MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT among NEP RENEWABLES II, LLC, NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP, NEP RENEWABLES HOLDINGS II, LLC, and THE CLASS B PURCHASERS PARTY HERETO March 4, 2019
Exhibit 2.3
among
NEP RENEWABLES II, LLC,
NEP RENEWABLES HOLDINGS II, LLC,
and
THE CLASS B PURCHASERS PARTY HERETO
March 4, 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS | ||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | ||
Section 1.01 | Definitions | 2 |
Section 1.02 | Accounting Procedures and Interpretation | 13 |
ARTICLE II AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE | ||
Section 2.01 | Sale and Purchase | 14 |
Section 2.02 | Closing | 15 |
Section 2.03 | Mutual Conditions | 15 |
Section 2.04 | Conditions to the Purchasersβ Obligations | 16 |
Section 2.05 | Conditions to the Companyβs Obligations | 18 |
Section 2.06 | Conditions to NEPβs Obligations | 18 |
Section 2.07 | Deliveries at the Closing | 19 |
Section 2.08 | Further Assurances | 21 |
Section 2.09 | Withholding | 21 |
Section 2.10 | Transaction Tax Treatment | 21 |
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATED TO THE COMPANY AND NEP | ||
Section 3.01 | Existence | 22 |
Section 3.02 | Capitalization and Valid Issuance of Units | 22 |
Section 3.03 | Ownership of the Class A Purchaser | 23 |
Section 3.04 | Indebtedness; Liabilities | 23 |
Section 3.05 | Formation | 24 |
Section 3.06 | No Material Adverse Change | 24 |
Section 3.07 | No Registration Required | 24 |
Section 3.08 | No Restrictions or Registration Rights | 24 |
Section 3.09 | Litigation | 24 |
Section 3.10 | No Conflicts | 25 |
Section 3.11 | Authority; Enforceability | 25 |
Section 3.12 | Approvals | 26 |
Section 3.13 | Investment Company Status | 26 |
Section 3.14 | Certain Fees | 26 |
Section 3.15 | Listing and Maintenance Requirements | 26 |
Section 3.16 | Form S-3 Eligibility | 26 |
Section 3.17 | No Side Agreements | 26 |
Section 3.18 | Affiliate Contracts and Support Obligations | 27 |
Section 3.19 | Anti-Corruption | 27 |
Section 3.20 | Money Laundering Laws | 27 |
Section 3.21 | Sanctions | 27 |
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Section 3.22 | Tax | 28 |
Section 3.23 | No Other Representations | 28 |
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASERS | ||
Section 4.01 | Existence | 28 |
Section 4.02 | Authorization, Enforceability | 28 |
Section 4.03 | No Breach | 29 |
Section 4.04 | Certain Fees | 29 |
Section 4.05 | Unregistered Securities | 29 |
Section 4.06 | Sufficient Funds | 31 |
Section 4.07 | Title to Class B Purchased Units | 32 |
Section 4.08 | No Side Agreements | 32 |
Section 4.09 | Anti-Corruption | 33 |
Section 4.10 | Money-Laundering Laws | 33 |
Section 4.11 | Sanctions | 33 |
Section 4.12 | Acknowledgements by the Purchasers | 33 |
Section 4.13 | No Other Representations | 34 |
ARTICLE V COVENANTS | ||
Section 5.01 | Conduct of Business | 34 |
Section 5.02 | Listing of Units | 35 |
Section 5.03 | Cooperation; Further Assurances | 35 |
Section 5.04 | Class B Purchaser Financing | 35 |
Section 5.05 | Asset Purchase Agreement; Contribution Agreement; Interim Operations | 39 |
Section 5.06 | Change of Control | 41 |
ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION | ||
Section 6.01 | Indemnification by the Class A Purchaser and NEP | 41 |
Section 6.02 | Indemnification by the Purchasers | 43 |
Section 6.03 | Indemnification Procedure | 44 |
Section 6.04 | Tax Characterization | 45 |
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION | ||
Section 7.01 | Termination | 45 |
Section 7.02 | Certain Effects of Termination | 45 |
Section 7.03 | Termination Fee | 46 |
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ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS | ||
Section 8.01 | Expenses | 47 |
Section 8.02 | Interpretation | 47 |
Section 8.03 | Survival of Provisions | 48 |
Section 8.04 | No Waiver: Modifications in Writing | 48 |
Section 8.05 | Binding Effect | 49 |
Section 8.06 | Xxx-Xxxxxxxxxx | 00 |
Section 8.07 | Communications | 50 |
Section 8.08 | Removal of Legend | 51 |
Section 8.09 | Entire Agreement | 52 |
Section 8.10 | Governing Law: Submission to Jurisdiction | 52 |
Section 8.11 | Waiver of Jury Trial | 53 |
Section 8.12 | Exclusive Remedy | 53 |
Section 8.13 | No Recourse Against Others | 55 |
Section 8.14 | No Third-Party Beneficiaries | 55 |
Section 8.15 | Appointment of Class B Purchaser Representative | 56 |
Section 8.16 | Execution in Counterparts | 57 |
SCHEDULES: | |
A β | Purchaser Allocations |
B β | Acquired Assets and Contributed Assets |
C β | Knowledge Parties |
D β | NEP Subsidiaries |
E β | Governmental Authorizations |
F β | Consents |
G β | Affiliate Contracts, Support Obligations |
H β | Interim Operations |
EXHIBITS: | |
A β | Form of A&R LLC Agreement |
B β | Form of Amended NEP Partnership Agreement |
C β | Form of Registration Rights Agreement |
D β | Form of Build Out Agreement |
E β | Form of Contribution Agreement |
F β | Form Issuer Agreement |
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This Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 4, 2019 (this βAgreementβ), is entered into by and among NEP Renewables II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the βCompanyβ), NEP Renewables Holdings II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the βClass A Purchaserβ), the Class B Purchasers set forth in ScheduleΒ A hereto, including Nitrogen TL Borrower LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as a Class B Purchaser and as the Class B Purchaser Representative (the βClass B Purchaser Representativeβ), and NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (βNEPβ), solely to the extent of the NEP Obligations.
WHEREAS, the Company was formed by the Class A Purchaser as a single member limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware, pursuant to the limited liability company agreement of the Company, effective as of February 26, 2019, by the Class A Purchaser, as sole member ( the βInitial LLC Agreementβ);
WHEREAS, prior to the Closing, NextEra Energy Partners Acquisitions, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and indirect Subsidiary of NEP (βNEP Acquisitionsβ), shall have acquired the Acquired Assets (as defined below) pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement (as defined below) and contributed such Acquired Assets to the Class A Purchaser, and the Class A Purchaser shall have, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, contributed to the Company all such Acquired Assets and all of the Contributed Assets (as defined below);
WHEREAS, at the Closing (as defined below), (i)Β the Initial LLC Agreement shall be amended and restated substantially in the form of the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company attached hereto as Exhibit A (the βA&R LLC Agreementβ), and, in conjunction therewith, the Company desires to issue and sell to the Class A Purchaser, and the Class A Purchaser desires to purchase from the Company, the Class A Purchased Units (as defined below) and the Class B Purchased Units (as defined below) in exchange for the Class A Purchaserβs contribution of the Assets (as defined below) to the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement; (ii)Β immediately after such issuance and sale of the Class A Purchased Units and the Class B Purchased Units to the Class A Purchaser, the Class A Purchaser desires to sell, transfer, assign, and deliver to the Class B Purchasers, and the Class B Purchasers desire to purchase from the Class A Purchaser, all right, title, and interest of the Class A Purchaser to such Class B Purchased Units, in exchange for payment of the Class B Purchase Price (as defined below) by the Class B Purchaser to the Class A Purchaser, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement (such transfer of the Class B Purchased Units to the Class B Purchasers, the βClass B Units Saleβ); and (iii)Β immediately following the Class B Units Sale, each of the Class B Purchasers will be admitted as a Class B Member of the Company; and
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, Sponsor has entered into a certain limited guaranty in favor of the Class A Purchaser (the βLimited Guarantyβ), guaranteeing certain obligations of Purchaser set forth in Section 7.03 of this Agreement.
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NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Sections 1.01Β Β Β Β Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
β2014 Registration Rights Agreementβ means that certain Registration Rights Agreement by and between NEP and NextEra Energy, Inc., dated as of July 1, 2014.
β2017 Registration Rights Agreementβ means that certain Registration Rights Agreement by and among NEP and the purchasers named on Schedule A thereto, dated as of November 15, 2017.
