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, 2017 (November 9, 2017)
Summit Midstream Partners, LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-35666 | 45-5200503 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd, Suite 500
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)
(832) 413-4770
(Registrants’ telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company 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. |
On November 9, 2017, Summit Midstream Partners, LP (the “Partnership”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and among the Partnership, Summit Midstream GP, LLC (the “General Partner”), Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC (the “Operating Company,” and together with the Partnership and the General Partner, the “Partnership Parties”) and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), providing for the offer and sale (the “Offering”) by the Partnership of 300,000 of its 9.50% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Series A Preferred Units”), at a price to the public of $1,000 per Series A Preferred Unit.
The material terms of the Offering are described in a prospectus supplement, dated November 9, 2017 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), filed by the Partnership with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on November 13, 2017, pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Offering is registered with the Commission pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended (File No. 333-219196), which became automatically effective on November 6, 2017.
The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements of the Partnership Parties, and customary conditions to closing, obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The Partnership Parties have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.
The Offering closed on November 14, 2017. The Partnership received net proceeds from the Offering of approximately $293 million (after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses) and intends to use such net proceeds to repay outstanding borrowing under its revolving credit facility.
As more fully described under the captions “Underwriting” and “Other Relationships” in the Prospectus Supplement, certain of the Underwriters have in the past provided and may from time to time in the future provide investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of their business for the Partnership Parties and their respective affiliates for which they have received and in the future will be entitled to receive, customary fees and commissions.
The foregoing description of the Underwriting Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.
| Item 3.03 | Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
The information set forth under Item 5.03 of this Current Report is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.
| Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
On November 14, 2017, the Partnership executed the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “Second A&R Partnership Agreement”) to, among other things, authorize and establish the rights, preferences and privileges of the Series A Preferred Units in connection with the Offering; to revise certain provisions relating to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (the “BBA”); and to remove certain provisions that are no longer applicable to the Partnership .
The Series A Preferred Units rank senior to (i) common units and incentive distribution rights, each representing limited partner interests in the Partnership and (ii) each other class or series of limited partner interests or other equity securities in the Partnership that may be established after the date hereof and that expressly ranks junior to the Series A Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions and amounts payable upon a liquidation event (the “Junior Securities”). The Series A Preferred Units rank pari passu with each class or series of limited partner interests or
other equity securities in the Partnership that may be established after the date hereof that is not expressly made senior or subordinated to the Series A Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions and amounts payable on a liquidation event (the “Parity Securities”). The Series A Preferred Units will rank junior to (i) all of the Partnership’s existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities with respect to assets available to satisfy claims against the Partnership and (ii) each other class or series of limited partner interests or other equity securities in the Partnership established after the date hereof that is expressly made senior to the Series A Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions and amounts payable upon a liquidation event (the “Senior Securities”).
Distributions on the Series A Preferred Units will be cumulative and compounding from the date hereof and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on the 15th day of each June and December through and including December 15, 2022, and, thereafter, quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year (each, a “Distribution Payment Date”) to holders of record as of the close of business on the first business day of the month of the applicable Distribution Payment Date, in each case, when, as, and if declared by the General Partner out of legally available funds for such purpose. A pro-rated initial distribution on the Series A Preferred Units will be payable on December 15, 2017 in an amount equal to approximately $7.9167 per Series A Preferred Unit. If any Distribution Payment Date otherwise would fall on a day that is not a business day, declared distributions will be paid on the immediately succeeding business day without the accumulation of additional distributions.
The initial distribution rate for the Series A Preferred Units from and including the date hereof to, but not including, December 15, 2022 will be 9.50% per annum of the $1,000.00 liquidation preference per Series A Preferred Unit (equal to $95.00 per Series A Preferred Unit per annum). On and after December 15, 2022, distributions on the Series A Preferred Units will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the liquidation preference equal to the three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 7.43%.
The Partnership will not declare or pay or set aside for payment full distributions on the Series A Preferred Units or any Parity Securities for any distribution period unless (i) full cumulative distributions have been paid or provided for on the Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities through the most recently completed distribution period for each such security and (ii) at the time of the declaration of distributions on the Series A Preferred Units or the Parity Securities, as applicable, the General Partner expects to have sufficient funds to pay the next distribution on the Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities in full (regardless of the relative timing of such distributions). To the extent distributions will not be paid in full on the Series A Preferred Units, the General Partner will take appropriate action to ensure that all distributions declared and paid upon the Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities will be reduced, declared and paid on a pro rata basis on their respective payment dates.
The Partnership will not declare or pay, or set aside for payment, distributions on any Junior Securities (other than a distribution payable solely in Junior Securities) unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are being paid on all outstanding Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Securities through the most recently completed respective distribution periods. To the extent a distribution period applicable to a class of Junior Securities or Parity Securities is shorter than the distribution period applicable to the Series A Preferred Units (e.g., quarterly rather than semi-annual), the General Partner may declare and pay regular distributions with respect to such Junior Securities or Parity Securities so long as, at the time of declaration of such distribution, the General Partner expects to have sufficient funds to pay the full distribution in respect of the Series A Preferred Units on the next successive Distribution Payment Date.
The Series A Preferred Units will not have a stated maturity and will not be subject to mandatory redemption or any sinking fund. The Series A Preferred Units will remain outstanding indefinitely unless repurchased or redeemed by the Partnership. The Series A Preferred Units may be redeemed by the Partnership at its option (i) following the occurrence of certain ratings agency events, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price in cash of $1,020.00 per Series A Preferred Unit (102% of the liquidation preference of $1,000.00) plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid distributions thereon to, but not including, the date of redemption, whether or not declared, or (ii) at any time on or after December 15, 2022, in whole or in part, at a redemption price in cash of $1,000 per Series A Preferred Unit plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid distributions thereon to, but not including, the date of redemption, whether or not declared.
Upon the occurrence of certain change of control events, the holders of Series A Preferred Units may require the Partnership to repurchase all or a portion of such holder’s Series A Preferred Units at a purchase price in cash of $1,010.00 per Series A Preferred Unit (101% of the liquidation preference of $1,000.00) plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid distributions thereon to, but not including, the date of settlement. If the Partnership failed to make an offer to repurchase, or failed to repurchase any of the Series A Preferred Units tendered, upon the occurrence of such a change of control event, then, from and after the first date of such failure and until repurchased by the Partnership, the distribution rate for the Series A Preferred Units would be 11.50% per annum (an increase of 2.0% per annum) prior to December 15, 2022, and on and after December 15, 2022, would accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the liquidation preference equal to the three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 9.43% (an increase of 2.0% per annum).
Any such redemptions would be effected only out of funds legally available for such purposes and would be subject to compliance with the provisions of the Partnership’s outstanding indebtedness.
Holders of Series A Preferred Units generally have no voting rights, except for limited voting rights with respect to (i) potential amendments to the Second A&R Partnership Agreement that would have a material adverse effect on the existing preferences, rights, powers, duties or obligations of the Series A Preferred Units, (ii) the creation or issuance of any Parity Securities if the cumulative distributions payable on then outstanding Series A Preferred Units are in arrears, (iii) the creation or issuance of any Senior Securities, (iv) the payment of distributions to the Partnership’s common unitholders out of capital surplus and (v) the taking of certain actions that would result, without regard to any notice requirement or applicable cure period, in an “Event of Default” under the Partnership’s material senior indebtedness for failure to comply with certain enumerated covenants.
The Partnership included additional revisions in the Second A&R Partnership Agreement in response to certain changes to the Internal Revenue Code enacted by the BBA relating to partnership audit and adjustment procedures.
The foregoing description of the Second A&R Partnership Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Second A&R Partnership Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
| 5.1 | Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered. | |
| 8.1 | Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. relating to tax matters. | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Baker Botts, L.L.P. (contained in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1) | |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Summit Midstream Partners, LP | ||||||
| By: | Summit Midstream GP, LLC, | |||||
| its general partner | ||||||
| Dated: November 14, 2017 | By: | /s/ Matthew S. Harrison | ||||
| Name: Matthew S. Harrison | ||||||
| Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||||
Exhibit 1.1
Execution Version
Summit Midstream Partners, LP
300,000 9.50% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual
Preferred Units Representing Limited Partner Interests
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
November 9, 2017
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
As Representative of the Underwriters
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Summit Midstream Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), proposes to sell an aggregate of 300,000 9.50% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units (the “Units”) representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Series A Preferred Units”) to the underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named in Schedule I attached to this agreement (this “Agreement”), for whom Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is acting as representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”). This Agreement is to confirm the agreement concerning the purchase of the Units from the Partnership by the Underwriters.
The Partnership, Summit Midstream GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), and Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Summit Midstream”), are referred to collectively herein as the “Partnership Parties.” Summit Midstream, DFW Midstream Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“DFW”), Grand River Gathering, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Grand River”), Red Rock Gathering Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Red Rock”), Bison Midstream, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Bison”), Polar Midstream, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Polar”), Epping Transmission Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Epping”), Summit Midstream OpCo GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“OpCo GP”), Summit Midstream OpCo, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“OpCo”), Meadowlark Midstream Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Meadowlark Midstream”), Tioga Midstream, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Tioga Midstream”), Summit Midstream Utica, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Summit Utica”), Summit Midstream Marketing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Marketing”), and Summit Midstream Permian, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Permian”), are referred to collectively herein as the “Operating Subsidiaries.” The Partnership Parties and the Operating Subsidiaries are referred to collectively herein as the “Partnership Entities.”
On the Delivery Date (as defined in Section 4), the General Partner will amend and restate the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “Original Partnership Agreement”) to be the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement”) to authorize and establish the terms of the Series A Preferred Units. References herein to the “Partnership Agreement” for periods prior to the Delivery Date mean the Original Partnership Agreement and for periods on or after the Delivery Date mean the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement.
1. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Partnership Parties. The Partnership Parties represent, warrant and agree that:
(a) Registration. A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-219196) relating to the Units has (i) been prepared by the Partnership in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) thereunder; (ii) been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act; and (iii) become effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such registration statement and any amendment thereto have been delivered by the Partnership to the Underwriter. As used in this Agreement:
(i) “Applicable Time” means 4:35 p.m. (New York City time) on November 9, 2017;
(ii) “Effective Date” means any date as of which any part of such registration statement relating to the Units became, or is deemed to have become, effective under the Securities Act in accordance with the Rules and Regulations;
(iii) “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Partnership or used or referred to by the Partnership in connection with the offering of the Units;
(iv) “Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Units included in such registration statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, including any preliminary prospectus supplement thereto relating to the Units;
(v) “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, together with the information included in Schedule IV hereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus identified on Schedule II hereto, other than a road show that is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus but is not required to be filed under Rule 433 under the Securities Act;
(vi) “Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to the Units, including any prospectus supplement thereto relating to the Units, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; and
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(vii) “Registration Statement” means collectively, the various parts of such registration statement, each as amended as of the Effective Date for such part, including any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and all exhibits to such registration statement.
Any reference to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be. Any reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act prior to or on the date hereof (including, for purposes hereof, any documents incorporated by reference therein prior to or on the date hereof). Any reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any document filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to include any document filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the Effective Date that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(b) No Stop Order. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding or examination for such purpose has been instituted or threatened by the Commission.
(c) Ineligible Issuer. The Partnership was not at the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement, is not on the date hereof and will not be on the Delivery Date, an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act). The Partnership has been since the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement and continues to be eligible to use Form S-3 for the offering of the Units.
(d) Form of Documents. The Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects on the Effective Date and on the Delivery Date, and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects when filed, to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The most recent Preliminary Prospectus conformed, and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and on the Delivery Date to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The documents incorporated by reference in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus conformed, and any further documents so incorporated will conform, when filed with the Commission, in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable, and the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.
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(e) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date, 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; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(f).
(f) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in the Prospectus. The Prospectus will not, as of its date or as of the Delivery Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(f). The documents incorporated by reference in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus did not, and any further documents filed and incorporated by reference therein will not, when filed with the Commission, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(g) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in the Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(f).
(h) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any road show that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433 under the Securities Act), when considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in Schedule II hereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(f). The information included in each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in Schedule II hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or to be contained in the Prospectus.
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(i) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses Conform to the Requirements of the Securities Act. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including the final term sheet attached as Schedule IV hereto, conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations on the date of first use, and the Partnership has complied with all prospectus delivery and any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Partnership has not made any offer relating to the Units that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Underwriters. The Partnership has retained in accordance with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant to the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Partnership has taken all actions necessary so that any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) in connection with the offering of the Units will not be required to be filed pursuant to the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder.
(j) Forward-Looking and Supporting Information. Each of the statements made by the Partnership in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Disclosure Package and to be made in the Prospectus (and any supplements thereto) within the coverage of Rule 175(b) under the Securities Act was made or will be made with a reasonable basis and in good faith.
(k) Formation and Qualification of the Partnership Entities. Each of the Partnership Entities has been duly formed, is validly existing and in good standing as a limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is duly qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, in each jurisdiction (as set forth on Schedule III) in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to (i) have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, members’ equity or partners’ capital, properties, business or prospects of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”), or (ii) subject the limited partners of the Partnership to any material liability or disability. Each of the Partnership Entities has all limited partnership or limited liability company power and authority, as the case may be, necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the businesses in which it is engaged.
(l) Power and Authority of General Partner. The General Partner has, and at the Delivery Date will have, full limited liability company power and authority to serve as general partner of the Partnership in all material respects as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.
(m) Ownership of the General Partner. Summit Midstream Partners Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SMP Holdings”), owns 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 (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or
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restatements thereof, the “General Partner LLC Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the General Partner LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “Delaware LLC Act”)); and SMP Holdings owns such membership interest free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, equities, charges or claims (“Liens”), except for restrictions on transferability contained in the General Partner LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any.
(n) Ownership of the General Partner Interest in the Partnership. The General Partner is, and at the Delivery Date will be, the sole general partner of the Partnership, with an approximate 2.0% general partner interest in the Partnership (the “GP Interest”); the GP Interest has been, and on the Delivery Date will be, duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement; and the General Partner owns the GP Interest free and clear of all Liens, except for restrictions on transferability contained in the Partnership Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any.
(o) Ownership of the Incentive Distribution Rights. The General Partner owns all of the incentive distribution rights of the Partnership (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 Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Delaware LP Act”)); and the General Partner owns such Incentive Distribution Rights free and clear of all Liens, except for restrictions on transferability contained in the Partnership Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any.
(p) Ownership of the Sponsor Units. As of the date hereof, SMP Holdings owns 25,854,581 common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Common Units” and, as held by SMP Holdings, the “Sponsor Units”); and SMP Holdings owns all of the Sponsor Units free and clear of all Liens, except for restrictions on transferability contained in the Partnership Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any.
(q) Ownership of Summit Midstream. The Partnership owns a 100% membership interest in Summit Midstream; such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Summit Midstream (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “Midstream LLC Agreement”) and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Midstream LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and such membership interest is owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Midstream LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any,
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and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated May 26, 2017, among Summit Midstream, as borrower, the lenders party thereto and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as administrative agent, as amended to date (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”).
(r) Ownership of DFW. Summit Midstream owns 100% of the outstanding membership interests of DFW; such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of DFW (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “DFW LLC Agreement”) and are fully paid (to the extent required under the DFW LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and such membership interests are owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the DFW LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement.
(s) Ownership of Grand River. Summit Midstream owns a 100% membership interest in Grand River, such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Grand River (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “Grand River LLC Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the Grand River LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and such membership interest is owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Grand River LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement.
(t) Ownership of Red Rock. Grand River owns a 100% membership interest in Red Rock, such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Red Rock (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “Red Rock LLC Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the Red Rock LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and such membership interest is owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Red Rock LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement.
(u) Ownership of Bison. Summit Midstream owns a 100% membership interest in Bison, such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Bison (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “Bison LLC Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the Bison LLC Agreement) and
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nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and such membership interest is owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Bison LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement.
(v) Ownership of Epping. Bison owns a 100% membership interest in Epping, such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Epping (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “Epping LLC Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the Epping LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and such membership interest is owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Epping LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement.
(w) Ownership of Polar. Bison owns a 100% membership interest in Polar, such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Polar (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “Polar LLC Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the Polar LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and such membership interest is owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Polar LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement.
(x) Ownership of OpCo GP. Summit Midstream owns a 100% membership interest in OpCo GP; such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of OpCo GP (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “OpCo GP LLC Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the OpCo 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 such membership interest is owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the OpCo GP LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement.
(y) Ownership of OpCo. OpCo GP owns the non-economic general partner interest in OpCo, and Summit Midstream owns a 99% limited partnership interest in OpCo; such partnership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the agreement of limited partnership of OpCo (such agreement, together
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with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “OpCo Partnership Agreement”) and, with respect to Summit Midstream’s limited partnership interest in OpCo, are fully paid (to the extent required under the OpCo 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 OpCo GP and Summit Midstream each own their respective partnership interests free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the OpCo Partnership Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement.
(z) Ownership of Meadowlark Midstream. OpCo owns a 100% membership interest in Meadowlark Midstream; such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Meadowlark Midstream (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “Meadowlark Midstream LLC Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the Meadowlark Midstream LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and such membership interest is owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Meadowlark Midstream LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement.
(aa) Ownership of Tioga Midstream. Meadowlark Midstream owns a 100% membership interest in Tioga Midstream; such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Tioga Midstream (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “Tioga Midstream LLC Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the Tioga Midstream LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and such membership interest is owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Tioga Midstream LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement.
(bb) Ownership of Permian. Summit Midstream owns a 100% membership interest in Permian; such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Permian (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “Permian LLC Agreement”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the Permian LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and such membership interest is owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Permian LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement.
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(cc) Ownership of Summit Utica. OpCo owns a 100% membership interest in Summit Utica; such membership interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Summit Utica (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “Summit Utica LLC Agreement” and, together with the Partnership Agreement, the General Partner LLC Agreement, the Midstream LLC Agreement, the DFW LLC Agreement, the Grand River LLC Agreement, the Red Rock LLC Agreement, the Bison LLC Agreement, the Epping LLC Agreement, the Polar LLC Agreement, the OpCo GP LLC Agreement, the OpCo Partnership Agreement, the Meadowlark Midstream LLC Agreement, the Tioga Midstream LLC Agreement and the Permian LLC Agreement, the “Organizational Agreements”) and is fully paid (to the extent required under the Summit Utica LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and such membership interest is owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Summit Utica LLC Agreement or as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement.
(dd) Minority-Owned Entities. Summit Utica owns a 40% membership interest in Ohio Gathering Company, L.L.C. (“Ohio Gathering”) and a 40% membership interest in Ohio Condensate Company, L.L.C. (“Ohio Condensate” and, together with Ohio Gathering, the “Minority Owned Entities”); such membership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with their respective limited liability company agreements (such agreements, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof, the “Ohio LLC Agreements”) and are fully paid, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties (to the extent required under the Ohio LLC Agreements), and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act); and such membership interests are owned free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) restrictions on transferability contained in the Ohio LLC Agreements or as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, if any, and (ii) Liens permitted or arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement.
(ee) Duly Authorized and Validly Issued Units. At the Applicable Time, the Units to be sold by the Partnership and the limited partner interests represented thereby will have been duly authorized in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued, 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).
(ff) Capitalization of the Partnership. At the Applicable Time, the issued and outstanding partnership interests of the Partnership will consist of 73,060,122 Common Units, the GP Interest and the Incentive Distribution Rights. All outstanding Common 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 matters described in Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).
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(gg) No Other Subsidiaries. Other than the GP Interest and the Incentive Distribution Rights and the limited liability company interests, limited partner interests and capital stock in the Operating Subsidiaries, the Minority-Owned Entities, Summit Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Summit Finance”), Summit Midstream Permian Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Summit Permian Finance”), and Summit Midstream Niobrara, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Niobrara”), as applicable, the General Partner does not own, 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 Partnership’s direct or indirect ownership interests in each of the Operating Subsidiaries, the Minority-Owned Entities, Summit Finance, Summit Permian Finance and Niobrara, the Partnership does not own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity. Each of Summit Finance, Summit Permian Finance and Niobrara was formed for the sole purpose of a specific transaction or set of transactions and has no operating assets.
(hh) Conformity of Units to Descriptions. The Units conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Disclosure Package and to be contained in the Prospectus.
(ii) No Equity Securities, Options, Preemptive Rights, Registration Rights, or Other Rights. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no profits interests or other equity interests, options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any equity securities of any of the Partnership Entities, in each case pursuant to the Organizational Agreements, the certificates of limited partnership or formation or any other organizational documents of any such Partnership Entity or any other agreement or other instrument to which any such Partnership Entity is a party or by which any such Partnership Entity may be bound. Except with respect to any such rights that have been effectively waived or as provided in the Partnership Agreement, neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Units as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any securities of the Partnership.
(jj) Authority and Authorization. Each of the Partnership Parties has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. At the Delivery Date, all limited partnership or limited liability company action, as the case may be, required to be taken by any of the Partnership Entities or any of their respective unitholders, members, partners or stockholders for the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Units to be sold by the Partnership and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been validly taken.
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(kk) Authorization, Execution and Delivery of the Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by or on behalf of each of the Partnership Parties.
(ll) Authorization, Execution, Delivery and Enforceability of the Organizational Agreements. The Organizational Agreements have been (and, in the case of the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, will be on the Delivery Date) duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, and are (and, in the case of the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, will be on the Delivery Date) valid and legally binding agreements of such parties, enforceable against such parties in accordance with their terms; provided, that, with respect to each such agreement, the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies 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 an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(mm) No Conflicts. None of (i) the offering, issuance or sale of the Units as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Partnership Parties or (iii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the execution and delivery of the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement (A) conflicts with or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a violation of the Organizational Agreements, certificates of limited partnership or formation or conversion or other governing document of any of the Partnership Entities (collectively, the “Organizational Documents”), (B) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a change of control or default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an event) under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of the Partnership Entities is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound, (C) violates or will violate any statute, law, regulation, ruling or any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any of the Partnership Entities or any of their properties in a proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party or is bound or (D) results or will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than Liens arising under or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement) upon any property or assets of any of the Partnership Entities, except with respect to clauses (B), (C) and (D) for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or Liens that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(nn) No Consents. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, filing or qualification (“consent”) of or with any court, governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any of the Partnership Entities or any of their properties or assets is required in connection with (i) the offering or sale of the Units as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Partnership Parties or (iii) the consummation of the transactions
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contemplated by this Agreement, including the execution and delivery of the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, except (A) for registration of the Units under the Securities Act and consents required under the Exchange Act, applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws, and the rules of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Units by the Underwriters, (B) for such consents that have been, or prior to the Delivery Date will be, obtained or made, (C) for such consents that, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material and adverse effect on the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (D) as described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.
(oo) No Defaults. None of the Partnership Entities is in (i) violation of its Organizational Documents, (ii) violation of any law, statute, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or regulation applicable to it or of any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over it or any of its properties or (iii) breach, default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an event) or violation in the performance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, which breach, default or violation in the cases of clause (ii) or (iii), would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(pp) Financial Statements. The financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) and other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) 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, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated, except to the extent disclosed therein. The summary historical financial and operating data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) is accurately presented in all material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the audited and unaudited historical consolidated financial statements from which they have been derived, except as described therein. The other financial information of the Partnership (or its predecessor for accounting purposes), including non-GAAP financial measures included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, has been derived from the accounting records of the Partnership Entities or their predecessors for accounting purposes, fairly presents in all material respects the information purported to be shown thereby and complies with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. There are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus that are not so included as required and the Partnership Entities do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto) or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.
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(qq) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms. Each of Deloitte & Touche LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries (including the related notes thereto), whose reports appear in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, or are incorporated by reference therein, is and was during the periods covered by such financial statements an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to such entities as required by the Securities Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
(rr) Books and Records. The Partnership maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and to maintain accountability for its assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(ss) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. (i) The Partnership has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act), and (ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Partnership in the reports to be filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Partnership and the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the General Partner to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure to be made and (iii) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established to the extent required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.
(tt) No Changes in Internal Controls. Since the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries reviewed or audited by Deloitte & Touche, LLP, (i) the Partnership has not been advised of (A) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect the ability of the Partnership Entities to record, process, summarize and report financial information, or any material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting of the Partnership Entities or (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of any Partnership Entity who have a significant role in the Partnership Entities’ internal control over financial reporting and (ii) there have been no changes in the Partnership Entities’ internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to material affect the Partnership Entities’ internal controls over financial reporting.
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(uu) Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Partnership or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, any of the General Partner’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any rule or regulation promulgated in connection therewith or the rules of The New York Stock Exchange, in each case that are effective and applicable to the Partnership.
(vv) No Material Changes. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, none of the Partnership Entities has (i) 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, (ii) issued or granted any securities, (iii) incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than liabilities and obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business or (v) declared or paid any distribution or dividend on its equity interests, and since such date, there has not been any change in the partnership or limited liability interests, as applicable, 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’ capital, properties, management, business or prospects of the Partnership Entities taken as a whole, in each case except as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ww) Title to Properties. Each of the Partnership Entities has good and indefeasible title to all real property owned in fee by the Partnership Entities (excluding easements or rights-of-way) and good title to all personal property owned by it, in each case free and clear of all Liens except (i) as described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, (ii) such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by any of the Partnership Entities or (iii) that arise under or are expressly permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement. All assets held under lease by each of the Partnership Entities are held by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such assets by any of the Partnership Entities as described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.
(xx) Rights of Way. Each of the Partnership Entities 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, subject to the limitations described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, if any, except for (i) qualifications, reservations and encumbrances with respect thereto that would not have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) such rights-of-way
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that, if not obtained, would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Partnership Entities 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, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and none of such rights-of-way contains any restriction that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(yy) Permits. Each of the Partnership Entities has such permits, licenses, patents, franchises, certificates of need and other approvals or authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (“Permits”) as are necessary under applicable law to own its properties and conduct its business in the manner described in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, except for any of the foregoing that could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Partnership Entities has fulfilled and performed all of its obligations with respect to the Permits, and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other impairment of the rights of the holder or any such Permits, except for any of the foregoing that could not reasonably be expected to 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, except for such non-renewals, non-issuances, revocations, terminations and impairments that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(zz) Intellectual Property. Each of the Partnership Entities owns, licenses or possesses adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, know-how, software, systems and technology (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of its business and has no reason to believe that the conduct of its business conflicts with, and has not received any notice of any claim of conflict with, any such rights of others.
(aaa) Legal Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which any of the Partnership Entities is a party or of which any property or assets of any of the Partnership Entities is the subject that could, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or could, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance by any Partnership Entity of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and to the Partnership Parties’ knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others.
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(bbb) Contracts to be Described or Filed. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that are not described and filed as required. The statements made in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of the contracts and other documents described and filed, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such contracts and documents in all material respects. Each such contract and other document is in full force and effect and (assuming that such contracts and documents constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the other persons party thereto) is valid and enforceable by and against the Partnership Entities, as the case may be, in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and 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 except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Partnership Parties have no knowledge that any other party to any such contract or other document has any intention not to render full performance as contemplated by the terms thereof.
(ccc) Summaries of Law. Statements made in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of statutes, rules or regulations, or legal or governmental proceedings, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such statutes, rules and regulations, and legal and governmental proceedings.
(ddd) Insurance. Each of the Partnership Entities carries, or is covered by, insurance from reputable insurers in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonably adequate for the conduct of its businesses and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries. All policies of insurance of any of the Partnership Entities are in full force and effect; each of the Partnership Entities is in compliance with the terms of such policies in all material respects; and none of the Partnership Entities 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 Entities 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 Entities 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 reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(eee) Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Partnership Entities, on the one hand, and any “affiliate,” equity holder, director, manager, officer, customer or supplier of any of the Partnership Entities, on the other hand, that is required by the Securities Act to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and the most recent Preliminary Prospectus that is not so disclosed. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by any Partnership Entity to or for the benefit of any of the officers, directors or managers of any Partnership Entity or their respective family members.
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(fff) No Labor Dispute. No labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of any of the Partnership Entities exists or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, is imminent or threatened that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ggg) Environmental Compliance. (i) Each of the Partnership Entities is, and at all times prior hereto has been, in compliance with all laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including without limitation any international, foreign, national, state, provincial, regional or local authority, relating to pollution, the protection of human health or safety, the environment, natural resources, or the use, handling, storage, manufacturing, transportation, treatment, discharge, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”) applicable to such entity, which compliance includes, without limitation, obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits and authorizations and approvals required by Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and (ii) no Partnership Entity has received notice or otherwise has knowledge of any actual or alleged violation of Environmental Laws, or of any actual or potential liability for or other obligation concerning the presence, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or liability would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (x) there are no proceedings that are pending, or known to be contemplated, against any of the Partnership Entities under Environmental Laws in which a governmental authority is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (y) none of the Partnership Entities is aware of any issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, including any pending or proposed Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of any of the Partnership Entities, and (z) none of the Partnership Entities anticipates material capital expenditures relating to Environmental Laws.
