partnership’s business, including those described under “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” in the Partnership's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other reports on we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports are also available from the Partnership’s office or website, www.nblmidstream.com. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Noble Midstream does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances, management’s estimates, or opinions change. This presentation also contains certain non-GAAP measures of financial performance that management believes are good tools for internal use and the investment community in evaluating Noble Midstream’s overall financial performance. Please see Slide 24 for definitions and reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this presentation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Confidentiality Notice This presentation is confidential and is subject to confidentiality obligations you have confirmed. This presentation has been prepared by the Partnership solely for use in connection with the proposed placement of the securities described in this presentation. This presentation is personal to each prospective investor and does not constitute an offer to any other person or to the public generally to subscribe for or otherwise acquire securities. You are authorized to use this presentation solely for the purpose of considering the purchase of the Partnership’s securities. Distribution of this presentation to any other person other than the prospective investor and any person retained to advise such prospective investor with respect to its purchase is unauthorized, and any disclosure of any of its contents, without the Partnership’s prior written consent, is prohibited. 2 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


Experienced Management Team in Place Brent Smolik, Chief Executive Officer, Noble Midstream • Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Noble Midstream in August 2019 and serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Noble Energy, since November 2018 • Before joining Noble Energy in 2018, Mr. Smolik served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of EP Energy Corporation and EP Energy LLC from 2012 to 2017 • Previously served as Executive Vice President of El Paso Corporation and President of the El Paso Exploration & Production Company, President of ConocoPhillips Canada and Burlington Resources Canada Tom Christensen, Chief Financial Officer, Noble Midstream • Appointed Chief Financial Officer in September 2019 after serving as interim Chief Financial Officer since July 2019 • Previously held the position of Chief Accounting Officer of Noble Midstream since August 2016 and served as Corporate Finance Manager in Noble Energy’s Treasury group, joining Noble Energy upon its acquisition of Rosetta Resources in 2015 • Tom served in positions of increasing responsibility at Rosetta, including most recently serving as its Assistant Controller overseeing SEC reporting, corporate accounting, income taxes and technical accounting matters Chris Stavinoha, Director of Capital Projects, Noble Midstream • Prior to serving in his current role Mr. Stavinoha served as a Project Development Leader and Project Manager for Noble Energy and has over 25 years of project management and project execution experience • Previously held the position of Executive Vice President for London Offshore from June 2002 until May 2010 and prior to 2002 served in various engineering and project management roles at Sonat Offshore Drilling (Transocean) and McDermott Inc. Barry Guice, Director of Operations, Noble Midstream • Appointed Director of Operations for Noble Midstream in July 2018 and previously worked at Noble Energy since 2009, serving in various capacities as Director of Operations for Gulf of Mexico, Senior Asset Manager for the Leviathan field, Engineering and Development Manager for International Division and Project Manager for a deepwater development in the Gulf of Mexico • Previously held various operations, engineering and project management roles at BP in the onshore U.S. and Gulf of Mexico John Reuwer, Vice President, Business and Corporate Development, Noble Midstream • Appointed as Vice President, Business and Corporate Development, effective October 28, 2019 • Previously served in positions of increasing responsibility within the Partnership’s business development, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate development teams, after joining Noble Midstream in March 2017 • Previously worked in management consulting, advising energy clients on large strategic initiatives including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings and other growth projects 3 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mExperienced Management Team in Place Brent Smolik, Chief Executive Officer, Noble Midstream • Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Noble Midstream in August 2019 and serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Noble Energy, since November 2018 • Before joining Noble Energy in 2018, Mr. Smolik served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of EP Energy Corporation and EP Energy LLC from 2012 to 2017 • Previously served as Executive Vice President of El Paso Corporation and President of the El Paso Exploration & Production Company, President of ConocoPhillips Canada and Burlington Resources Canada Tom Christensen, Chief Financial Officer, Noble Midstream • Appointed Chief Financial Officer in September 2019 after serving as interim Chief Financial Officer since July 2019 • Previously held the position of Chief Accounting Officer of Noble Midstream since August 2016 and served as Corporate Finance Manager in Noble Energy’s Treasury group, joining Noble Energy upon its acquisition of Rosetta Resources in 2015 • Tom served in positions of increasing responsibility at Rosetta, including most recently serving as its Assistant Controller overseeing SEC reporting, corporate accounting, income taxes and technical accounting matters Chris Stavinoha, Director of Capital Projects, Noble Midstream • Prior to serving in his current role Mr. Stavinoha served as a Project Development Leader and Project Manager for Noble Energy and has over 25 years of project management and project execution experience • Previously held the position of Executive Vice President for London Offshore from June 2002 until May 2010 and prior to 2002 served in various engineering and project management roles at Sonat Offshore Drilling (Transocean) and McDermott Inc. Barry Guice, Director of Operations, Noble Midstream • Appointed Director of Operations for Noble Midstream in July 2018 and previously worked at Noble Energy since 2009, serving in various capacities as Director of Operations for Gulf of Mexico, Senior Asset Manager for the Leviathan field, Engineering and Development Manager for International Division and Project Manager for a deepwater development in the Gulf of Mexico • Previously held various operations, engineering and project management roles at BP in the onshore U.S. and Gulf of Mexico John Reuwer, Vice President, Business and Corporate Development, Noble Midstream • Appointed as Vice President, Business and Corporate Development, effective October 28, 2019 • Previously served in positions of increasing responsibility within the Partnership’s business development, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate development teams, after joining Noble Midstream in March 2017 • Previously worked in management consulting, advising energy clients on large strategic initiatives including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings and other growth projects 3 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


NBLX Announces Acquisition of IDRs and Midstream Assets from NBL Transaction Structured to Address Investor Concerns about Structure, IDRs, Future Growth and Alignment With NBL Transaction Overview Benefits to NBLX Benefits to Noble Energy NBLX to acquire 100% of the Eliminates IDR payments and Retain control of valuable outstanding Incentive answers structural questions franchise through ownership Distribution Rights (IDRs) and of NBLX common units and substantially all of NBL’s General Partner (GP) Increases strategic alignment remaining midstream with NBL interests for $1.6 billion Consistent with strategy for stable, less volatile cash flows • NBLX to own 100% of Blanco Acquired assets increase pro- River, Green River and San Juan and high return development 1 forma 2020E EBITDA by River DevCos as well East Pony gas projects +$160 million complex and Clayton Williams Pipeline Supports NBL’s organic cash ~5% accretive in year-1 and • NBL retains non-economic GP flow generation interest accretive in all forecast years Transactions funded with a Preserves operational Reduces pro forma leverage combination of debt and synergies and improves distribution equity: coverage • Borrowings from revolving credit Significant cash proceeds to facility NBL at close, improves the Creates self funding entity balance sheet and supports • Private investment in public equity with no future equity (PIPE) and direct issue of NBL USO activity financing required additional L.P. units to NBL Concurrent with transaction, Strategic review complete NBLX will adjust the DPU growth target to 10% (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto 4 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mNBLX Announces Acquisition of IDRs and Midstream Assets from NBL Transaction Structured to Address Investor Concerns about Structure, IDRs, Future Growth and Alignment With NBL Transaction Overview Benefits to NBLX Benefits to Noble Energy NBLX to acquire 100% of the Eliminates IDR payments and Retain control of valuable outstanding Incentive answers structural questions franchise through ownership Distribution Rights (IDRs) and of NBLX common units and substantially all of NBL’s General Partner (GP) Increases strategic alignment remaining midstream with NBL interests for $1.6 billion Consistent with strategy for stable, less volatile cash flows • NBLX to own 100% of Blanco Acquired assets increase pro- River, Green River and San Juan and high return development 1 forma 2020E EBITDA by River DevCos as well East Pony gas projects +$160 million complex and Clayton Williams Pipeline Supports NBL’s organic cash ~5% accretive in year-1 and • NBL retains non-economic GP flow generation interest accretive in all forecast years Transactions funded with a Preserves operational Reduces pro forma leverage combination of debt and synergies and improves distribution equity: coverage • Borrowings from revolving credit Significant cash proceeds to facility NBL at close, improves the Creates self funding entity balance sheet and supports • Private investment in public equity with no future equity (PIPE) and direct issue of NBL USO activity financing required additional L.P. units to NBL Concurrent with transaction, Strategic review complete NBLX will adjust the DPU growth target to 10% (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto 4 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