Β Β Β Β
β2018 Registration Rights Agreementβ means that certain Registration Rights Agreement by and among NEP, Global Energy & Power Infrastructure II Advisors, L.L.C., and Western Renewables Partners LLC, dated as of December 21, 2018.
Β Β Β Β
β2019 Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreementβ means the Amendment to the Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement ((2019) Projects), dated as of March 4, 2019, by and between NEP Acquisitions and Sellco.
βA&R LLC Agreementβ has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
βAcquired Asset Tax Equity Interestsβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b).
βAcquired Assetsβ means those limited liability company entities specified in Item (a) of ScheduleΒ B hereto and in the introductory paragraphs of Items (b) and (c) of Section I of ScheduleΒ B hereto, which shall be acquired by NEP Acquisitions from Sellco or an assignee of Sellco pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement.
βAcquired Project Companiesβ means those entities listed in Items (a), (b), and (c) of Section I of Schedule B under the heading βOwner.β
βAffiliateβ 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 βcontrolβ 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. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, (a) NEP and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Class B Purchaser, on the other, shall not be considered Affiliates and (b) any fund or account managed, advised or subadvised, directly or indirectly, by a Purchaser or its Affiliates shall be considered an Affiliate of such Purchaser.
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βAffiliate Contractβ means any Contract between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and NEP, the NEP GP, or the NEP Subsidiaries, or any of their respective Affiliates, on the other hand.
βAgreementβ has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
βAmended NEP Partnership Agreementβ means the NEP Partnership Agreement, as shall be amended by the NEP LPA Amendment, and as may be further amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
βAnti-Corruption Lawβ means the FCPA or any other applicable Law related to bribery or corruption.
βAPA Closing Purchase Priceβ means the βClosing Purchase Price,β as that term is defined and used in the Asset Purchase Agreement.
βAsset Purchase Agreementβ means that certain Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2016, by and between NEP Acquisitions and Sellco, as theretofore amended from time to time, and as amended by the 2019 Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreement.
βAssetsβ means the Acquired Assets and the Contributed Assets.
βAssignment of Asset Purchase Agreementβ means that certain Assignment of Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement, by and between NEP Acquisitions and the Class A Purchaser, which shall be entered into and effective prior to the Closing.
βAssociated Personβ means any director, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate, or other Person acting on behalf of another Person.
βBlocker Subsidiaryβ means any Delaware limited liability company to be formed as a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company prior to Closing to acquire interests in either Rosmar Holdings, LLC or Silver State South Solar, LLC pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement and that will make an election to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3 on the day immediately preceding the Closing Date.
βBuild Out Agreementβ means that certain Build-Out Agreement to be entered into at the closing of the Asset Purchase Agreement by and between NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
βBusiness Dayβ means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a holiday on which national banking associations in the State of Delaware are closed.
βCall Optionβ has the meaning set forth in the A&R LLC Agreement.
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βChange of Controlβ has the meaning set forth in clause (a) of the definition of βChange of Controlβ in the A&R LLC Agreement.
βClass A Purchase Priceβ means an amount equal to five hundred fifty-seven million U.S. dollars ($557,000,000.00), as such amount may be adjusted upward or downward at or prior to Closing to reflect (a) with respect to the Acquired Assets, the amount of the Estimated Working Capital (as such term is defined and used in the Asset Purchase Agreement, and which will exclude, for the avoidance of doubt, any Excluded Items (as such term is defined and used in the Asset Purchase Agreement)) used to determine the APA Closing Purchase Price and (b) with respect to the Contributed Assets, the Contributed Assets EWC.
Β Β Β Β
βClass A Purchased Unitsβ means the number of Class A Units set forth opposite the Class A Purchaserβs name on Schedule A hereto under the column entitled βPurchased Units.β
βClass A Purchaserβ has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
βClass A Purchaser Related Partiesβ has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
βClass A Unitsβ means the Companyβs Class A Units, having the rights, powers, privileges, duties, and obligations described in the A&R LLC Agreement.
βClass B COC Optionβ has the meaning set forth in the A&R LLC Agreement.
βClass B Memberβ has the meaning set forth in the A&R LLC Agreement.
βClass B Member Representativeβ has the meaning set forth in the A&R LLC Agreement.
βClass B Purchase Priceβ means an amount equal to nine hundred million U.S. dollars ($900,000,000.00).
βClass B Purchased Unitsβ means, (a) prior to the Class B Units Sale, with respect to the Class A Purchaser, the number of Class B Units set forth opposite the Class A Purchaserβs name on Section I of ScheduleΒ A under the column entitled βPurchased Units,β and (b) after the Class B Units Sale, with respect to each Class B Purchaser, the number of Class B Units set forth opposite such Class B Purchaserβs name on Section II of ScheduleΒ A under the column entitled βPurchased Units,β and, collectively, the aggregate number of all Class B Units set forth on Section II of Schedule A hereto.
βClass B Purchaserβ means Nitrogen TL Borrower LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and each of its Affiliates set forth on Schedule A hereto prior to the Closing in accordance with Section 2.01(d) hereof.
βClass B Purchaser Related Partiesβ has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
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βClass B Purchaser Representativeβ means Nitrogen TL Borrower LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in its capacity as Class B Purchaser Representative under this Agreement.
βClass B Purchasersβ means, collectively, the Purchasers of Class B Units listed on Section II of ScheduleΒ A hereto.
βClass B Unitsβ means the Companyβs Class B Units, having the rights, powers, privileges, duties, and obligations described in the A&R LLC Agreement.
βClass B Units Saleβ has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
βClosingβ means the consummation of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Units.
βClosing Dateβ means the date the Closing is actually consummated pursuant to Section 2.02(a).
βCodeβ means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
βCommissionβ means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
βCompanyβ has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
βCompany Entitiesβ means, collectively, the Company, any Subsidiaries of the Company, and NEP.
βConfidentiality Agreementβ means that certain Confidentiality Agreement, dated October 15, 2018, entered into in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby by NextEra Energy Resources, LLC and NEP, on the one hand, and Kohlberg Kravis Xxxxxxx & Co., L.P., on the other hand, as may be amended from time to time.
βConsentβ means any approval, authorization, consent, waiver, license, qualification, written exemption from, or order of or filing with any Governmental Authority, or of or with any self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the NYSE), or approval of the holders of NEP Common Units or Series A Preferred Units, or any further approval of the Class A Purchaser or any of its Affiliates.
βContractβ means any contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, instrument, lease, license, commitment, or other arrangement, understanding, undertaking, or obligation, whether written or oral.
βContributed Assetsβ means those limited liability company interests specified in Section II of Schedule B hereto, which shall be contributed by the Class A Purchaser to the Company.
βContributed Assets EWCβ means the amount of Estimated Working Capital (as such term is defined and used in the Contribution Agreement) used to determine the Contribution Amount.
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βContributed Project Companiesβ means those entities listed in Section II of Schedule B hereto under the heading βOwner.β
βContribution Agreementβ means that certain Contribution Agreement to be entered into prior to the Closing on the Closing Date or within the three (3) Business Days immediately preceding the Closing Date, by and among NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP, the Class A Purchaser and the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.
βContribution Amountβ means the βFinal Contribution Amount,β as that term is defined and used in the Contribution Agreement.
βConversion Unitsβ means the NEP Common Units to be issued upon conversion of Issued NEP Non-Voting Units, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement.
βCredit Agreementβ means the fully executed credit agreement, dated as of the date hereof among the Class B Purchaser, Nitrogen TL Parent LLC, the lenders party thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, as may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified in accordance with Section 5.04(a).
βDebt Financingβ has the meaning specified in Section 4.06(a).
βDelaware LLC Actβ means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.
βDelaware LP Actβ means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.
βDrop-Dead Dateβ means July 31, 2019.
βEquity Commitment Letterβ has the meaning specified in Section 4.06(a).
βEquity Financingβ has the meaning specified in Section 4.06(a).
βExchange Actβ means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
βFCPAβ means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
βFERCβ means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or its successor.
βFinancingβ has the meaning specified in Section 4.06(a).
βFinancing Arrangementsβ has the meaning specified in Section 5.04(b).
βFinancing Definitive Agreementsβ has the meaning specified in Section 5.04(a).
βFinancing Partiesβ means those lenders, arrangers, and agents and other financial institutions and investors that are or may become parties to the Credit Agreement and are commercial banks and their Affiliates or a Class B Purchaser or its Affiliates.
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βFinancing Related Partyβ means the Financing Parties or any of their respective former, current or future general or limited partners, stockholders, managers, members, directors, officers, Affiliates, affiliated (or commonly advised) funds, representatives, agents, assignees, and successors of any of the foregoing.