(hhh) Tax Returns. The Partnership Entities have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof (which returns are complete and correct in all material respects), subject to permitted extensions, and have timely paid all taxes due, and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Partnership Entities, nor does any of the Partnership Parties have any knowledge of any tax deficiencies that have been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Partnership Entities that could, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(iii) ERISA. (i) Each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)) for which the Partnership or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) would have any liability (each a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations including ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii) with respect to each Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA (A) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (B)no “accumulated funding deficiency” (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (C) the fair market value of the assets under each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan), and (D) neither the Partnership nor any member of its Controlled Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan,” within the meaning of Section 4001(c)(3) of ERISA); and (iv) 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 would cause the loss of such qualification.
(jjj) Statistical and Market-Related Data. The statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Partnership believes to be reliable in all material respects.
(kkk) Investment Company. None of the Partnership Entities is, and as of the Delivery Date, after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Units and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus, none of them will be, (i) an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, or (ii) a “business development company” (as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act).
(lll) No Brokers. 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 Underwriters for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Units.
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(mmm) Other Sales. The Partnership has not sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Units contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.
(nnn) Stabilization. The Partnership and its affiliates have not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Partnership in connection with the offering of the Units.
(ooo) Distribution of Offering Materials. None of the Partnership Entities has distributed and, prior to the later to occur of the Delivery Date and completion of the distribution of the Units, none will distribute, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Units other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Underwriters have consented in accordance with Section 1(i) or Section 5(a)(vi) and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus set forth on Schedule II hereto.
(ppp) Anti-Corruption. None of the Partnership Entities nor, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of any of the Partnership Entities, has (i) used any of its funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from its funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.
(qqq) Money Laundering. The operations of the Partnership Entities are and have been conducted at all times in compliance 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 jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any Partnership Entity with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of any of the Partnership Entities, threatened.
(rrr) OFAC. None of the Partnership Entities nor, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate 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”); and the Partnership will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
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(sss) Distribution Restrictions. None of the Operating Subsidiaries is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any distributions to the Partnership, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s equity interests, from repaying to the Partnership any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Partnership or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Partnership or any other subsidiary of the Partnership.
(ttt) XBRL. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(uuu) FINRA Affiliations. To the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, there are no affiliations or associations between any member of the FINRA and any of the General Partner’s officers or directors or the Partnership’s 5% or greater security holders, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
Any certificate signed by any officer of any of the Partnership Parties and delivered to the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Units shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Partnership, as to matters covered thereby, to the Underwriter.
2. Purchase of the Units by the Underwriters. On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants contained in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, the Partnership agrees to sell 300,000 Units to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree to purchase such Units.
The purchase price payable by the Underwriters for the Units shall be $979.9233 per Unit.
The Partnership is not obligated to deliver any of the Units to be delivered on the Delivery Date, except upon payment for all such Units to be purchased on the Delivery Date as provided herein.
3. Offering of Units by the Underwriters. Upon authorization by the Underwriters of the release of the Units, the Underwriters propose to offer the Units for sale upon the terms and conditions to be set forth in the Prospectus.
4. Delivery of and Payment for the Units. Delivery of and payment for the Units shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the third full business day following the date of this Agreement or at such other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Underwriters and the Partnership. This date and time are sometimes referred to as the “Delivery Date.” Delivery of the Units shall be made to the account of the Underwriters against payment by the Underwriters of the aggregate purchase price of the Units being sold by the Partnership to or upon the order of the Partnership by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Partnership. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of the Underwriters hereunder. The Partnership shall deliver the Units through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Underwriters shall otherwise instruct.
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5. Further Agreements by the Partnership Parties and the Underwriter.
(a) The Partnership Parties jointly and severally covenant and agree with the Underwriter:
(i) Preparation of Prospectus. To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Underwriters and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to the Delivery Date except as provided herein; to advise the Underwriters, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish the Underwriters with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports required to be filed by the Partnership with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Units; to advise the Underwriters, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the Units for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding or examination for any such purpose or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to use promptly their best efforts to obtain its withdrawal.
(ii) Copies of Registration Statement. To furnish promptly to the Underwriters and to counsel for the Underwriters a signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereto filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith.
(iii) Copies of Documents. To deliver promptly to the Underwriters such number of the following documents as the Underwriters shall reasonably request: (A) conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and each amendment thereto (in each case excluding exhibits other than this Agreement), (B) each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amended or supplemented Prospectus, (C) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (D) any document incorporated by reference in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus; and, if the delivery of a prospectus is
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required at any time after the date hereof in connection with the offering or sale of the Units or any other securities relating thereto and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to notify the Underwriters and, upon its request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to the Underwriters and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Underwriters may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
(iv) Filing of Amendment or Supplement. To file promptly with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may, in the judgment of the Partnership or the Underwriters, be required by the Securities Act or requested by the Commission.
(v) Copies of Amendment or Supplement. Prior to filing with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any amendment to any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, to furnish a copy thereof to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters and obtain the consent of the Underwriters to the filing.
(vi) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Not to make any offer relating to the Units that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Underwriter; provided that the prior written consent of the parties shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus included in Schedule II hereto.
(vii) Rule 433. To comply with all applicable requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act with respect to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. If at any time after the date hereof any event shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to notify the Underwriters and, upon their request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to the Underwriters as many copies as the Underwriters may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance.
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(viii) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable after the Effective Date and in any event not later than 16 months after the date hereof, to make generally available to the Partnership’s security holders and to deliver to the Underwriters an earnings statement of the Partnership and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.
(ix) Blue Sky Laws. Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Underwriters may reasonably request to qualify the Units for offering and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of Canada and such other jurisdictions as the Underwriters may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Units; provided that in connection therewith the Partnership shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be subject.
(x) Lock-Up Period. For a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 30th day after the date of the Prospectus, not to, directly or indirectly, (A) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any Series A Preferred Units or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Series A Preferred Units, or sell or grant options, rights or warrants with respect to any Series A Preferred Units or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Series A Preferred Units, or, in either case, any securities that are substantially similar to the Series A Preferred Units, (B) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such Series A Preferred Units, whether any such transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of Series A Preferred Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (C) file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any Series A Preferred Units or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Units or other securities of the Partnership or (D) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case without the prior written consent of the Representative.
(xi) Stabilization. To not take, directly or indirectly, any action that constitutes, or that is designed to or reasonably would be expected to cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Partnership in connection with the offering of the Units.
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(xii) DTC. To use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Units to be eligible for clearance, settlement, and trading through the facilities of the DTC.
(xiii) Use of Proceeds. To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Units being sold by the Partnership as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds.”
(xiv) Necessary Actions. To do and perform all things required or necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement by it prior to the Delivery Date, and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the Underwriter’s obligations hereunder to purchase the Units.
(b) The Underwriters agree that they shall not include any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) in any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) used or referred to by the Underwriters without the prior consent of the Partnership (any such issuer information with respect to whose use the Partnership has given its consent, “Permitted Issuer Information”); provided that (i) no such consent shall be required with respect to any such issuer information contained in any document filed by any Partnership Party with the Commission prior to the use of such free writing prospectus, and (ii) “issuer information,” as used in this paragraph, shall not be deemed to include information prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriters on the basis of or derived from issuer information.
6. Expenses. The Partnership agrees, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay all expenses, costs, fees and taxes incident to and in connection with (a) the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Units and any stamp duties or other taxes payable in that connection, and the preparation and printing of certificates for the Units; (b) the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto; (c) the distribution of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein, all as provided in this Agreement; (d) the production and distribution of this Agreement and any other related documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Units; (e) any required review by FINRA of the terms of sale of the Units (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters in an amount that is not greater than $20,000); (f) the qualification of the Units under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 5(a)(ix) and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriter); (g) the preparation, printing and distribution of one or more versions of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus for distribution in Canada, often in the form of a Canadian “wrapper” (including related fees and expenses of Canadian counsel to the Underwriter); (h) the investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Units, including, without limitation, reasonably incurred expenses associated with any electronic road show, travel and lodging
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expenses of the representatives and officers of the Partnership; and (i) all other reasonably incurred costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Partnership Parties under this Agreement; provided that, except as provided in this Section 6 and in Section 11, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the costs and expenses of their counsel, any transfer taxes on the Units which they may sell and the expenses of advertising any offering of the Units made by the Underwriters.
7. Conditions of Underwriter’s Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on the Delivery Date, of the representations and warranties of the Partnership Parties contained herein, to the performance by the Partnership Parties of their obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:
(a) Filing of Prospectus; No Stop Order. The Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 5(a)(i); the Partnership shall have complied with all filing requirements applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus used or referred to after the date hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding or examination for such purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and any request of the Commission for inclusion of additional information in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise shall have been complied with.
(b) No Misstatements or Omissions. The Underwriters shall not have discovered and disclosed to the Partnership on or prior to the Delivery Date that the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, is material or omits to state a fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements were made) not misleading.
(c) Authorization and Validity. All limited partnership and limited liability company proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the Units, the Organizational Agreements, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement (and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement) shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Partnership shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(d) Partnership Entities’ Counsel Opinion. Baker Botts L.L.P., as counsel to the Partnership Entities, shall have furnished to the Underwriters its written opinion addressed to the Underwriters and dated the Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
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(e) General Counsel Opinion. Brock M. Degeyter shall have furnished to the Underwriters his written opinion, as general counsel to the General Partner, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
(f) Local Counsel Opinion. Richards, Layton & Finger P.A., shall have furnished to the Underwriters its written opinion, as special counsel to the Partnership, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(g) Underwriter’s Counsel Opinion. The Underwriters shall have received from Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Delivery Date, with respect to the offering and sale of the Units, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package and other related matters as the Underwriters may reasonably require, and the Partnership Parties shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as such counsel reasonably requests for the purpose of enabling it to pass upon such matters.
(h) Comfort Letters. At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Underwriters shall have received from each of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Deloitte & Touche, LLP a letter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission and (ii) stating, as of the date hereof (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date hereof), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.
(i) Bring-Down Comfort Letters. With respect to the letters of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Deloitte & Touche, LLP referred to in the preceding paragraph and delivered to the Underwriters concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the “initial letters”), the Partnership shall have furnished to the Underwriters letters (the “bring-down letters”) of such accountants, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the Delivery Date (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating, as of the date of the bring-down letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Prospectus, as of a date not more than three
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days prior to the date of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by the initial letter and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and findings set forth in the initial letter.
(j) Partnership Parties Officers’ Certificate. The Partnership Parties shall have furnished to the Underwriters a certificate, dated the Delivery Date, of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner as to such matters as the Underwriters may reasonably request, including, without limitation, a statement that:
(i) The representations, warranties and agreements of the Partnership Parties in Section 1 are true and correct on and as of the Delivery Date, and the Partnership Parties have complied with all their agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Delivery Date;
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued; and no proceedings or examination for that purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of such officers, threatened;
(iii) They have examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, in their opinion, (A)(1) the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, (2) the Prospectus, as of its date and on the Delivery Date, and (3) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (except in the case of the Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and (B) since the Effective Date, no event has occurred that should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that has not been so set forth; and
(iv) Attached to such certificate is a list of all of the subsidiaries of the Partnership that, individually or in the aggregate, constitute a “Significant Subsidiary” as such term is defined under Rule 102 of Regulation S-X of the Commission.
(k) No Material Change. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) none of the Partnership Entities shall have sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, 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 and (ii) since such date there shall not have been any change in the equity interests or long-term debt of any of the Partnership Entities or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise),
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results of operations, partners’ capital or members’ equity, properties, management, business or prospects of the Partnership Entities taken as a whole, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is, individually or in the aggregate, in the judgment of the Underwriters, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Units being delivered on the Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(l) No Downgrading. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Partnership Parties’ and Summit Finance’s debt securities or preferred equity by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) of the Rules and Regulations), and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Partnership Parties’ and Summit Finance’s debt securities or preferred equity.
(m) No Other Changes. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in securities generally on The New York Stock Exchange, or in the over-the-counter market, or trading in any securities of the Partnership on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or materially limited or the settlement and clearance of such trading generally shall have been materially disrupted, or minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) trading in the Common Units shall have been suspended by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or state authorities, or (iv) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States, there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such), as to make it, in the judgment of the Underwriters, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or delivery of the Units being delivered on the Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(n) Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement. On the Delivery Date, the General Partner, on its own behalf and on behalf of the limited partners of the Partnership, shall have executed and delivered the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.
(o) Other Certificates. On or prior to the Delivery Date, the Partnership Parties shall have furnished to the Underwriters such further certificates and documents as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
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All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriter.
8. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Partnership Parties hereby agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers, employees and selling agents of such Underwriter, each affiliate of each of the Underwriters who has participated or is alleged to have participated in the distribution of the Units as underwriters, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Units), to which that Underwriter, affiliate, director, officer, employee, selling agent or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (A) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (B) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (C) any Permitted Issuer Information used or referred to in any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) used or referred to by such Underwriter, (D) any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Partnership in connection with the marketing or the offering of the Units, including any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) not constituting an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (“Marketing Materials”), or (E) any Blue Sky application or other document prepared or executed by the Partnership (or based upon any written information furnished by the Partnership for use therein) specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Units under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction (any such application, document or information being hereinafter called a “Blue Sky Application”), or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information, any Marketing Materials or any Blue Sky application, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (except in the case of the Registration Statement, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and shall reimburse each Underwriter and each such affiliate, director, officer, employee, selling agent or controlling person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by each Underwriter, affiliate, director, officer, employee, selling agent or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that none of the Partnership Parties shall be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any such amendment or supplement thereto or in any Permitted Issuer Information, any Marketing Materials or
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any Blue Sky Application in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 8(f). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Partnership may otherwise have to any Underwriter or to any affiliate, director, officer, employee, selling agent or controlling person of that Underwriter.
(b) Each Underwriter shall indemnify and hold harmless each Partnership Party, their respective directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls such Partnership Party within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which such Partnership Party or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Marketing Materials or Blue Sky Application, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Marketing Materials or Blue Sky Application, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of that Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is limited to the information set forth in Section 8(f). The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have to the Partnership Parties or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 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 Section 8, 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 any liability which it may have under this Section 8 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 Section 8. 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
31
Section 8 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, selling agents and controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this Section 8 if (i) the indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall have so mutually agreed; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party and its directors, officers, employees, selling agents 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 (iv) 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; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) chosen by the indemnified party. No indemnifying party shall (x) 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 (y) except as provided by Section 8(f), 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.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(b) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Partnership Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Units, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Partnership Parties, on the
32
one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Partnership Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Units purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Partnership Parties, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the Units purchased under this Agreement, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the other hand. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Partnership Parties or the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Partnership Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 8(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Units exceeds the amount of any damages that the Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. 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 was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e) If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 8(c) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement, compromise or consent is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
(f) The Underwriters confirm and the Partnership Parties acknowledge and agree that the statements regarding delivery of the Units by the Underwriters set forth on the cover page, the statements in the first sentence of the first paragraph following the table under the caption “Underwriting—Commissions and Discounts,” and the paragraph relating to stabilization by the Underwriters under the caption “Underwriting—Price Stabilization, Short Positions” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the
33
Prospectus, are correct and constitute the only information concerning the Underwriters furnished in writing to the Partnership by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Marketing Materials.
9. Defaulting Underwriters.
(a) If, on the Delivery Date, any Underwriter defaults in its obligations to purchase the Units that it has agreed to purchase under this Agreement, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Units by the non-defaulting Underwriters or other persons satisfactory to the Partnership on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Units, then the Partnership shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Units on such terms. In the event that within the respective prescribed periods, the non-defaulting Underwriters notify the Partnership that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Units, or the Partnership notifies the non-defaulting Underwriters that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Units, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Partnership may postpone the Delivery Date for up to seven full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Partnership or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Partnership agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any such other document or arrangement that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context requires otherwise, any party not listed in Schedule I hereto that, pursuant to this Section 9, purchases Units that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Units of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Partnership as provided in paragraph (a) above, the total number of Units that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the total number of all Units, then the Partnership shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the total number of Units that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the total number of Units that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Units of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; provided that the non-defaulting Underwriters shall not be obligated to purchase more than 110% of the total number of Units that it agreed to purchase on such Delivery Date pursuant to the terms of Section 2.
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(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Units of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Partnership as provided in paragraph (a) above, the total number of Units that remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the total number of all the Units, or if the Partnership shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of the Partnership, except that the Partnership will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Sections 6 and 11 and except that the provisions of Section 8 shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.
(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Partnership or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.
10. Termination. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Underwriters by notice given to and received by the Partnership prior to delivery of and payment for the Units if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 7(l) or 7(m) shall have occurred or if the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Units for any reason permitted under this Agreement.
11. Reimbursement of Underwriter’s Expenses. If (a) the Partnership shall fail to tender the Units for delivery to the Underwriters for any reason, or (b) the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Units for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Partnership will reimburse the Underwriters for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Units, and upon demand the Partnership shall pay the full amount thereof to the Underwriters. If this Agreement is terminated by reason of the default of one or more of the Underwriters, the Partnership shall not be obligated to reimburse the defaulting Underwriter on account of those expenses.
12. Research Analyst Independence. The Partnership Parties acknowledge that the Underwriters’ research analysts and research department are required to be independent from their respective investment banking division and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that the Underwriter’s research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Partnership and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking division. The Partnership Parties hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Partnership Parties may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to any of the Partnership Parties by the Underwriters’ investment banking division. The Partnership Parties acknowledge that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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13. No Fiduciary Duty. The Partnership Parties acknowledge and agree that in connection with this offering, the sale of the Units or any other services the Underwriters may be deemed to be providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Underwriters: (a) no fiduciary or agency relationship between the Partnership Parties and any other person, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, exists; (b) the Underwriters are not acting as advisors, experts or otherwise, to any of the Partnership Parties, including, without limitation, with respect to the determination of the public offering price of the Units, and such relationship between the Partnership Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, is entirely and solely commercial, based on arms-length negotiations; (c) any duties and obligations that the Underwriters may have to the Partnership Parties shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically stated herein; and (d) the Underwriters and their affiliates may have interests that differ from those of the Partnership Parties. The Partnership Parties hereby waive any claims that any of the Partnership Parties may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach of fiduciary duty in connection with this offering.
14. Notices, etc. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:
(a) if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, NY1-050-12-02, New York, New York 10020, Facsimile: (646) 855-5958, Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal; and
(b) if to any of the Partnership Parties, shall be delivered or sent by mail to the address of the Partnership set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Brock M. Degeyter (Fax: 214-306-8047).
Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof. The Partnership Parties shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent, notice or agreement given or made on behalf of the Underwriters by the Representative.
15. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Partnership Parties and their respective successors. This Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those persons, except that (a) the representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements of the Partnership Parties contained in this Agreement shall also be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors, officers, employees and selling agents of the Underwriters, each affiliate of the Underwriters who has participated or is alleged to have participated in the distribution of the Units as underwriters, and each person or persons, if any, who control the Underwriters within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, and (b) the indemnity agreement of the Underwriters contained in Section 8(b) of this Agreement shall be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors of the General Partner, the officers of the General Partner who have signed the Registration Statement and any person controlling the Partnership within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the persons referred to in this Section 15, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein.
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16. Survival. The respective indemnities, representations, warranties and agreements of the Partnership Parties and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Units and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any of them or any person controlling any of them.
17. Definition of the Terms “Business Day”, “Affiliate” and “Subsidiary”. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) “business day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close and (b) “affiliate” and “subsidiary” have the meanings set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
18. Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
19. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Partnership Parties and the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
20. Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their clients, including the Partnership Parties, which information may include the name and address of their clients, as well as other information that will allow each of the Underwriters to properly identify its clients.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
22. Headings. The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
[Signature page follows]
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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Partnership Parties and the Underwriters, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP | ||
| By: |
Summit Midstream GP, LLC, | |
| its General Partner | ||
| By: |
/s/ Steven J. Newby | |
| Name: |
Steven J. Newby | |
| Title: |
President and Chief Executive Officer | |
| SUMMIT MIDSTREAM GP, LLC | ||
| By: |
/s/ Steven J. Newby | |
| Name: |
Steven J. Newby | |
| Title: |
President and Chief Executive Officer | |
| SUMMIT MIDSTREAM HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
| By: |
/s/ Steven J. Newby | |
| Name: |
Steven J. Newby | |
| Title: |
President and Chief Executive Officer | |
Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement
Accepted:
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
| By: |
/s/ J. Lex Maultsby | |
| Name: J. Lex Maultsby | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement
SCHEDULE I
| Underwriters |
Number of Units |
|||
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated |
131,732 | |||
| Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC. |
30,594 | |||
| Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
30,594 | |||
| Wells Fargo Securities, LLC |
30,594 | |||
| BBVA Securities Inc. |
9,178 | |||
| BMO Capital Markets Corp. |
9,178 | |||
| Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. |
9,178 | |||
| ING Financial Markets LLC |
9,178 | |||
| RBC Capital Markets, LLC |
9,178 | |||
| Regions Securities LLC |
9,178 | |||
| TD Securities (USA) LLC |
9,178 | |||
| BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC |
3,060 | |||
| Capital One Securities, Inc. |
3,060 | |||
| Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
3,060 | |||
| Citizens Capital Markets, Inc. |
3,060 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
300,000 | |||
|
|
|
|||
Schedule I-1
SCHEDULE II
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus included in Pricing Disclosure Package: Final Term Sheet substantially in the form set forth in Schedule IV.
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus not included in Pricing Disclosure Package: Summit Midstream Partners, LP Investor Presentation November 6, 2017; and Summit Midstream Partners, LP Investor Presentation November 8, 2017.
Schedule II-1
SCHEDULE III
LIST OF JURISDICTIONS OF FOREIGN QUALIFICATION
| Entity |
Jurisdiction of Formation |
Foreign Qualifications | ||
| Summit Midstream Partners, LP |
Delaware | Texas; Georgia | ||
| Summit Midstream GP, LLC |
Delaware | Texas; Georgia | ||
| Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC |
Delaware | Colorado, Georgia, Texas | ||
| Grand River Gathering, LLC |
Delaware | Colorado | ||
| DFW Midstream Services LLC |
Delaware | Texas; West Virginia | ||
| Bison Midstream, LLC |
Delaware | North Dakota | ||
| Red Rock Gathering Company, LLC |
Delaware | Colorado; Utah | ||
| Epping Transmission Company, LLC |
Delaware | North Dakota | ||
| Polar Midstream, LLC |
Delaware | North Dakota | ||
| Summit Midstream OpCo GP, LLC |
Delaware | Colorado; North Dakota | ||
| Summit Midstream OpCo, LP |
Delaware | None | ||
| Meadowlark Midstream Company, LLC |
Delaware | Colorado; North Dakota; Wyoming | ||
| Tioga Midstream, LLC |
Delaware | North Dakota | ||
| Summit Midstream Utica, LLC |
Delaware | Ohio | ||
| Summit Midstream Marketing, LLC |
Delaware | Colorado; Texas | ||
| Summit Midstream Permian, LLC |
Delaware | New Mexico, Texas |
Schedule III-1
SCHEDULE IV
Final Term Sheet
300,000 9.50% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units
(Liquidation Preference $1,000 per unit)
The information in this final term sheet supplements the preliminary prospectus supplement of Summit Midstream Partners, LP, dated November 6, 2017 (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”), and supersedes the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement to the extent it is inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement. Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.
| Issuer: |
Summit Midstream Partners, LP | |
| Trade Date: |
November 9, 2017 | |
| Settlement Date: |
November 14, 2017 (T + 3) | |
| Title of Securities: |
9.50% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units (the “units”). | |
| Number of Units: |
300,000 units. | |
| Public Offering Price: |
$1,000 per unit; $300,000,000 total. | |
| Use of Proceeds: |
The issuer expects to receive net proceeds of approximately $293 million from the sale of the units, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. The issuer intends to use the net proceeds of this offering to repay outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility. | |
| Maturity Date: |
Perpetual (unless redeemed on or after December 15, 2022 or in connection with a Change of Control Triggering Event or a Ratings Event). | |
| Liquidation Preference: |
$1,000 plus accumulated and unpaid distributions (subject to adjustment for any splits, combinations, or similar adjustment to the units). | |
| Distribution Payment Dates: |
Semi-annually in arrears on the 15th day of each June and December through and including December 15, 2022, and, thereafter, quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year (each a “Distribution Payment Date”) to holders of record as of the close of business on the first Business Day of the month of the applicable Distribution Payment Date. A pro-rated initial distribution on the units will be payable on December 15, 2017 in an amount equal to approximately $7.9167 per unit. If any Distribution Payment Date otherwise would fall on a day that is not a Business Day, declared distributions will be paid on the immediately succeeding Business Day without the accumulation of additional distributions. | |
| Distribution Rate: |
The initial distribution rate for the units from and including the date of original issue to, but not including, December 15, 2022, will be 9.50% per annum of the $1,000 liquidation preference per unit (equal to $95 per unit per annum). On and after December 15, 2022, distributions on the units will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the liquidation preference equal to the three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 7.43%. | |
Schedule IV-1
| Change of Control: |
If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, each holder of the units may require the issuer to repurchase all or a portion of such holder’s units at a purchase price equal to 101% of the liquidation preference plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid distributions thereon to, but not including, the date of settlement. Any such redemption would be effected only out of funds legally available for such purpose and will be subject to compliance with the provisions of the issuer’s outstanding indebtedness.
If the issuer fails to make a Change of Control Offer, to the extent required, or to repurchase any of the units tendered by holders for repurchase as required in connection with a Change of Control Triggering Event, then, from and after the first date of such failure and until such repurchase is made, the distribution rate for the outstanding units will be 11.50% per annum (an increase of 2.0% per annum) prior to December 15, 2022, and on and after December 15, 2022, will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the liquidation preference equal to the three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 9.43% (an increase of 2.0% per annum). | |
| Optional Redemption: |
At any time within 120 days after the conclusion of any review or appeal process instituted by the issuer following the occurrence of a Ratings Event, the issuer may, at its option, redeem the units in whole, but not in part, at a redemption price in cash per unit equal to $1,020 (102% of the liquidation preference of $1,000) plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid distributions thereon to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption, whether or not declared. Any such redemption would be effected only out of funds legally available for such purpose and will be subject to compliance with the provisions of the issuer’s outstanding indebtedness.
At any time on or after December 15, 2022, the issuer may, at its option, redeem the units, in whole or in part, by paying the redemption price set forth below plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid distributions thereon to, but not including, the date of redemption, whether or not declared.
The redemption price shall be as follows (assuming the units are redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on December 15 of the years indicated below): | |
| Year |
Redemption Price | |
| 2022 |
104% of liquidation preference | |
| 2023 |
102% of liquidation preference | |
| 2024 and thereafter |
100% of liquidation preference |
| The issuer must provide not less than 30 days’ and not more than 60 days’ written notice of any such redemption. The issuer may undertake multiple partial redemptions. Any such redemption would be effected only out of funds legally available for such purposes and will be subject to compliance with the provisions of the issuer’s outstanding indebtedness. | ||
| CUSIP/ISIN: |
866142AA0 / US866142AA01 | |
| Joint Book-Running Managers: |
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC Wells Fargo Securities, LLC | |
Schedule IV-2
| Senior Co-Managers: |
BBVA Securities Inc. BMO Capital Markets Corp. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. ING Financial Markets LLC RBC Capital Markets, LLC Regions Securities LLC TD Securities (USA) LLC | |
| Co-Managers: |
BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC Capital One Securities, Inc. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Citizens Capital Markets, Inc. | |
| Listing: |
The issuer does not intend to apply for the listing of the units on any securities exchange. | |
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016 the issuer’s ratio of earnings to fixed charges, on a pro forma basis giving effect to this offering, would have been 2.76x and 1.14x, respectively.
All information (including financial information) presented in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement is deemed to have changed to the extent affected by the changes described herein.