Transaction Overview Transaction Creates a Leading Sponsor-aligned, Multi-basin Midstream Platform With Significant Third-Party Capabilities Acquired Assets DJ Basin Permian Basin IDRs Remaining 60% Remaining 75% Remaining 75% East Pony Gas Clayton 100% of the of Blanco River of Green River of San Juan Complex Williams Incentive DevCo River DevCo DevCo Distribution Pipeline Rights Services NBL’s Services NBL’s ~45 MMcf/d of Services NBL’s Legacy NBL Mustang IDP East Pony IDP Processing Permian Gathering Acreage Capacity in the System in the DJ Basin Permian Pro Forma NBLX Ownership DJ Basin Permian Basin NBL Focused Assets Third-Party Focused Assets NBL Focused Assets Third-Party Focused Assets • 100% of Colorado River • 100% of SRC Laramie River • 100% of Blanco River DevCo • 50% of Advantage Pipeline DevCo • 100% of Permian Gas • 50% of Delaware Crossing • 54.4% of Black Diamond Compression • 100% of Green River DevCo Gathering • 30% of EPIC Crude • 100% of Clayton Williams • 100% of San Juan River • 3.3% of White Cliffs Pipeline • 15% of EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline DevCo • 100% of East Pony Gas Complex 5 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mTransaction Overview Transaction Creates a Leading Sponsor-aligned, Multi-basin Midstream Platform With Significant Third-Party Capabilities Acquired Assets DJ Basin Permian Basin IDRs Remaining 60% Remaining 75% Remaining 75% East Pony Gas Clayton 100% of the of Blanco River of Green River of San Juan Complex Williams Incentive DevCo River DevCo DevCo Distribution Pipeline Rights Services NBL’s Services NBL’s ~45 MMcf/d of Services NBL’s Legacy NBL Mustang IDP East Pony IDP Processing Permian Gathering Acreage Capacity in the System in the DJ Basin Permian Pro Forma NBLX Ownership DJ Basin Permian Basin NBL Focused Assets Third-Party Focused Assets NBL Focused Assets Third-Party Focused Assets • 100% of Colorado River • 100% of SRC Laramie River • 100% of Blanco River DevCo • 50% of Advantage Pipeline DevCo • 100% of Permian Gas • 50% of Delaware Crossing • 54.4% of Black Diamond Compression • 100% of Green River DevCo Gathering • 30% of EPIC Crude • 100% of Clayton Williams • 100% of San Juan River • 3.3% of White Cliffs Pipeline • 15% of EPIC Y-Grade Pipeline DevCo • 100% of East Pony Gas Complex 5 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


Transaction Overview NBLX Acquiring Substantially All of NBL’s Remaining Midstream Interests and IDRs Simplification Details New Organizational Structure 1 NBLX will acquire 100% of the outstanding incentive distribution Noble Energy NYSE: NBL rights (IDRs) held by NBL through 100% the NBLX General Partner (GP) Fund With Combination ROFR Assets 3 of cash and (CWEI Pipeline, EP L.P. units to Gas) NBL NBL retains non-economic GP interest 1 2 Noble Midstream GP LLC Acquire Acquire IDRs Drop Down Assets Non-Economic General Partner Interest 2 Simultaneously, NBLX will acquire IDRs substantially all of NBL’s remaining Cancelled 2 midstream interests, including 100% ownership in the existing Noble Midstream development companies Partners LP Public NYSE: NBLX 3 NBLX will undertake the issuance of 100% Controlling Interest 3 L.P. units through a private New Units Issued investment in public equity (PIPE) Blanco River, San Juan River and Green River DevCos Remaining value will be funded with NBLX’s revolving credit facility and L.P. units to NBL 6 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mTransaction Overview NBLX Acquiring Substantially All of NBL’s Remaining Midstream Interests and IDRs Simplification Details New Organizational Structure 1 NBLX will acquire 100% of the outstanding incentive distribution Noble Energy NYSE: NBL rights (IDRs) held by NBL through 100% the NBLX General Partner (GP) Fund With Combination ROFR Assets 3 of cash and (CWEI Pipeline, EP L.P. units to Gas) NBL NBL retains non-economic GP interest 1 2 Noble Midstream GP LLC Acquire Acquire IDRs Drop Down Assets Non-Economic General Partner Interest 2 Simultaneously, NBLX will acquire IDRs substantially all of NBL’s remaining Cancelled 2 midstream interests, including 100% ownership in the existing Noble Midstream development companies Partners LP Public NYSE: NBLX 3 NBLX will undertake the issuance of 100% Controlling Interest 3 L.P. units through a private New Units Issued investment in public equity (PIPE) Blanco River, San Juan River and Green River DevCos Remaining value will be funded with NBLX’s revolving credit facility and L.P. units to NBL 6 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