βForm Issuer Agreementβ means the form of issuer agreement attached hereto as ExhibitΒ F.
βFraudβ means the making of a representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement by a Person with a specific intent to induce such other Person to enter into this Agreement and (a) in the case of a representation, such representation contained a material misstatement or omission at the time it was made, and the Person making or giving the representation had actual Knowledge (and not imputed or constructive knowledge), of such material misstatement or omission at the time it was made, (b) such Person had the specific intent to induce such other Person to whom such representation, warranty, or covenant was made or given to enter into this Agreement, and (c) such other Person to whom such representation, warranty, or covenant was made or given reasonably relied on such materially inaccurate representation, warranty, or covenant in entering into this Agreement and suffered injury as a result thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) the term βFraudβ does not include any claim for equitable fraud, promissory fraud, unfair dealings fraud, or any torts (including any claim for fraud) based on negligence or recklessness, and (ii) only the party hereto who committed a Fraud shall be responsible for such Fraud and only to the party alleged to have suffered from such alleged Fraud.
βGAAPβ means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as of the date hereof; provided that for the financial statements of NEP prepared as of a certain date, GAAP referenced therein shall be GAAP as of the date of such financial statements.
βGovernmental Authorityβ means, with respect to a particular Person, any country, state, county, city, and political subdivision in which such Person or such Personβs property is located or that exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such Personβs property, and any court, agency, arbitration body, tribunal, department, commission, board, bureau, or instrumentality of any of them, and any monetary authority that exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such Personβs property. Unless otherwise specified, all references to Governmental Authority herein with respect to the Company Entities means a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Company Entities or any of their respective properties.
βGovernmental Authorizationβ means any authorization, approval, order, license, certificate, determination, registration, Permit, or consent required of or granted by, or any notice required to be delivered to or filed with, any Governmental Authority, including the FERC and, to the extent applicable, the expiration of any waiting period required under the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
βIndebtednessβ means any amount payable by a Person as debtor, borrower, issuer, guarantor, or otherwise pursuant to (a) an agreement or instrument involving or evidencing money borrowed, or the advance of credit, including financings by Subsidiaries of such Person, and the face amount of any letter of credit supporting the repayment of indebtedness for
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borrowed money issued for the account of such Person and obligations under letters of credit and agreements relating to the issuance of letters of credit or acceptance of financing (in each case, only to the extent undrawn or, in the case of any drawing, not cash collateralized or reimbursed within two (2) Business Days of the date drawn); (b)Β indebtedness of a third party described in clauses (a), (c), or (d) of this definition (i) that is guaranteed by such Person or its Subsidiaries or (ii) that is secured by any Lien on assets owned or acquired by such Person or its Subsidiaries, whether or not the indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed by such Person or its Subsidiaries; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness described in this clause (ii), the amount of such Indebtedness shall be deemed to be the lesser of the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness or the fair market of the assets of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries securing such Indebtedness; (c)Β purchase-money indebtedness and capital lease obligations classified as such in accordance with GAAP (other than as a result of the adoption or implementation of Accounting Standards Codification No. 842 or any successor provision or amendment or other modification thereto); or (d) obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or other instruments of debt securities.
βIndemnified Partyβ has the meaning specified in Section 6.03(b).
βIndemnifying Partyβ has the meaning specified in Section 6.03(b).
βInitial LLC Agreementβ has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
βIssued NEP Non-Voting Unitsβ means the NEP Non-Voting Units to be issued to the Class B Purchasers or their Affiliates upon exercise of the Call Option, the NEP Change of Control Option, or the Class B COC Option, each pursuant to the terms of the A&R LLC Agreement and the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement.
βIssuer Agreementβ means that certain Issuer Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among NEP, the Class B Purchaser, and the lenders party thereto, as amended, restated, or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
βKnowledgeβ means, with respect to each of the Company, the Class A Purchaser, and NEP, the actual knowledge of those individuals listed on Schedule C(1), in their capacity as employees of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, and, with respect to the Class B Purchasers, the actual knowledge of those individuals listed on Schedule C(2).
βLawβ means any federal, state, local, or foreign order, writ, injunction, judgment, settlement, award, decree, statute, law (including common law), rule, or regulation.
βLienβ means any mortgage, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), encumbrance, security interest, security agreement, conditional sale, trust receipt, charge, or claim, or a lease, consignment, or bailment, preference, or priority, assessment, deed of trust, easement, servitude, or other encumbrance upon or with respect to any property of any kind.
βLimited Guarantyβ has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
βLiquidity Eventβ has the meaning set forth in the A&R LLC Agreement.
Β Β Β Β
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βMargin Loan Credit Agreementβ means that certain Margin Loan Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among Nitrogen ML Borrower LLC, as Borrower, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto and the other lending institutions that may become a party thereto from time to time, as amended, restated, or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
βMargin Loan Financingβ means a debt financing obtained by the Class B Purchasers or any of their Affiliates party thereto as of the date hereof, pursuant to which such Class B Purchasers or their Affiliates have pledged NEP Non-Voting Units issued to such Class B Purchasers or their Affiliates and NEP Common Units received upon conversion thereof.
βMaterial Adverse Effectβ means any change, event, or effect that, individually or together with any other changes, events, or effects, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on (a) the business, properties, assets, liabilities, financial condition, or results of operations of NEP and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on the one hand, or the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on the other hand or (b) the ability of any of the Company Entities, as applicable, to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents; provided, however, that a Material Adverse Effect shall not include any adverse effect on the foregoing to the extent such adverse effect results from, arises out of, or relates to (i) a general deterioration in the economy or changes in the general state of the markets or industries in which any one of the Company Entities operates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, adverse changes (A) in commodity prices, (B) in capital spending by participants or their customers in the renewable energy or natural gas energy sector, and (C) otherwise associated with changes in the renewable or natural gas energy sector and the resulting effect on NEP and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on the one hand, or the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on the other hand), except, with respect to this clause (i), to the extent that NEP and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on the one hand, or the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on the other hand, are adversely affected in a disproportionate manner as compared to other industry participants, (ii) any deterioration in the condition of the capital markets or any inability on the part of the Company Entities to access the capital markets, (iii) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States, the declaration by the United States of a national emergency, acts of war (whether or not declared) or the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis, including acts of terrorism, hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake or other natural disaster, (iv) any change in accounting requirements or principles imposed upon the Company Entities or their respective businesses or any change in applicable Law, or the interpretation thereof, (v) any change in the credit rating or outlook of any of the Company Entities or any of their securities (except that the underlying causes of any such changes may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred), (vi) changes in the market price or trading volume of the NEP Common Units (except that the underlying causes of any such changes may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred), (vii) any failure of the Company or NEP to meet any internal or external projections, forecasts, or estimates of revenue or earnings for any period (except that the underlying causes of any such failures may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred), or (viii) the bankruptcy cases of PG&E Corporation and its Affiliate, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, that is jointly administered in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California under case number 19-30088, together with all related adversary actions, suits, claims, and proceedings, including to the extent the foregoing may be an
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underlying cause of any other change, event, or effect described in any of clauses (vi), (vi), or (vii) hereof.
βMembership Interestsβ means the Companyβs Membership Interests, including Class A Units and Class B Units, as more fully described in the A&R LLC Agreement.
βMoney Laundering Lawsβ means the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, and the anti-money laundering statutes and any related or similar rules, regulations, or guidelines issued, administered, or enforced by any Governmental Authority.
βNational Securities Exchangeβ means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act (or any successor to such Section).
βNEPβ has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
βNEP Acquisitionsβ has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement.
βNEP Change of Control Optionβ has the meaning set forth in the A&R LLC Agreement.
βNEP Common Unitsβ means Common Units, as that term is defined in the NEP Partnership Agreement.
βNEP GPβ means NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the general partner of NEP.
βNEP LPA Amendmentβ means an amendment to the NEP Partnership Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, providing for the conversion of any Issued NEP Non-Voting Units into Conversion Units.
βNEP Non-Voting Unitsβ means non-voting common units of NEP that shall have the same economic rights as the NEP Common Units, except that such non-voting common units shall have no voting rights whatsoever and shall not be listed on any National Securities Exchange. Each Issued NEP Non-Voting Unit shall, subject to and in accordance with the terms of the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement, automatically convert into one Conversion Unit upon the terms of and subject to the conditions set forth in the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement.