This communication is intended for the sole use of the person to whom it is provided by the issuer. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell the units and is not soliciting an offer to buy the units in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
It is expected that delivery of the units will be made to investors on or about November 14, 2017, which will be the third business day following the date hereof (such settlement being referred to as “T+3”). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the units on any date prior to the business day before delivery will be required to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the units who wish to trade the units on any date prior to the business day before delivery should consult their own advisors.
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a base prospectus) and a prospectus supplement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus supplement for this offering, the issuer’s prospectus in that registration statement and any other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus supplement and prospectus if you request it by calling Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at 1-(800) 294-1322, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC at 1-(800) 221-1037, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at 1-(866) 718-1649 or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC at 1-(800) 645-3751.
Schedule IV-3
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF OPINION OF BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.
1. The Partnership is a limited partnership under the Delaware LP Act with limited partnership power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. 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 in the states set forth opposite its name on Annex I hereto.
2. The General Partner is a limited liability company under the Delaware LLC Act with limited liability company power and authority to own its properties, conduct its business and act as the general partner of the Partnership as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. 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 in the states set forth opposite its name on Annex I hereto.
3. Summit Midstream is a limited liability company under the Delaware LLC Act with limited liability company power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. We confirm that Summit Midstream is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in the states set forth opposite its name on Annex I hereto.
4. Each of Red Rock, DFW, Grand River, Bison, Polar, OpCo and Utica (collectively, the “Covered Subsidiaries”) is a limited liability company or a limited partnership, as applicable, under the Delaware LLC Act or the Delaware LP Act with limited liability company or limited partnership, as applicable, power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. We confirm that each of the Covered Subsidiaries is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in the states set forth opposite its name on Annex I hereto.
5. The Units have been duly authorized by the Partnership and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement against payment of the consideration therefor, will be validly issued under the Delaware LP Act, and purchasers of the Units have no obligation to make further payments for their purchase of Units or contributions to the Partnership solely by reason of their ownership of the Units or their status as limited partners of the Partnership, except for their obligation to repay any funds wrongfully distributed to them or as they otherwise may have agreed.
6. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by each of the Partnership Parties have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company or limited partnership action, as applicable, of each of the Partnership Parties, and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Partnership Parties.
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7. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the Partnership Parties and the issuance and sale of the Units by the Partnership to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, do not on the date hereof:
| (i) |
violate the provisions of the Organizational Documents; or |
| (ii) |
result in the breach of or a default under any agreements listed on Annex II; or |
| (iii) |
violate any federal, Texas or New York statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Partnership Parties or the Covered Subsidiaries, the Delaware LP Act or the Delaware LLC Act; or |
| (iv) |
require any consents, approvals, or authorizations to be obtained by the Partnership Parties or the Covered Subsidiaries from, or any registrations, declarations or filings to be made by the Partnership Parties or the Covered Subsidiaries with, any governmental authority under (a) any federal, Texas or New York statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Partnership Parties or the Covered Subsidiaries or (b) the Delaware LP Act or the Delaware LLC Act, in each case, that have not been obtained or made. |
8. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act; any required filing of the Prospectus, and any supplements thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner required by Rule 424(b); and, to our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings by the Commission for that purpose have been instituted and are pending under the Securities Act.
9. The statements in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions,” “Description of Our Series A Preferred Units” and “The Partnership Agreement” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Units are accurate descriptions or summaries in all material respects.
10. The statements in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions,” “Description of Our Series A Preferred Units,” “The Partnership Agreement” and “Investment in Summit Midstream Partners, LP by Employee Benefits Plans,” insofar as they purport to describe or summarize certain provisions of the documents or federal laws or the Delaware LP Act or the Delaware LLC Act referred to therein, are accurate descriptions or summaries in all material respects.
11. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review on the date hereof of the General Partner LLC Agreement, all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of the General Partner (the “GP Membership Interests”) are owned of record by Summit Midstream Partners Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SMP Holdings”). The issuance and sale of the GP Membership Interests has been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action of the General Partner, and such GP Membership
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Interests have been validly issued in accordance with the General Partner LLC Agreement. Under the Delaware LLC Act, SMP Holdings will have no obligation to make further payments for its ownership of the GP Membership Interests or contributions to the General Partner solely by reason of its ownership of the GP Membership Interests or its status as the sole member of the General Partner and no personal liability for the debts, obligations and liabilities of the General Partner, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being the sole member of the General Partner. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review of the lien searches attached as an exhibit to such counsel’s opinion (the “Lien Search”), such counsel confirms that the GP Membership Interests are free and clear of liens, claims, charges and encumbrances (“Liens”), other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the General Partner LLC Agreement, (ii) set forth or described on an exhibit to such counsel’s opinion, (iii) arising under that certain Term Loan Agreement dated as of March 21, 2017, by and among SMP Holdings, as borrower, the lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative and collateral agent, or (iv) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
12. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review on the date hereof of the Partnership Agreement and certain resolutions of the board of directors of the General Partner, the General Partner is the sole general partner of the Partnership, and the approximate 2.0% general partner interest in the Partnership (the “General Partner Interest”) and all of the outstanding incentive distribution rights of the Partnership (the “IDRs”) (together with the General Partner Interest, the “GP Ownership Interests”) are owned of record by the General Partner. The issuance and sale of the GP Ownership Interests have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action of the Partnership, and such GP Ownership Interests have been validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement. Under the Delaware LP Act, the General Partner will have no obligation to make further payments for its ownership of the IDRs or contributions to the Partnership solely by reason of its ownership of the IDRs. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review of the Lien Search, such counsel confirms that the GP Ownership Interests are free and clear of Liens, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act or the Partnership Agreement, (ii) set forth or described on an exhibit to such counsel’s opinion or (iii) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
13. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review on the date hereof of the Midstream LLC Agreement, all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Summit Midstream (the “Summit Midstream Membership Interests”) are owned of record by the Partnership. The issuance and sale of the Summit Midstream Membership Interests have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action of Summit Midstream, and such Summit Midstream Membership Interests have been validly issued in accordance with the Midstream LLC Agreement. Under the Delaware LLC Act, the Partnership will have no obligation to make further payments for its ownership of the Summit Midstream Membership Interests or contributions to Summit Midstream solely by reason of its ownership of the Summit Midstream Membership Interests or its status as the sole member of Summit Midstream and no personal liability for the debts, obligations and liabilities of Summit Midstream, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being the sole member of Summit Midstream. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon
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a review of the Lien Search, such counsel confirms that the Summit Midstream Membership Interests are free and clear of Liens, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the Midstream LLC Agreement, (ii) set forth or described on an exhibit to such counsel’s opinion, (iii) arising under the Revolving Credit Agreement or (iv) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
14. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review on the date hereof of the DFW LLC Agreement, all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in DFW (the “DFW Interests”) are owned of record by Summit Midstream. The issuance and sale of the DFW Interests have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action of DFW, and the DFW Interests have been validly issued in accordance with the DFW LLC Agreement. Under the Delaware LLC Act, Summit Midstream will have no obligation to make further payments for its ownership of the DFW Interests, or contributions to DFW solely by reason of its ownership of the DFW Interests or its status as a member of DFW and no personal liability for the debts, obligations and liabilities of DFW, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being a member of DFW. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review of the Lien Search, such counsel confirms that the DFW Interests are free and clear of Liens, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the DFW LLC Agreement, (ii) set forth or described on an exhibit to such counsel’s opinion, (iii) arising under the Revolving Credit Agreement or (iv) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
15. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review on the date hereof of the limited liability company agreement of Grand River, all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Grand River (the “Grand River Interests”) are owned of record by Summit Midstream. The issuance and sale of the Grand River Interests have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action of Grand River, and such Grand River Interests have been validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Grand River. Under the Delaware LLC Act, Summit Midstream will have no obligation to make further payments for its ownership of the Grand River Interests or contributions to Grand River solely by reason of its ownership of the Grand River Interests or its status as the sole member of Grand River and no personal liability for the debts, obligations and liabilities of Grand River, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being the sole member of Grand River. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review of the Lien Search, such counsel confirms that the Grand River Interests are free and clear of Liens, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the Grand River LLC Agreement, (ii) set forth or described on an exhibit to such counsel’s opinion, (iii) arising under the Revolving Credit Agreement or (iv) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
16. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review on the date hereof of the limited liability company agreement of Bison, all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Bison (the “Bison Interests”) are owned of record by Summit Midstream. The issuance and sale of the Bison Interests have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action of Bison, and such Bison Interests have been validly
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issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Bison. Under the Delaware LLC Act, Summit Midstream will have no obligation to make further payments for its ownership of the Bison Interests or contributions to Bison solely by reason of its ownership of the Bison Interests or its status as the sole member of Bison and no personal liability for the debts, obligations and liabilities of Bison, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being the sole member of Bison. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review of the Lien Search, such counsel confirms that the Bison Interests are free and clear of Liens, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the Bison LLC Agreement, (ii) set forth or described on an exhibit to such counsel’s opinion, (iii) arising under the Revolving Credit Agreement or (iv) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
17. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review on the date hereof of the limited liability company agreement of Red Rock, all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Red Rock (the “Red Rock Interests”) are owned of record by Grand River. The issuance and sale of the Red Rock Interests have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action of Red Rock, and such Red Rock Interests have been validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Red Rock. Under the Delaware LLC Act, Grand River will have no obligation to make further payments for its ownership of the Red Rock Interests or contributions to Red Rock solely by reason of its ownership of the Red Rock Interests or its status as the sole member of Red Rock and no personal liability for the debts, obligations and liabilities of Red Rock, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being the sole member of Red Rock. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review of the Lien Search, such counsel confirms that the Red Rock Interests are free and clear of Liens, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the Red Rock LLC Agreement, (ii) set forth or described on an exhibit to such counsel’s opinion, (iii) arising under the Revolving Credit Agreement or (iv) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
18. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review on the date hereof of the limited liability company agreement of Polar, all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Polar (the “Polar Interests”) are owned of record by Bison. The issuance and sale of the Polar Interests have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action of Polar, and such Polar Interests have been validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Polar. Under the Delaware LLC Act, Bison will have no obligation to make further payments for its ownership of the Polar Interests or contributions to Polar solely by reason of its ownership of the Polar Interests or its status as the sole member of Polar, and no personal liability for the debts, obligations and liabilities of Polar, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being the sole member of Polar. With your consent, based solely upon a review of the Lien Search, we confirm that the Polar Interests are free and clear of Liens, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the limited liability company agreement of Polar, (ii) set forth or described on an exhibit to such counsel’s opinion, (iii) arising under the Revolving Credit Agreement or (iv) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
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19. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review on the date hereof of the limited liability company agreement of OpCo GP, all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of OpCo GP (the “OpCo GP Interests”) are owned of record by Summit Midstream. The issuance and sale of the OpCo GP Interests have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action of OpCo GP, and such OpCo GP Interests have been validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of OpCo GP. Under the Delaware LLC Act, Summit Midstream will have no obligation to make further payments for its ownership of the OpCo GP Interests or contributions to OpCo GP solely by reason of its ownership of the OpCo GP Interests or its status as the sole member of OpCo GP, and no personal liability for the debts, obligations and liabilities of OpCo GP, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being the sole member of OpCo GP. With your consent, based solely upon a review of the Lien Search, we confirm that the OpCo GP Interests are free and clear of Liens, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the limited liability company agreement of OpCo GP, (ii) set forth or described on an exhibit to such counsel’s opinion, (iii) arising under the Revolving Credit Agreement or (iv) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
20. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review on the date hereof of the agreement of limited partnership of OpCo, OpCo GP is the sole general partner of OpCo and owns a non-economic general partner interest in OpCo, and Summit Midstream owns a 99% limited partnership interest in OpCo and Summitt Epping, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Summit Epping”), owns a 1% limited partnership interest (collectively, the “OpCo Interests”). The issuance and sale of the OpCo Interests have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action of OpCo, and such OpCo Interests have been validly issued in accordance with the limited partnership agreement of OpCo. Under the Delaware LP Act, neither Summit Midstream nor Summit Epping will have no obligation to make further payments for their respective ownership of the OpCo Interests or contributions to OpCo solely by reason of its ownership of the OpCo Interests or its status as the sole member of OpCo, and no personal liability for the debts, obligations and liabilities of OpCo, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being a limited partner of OpCo. With your consent, based solely upon a review of the Lien Search, we confirm that the OpCo Interests are free and clear of Liens, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LP Act or the agreement of limited partnership of OpCo, (ii) set forth or described on an exhibit to such counsel’s opinion, (iii) arising under the Revolving Credit Agreement or (iv) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
21. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review on the date hereof of the limited liability company agreement of Utica, all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Utica (the “Utica Interests”) are owned of record by OpCo. The issuance and sale of the Utica Interests have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action of Utica, and such Utica Interests have been validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of Utica. Under the Delaware LLC Act, OpCo will have no obligation to make further payments for its ownership of the Utica Interests or contributions to Utica solely by reason of its ownership of the Utica Interests or its status as the sole member of Utica, and no personal liability for the debts, obligations and liabilities of Utica, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being the sole member of
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Utica. With your consent, based solely upon a review of the Lien Search, we confirm that the Utica Interests are free and clear of Liens, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the limited liability company agreement of Utica, (ii) set forth or described on an exhibit to such counsel’s opinion, (iii) arising under the Revolving Credit Agreement or (iv) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
22. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely upon a review on the date hereof of the limited liability company agreement of Ohio Gathering, Utica owns 40% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of Ohio Gathering (the “Ohio Gathering Interests”). With your consent, based solely upon a review of the Lien Search, we confirm that the Ohio Gathering Interests are free and clear of Liens, other than those (i) created by or arising under the Delaware LLC Act or the limited liability company agreement of Ohio Gathering, (ii) set forth or described on an exhibit to such counsel’s opinion, (iii) arising under the Revolving Credit Agreement or (iv) restrictions on transferability or other Liens described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
23. The Partnership is not, and immediately after giving effect to the sale of the Units in accordance with this Agreement and the application of the proceeds as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds” will not be required to be, registered as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
24. The opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. that is filed as Exhibit 8.1 to the Form 8-K filed by the Partnership on November , 2017 is confirmed and the Underwriters may rely upon such opinion as if it were addressed to the Underwriters.
Such counsel has reviewed the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the pricing information attached as Schedule II to this Agreement (the “Pricing Information Annex”), the Prospectus and the Incorporated Documents and has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Partnership Parties, with representatives of the Partnership’s independent registered public accounting firm and with the Underwriters and their counsel, at which the contents of such documents and related matters were discussed. The purpose of such counsel’s professional engagement was not to establish or confirm factual matters set forth in such documents, and such counsel has not undertaken to verify independently any of the factual matters in such documents. Moreover, many of the determinations required to be made in the preparation of such documents involve matters of a non-legal nature. Accordingly, such counsel is not passing upon, and does not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained or included in such documents (except to the extent stated in paragraphs 9 and 10 above). Subject to the foregoing and on the basis of the information such counsel gained in the course of performing the services referred to above, such counsel advises the Underwriters that:
(a) the Registration Statement, as of the latest Effective Date, and the Prospectus, as of its date and the date hereof, appear on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and
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(b) nothing came to such counsel’s attention that caused it to believe that:
(1) the Registration Statement, as of the latest Effective Date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
(2) the Preliminary Prospectus, as of the Applicable Time, when taken together with the Pricing Information Annex, included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or
(3) the Prospectus, as of its date or as of the date hereof, included or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
it being understood that in each case such counsel has not been asked to, and does not, express any belief with respect to (i) the financial statements and schedules or other financial or accounting information contained or included or incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom or (ii) representations and warranties and other statements of fact contained in the exhibits to the Registration Statement or to documents incorporated by reference therein. For purposes hereof, the latest Effective Date of the Registration Statement is deemed to be November 6, 2017, which is the date on which the Partnership filed the Preliminary Prospectus.
.
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Annex I
| Entity |
Jurisdiction of Formation |
Foreign Qualifications | ||
| Summit Midstream Partners, LP |
Delaware | Texas; Georgia | ||
| Summit Midstream GP, LLC |
Delaware | Texas; Georgia | ||
| Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC |
Delaware | Colorado, Georgia, Texas | ||
| Grand River Gathering, LLC |
Delaware | Colorado | ||
| DFW Midstream Services LLC |
Delaware | Texas; West Virginia | ||
| Bison Midstream, LLC |
Delaware | North Dakota | ||
| Red Rock Gathering Company, LLC |
Delaware | Colorado; Utah | ||
| Polar Midstream, LLC |
Delaware | North Dakota | ||
| Summit Midstream OpCo, LP |
Delaware | None | ||
| Summit Midstream Utica, LLC |
Delaware | Ohio |
Annex I-1
Annex II
Specified Agreements
| 1. |
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 26, 2017, by and among Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC, as borrower, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative and collateral agent, as amended |
| 2. |
Indenture, dated as of July 15, 2014, by and among Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC, Summit Midstream Finance Corp., the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association |
| 3. |
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 15, 2014, by and among Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC, Summit Midstream Finance Corp., the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association |
| 4. |
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 15, 2017, by and among Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC, Summit Midstream Finance Corp., the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association |
Annex II-1
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF OPINION OF BROCK M. DEGEYTER
1. The Partnership is a limited partnership under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act with limited partnership power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. With the consent of the Underwriters, based solely on certificates from public officials, such counsel confirms that the Partnership is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
2. None of (a) the sale of the Units to be sold by the Partnership under this Agreement, (b) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Partnership Parties or (c) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (i) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, a change of control, or a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an event) under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of the Partnership Entities is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound (excluding the agreements listed on Annex I); (ii) result in the creation of any security interest in, or Lien upon, any property or assets of any of the Partnership Entities or (iii) violates or will violate any order, judgment, decree or injunction known to such counsel of any court or governmental agency or Delaware, Texas or federal body directed to any of the Partnership Entities or any of their properties in a proceeding to which any of them or their property is a party or is bound, except for such conflicts, violations, breaches or defaults or Liens that, individually or in the aggregate, have not materially impaired and will not materially impair the ability of any of the Partnership Entities to consummate the transactions provided for in this Agreement.
3. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no profits interests or other equity interests, options, warrants, preemptive rights 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. To the knowledge of such counsel, neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Units as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any Series A Preferred Units or other securities of the Partnership.
4. To the knowledge of such counsel, there are no (a) legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which any of the Partnership Entities is a party or to which any of their respective properties is subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus but are not so described as required by the Securities Act or (b) agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or other instruments that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not so described or filed as required by the Securities Act.
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In rendering such opinion, such counsel may (i) rely in respect of matters of fact upon certificates of officers and other employees of the General Partner and the Partnership and upon information obtained from public officials, (ii) assume that all documents submitted to such counsel as originals are authentic, that all copies submitted to such counsel conform to the originals thereof, and that the signatures on all documents examined by such counsel are genuine, (iii) state that such counsel’s opinion is limited to federal laws and the laws of the State of Texas and (iv) state that such counsel expresses no opinion with respect to (A) any permits to own or operate any real or personal property or (B) state or local tax statutes to which any of the Partnership Entities may be subject.
In addition, such counsel shall state that (A) Baker Botts L.L.P., Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. and Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. are each authorized to rely upon such opinion letter in connection with the offering as if such opinion letter were addressed and delivered to him on the date hereof and (B) subject to the foregoing, such opinion letter may be relied upon by the Underwriters and their counsel only in connection with the offering and no other use or distribution of this opinion letter may be made without such counsel’s prior written consent.
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EXHIBIT C
FORM OF OPINION OF RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER
1. The Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the General Partner, and is enforceable against the General Partner, in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership, in accordance with its terms.
2. The General Partner LLC Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Summit Midstream Partners Holdings, LLC, and is enforceable against Summit Midstream Partners Holdings, LLC, in its capacity as member of the General Partner, in accordance with its terms.
3. The DFW LLC Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Summit Midstream and DFW, and is enforceable against Summit Midstream, in its capacity as a member of DFW, and DFW in accordance with its terms.
4. The Grand River LLC Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Summit Midstream, and is enforceable against Summit Midstream, in its capacity as member of Grand River, in accordance with its terms.
5. The Midstream LLC Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Partnership, and is enforceable against the Partnership, in its capacity as member of Summit Midstream, in accordance with its terms.
6. The Bison LLC Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Summit Midstream, and is enforceable against Summit Midstream, in its capacity as member of Bison, in accordance with its terms.
7. The Red Rock LLC Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Grand River, and is enforceable against Grand River, in its capacity as a member of Red Rock, in accordance with its terms.
8. The Polar LLC Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Bison, and is enforceable against Bison, in its capacity as member of Polar, in accordance with its terms.
9. The OpCo Partnership Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of OpCo GP, and is enforceable against OpCo GP, in its capacity as general partner of OpCo, in accordance with its terms.
10. The Summit Utica LLC Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of OpCo, and is enforceable against OpCo, in its capacity as member of Summit Utica, in accordance with its terms.
11. The limited liability company agreement of Ohio Gathering (such agreement, together with any amendments and/or restatements thereof) constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Summit Utica, and is enforceable against Summit Utica, in its capacity as a member of Ohio Gathering, in accordance with its terms.
C-1
Exhibit 3.1
Execution Version
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
A Delaware Limited Partnership
Dated as of
November 14, 2017
Contents
| ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||||
| Section 1.1 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
| Section 1.2 |
Construction | 30 | ||||
| ARTICLE II. ORGANIZATION |
30 | |||||
| Section 2.1 |
Formation | 30 | ||||
| Section 2.2 |
Name | 30 | ||||
| Section 2.3 |
Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices | 30 | ||||
| Section 2.4 |
Purpose and Business | 31 | ||||
| Section 2.5 |
Powers | 31 | ||||
| Section 2.6 |
Term | 31 | ||||
| Section 2.7 |
Title to Partnership Assets | 31 | ||||
| ARTICLE III. RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS |
32 | |||||
| Section 3.1 |
Limitation of Liability | 32 | ||||
| Section 3.2 |
Management of Business | 32 | ||||
| Section 3.3 |
Rights of Limited Partners | 32 | ||||
| ARTICLE IV. CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS |
33 | |||||
| Section 4.1 |
Certificates | 33 | ||||
| Section 4.2 |
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates | 34 | ||||
| Section 4.3 |
Record Holders | 35 | ||||
| Section 4.4 |
Transfer Generally | 35 | ||||
| Section 4.5 |
Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests | 36 | ||||
| Section 4.6 |
Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest | 37 | ||||
| Section 4.7 |
Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights | 37 | ||||
| Section 4.8 |
Restrictions on Transfers | 37 | ||||
| Section 4.9 |
Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders | 39 | ||||
| Section 4.10 |
Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders | 40 | ||||
| ARTICLE V. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS |
41 | |||||
| Section 5.1 |
[Reserved] | 41 | ||||
| Section 5.2 |
Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates | 41 | ||||
| Section 5.3 |
[Reserved] | 42 | ||||
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| Section 5.4 |
Interest and Withdrawal | 42 | ||||
| Section 5.5 |
Capital Accounts | 42 | ||||
| Section 5.6 |
Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests | 45 | ||||
| Section 5.7 |
[Reserved] | 46 | ||||
| Section 5.8 |
Limited Preemptive Right | 46 | ||||
| Section 5.9 |
Splits and Combinations | 46 | ||||
| Section 5.10 |
Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests | 47 | ||||
| Section 5.11 |
Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights | 47 | ||||
| Section 5.12 |
Establishment of Series A Preferred Units | 49 | ||||
| ARTICLE VI. ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS |
62 | |||||
| Section 6.1 |
Allocations for Capital Account Purposes | 62 | ||||
| Section 6.2 |
Allocations for Tax Purposes | 71 | ||||
| Section 6.3 |
Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders | 73 | ||||
| Section 6.4 |
Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus | 74 | ||||
| Section 6.5 |
Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus | 75 | ||||
| Section 6.6 |
Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels | 75 | ||||
| Section 6.7 |
[Reserved] | 75 | ||||
| Section 6.8 |
Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights | 75 | ||||
| Section 6.9 |
Entity-Level Taxation | 76 | ||||
| Section 6.10 |
Special Provisions Relating to Series A Holders | 77 | ||||
| ARTICLE VII. MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS |
77 | |||||
| Section 7.1 |
Management | 77 | ||||
| Section 7.2 |
Certificate of Limited Partnership | 79 | ||||
| Section 7.3 |
Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority to Sell Assets of the Partnership Group | 79 | ||||
| Section 7.4 |
Reimbursement of the General Partner | 80 | ||||
| Section 7.5 |
Outside Activities | 81 | ||||
| Section 7.6 |
Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members | 82 | ||||
| Section 7.7 |
Indemnification | 83 | ||||
| Section 7.8 |
Liability of Indemnitees | 84 | ||||
ii
| Section 7.9 |
Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties | 85 | ||||
| Section 7.10 |
Other Matters Concerning the General Partner and Other Indemnitees | 87 | ||||
| Section 7.11 |
Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests | 88 | ||||
| Section 7.12 |
Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates | 88 | ||||
| Section 7.13 |
Reliance by Third Parties | 92 | ||||
| ARTICLE VIII. BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS |
93 | |||||
| Section 8.1 |
Records and Accounting | 93 | ||||
| Section 8.2 |
Fiscal Year | 93 | ||||
| Section 8.3 |
Reports | 93 | ||||
| ARTICLE IX. TAX MATTERS |
94 | |||||
| Section 9.1 |
Tax Returns and Information | 94 | ||||
| Section 9.2 |
Tax Elections | 94 | ||||
| Section 9.3 |
Tax Controversies | 95 | ||||
| Section 9.4 |
Withholding | 95 | ||||
| ARTICLE X. ADMISSION OF PARTNERS |
96 | |||||
| Section 10.1 |
Admission of Limited Partners | 96 | ||||
| Section 10.2 |
Admission of Successor General Partner | 97 | ||||
| Section 10.3 |
Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership | 97 | ||||
| ARTICLE XI. WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS |
97 | |||||
| Section 11.1 |
Withdrawal of the General Partner | 97 | ||||
| Section 11.2 |
Removal of the General Partner | 99 | ||||
| Section 11.3 |
Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner | 99 | ||||
| Section 11.4 |
[Reserved] | 101 | ||||
| Section 11.5 |
Withdrawal of Limited Partners | 101 | ||||
| ARTICLE XII. DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION |
101 | |||||
| Section 12.1 |
Dissolution | 101 | ||||
| Section 12.2 |
Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution | 102 | ||||
| Section 12.3 |
Liquidator | 102 | ||||
| Section 12.4 |
Liquidation | 103 | ||||
| Section 12.5 |
Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership | 104 | ||||
| Section 12.6 |
Return of Contributions | 104 | ||||
| Section 12.7 |
Waiver of Partition | 104 | ||||
iii
| Section 12.8 |
Capital Account Restoration | 104 | ||||
| ARTICLE XIII. AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE |
104 | |||||
| Section 13.1 |
Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner | 104 | ||||
| Section 13.2 |
Amendment Procedures | 105 | ||||
| Section 13.3 |
Amendment Requirements | 106 | ||||
| Section 13.4 |
Special Meetings | 107 | ||||
| Section 13.5 |
Notice of a Meeting | 107 | ||||
| Section 13.6 |
Record Date | 107 | ||||
| Section 13.7 |
Postponement and Adjournment | 108 | ||||
| Section 13.8 |
Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting | 108 | ||||
| Section 13.9 |
Quorum and Voting | 108 | ||||
| Section 13.10 |
Conduct of a Meeting | 109 | ||||
| Section 13.11 |
Action Without a Meeting | 109 | ||||
| Section 13.12 |
Right to Vote and Related Matters | 110 | ||||
| Section 13.13 |
Voting of Incentive Distribution Rights | 110 | ||||
| ARTICLE XIV. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION |
110 | |||||
| Section 14.1 |
Authority | 110 | ||||
| Section 14.2 |
Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 110 | ||||
| Section 14.3 |
Approval by Limited Partners | 112 | ||||
| Section 14.4 |
Certificate of Merger or Certificate of Conversion | 114 | ||||
| Section 14.5 |
Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 114 | ||||
| ARTICLE XV. RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS |
115 | |||||
| Section 15.1 |
Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests | 115 | ||||
| ARTICLE XVI. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
116 | |||||
| Section 16.1 |
Addresses and Notices; Written Communications | 116 | ||||
| Section 16.2 |
Further Action | 117 | ||||
| Section 16.3 |
Binding Effect | 117 | ||||
| Section 16.4 |
Integration | 117 | ||||
| Section 16.5 |
Creditors | 118 | ||||
| Section 16.6 |
Waiver | 118 | ||||
| Section 16.7 |
Third-Party Beneficiaries | 118 | ||||
| Section 16.8 |
Counterparts | 118 | ||||
| Section 16.9 |
Applicable Law; Forum; Venue and Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury | 118 | ||||
iv
| Section 16.10 |
Invalidity of Provisions | 119 | ||||
| Section 16.11 |
Consent of Partners | 119 | ||||
| Section 16.12 |
Facsimile and Email Signatures | 119 | ||||
v
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP dated as of November 14, 2017, is entered into by and between Summit Midstream GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, and Summit Midstream Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, 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 thereto entered into that certain First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership dated as of October 3, 2012 (the “2012 Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the General Partner desires to amend and restate the 2012 Agreement in its entirety in order to (i) establish a new class of limited partner interests, the Series A Preferred Units, (ii) to revise certain provisions relating to the BBA and (iii) to remove certain provisions that are no longer applicable to the Partnership.