Simplifying Corporate Structure and Enhancing Equity Market Liquidity Transactions Increase Public Float of NBLX by ~55%; NBL Increases Ownership to ~63% Financing Details Transaction Financing • NBLX will acquire the IDRs and substantially all of NBL’s $MM remaining midstream assets for $1.6 billion NBLX Credit Facility $420 • NBLX will fund $420 million with borrowings under its revolving credit facility PIPE Funding $250 1 • NBLX will issue 38.5 million L.P. units to NBL 1 Public NBLX L.P. Units to NBL $930 • NBLX will $250 million or 12.1 million units in a private placement Total $1,600 • At close of the transaction, NBL’s ownership of outstanding L.P. units is expected to increase from 45% to ~63% • Transaction expected to be non-taxable to current unitholders Pro Forma Ownership Current New Total PF Transaction Deleveraging Holder Units Units Units % • Debt funding on the credit facility at low interest rate Public Unitholders 21.7 MM 12.1 MM 33.8 MM 37 • Pro-forma for the transaction, NBLX will have leverage 2 ~3.1x LQA 2020E EBITDA , plan to maintain peer-leading 1 Noble Energy 18.0 MM 38.5 MM 56.5 MM 63 leverage of < 3.5x long-term • Remain focused on achieving investment grade rating in medium term • Will address adding incremental liquidity under the credit facility by YE 2019 (1) Units issued to NBL will be issued at the 30-day VWAP through close of business November 6, at $24.18/share (2) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto 7 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mSimplifying Corporate Structure and Enhancing Equity Market Liquidity Transactions Increase Public Float of NBLX by ~55%; NBL Increases Ownership to ~63% Financing Details Transaction Financing • NBLX will acquire the IDRs and substantially all of NBL’s $MM remaining midstream assets for $1.6 billion NBLX Credit Facility $420 • NBLX will fund $420 million with borrowings under its revolving credit facility PIPE Funding $250 1 • NBLX will issue 38.5 million L.P. units to NBL 1 Public NBLX L.P. Units to NBL $930 • NBLX will $250 million or 12.1 million units in a private placement Total $1,600 • At close of the transaction, NBL’s ownership of outstanding L.P. units is expected to increase from 45% to ~63% • Transaction expected to be non-taxable to current unitholders Pro Forma Ownership Current New Total PF Transaction Deleveraging Holder Units Units Units % • Debt funding on the credit facility at low interest rate Public Unitholders 21.7 MM 12.1 MM 33.8 MM 37 • Pro-forma for the transaction, NBLX will have leverage 2 ~3.1x LQA 2020E EBITDA , plan to maintain peer-leading 1 Noble Energy 18.0 MM 38.5 MM 56.5 MM 63 leverage of < 3.5x long-term • Remain focused on achieving investment grade rating in medium term • Will address adding incremental liquidity under the credit facility by YE 2019 (1) Units issued to NBL will be issued at the 30-day VWAP through close of business November 6, at $24.18/share (2) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto 7 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


LOGO

www.nblmidstream.com $0 $100 $200 $300 2017 2018 2019E 2020E Transaction Simplifies Story, Fully Aligns NBLX with NBL Immediately Accretive to NBLX Unitholders • Distributable Cash Flow per unit1 accretion of ~5% in 2020E • Elimination of IDRs materially reduces cost of capital and supports long-term growth • Transaction improves leverage ratio1 to LQA 2020E 3.1x Maximizing Long Term Value to Partnership, Aligns Interests • Supportive transaction at 8.0x 2020 multiple1,2 (inclusive of IDRs) • NBL, the largest unit holder, provides steady long-term cash flow and opportunity to deliver additional project investment Strong 2020E Outlook • Stable cash flow streams generate EBITDA1 of $500 - 560 million • Capital efficiency and pipeline start-ups on track to drive cash flow growth in 2020E and beyond • New distribution growth target of 10% aligns NBLX with the current midstream environment and increases coverage ratio1 to 1.3x pro-forma 2020E • Base assets support organic growth capex, no equity financing needed 3 (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto (2) Inclusive of 2020 GP IDRs (3) No equity financed required for 3 year outlook to 2022 $0 $100 $200 2017 2018 2019E 2020E Drop Down Assets Aligned With NBL Growth Areas Drop Down Assets Declining in Capital Intensity Drop Down Assets Net EBITDA1 ($MM) Drop Down Assets Net CAPEX ($MM) Attractive Valuation Supports Long-Term Value Creation 8


Current Transaction Maximizes NBL’s Objectives for Strategic Review Increases Strategic Alignment between NBLX and NBL; Preserves Operational Synergies Accretive drop down / simplification at an attractive multiple Elimination of incentive distribution rights Basin backbone infrastructure largely complete NBL Support 1 NBLX now owns 100% of NBL focus areas (DJ & Delaware Basins) Track record of NBL volume leverage for long haul pipeline opportunities Transaction has 6 month lockup agreement (1) Excludes Gunnison River DevCo 9 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mCurrent Transaction Maximizes NBL’s Objectives for Strategic Review Increases Strategic Alignment between NBLX and NBL; Preserves Operational Synergies Accretive drop down / simplification at an attractive multiple Elimination of incentive distribution rights Basin backbone infrastructure largely complete NBL Support 1 NBLX now owns 100% of NBL focus areas (DJ & Delaware Basins) Track record of NBL volume leverage for long haul pipeline opportunities Transaction has 6 month lockup agreement (1) Excludes Gunnison River DevCo 9 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


Resilient Growth, Stronger Business Mix 2016 IPO Current Significantly Improved Business Profile Since 2016 IPO Current Pathway to Future Organic Growth Customer Customers 1 at IPO >30 in 3Q19 • Business expanded to over 30 new customers since 2016 IPO Meaningful customer expansion • Strategic partnership with NBL, who has a long runway of activity (500+ drilling permits in DJ) Rigs • Largest oil gatherer in DJ Basin with opportunity to expand Rigs Running in third party dedications with crude takeaway ownership 2.5 at IPO 18 2 2019 • Serving growing production in Permian and DJ Basins with Multiple Services per Well 100% ownership of NBL’s growth assets in DJ Basin and Delaware Basins (representing 90% of NBL’s 2019 U.S. onshore CapEx) of 2020E Multi- EBITDA Basin 0% 25% from Exposure Permian Diversification Driving Margin Growth Enhanced NBL and Third Party Permian Exposure • Opportunity to utilize core pipeline infrastructure in both the DJ and Delaware Basins and capture “wellhead to water” margin to Intermediate Intermediate across value chain or Long Haul or Long Haul 1 6 Pipeline Asset Pipeline Assets • NBL volume allows for additional business development; additional projects currently under consideration, including 20% option in Saddlehorn oil pipeline Driving Attractive Corporate ROACE 10 • Attractive project returns and investment multiples, projecting Thousand Million 1 combined 5x to 7x long-term equity investment multiple Dedicated Dedicated 340 1.4 Acres Acres (1) Prior to any external financing specific to NBLX’s EPIC Crude investment (2) Including 6 gross rigs on Delaware Crossing Significant Acreage Footprint (3) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto 10 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mResilient Growth, Stronger Business Mix 2016 IPO Current Significantly Improved Business Profile Since 2016 IPO Current Pathway to Future Organic Growth Customer Customers 1 at IPO >30 in 3Q19 • Business expanded to over 30 new customers since 2016 IPO Meaningful customer expansion • Strategic partnership with NBL, who has a long runway of activity (500+ drilling permits in DJ) Rigs • Largest oil gatherer in DJ Basin with opportunity to expand Rigs Running in third party dedications with crude takeaway ownership 2.5 at IPO 18 2 2019 • Serving growing production in Permian and DJ Basins with Multiple Services per Well 100% ownership of NBL’s growth assets in DJ Basin and Delaware Basins (representing 90% of NBL’s 2019 U.S. onshore CapEx) of 2020E Multi- EBITDA Basin 0% 25% from Exposure Permian Diversification Driving Margin Growth Enhanced NBL and Third Party Permian Exposure • Opportunity to utilize core pipeline infrastructure in both the DJ and Delaware Basins and capture “wellhead to water” margin to Intermediate Intermediate across value chain or Long Haul or Long Haul 1 6 Pipeline Asset Pipeline Assets • NBL volume allows for additional business development; additional projects currently under consideration, including 20% option in Saddlehorn oil pipeline Driving Attractive Corporate ROACE 10 • Attractive project returns and investment multiples, projecting Thousand Million 1 combined 5x to 7x long-term equity investment multiple Dedicated Dedicated 340 1.4 Acres Acres (1) Prior to any external financing specific to NBLX’s EPIC Crude investment (2) Including 6 gross rigs on Delaware Crossing Significant Acreage Footprint (3) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto 10 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