βNEP Obligationsβ means the obligations of NEP specifically contained in Sections 2.01, 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 5.01, 5.02, 5.03, 5.04, 5.05(d), 5.05(e), 5.05(f), 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 7.01, 7.02, and 7.03(b), Article III, and Article VIII.
βNEP Partnership Agreementβ means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of NEP, dated as of December 21, 2018, as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
βNEP Related Partiesβ has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
Β Β Β Β
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βNEP SEC Documentsβ means NEPβs forms, registration statements, reports, schedules, statements, and exhibits filed with the Commission by it under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable.
βNEP Subsidiariesβ means, collectively, the Subsidiaries of NEP listed on ScheduleΒ D attached hereto.
βNotice of Closingβ has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
βNYSEβ means the New York Stock Exchange.
βOrganizational Documentsβ means, as applicable, an entityβs agreement of limited partnership, certificate of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement, certificate of formation, certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws, or other similar organizational documents.
βPermitsβ means any and all necessary licenses, authorizations, permits, variances, waivers, exemptions, consents, and approvals.
βPermitted Lienβ means, with respect to equity interests in any Person, any lien, encumbrance, claim, or restriction (including transfer restrictions) arising under any applicable federal or state securities Law or under any applicable limited liability company agreement or other governing or organizational documents of such Person.
βPersonβ means any individual, corporation, company, voluntary association, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, government, or any agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision thereof, or any other form of entity.
βPro Rata Shareβ means, with respect to each Class B Purchaser, the percentage set forth opposite the name of such Class B Purchaser on Section II of Schedule A hereto under the column entitled βPro Rata Share.β
βProject Companiesβ means, collectively, the Acquired Project Companies and the Contributed Project Companies.
βPurchased Unitsβ means, with respect to each Purchaser, the Class A Units or Class B Units, as applicable, to be purchased by such Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement and, collectively, all of the Class A Purchased Units and the Class B Purchased Units.
βPurchaser Related Partiesβ has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
βPurchasersβ means, collectively, the Class A Purchaser and the Class B Purchasers and individually, the Class A Purchaser or an individual Class B Purchaser, as applicable.
βRegistration Rights Agreementβ means the Registration Rights Agreement, to be entered into at the Closing, between NEP, the Class B Purchaser Representative, and the other Class B Purchasers party thereto, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
Β Β Β Β
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βRepresentativesβ means, with respect to a specified Person, the investors, officers, directors, managers, employees, agents, advisors, counsel, accountants, investment bankers, and other representatives of such Person.
βROFR Agreementβ means that certain Right of First Refusal Agreement, by and among NEP, NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, dated as of August 4, 2017, as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
βSanctioned Personβ means at any time any Person: (i) listed on any Sanctions-related list of designated or blocked Persons; (ii) resident in or organized under the laws of a country or territory that is the subject of comprehensive restrictive Sanctions (which includes, as of the date of this Agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea region); or (iii) majority-owned (in the aggregate) or controlled by any of the foregoing.
βSanctionsβ means, collectively, the sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasuryβs Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, or other relevant comprehensive economic sanctions authority.
βSecurities Actβ means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
βSellcoβ means NEP US SellCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
βSeries A Preferred Unitsβ has the meaning set forth for such term in the NEP Partnership Agreement.
βSponsorβ means KKR Global Infrastructure Investors III L.P., a limited partnership organized under the Laws of the Cayman Islands.
Β Β Β Β
βSubsidiaryβ means, as to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which: (a) such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, in the case of a partnership, a general partner or, in the case of a limited liability company, the managing member or manager thereof; (b) at least a majority of the outstanding equity interest having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body of such corporation or other entity (irrespective of whether or not at the time any equity interest of any other class or classes of such corporation or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries; or (c) any corporation or other entity as to which such Person consolidates for accounting purposes; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, all of the entities whose equity interests were indirectly acquired pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement or the Contribution Agreement, in whole or in part, shall be deemed to be Subsidiaries of the Company.
βSupport Obligationsβ means all guaranties, letters of credit, bonds, collateral, or other credit support provided by NEP, its Affiliates, or any of their respective Subsidiaries (other than a Company Entity) on behalf of any Company Entity.
Β Β Β Β
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βTaxβ means any net income, alternative, or add-on minimum tax, gross income, gross receipts, estimated, sales, use, ad valorem, personal property, franchise, profits, license, withholding (on amounts paid or received), payroll, employment, social security, unemployment, disability, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, capital stock, transfer, registration, value added, premium, property, environmental or windfall profit tax, custom, import, license, duty or other tax, governmental fee, or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest or any penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount imposed by any Governmental Authority responsible for the imposition of any such tax, charge, or assessment (federal, state, and local, foreign or domestic).
βTax Returnβ means any return (including any information return, declaration or statement) and any schedule, exhibit or attachment thereto, filed with or submitted to, or required to be filed with or submitted to, any Governmental Authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection, claim for refund or payment of any Tax or in connection with the administration, implementation or enforcement of or compliance with any Law relating to any Tax.
Β Β Β Β
βTermination Feeβ means an amount equal to twenty million U.S. dollars ($20,000,000.00).
βThird-Party Claimβ has the meaning specified in Section 6.03(b).
βTotal Purchase Priceβ means the sum of the Class A Purchase Price and the Class B Purchase Price.
βTransaction Documentsβ means, collectively, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the A&R LLC Agreement, and any and all other agreements or instruments executed and delivered to the Purchasers by the Company or NEP hereunder or thereunder, as applicable.
βTransfer Taxesβ means all federal, state, local, or foreign sales, use, transfer, real property transfer, documentary, registration, mortgage recording, stamp duty, value-added, or similar Taxes.
βTreasury Regulationsβ means the regulations (including temporary regulations) promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to and in respect of provisions of the Code. All references herein to sections of the Treasury Regulations shall include any corresponding provision or provisions of succeeding, similar or substitute, temporary, or final Treasury Regulations.
Section 1.02Β Β Β Β Accounting Procedures and Interpretation. Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements of NEP or related to the Acquired Project Companies and the Contributed Project Companies and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be furnished to the Purchasers hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q promulgated by the Commission) and in compliance as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto.
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ARTICLE II
AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE
Section 2.01Β Β Β Β Sale and Purchase.
(a)Β Β Β Β Prior to the Closing, (i) NEP shall cause NEP Acquisitions and its Subsidiaries to contribute the Contributed Assets to the Company pursuant to the Contribution Agreement; and (ii) all Indebtedness to which the Contributed Assets (or the respective assets of the Contributed Project Companies) are subject shall be repaid and all Liens on the Contributed Assets (or the respective assets of the Contributed Project Companies), other than Permitted Liens, shall be released.
(b)Β Β Β Β At the closing of the Asset Purchase Agreement, (i)Β NEP shall cause NEP Acquisitions to acquire all right, title, and interest in and to the Acquired Assets and shall consummate the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement, and (ii) NEP shall cause NEP Acquisitions to contribute the Acquired Assets to the Class A Purchaser, and the Class A Purchaser shall in turn contribute the Acquired Assets to the Company. Prior to the Closing, (y)Β all Indebtedness to which the Acquired Assets (or the respective assets of the Acquired Project Companies) are subject shall be repaid and all Liens on the Acquired Assets (or the respective assets of the Acquired Project Companies), other than Permitted Liens, shall be released, and (z) all equity interests in the Acquired Project Companies issued and outstanding and held by any Person other than NEP or one of its Affiliates (the βAcquired Asset Tax Equity Interestsβ) shall be purchased or redeemed.
(c)Β Β Β Β At the Closing, (i) the Initial LLC Agreement shall be amended and restated substantially in the form of the A&R LLC Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A, (ii)Β all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of the Company shall be cancelled and, in exchange therefor, the Company shall issue Membership Interests consisting of Class A Units and Class B Units and shall sell to the Class A Purchaser, in accordance with the terms of the A&R LLC Agreement, a number of Class A Units equal to the Class A Purchased Units listed in Section I of Schedule A opposite the Class A Purchaserβs name and a number of Class B Units equal to the Class B Purchased Units listed in Section I of Schedule A opposite the Class A Purchaserβs name; and (iii)Β immediately thereafter, at the Class B Units Sale, all right, title, and interest of the Class A Purchaser in and to such Class B Units, as identified opposite each Class B Purchaserβs name in Section II of Schedule A hereto, shall be transferred, assigned, and delivered to the Class B Purchasers in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in exchange for payment of the Class B Purchase Price to the Class A Purchaser.