NOW, THEREFORE, the General Partner does hereby amend and restate the 2012 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.
“2012 Agreement” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.
“Acquisition” means any transaction in which any Group Member acquires (through an asset acquisition, stock acquisition, merger or other form of investment) control over all or a portion of the assets, properties or business of another Person for the purpose of increasing, over the long-term, the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction. For purposes of this definition, “long-term” generally refers to a period of not less than twelve months.
“Additional Book Basis” means the portion of any remaining Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property that is attributable to positive adjustments made to such Carrying Value as a result of Book-Up Events. For purposes of determining the extent that Carrying Value constitutes Additional Book Basis:
| (a) | Any negative adjustment made to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property as a result of either a Book-Down Event or a Book-Up Event shall first be deemed to offset or decrease that portion of the Carrying Value of such Adjusted Property that is attributable to any prior positive adjustments made thereto pursuant to a Book-Up Event or Book-Down Event; and |
1
| (b) | If Carrying Value that constitutes Additional Book Basis is reduced as a result of a Book-Down Event and the Carrying Value of other property is increased as a result of such Book-Down Event, an allocable portion of any such increase in Carrying Value shall be treated as Additional Book Basis; provided, that the amount treated as Additional Book Basis pursuant hereto as a result of such Book-Down Event shall not exceed the amount by which the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments after such Book-Down Event exceeds the remaining Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property after such Book-Down Event (determined without regard to the application of this clause (b) to such Book-Down Event). |
“Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means any Book Basis Derivative Items that are computed with reference to Additional Book Basis. To the extent that the Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property as of the beginning of any taxable period exceeds the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the beginning of such period (the “Excess Additional Book Basis”), the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for such period shall be reduced by the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items determined without regard to this sentence as the Excess Additional Book Basis bears to the Additional Book Basis as of the beginning of such period. With respect to a Disposed of Adjusted Property, the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items shall be the amount of Additional Book Basis taken into account in computing gain or loss from the disposition of such Disposed of Adjusted Property.
“Adjusted Capital Account” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end of each taxable period of the Partnership, (a) increased by any amounts that such Partner is obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or is deemed obligated to restore under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5)) and (b) decreased by (i) the amount of all losses and deductions that, as of the end of such taxable period, are reasonably expected to be allocated to such Partner in subsequent taxable periods under Sections 704(e)(2) and 706(d) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.751-1(b)(2)(ii) and (ii) the amount of all distributions that, as of the end of such taxable period, are reasonably expected to be made to such Partner in subsequent taxable periods in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise to the extent they exceed offsetting increases to such Partner’s Capital Account that are reasonably expected to occur during (or prior to) the taxable period in which such distributions are reasonably expected to be made (other than increases as a result of a minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) or 6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.
“Adjusted Operating Surplus” means, with respect to any period, (a) Operating Surplus generated with respect to such period less (b)(i) the amount of any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) with respect to such
2
period and (ii) the amount of any net decrease in cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net decrease in cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period not relating to an Operating Expenditure made with respect to such period, and plus (c)(i) the amount of any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) with respect to such period, (ii) the amount of any net decrease made in subsequent periods in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures initially established with respect to such period to the extent such decrease results in a reduction in Adjusted Operating Surplus in subsequent periods pursuant to clause (b)(ii) above and (iii) the amount of any net increase in cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net increase in cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium. Adjusted Operating Surplus does not include that portion of Operating Surplus included in clause (a)(i) of the definition of “Operating Surplus.”
“Adjusted Property” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.11(a).
“Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments” means, as of the end of any taxable period, the sum of the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of all the Partners.
“Agreed Allocation” means any allocation, other than a Required Allocation, of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1, including a Curative Allocation (if appropriate in the context in which the term “Agreed Allocation” is used).
“Agreed Value” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or other asset at the time of contribution and in the case of an Adjusted Property, the fair market value of such Adjusted Property on the date of the revaluation event as described in Section 5.5(d), in both cases as determined by the General Partner. The General Partner shall use such method as it determines to be appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated transaction among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair market value of each Contributed Property.
“Agreement” means this Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Summit Midstream Partners, LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
3
“Associate” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer, manager, general partner or managing member or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest, (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.
“Available Cash” means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:
| (a) | the sum of: |
| (i) | all cash and cash equivalents 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; |
| (iii) | provide funds for Series A Distributions; or |
| (iv) | 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 (iv) above if the effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units with respect to such Quarter; provided further, that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.
4
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Available Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
“BBA” means the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.
“Board of Directors” means, with respect to the General Partner, its board of directors or board of managers, if the General Partner is a corporation or limited liability company, or the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of the General Partner, if the General Partner is a limited partnership, as applicable.
“Book Basis Derivative Items” means any item of income, deduction, gain or loss that is computed with reference to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property (e.g., depreciation, depletion, or gain or loss with respect to an Adjusted Property).
“Book-Down Event” means an event that triggers a negative adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Book-Tax Disparity” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.
“Book-Up Event” means an event that triggers a positive adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of Delaware shall not be regarded as a Business Day.
“Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5. The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.
“Capital Contribution” means (a) any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership or that is contributed or deemed contributed to the Partnership on behalf of a Partner (including, in the case of an underwritten offering of Units, the amount of any underwriting discounts or commissions) or (b) current distributions that a Partner is entitled to receive but otherwise waives.
5
“Capital Improvement” means (a) the construction of new capital assets by a Group Member, (b) the replacement, improvement or expansion of existing capital assets by a Group Member or (c) a capital contribution by a Group Member to a Person that is not a Subsidiary in which a Group Member has, or after such capital contribution will have, directly or indirectly, an equity interest, to fund such Group Member’s pro rata share of the cost of the construction of new, or the replacement, improvement or expansion of existing, capital assets by such Person, in each case if and to the extent such construction, replacement, improvement or expansion is made to increase, over the long-term, the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), or such Person, in the case of clause (c), from the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group or such Person, as the case may be, existing immediately prior to such construction, replacement, improvement, expansion or capital contribution. For purposes of this definition, “long-term” generally refers to a period of not less than twelve months.
“Capital Surplus” means Available Cash distributed by the Partnership in excess of Operating Surplus, as described in Section 6.3(a).
“Carrying Value” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in respect of such property and (b) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination; provided that the Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 5.5(d) 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 global form if permitted by applicable rules and regulations of the Depositary) as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more classes of Partnership Interests. The initial form of certificate approved by the General Partner for Common Units is attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement.
“Certificate of Limited Partnership” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 7.2, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“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.
6
“claim” (as used in Section 7.12(g)) has the meaning given such term in Section 7.12(g).
“Closing Date” means the first date on which Common Units were sold by the Partnership to the underwriters party to the that certain Underwriting Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2012, pursuant thereto.
“Closing Price” for any day, means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interest, the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the last closing bid and ask prices on such day, regular way, in either case as reported on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the average of the high bid and low ask prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by such other system then in use, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and ask prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General Partner.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.
“Combined Interest” has the meaning given such term in Section 11.3(a).
“Commences Commercial Service” means the date upon which a Capital Improvement is first put into commercial service by a Group Member following completion of construction, replacement, improvement or expansion and testing, as applicable.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Unit” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement.
“Conflicts Committee” means a committee of the Board of Directors composed of one or more directors, each of whom (a) is not an officer or employee of the General Partner, (b) is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the General Partner (other than Group Members), (c) is not a holder of any ownership interest in the General Partner or its Affiliates or the Partnership Group other than (i) Common Units and (ii) awards that are granted to such director in his 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).
7
“Construction Debt” means debt incurred to fund (a) all or a portion of a Capital Improvement, (b) interest payments (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements) and related fees on other Construction Debt or (c) distributions (including incremental Incentive Distributions) on Construction Equity.
“Construction Equity” means equity issued to fund (a) all or a portion of a Capital Improvement, (b) interest payments (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements) and related fees on Construction Debt or (c) distributions (including incremental Incentive Distributions) on other Construction Equity. Construction Equity does not include equity issued in the Initial Public Offering.
“Construction Period” means the period beginning on the date that a Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence a Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement Commences Commercial Service and the date that the Group Member abandons or disposes of such Capital Improvement.
“Contributed Property” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d), such property or other asset shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.
“Contribution Agreement” means that certain Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, dated as of , 2012, among the Partnership, the General Partner, Summit Midstream Partners, LLC and the Operating Company, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Curative Allocation” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi).
“Current Market Price” as of any date for any class of Limited Partner Interests, means the average of the daily Closing Prices per Limited Partner Interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date.
“Delaware Act” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del C. Section 17-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
“Departing General Partner” means a former General Partner from and after the effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2.
“Depositary” means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted assigns.
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“Derivative Partnership Interests” means any options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights, tracking, profit and phantom interests and other derivative securities relating to, convertible into or exchangeable for Partnership Interests.
“Disposed of Adjusted Property” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B).
“Economic Risk of Loss” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
“Eligibility Certificate” means a certificate the General Partner may request a Limited Partner to execute as to such Limited Partner’s (or such Limited Partner’s beneficial owners’) federal income tax status or nationality, citizenship or other related status for the purpose of determining whether such Limited Partner is an Ineligible Holder.
“Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount” has the meaning given to such term in Section 6.9.
“Event of Withdrawal” has the meaning given such term in Section 11.1(a).
“Excess Additional Book Basis” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Additional Book Basis Derivative Items.”
“Excess Distribution” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A).
“Excess Distribution Unit” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
“Expansion Capital Expenditures” means cash expenditures for Acquisitions or Capital Improvements. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall include interest (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements) and related fees paid during the Construction Period on Construction Debt. Where cash expenditures are made in part for Expansion Capital Expenditures and in part for other purposes, the General Partner shall determine the allocation between the amounts paid for each.
“FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or any successor to the powers thereof.
“Finance Corp.” means Summit Midstream Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation.
“First Liquidation Target Amount” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(D).
“First Target Distribution” means $0.46 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2012, it means the product of $0.46 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and of which the denominator is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.
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“General Partner” means Summit Midstream GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).
“General Partner Interest” means the equity interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it), which is evidenced by General Partner Units, and includes any and all rights, powers and benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
“General Partner Unit” means a fractional part of the General Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the General Partner Interest. A General Partner Unit shall not constitute a “Unit” for any purpose under this Agreement.
“Gross Liability Value” means, with respect to any Liability of the Partnership described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i), the amount of cash that a willing assignor would pay to a willing assignee to assume such Liability in an arm’s-length transaction.
“Group” means two or more Persons that, with or through any of their respective Affiliates or Associates, have any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising investment power over or disposing of any Partnership Interests with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Interests.
“Group Member” means a member of the Partnership Group.
“Group Member Agreement” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or similar organizational documents of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint venture and the governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, in each case, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Hedge Contract” means any exchange, swap, forward, cap, floor, collar, option or other similar agreement or arrangement entered into for the purpose of reducing the exposure of a Group Member to fluctuations in interest rates, the price of hydrocarbons, basis differentials or currency exchange rates in their operations or financing activities and not for speculative purposes.
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“Holder” means any of the following:
| (a) | the General Partner who is the Record Holder of Registrable Securities; |
| (b) | any Affiliate of the General Partner who is the Record Holder of Registrable Securities (other than natural persons who are Affiliates of the General Partner by virtue of being officers, directors or employees of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates); |
| (c) | any Person who has been the General Partner within the prior two years and who is the Record Holder of Registrable Securities; |
| (d) | any Person who has been an Affiliate of the General Partner within the prior two years and who is the Record Holder of Registrable Securities (other than natural persons who were Affiliates of the General Partner by virtue of being officers, directors or employees of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates); and |
| (e) | a transferee and current Record Holder of Registrable Securities to whom the transferor of such Registrable Securities, who was a Holder at the time of such transfer, assigns its rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided such transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and provides its name and address to the Partnership promptly upon such transfer. |
“IDR Reset Common Units” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.11(a).
“IDR Reset Election” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.11(a).
“Incentive Distribution Right” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights in this Agreement (and no other rights otherwise available to or other obligations of a holder of a Partnership Interest).
“Incentive Distributions” means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to Sections 6.4(b)(iii), (iv) and (v).
“Incremental Income Taxes” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.9.
“Indemnified Persons” has the meaning given such term in Section 7.12(g).
“Indemnitee” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of (i) any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or (ii) any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner as a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of another Person owing a fiduciary duty to any Group Member; provided that a Person shall not be
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an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services and (f) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement because such Person’s status, service or relationship exposes such Person to potential claims, demands, suits or proceedings relating to the Partnership Group’s business and affairs.
“Ineligible Holder” means a Limited Partner who is not a Citizenship Eligible Holder or a Rate Eligible Holder.
“Initial Common Units” means the Common Units sold in the Initial Public Offering.
“Initial Limited Partners” means the Organizational Limited Partner, the General Partner (with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights received by it) and the IPO Underwriters upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units in connection with the Initial Public Offering.
“Initial Public Offering” means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as described in the IPO Registration Statement.
“Initial Unit Price” means (a) with respect to the Common Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Common Units were first offered to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the IPO Prospectus or (b) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit at which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the Partnership, as determined by the General Partner, in each case adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.
“Interim Capital Transactions” means the following transactions if they occur prior to the Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than Working Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account or for a deferred purchase price in the ordinary course of business) by any Group Member and sales of debt securities of any Group Member; (b) issuances of equity interests of any Group Member (including the Common Units sold to the IPO Underwriters in the Initial Public Offering) to anyone other than another Group Member; (c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other than (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business and (ii) sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal retirements or replacements; and (d) capital contributions received by a Group Member.
“Imputed Underpayment” means an imputed underpayment under Section 6225 of the Code, as amended by the BBA.
“IPO Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to the Initial Public Offering dated September 27, 2012 and filed by the Partnership with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act on September 28, 2012.
“IPO Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-183466) 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.
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“IPO Underwriter” means each Person named as an underwriter in Schedule I to the IPO Underwriting Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.
“IPO Underwriting Agreement” means that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of September 27, 2012 among the IPO Underwriters, Summit Midstream Partners, LLC, the Partnership, the General Partner and the Operating Company providing for the purchase of Common Units by the IPO Underwriters.
“Liability” means any liability or obligation of any nature, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise.
“LIBOR Determination Date” means the second London Business Day immediately preceding the first date of the applicable distribution period.
“Limited Partner” means, unless the context otherwise requires each Initial Limited Partner, each additional Person that becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3, in each case, in such Person’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership; provided, however, that when the term “Limited Partner” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including without limitation Articles XIII (other than Sections 13.3(b) and (c), 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.7, 13.8, 13.9, 13.10, 13.11 and 13.12(b)) and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include a Series A Preferred Unitholder with respect to its Series A Preferred Units.
“Limited Partner Interest” means an equity interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Series A Preferred Units, Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Interests or a combination thereof (but excluding Derivative Partnership Interests), and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
“Liquidation Date” means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (d) of the third sentence of Section 12.1, the date on which the applicable time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election being made and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.
“Liquidator” means one or more Persons selected pursuant to Section 12.3 to perform the functions described in Section 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware Act.
“London Business Day” means any day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.
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“lower tier partnership” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.1(d)(xii).
“Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the construction of new capital assets or the replacement, improvement or expansion of existing capital assets) by a Group Member made to maintain, over the long term, the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group. For purposes of this definition, “long term” generally refers to a period of not less than twelve months.
“Material Senior Indebtedness” means (a) the indebtedness issued under that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 15, 2014, by and among the Operating Company, Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, (b) the indebtedness issued under that certain Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 15, 2017, by and among the Operating Company, Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association and (c) any future indebtedness of the Operating Company or Finance Corp. in an amount greater than $200,000,000 issued under a note indenture (and not under any loan or other credit agreement with commercial banking institutions).
“Merger Agreement” has the meaning given such term in Section 14.1.
“Minimum Quarterly Distribution” means $0.40 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2012, it means the product of $0.40 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.
“National Securities Exchange” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act (or any successor to such Section).
“Net Agreed Value” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property or other asset reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property or other asset is subject when contributed and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution, in either case as determined and required by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code.
“Net Income” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, however, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).
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“Net Loss” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, however, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).
“Net Positive Adjustments” means, with respect to any Partner, the excess, if any, of the total positive adjustments over the total negative adjustments made to the Capital Account of such Partner pursuant to Book-Up Events and Book-Down Events.
“Net Termination Gain” means, for any taxable period, the sum, if positive, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) that are (a) recognized by the Partnership (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(d); provided, however, that the items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
“Net Termination Loss” means, for any taxable period, the sum, if negative, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) that are (a) recognized by the Partnership (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(d); provided, however, that the items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
“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).
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“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).
“Operating Company” means Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successors thereto.
“Operating Expenditures” means all Partnership Group cash expenditures (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned), including taxes, compensation of employees, officers and directors of the General Partner, reimbursement of expenses of the General Partner and its Affiliates, Maintenance Capital Expenditures, debt service payments, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings, and payments made in the ordinary course of business under any Hedge Contracts, subject to the following:
| (a) | repayments of Working Capital Borrowings deducted from Operating Surplus pursuant to clause (b)(iii) of the definition of “Operating Surplus” shall not constitute Operating Expenditures when actually repaid; |
| (b) | payments (including prepayments and prepayment penalties) of principal of and premium on indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings shall not constitute Operating Expenditures; |
| (c) | Operating Expenditures shall not include (i) Expansion Capital Expenditures, (ii) payment of transaction expenses (including taxes) relating to Interim Capital Transactions, (iii) distributions to Partners, (iv) repurchases of Partnership Interests, other than repurchases of Partnership Interests by the Partnership to satisfy obligations under employee benefit plans or reimbursement of expenses of the General Partner for purchases of Partnership Interests by the General Partner to satisfy obligations under employee benefit plans or (v) any other expenditures or payments using the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the IPO Registration Statement; and |
| (d) | (i) amounts paid in connection with the initial purchase of a Hedge Contract shall be amortized as Operating Expenditures over the life of such Hedge Contract and (ii) payments made in connection with the termination of any Hedge Contract prior to the expiration of its scheduled settlement or termination date shall be included as Operating Expenditures in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such Hedge Contract. |
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“Operating Surplus” means, with respect to any period ending prior to the Liquidation Date, on a cumulative basis and without duplication,
| (a) | the sum of (i) $50.0 million, (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, but excluding cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions and the termination of Hedge Contracts (provided that cash receipts from the termination of a Hedge Contract prior to its scheduled settlement or termination date shall be included in Operating Surplus in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such Hedge Contract), (iii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Operating Surplus with respect to such period resulting from Working Capital Borrowings and (iv) the amount of cash distributions from Operating Surplus paid during the Construction Period (including incremental Incentive Distributions) on Construction Equity, less |
| (b) | the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, (ii) the amount of cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) established by the General Partner to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures, and (iii) all Working Capital Borrowings not repaid within twelve months after having been incurred, or repaid within such 12-month period with the proceeds of additional Working Capital Borrowings; provided, however, that disbursements made (including contributions to a Group Member or disbursements on behalf of a Group Member) or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such period shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within such period if the General Partner so determines. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Operating Surplus” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to, or the general counsel or other inside counsel of, the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner or to such other person selecting such counsel or obtaining such opinion.
“Organizational Limited Partner” means Summit Midstream Partners, LLC in its capacity as the organizational limited partner of the Partnership pursuant to the 2012 Agreement.
“Outstanding” means, with respect to Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the Partnership’s books and records as of the date of determination; provided, however, that if at any time any Person or Group (other than the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class, all Partnership Interests owned by or for the benefit of such
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Person or Group shall not be entitled to be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Partnership Interests so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Partnership Interests shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Interests for purposes of this Agreement or the Delaware Act); provided, further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than the Partnership), (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that, upon or prior to such acquisition, the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, (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 or (iv) any Series A Preferred Unitholder in connection with any vote, consent or approval of the Series A Preferred Unitholders pursuant to Section 5.12(c)(ii).
“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 Summit Midstream Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
“Partnership Group” means, collectively, the Partnership and its Subsidiaries.
“Partnership Interest” means any equity interest, including any class or series of equity interest, in the Partnership, which shall include any Limited Partner Interests and the General Partner Interest but shall exclude any Derivative Partnership Interests.
“Partnership Minimum Gain” means that amount determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).
“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.
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“Partnership Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 6223 of the Code, as amended by the BBA.
“Partnership Restructuring Event” means any restructuring, simplification or similar transaction or series of transactions that modifies, eliminates or otherwise restructures the General Partner Interest, the Incentive Distribution Rights or the equity interests of the General Partner or its affiliates, provided that the principal parties thereto are the Partnership, the owner of a majority of the equity interests in the General Partner and/or its Affiliates.
“Paying Agent” means the Transfer Agent, acting in its capacity as paying agent for the Series A Preferred Units, and its respective successors and assigns or any other paying agent appointed by the General Partner; provided, however, that if no Paying Agent is specifically designated for the Series A Preferred Units, the General Partner shall act in such capacity.
“Per Unit Capital Amount” means, as of any date of determination, the Capital Account, stated on a per Unit basis, underlying any Unit held by a Person other than the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner who holds Units.
“Percentage Interest” means, as of any date of determination, (a) as to the General Partner with respect to General Partner Units and as to any Unitholder (other than in respect of Series A Preferred Units) with respect to Units (other than in respect of Series A Preferred Units), as the case may be, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of General Partner Units held by the General Partner or the number of Units held by such Unitholder (other than in respect of Series A Preferred Units), as the case may be, by (B) the total number of Outstanding Units (other than in respect of Series A Preferred Units) and General Partner Units, and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.6, the percentage established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right and a Series A Preferred Unit shall at all times be zero.
“Person” means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
“Plan of Conversion” has the meaning given such term in Section 14.1.
“Pro Rata” means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (b) when used with respect to Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (c) when used with respect to holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned among all holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held by each such holder, (d) when modifying Series A Preferred Unitholders, apportioned equally among all Series A Preferred Unitholders in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Series A Preferred Units held by each such Series A Preferred Unitholder and (e) when used with respect to Holders who have requested to include Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement pursuant to Section 7.12(a) or 7.12(b), apportioned among all such Holders in accordance with the relative number of Registrable Securities held by each such holder and included in the Notice relating to such request.
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“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.
“Qualifying Owners” means the collective reference to (i) Energy Capital Partners II, LP, Energy Capital Partners II-A, L.P., Energy Capital Partners II-B IP, LP, Energy Capital Partners II-C (Summit IP), LP, Energy Capital Partners II (Summit Co-Invest), LP, SMLP Holdings, LLC and each of their affiliated funds and investment vehicles and any fund manager, general partner, managing member or principal of any of the foregoing; (ii) the officers, directors and management employees of the Partnership, the Operating Company and the Partnership’s Subsidiaries; and (iii) any person controlled by any of the persons described in any of the clauses (i) or (ii).
“Quarter” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership.
“Rate Eligible Holder” means a Limited Partner subject to United States federal income taxation on the income generated by the Partnership. A Limited Partner that is an entity not subject to United States federal income taxation on the income generated by the Partnership shall be deemed a Rate Eligible Holder so long as all of the entity’s beneficial owners are subject to such taxation.
“Rating Agency” means a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) that publishes a rating for the Partnership.
“Recapture Income” means any gain recognized by the Partnership (computed without regard to any adjustment required by Section 734 or Section 743 of the Code) upon the disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which gain is characterized as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.
“Record Date” means the date established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to receive notice of, or entitled to exercise rights in respect of, any lawful action of Limited Partners (including voting) or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.
“Record Holder” means (a) with respect to any class of Partnership Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Person in whose name a Partnership Interest of such class is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the Partnership’s close of business on a particular Business Day or (b) with respect to other classes of Partnership Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered on the books that the General Partner has caused to be kept as of the Partnership’s close of business on a particular Business Day.
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“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 and General Partner Units; 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 may be sold or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement; (b) at the time such Registrable Security has been disposed of pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor or similar rule or regulation under the Securities Act); (c) when such Registrable Security is held by a Group Member; and (d) at the time such Registrable Security has been sold in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under Section 7.12 of this Agreement have not been assigned to the transferee of such securities.
“Registration Statement” has the meaning given such term in Section 7.12(a).
“Remaining Net Positive Adjustments” means, as of the end of any taxable period, (a) with respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units or Series A Preferred Units, the excess of (i) the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders holding Common Units or Series A Preferred Units as of the end of such period over (ii) the sum of those Partners’ Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for each prior taxable period, (b) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Units), the excess of (i) the Net Positive Adjustments of the General Partner as of the end of such period over (ii) the sum of the General Partner’s Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to the General Partner Units for each prior taxable period, and (c) with respect to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, the excess of (i) the Net Positive Adjustments of the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period over (ii) the sum of the Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights for each prior taxable period.
“Representative Amount” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.12(c)(i)(F)(3).
“Required Allocations” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i), Section 6.1(d)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(iv), Section 6.1(d)(v), Section 6.1(d)(vi), Section 6.1(d)(vii) or Section 6.1(d)(ix).
“Reset MQD” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.11(e).
“Reset Notice” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.11(b).
“Restricted Subsidiary” of a Person means any subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Operating Company and Finance Corp. shall at all times be Restricted Subsidiaries of the Partnership.
“Second Liquidation Target Amount” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(E).
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“Second Target Distribution” means $0.50 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2012, it means the product of $0.50 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11, Section 6.6 and Section 6.9.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
“Selling Holder” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to the procedures in Section 7.12.
“Series A Alternate Offer” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.12(c)(iv)(C).
“Series A Calculation Agent” means a bank, trust company or other Person as may be appointed from time to time by the General Partner, and shall be appointed by the General Partner prior to the Series A Floating Rate Period, to act as calculation agent for the Series A Preferred Units.
“Series A Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:
| (a) | the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets (including equity interests in the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries) of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act); |
| (b) | the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Partnership or the Operating Company, or removal of the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.2; |
| (c) | the consummation of any transaction (including any merger or consolidation), the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), excluding the Qualifying Owners, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the voting interests of the Partnership or the General Partner, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like; |
| (d) | the consummation of any transaction (including any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), excluding the Qualifying Owners, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the voting interests of Summit Midstream Partners, LLC, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like, at a time when Summit Midstream Partners, LLC beneficially owns a majority of the voting interests of the General Partner; or |
| (e) | the consummation of any transaction whereby the Partnership ceases to own directly or indirectly 100% of the equity interests in the Operating Company. |
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Notwithstanding the preceding, a conversion of the Partnership or any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries from a limited partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other form of entity to a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership or other form of entity or an exchange of all of the outstanding equity interests in one form of entity for equity interests in another form of entity shall not constitute a Series A Change of Control, so long as, following such conversion or exchange, the “persons” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) who beneficially owned equity interests in the Partnership immediately prior to such transactions continue to beneficially own in the aggregate more than 50% of the voting interests of such entity, or continue to beneficially own sufficient equity interests in such entity to elect a majority of its directors, managers, trustees or other persons serving in a similar capacity for such entity or its general partner, as applicable, and, in either case no “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), excluding the Qualifying Owners, beneficially owns more than 50% of the voting interests of such entity or its general partner, as applicable.
In addition, a Series A Change of Control shall not occur as a result of (i) a merger between the Partnership and the General Partner or (ii) any transaction in which the Operating Company remains a subsidiary of the Partnership but one or more intermediate holding companies between the Operating Company and the Partnership are added, liquidated, merged or consolidated out of existence. For the sake of clarity, no Partnership Restructuring Event shall constitute a Series A Change of Control.
“Series A Change of Control Offer” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.12(c)(iv)(A).
“Series A Change of Control Payment” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.12(c)(iv)(A).
“Series A Change of Control Purchase Date” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.12(c)(iv)(A)(2).
“Series A Change of Control Settlement Date” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.12(c)(iv)(A).