Asset Acquisition Summary, Leading DJ and Permian Basin Positions Pro-Forma NBLX Will Own Substantially All of NBL’s Onshore Midstream Assets DJ Basin Permian Basin Largest Oil Gatherer in DJ Basin with 10+ With backbone infrastructure built, Permian 1 customers and growing EBITDA and FCF reaching inflection point Previous Pro Forma NBLX Interest Services Ownership Ownership Previous Pro Forma NBLX Interest Services Ownership Ownership Oil / Gas / PW Blanco River 40% 100% Oil / Gas / PW Gathering Green River Gathering / FW 25% 100% Clayton Williams Oil / Gas / PW 0% 100% Delivery Pipeline Gathering San Juan River FW Delivery 25% 100% Gas Gathering East Pony Gas G&P / Gas 0% 100% Processing (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto 11 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mAsset Acquisition Summary, Leading DJ and Permian Basin Positions Pro-Forma NBLX Will Own Substantially All of NBL’s Onshore Midstream Assets DJ Basin Permian Basin Largest Oil Gatherer in DJ Basin with 10+ With backbone infrastructure built, Permian 1 customers and growing EBITDA and FCF reaching inflection point Previous Pro Forma NBLX Interest Services Ownership Ownership Previous Pro Forma NBLX Interest Services Ownership Ownership Oil / Gas / PW Blanco River 40% 100% Oil / Gas / PW Gathering Green River Gathering / FW 25% 100% Clayton Williams Oil / Gas / PW 0% 100% Delivery Pipeline Gathering San Juan River FW Delivery 25% 100% Gas Gathering East Pony Gas G&P / Gas 0% 100% Processing (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto 11 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


Addition of New Assets to Portfolio 1 East Pony Gas Gathering Complex Free Cash Flow Assets With Additional Third-Party Opportunities NBL Acreage East Pony Assets Generating Cash Flow • The East Pony gas gathering system includes Keota and Lilli gas processing plants and gas gathering pipelines • The 2 gas processing plants have a combined capacity for ~45 MMcf/d, currently 80% utilization • Opportunity to expand capacity to 60 MMcf/d through compression on minimal capital • Focused on expanding opportunity for third party business Clayton Williams Pipeline System Permian Pipeline Adds to Long Term Diversity • Pipeline and gathering system acquired by NBL through the NBL Acreage CWEI Pipelines Clayton Williams transaction • Pipeline transports oil, water and gas across central and southern acreage position • Volumes driven by PDP with potential for third party activity long-term • Q3 average gathering throughput of 3.1 MBo/d, 5.6 MMcf/d and 11.8 MBw/d (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto 12 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mAddition of New Assets to Portfolio 1 East Pony Gas Gathering Complex Free Cash Flow Assets With Additional Third-Party Opportunities NBL Acreage East Pony Assets Generating Cash Flow • The East Pony gas gathering system includes Keota and Lilli gas processing plants and gas gathering pipelines • The 2 gas processing plants have a combined capacity for ~45 MMcf/d, currently 80% utilization • Opportunity to expand capacity to 60 MMcf/d through compression on minimal capital • Focused on expanding opportunity for third party business Clayton Williams Pipeline System Permian Pipeline Adds to Long Term Diversity • Pipeline and gathering system acquired by NBL through the NBL Acreage CWEI Pipelines Clayton Williams transaction • Pipeline transports oil, water and gas across central and southern acreage position • Volumes driven by PDP with potential for third party activity long-term • Q3 average gathering throughput of 3.1 MBo/d, 5.6 MMcf/d and 11.8 MBw/d (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto 12 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


NBL Upstream Activity Drop Down Assets in NBL’s Primary U.S. Onshore Growth Areas 2019E Organic Capital: ~$2.3 Bn Driving Towards USO Asset-level Free Cash ~70% Allocated to U.S. Onshore 1 Flow By Year-end 2019 USO • Significant core asset production growth EMed • DJ and Delaware up ~15-20% combined FY19 vs. EG FY18 Midstream • >165 wells estimated to commence production in Other 2019 in DJ and Delaware Basins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Focusing on High-margin DJ and Delaware Basins Enhancing USO Capital Efficiencies 2 Production and Oil Up 10% vs. 2018 • Nearly 90% of 2019 upstream capital allocated to high-return DJ and Delaware Basins MBoe/d 268-276 300 • Eagle Ford activity optimized for cash flow 244 generation 207 200 DJ / Delaware CAGR NBL Provides Visibility to Growth 100 ~25% Since 2017 • ~370 drilling permits approved and remaining in the 0 Mustang CDP 2 2 2017 2018 2019E • Significant oil growth from Delaware Basin linked to Delaware DJ Basin Eagle Ford Gulf Coast pricing (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto (2) Pro Forma for asset divestitures and ASC 606 13 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mNBL Upstream Activity Drop Down Assets in NBL’s Primary U.S. Onshore Growth Areas 2019E Organic Capital: ~$2.3 Bn Driving Towards USO Asset-level Free Cash ~70% Allocated to U.S. Onshore 1 Flow By Year-end 2019 USO • Significant core asset production growth EMed • DJ and Delaware up ~15-20% combined FY19 vs. EG FY18 Midstream • >165 wells estimated to commence production in Other 2019 in DJ and Delaware Basins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Focusing on High-margin DJ and Delaware Basins Enhancing USO Capital Efficiencies 2 Production and Oil Up 10% vs. 2018 • Nearly 90% of 2019 upstream capital allocated to high-return DJ and Delaware Basins MBoe/d 268-276 300 • Eagle Ford activity optimized for cash flow 244 generation 207 200 DJ / Delaware CAGR NBL Provides Visibility to Growth 100 ~25% Since 2017 • ~370 drilling permits approved and remaining in the 0 Mustang CDP 2 2 2017 2018 2019E • Significant oil growth from Delaware Basin linked to Delaware DJ Basin Eagle Ford Gulf Coast pricing (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto (2) Pro Forma for asset divestitures and ASC 606 13 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