(d)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, prior to the Closing, a Purchaser may assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations hereunder to one or more Affiliates or Subsidiaries of such Purchaser, and each such Affiliate or Subsidiary shall be deemed to be a Purchaser hereunder and ScheduleΒ A shall be revised to reflect any changes resulting from such assignment; provided that the foregoing shall not relieve a Purchaser from
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any of its obligations hereunder to the extent not fulfilled by the Affiliate or Subsidiary to which such rights and obligations are assigned.
Section 2.02Β Β Β Β Closing.
(a)Β Β Β Β The Closing shall take place (i) on a Business Day specified by the Class A Purchaser in a notice to the Company and the Class B Purchasers (the βNotice of Closingβ), following the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 2.03, Section 2.04, Section 2.05, and Section 2.06 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the fulfillment or waiver of those conditions at the Closing) but which shall take place (A) no earlier than twelve (12) Business Days after receipt by the Class B Purchasers of the Notice of Closing (provided that the Closing shall not occur during the period beginning on June 15, 2019 and ending on June 30, 2019) and (B) no later than the Drop-Dead Date, or (ii) at such other time and place as the Company and the Purchasers may agree, subject, in each case, to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 2.03, Section 2.04, Section 2.05, and Section 2.06 at the Closing.
(b)Β Β Β Β The parties hereto agree that the Company shall be required to deliver the Notice of Closing no later than twelve (12) Business Days prior to the Drop-Dead Date, and to the extent such Notice of Closing has not been delivered by such date, such Notice of Closing shall be deemed to have been given, and the Closing shall occur on the Drop-Dead Date, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 2.03, Section 2.04, Section 2.05, and Section 2.06 on such date.
(c)Β Β Β Β The Closing shall take place at the offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP at One Xxxxxx Square, Wilmington, Delaware (or such other location as agreed to by the Company and the Purchasers).
Section 2.03Β Β Β Β Mutual Conditions. The respective obligations of the Company and each Purchaser to consummate the purchase and sale of the Purchased Units at the Closing, as well as all obligations of NEP at or after the Closing pursuant to this Agreement, shall be subject to the satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by a party on behalf of itself in writing, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
(a)Β Β Β Β all Governmental Authorizations set forth in Schedule E hereto shall have occurred or been filed or obtained and shall be in full force and effect;
(b)Β Β Β Β all of the conditions to the consummation of the purchase of the Acquired Assets in accordance with the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement shall have been satisfied or, subject to Section 5.05(a), waived by the parties thereto in accordance with the terms thereof, and the closing of the Asset Purchase Agreement shall have occurred prior to the Closing hereunder in accordance with the terms thereof and Section 2.01;
(c)Β Β Β Β all Acquired Asset Tax Equity Interests shall have been repurchased or redeemed;
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(d)Β Β Β Β no statute, rule, order, decree, or regulation shall have been enacted or promulgated, and no action shall have been taken, by any Governmental Authority that temporarily, preliminarily or permanently restrains, precludes, enjoins, or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or makes the transactions contemplated hereby illegal; and
(e)Β Β Β Β there shall not be pending any suit, action, or proceeding by any Governmental Authority seeking to restrain, preclude, enjoin, or prohibit the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 2.04Β Β Β Β Conditions to the Purchasersβ Obligations.
(a)Β Β Β Β The obligation of the Class A Purchaser to consummate its purchase of Class A Purchased Units at the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by the Class A Purchaser in writing, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
(i)Β Β Β Β there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect; and
(ii)Β Β Β Β each Class B Purchaser shall have satisfied, on or prior to the Closing Date, the conditions set forth in Section 2.05 with respect to such Class B Purchaser (any or all of which conditions may be waived by the Class A Purchaser in writing, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law), and each Class B Purchaser shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Company such Class B Purchaserβs closing deliveries described in Section 2.07(b).
(b)Β Β Β Β The obligation of each Class B Purchaser to consummate its purchase of Class B Purchased Units in the Class B Units Sale at the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by such Class B Purchaser with respect to itself in writing, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
(i)Β Β Β Β the representations and warranties of NEP and the Class A Purchaser contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties contained in Section 3.01, Section 3.02, Section 3.03, Section 3.04, Section 3.05, Section 3.11, Section 3.13, Section 3.14, or Section 3.22, or those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which, in each case, shall be true and correct in all respects) when made and as of the Closing Date (except that (y) representations and warranties made as of a specific date shall be required to be true and correct as of such date only and (z) the representation set forth in the last sentence of Section 3.22 shall be required to be true and correct when made and as of immediately before the Closing);
(ii)Β Β Β Β the Company and the Class A Purchaser shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all of the covenants and
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agreements contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date;
(iii)Β Β Β Β NEP shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all of the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date;
(iv)Β Β Β Β the NYSE shall have authorized, upon official notice of issuance, the listing of the Conversion Units to be issued upon conversion of the Issued NEP Non-Voting Units into Conversion Units;
(v)Β Β Β Β no notice of delisting from NYSE shall have been received by NEP with respect to the NEP Common Units;
(vi)Β Β Β Β the Debt Financing shall have been funded on the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement, after giving effect to any βflexβ rights in the Credit Agreement or any related agreement, or upon terms and conditions that are not materially less favorable, in the aggregate, to the Class B Purchaser;
(vii)Β Β Β Β the Margin Loan Credit Agreement shall be in full force and effect;
(viii)Β Β Β Β all Indebtedness outstanding immediately prior to the Closing to which the Assets (or the respective assets of the Project Companies) are subject shall have been repaid in full, and all Liens on the Assets (or the respective assets of the Project Companies) under such Indebtedness, other than Permitted Liens, shall have been released;
(ix)Β Β Β Β there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect;
(x)Β Β Β Β the Company shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Purchaser the Companyβs closing deliveries described in Section 2.07(a);
(xi)Β Β Β Β NEP shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Purchaser the closing deliveries of NEP described in Section 2.07(c);
(xii)Β Β Β Β the Class A Purchaser shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Company the Class A Purchaserβs closing deliveries described in Section 2.07(b);
Β
(xiii)Β Β Β Β the Assignment of Asset Purchase Agreement shall be in full force and effect;
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(xiv)Β Β Β Β the Build Out Agreement shall be in full force and effect; and
(xv)Β Β Β Β the Class A Purchaser and the Company shall have received an irrevocable waiver from XXXX of all rights of first offer and rights of first refusal under the ROFR Agreement with respect to (i) the Class B Units Sale and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) any exercise by the Class B Member Representative of its right to cause a Liquidity Event (including any related sale of assets and Membership Interests) pursuant to Section 7.09 of the A&R LLC Agreement.
Section 2.05Β Β Β Β Conditions to the Companyβs Obligations. The obligation of the Company to consummate the sale and issuance of the Purchased Units to the Class A Purchaser at the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by the Company in writing, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
(a)Β Β Β Β the representations and warranties of each Class B Purchaser contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality, which, in each case, shall be true and correct in all respects) when made and as of the Closing Date (except that representations and warranties made as of a specific date shall be required to be true and correct as of such date only);
(b)Β Β Β Β each Class B Purchaser shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all of the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date; and
(c)Β Β Β Β each Class B Purchaser shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Company such Class B Purchaserβs closing deliveries described in SectionΒ 2.07(b), as applicable.
Section 2.06Β Β Β Β Conditions to NEPβs Obligations. The obligations of NEP to each Purchaser from and after the Closing pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by NEP in writing, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
(a)Β Β Β Β the representations and warranties of each Class B Purchaser contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality, which, in each case, shall be true and correct in all respects) when made and as of the Closing Date (except that representations and warranties made as of a specific date shall be required to be true and correct as of such date only);
(b)Β Β Β Β each Class B Purchaser shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all of the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date; and
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
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(c)Β Β Β Β each Class B Purchaser shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Company, such Purchaserβs closing deliveries described in Section 2.07(b), as applicable.
Section 2.07Β Β Β Β Deliveries at the Closing.
(a)Β Β Β Β Deliveries of the Company. At the Closing (except as otherwise indicated), the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Purchasers:
(i)Β Β Β Β a certificate of an officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying as to and attaching (A) the Certificate of Formation of the Company, (B) the Initial LLC Agreement, (C)Β resolutions authorizing the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance of the Purchased Units, and (D) the incumbency of the officers authorized to execute the Transaction Documents on behalf of the Company, as applicable, setting forth the name and title and bearing the signatures of such officers;
(ii)Β Β Β Β a certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated within ten Business Days prior to the Closing Date, to the effect that the Company is in good standing in the State of Delaware;
(iii)Β Β Β Β an officerβs certificate of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 2.04(b)(i) and Section 2.04(b)(ii) (in each case, solely as they pertain to the Company) have been satisfied; and
(iv)Β Β Β Β such other documents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as the Purchasers or their respective counsel may reasonably request.