“Series A Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of a Series A Change of Control that is accompanied or followed by a downgrade by one or more gradations (including both gradations within ratings categories and between ratings categories) or withdrawal of the rating of the Series A Preferred Units within the Series A Ratings Decline Period by at least two of the Rating Agencies, as a result of which the rating of the Series A Preferred Units on any day during such Series A Ratings Decline Period is below the rating by such rating agency in effect immediately preceding the first public announcement of the Series A Change of Control (or occurrence thereof if such Series A Change of Control occurs prior to public announcement).
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“Series A Current Criteria” means the equity credit criteria of a Rating Agency for securities such as the Series A Preferred Units, as such criteria are in effect as of the Series A Original Issue Date.
“Series A Distribution” means distributions with respect to Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.12(c)(i).
“Series A Distribution Payment Date” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.12(c)(i)(A).
“Series A Distribution Period” means a period of time from and including the preceding Series A Distribution Payment Date (other than the initial Series A Distribution Period, which shall commence on and include the Series A Original Issue Date), to, but excluding, the next Series A Distribution Payment Date for such Series A Distribution Period.
“Series A Distribution Rate” means, except as modified pursuant to Section 5.12(c)(iv)(E), an annual rate equal to (i) during the Series A Fixed Rate Period, 9.50% of the Series A Liquidation Preference and (ii) during the Series A Floating Rate Period, a percentage of the Series A Liquidation Preference equal to the sum of (a) the Series A Three-Month LIBOR, as calculated on each applicable LIBOR Determination Date, and (b) 7.43%.
“Series A Fixed Rate Period” means the period from and including the Series A Original Issue Date to, but not including, December 15, 2022.
“Series A Floating Rate Period” means the period from and including December 15, 2022 and thereafter until such time as all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units are redeemed in accordance with Section 5.12(c)(iii) or Section 5.12(c)(iv).
“Series A Issue Price” means $1,000 per Series A Preferred Unit.
“Series A Junior Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests and distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership, expressly ranks junior to the Series A Preferred Units, including but not limited to Common Units and Incentive Distribution Rights, but excluding any Series A Parity Securities and Series A Senior Securities.
“Series A Liquidation Preference” means a liquidation preference for each Series A Preferred Unit initially equal to $1,000 per unit (subject to adjustment for any splits, combinations or similar adjustments to the Series A Preferred Units), which liquidation preference shall be subject to increase by the per Series A Preferred Unit amount of any accumulated and unpaid Series A Distributions (whether or not such distributions shall have been declared).
“Series A Original Issue Date” means November 14, 2017.
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“Series A Parity Basket” means:
| (a) | if a number of Series A Preferred Units having an aggregate Series A Issue Price of at least $100,000,000 is then Outstanding, the greater of: |
| (i) | an aggregate $150,000,000 of non-convertible Series A Parity Securities; and |
| (ii) | so long as the aggregate value of the Outstanding Common Units (based on the Closing Price of Common Units on the trading day immediately preceding such date of issuance) is at least $1,500,000,000, a number of additional Series A Preferred Units or other non-convertible Series A Parity Securities such that, as of the date of issuance of the additional Series A Preferred Units or other non-convertible Series A Parity Securities, the aggregate number of Series A Preferred Units, together with any Series A Parity Securities (assuming that any such Series A Preferred Units and any non-convertible Series A Parity Securities are convertible into a number of Common Units equal to the quotient of (i) the aggregate purchase price for such Series A Preferred Units and any non-convertible Series A Parity Securities, divided by (ii) the volume-weighted average price of the Common Units for the thirty (30) Trading Day period ending immediately prior to such issuance (such Common Units, the “Series A Parity Equivalent Units”)), equals no more than 15% of all Outstanding Common Units, (including as Outstanding for such purposes any Series A Parity Equivalent Units and any Common Units issuable upon conversion of any convertible Series A Parity Securities); or |
| (b) | if a number of Series A Preferred Units having an aggregate Series A Issue Price of less than $100,000,000 is then Outstanding, such number of Series A Parity Securities as determined by the General Partner; |
provided that (for the avoidance of doubt) the Partnership may, without the affirmative vote of the holders of Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, create (by reclassification or otherwise) and issue Series A Junior Securities in an unlimited amount.
“Series A Parity Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Interests established after the Series A Original Issue Date that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests and distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership, is not expressly made senior or subordinated to the Series A Preferred Units. For the avoidance of doubt, classes or series of Partnership Interests may qualify as Series A Parity Securities irrespective of whether or not the record date, distribution payment date, distribution rate or distribution periods of such class or series of Partnership Interests match those of the Series A Preferred Units or any other class or series of Series A Parity Securities.
“Series A Preferred Unitholder” means a Record Holder of Series A Preferred Units.
“Series A Preferred Units” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.12(a).
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“Series A Ratings Decline Period” means the period that (i) begins on the occurrence of a Series A Change of Control and (ii) ends 60 calendar days following consummation of such Series A Change of Control.
“Series A Ratings Event” means a change by any Rating Agency to the Series A Current Criteria, which change results in (a) any shortening of the length of time for which the Series A Current Criteria are scheduled to be in effect with respect to the Series A Preferred Units, or (b) a lower equity credit being given to the Series A Preferred Units than the equity credit that would have been assigned to the Series A Preferred Units by such Rating Agency pursuant to its Series A Current Criteria.
“Series A Redemption Date” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.12(c)(iii)(A).
“Series A Redemption Notice” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.12(c)(iii)(D).
“Series A Redemption Price” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.12(c)(iii)(B).
“Series A Senior Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Interests established after the Series A Original Issue Date that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests and distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership, is expressly made senior to the Series A Preferred Units.
“Series A Three-Month LIBOR” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.12(c)(i)(F).
“Series A Unpaid Cash Distribution” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.12(c)(i)(C).
“Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means in connection with any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period, (a) with respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Unitholders’ Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such taxable period bear to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time, (b) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Units), the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the General Partner’s Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such taxable period bear to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment as of that time, and (c) with respect to the Partners holding Incentive Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of the Partners holding the Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such taxable period bear to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time.
“Special Approval” means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee acting in good faith.
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“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.
“Surviving Business Entity” has the meaning given such term in Section 14.2(b)(ii).
“Target Distributions” means, collectively, the First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution.
“Tax Matters Partner” has the meaning set forth in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code, prior to amendment by the BBA.
“Third Target Distribution” means $0.60 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2012, it means the product of $0.60 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which the referenced Partnership Interests of any class are listed or admitted for trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such Partnership Interests are not listed or admitted for trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City are not legally required to be closed.
“Transaction Documents” has the meaning given such term in Section 7.1(b).
“transfer” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.4(a).
“Transfer Agent” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner or one of its Affiliates) as may be appointed from time to time by the General Partner to act as registrar and transfer agent for any class of Partnership Interests in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules of the National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed (if any); provided that, if no such Person is appointed as registrar and transfer agent for any class of Partnership Interests, the General Partner shall act as registrar and transfer agent for such class of Partnership Interests.
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“Treasury Regulation” means the United States Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code.
“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, (b) an offering of Partnership Interests pursuant to a Registration Statement that is a “bought deal” with one or more investment banks, and (c) an “at-the-market” offering pursuant to a Registration Statement in which Partnership Interests are sold to the public through one or more investment banks or managers on a best efforts basis.
“Unit” means a Partnership Interest that is designated by the General Partner as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units and Series A Preferred Units but shall not include (i) General Partner Units (or the General Partner Interest represented thereby) or (ii) Incentive Distribution Rights.
“Unit Majority” means a majority of the Outstanding Common Units.
“Unitholders” means the Record Holders of Units.
“Unpaid MQD” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(C).
“Unrealized Gain” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date).
“Unrealized Loss” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)).
“Unrecovered Initial Unit Price” means at any time, with respect to a Unit, the Initial Unit Price less the sum of all distributions constituting Capital Surplus theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit and any distributions of cash (or the Net Agreed Value of any distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit, adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of such Units.
“Unrestricted Person” means (a) each Indemnitee, (b) each Partner, (c) each Person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, employee or agent of any Group Member, a General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, a General Partner or any Departing General Partner and (d) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Unrestricted Person” for purposes of this Agreement from time to time.
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“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Partnership (other than Finance Corp. or the Operating Company) that is designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, but only to the extent that such subsidiary:
| (a) | except to the extent permitted by the definition of “Permitted Business Investments” in any Material Senior Indebtedness, has no indebtedness other than non-recourse debt owing to any Person other than the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
| (b) | is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from persons who are not Affiliates of the Partnership; |
| (c) | is a Person with respect to which neither the Partnership nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (i) to subscribe for additional equity interests or (ii) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and |
| (d) | has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any of the Partnership’s indebtedness or the indebtedness of any of the Partnership’s Restricted Subsidiaries. |
All subsidiaries of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall also be Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
“U.S. GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect from time to time, consistently applied.
“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel” has the meaning given such term in Section 11.1(b).
“Working Capital Borrowings” means borrowings incurred pursuant to a credit facility, commercial paper facility or similar financing arrangement that are used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to the Partners; provided that when such borrowings are incurred it is the intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within 12 months from the date of such borrowings other than from additional Working Capital Borrowings.
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Section 1.2 Construction. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (d) the terms “hereof,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The General Partner has the power to construe and interpret this Agreement and to act upon any such construction or interpretation. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any construction or interpretation of this Agreement by the General Partner and any action taken pursuant thereto and any determination made by the General Partner in good faith shall, in each case, be conclusive and binding on all Record Holders, each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and all other Persons for all purposes.
ARTICLE II.
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 Formation. The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner have previously formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner have previously entered into that certain First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Summit Midstream Partners, LP, dated as of October 3, 2012. The purpose of this Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Summit Midstream Partners, LP is (a) to establish the rights and obligations of the Series A Preferred Units in connection with the issuance of such Limited Partner Interests, (b) to revise certain provisions relating to the BBA and (c) to remove certain provisions that are no longer applicable to the Partnership. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties, liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes.
Section 2.2 Name. The name of the Partnership shall be “Summit 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 Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the
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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 2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1250, Dallas, Texas 75201, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1250, Dallas, Texas 75201, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.
Section 2.4 Purpose and Business. The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a) engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and (b) do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however, that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would be reasonably likely to cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve the conduct by the Partnership of any business and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in declining to so propose or approve, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity and the General Partner in determining whether to propose or approve the conduct by the Partnership of any business shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion.
Section 2.5 Powers. The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.
Section 2.6 Term. The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.
Section 2.7 Title to Partnership Assets. Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees of the General Partner or its Affiliates, as the General Partner
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may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees of the General Partner or its Affiliates shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the General Partner determines that the expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership or one or more of the Partnership’s designated Affiliates as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to any successor General Partner. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Partnership assets is held.
ARTICLE III.
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability. The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.
Section 3.2 Management of Business. No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. No action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall be deemed to be participating in the control of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) nor shall any such action affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.
Section 3.3 Rights of Limited Partners.
(a) Each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand, and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:
(i) to obtain from the General Partner either (A) the Partnership’s most recent filings with the Commission on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings on Form 10-Q and 8-K or (B) if the Partnership is no longer subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the information specified in, and meeting the requirements of, Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act (provided that the foregoing materials shall be deemed to be available to a Limited Partner in satisfaction of the requirements of this Section 3.3(a)(i) if posted on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website);
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(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 to the Limited Partners pursuant to Section 3.3(a) replace in their entirety any rights to information provided for in Section 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act and each of the Partners and each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in the Partnership hereby agrees to the fullest extent permitted by law that they do not have any rights as Partners or interest holders to receive any information either pursuant to Sections 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act or otherwise except for the information identified in Section 3.3(a).
(c) The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.3).
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or Section 17-305 of the Delaware Act, each of the Record Holders, 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 the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or any Senior Vice President or Vice President and the
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Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, or other authorized officer of the General Partner, and shall bear the legend set forth in Section 4.8(f). The signatures of such officers upon a certificate may, to the extent permitted by law, be facsimiles. In case any officer who has signed or whose signature has been placed upon such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Partnership with the same effect as if he 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 certificates, the General Partner may determine that such Partnership Interests will no longer be represented by physical certificates and may, upon written notice to the holders of such Partnership Interests and subject to applicable law, take whatever actions it deems necessary or appropriate to cause such Partnership Interests to be registered in book entry or global form and may cause such physical certificates to be cancelled or deemed cancelled.
Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
(a) If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and type of Partnership Interests as the Certificate so surrendered.
(b) The appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued, if the Record Holder of the Certificate:
(i) makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;
(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the General Partner has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;
(iii) if requested by the General Partner, delivers to the General Partner a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the General Partner may direct to indemnify the Partnership, the Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and
(iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the General Partner or the Transfer Agent.
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
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Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Limited Partner shall be precluded from making any claim against the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new Certificate.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.2, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.
Section 4.3 Record Holders.
The names and addresses of Unitholders as they appear in the Partnership Register shall be the official list of Record Holders of the Partnership Interests for all purposes. The Partnership and the General Partner shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person or Group, regardless of whether the Partnership or the General Partner shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person or Group in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Person on the other, such representative Person shall be the Limited Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest upon becoming the Record Holder in accordance with Section 10.1(b) and have the rights and obligations of a Partner hereunder as, and to the extent, provided herein, including Section 10.1(c).
Section 4.4 Transfer Generally.
(a) The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns all or any part of its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) to another Person and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest assigns all or any part of such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Limited Partner as a result thereof, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, excluding a pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage but including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.
(b) No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported 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.
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(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or limit a disposition by any stockholder, member, partner or other owner of the General Partner or any Limited Partner of any or all of such Person’s shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in the General Partner or such Limited Partner and the term “transfer” shall not include any such disposition.
Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.
(a) The General Partner shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, by the Transfer Agent in whole or in part, the Partnership Register on behalf of the Partnership.
(b) The General Partner shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are duly endorsed and surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided, however, that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.5, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of this Section 4.5(b), the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered. Upon the proper surrender of a Certificate, such transfer shall be recorded in the Partnership Register.
(c) Upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions from the Record Holder of uncertificated Partnership Interests, such transfer shall be recorded in the Partnership Register.
(d) Except as provided in Section 4.9, by acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests pursuant to a transfer in accordance with this Article IV, each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee, or agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person or Group) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person when any such transfer or admission is reflected in the Partnership Register and such Person becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, (iv) makes the consents, acknowledgements and waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person and (v) shall be deemed to certify that the transferee is not an Ineligible Holder. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.
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(e) Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section 4.3, (iii) Section 4.8, (iv) with respect to any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the provisions of any statement of designations or an amendment to this Agreement establishing such class or series, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vi) provisions of applicable law including the Securities Act, Limited Partner Interests shall be freely transferable.
(f) The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Common Units to one or more Persons.
Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest.
(a) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to December 31, 2022, the General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its General Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the merger or consolidation of the General Partner with or into such other Person or the transfer by the General Partner of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person.
(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after December 31, 2022 the General Partner may transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest without the approval of any Limited Partner or any other Person.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest owned by the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.2, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner effective immediately prior to the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.
Section 4.7 Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights. The General Partner or any other holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of its Incentive Distribution Rights without the approval of any Limited Partner or any other Person.
Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers.
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(a) Except as provided in Section 4.8(e), notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, no transfer of any Partnership Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation or (iii) cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed). The Partnership may issue stop transfer instructions to any Transfer Agent in order to implement any restriction on transfer contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it receives an Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary to (i) avoid a significant risk of the Partnership’s becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) or (ii) preserve the uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may impose such restrictions by amending this Agreement; provided, however, that any amendment that would result in the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then listed or admitted to trading must be approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of such class.
(c) The transfer of an IDR Reset Common Unit that was issued in connection with an IDR Reset Election pursuant to Section 5.11 shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.8(b).
(d) [Reserved]
(e) 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.
(f) Each certificate or book entry evidencing Partnership Interests shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the following form:
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT) WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). THE GENERAL PARTNER OF SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY
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IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THIS SECURITY MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ITS TRANSFER PROVIDED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS SECURITY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL PARTNER AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE PARTNERSHIP. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
Section 4.9 Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders.
(a) The General Partner may upon demand or on a regular basis require Limited Partners, and transferees of Limited Partner Interests in connection with a transfer, to execute an Eligibility Certificate or provide other information as is necessary for the General Partner to determine if any such Limited Partners or transferees are Ineligible Holders.
(b) If any Limited Partner (or its beneficial owners) fails to furnish to the General Partner within 30 days of its request an Eligibility Certificate and other information related thereto, or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner or a transferee of a Limited Partner is an Ineligible Holder, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10 or the General Partner may refuse to effect the transfer of the Limited Partner Interests to such transferee. In addition, the General Partner shall be substituted for any Limited Partner that is an Ineligible Holder as the Limited Partner in respect of the Ineligible Holder’s Limited Partner Interests.
(c) The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Ineligible Holders, distribute the votes in the same ratios as the votes of Limited Partners (including the General Partner and its Affiliates) in respect of Limited Partner Interests other than those of Ineligible Holders are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.
(d) Upon dissolution of the Partnership, an Ineligible Holder shall have no right to receive a distribution in kind pursuant to Section 12.4 but shall be entitled to the cash equivalent thereof, and the Partnership shall provide cash in exchange for an assignment of the Ineligible Holder’s share of any distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated for Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the Ineligible Holder of its Limited Partner Interest (representing the right to receive its share of such distribution in kind).
(e) At any time after an Ineligible Holder can and does certify that it no longer is an Ineligible Holder, it may, upon application to the General Partner, request that with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Ineligible Holder not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.10, such Ineligible Holder upon approval of the General Partner, shall no longer constitute an Ineligible Holder and the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of such Limited Partner Interests.
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(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 Holder, the Partnership may, unless the transferee establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such transferee is not an Ineligible Holder, prohibit and void the transfer, including by placing a stop order with the Transfer Agent.
Section 4.10 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders.
(a) If at any time a Limited Partner fails to furnish an Eligibility Certificate or any other information requested within the period of time specified in Section 4.9, or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner is an Ineligible Holder, the Partnership may, unless the Limited Partner establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such Limited Partner is not an Ineligible Holder or has transferred his Limited Partner Interests to a Person who is not an Ineligible Holder and who furnishes an Eligibility Certificate to the General Partner prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner as follows:
(i) The General Partner shall, not later than the 30th day before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to the Limited Partner, at such Limited Partner’s last address designated on the records of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be made upon redemption of the Redeemable Interests (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Interests evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender of the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests) and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no further allocations or distributions to which such Limited Partner would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests will accrue or be made.
(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.
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(iii) The Limited Partner or such Limited Partner’s duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment for the Redeemable Interests at the place of payment specified in the notice of redemption on the redemption date (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Interests evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner or Transferee at the place specified in the notice of redemption, of the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by an assignment duly executed in blank).
(iv) After the redemption date, Redeemable Interests shall no longer constitute issued and Outstanding Limited Partner Interests.
(b) The provisions of this Section 4.10 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner Interests held by a Limited Partner as nominee, agent or representative of a Person determined to be an Ineligible Holder.
(c) Nothing in this Section 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement and the transferor provides notice of such transfer to the General Partner. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such transferee is not an Ineligible Holder. If the transferee fails to make such certification within 30 days after the request and, in any event, before the redemption date, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.
ARTICLE V.
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1 [Reserved]
Section 5.2 Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(a) Upon the issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership (other than (i) any Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11 and (ii) any Common Units issued upon the conversion of any Partnership Interests), the General Partner may, in order to maintain the Percentage Interest with respect to its General Partner Interest, make additional Capital Contributions in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (a) the quotient determined by dividing (i) the Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interests immediately prior to the issuance of such additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership by (ii) 100% less the Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interest immediately prior to the issuance of such additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership times (b) the gross amount contributed to the Partnership by the Limited Partners (before deduction of underwriters’ discounts and commissions) in exchange for such additional Limited Partner Interests. Any Capital Contribution pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall be evidenced by the issuance to the General Partner of a proportionate number of additional General Partner Units.
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Section 5.3 [Reserved]
Section 5.4 Interest and Withdrawal.
No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.5 Capital Accounts.
(a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee, agent or representative in any case in which such nominee, agent or representative has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). The Capital Account shall, in respect of each such Partnership Interest, be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and decreased by (A) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made with respect to such Partnership Interest and (B) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1. For the avoidance of doubt, the Series A Preferred Units will be treated as a partnership interest in the Partnership, and, therefore, each holder of a Series A Preferred Unit will be treated as a partner in the Partnership. The initial Capital Account balance in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit shall be $1,000. The Series A Preferred Units are entitled to a guaranteed payment for the use of capital under Section 707(c) of the Code, and therefore the Capital Account balance of each holder of Series A Preferred Units in respect of its Series A Preferred Units shall not be increased or decreased as a result of the accrual or payment of a distribution pursuant to Section 5.12(c)(i) in respect of such Series A Preferred Units, except (i) on any relevant date, the Capital Account of any Series A Preferred Unit shall also be deemed to include the amount of any Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit as of such date or (ii) as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
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(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction that is to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and is to be reflected in the Partners’ Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:
(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 5.5, the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement or governing, organizational or similar documents) of all property owned by (A) any other Group Member that is classified as a partnership or disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes and (B) any other partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity classified as a partnership or disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes of which a Group Member is, directly or indirectly, a partner, member or other equity holder.
(ii) All fees and other expenses incurred by the Partnership to promote the sale of (or to sell) a Partnership Interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized under Section 709 of the Code, if any, shall, for purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of deduction at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1.
(iii) Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.
(iv) Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to the Partnership’s Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.
(v) An item of income of the Partnership that is described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) of the Code (with respect to items of income that are exempt from tax) shall be treated as an item of income for the purpose of this Section 5.5(b), and an item of expense of the Partnership that is described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code (with respect to expenditures that are not deductible and not chargeable to capital accounts), shall be treated as an item of deduction for the purpose of this Section 5.5(b).
(vi) In accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Contributed Property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property on the date it was acquired by the Partnership were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an adjustment pursuant to Section 5.5(d) to the Carrying Value of any Partnership property subject to depreciation, cost recovery or amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall be determined under the rules prescribed by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d)(2) as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment.
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(vii) The Gross Liability Value of each Liability of the Partnership described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i) shall be adjusted at such times as provided in this Agreement for an adjustment to Carrying Values. The amount of any such adjustment shall be treated for purposes hereof as an item of loss (if the adjustment increases the Carrying Value of such Liability of the Partnership) or an item of gain (if the adjustment decreases the Carrying Value of such Liability of the Partnership).
(i) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.5(c), a transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a Pro Rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so transferred.
(ii) [Reserved]
(iii) Subject to Section 6.8(b), immediately prior to the transfer of an IDR Reset Common Unit by a holder thereof (other than a transfer to an Affiliate unless the General Partner elects to have this subparagraph (iii) apply), the Capital Account maintained for such Person with respect to its IDR Reset Common Units will (A) first, be allocated to the IDR Reset Common Units to be transferred in an amount equal to the product of (1) the number of such IDR Reset Common Units to be transferred and (2) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit, and (B) second, any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the transferor, regardless of whether it has retained any IDR Reset Common Units. Following any such allocation, the transferor’s Capital Account, if any, maintained with respect to the retained IDR Reset Common Units, if any, will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (B) hereinabove, and the transferee’s Capital Account established with respect to the transferred IDR Reset Common Units will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (A) above.
(i) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, or the conversion of the General Partner’s Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Capital Account of each Partner and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, and any such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be treated, for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, as if it had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property for an amount equal to its fair market value immediately prior to such issuance and had been allocated among the Partners at such time pursuant to Section 6.1(c) and Section 6.1(d) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated; provided, however, that in the event of an issuance of Partnership Interests for a de minimis amount of cash or Contributed Property, or in the event of an issuance of a de minimis amount of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the General Partner may determine that such adjustments are unnecessary for the proper administration of the Partnership. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership
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property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt. In making its determination of the fair market values of individual properties, the General Partner may determine that it is appropriate to first determine an aggregate value for the Partnership, derived from the current trading price of the Common Units, and taking fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time, and then allocate such aggregate value among the individual properties of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines appropriate).
(ii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a Partner of any Partnership property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and the Carrying Value of all Partnership property shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, and any such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be treated, for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, as if it had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property immediately prior to such distribution for an amount equal to its fair market value, and had been allocated among the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1(c) and Section 6.1(d) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of an actual distribution that is not made pursuant to Section 12.4 or in the case of a deemed distribution, be determined in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.5(d)(i) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined by the Liquidator using such method of valuation as it may adopt.
Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests.
(a) Subject to any approvals required by Section 5.12(c)(ii), the Partnership may issue additional Partnership Interests (other than General Partner Interests (except for General Partner Interests issued pursuant to Section 5.2)) and Derivative Partnership Interests for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners.
(b) Each additional Partnership Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.6(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Interests), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Interest; (v) whether such Partnership Interest is issued
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with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Interest will be issued, evidenced by Certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Interest; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Interest to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Interest.
(c) The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.6, (ii) the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the issuance of Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11, (iv) reflecting admission of such additional Limited Partners in the Partnership Register as the Record Holders of such Limited Partner Interests and (v) all additional issuances of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests or in connection with the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.
(d) No fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.
Section 5.7 [Reserved]
Section 5.8 Limited Preemptive Right. Except as provided in this Section 5.8 and in Section 5.2 and Section 5.11 or as otherwise provided in a separate agreement by the Partnership, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Interest, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. The General Partner shall have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Interests from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Interests to Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Interests.
Section 5.9 Splits and Combinations.
(a) Subject to Section 5.9(e), Section 6.6 and Section 6.9 (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Interests (other than distributions on Series A Preferred Units) 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.
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(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests is declared, the General Partner shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice (or such shorter periods as required by applicable law). The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Interests to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.
(c) If a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Interests, or a subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests, is made as contemplated in this Section 5.9, the number of General Partner Units constituting the Percentage Interest of the General Partner (as determined immediately prior to the Record Date for such distribution, subdivision or combination) shall be appropriately adjusted as of the date of payment of such distribution, or the effective date of such subdivision or combination, to maintain such Percentage Interest of the General Partner.
(d) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates or uncertificated Partnership Interests to the Record Holders of Partnership Interests as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Interests held by such Record Holders, or the General Partner may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Partnership Interests Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of Partnership Interests represented by Certificates, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.
(e) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units or fractional General Partner Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units and General Partner Units but for the provisions of Section 5.6(d) and this Section 5.9(e), each fractional Unit and General Partner Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit or General Partner Unit (with fractional Units or General Partner Units equal to or greater than a 0.5 Unit or General Partner Unit being rounded to the next higher Unit or General Partner Unit).
Section 5.10 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests. All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.11 Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.11, the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right, at any
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time when the Partnership has made a distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(v) for each of the four most recently completed Quarters and the amount of each such distribution did not exceed Adjusted Operating Surplus for such Quarter, to make an election (the “IDR Reset Election”) to cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11(e) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive their respective proportionate share of a number of Common Units (the “IDR Reset Common Units”) derived by dividing (i) the average amount of the aggregate cash distributions made by the Partnership for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (as defined in Section 5.11(b)) in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights by (ii) the average amount of the aggregate cash distributions made by the Partnership in respect of each Common Unit for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (the number of Common Units determined by such quotient is referred to herein as the “Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units”). If at the time of any IDR Reset Election the General Partner and its Affiliates are not the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights, then the IDR Reset Election shall be subject to the prior written concurrence of the General Partner that the conditions described in the immediately preceding sentence have been satisfied. Upon the issuance of such IDR Reset Common Units, the Partnership will issue to the General Partner that number of additional General Partner Units equal to the product of (x) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner immediately prior to such issuance by (B) a percentage equal to 100% less such Percentage Interest by (y) the number of such IDR Reset Common Units, and the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership in exchange for such issuance. The making of the IDR Reset Election in the manner specified in this Section 5.11 shall cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11(e) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive IDR Reset Common Units and the General Partner will become entitled to receive General Partner Units on the basis specified above, without any further approval required by the General Partner or the Unitholders other than as set forth in this Section 5.11(a), at the time specified in Section 5.11(c) unless the IDR Reset Election is rescinded pursuant to Section 5.11(d).
(b) To exercise the right specified in Section 5.11(a), the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall deliver a written notice (the “Reset Notice”) to the Partnership. Within 10 Business Days after the receipt by the Partnership of such Reset Notice, the Partnership shall deliver a written notice to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights of the Partnership’s determination of the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units that each holder of Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive.