Operational Momentum and Cash Flow Inflection Building into 2020E Guidance Highlighted by ~75% Reduction in Equity Investment Capital and Strong Annual Volume Growth Q4 2019 Guidance Full Year 2019 Previously 2019 5 Pro Forma Previously 2020E Reported Pro Forma Reported Oil Gathered (MBbl/d) 248 – 258 251 – 261 236 – 238 239 – 241 250 – 275 9% Gas Gathered (MMcf/d) 482 – 502 525 – 545 430 – 435 474 – 479 530 – 590 17% Oil and Gas Gathered (MBoe/d) 328 – 342 338 – 352 307 – 311 318 – 321 338 – 373 11% Produced Water Gathered 195 - 205 206 - 216 171 – 173 184 – 187 210 – 235 20% (MBw/d) Fresh Water Delivered (MBw/d) 110 - 145 110 - 145 161 – 169 161 – 169 180 – 235 26% 1,2 Adjusted Net EBITDA 64 – 69 81 – 86 243 – 248 261 – 266 500 – 560 101% 1 Distributable Cash Flow 53 – 58 67 – 72 198 – 203 212 – 217 325 – 370 62% 1,3 Distribution Coverage Ratio 1.5x – 1.7x 1.1x – 1.2x 1.5x – 1.6x 1.4x – 1.5x 1.2x – 1.4x (9)% 4 Net Capex 40 – 50 60 – 70 141 – 151 160 – 170 260 – 300 43% 2 Equity Investments, net 104 – 134 104 – 134 590 – 620 590 – 620 130 – 150 (77)% (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto (2) Assumes the exercise of NBLX’s 20% option in Saddlehorn (3) Pro forma estimates include forecasted DPU growth of 10% annually (4) Excludes equity investments (5) Gross pro forma adjustments reflect full quarter / year adjustments for previously non-consolidating assets (East Pony gas gathering and processing and CWEI pipeline). Net pro forma adjustments reflect results following the assumed effective date of 11/15/2019 for previously consolidating assets (additional ownership interests in Green River DevCo, San Juan River DevCo, and Blanco River DevCo) and previously non-consolidating assets (East Pony gas gathering and processing and CWEI pipeline). 14 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m Financials ($MM) Gross VolumesOperational Momentum and Cash Flow Inflection Building into 2020E Guidance Highlighted by ~75% Reduction in Equity Investment Capital and Strong Annual Volume Growth Q4 2019 Guidance Full Year 2019 Previously 2019 5 Pro Forma Previously 2020E Reported Pro Forma Reported Oil Gathered (MBbl/d) 248 – 258 251 – 261 236 – 238 239 – 241 250 – 275 9% Gas Gathered (MMcf/d) 482 – 502 525 – 545 430 – 435 474 – 479 530 – 590 17% Oil and Gas Gathered (MBoe/d) 328 – 342 338 – 352 307 – 311 318 – 321 338 – 373 11% Produced Water Gathered 195 - 205 206 - 216 171 – 173 184 – 187 210 – 235 20% (MBw/d) Fresh Water Delivered (MBw/d) 110 - 145 110 - 145 161 – 169 161 – 169 180 – 235 26% 1,2 Adjusted Net EBITDA 64 – 69 81 – 86 243 – 248 261 – 266 500 – 560 101% 1 Distributable Cash Flow 53 – 58 67 – 72 198 – 203 212 – 217 325 – 370 62% 1,3 Distribution Coverage Ratio 1.5x – 1.7x 1.1x – 1.2x 1.5x – 1.6x 1.4x – 1.5x 1.2x – 1.4x (9)% 4 Net Capex 40 – 50 60 – 70 141 – 151 160 – 170 260 – 300 43% 2 Equity Investments, net 104 – 134 104 – 134 590 – 620 590 – 620 130 – 150 (77)% (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto (2) Assumes the exercise of NBLX’s 20% option in Saddlehorn (3) Pro forma estimates include forecasted DPU growth of 10% annually (4) Excludes equity investments (5) Gross pro forma adjustments reflect full quarter / year adjustments for previously non-consolidating assets (East Pony gas gathering and processing and CWEI pipeline). Net pro forma adjustments reflect results following the assumed effective date of 11/15/2019 for previously consolidating assets (additional ownership interests in Green River DevCo, San Juan River DevCo, and Blanco River DevCo) and previously non-consolidating assets (East Pony gas gathering and processing and CWEI pipeline). 14 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m Financials ($MM) Gross Volumes


Long-Term Targets Offer Compelling Financial Profile Substantial Organic Growth With Upside Potential; Focus on Long-Term Investment Grade Leverage Targets § Long term exposure and runway to organic growth in DJ and Delaware Basins 1 § Stable cash flow streams generate significant EBITDA in 2020E and beyond § Moderating DPU growth to increase coverage and retain cash Organic Growth Outlook 2020E 2021-2022E Material Upside to Outlook: § Continued business development success, leveraging asset Distribution per Unit 10% 10% footprints in DJ and Permian § Additional long-haul pipeline opportunities 1 Coverage (in all years) 1.2x – 1.4x ~1.3x § Early innings on capital efficiency Long Term Leverage 1 gains, potential to drive additional Year-End Annualized Leverage ~3.1x Target of <3.5x capital savings and increase distribution coverage and improve leverage metrics 1, 2 ROACE 15% - 18% 15% – 20% DCF Funding % of Capex and ~75% (cumulative) ~45% 3 Distributions (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto (2) Return on average capital employed: earnings before interest and taxes divided by (average total assets – average current liabilities); see definition provided in appendix (3) % of distributions + capex funded by distributable cash flow 15 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mLong-Term Targets Offer Compelling Financial Profile Substantial Organic Growth With Upside Potential; Focus on Long-Term Investment Grade Leverage Targets § Long term exposure and runway to organic growth in DJ and Delaware Basins 1 § Stable cash flow streams generate significant EBITDA in 2020E and beyond § Moderating DPU growth to increase coverage and retain cash Organic Growth Outlook 2020E 2021-2022E Material Upside to Outlook: § Continued business development success, leveraging asset Distribution per Unit 10% 10% footprints in DJ and Permian § Additional long-haul pipeline opportunities 1 Coverage (in all years) 1.2x – 1.4x ~1.3x § Early innings on capital efficiency Long Term Leverage 1 gains, potential to drive additional Year-End Annualized Leverage ~3.1x Target of <3.5x capital savings and increase distribution coverage and improve leverage metrics 1, 2 ROACE 15% - 18% 15% – 20% DCF Funding % of Capex and ~75% (cumulative) ~45% 3 Distributions (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto (2) Return on average capital employed: earnings before interest and taxes divided by (average total assets – average current liabilities); see definition provided in appendix (3) % of distributions + capex funded by distributable cash flow 15 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