(b)Β Β Β Β Deliveries of Each Purchaser. At or prior to the Closing (except as otherwise indicated), the applicable Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company:
(i)Β Β Β Β a counterpart of the Registration Rights Agreement, which shall have been duly executed by each Class B Purchaser;
(ii)Β Β Β Β a cross-receipt executed by the Class A Purchaser and delivered to the Class B Purchasers certifying as to the amount that it has received from each of the Class B Purchasers;
(iii)Β Β Β Β a cross-receipt executed by each of the Class B Purchasers and delivered to the Class A Purchaser certifying that it has received (A) from the Company, the amounts required to be paid at the Closing pursuant to Section 8.01, and (B) from the Class A Purchaser, the number of Class B Purchased Units to be received by such Class B Purchaser in connection with the Closing;
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(iv)Β Β Β Β an executed counterpart to the A&R LLC Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, which shall have been duly executed by each such Purchaser;
(v)Β Β Β Β a certificate of an authorized officer of each Class B Purchaser, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 2.05(a) and Section 2.05(b) have been satisfied, and a certificate of an authorized officer of the Class A Purchaser, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 2.04(b)(i) and Section 2.04(b)(ii) (in each case, solely as they pertain to the Class A Purchaser) have been satisfied;
(vi)Β Β Β Β for each Class B Purchaser, payment of such Class B Purchaserβs Pro Rata Share of the Class B Purchase Price payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in advance of the Closing Date by the Class A Purchaser; and
(vii)Β Β Β Β such other documents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as the Company or NEP or their respective counsel may reasonably request.
(c)Β Β Β Β Deliveries of NEP. At the Closing (except as otherwise indicated), NEP shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Purchasers:
(i)Β Β Β Β a certificate of an officer of NEP, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying as to and attaching (A) the certificate of limited partnership of NEP, (B) the NEP Partnership Agreement, as in effect immediately prior to the Closing, (C) resolutions authorizing the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents to which NEP is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance of Issued NEP Non-Voting Units upon exercise of the Call Option, the NEP Change of Control Option, or the Class B COC Option, and the issuance of any Conversion Units upon conversion of Issued NEP Non-Voting Units, and (D) the incumbency of the officers authorized to execute the Transaction Documents on behalf of NEP, as applicable, setting forth the name and title and bearing the signatures of such officers;
(ii)Β Β Β Β an executed counterpart of the Registration Rights Agreement, which shall have been duly executed by NEP;
(iii)Β Β Β Β a fully executed βSupplemental Listing Applicationβ approving the Conversion Units for listing by NYSE;
(iv)Β Β Β Β the NEP LPA Amendment, fully executed and effective in accordance with its terms;
(v)Β Β Β Β an executed counterpart to the A&R LLC Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, which shall have been duly executed by NEP;
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(vi)Β Β Β Β a certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated within ten Business Days prior to the Closing Date, to the effect that NEP is in good standing in the State of Delaware;
(vii)Β Β Β Β an officerβs certificate of NEP, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 2.04(b)(i) and Section 2.04(b)(ii) (in each case, solely as they pertain to NEP) have been satisfied;
(viii)Β Β Β Β (I) a properly executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 of the Class A Purchaser (or, if the Class A Purchaser is disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Class A Purchaserβs regarded owner), and (II) a certificate of non-foreign status properly executed and completed by the Class A Purchaser (or, if the Class A Purchaser is disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Class A Purchaserβs regarded owner), dated as of the Closing Date, substantially in the form specified in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-2(b)(2)(iv), in the case of each of clauses (I) and (II), such delivery to be made (or caused by NEP to be made) to the relevant Class B Purchaser; and
(ix)Β Β Β Β such other documents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as the Class B Purchasers or their respective counsel may reasonably request.
Section 2.08Β Β Β Β Further Assurances. From time to time after the date hereof, subject to any other terms and conditions of this Agreement, without further consideration, the Company, NEP and each Purchaser shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions necessary or appropriate to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 2.09Β Β Β Β Withholding. The Class B Purchasers shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payments under this Agreement the amounts any Class B Purchaser is required to deduct and withhold under any applicable Law, and amounts so deducted or withheld shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.
Section 2.10Β Β Β Β Transaction Tax Treatment. The parties to this Agreement shall treat, for federal income Tax purposes (and, where applicable, for state, local and foreign income Tax purposes), the Class B Units Sale as a transaction described in Situation 1 of Revenue Ruling 99-5, 1999-1 CB 434. The parties to this Agreement shall not take any position inconsistent with such treatment on any Tax Return or in connection with any Tax audit or proceeding except to the extent otherwise required pursuant to a βdeterminationβ within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or any analogous provision of state, local or foreign Law).
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ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
RELATED TO THE COMPANY AND NEP
Each of (i) the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Class B Purchasers, solely with respect to those representations and warranties applicable to the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) NEP and the Class A Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Class B Purchasers, solely with respect to those representations and warranties applicable to the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than any representations and warranties applicable to the Project Companies, Acquired Assets or Contributed Assets and set forth in Section 3.06 (No Material Adverse Change), Section 3.09 (Litigation), and Section 3.22 (Tax); (iii) the Class A Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Class B Purchasers solely with respect to those representations and warranties applicable to the Class A Purchaser, and (iv) NEP hereby represents and warrants to the Purchasers, solely with respect to those representations and warranties applicable to NEP, as follows:
Section 3.01Β Β Β Β Existence.
(a)Β Β Β Β Each of the Company and NEP has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited liability company or limited partnership, as the case may be, and is in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and (i) has the full limited liability company or limited partnership, as applicable, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company or NEP is a party and consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and (ii) in the case of the Company, will have, upon effectiveness of the A&R LLC Agreement at the Closing, full limited liability company power and authority to issue, sell, and deliver the Purchased Units.
(b)Β Β Β Β The Organizational Documents of the Company and NEP have been, and in the case of the A&R LLC Agreement and NEP LPA Amendment, once executed and delivered at the Closing, will be, valid and legally binding agreements of the Company or NEP, as applicable, enforceable against the Company or NEP, as applicable, in accordance with their respective terms; provided that, with respect to each such agreement, the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws from time to time in effect affecting creditorsβ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such principles are considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
Section 3.02Β Β Β Β Capitalization and Valid Issuance of Units.
(a)Β Β Β Β Immediately prior to the Closing, the Class A Purchaser will be the sole member of the Company and will hold of record and beneficially all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of the Company, which, upon execution and delivery of the A&R LLC Agreement at the Closing will consist of the number of Class A Units and Class B Units listed in Section I of Schedule A hereto opposite the Class A Purchaserβs name, free and clear of all Liens, except for restrictions on transferability contained in the Delaware LLC Act, A&R LLC Agreement, and applicable state and federal securities Laws. Such Class A Units and Class B Units shall have been, immediately prior to the Closing, duly
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authorized and validly issued in accordance with the A&R LLC Agreement and fully paid (to the extent required by the A&R LLC Agreement), subject to the provisions of the Delaware LLC Act and the A&R LLC Agreement. As of the Closing Date, there will be no limited liability company interests of the Company issued or outstanding other than the Class A Units and the Class B Units.
(b)Β Β Β Β Except for any such preemptive rights that have been waived or will be waived prior to the Closing, there are no persons entitled to statutory, preemptive, or other similar contractual rights to subscribe for the Purchased Units; and, except for the Purchased Units to be acquired pursuant to this Agreement, no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue, or rights to convert any obligations into or exchange any securities for, limited liability company or other ownership interests in the Company are outstanding.
(c)Β Β Β Β Upon the issuance of Issued NEP Non-Voting Units, such Issued NEP Non-Voting Units will be duly authorized, validly issued, and fully paid (to the extent required by the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement), subject to the provisions of the Delaware LP Act, and will be free of any and all Liens and restrictions on transfer, other than (i) restrictions on transfer under the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement, this Agreement or applicable state and federal securities Laws, (ii) with respect to each Class B Purchaserβs or its Affiliatesβ Issued NEP Non-Voting Units, such Liens as are created by such Class B Purchaser or its Affiliates, and (iii) such Liens as arise under the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement or the Delaware LP Act.