(c) The holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and the General Partner will be entitled to receive the related additional General Partner Units on the fifteenth Business Day after receipt by the Partnership of the Reset Notice; provided, however, that the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights shall not occur prior to the approval of the listing or admission for trading of such IDR Reset Common Units by the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then listed or admitted for trading if any such approval is required pursuant to the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange.
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(d) If the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded has not approved the listing or admission for trading of the IDR Reset Common Units to be issued pursuant to this Section 5.11 on or before the 30th calendar day following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice and such approval is required by the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange, then the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right to either rescind the IDR Reset Election or elect to receive other Partnership Interests having such terms as the General Partner may approve, with the approval of the Conflicts Committee, that will provide (i) the same economic value, in the aggregate, as the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units would have had at the time of the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice, as determined by the General Partner, and (ii) for the subsequent conversion of such Partnership Interests into Common Units within not more than 12 months following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions that are reasonably acceptable to the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights).
(e) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions, shall be adjusted at the time of the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units or other Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.11 such that (i) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution shall be reset to equal the average cash distribution amount per Common Unit for the two Quarters immediately prior to the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice (the “Reset MQD”), (ii) the First Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 115% of the Reset MQD, (iii) the Second Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 125% of the Reset MQD and (iv) the Third Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 150% of the Reset MQD.
(f) Upon the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11(a), the Capital Account maintained with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights will (i) first, be allocated to IDR Reset Common Units in an amount equal to the product of (A) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit and (ii) second, as to any remaining balance in such Capital Account, will be retained by the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights. If there is not sufficient capital associated with the Incentive Distribution Rights to allocate the full Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit to the IDR Reset Common Units in accordance with clause (i) of this Section 5.11(f), the IDR Reset Common Units shall be subject to Sections 6.1(d)(x)(B) and (C).
Section 5.12 Establishment of Series A Preferred Units.
(a) General. The Partnership hereby designates and creates a series of Units to be designated as “9.50% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units” (the “Series A Preferred Units”), having the preferences, rights, powers and duties set forth herein, including in this Section 5.12. The Series A Preferred Units represent perpetual equity interests in the Partnership and, except as set forth in Section 5.12(c)(iii) and 5.12(c)(iv), shall not give rise to a claim by the Partnership or a Series A Preferred Unitholder for redemption or the conversion thereof, as applicable, at a particular date.
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(b) Certificates. The Series A Preferred Units shall be represented by one or more global Certificates registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, and no Series A Preferred Unitholder shall be entitled to receive a definitive Certificate evidencing its Series A Preferred Units, unless otherwise required by law or the Depositary gives notice of its intention to resign or is no longer eligible to act as such with respect to the Series A Preferred Units and the Partnership shall have not selected a substitute Depositary within 60 calendar days thereafter. So long as the Depositary shall have been appointed and is serving with respect to the Series A Preferred Units, payments and communications made by the Partnership to Series A Preferred Unitholders shall be made by making payments to, and communicating with, the Depositary.
(c) Rights of Series A Preferred Units. The Series A Preferred Units shall have the following rights, preferences and privileges and the Series A Preferred Unitholders shall be subject to the following duties and obligations:
(i) Distributions.
(A) Distributions on each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit shall be cumulative and compounding, and shall accumulate at the applicable Series A Distribution Rate from and including the Series A Original Issue Date (or, for any subsequently issued and newly Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, from and including the Series A Distribution Payment Date immediately preceding the issue date of such Series A Preferred Units) until such time as the Partnership pays the Series A Distribution or redeems such Series A Preferred Unit in accordance with Section 5.12(c)(iii) or Section 5.12(c)(iv), whether or not such Series A Distributions shall have been declared. Series A Preferred Unitholders shall be entitled to receive Series A Distributions from time to time out of any assets of the Partnership legally available for the payment of distributions at the Series A Distribution Rate per Series A Preferred Unit when, as, and, if declared by the General Partner, prior to any other distributions made in respect of any other Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 6.3. Series A Distributions during the Series A Fixed Rate Period shall be paid on a semi-annual basis on June 15 and December 15 of each year, and Series A Distributions during the Series A Floating Rate Period shall be paid on a quarterly basis on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year (each date, a “Series A Distribution Payment Date”). If any Series A Distribution Payment Date would otherwise occur on a day that is not a Business Day,
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such Series A Distribution Payment Date shall instead be on the immediately succeeding Business Day without the accumulation of additional distributions. During the Series A Fixed Rate Period, the total amount of a Series A Distribution shall be payable based on a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30 day months. During the Series A Floating Rate Period, Series A Distributions shall be computed by multiplying the Series A Distribution Rate by a fraction, the numerator of which will be the actual number of days elapsed during that Series A Distribution Period (determined by including the first day of such Series A Distribution Period and excluding the last day, which is the Series A Distribution Payment Date), and the denominator of which will be 360, and by multiplying the result by the aggregate Series A Liquidation Preference of all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units. All Series A Distributions accrued by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 5.12(c)(i)(A) shall be payable without regard to income of the Partnership and shall be treated for federal income tax purposes as guaranteed payments for the use of capital under Section 707(c) of the Code, includable in ordinary income of a Series A Preferred Unitholder in its taxable year in which the Partnership deducts such payments as accrued.
(B) Not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on each Series A Distribution Payment Date, the Partnership shall pay those Series A Distributions, if any, that shall have been declared by the General Partner to Series A Preferred Unitholders on the Record Date for the applicable Series A Distribution. The Record Date for the payment of any Series A Distributions shall be as of the close of business on the first Business Day of the month of the applicable Series A Distribution Payment Date. So long as the Series A Preferred Units are held of record by the Depositary or its nominee, declared Series A Distributions shall be paid to the Depositary in same-day funds on each Series A Distribution Payment Date or other distribution payment date in the case of payments for Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions.
(C) If the Partnership fails to pay in full a Series A Distribution on any Series A Distribution Payment Date, then from and after the first date of such failure and continuing until such failure is cured by payment in full in cash of all such arrearages, (1) the amount of such unpaid cash distributions unless and until paid will accumulate and accrue at the Series A Distribution Rate from and including the first day of the Series A Distribution Period immediately following the Series A Distribution Period in respect of which such payment is due until paid in full (such unpaid and accrued distributions, the “Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions”) and (2) the Partnership shall not be permitted to, and shall not, declare or make or set aside for payment any distributions in respect of any Series A Junior Securities (including, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any distributions to Series A Junior Securities during the Series A Distribution Period for which the Partnership first failed to pay in full the Series A Distribution in cash when due), other than a distribution payable in kind solely in Series A Junior Securities. Payments in respect of Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions may be declared by the General Partner and paid on any date selected by the General Partner, whether or not a Series A Distribution Payment Date, to Series A Preferred Unitholders on the Record Date for such payment, which may not be less than 10 days before such payment date.
(D) The General Partner may not declare, make or set aside for payment (1) full Series A Distributions or full distributions with respect to any Series A Parity Securities or (2) any distributions with respect to Series A Junior Securities, in each case, in respect of any distribution period unless, at the time of the declaration of such distribution, (x) all Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions
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and any accumulated and unpaid distributions on any Series A Parity Securities have been paid or funds have been set aside for payment thereof, and (y) at the time of declaration of the applicable distribution, the General Partner expects to have sufficient Available Cash to pay the next Series A Distribution and the next distribution in respect of any Series A Parity Securities in full, regardless of the relative timing of such distributions; provided, however, that to the extent a distribution period applicable to a class of Series A Junior Securities or Series A Parity Securities is shorter than the distribution period applicable to the Series Preferred Units, the General Partner may declare and pay regular distributions with respect to such Series A Junior Securities or Series A Parity Securities so long as, at the time of declaration of such distribution, the General Partner expects to have sufficient funds to pay the full Series A Distribution on the next successive Series A Distribution Payment Date. If the General Partner expects to have insufficient Available Cash to pay the next Series A Distribution in full at the time of declaration of a Series A Distribution or Series A Parity Security distribution, it will adjust the amount of such distributions so that the Series A Preferred Units and Series A Parity Securities are paid on a pari passu basis on their respective payment dates.
(E) Each Series A Distribution shall be paid out of Available Cash with respect to the Quarter immediately preceding the applicable Series A Distribution Payment Date that is deemed to be Operating Surplus prior to making any distribution pursuant to Section 6.3. To the extent that any portion of the aggregate of a Series A Distribution and distributions to any Series A Parity Securities to be paid in cash with respect to any Series A Distribution Period exceeds the amount of Available Cash from Operating Surplus for such Quarter, an amount of cash equal to the Available Cash from Operating Surplus for such Quarter will be paid to the Series A Preferred Unitholders and Series A Parity Securities in proportion to the distribution amounts payable in respect of the Series A Preferred Units and Series A Parity Securities, and the balance of the Series A Distribution shall be unpaid and shall constitute a Series A Unpaid Cash Distribution and shall accrue and accumulate as set forth in Section 5.12(c)(i)(C).
(F) The “Series A Three-Month LIBOR” for each Series A Distribution Period during the Series A Floating Rate Period shall be determined by the Series A Calculation Agent, as of the applicable LIBOR Determination Date, in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) expressed as a percentage per year for deposits in U.S. dollars for a three-month period commencing on the first day of such Series A Distribution Period that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the LIBOR Determination Date; or
(2) if the Series A Calculation Agent determines that no such rate is so published, the Series A Calculation Agent will determine whether to use a substitute or successor rate to the rate that it has determined, in its sole discretion, is most comparable to the rate described
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in Section 5.12(c)(i)(F)(1); provided, that if the Series A Calculation Agent determines there is a base rate that is commonly used by banking institutions and other financial services industry participants as a successor rate to the rate set forth in Section 5.12(c)(i)(F)(1), the Series A Calculation Agent shall use such successor base rate. If the Series A Calculation Agent has identified a successor or substitute rate in accordance with the preceding sentence, it may, in its sole discretion, modify the LIBOR Determination Date and other terms contained in Section 5.12(c)(i)(F)(1) in a manner that is consistent with the financial services industry’s use of such substitute or successor base rate.
(3) If the Series A Calculation Agent does not identify a successor or substitute rate in accordance with Section 5.12(c)(i)(F)(2), the Series A Three-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on the LIBOR Determination Date, at which deposits of the following kind are offered to prime banks in the London interbank market by four major banks in that market selected by the Series A Calculation Agent: three-month deposits in U.S. dollars, beginning on the first day of the Series A Distribution Period, and in an amount that in the Series A Calculation Agent’s judgment, is representative of a single transaction in the relevant market at the relevant time (a “Representative Amount”).
(4) If fewer than two quotations are provided pursuant to Section 5.12(c)(i)(F)(3), the Series A Three-Month LIBOR for such Series A Distribution Period will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at 11:00 a.m., New York City time on the LIBOR Determination Date, by major banks in New York City selected by the Series A Calculation Agent, for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks for a three-month period commencing on the first day of such Series A Distribution Period in a Representative Amount.
(5) If no quotation is provided as described above in Section 5.12(c)(i)(F)(1), (2), (3) or (4), the Series A Calculation Agent, after consulting such sources as it deems comparable to any of the foregoing quotations or display page, or any such source as it deems reasonable from which to estimate the Series A Three-Month LIBOR, shall determine in its sole discretion the Series A Three-Month LIBOR as of the second London Business Day immediately preceding the first day of the Series A Distribution Period.
(6) The Series A Calculation Agent’s determination of the Series A Three-Month LIBOR and its calculation of the amount of interest for any interest period will be on file at the Partnership’s principal offices, will be made available to any Series A Preferred Unitholder upon request and will each be final and binding in the absence of manifest error.
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(7) All percentages resulting from any of the calculations described in this Section 5.12(c)(i)(F) will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards (e.g., 9.876545% (or 0.9876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)) and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculations will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upwards).
| (ii) | Voting Rights. |
(A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Series A Preferred Units shall not have any voting rights, except as set forth in Section 13.3(c), this Section 5.12(c)(ii) or as otherwise required by the Delaware Act. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the consent of the Series A Preferred Unitholders, as a separate class, be required in connection with any Partnership Restructuring Event.
(B) Without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, voting as a separate class, the General Partner shall not adopt any amendment to this Agreement that would have a material adverse effect on the powers, preferences, duties or special rights of the Series A Preferred Units; provided, however, that (i) subject to Section 5.12(c)(ii)(C), the issuance of additional Partnership Interests shall not be deemed to constitute such a material adverse effect for purposes of this Section 5.12(c)(ii)(B) and (ii) for purposes of this Section 5.12(c)(ii)(B), no amendment of this Agreement in connection with a merger or other transaction in which the Partnership is the surviving entity and the Series A Preferred Units remain Outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged in any respect adverse to the Series A Preferred Unitholders shall be deemed to materially and adversely affect the powers, preferences, duties or special rights of the Series A Preferred Units.
(C) Without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, voting as a class together with holders of any other Series A Parity Securities issued after the Series A Original Issue Date upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the Partnership shall not: (i) create or issue any Series A Parity Securities (including any additional Series A Preferred Units) if there are any Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions outstanding, (ii) so long as there are no Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions outstanding, create or issue any additional Series A Preferred Units or other Series A Parity Securities in excess of the Series A Parity Basket, (iii) create or issue any Series A Senior Securities, (iv) declare or pay any distribution to Holders of Common Units from Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to Section 6.3(a) or (v) take any action that would result, without regard to any notice requirement or applicable cure period, in an “Event of Default” (as such term is defined in the Material Senior Indebtedness) for failure to comply with any covenant in the Material Senior Indebtedness related to:
| (1) | restricted payments; |
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| (2) | incurrence of indebtedness and issuance of preferred stock; |
| (3) | incurrence of liens; |
| (4) | dividends and other payments affecting Subsidiaries; |
| (5) | merger, consolidation or sale of assets; |
| (6) | transactions with affiliates; |
| (7) | designation of restricted and unrestricted subsidiaries; |
| (8) | additional subsidiary guarantors; or |
| (9) | sale and leaseback transactions, |
provided, however, the Partnership shall have no obligation to obtain such consent or waiver with respect to the events described under Section 5.12(c)(ii)(C)(v), and shall not be deemed to be in violation of this Agreement, where such an Event of Default with respect to a given action is cured in accordance with the terms of such Material Senior Indebtedness or waived by holders of such Material Senior Indebtedness.
(D) For any matter described in this Section 5.12(c)(ii) in which the Series A Preferred Unitholders are entitled to vote as a class (whether separately or together with the holders of any Series A Parity Securities), such Series A Preferred Unitholders shall be entitled to one vote per Series A Preferred Unit. Any Series A Preferred Units held by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or their controlled Affiliates shall not be entitled to vote.
(E) Notwithstanding Section 5.12(c)(ii)(B) and Section 5.12(c)(ii)(C), no vote of the Series A Preferred Unitholders shall be required if, at or prior to the time when such action is to take effect, provision is made for the redemption of all Series A Preferred Units at the time Outstanding.
| (iii) | Redemption Rights. |
(A) The Partnership shall have the right (i) at any time, and from time to time, on or after December 15, 2022 or (ii) at any time within 120 days after the conclusion of any review or appeal process instituted by the Partnership following the occurrence of a Series A Ratings Event, in each case, to redeem the Series A Preferred Units, which redemption may be in whole or in part (except with respect to a redemption pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 5.12(c)(iii)(A), which shall be in whole but not in part), using any source of funds legally available for such purpose. Any such redemption shall occur on a date set by the General Partner (the “Series A Redemption Date”).
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(B) The Partnership shall effect any redemption pursuant to Section 5.12(c)(iii)(A) by paying cash for each Series A Preferred Unit to be redeemed equal to (i) with respect to a redemption pursuant to Section 5.12(c)(iii)(A)(i), the redemption prices set forth in Section 5.12(c)(iii)(C), or (ii) with respect to a redemption pursuant to Section 5.12(c)(iii)(A)(ii), 102% of the Series A Liquidation Preference, in each case, for such Series A Preferred Unit on such Series A Redemption Date, plus any Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions from the Series A Original Issue Date to, but not including, the Series A Redemption Date, whether or not such distributions shall have been declared (as applicable, the “Series A Redemption Price”).
(C) The price to be paid in the case of a redemption described in Section 5.12(c)(iii)(A)(i) shall be as follows (assuming such Series A Preferred Units are redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on December 15 of the years indicated below):
| Year |
Series A Redemption Price | |
| 2022 |
104% of Series A Liquidation Preference | |
| 2023 |
102% of Series A Liquidation Preference | |
| 2024 and thereafter |
100% of Series A Liquidation Preference |
(D) The Partnership shall give notice of any redemption by mail, postage prepaid, not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the scheduled Series A Redemption Date to the Series A Preferred Unitholders (as of 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Business Day next preceding the day on which notice is given) of any Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed as such Series A Preferred Unitholders’ names appear on the books of the Transfer Agent and at the address of such Series A Preferred Unitholders shown therein. Such notice (the “Series A Redemption Notice”) shall state, as applicable: (1) the Series A Redemption Date, (2) the number of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed and, if less than all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units are to be redeemed, the number (and the identification) of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed from such Series A Preferred Unitholder, (3) the Series A Redemption Price, (4) the place where any Series A Preferred Units in certificated form are to be redeemed and shall be presented and surrendered for payment of the Series A Redemption Price therefor and (5) that distributions on the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed shall cease to accumulate from and after such Series A Redemption Date.
(E) If the Partnership elects to redeem less than all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, the number of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed shall be determined by the General Partner, and such Series A Preferred Units shall be redeemed by such method of selection as the Depositary shall determine,
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either Pro Rata or by lot, with adjustments to avoid redemption of fractional Series A Preferred Units. The aggregate Series A Redemption Price for any such partial redemption of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units shall be allocated correspondingly among the redeemed Series A Preferred Units.
(F) If the Partnership gives or causes to be given a Series A Redemption Notice, the Partnership shall deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to redeem the Series A Preferred Units as to which such Series A Redemption Notice shall have been given, no later than 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Series A Redemption Date, and shall give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Series A Redemption Price to the Series A Preferred Unitholders whose Series A Preferred Units are to be redeemed upon surrender or deemed surrender (which shall occur automatically if the Certificate representing such Series A Preferred Units is issued in the name of the Depositary or its nominee) of the Certificates therefor as set forth in the Series A Redemption Notice. If the Series A Redemption Notice shall have been given, from and after the Series A Redemption Date, unless the Partnership defaults in providing funds sufficient for such redemption at the time and place specified for payment pursuant to the Series A Redemption Notice, all Series A Distributions on such Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed shall cease to accumulate and all rights of holders of such Series A Preferred Units as Limited Partners with respect to such Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed shall cease, except the right to receive the Series A Redemption Price, and such Series A Preferred Units shall not thereafter be transferred on the books of the Transfer Agent or be deemed to be Outstanding for any purpose whatsoever. The Series A Preferred Unitholders shall have no claim to the interest income, if any, earned on such funds deposited with the Paying Agent. Any funds deposited with the Paying Agent hereunder by the Partnership for any reason, including redemption of Series A Preferred Units, that remain unclaimed or unpaid after one year after the applicable Series A Redemption Date or other payment date, as applicable, shall be, to the extent permitted by law, repaid to the Partnership upon its written request, after which repayment the Series A Preferred Unitholders entitled to such redemption or other payment shall have recourse only to the Partnership. Notwithstanding any Series A Redemption Notice, there shall be no redemption of any Series A Preferred Units called for redemption until funds sufficient to pay the full Series A Redemption Price of such Series A Preferred Units shall have been deposited by the Partnership with the Paying Agent.
(G) Any Series A Preferred Units that are redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Partnership shall be cancelled. If only a portion of the Series A Preferred Units represented by a Certificate shall have been called for redemption, upon surrender of the Certificate to the Paying Agent (which shall occur automatically if the Certificate representing such Series A Preferred Units is registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee), the Partnership shall issue and the Paying Agent shall deliver to the Series A Preferred Unitholders a new Certificate (or adjust the applicable book-entry account) representing the number of Series A Preferred Units represented by the surrendered Certificate that have not been called for redemption.
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(H) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.12, in the event that (i) full cumulative distributions on the Series A Preferred Units and any Series A Parity Securities shall not have been paid or declared and set aside for payment or (ii) the General Partner does not expect to have sufficient Available Cash to pay the next Series A Distribution or distribution on any Series A Parity Securities in full, the Partnership shall not be permitted to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, in whole or in part, any Series A Preferred Units or Series A Parity Securities except pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same relative terms to all Series A Preferred Unitholders and holders of any Series A Parity Securities. Subject to Section 4.10, so long as any Series A Preferred Units are Outstanding, the Partnership shall not be permitted to redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any Common Units or any other Series A Junior Securities unless full cumulative distributions on the Series A Preferred Units and any Series A Parity Securities for all prior and the then ending Series A Distribution Periods shall have been paid or declared and set aside for payment.
(I) The Partnership shall not be required to make any sinking fund payments with respect to the Series A Preferred Units.
(iv) Series A Change of Control Triggering Event.
(A) If a Series A Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless the Partnership has previously or concurrently exercised its right to redeem all of the Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.12(c)(iii), the Partnership shall, within 30 calendar days following the Series A Change of Control Triggering Event, offer a cash payment (a “Series A Change of Control Offer”) to repurchase all or a portion of each Series A Preferred Unitholder’s Series A Preferred Units at a purchase price (the “Series A Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101% of the Series A Liquidation Preference, plus any Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions from the Series A Original Issue Date to, but not including, the date of settlement (the “Series A Change of Control Settlement Date”), whether or not such distributions shall have been declared. Within 30 days following any Series A Change of Control Triggering Event, unless the Partnership has previously or concurrently exercised its right to redeem all of the Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.12(c)(iii), the Partnership shall mail a notice of the Series A Change of Control Offer to each Series A Preferred Unitholder describing the transaction or transactions and identification of the ratings decline that together constitute the Series A Change of Control Triggering Event and stating:
(1) that the Series A Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 5.12(c)(iv) and that all Series A Preferred Units validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be accepted for payment;
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(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days but no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Series A Change of Control Purchase Date”);
(3) that the Series A Change of Control Offer will expire as of the time specified in such notice on the Series A Change of Control Purchase Date and that the Partnership shall pay the Series A Change of Control Purchase Price for all Series A Preferred Units accepted for purchase as of the Series A Change of Control Purchase Date promptly thereafter on the Series A Change of Control Settlement Date;
(4) that any Series A Preferred Units not tendered will continue to accrue distributions as provided herein and remain subject to all terms and conditions of this Agreement;
(5) that, unless the Partnership fails to make the Series A Change of Control Payment, all Series A Preferred Units accepted for payment pursuant to the Series A Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue distributions after the Series A Change of Control Settlement Date;
(6) that Series A Preferred Unitholders electing to have any Series A Preferred Units purchased pursuant to a Series A Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Series A Preferred Units, properly endorsed for transfer, together with such documents as the Partnership may reasonably request, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the termination of the Series A Change of Control Offer on the Series A Change of Control Purchase Date;
(7) that Series A Preferred Unitholders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, prior to the termination of the Series A Change of Control Offer, an electronic image scan, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Series A Preferred Unitholders, the number of Series A Preferred Units delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Series A Preferred Unitholder is withdrawing its election to have the Series A Preferred Units purchased; and
(8) that Series A Preferred Unitholders whose Series A Preferred Units are being purchased only in part will be issued new Series A Preferred Units equal to the unpurchased portion of the Series A Preferred Units surrendered (or transferred by book entry transfer).
If any of the Series A Preferred Units subject to a Series A Change of Control Offer is in the form of a global Certificate, then the Partnership shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depositary applicable to repurchases. Further, the Partnership shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the
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Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Series A Preferred Units as a result of a Series A Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any applicable securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 5.12(c)(iv), the Partnership will comply with such securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under such provisions by virtue of such conflict.
(B) Promptly following the expiration of the Series A Change of Control Offer, the Partnership shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment all Series A Preferred Units or portions thereof properly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Series A Change of Control Offer. Promptly thereafter on the Series A Change of Control Settlement Date the Partnership shall deposit with the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, an amount equal to the Series A Change of Control Payment in respect of all Series A Preferred Units or portions thereof so tendered (and not validly withdrawn). On the Series A Change of Control Settlement Date, the Paying Agent shall mail to each Series A Preferred Unitholders that properly tendered the Series A Change of Control Payment for such Series A Preferred Units (or, if all the Series A Preferred Units are then in global form, make such payment through the facilities of the Depositary) and the Paying Agent shall authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Series A Preferred Unitholder new Series A Preferred Units equal to any unpurchased portion of the Series A Preferred Units surrendered, if any. The Partnership will publicly announce the results of any Series A Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Series A Change of Control Settlement Date.
(C) The Partnership shall not be required to make a Series A Change of Control Offer following a Series A Change of Control Triggering Event if (a) a third party makes the Series A Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 5.12(c)(iv) applicable to a Series A Change of Control Offer made by the Partnership and purchases all Series A Preferred Units properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Series A Change of Control Offer or (b) in connection with, or in contemplation of, any publicly announced Series A Change of Control, the Partnership has made an offer to purchase (a “Series A Alternate Offer”) any and all Series A Preferred Units validly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Series A Change of Control Payment and has purchased all Series A Preferred Units properly tendered in accordance with the terms of such Series A Alternate Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 5.12(c)(iv), a Series A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Series A Change of Control Triggering Event, and conditioned upon the consummation of such Series A Change of Control Triggering Event, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Series A Change of Control at the time the Series A Change of Control Offer is made.
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(D) In the event that, upon consummation of a Series A Change of Control Offer or Series A Alternate Offer, less than 10% of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units are held by Series A Preferred Unitholders other than the Partnership or its Affiliates, the Partnership will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Series A Change of Control Offer or Series A Alternate Offer described above, to redeem all Series A Preferred Units that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price in cash equal to the Series A Change of Control Payment or Series A Alternate Offer price, as applicable.
(E) If the Partnership fails to make a Series A Change of Control Offer, to the extent required hereunder, or to repurchase any Series A Preferred Units tendered by holders for repurchase as required in connection with a Change of Series A Control Triggering Event, then, from and after the first date of such failure and until such repurchase is made, the then-applicable Series A Distribution Rate will be an annual rate equal to (i) during the Series A Fixed Rate Period, 11.50% of the Series A Liquidation Preference and (ii) during the Series A Floating Rate Period, a percentage of the Series A Liquidation Preference equal to the sum of (a) the Series A Three-Month LIBOR, as calculated on each applicable LIBOR Determination Date, and (b) 9.43%.
(v) Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the General Partner, the Partnership, the Transfer Agent and the Paying Agent may deem and treat any Series A Preferred Unitholder as the true, lawful, and absolute owner of the applicable Series A Preferred Units for all purposes, and neither the General Partner, the Partnership nor the Transfer Agent or the Paying Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Series A Preferred Units may be listed or admitted to trading, if any.
(vi) Partnership Restructuring Event. If (A) a Partnership Restructuring Event occurs or the Partnership engages in any other recapitalization, reorganization, consolidation, merger, spin-off or other business combination (other than a Series A Change of Control) and (B) (1) the Partnership will not be the surviving entity of such Partnership Restructuring Event or other event or (2) the Partnership will be the surviving entity but its Common Units will cease to be listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange, the Partnership shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Series A Preferred Unitholders, in exchange for their Series A Preferred Units upon consummation of such Partnership Restructuring Event or other event, a security in the surviving entity that has substantially similar rights, preferences and privileges as the Series A Preferred Units, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the right to distributions equal in amount and timing to those provided in Section 5.12(c)(i).
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(vii) Notices. All notices or communications in respect of the Series A Preferred Units shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail, postage prepaid, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Section 5.12, this Agreement or by applicable law.
(viii) Other Rights; Fiduciary Duties. The Series A Preferred Units and the Series A Preferred Unitholders shall not have any designations, preferences, rights, powers, duties or obligations, other than as set forth in this Agreement or as provided by applicable law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall owe any duties or have any liabilities to Series A Preferred Unitholders.
(ix) Liquidation Value. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Partnership under Section 12.4 or a sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership, either voluntary or involuntary, the Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the Partnership available for distribution to the Partners, prior and in preference to any distribution of any assets of the Partnership to the Record Holders of any other class or series of Partnership Interests (other than Series A Parity Securities (the Record Holders of which shall have a pari passu entitlement) or Series A Senior Securities), the positive value in each such holder’s Capital Account in respect of such Series A Preferred Units, after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments for the relevant taxable periods, including without limitation those provided for under Section 6.1(d)(xv).
ARTICLE VI.
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes. For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) for each taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners as provided herein below.