Top-Tier Cash Flow Profiles in MLP Sector Self-Funding Business, Strong Balance Sheet and NBL Support With Additional Upside 2019E – 2022E 1,2 1,2 2020E DCF Yield 2020E Leverage Ratio 1,2 Distribution Growth per Unit NBLX has peer leading estimated distribution growth through 2022, supported through its Top-tier distributable cash flow growth creates a Self-funding business and growing organic cash combination of core gathering assets and high yielding company flows results in a strong Balance Sheet imminent pipeline cash flow 5.0x 14% 20% Industry Average: 4.2x Industry Average: 7% Industry Average: 12% 12% 4.0x 10% 3.0x 8% 10% 6% 2.0x 4% 1.0x 2% 0% 0% 0.0x Peer 1 NBLX Peer 2 Peer 3 Peer 4 Peer 5 NBLX Peer 1 Peer 2 Peer 3 Peer 4 Peer 5 Peer 1 NBLX Peer 2Peer 3Peer 4Peer 5 Source: FactSet. Market data as of 11/1/2019. Note: Industry average reflects Alerian U.S. Midstream Energy Index. (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto, leverage ratio for NBLX reflects 4Q 2020 LQA EBITDA (2) Charts Peer Group includes: HESM, WMB, OKE, PSXP, WES consensus estimates 16 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mTop-Tier Cash Flow Profiles in MLP Sector Self-Funding Business, Strong Balance Sheet and NBL Support With Additional Upside 2019E – 2022E 1,2 1,2 2020E DCF Yield 2020E Leverage Ratio 1,2 Distribution Growth per Unit NBLX has peer leading estimated distribution growth through 2022, supported through its Top-tier distributable cash flow growth creates a Self-funding business and growing organic cash combination of core gathering assets and high yielding company flows results in a strong Balance Sheet imminent pipeline cash flow 5.0x 14% 20% Industry Average: 4.2x Industry Average: 7% Industry Average: 12% 12% 4.0x 10% 3.0x 8% 10% 6% 2.0x 4% 1.0x 2% 0% 0% 0.0x Peer 1 NBLX Peer 2 Peer 3 Peer 4 Peer 5 NBLX Peer 1 Peer 2 Peer 3 Peer 4 Peer 5 Peer 1 NBLX Peer 2Peer 3Peer 4Peer 5 Source: FactSet. Market data as of 11/1/2019. Note: Industry average reflects Alerian U.S. Midstream Energy Index. (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto, leverage ratio for NBLX reflects 4Q 2020 LQA EBITDA (2) Charts Peer Group includes: HESM, WMB, OKE, PSXP, WES consensus estimates 16 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


NBLX Equity Story Reinvigorated With Announced Transactions Significant Stand-Alone Organic Potential for Growth With Enhanced Clarity on Structure Key Transactional Highlights: • NBL reaffirms support and commitment to NBLX • Unique opportunity to invest in a company with sector leading growth paired with simplified corporate structure • Accretive drop down / simplification on a DCF basis at attractive multiple – eliminates structural questions • Transactions aligns NBLX with NBL, providing steady long term cash flow and opportunity to deliver additional project investment at the NBL level Key Financial Highlights: • Accretive on a distribution per unit basis • Eliminates incentive distribution payments 1 • Reduces pro forma leverage and improves distribution coverage • No future equity financing required, self-funding growth (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto 17 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mNBLX Equity Story Reinvigorated With Announced Transactions Significant Stand-Alone Organic Potential for Growth With Enhanced Clarity on Structure Key Transactional Highlights: • NBL reaffirms support and commitment to NBLX • Unique opportunity to invest in a company with sector leading growth paired with simplified corporate structure • Accretive drop down / simplification on a DCF basis at attractive multiple – eliminates structural questions • Transactions aligns NBLX with NBL, providing steady long term cash flow and opportunity to deliver additional project investment at the NBL level Key Financial Highlights: • Accretive on a distribution per unit basis • Eliminates incentive distribution payments 1 • Reduces pro forma leverage and improves distribution coverage • No future equity financing required, self-funding growth (1) Non-GAAP term, see definitions in Appendix hereto 17 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


Appendix 18 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mAppendix 18 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


Pro Forma Structure Noble Energy NYSE: NBL 100% ~63% Limited Noble Midstream GP LLC Partner Interest Non-Economic General ROFR/Wholly Owned Assets: Partner Interest • Eagle Ford Shale Midstream Noble Midstream • Additional DJ Acreage Partners LP Public Unitholders (LP) NYSE: NBLX 100% ~37% Limited Partner Interest Non- Controlling Noble Midstream 3.33% Non-Operating Interest Services, LLC Membership Interest White Cliffs Pipeline L.L.C. Controlling Interest DJ Basin Permian Basin 5% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% East Pony Gunnison Green San Juan Colorado Laramie Blanco CWEI Trinity Gas Dos Rios River River River River River River Pipeline River Complex 54.4% 50% 50% 30% 15% Delaware EPIC Black Advantage EPIC Crossing Y-Grade 95% Diamond JV Crude JV JV JV 19 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mPro Forma Structure Noble Energy NYSE: NBL 100% ~63% Limited Noble Midstream GP LLC Partner Interest Non-Economic General ROFR/Wholly Owned Assets: Partner Interest • Eagle Ford Shale Midstream Noble Midstream • Additional DJ Acreage Partners LP Public Unitholders (LP) NYSE: NBLX 100% ~37% Limited Partner Interest Non- Controlling Noble Midstream 3.33% Non-Operating Interest Services, LLC Membership Interest White Cliffs Pipeline L.L.C. Controlling Interest DJ Basin Permian Basin 5% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% East Pony Gunnison Green San Juan Colorado Laramie Blanco CWEI Trinity Gas Dos Rios River River River River River River Pipeline River Complex 54.4% 50% 50% 30% 15% Delaware EPIC Black Advantage EPIC Crossing Y-Grade 95% Diamond JV Crude JV JV JV 19 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


NBLX DJ Basin Overview Largest Oil Gatherer in DJ Basin With Majority of Customers and Activity Focused in Weld County Area: Wells Ranch Colorado River DevCo (100%) Black Diamond (54.4%) • Oil Gathering Keota Laramie River DevCo (100%) • Gas Gathering Plant • Oil Gathering • PW Gathering • FW Delivery Area: East Pony Colorado River DevCo (100%) • Oil Gathering Area: Greeley Crescent Lilli San Juan River DevCo (100%) Laramie River DevCo (100%) Plant • FW Delivery • Oil Gathering • PW Gathering East Pony Gas Complex (100%) • FW Delivery • Gas Gathering and Processing Area: Bronco Area: Mustang Gunnison River DevCo (5%) Green River DevCo (100%) • Oil Gathering • Oil Gathering • PW Gathering • Gas Gathering • FW Delivery • PW Gathering • FW Delivery 20 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mNBLX DJ Basin Overview Largest Oil Gatherer in DJ Basin With Majority of Customers and Activity Focused in Weld County Area: Wells Ranch Colorado River DevCo (100%) Black Diamond (54.4%) • Oil Gathering Keota Laramie River DevCo (100%) • Gas Gathering Plant • Oil Gathering • PW Gathering • FW Delivery Area: East Pony Colorado River DevCo (100%) • Oil Gathering Area: Greeley Crescent Lilli San Juan River DevCo (100%) Laramie River DevCo (100%) Plant • FW Delivery • Oil Gathering • PW Gathering East Pony Gas Complex (100%) • FW Delivery • Gas Gathering and Processing Area: Bronco Area: Mustang Gunnison River DevCo (5%) Green River DevCo (100%) • Oil Gathering • Oil Gathering • PW Gathering • Gas Gathering • FW Delivery • PW Gathering • FW Delivery 20 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