(d)Β Β Β Β Upon the issuance of Conversion Units upon conversion of the Issued NEP Non-Voting Units pursuant to the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement, such Conversion Units will be duly authorized, validly issued, and fully paid (to the extent required by the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement), subject to the provisions of the Delaware LP Act, and will be free of any and all Liens and restrictions on transfer, other than (i) restrictions on transfer under the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement, this Agreement or applicable state and federal securities Laws, (ii) with respect to each Class B Purchaserβs or its Affiliatesβ Conversion Units, such Liens as are created by such Class B Purchaser or its Affiliates, and (iii) such Liens as arise under the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement or the Delaware LP Act.
Section 3.03Β Β Β Β Ownership of the Class A Purchaser. NextEra Energy Partners Acquisitions, LLC is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP and is the sole record and beneficial owner of all of the limited liability company interest in the Class A Purchaser, free and clear of all Liens (other than transfer restrictions under the limited liability company agreement of NextEra Energy Partners Acquisitions, LLC or applicable state and federal securities Laws and Liens imposed under any applicable agreement of Indebtedness or as arise under the Delaware LLC Act).
Section 3.04Β Β Β Β Indebtedness; Liabilities. As of the date hereof, the Company has, and until the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement the Company will have, no outstanding Indebtedness or other liabilities or obligations (known, unknown, accrued, absolute, contingent, determined or determinable, or otherwise), other than
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its obligations under this Agreement and the Asset Purchase Agreement and obligations incurred in connection with the Companyβs formation.
Section 3.05Β Β Β Β Formation. The Company was formed for the transaction of any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be formed under the Delaware LLC Act. Upon the effectiveness of the A&R LLC Agreement, the purposes of the Company will be acquiring, accepting, owning, holding, selling, leasing, transferring, financing, refinancing, exchanging, managing, and operating, directly or indirectly through its Subsidiaries, the Assets and any other assets acquired by the Company after the Closing in accordance with the A&R LLC Agreement, together with the liabilities related thereto, including pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement and any ancillary agreements executed in connection therewith, and the Company has not engaged in any business activities other than the foregoing and its formation activities. Prior to the consummation of the Closing, the Company will not have assets or properties other than the Acquired Assets, the Contributed Assets, and bank accounts.
Section 3.06Β Β Β Β No Material Adverse Change. Since December 31, 2018, except as described in the NEP SEC Documents, there has not been any Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.07Β Β Β Β No Registration Required. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of each Purchaser contained in Article IV, the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units to such Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement is exempt from registration requirements of the Securities Act, and neither the Company nor, to the Companyβs Knowledge, any Person acting on its behalf, has taken nor will take any action hereafter that would cause the loss of such exemption.
Section 3.08Β Β Β Β No Restrictions or Registration Rights. Except as described in the A&R LLC Agreement, this Agreement, the NEP Partnership Agreement, the NEP LPA Amendment, the 2018 Registration Rights Agreement, the 2017 Registration Rights Agreement, the 2014 Registration Rights Agreement, or the NEP SEC Documents, (a) there are no restrictions upon the transfer of any Class B Purchased Units, Issued NEP Non-Voting Units, or Conversion Units, nor any restrictions on the voting of Class B Purchased Units or Conversion Units, and (b) neither the offering and sale of the Purchased Units as contemplated by this Agreement, nor any issuance of Issued NEP Non-Voting Units or Conversion Units, gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any Purchased Units or other securities of the Company.
Section 3.09Β Β Β Β Litigation. Except as described in the NEP SEC Documents, there are no actions, suits, claims, investigations, orders, injunctions, or proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or NEP, threatened or contemplated, to which the Company Entities or any of their respective directors or officers is or would be a party or to which any of their respective properties is or would be subject at law or in equity, before or by any Governmental Authority, or before or by any self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, NYSE), that would, individually or in the aggregate, if resolved adversely to the Company Entities, constitute a Material Adverse Effect, or that would challenge the validity of any of the Transaction Documents or the right of either of the Company or NEP to enter into any of the Transaction Documents or to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby.
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Section 3.10Β Β Β Β No Conflicts. The issuance and sale by the Company of the Purchased Units to the Class A Purchaser, the sale by the Class A Purchaser of the Class B Units to the Class B Purchaser, the application of the proceeds thereof, the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents, the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, and the issuance by NEP of any Issued NEP Non-Voting Units or Conversion Units will not conflict with, result in any breach or violation of, constitute a default under (or constitute any event that, with notice, lapse of time or both, would result in any breach or violation of), (a) the Organizational Documents, as may be amended pursuant to this Agreement, of either the Company, the Class A Purchaser, or NEP, (b) any Contract to which any of the Company Entities is a party or by which any of the Company Entities or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Asset Purchase Agreement), (c) any Material Contract (as that term is defined and used in the Asset Purchase Agreement), (d) any Law, (e) any rule or regulation of any self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the rules and regulations of NYSE), or (f) any decree, judgment or order applicable to any of the Company Entities or any of their respective properties, except in the cases of clauses (b) through (f) for any such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.11Β Β Β Β Authority; Enforceability. The Company will have all requisite power and authority under the A&R LLC Agreement, upon execution and delivery thereof at the Closing, and the Delaware LLC Act to issue, sell and deliver the Purchased Units in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the A&R LLC Agreement. NEP will have all requisite power and authority under the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement, upon execution and delivery of the NEP LPA Amendment at or prior to the Closing, and the Delaware LP Act to issue any Issued NEP Non-Voting Units and Conversion Units in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement. All corporate, limited liability company, or limited partnership action required to be taken by the Company or NEP or any of their partners or members for the authorization, issuance, sale, and delivery of the Purchased Units, the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the exercise of the Call Option, the issuance of NEP Non-Voting Units, and the issuance of Conversion Units, each in accordance with the A&R LLC Agreement and the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement, shall have been validly taken at or prior to the Closing. No approval from the holders of NEP Common Units or Series A Preferred Units is required for NEP to issue the Issued NEP Non-Voting Units or the Conversion Units, each in accordance with the A&R LLC Agreement and the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement. Each of the Transaction Documents has been, or will be at the Closing, duly and validly authorized and has been or, with respect to the A&R LLC Agreement, the NEP LPA Amendment and the Transaction Documents to be delivered at the Closing, will be, validly executed and delivered by the Company or NEP, as the case may be, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each of the other parties thereto. Each of the Transaction Documents constitutes, or will constitute at the Closing, the legal, valid, and binding obligations of the Company or NEP, as the case may be, and, to the Knowledge of the Company and NEP, each of the parties thereto, in each case enforceable in accordance with its terms; provided that, with respect to each such agreement, the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
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fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws from time to time in effect affecting creditorsβ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such principles are considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
Section 3.12Β Β Β Β Approvals. No Consent is required in connection with the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units by the Company, the sale by the Class A Purchaser of the Class B Purchased Units to the Class B Purchaser, the issuance by NEP of any Issued NEP Non-Voting Units upon exercise of the Call Option, the NEP Change of Control Option, or the Class B COC Option, or the issuance by NEP of Conversion Units upon conversion of the Issued NEP Non-Voting Units, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Company or NEP or any other party thereto and the consummation by the Company and NEP of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than Consents (a) required by the Commission in connection with NEPβs obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, the 2018 Registration Rights Agreement and the 2017 Registration Rights Agreement, (b) required under applicable state securities or βblue skyβ Laws, (c) set forth on Schedule F hereto, (d) that have been, or prior to the Closing Date will be, obtained, and (e) Consents, the absence or omission of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.13Β Β Β Β Investment Company Status. Neither the Company nor NEP is, and upon the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, neither the Company nor NEP will be an βinvestment companyβ or an entity βcontrolledβ by an βinvestment companyβ as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Section 3.14Β Β Β Β Certain Fees. No broker, finder, or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finderβs, or other fee or commission from the Purchasers with respect to the sale of any of the Purchased Units or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or NEP.
Section 3.15Β Β Β Β Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The NEP Common Units are listed on the NYSE, and NEP has not received any notice of delisting. The issuance and sale of the Purchased Units and the issuance of any Issued NEP Non-Voting Units or Conversion Units will not contravene NYSE rules and regulations.
Section 3.16Β Β Β Β Form S-3 Eligibility. NEP is eligible to register the Conversion Units, if and when issued, for resale by the Purchasers under Form S-3 promulgated under the Securities Act.
Section 3.17Β Β Β Β No Side Agreements. There are no binding agreements by, among or between the Company or NEP or any of their Affiliates, on the one hand, and any Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than the Confidentiality Agreement, the Transaction Documents, the Asset Purchase Agreement and the agreements and instruments contemplated thereby, and the Initial LLC Agreement.