(a) Net Income. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Income for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:
(i) First, to the General Partner until the aggregate of the Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(i) and the Net Termination Gain allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)(A) for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the Net Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) for all previous taxable periods and the Net Termination Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(C) for the current and all previous taxable periods;
(ii) The balance, if any, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, and (y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest.
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(b) Net Loss. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Loss for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:
(i) First, to the General Partner and the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata; provided, that Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation would cause any 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);
(ii) Second, to all Series A Preferred Unitholders, in proportion to their respective positive Adjusted Capital Account balances, until the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; and
(iii) The balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
(c) Net Termination Gains and Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period shall be allocated in the manner set forth in this Section 6.1(c). All allocations under this Section 6.1(c) shall be made after Capital Account balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under this Section 6.1 and after all distributions of Available Cash provided under Section 6.4 and Section 6.5 have been made; provided, however, that solely for purposes of this Section 6.1(c), Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for distributions made pursuant to Section 12.4.
(i) Net Termination Gain (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain) shall be allocated:
(A) First, to the General Partner until the aggregate of the Net Termination Gain allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(i)(A) and the Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(i) for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the Net Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) for all previous taxable periods and the Net Termination Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(C) for all previous taxable periods;
(B) Second, to all Series A Preferred Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit equals the Series A Liquidation Preference;
(C) Third, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of
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(1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, and (2) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(i) with respect to such Common Unit for such Quarter (the amount determined pursuant to this clause (2) is hereinafter referred to as the “Unpaid MQD”);
(D) Fourth, 100% to the General Partner and all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Unpaid MQD, and (3) the excess of (aa) the First Target Distribution less the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(ii) (the sum of subclauses (1), (2) and (3) is hereinafter referred to as the “First Liquidation Target Amount”);
(E) Fifth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (x) and (y) of this clause (E), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the First Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Second Target Distribution less the First Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(iii) (the sum of subclauses (1) and (2) is hereinafter referred to as the “Second Liquidation Target Amount”);
(F) Sixth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (x) and (y) of this clause (F), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the Second Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Third Target Distribution less the Second Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(iv); and
(G) Finally, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (x) and (y) of this clause (G).
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(ii) Net Termination Loss (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Loss) shall be allocated:
(A) First, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;
(B) Second, to all Series A Preferred Unitholders, in proportion to their Adjusted Capital Account balances, until the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; and
(C) Third, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
(d) Special Allocations. (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, the following special allocations shall be made for such taxable period:
(i) Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, each Partner shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704- 2(f)(6), 1.704-2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d) with respect to such taxable period (other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii)). This Section 6.1(d)(i) is intended to comply with the Partnership Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(ii) Chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(d)(i)), except as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, any Partner with a share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d) and other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i), Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii) with respect to such taxable period. This Section 6.1(d)(ii) is intended to comply with the chargeback of items of income and gain requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
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(iii) Priority Allocations.
(A) If the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property distributed (except cash or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4) with respect to a Unit (other than the Series A Preferred Units) for a taxable period exceeds the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed with respect to another Unit (other than the Series A Preferred Units) (the amount of the excess, an “Excess Distribution” and the Unit with respect to which the greater distribution is paid, an “Excess Distribution Unit”), then (1) there shall be allocated gross income and gain to each Unitholder receiving an Excess Distribution with respect to the Excess Distribution Unit until the aggregate amount of such items allocated with respect to such Excess Distribution Unit pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the amount of the Excess Distribution; and (2) the General Partner shall be allocated gross income and gain with respect to each such Excess Distribution in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (aa) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time when the Excess Distribution occurs by (y) a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time when the Excess Distribution occurs, times (bb) the total amount allocated in clause (1) above with respect to such Excess Distribution.
(B) After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A), all or any portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for the taxable period, if any, shall be allocated (1) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B) for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the cumulative amount of all Incentive Distributions made to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights from the Closing Date to a date 45 days after the end of the current taxable period; and (2) to the General Partner an amount equal to the product of (aa) an amount equal to the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.
(iv) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any 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 as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if this Section 6.1(d)(iv) were not in this Agreement.
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(v) Gross Income Allocation. In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, however, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if Section 6.1(d)(iv) and this Section 6.1(d)(v) were not in this Agreement.
(vi) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partners Pro Rata. If the General Partner determines that the Partnership’s Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.
(vii) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Partner that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one Partner bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt, the Partner Nonrecourse Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among such Partners in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of Loss.
(viii) Nonrecourse Liabilities. For purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated among the Partners Pro Rata.
(ix) Code Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.
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| (x) | Economic Uniformity; Changes in Law. |
(A) [Reserved]
(B) With respect to an event triggering an adjustment to the Carrying Value of Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.5(d) during any taxable period of the Partnership ending upon, or after, the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11, any Unrealized Gains and Unrealized Losses shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner that to the nearest extent possible results in the Capital Accounts maintained with respect to such IDR Reset Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11 equaling the product of (1) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and (2) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit.
(C) With respect to any taxable period during which an IDR Reset Common Unit is transferred to any Person who is not an Affiliate of the transferor, all or a portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for such taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the transferor Partner of such transferred IDR Reset Common Unit until such transferor Partner has been allocated an amount of gross income or gain that increases the Capital Account maintained with respect to such transferred IDR Reset Common Unit to an amount equal to the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit.
(D) For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall (1) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (2) make special allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss; and (3) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may adopt such conventions, make such allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement as provided in this Section 6.1(d)(x)(D) only if such conventions, allocations or amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the Partners, the holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests issued and Outstanding or the Partnership, and if such allocations are consistent with the principles of Section 704 of the Code.
| (xi) | Curative Allocation. |
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, other than the Required Allocations, the Required Allocations shall be taken into account in making the Agreed Allocations so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of items of gross income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to each Partner pursuant to the Required Allocations and the Agreed Allocations, together, shall be equal
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to the net amount of such items that would have been allocated to each such Partner under the Agreed Allocations had the Required Allocations and the related Curative Allocation not otherwise been provided in this Section 6.1. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Required Allocations relating to (1) Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain and (2) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. In exercising its discretion under this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A), the General Partner may take into account future Required Allocations that, although not yet made, are likely to offset other Required Allocations previously made. Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Partners. Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall be deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) hereof to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent Required Allocations.
(B) The General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) in whatever order is most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required Allocations, and (2) divide all allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.
(xii) Corrective and Other Allocations. In the event of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items or any Book-Down Event or any recognition of a Net Termination Loss, the following rules shall apply:
(A) Except as provided in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B), in the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d) hereof), the General Partner shall allocate such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to (1) the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner to the same extent that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss giving rise to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items was allocated to them pursuant to Section 5.5(d) and (2) all Unitholders, Pro Rata, to the extent that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss giving rise to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items was allocated to any Unitholders pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
(B) In the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d) hereof or an allocation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof) as a result of a sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset that is an Adjusted Property (“Disposed of Adjusted Property”), the General Partner shall allocate (1) additional items of gross income and gain (aa) away from the holders of Incentive
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Distribution Rights and (bb) to the Unitholders, or (2) additional items of deduction and loss (aa) away from the Unitholders and (bb) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, to the extent that the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items allocated to the Unitholders exceed their Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to such Disposed of Adjusted Property. Any allocation made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B) shall be made after all of the other Agreed Allocations have been made as if this Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement and, to the extent necessary, shall require the reallocation of items that have been allocated pursuant to such other Agreed Allocations.
(C) In the case of any negative adjustments to the Capital Accounts of the Partners resulting from a Book-Down Event or from the recognition of a Net Termination Loss, such negative adjustment (1) shall first be allocated, to the extent of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments, in such a manner, as determined by the General Partner, that to the extent possible the aggregate Capital Accounts of the Partners will equal the amount that would have been the Capital Account balances of the Partners if no prior Book-Up Events had occurred, and (2) any negative adjustment in excess of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments shall be allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof.
(D) For purposes of this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the Unitholders shall be treated as being allocated Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to the extent that such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items have reduced the amount of income that would otherwise have been allocated to the Unitholders under this Agreement. In making the allocations required under this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the General Partner may apply whatever conventions or other methodology it determines will satisfy the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xii). Without limiting the foregoing, if an Adjusted Property is contributed by the Partnership to another entity classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (the “lower tier partnership”), the General Partner may make allocations similar to those described in Sections 6.1(d)(xii)(A) through (C) to the extent the General Partner determines such allocations are necessary to account for the Partnership’s allocable share of income, gain, loss and deduction of the lower tier partnership that relate to the contributed Adjusted Property in a manner that is consistent with the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xii).
(xiii) [Reserved]
(xiv) Series A Preferred Unit Issuance Premium Allocation. Income of the Partnership attributable to the issuance by the Partnership of a Series A Preferred Unit for an amount in excess of the Series A Liquidation Preference shall be allocated to the Partners (other than Series A Preferred Unitholders) in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
(xv) Allocations with respect to Series A Preferred Units
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(A) Items of Unrealized Gain and, to the extent Unrealized Gain is insufficient, Partnership gross income, shall be allocated to each Series A Preferred Unitholder until the aggregate amount of such items allocated to each Series A Preferred Unitholder pursuant hereto for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the cumulative amount of all Net Losses allocated to such Series A Preferred Unitholder pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable years.
(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other than the Required Allocations), if (A) the Liquidation Date occurs prior to the redemption of the last outstanding Series A Preferred Unit and (B) after having made all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, the Per Unit Capital Amount of each Series A Preferred Unit does not equal or exceed the Series A Liquidation Preference, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for such taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner determined appropriate by the General Partner so as to cause, to the maximum extent possible, the Per Unit Capital Amount in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit to equal the Series A Liquidation Preference (and no other allocation pursuant to this Agreement shall reverse the effect of such allocation). For the avoidance of doubt, the reallocation of items set forth in the immediately preceding sentence provides that, to the extent necessary to achieve the Per Unit Capital Amount balances described above, items of income and gain that would otherwise be included in Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, shall be reallocated from the Unitholders holding Units other than Series A Preferred Units to Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units. In the event that (i) the Liquidation Date occurs on or before the date (not including any extension of time) prescribed by law for the filing of the Partnerships federal income tax return for the taxable period immediately prior to the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs and (ii) the reallocation of items for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs as set forth above in this Section 6.1(d)(xv) fails to achieve the Per Unit Capital Amounts described above, items of income, gain, loss and deduction that would otherwise be included in the Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for such prior taxable period shall be reallocated among all Partners in a manner that will, to the maximum extent possible and after taking into account all other allocations made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xv), cause the Per Unit Capital Amount in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit to equal the Series A Liquidation Value.
Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, for federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.
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(b) In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes among the Partners in the manner provided under Section 704(c) of the Code, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code, as determined to be appropriate by the General Partner (taking into account the General Partner’s discretion under Section 6.1(d)(x)(D)); provided, however, that the General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) in all events.
(c) The General Partner may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6) or any successor regulations thereto. If the General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the Partnership’s property. If the General Partner chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other depreciation and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests, so long as such conventions would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.
(d) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1245-1(e) and 1.1250-1(f), any gain allocated to the Partners upon the sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset shall, to the extent possible, after taking into account other required allocations of gain pursuant to this Section 6.2, be characterized as Recapture Income in the same proportions and to the same extent as such Partners (or their predecessors in interest) have been allocated any deductions directly or indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gains as Recapture Income.
(e) All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit recognized by the Partnership for federal income tax purposes and allocated to the Partners in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be determined without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership; provided, however, that such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted (in the manner determined by the General Partner) to take into account those adjustments permitted or required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.
(f) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction, for federal income tax purposes, shall be determined for each taxable period and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each month; provided, however, that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership or any other extraordinary item of income or loss realized and recognized other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the month in which such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.
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(g) Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner Interests held by a nominee, 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) The Partnership shall accrue and report the income and deduction from the guaranteed payment for the use of capital attributable to the Series A Distribution on the Series A Distribution Payment Date for such Series A Distribution without regard to whether the Series A Distribution is paid, provided, however, that the portion of such income and deduction for the period beginning on the last Series A Distribution Payment Date of any tax year and continuing through the final day of such tax year shall be accrued and reported on the final day of such tax year.
Section 6.3 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders.
(a) Except as otherwise required by Section 5.12(c)(i), within 45 days following the end of each Quarter, 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. All amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date from any source shall be deemed to be Operating Surplus until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.4 equals the Operating Surplus from the Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on such date shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5, be deemed to be “Capital Surplus.” All distributions required to be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act and other applicable law, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Series A Preferred Units shall not be entitled to distributions made pursuant to this Section 6.3(a).
(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a) (but subject to the last sentence of Section 6.3(a)), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all cash received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.
(c) The General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the Partners, as a distribution of Available Cash to such Partners, as determined appropriate under the circumstances by the General Partner.
(d) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.
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Section 6.4 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus.
(a) [Reserved]
(b) Available Cash with respect to any Quarter that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.5 shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise required in respect of additional Partnership Interests issued pursuant to Section 5.6(b):
(i) First, to the General Partner and all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(ii) Second, to the General Partner and all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iii) Third, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (B) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iii), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv) Fourth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (B) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iv), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(v) Thereafter, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (v);
provided, however, that if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(b)(v).
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Section 6.5 Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus. Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3(a) shall be distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.3 require otherwise, to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata, until a hypothetical holder of a Common Unit acquired on the Closing Date has received with respect to such Common Unit distributions of Available Cash that are deemed to be Capital Surplus in an aggregate amount equal to the Initial Unit Price. Thereafter, all Available Cash shall be distributed as if it were Operating Surplus and shall be distributed in accordance with Section 6.4.
Section 6.6 Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels.
(a) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distributions shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Interests in accordance with Section 5.9. In the event of a distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus, the then applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distributions shall be adjusted proportionately downward to equal the product obtained by multiplying the otherwise applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, as the case may be, by a fraction of which the numerator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately after giving effect to such distribution and of which the denominator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately prior to giving effect to such distribution.
(b) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.11 and Section 6.9.
Section 6.7 [Reserved]
Section 6.8 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights (1) shall (x) possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article III and Article VII and (y) have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions related thereto and (2) shall not (x) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, (y) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in Sections 6.4(b)(iii), (iv) and (v), and Section 12.4 or (z) be allocated items of income, gain, loss or deduction other than as specified in this Article VI; provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not preclude the Partnership from making any other payments or distributions in connection with other actions permitted by this Agreement.
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(b) A Unitholder shall not be permitted to transfer an IDR Reset Common Unit (other than a transfer to an Affiliate) if the remaining balance in the transferring Unitholder’s Capital Account with respect to the retained IDR Reset Common Units would be negative after giving effect to the allocation under Section 5.5(c)(iii).
(c) A holder of an IDR Reset Common Unit that was issued in connection with an IDR Reset Election pursuant to Section 5.11 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1 (if the Common Units are evidenced by Certificates) or evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Common Units, and shall not be permitted to transfer such Common Unit to a Person that is not an Affiliate of such holder, until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each such IDR Reset Common Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.8(c), the General Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to such IDR Reset Common Units in preparation for a transfer of such IDR Reset Common Units, including the application of Section 5.5(c)(iii), Section 6.1(d)(x)(B), or Section 6.1(d)(x)(C); provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units.
Section 6.9 Entity-Level Taxation. If legislation is enacted or the official interpretation of existing legislation is modified by a governmental authority, which after giving effect to such enactment or modification, results in a Group Member becoming subject to federal, state or local or non-U.S. income or withholding taxes in excess of the amount of such taxes due from the Group Member prior to such enactment or modification (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any increase in the rate of such taxation applicable to the Group Member), then the General Partner may, at its option, reduce the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions by the amount of income or withholding taxes that are payable by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation (the “Incremental Income Taxes”), or any portion thereof selected by the General Partner, in the manner provided in this Section 6.9. If the General Partner elects to reduce the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions for any Quarter with respect to all or a portion of any Incremental Income Taxes, the General Partner shall estimate for such Quarter the Partnership Group’s aggregate liability (the “Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount”) for all (or the relevant portion of) such Incremental Income Taxes; provided that any difference between such estimate and the actual liability for Incremental Income Taxes (or the relevant portion thereof) for such Quarter may, to the extent determined by the General Partner, be taken into account in determining the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount with respect to each Quarter in which any such difference can be determined. For each such Quarter, the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be the product obtained by multiplying (a) the amounts therefor that are set out herein prior to the application of this Section 6.9 times (b) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) Available Cash with respect to such Quarter by (ii) the sum of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter and the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for such Quarter, as determined by the General Partner. For purposes of the foregoing, Available Cash with respect to a Quarter will be deemed reduced by the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for that Quarter.
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Section 6.10 Special Provisions Relating to Series A Holders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the Series A Preferred Unitholders (a) shall (i) possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article III and Article VII and (ii) have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions related thereto and (b) shall not (i) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided in Section 5.12(c)(ii) or as required by applicable law, or (ii) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in Article V and Article XII.
ARTICLE VII.
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section 7.1 Management.
(a) The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or that are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.3, shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:
(i) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible into or exchangeable for Partnership Interests, and the incurring of any other obligations;
(ii) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership;
(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii) being subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3 and Article XIV);
(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 Partnership cash;
(vii) the selection and dismissal of officers, employees, agents, internal and outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;
(viii) the maintenance of insurance for the benefit of the Partnership Group, the Partners and Indemnitees;
(ix) the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other Persons (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, any Group Member from time to time) subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2.4;
(x) the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership, including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or mediation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation;
(xi) the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;
(xii) the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that trading be suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior approval that may be required under Section 4.8);
(xiii) the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Interests, or the issuance of Derivative Partnership Interests;
(xiv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s participation in the management of any Group Member; and
(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 the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member, the IPO Underwriting Agreement, the
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Contribution Agreement and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the IPO Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the IPO Registration Statement (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) (in each case other than this Agreement, without giving effect to any amendments, supplements or restatements thereof entered into after the date such Person becomes bound by the provisions of this Agreement); (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or on behalf of the Partnership) was 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) did 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 Partner’s Authority to Sell Assets of the Partnership Group.
Except as provided in Article XII and Article XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation or other combination or sale of ownership interests of the Partnership’s Subsidiaries) without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance.
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Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner.
(a) Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or managing member of any Group Member.
(b) The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner, to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner or its Affiliates in connection with managing and operating the Partnership Group’s business and affairs (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7. Any allocation of expenses to the Partnership by the General Partner in a manner consistent with its or its Affiliates’ past business practices and, in the case of assets regulated by FERC, then-applicable accounting and allocation methodologies generally permitted by FERC for rate-making purposes (or in the absence of then-applicable methodologies permitted by FERC, consistent with the most recently applicable methodologies), shall be deemed to have been made in good faith. This provision does not affect the ability of the General Partner and its Affiliates to enter into an agreement to provide services to any Group Member for a fee or otherwise than for cost.
(c) The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership 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 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 that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any officers, employees, consultants and directors pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Interests purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the
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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.
Section 7.5 Outside Activities.
(a) The General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake activities that are ancillary or related thereto (including being a Limited Partner in the Partnership) and (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities except in connection with or incidental to (A) its performance as general partner or managing member, if any, of one or more Group Members or as described in or contemplated by the IPO Registration Statement or (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt securities or equity interests in any Group Member.
(b) Subject to the terms of Section 7.5(c), each Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to any Group Member or any Partner. None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any Unrestricted Person.
(c) Subject to the terms of Section 7.5(a) and Section 7.5(b), but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.5 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of any duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner or any other Unrestricted Person for the Unrestricted Persons (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership and (iii) the Unrestricted Persons shall have no obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to present business opportunities to the Partnership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or in equity, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any
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analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner). No Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Partnership, shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Partnership, and such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement for breach of any duty by reason of the fact that such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Partnership; provided that such Unrestricted Person does not engage in such business or activity using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such Unrestricted Person.
(d) The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Interests in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units and/or other Partnership Interests acquired by them. The term “Affiliates” when used in this Section 7.5(d) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.
Section 7.6 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members.
(a) The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such amounts as the General Partner may determine; provided, however, that in any such case the lending party may not charge the borrowing party interest at a rate greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party or impose terms less favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an arm’s-length basis (without reference to the lending party’s financial abilities or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner. The borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional interest costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds. For purposes of this Section 7.6(a) and Section 7.6(b), the term “Group Member” shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.
(b) The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the General Partner. No Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another Group Member).
(c) No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any duty, expressed or implied, of the General Partner or its Affiliates to the Partnership or the Limited Partners existing hereunder, or existing at law, in equity or otherwise by reason of the fact that the purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to enable distributions to the General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their capacities as Limited Partners) to exceed the General Partner’s Percentage Interest of the total amount distributed to all Partners.
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Section 7.7 Indemnification.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee and acting (or refraining to act) in such capacity on behalf of or for the benefit of the Partnership; provided, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless pursuant to this Agreement if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in intentional fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful; provided, further, no indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be available to any Affiliate of the General Partner (other than a Group Member), or to any other Indemnitee, with respect to any such Affiliate’s obligations pursuant to the Transaction Documents. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7, the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized by this Section 7.7.
(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.
(d) The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the General Partner or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the General Partner, its Affiliates and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.
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(e) For purposes of this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section 7.7(a); and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Partnership.
(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.
(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(h) The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees and their heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
(i) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the Partnership to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.7 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
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, any Partner or any other Persons who are bound by this Agreement, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in intentional fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.
(b) The General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.
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(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner or to any other Persons who are bound by this Agreement for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.
(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the Indemnitees under this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
Section 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties.
(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval or Unitholder approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval. Whenever the General Partner makes a determination to refer any potential conflict of interest to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval, seek Unitholder approval or adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval, then the General Partner shall be entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, and the General Partner shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard or duty imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion. If Special Approval is sought, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Conflicts Committee acted in good faith, and if the Board of Directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above or that a director
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satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Board of Directors acted in good faith. In any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any other Limited Partner or the Partnership challenging any action by the Conflicts Committee with respect to any matter referred to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval by the General Partner, any determination by the Board of Directors that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above or any determination by the Board of Directors that a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming the presumption that the Conflicts Committee or the Board of Directors, as applicable, acted in good faith. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the IPO Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any such duty.
(b) Whenever the General Partner or the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof (including the Conflicts Committee), makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any Affiliate of the General Partner causes the General Partner to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, the Board of Directors or such committee or such Affiliates causing the General Partner to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards (including fiduciary standards) imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. A determination or other action or inaction will conclusively be deemed to be in “good faith” for all purposes of this Agreement, if the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action subjectively believe that the determination or other action or inaction is in the best interests of the Partnership Group.
(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, and the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action shall be permitted to do so in their sole and absolute discretion. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, “the General Partner at its option,” or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership Interests, or refrains from voting or transferring its Partnership Interests, it shall be acting in its individual capacity.
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(d) The General Partner’s organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or shall be determined by its members, if the General Partner is a limited liability company, stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or the members or stockholders of the General Partner’s general partner, if the General Partner is a partnership.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and its Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use. Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall be at its option.
(f) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or required by the Delaware Act, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other Indemnitee.
(g) The Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve actions by the general partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.9.
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 advisers selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner or such Indemnitee, respectively, reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(c) The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of the Partnership or any other Group Member.
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Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests. Subject to Section 5.12(c)(iii) and Section 5.12(c)(iv), 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 Articles IV and X.
Section 7.12 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(a) Demand Registration. Upon receipt of a Notice from any Holder, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as reasonably practicable a registration statement under the Securities Act (each, a “Registration Statement”) providing for the resale of the Registrable Securities, which may, at the option of the Holder giving such Notice, be a Registration Statement that provides for the resale of the Registrable Securities from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Partnership shall not be required pursuant to this Section 7.12(a) to file more than one Registration Statement in any twelve-month period nor to file more than three Registration Statements in the aggregate. The Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the initial filing of the Registration Statement and to remain effective and available for the resale of the Registrable Securities by the Selling Holders named therein until the earlier of (i) six months following such Registration Statement’s effective date and (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold. In the event one or more Holders request in a Notice to dispose of an aggregate of at least $20.0 million of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement in an Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall retain underwriters that are reasonably acceptable to such Selling Holders in order to permit such Selling Holders to effect such disposition through an Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that the Partnership shall have the exclusive right to select the bookrunning managers. The Partnership and such Selling Holders shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form that is reasonably acceptable to the Partnership and take all reasonable actions as are requested by the managing underwriters to facilitate the Underwritten Offering and sale of Registrable Securities therein. No Holder may participate in the Underwritten Offering unless it agrees to sell its Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement on the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement and completes and delivers all necessary documents and information reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreement. In the event that the managing underwriter of such Underwritten Offering advises the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in its opinion the inclusion of all or some Registrable Securities would adversely and materially affect the timing or success of the Underwritten Offering, the amount of Registrable Securities that each Selling Holder requested be included in such Underwritten Offering shall be reduced on a Pro Rata basis to the aggregate amount that the managing underwriter deems will not have such material and adverse effect. Any Holder may withdraw from such Underwritten Offering by notice to the Partnership and the managing underwriter; provided such notice is delivered prior to the launch of such Underwritten Offering.
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(b) Piggyback Registration. If the Partnership shall propose to file a Registration Statement (other than pursuant to a demand made pursuant to Section 7.12(a)) for an offering of Partnership Interests for cash (other than an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan, an offering relating to a transaction on Form S-4 or an offering on any registration statement that does not permit secondary sales), the Partnership shall notify all Holders of such proposal at least five business days before the proposed filing date. The Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to include such number of Registrable Securities held by any Holder in such Registration Statement as each Holder shall request in a Notice received by the Partnership within two business days of such Holder’s receipt of the notice from the Partnership. If the Registration Statement about which the Partnership gives notice under this Section 7.12(b) is for an Underwritten Offering, then any Holder’s ability to include its desired amount of Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement shall be conditioned on such Holder’s inclusion of all such Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering; provided that, in the event that the managing underwriter of such Underwritten Offering advises the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in its opinion the inclusion of all or some Registrable Securities would adversely and materially affect the timing or success of the Underwritten Offering, the amount of Registrable Securities that each Selling Holder requested be included in such Underwritten Offering shall be reduced on a Pro Rata basis to the aggregate amount that the managing underwriter deems will not have such material and adverse effect. In connection with any such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership and the Selling Holders involved shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form that is reasonably acceptable to the Partnership and take all reasonable actions as are requested by the managing underwriters to facilitate the Underwritten Offering and sale of Registrable Securities therein. No Holder may participate in the Underwritten Offering unless it agrees to sells its Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement on the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement and completes and delivers all necessary documents and information reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreement. Any Holder may withdraw from such Underwritten Offering by notice to the Partnership and the managing underwriter; provided such notice is delivered prior to the launch of such Underwritten Offering. The Partnership shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any Registration Statement or Underwritten Offering initiated by it under this Section 7.12(b) prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement or the pricing date of the Underwritten Offering, as applicable.
(c) Sale Procedures. In connection with its obligations under this Section 7.12, the Partnership shall:
(i) furnish to each Selling Holder (A) as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing a Registration Statement or any supplement or amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the Commission), and provide each such Selling Holder the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to such Selling Holder and its plan of distribution that is contained therein and make the corrections reasonably requested by such Selling Holder with respect to such information prior to filing a Registration Statement or supplement or amendment thereto, and (B) such number of copies of such Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Persons may reasonably
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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 will not be required to qualify generally to transact business in any jurisdiction where it is not then required to so qualify or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(iii) promptly notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter, at any time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (A) the filing of a Registration Statement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and, with respect to such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; and (B) any written comments from the Commission with respect to any Registration Statement or any document incorporated by reference therein and any written request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereto;
(iv) immediately notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter, at any time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (A) the occurrence of any event or existence of any fact (but not a description of such event or fact) as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of the prospectus contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made); (B) the issuance or threat of issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; or (C) the receipt by the Partnership of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction. Following the provision of such notice, subject to Section 7.12(f), the Partnership agrees to, as promptly as practicable, amend or supplement the prospectus or prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus supplement does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing and to take such other reasonable action as is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto; and
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(v) enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the Selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities, including the provision of comfort letters and legal opinions as are customary in such securities offerings.
(d) Suspension. Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from the Partnership of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 7.12(c)(iv), shall forthwith discontinue disposition of the Registrable Securities by means of a prospectus or prospectus supplement until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by such subsection or until it is advised in writing by the Partnership that the use of the prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings incorporated by reference in the prospectus.