NBLX Permian Basin Overview Scalable Platform With Best-in-Class Connectivity EPIC Crude(30%) & EPIC Y- Grade (15%) Dos Rios DevCo (100%) Area: Delaware Basin • Oil and NGL Transmission Blanco River DevCo (100%) • Oil Gathering • Gas Gathering • PW Gathering Trinity River DevCo (100%) • HP Gas Compression Advantage JV (50%) Trinity River DevCo (100%) • Oil Transmission Delaware Crossing Delaware Crossing (50%) NBLX – In Service Dos Rios DevCo (100%) • Oil Gathering and Transmission Advantage Pipeline Clayton Williams System EPIC Pipeline Delaware Crossing Dedicated Acreage CXO Dedicated Acreage Clayton Williams Pipeline System (100%) NBL Dedicated Acreage • Oil, Gas and Water Gathering System Tall City Dedicated Acreage 21 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mNBLX Permian Basin Overview Scalable Platform With Best-in-Class Connectivity EPIC Crude(30%) & EPIC Y- Grade (15%) Dos Rios DevCo (100%) Area: Delaware Basin • Oil and NGL Transmission Blanco River DevCo (100%) • Oil Gathering • Gas Gathering • PW Gathering Trinity River DevCo (100%) • HP Gas Compression Advantage JV (50%) Trinity River DevCo (100%) • Oil Transmission Delaware Crossing Delaware Crossing (50%) NBLX – In Service Dos Rios DevCo (100%) • Oil Gathering and Transmission Advantage Pipeline Clayton Williams System EPIC Pipeline Delaware Crossing Dedicated Acreage CXO Dedicated Acreage Clayton Williams Pipeline System (100%) NBL Dedicated Acreage • Oil, Gas and Water Gathering System Tall City Dedicated Acreage 21 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


NBLX Has Built a Resilient Third Party and Long-Haul Business Significant Third-Party Growth Since IPO Green River Advantage Pipeline Laramie River Saddle Butte Acquisition Delaware Crossing JV Acquisition Online Buildout §50/50 joint venture with Plains §Laramie River oil / §Joint venture with Greenfield §Completes the oil, §50/50 JV with Salt Creek acquired Advantage Pipeline produced water Midstream (EnCap Flatrock gas and produced Midstream to build crude oil §Underwritten by NBL Rosetta gathering systems backed) acquired Saddle water spec gathering pipeline and gathering system crude dedication and PAA and fresh water Butte Pipeline system for NBL’s in the Delaware volume commitment delivery systems §Noble Midstream received Mustang §Underpinned by acreage §Strategic JV that gives NBLX a online 54.4% economic interest for development contributions from Noble third-party Delaware crude §Connected 18 50% of capital §Connected five wells Midstream and SCM of ~180k platform at new build multiples equivalent wells in §DJ Basin Crude Gathering to the system at the dedicated acres from NBL and / pipeline cost Q4 2017 system with six third-party end of the quarter five other Southern Delaware customers Basin producers Sep Nov Apr Jun Q4 Jan Jun Oct Feb Feb 2016 2017 2017 2017 2018 2018 2018 2019 2019 2019 IPO Permian Basin Exercise EPIC Long-Haul st 1 Drop Down IDR Simplification and Drop Down CGF Development Options §Acquired the incentive distribution §Acquired remaining 20% of §Exercises option to acquire §Completed and brought rights from NBL as well as the Colorado River DevCo and 30% equity interest in EPIC online the Collier central company’s remaining midstream additional 15% interest in Blanco crude line and 15% equity gathering facility (CGF), the assets for $1.6 billion River DevCo th interest in EPIC Y-Grade line 5 CGF supporting NBL’s §NBLX now controls 100% of Blanco §$270 million in proceeds to NBL §Total cash contribution Permian Basin development River, Green River and San Juan River §$143 million NBLX equity expected to be $330 million to §Brings total Permian Basin DevCos, East Pony Gas Complex, and offering $350 million for the EPIC Crude oil and gas gathering the Clayton Williams Pipeline in the line $165 million to $180 capacity to 115 Mboe/d Delaware Basin million for the EPIC Y-Grade line 22 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mNBLX Has Built a Resilient Third Party and Long-Haul Business Significant Third-Party Growth Since IPO Green River Advantage Pipeline Laramie River Saddle Butte Acquisition Delaware Crossing JV Acquisition Online Buildout §50/50 joint venture with Plains §Laramie River oil / §Joint venture with Greenfield §Completes the oil, §50/50 JV with Salt Creek acquired Advantage Pipeline produced water Midstream (EnCap Flatrock gas and produced Midstream to build crude oil §Underwritten by NBL Rosetta gathering systems backed) acquired Saddle water spec gathering pipeline and gathering system crude dedication and PAA and fresh water Butte Pipeline system for NBL’s in the Delaware volume commitment delivery systems §Noble Midstream received Mustang §Underpinned by acreage §Strategic JV that gives NBLX a online 54.4% economic interest for development contributions from Noble third-party Delaware crude §Connected 18 50% of capital §Connected five wells Midstream and SCM of ~180k platform at new build multiples equivalent wells in §DJ Basin Crude Gathering to the system at the dedicated acres from NBL and / pipeline cost Q4 2017 system with six third-party end of the quarter five other Southern Delaware customers Basin producers Sep Nov Apr Jun Q4 Jan Jun Oct Feb Feb 2016 2017 2017 2017 2018 2018 2018 2019 2019 2019 IPO Permian Basin Exercise EPIC Long-Haul st 1 Drop Down IDR Simplification and Drop Down CGF Development Options §Acquired the incentive distribution §Acquired remaining 20% of §Exercises option to acquire §Completed and brought rights from NBL as well as the Colorado River DevCo and 30% equity interest in EPIC online the Collier central company’s remaining midstream additional 15% interest in Blanco crude line and 15% equity gathering facility (CGF), the assets for $1.6 billion River DevCo th interest in EPIC Y-Grade line 5 CGF supporting NBL’s §NBLX now controls 100% of Blanco §$270 million in proceeds to NBL §Total cash contribution Permian Basin development River, Green River and San Juan River §$143 million NBLX equity expected to be $330 million to §Brings total Permian Basin DevCos, East Pony Gas Complex, and offering $350 million for the EPIC Crude oil and gas gathering the Clayton Williams Pipeline in the line $165 million to $180 capacity to 115 Mboe/d Delaware Basin million for the EPIC Y-Grade line 22 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