(e) Expenses. Except as set forth in an underwriting agreement for the applicable Underwritten Offering or as otherwise agreed between a Selling Holder and the Partnership, all costs and expenses of a Registration Statement filed or an Underwritten Offering that includes Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12 (other than underwriting discounts and commissions on Registrable Securities and fees and expenses of counsel and advisors to Selling Holders) shall be paid by the Partnership.
(f) Delay Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the General Partner determines that the Partnership’s compliance with its obligations in this Section 7.12 would be detrimental to the Partnership because such registration would (x) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to postpone compliance with such obligations for a period of not more than six months; provided, however, that such right may not be exercised more than twice in any 24-month period.
(g) Indemnification.
(i) In addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership’s obligation under Section 7.7, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, “Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.12(g) as a “claim” and in the plural as “claims”) based upon, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus under which any Registrable Securities were registered or sold under the Securities Act, or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
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necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be liable to any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or results from an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.
(ii) Each Selling Holder shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership, the General Partner, the General Partner’s officers and directors and each Person who controls the Partnership or the General Partner (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Partnership to the Selling Holders, but only with respect to information regarding such Selling Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Holder expressly for inclusion in a Registration Statement, prospectus or free writing prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities held by such Selling Holder.
(iii) The provisions of this Section 7.12(g) shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that a Person entitled to indemnification under this Section 7.12(g) may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.
(h) Specific Performance. Damages in the event of breach of Section 7.12 by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that each party, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to seek an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any such party from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity that such party may have.
Section 7.13 Reliance by Third Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner and any officer of the General Partner authorized by the General Partner to act on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner or any such officer as if it were the Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner or any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be
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conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.
ARTICLE VIII.
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section 8.1 Records and Accounting. The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.3(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the register of the Record Holders of Units or other Partnership Interests, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Partnership shall not be required to keep books maintained on a cash basis and the General Partner shall be permitted to calculate cash-based measures, including Operating Surplus and Adjusted Operating Surplus, by making such adjustments to its accrual basis books to account for non-cash items and other adjustments as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 8.2 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.
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 105 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership (or such shorter period as required by the Commission), the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website) to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner, and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
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(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 50 days after the close of each Quarter (or such shorter period as required by the Commission) except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website) to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the General Partner, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
ARTICLE IX.
TAX MATTERS
Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information. The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable period or year that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined by the General Partner. In the event the Partnership is required to use a taxable period other than a year ending on December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to change the taxable period of the Partnership to a year ending on December 31. The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal, state and local income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable period shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s taxable period ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes.
Section 9.2 Tax Elections.
(a) The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General Partner’s determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, 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.
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Section 9.3 Tax Controversies.
(a) For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2017, the General Partner is designated as the Tax Matters Partner. For each taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, the General Partner shall be or shall designate the Partnership Representative and any other Persons necessary to conduct proceedings under Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of the Code (as amended by the BBA) for such year. Any such designated Person or Persons shall serve at the pleasure of, and act at the direction of, the General Partner. The Partnership Representative, as directed by the General Partner, shall exercise any and all authority of the “partnership representative” under the Code (as amended by the BBA), including, without limitation, (i) binding the Partnership and its Partners with respect to actions taken under Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of the Code (as amended by the BBA), and (ii) determining whether to make any available election under Section 6226 of the Code (as amended by the BBA).
(b) The General Partner (acting through the Partnership Representative to the extent permitted by Section 9.3(a)) is authorized and required to act on behalf of and 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 the General Partner is authorized to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith.
(c) Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner (or its designee) and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the General Partner (or its designee) in its capacity as the Tax Matters Partner or the Partnership Representative, or as a person otherwise authorized and required to act on behalf of and represent the Partnership pursuant to Section 9.3(b).
(d) The General Partner is authorized to amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations implementing or interpreting the partnership audit, assessment and collection rules adopted by the BBA, including any amendments to those rules.
Section 9.4 Withholding.
(a) If taxes and related interest, penalties or additions to tax are paid by the Partnership on behalf of all or less than all the Partners or former Partners (including, without limitation, any payment by the Partnership of an Imputed Underpayment), the General Partner may treat such payment as a distribution of cash to such Partners, treat such payment as a general expense of the Partnership, or, in the case of an Imputed Underpayment, require that persons who were Partners of the Partnership in the taxable year to which the payment relates (including former Partners) indemnify the Partnership upon request for their allocable share of that payment, in each case as determined appropriate under the circumstances by the General Partner. The amount of any such indemnification obligation of, or deemed distribution of cash to, a Partner or former Partner in respect of an Imputed Underpayment shall be reduced to the extent that the Partnership receives a reduction in the amount of the Imputed Underpayment which, in the determination of the General Partner, is attributable to actions taken by, the tax status or attributes of, or tax information provided by or attributable to, such Partner or former Partner pursuant to or described in Section 6225(c) of the Code (as amended by the BBA).
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income or from a distribution to any Partner (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 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) [Reserved]
(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, and except as provided in Section 4.9, each transferee of, or other such Person acquiring, a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee, agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person or Group, who shall be subject to Section 10.1(c) below) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or issued to such Person when such Person becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or acquired, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) shall be deemed to represent that the transferee or acquirer has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, (iv) shall be deemed to make any consents, acknowledgements or waivers contained in this Agreement and (v) shall be deemed to certify that the transferee or acquirer is not an Ineligible Holder, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement. A Person may become a Limited Partner without the consent or approval of any of the Partners. A Person may not become a Limited Partner without acquiring a Limited Partner Interest and becoming the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest. The rights and obligations of a Person who is an Ineligible Holder shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.9.
(c) With respect to any Limited Partner that holds Units representing Limited Partner Interests for another Person’s account (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Units are registered, such Limited Partner shall, in exercising the rights of a Limited Partner in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, take all action as a Limited Partner by virtue of being the Record Holder of such Units at the direction of the Person who is the beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume such Limited Partner is so acting without further inquiry.
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(d) The name and mailing address of each Record Holder shall be listed on the books of the Partnership maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent. The General Partner shall update the books of the Partnership from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable).
(e) Any transfer of a Limited Partner Interest shall not entitle the transferee to share in the profits and losses, to receive distributions, to receive allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or any similar item or to any other rights to which the transferor was entitled until the transferee becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.1(b).
Section 10.2 Admission of Successor General Partner. A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately prior to the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner, pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or the transfer of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6, provided, however, that no such successor shall be admitted to the Partnership until compliance with the terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such successor has executed and delivered such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect such admission. Any such successor is hereby authorized to and shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.
Section 10.3 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership. To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary or appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the records of the Partnership to reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and, if required by law, the General Partner shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership.
ARTICLE XI.
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner.
(a) The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred to as an “Event of Withdrawal”);
(i) The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written notice to the other Partners;
(ii) The General Partner transfers all of its General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6;
(iii) The General Partner is removed pursuant to Section 11.2;
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(iv) The General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A) through (C) of this Section 11.1(a)(iv); or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee (but not a debtor-in-possession), receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or of all or any substantial part of its properties;
(v) A final and non-appealable order of relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code is entered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction pursuant to a voluntary or involuntary petition by or against the General Partner; or
(vi) (A) if the General Partner is a corporation, a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent is filed for the General Partner, or 90 days expire after the date of notice to the General Partner of revocation of its charter without a reinstatement of its charter, under the laws of its state of incorporation; (B) if the General Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General Partner; (C) if the General Partner is acting in such capacity by virtue of being a trustee of a trust, the termination of the trust; (D) if the General Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of incompetency; and (E) otherwise upon the termination of the General Partner.
If an Event of Withdrawal specified in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi)(A), (B), (C) or (E) occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the Limited Partners within 30 days after such occurrence. The Partners hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section 11.1 shall result in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.
(b) Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, Central Time, on December 31, 2022 the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided, that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units 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 federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, Central Time, on December 31, 2022 the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; (iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2; or (iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such
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notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal, a successor is not elected by the Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with Section 12.1 unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.
Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner. The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Common Units (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a single class. Any such action by such holders for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the Unitholders holding a majority of the outstanding Common Units voting as a class (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 10.2. The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically constitute the removal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If a Person is elected as a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2, such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to Section 10.2, automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an opinion opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.
Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner.
(a) In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner Interest and its or its Affiliates’ general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members and all of its or its Affiliates’ Incentive Distribution Rights (collectively, the “Combined Interest”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair
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market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its withdrawal or removal. If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner), such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined Interest. In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.4, including any employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.
For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of the Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partner’s withdrawal or removal, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45 days after the effective date of such withdrawal or removal, then the Departing General Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing General Partner’s successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest. In making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider the then current trading price of Units on any National Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed or admitted to trading, the value of the Partnership’s assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner, the value of the Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner Interest and other factors it may deem relevant.
(b) If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section 11.3(a), the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and its Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a), without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.
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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, at the effective date of its admission to the Partnership, contribute to the Partnership cash in the amount equal to the product of (x) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner by (B) a percentage equal to 100% less the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner and (y) the Net Agreed Value of the Partnership’s assets on such date. In such event, such successor General Partner shall, subject to the following sentence, be entitled to its Percentage Interest of all Partnership allocations and distributions to which the Departing General Partner was entitled. In addition, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner’s admission, the successor General Partner’s interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage Interest.
Section 11.4 [Reserved]
Section 11.5 Withdrawal of Limited Partners. No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however, that when a transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.
ARTICLE XII.
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 12.1 Dissolution. The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the removal or withdrawal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to Section 11.1, Section 11.2 or Section 12.2, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:
(a) an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Section 11.1(b) or 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2;
(b) an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner that is approved by the holders of a Unit Majority;
(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act; or
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(d) at any time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without dissolution in accordance with the Delaware Act.
Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution. Upon (a) dissolution of the Partnership following an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or (iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution of the Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing as a successor General Partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:
(i) the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this Article XII;
(ii) if the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the interest of the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section 11.3; and
(iii) the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this Agreement;
provided, however, that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner under the Delaware Act and (y) neither the Partnership nor any Group Member would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of such right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).
Section 12.3 Liquidator. Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2, the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units voting as a single class. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units voting as a single class. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units voting as a single class. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner
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provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.3) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.
Section 12.4 Liquidation. The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:
(a) The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership’s assets for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidator may distribute the Partnership’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.
(b) Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3) and amounts to Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article VI. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.
(c) All property and all cash in excess of that required to satisfy liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b) and that required to satisfy the Capital Accounts relating to the Series A Preferred Units as provided for under Section 5.12(c)(ix) 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).
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Section 12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership. Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.
Section 12.6 Return of Contributions. The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.
Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition. To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.
Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration. No Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Partnership. The General Partner shall be obligated to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of its interest in the Partnership by the end of the taxable year of the Partnership during which such liquidation occurs, or, if later, within 90 days after the date of such liquidation.
ARTICLE XIII.
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner. Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner, may amend any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:
(a) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership;
(b) admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;
(c) a change that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group Members will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for federal income tax purposes;
(d) a change that the General Partner determines, (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners considered as a whole or any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests in any material respect (except as permitted by subsection (g) of this Section 13.1), (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state
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statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Units (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.9 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the IPO Registration Statement of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;
(e) a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership including, if the General Partner shall so determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;
(f) an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, or the General Partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;
(g) an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.6;
(h) any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the General Partner acting alone;
(i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion approved in accordance with Section 14.3;
(j) an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Section 2.4 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. Except as provided in Sections 5.12(c)(ii), 13.1 and 13.3, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the following requirements. 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
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propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and, in declining to propose or approve an amendment to this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in determining whether to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion. An amendment to this Agreement shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and, except as otherwise provided by Section 13.1 or Section 13.3, the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage of Outstanding Units is required under this Agreement. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The General Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any amendments. The General Partner shall be deemed to have notified all Record Holders as required by this Section 13.2 if it has posted or made accessible such amendment through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website.
Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of (i) in the case of any provision of this Agreement other than Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, reducing such percentage or (ii) in the case of Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, increasing such percentages, unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute (x) in the case of a reduction as described in subclause (a)(i) hereof, not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced, (y) in the case of an increase in the percentage in Section 11.2, not less than 90% of the Outstanding Units, or (z) in the case of an increase in the percentage in Section 13.4, not less than a majority of the Outstanding Units.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c) or (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at its option.
(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3, and without limitation of the General Partner’s authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any Partners as contemplated in Section 13.1, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class 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.
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(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(f), no amendments shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units voting as a single class unless the Partnership obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any Limited Partner under applicable partnership law of the state under whose laws the Partnership is organized.
(e) Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units.
Section 13.4 Special Meetings. All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the General Partner one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called and the class or classes of Units for which the meeting is proposed. No business may be brought by any Limited Partner before such special meeting except the business listed in the related request. Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting, the General Partner shall send or cause to be sent a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the General Partner on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the time notice of the meeting is given as provided in Section 16.1. Limited Partners shall not be permitted to vote on matters that would cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business. If any such vote were to take place, to the fullest extent permitted by law, it shall be deemed null and void to the extent necessary so as not to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.
Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting. Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with Section 16.1.
Section 13.6 Record Date. For purposes of determining the Limited Partners who are Record Holders of the class or classes of Limited Partner Interests entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 13.11, the General Partner shall set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any
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rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading or U.S. federal securities laws, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange or U.S. federal securities laws shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which such Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals.
Section 13.7 Postponement and Adjournment. Prior to the date upon which any meeting of Limited Partners is to be held, the General Partner may postpone such meeting one or more times for any reason by giving notice to each Limited Partner entitled to vote at the meeting so postponed of the place, date and hour at which such meeting would be held. Such notice shall be given not fewer than two days before the date of such meeting and otherwise in accordance with this Article XIII. When a meeting is postponed, a new Record Date need not be fixed unless such postponement shall be for more than 45 days. Any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned by the General Partner one or more times for any reason, including the failure of a quorum to be present at the meeting with respect to any proposal or the failure of any proposal to receive sufficient votes for approval. No Limited Partner vote shall be required for any adjournment. A meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned by the General Partner as to one or more proposals regardless of whether action has been taken on other matters. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII.
Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting. The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove of any matters submitted for consideration or to object to the failure to submit for consideration any matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if such objection is expressly made at the beginning of the meeting.
Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes unless any such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners,
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unless a different percentage is required with respect to such action under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case the act of the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent at least such different percentage shall be required. The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the exit of enough Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of Outstanding Units specified in this Agreement.
Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting. The General Partner shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4, the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The Chairman of the Board shall serve as Chairman of any meeting, or if none, the General Partner shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by the General Partner. The General Partner may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the submission and revocation of approvals in writing.
Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting. If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Outstanding Units held by such Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Outstanding Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any permitted action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are first deposited with the Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.
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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.
Section 13.13 Voting of Incentive Distribution Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Record Holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Right on any Partnership matter.
ARTICLE XIV.
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION
Section 14.1 Authority. The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership)) or convert into any such entity, whether such entity is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America or any other country, pursuant to a written plan of merger or consolidation (“Merger Agreement”) or a written plan of conversion (“Plan of Conversion”), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article XIV.
Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) Merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the prior consent of the General Partner, provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in declining to consent to a merger, consolidation or conversion, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in determining whether to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion.
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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) name and state or country of domicile of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;
(ii) the name and state or country of domicile of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the “Surviving Business Entity”);
(iii) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;
(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (A) if any general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such general or limited partner interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and (B) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;
(v) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, operating agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;
(vi) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, 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 securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the converted entity;
(v) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership; and
(vi) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership, articles of incorporation, or other organizational documents of the converted entity;
(vii) the effective time of the conversion, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of conversion or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Plan of Conversion (provided, that if the effective time of the conversion is to be later than the date of the filing of such articles of conversion, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of conversion and stated therein); and
(viii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed conversion that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners.
(a) Except as provided in Section 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 Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority unless the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, effects an amendment to any provision of this Agreement that, if contained in
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an amendment to this Agreement adopted pursuant to Article XIII, would require for its approval the vote or consent of a greater percentage of the Outstanding Units or of any class of Limited Partners, in which case such greater percentage vote or consent shall be required for approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.
(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 articles of conversion pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger, consolidation or conversion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.
(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any other Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any other Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity that shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of limited liability under the laws of the jurisdiction governing the other limited liability entity (if that jurisdiction is not Delaware) of any Limited Partner as compared to its limited liability under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger, or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the General Partner determines that the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General Partner with substantially the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.
(e) Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another limited liability entity if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner under the laws of the jurisdiction governing the other limited liability entity (if that jurisdiction is not Delaware) as compared to its limited liability under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to this Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1, (iii) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (iv) each Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (v) the number of Partnership Interests to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation does not exceed 20% of the Partnership Interests (other than Incentive Distribution Rights) Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.
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(f) Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (i) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (ii) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.3 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.
Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger or Certificate of Conversion. Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger or certificate of conversion or other filing, as applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or the appropriate filing office of any other jurisdiction, as applicable, in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act or other applicable law.
Section 14.5 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) At the effective time of the merger:
(i) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those business entities and all other things and causes of action belonging to each of those business entities, shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were of each constituent business entity;
(ii) the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those constituent business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the merger or consolidation;
(iii) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any of those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and
(iv) all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.
(b) At the effective time of the conversion:
(i) the Partnership shall continue to exist, without interruption, but in the organizational form of the converted entity rather than in its prior organizational form;
(ii) all rights, title, and interests to all real estate and other property owned by the Partnership shall continue to be owned by the converted entity in its new organizational form without reversion or impairment, without further act or deed, and without any transfer or assignment having occurred, but subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances thereon;
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(iii) all liabilities and obligations of the Partnership shall continue to be liabilities and obligations of the converted entity in its new organizational form without impairment or diminution by reason of the conversion;
(iv) all rights of creditors or other parties with respect to or against the prior interest holders or other owners of the Partnership in their capacities as such in existence as of the effective time of the conversion will continue in existence as to those liabilities and obligations and may be pursued by such creditors and obligees as if the conversion did not occur;
(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 (other than Series A Preferred Units), the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three Business Days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed.
(b) If the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the General Partner shall deliver to the applicable Transfer Agent or exchange agent notice of such election to purchase (the “Notice of Election to Purchase”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent or exchange agent to mail a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner), together with such information as may be required by law, rule or regulation, at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be filed and distributed as may be required by the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed. The Notice
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of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state that the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, or instructions agreeing to such redemption in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent or exchange agent as the Transfer Agent or exchange agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the Partnership Register shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent or exchange agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in accordance with this Section 15.1. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate or redemption instructions shall not have been surrendered for purchase or provided, respectively, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI, and Article XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent or exchange agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, or instructions agreeing to such redemption, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the Partnership Register, and the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the Record Holder of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI and Article XII).
(c) In the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, at any time from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited Partner Interest subject to purchase as provided in this Section 15.1 may surrender his Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner Interest to the Transfer Agent 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) Except as provided in Section 5.12(c)(vii) with respect to the Series A Preferred Units, any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or
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made to a Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner at the address described below. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interests at his address as shown in the Partnership Register, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Interests by reason of any assignment or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) a Partner shall consent to receiving notices, demands, requests, reports or proxy materials via electronic mail or by the Internet or (ii) the rules of the Commission shall permit any report or proxy materials to be delivered electronically or made available via the Internet, any such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials shall be deemed given or made when delivered or made available via such mode of delivery. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing in the Partnership Register is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) if they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other Partners. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by the General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.
(b) The terms “in writing”, “written communications,” “written notice” and words of similar import shall be deemed satisfied under this Agreement by use of e-mail and other forms of electronic communication.
Section 16.2 Further Action. The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.
Section 16.3 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
Section 16.4 Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.
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Section 16.5 Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.
Section 16.6 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
Section 16.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each Partner agrees that (a) any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Indemnitee and (b) any Unrestricted Person shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Unrestricted Person.
Section 16.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Limited Partner Interest, pursuant to Section 10.1(b) without execution hereof.
Section 16.9 Applicable Law; Forum; Venue and Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury.
(a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.
(b) Each of the Partners and each Person or Group holding any beneficial interest in the Partnership (whether through a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing or otherwise):
(i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings (A) arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of this Agreement or the duties, obligations or liabilities among Partners or of Partners to the Partnership, or the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the Partners or the Partnership), (B) brought in a derivative manner on behalf of the Partnership, (C) asserting a claim of breach of a duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, or owed by the General Partner, to the Partnership or the Partners, (D) asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Act or (E) asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, in each case regardless of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or are derivative or direct claims;
(ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding;
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(iii) agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or of any other court to which proceedings in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper;
(iv) expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing such claim, suit, action or proceeding; and
(v) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such services shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided, nothing in clause (v) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
Section 16.10 Invalidity of Provisions. If any provision or part of a provision of this Agreement is or becomes for any reason, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions and/or parts thereof contained herein shall not be affected thereby and this Agreement shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reformed and construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, or part of a provision, had never been contained herein, and such provisions and/or part shall be reformed so that it would be valid, legal and enforceable to the maximum extent possible.
Section 16.11 Consent of Partners. Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Partners and each Partner shall be bound by the results of such action.
Section 16.12 Facsimile and Email Signatures. The use of facsimile signatures and signatures delivered by email in portable document format (.pdf) affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent and registrar of the Partnership on certificates representing Common Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| GENERAL PARTNER: | ||
| SUMMIT MIDSTREAM GP, LLC | ||
| By: |
/s/ Steven J. Newby | |
| Name: Steven J. Newby | ||
| Title: President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
| ORGANIZATIONAL LIMITED PARTNER: | ||
| SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LLC | ||
| By: |
/s/ Steven J. Newby | |
| Name: Steven J. Newby | ||
| Title: President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of Summit Midstream Partners, LP
EXHIBIT A
to the Second Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Summit Midstream Partners, LP
Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Summit Midstream Partners, LP
No. Common Units
In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Summit Midstream Partners, LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “Partnership Agreement”), Summit 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 on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the Partnership located at 2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1250, Dallas, Texas 75201. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT) WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). THE GENERAL PARTNER OF SUMMIT 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 AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THIS SECURITY MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ITS TRANSFER PROVIDED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF
A-1
RECORD OF THIS SECURITY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL PARTNER AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE PARTNERSHIP. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement, and (iii) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.
This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent. This Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
| Dated: |
|
Summit Midstream Partners, LP | ||||||||
| By: |
Summit Midstream GP, LLC | |||||||||
| By: |
| |||||||||
| Countersigned and Registered by:
|
||||||||||
| [ |
] |
|||||||||
| as Transfer Agent and Registrar |
||||||||||
| By: |
|
|||||||||
| Authorized Signature |
||||||||||
A-2
[Reverse of Certificate]
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate, shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws or regulations:
| TEN COM — as tenants in common |
UNIF GIFT TRANSFERS MIN ACT | |
| TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties |
Custodian | |
|
(Cust) (Minor) | ||
| JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common |
under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors Act (State) | |
Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
A-3
ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS OF
SUMMIT 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 on the books of Summit Midstream Partners, LP.
| Dated: | NOTE: The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or change. | |
|
| ||
| (Signature) | ||
|
| ||
| (Signature) | ||
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE
GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE
GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS,
STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN
ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS
WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION
PROGRAM), PURSUANT
TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15
No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer.
A-4
Exhibit 5.1
|
ONE SHELL PLAZA 910 LOUISIANA HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-4995
TEL +1 713.229.1234 FAX +1 713.229.1522 BakerBotts.com |
AUSTIN BEIJING BRUSSELS DALLAS DUBAI HONG KONG HOUSTON |
LONDON MOSCOW NEW YORK PALO ALTO RIO DE JANEIRO RIYADH WASHINGTON |
November 14, 2017
Summit Midstream Partners, LP
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd, Suite 500
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Summit Midstream Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), in connection with the offering and sale by the Partnership of 300,000 of its 9.50% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Series A Preferred Units”) pursuant to that certain Underwriting Agreement dated November 9, 2017 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) by and between the Partnership and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several underwriters named therein (collectively, the “Underwriters”).
We refer to the registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-219196) with respect to the Series A Preferred Units being sold by the Partnership (the “Registration Statement”), as filed by the Partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The final prospectus supplement dated November 9, 2017 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), which together with the accompanying prospectus dated November 6, 2017 (together with the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”) filed with the Registration Statement, has been filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) promulgated under the Securities Act.
As the basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed, we examined (i) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (ii) the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership dated as of November 14, 2017 (the “Partnership Agreement”), (iii) the Underwriting Agreement, (iv) the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Delaware LP Act”) and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “Delaware LLC Act”), (v) partnership records and documents, (vi) certificates of the Partnership, certain of its affiliates and public officials, (vii) statutes and (viii) other instruments and documents as we deemed necessary or advisable for the purposes of this opinion. In making our examination, we have assumed that all signatures on documents examined by us are genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and that all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform with the original copies of such documents.
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Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Series A Preferred Units, when issued and delivered on behalf of the Partnership against payment therefor as described in the Underwriting Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required by 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).
The opinion set forth above is limited in all respects to the Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act and applicable reported judicial decisions, rules and regulations interpreting and implementing those laws, and the federal laws of the United States of America, in each case as in effect on the date hereof. We express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as Exhibit 5.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated the date hereof. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Validity of the Securities” in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.
Exhibit 8.1
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2001 ROSS AVENUE DALLAS, TEXAS 75201-2980
TEL +1 214.953.6500 FAX +1 214.953.6503 BakerBotts.com |
AUSTIN BEIJING BRUSSELS DALLAS DUBAI HONG KONG HOUSTON |
LONDON MOSCOW NEW YORK PALO ALTO RIYADH SAN FRANCISCO WASHINGTON |
November 14, 2017
Summit Midstream Partners, LP
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 500
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Summit Midstream Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), in connection with the offering and sale by the Partnership of 300,000 of its 9.50% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Series A Preferred Units”) pursuant to that certain Underwriting Agreement dated November 9, 2017 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) by and between the Partnership and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several underwriters named therein (collectively, the “Underwriters”).
We refer to the registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-219196) with respect to the Series A Preferred Units being sold by the Partnership (the “Registration Statement”), as filed by the Partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The final prospectus supplement dated November 9, 2017 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), which together with the accompanying prospectus dated November 6, 2017 (together with the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”) filed with the Registration Statement, has been filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) promulgated under the Securities Act. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you for filing as Exhibit 8.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated on or about the date hereof (the “Current Report”).
In connection therewith, we prepared the discussion set forth under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the Prospectus Supplement and the discussion set forth under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the Prospectus (the “Discussion”).
This opinion is based on various facts and assumptions, and is conditioned upon certain representations made to us by the Partnership as to factual matters through a certificate of an officer of the Partnership (the “Officer’s Certificate”). In addition, this opinion is based upon the factual representations of the Partnership concerning its business, properties and governing documents as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and the Partnership’s responses to our examinations and inquiries.
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Summit Midstream Partners, LP |
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In our capacity as counsel to the Partnership, we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such documents, corporate records and other instruments, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. In our examination, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures thereon, the legal capacity of natural persons executing such documents and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. For purposes of our opinion, we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in the above-referenced documents or representations. In addition, in rendering this opinion we have assumed the truth and accuracy of all representations and statements made to us which are qualified as to knowledge or belief, without regard to such qualification.
We hereby confirm that all statements of legal conclusions contained in the Discussion constitute the opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. with respect to the matters set forth therein as of the date hereof, subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth therein. This opinion is based on various statutory provisions, regulations promulgated thereunder and interpretations thereof by the Internal Revenue Service and the courts having jurisdiction over such matters, all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Also, any variation or difference in the facts from those set forth in the representations described above, including in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and the Officer’s Certificate, may affect the conclusions stated herein.
No opinion is expressed as to any matter not discussed in the Discussion. We are opining herein only as to the federal income tax matters described above, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability to, or the effect on, any transaction of other federal laws, foreign laws, the laws of any state or any other jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any other local agencies within any state.
This opinion is furnished to you, and is for your use in connection with the transactions set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or furnished to, assigned to, quoted to or relied upon by any other person, firm or other entity, for any purpose, without our prior written consent, except that this opinion may be relied upon by persons entitled to rely on it pursuant to applicable provisions of federal securities law, including those who purchase Series A Preferred Units in the offering.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 8.1 to the Current Report, to the incorporation by reference of this opinion into the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm and this opinion contained in the Discussion and under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus. In giving this consent, however, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
The opinion expressed herein is given as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation to supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after such date or if we become aware of any facts that might change the opinion expressed herein after such date or for any other reason.
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ BAKER BOTTS L.L.P. |