Non-GAAP Financial Measures This presentation includes EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Distribution Coverage Ratio, Annualized Leverage Ratio and ROACE, all of which are non-GAAP measures which may be used periodically by management when discussing our financial results with investors and analysts. We now define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before income taxes, net interest expense, depreciation and amortization, transaction expenses, unit-based compensation and certain other items that we do no view as indicative of our ongoing performance. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA reflects the adjusted earnings impact of our unconsolidated investments by adjusting our equity earnings or losses from our unconsolidated investments to reflect our proportionate share of their EBITDA. Prior period Adjusted EBITDA has been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Adjusted EBITDA is used as a supplemental financial measure by management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, industry analysts, lenders and ratings agencies, to assess: • our operating performance as compared to those of other companies in the midstream energy industry, without regard to financing methods, historical cost basis or capital structure; • the ability of our assets to generate sufficient cash flow to make distributions to our partners; • our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures; • and the viability of acquisitions and other capital expenditure projects and the returns on investment of various investment opportunities. We now define Distributable Cash Flow as Adjusted EBITDA plus distributions received from our unconsolidated investments less our proportionate share of Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated investments, estimated maintenance capital expenditures and cash interest paid. Prior period distributable cash flow has been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Distributable Cash Flow is used by management to evaluate our overall performance. Our partnership agreement requires us to distribute all available cash on a quarterly basis, and Distributable Cash Flow is one of the factors used by the board of directors of our general partner to help determine the amount of available cash that is available to our unitholders for a given period. We define Distribution Coverage Ratio as Distributable Cash Flow divided by total distributions declared. The Distribution Coverage Ratio is used by management to illustrate our ability to make our distributions each quarter. We define free cash flow at the upstream level as GAAP cash flow from operations less consolidated capital investments. We define ROACE as earnings before interest and taxes divided by (average total assets – average current liabilities). ROACE is used by management to measure the efficiency of the utilization of the capital that we employ. We define Annualized Leverage Ratio as total debt divided by quarterly adjusted EBITDA attributable to the Partnership, annualized for four quarters. Annualized Leverage Ratio is used by management to assess our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures. We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Distribution Coverage Ratio, Annualized Leverage Ratio and ROACE provide information useful to investors in assessing our financial condition and results of operations. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Distribution Coverage Ratio, Annualized Leverage Ratio and ROACE is Net Income. Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Distribution Coverage Ratio, Annualized Leverage Ratio and ROACE should not be considered alternatives to net income or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Distribution Coverage Ratio, Annualized Leverage Ratio and ROACE exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income, and these measures may vary from those of other companies. As a result, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Distribution Coverage Ratio, Annualized Leverage Ratio and ROACE as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Noble Midstream does not provide guidance on the reconciling items between forecasted Net Income, forecasted Adjusted EBITDA, forecasted Distributable Cash Flow and forecasted Distribution Coverage Ratio due to the uncertainty regarding timing and estimates of these items. Noble Midstream provides a range for the forecasts of Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Distribution Coverage Ratio to allow for the variability in timing and uncertainty of estimates of reconciling items between forecasted Net Income, forecasted Adjusted EBITDA, forecasted Distributable Cash Flow and forecasted Distribution Coverage Ratio. Therefore, the Partnership cannot reconcile forecasted Net Income to forecasted Adjusted EBITDA, forecasted Distributable Cash Flow or forecasted Distribution Coverage Ratio without unreasonable effort. In addition to Net Income, the GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow is net cash provided by operating activities. Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow should not be considered alternatives to net income, net cash provided by operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Due to the forward- looking nature of net cash provided by operating activities, management cannot reliably predict certain of the necessary components of the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measures, such as future impairments and future changes in working capital. Accordingly, Noble Midstream is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of the aforementioned forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to net cash provided by operating activities. Amounts excluded from these non-GAAP measures in future periods could be significant. 23 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mNon-GAAP Financial Measures This presentation includes EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Distribution Coverage Ratio, Annualized Leverage Ratio and ROACE, all of which are non-GAAP measures which may be used periodically by management when discussing our financial results with investors and analysts. We now define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before income taxes, net interest expense, depreciation and amortization, transaction expenses, unit-based compensation and certain other items that we do no view as indicative of our ongoing performance. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA reflects the adjusted earnings impact of our unconsolidated investments by adjusting our equity earnings or losses from our unconsolidated investments to reflect our proportionate share of their EBITDA. Prior period Adjusted EBITDA has been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Adjusted EBITDA is used as a supplemental financial measure by management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, industry analysts, lenders and ratings agencies, to assess: • our operating performance as compared to those of other companies in the midstream energy industry, without regard to financing methods, historical cost basis or capital structure; • the ability of our assets to generate sufficient cash flow to make distributions to our partners; • our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures; • and the viability of acquisitions and other capital expenditure projects and the returns on investment of various investment opportunities. We now define Distributable Cash Flow as Adjusted EBITDA plus distributions received from our unconsolidated investments less our proportionate share of Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated investments, estimated maintenance capital expenditures and cash interest paid. Prior period distributable cash flow has been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Distributable Cash Flow is used by management to evaluate our overall performance. Our partnership agreement requires us to distribute all available cash on a quarterly basis, and Distributable Cash Flow is one of the factors used by the board of directors of our general partner to help determine the amount of available cash that is available to our unitholders for a given period. We define Distribution Coverage Ratio as Distributable Cash Flow divided by total distributions declared. The Distribution Coverage Ratio is used by management to illustrate our ability to make our distributions each quarter. We define free cash flow at the upstream level as GAAP cash flow from operations less consolidated capital investments. We define ROACE as earnings before interest and taxes divided by (average total assets – average current liabilities). ROACE is used by management to measure the efficiency of the utilization of the capital that we employ. We define Annualized Leverage Ratio as total debt divided by quarterly adjusted EBITDA attributable to the Partnership, annualized for four quarters. Annualized Leverage Ratio is used by management to assess our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures. We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Distribution Coverage Ratio, Annualized Leverage Ratio and ROACE provide information useful to investors in assessing our financial condition and results of operations. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Distribution Coverage Ratio, Annualized Leverage Ratio and ROACE is Net Income. Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Distribution Coverage Ratio, Annualized Leverage Ratio and ROACE should not be considered alternatives to net income or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Distribution Coverage Ratio, Annualized Leverage Ratio and ROACE exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income, and these measures may vary from those of other companies. As a result, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow, Distribution Coverage Ratio, Annualized Leverage Ratio and ROACE as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Noble Midstream does not provide guidance on the reconciling items between forecasted Net Income, forecasted Adjusted EBITDA, forecasted Distributable Cash Flow and forecasted Distribution Coverage Ratio due to the uncertainty regarding timing and estimates of these items. Noble Midstream provides a range for the forecasts of Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Distribution Coverage Ratio to allow for the variability in timing and uncertainty of estimates of reconciling items between forecasted Net Income, forecasted Adjusted EBITDA, forecasted Distributable Cash Flow and forecasted Distribution Coverage Ratio. Therefore, the Partnership cannot reconcile forecasted Net Income to forecasted Adjusted EBITDA, forecasted Distributable Cash Flow or forecasted Distribution Coverage Ratio without unreasonable effort. In addition to Net Income, the GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow is net cash provided by operating activities. Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow should not be considered alternatives to net income, net cash provided by operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Due to the forward- looking nature of net cash provided by operating activities, management cannot reliably predict certain of the necessary components of the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measures, such as future impairments and future changes in working capital. Accordingly, Noble Midstream is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of the aforementioned forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to net cash provided by operating activities. Amounts excluded from these non-GAAP measures in future periods could be significant. 23 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m


Contact Information Tom Christensen 1001 Noble Energy Way Chief Financial Officer Houston, TX 77070 tom.christensen@nblmidstream.com 832.639.7524 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om mContact Information Tom Christensen 1001 Noble Energy Way Chief Financial Officer Houston, TX 77070 tom.christensen@nblmidstream.com 832.639.7524 w ww ww w..n nb bllm miid ds st tr re ea am m..c co om m