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Section 3.18Β Β Β Β Affiliate Contracts and Support Obligations.
(a)Β Β Β Β Schedule G hereto sets forth a true and complete list of (i) all of the material Affiliate Contracts and (ii) all material Support Obligations, in each case with all amendments, modifications, and supplements thereto. Each Affiliate Contract constitutes a legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Company Entity party thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Company, the other parties thereto, and is enforceable in accordance with its terms. Each Affiliate Contract and each Support Obligation is in full force and effect in all material respects.
(b)Β Β Β Β No Company Entity, nor to the Knowledge of the Company, any of the other parties thereto, is in material breach, violation, or default, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no event, condition, or omission exists or has occurred which with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute any such material breach, violation, or default, or permit termination, modification, or acceleration by such other parties, under such Affiliate Contracts.
(c)Β Β Β Β The Company has not received any notice that any Affiliate Contract is not in full force or effect or that any party to any of the Affiliate Contracts intends to terminate or fail to renew at the end of its term, materially increase or decrease any rates, costs, or fees charged to or payable by or to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or materially reduce the goods and services provided to or by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any Affiliate Contract. The Company has made available to Purchasers true and complete copies of all material Affiliate Contracts.
Section 3.19Β Β Β Β Anti-Corruption. (a) None of the Company Entities or, to the Knowledge of the Company or NEP, any Associated Person of any Company Entity has taken any action, directly or indirectly, in violation of any Anti-Corruption Law; (b) no action, suit, or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority involving the Company Entities with respect to any Anti-Corruption Law is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or NEP, threatened; and (c)Β the Company Entities and, to the Knowledge of the Company or NEP, their Affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws in all material respects and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure, continued compliance therewith by the Company Entities in all material respects.
Section 3.20Β Β Β Β Money Laundering Laws. The operations of each of the Company Entities are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Money Laundering Laws, and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority involving the Company Entities with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or NEP, threatened.
SectionΒ Β Β Β 3.21Β Β Β Β Sanctions. None of the Company Entities or, to the Knowledge of the Company or NEP, any Associated Person of any Company Entity is a Sanctioned Person nor transacting any business with or for the benefit of any Sanctioned Person. The Company Entities will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the Purchased Units, or lend, contribute, or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner, or other Person to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any Sanctioned Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions or in
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any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor, or otherwise) of Sanctions. No action, suit, or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority involving the Company Entities with respect to any Sanctions is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or NEP, threatened.
Section 3.22Β Β Β Β Tax. All material Tax Returns required to be filed by, or with respect to, the Company or any Blocker Subsidiary have been timely filed (taking into account extensions). All such Tax Returns were prepared in accordance with applicable Law in all material respects and are true, correct and complete in all material respects. All material Taxes due and payable by, or with respect to, the Company or any Blocker Subsidiary (whether or not shown on such Tax Returns) have been timely paid. The Company is and has been since its formation a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Section 3.23Β Β Β Β No Other Representations. Except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in this Article III or as expressly set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement or the Contribution Agreement, none of the Company Entities or any Affiliate or Representative of the Company Entities makes any representation or warranty, whether oral or written, express or implied, statutory or otherwise, with respect to the Company Entities, the Purchased Units, or the Assets or with respect to any other information provided or made available to the Purchasers in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including any information, documents, projections, estimates, budgets, forecasts, or other material made available to the Purchasers or to their respective Representatives in any electronic data room or otherwise in expectation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and any such other representations or warranties are hereby expressly disclaimed, and none shall be implied at law or in equity.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF THE PURCHASERS
Each of the Purchasers, severally but not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company and NEP as follows; provided, however, that the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.07 are made solely by the Class A Purchaser and the representations and warranties set forth in the second sentence of Section 4.01 and in Section 4.06 are made solely by the Class B Purchasers:
Section 4.01Β Β Β Β Existence. Such Purchaser is duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its state of formation, with all necessary power and authority to own properties and to conduct its business as currently conducted. The Class B Purchasers engage in no other business than acquiring, owning, holding, selling, transferring, and financing the Class B Purchased Units.
Section 4.02Β Β Β Β Authorization, Enforceability. Such Purchaser has all necessary legal power and authority to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. The execution, delivery and performance of such Transaction
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Documents by such Purchaser and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary legal action, and no further consent or authorization of such Purchaser is required. Each of the Transaction Documents to which such Purchaser is a party has been duly executed and delivered by such Purchaser, where applicable, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Purchaser; provided that, with respect to each such agreement, the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium, or similar Laws from time to time in effect affecting creditorsβ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such principles are considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
Section 4.03Β Β Β Β No Breach. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents to which such Purchaser is a party by such Purchaser and the consummation by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated thereby will not (a) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement to which such Purchaser is a party or by which such Purchaser is bound or to which any of the property or assets of such Purchaser is subject, (b) conflict with or result in any violation of the provisions of the Organizational Documents of such Purchaser, or (c) violate any Law of any Governmental Authority or body having jurisdiction over such Purchaser or the property or assets of such Purchaser, except in the case of clauses (a) and (c), for such conflicts, breaches, violations, or defaults as would not prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such Transaction Documents.
Section 4.04Β Β Β Β Certain Fees. No fees or commissions are or will be payable by such Purchaser to brokers, finders, or investment bankers with respect to the purchase of any of the Purchased Units or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for fees or commissions for which the Company and NEP are not responsible.
Section 4.05Β Β Β Β Unregistered Securities.
(a)Β Β Β Β Accredited Investor Status; Sophisticated Purchaser. Such Purchaser is an βaccredited investorβ within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and is able to bear the risk of its investment in the Purchased Units and, with respect to each Class B Purchaser, any Issued NEP Non-Voting Units and Conversion Units, as may be applicable. Such Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the purchase of the Purchased Units and, with respect to each Class B Purchaser, the holding of any Issued NEP Non-Voting Units or Conversion Units, as applicable.
(b)Β Β Β Β Information. Such Purchaser and its Representatives have been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of each of the Company and NEP that have been requested and any materials that have been requested by such Purchaser relating to the offer and sale of the Purchased Units and the issuance of any Issued NEP Non-Voting Units or Conversion Units. Such Purchaser and its Representatives have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of each of the Company and NEP. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted at any time by such Purchaser and its Representatives shall modify, amend, or affect such Purchaserβs right (i) to rely on the
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Companyβs or NEPβs, as applicable, representations and warranties contained in Article III above or (ii) to indemnification or any other remedy based on, or with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy of, or compliance with, the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in any Transaction Document. Such Purchaser understands that its purchase of the Purchased Units involves a high degree of risk. Such Purchaser has sought such accounting, legal, and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Purchased Units.
(c)Β Β Β Β Residency. Such Purchaser shall cooperate reasonably with the Company or NEP, as applicable, to provide any information necessary for any applicable securities filings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(d)Β Β Β Β Legends.
(i)Β Β Β Β Issued NEP Non-Voting Units. Such Purchaser understands that any Issued NEP Non-Voting Units will bear a restrictive legend as shall be provided in the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement.
(ii)Β Β Β Β Conversion Units. Such Purchaser understands that, until such time as any Conversion Units have been sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or the Conversion Units are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold, the Conversion Units will bear a restrictive legend as provided in the Amended NEP Partnership Agreement.
(e)Β Β Β Β Purchase Representation. Such Purchaser is purchasing the Purchased Units for its own account and not with a view to distribution in violation of any securities laws. Such Purchaser has been advised and understands that none of the Purchased Units, Issued NEP Non-Voting Units, or Conversion Units has been registered under the Securities Act or under the βblue skyβ Laws of any jurisdiction and may be resold only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act (or if eligible, pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act). Such Purchaser has been advised and understands that the Company, in issuing the Purchased Units, and NEP in agreeing to issue any Issued NEP Non-Voting Units or Conversion Units, are relying upon, among other things, the representations and warranties of such Purchaser contained in this Article IV in concluding that such issuance is a βprivate offeringβ and is exempt from the registration provisions of the Securities Act.
(f)Β Β Β Β Rule 144. Such Purchaser understands that there is no public trading market for the Purchased Units, that no such market is expected to develop and that the Purchased Units must be held indefinitely unless and until (i) Issued NEP Non-Voting Units are issued upon exercise of the Call Option, the NEP Change of Control Option, or the Class B COC Option, (ii) such Issued NEP Non-Voting Units are converted into Conversion Units, and (iii) such Conversion Units are registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from registration
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is available. Such Purchaser has been advised of and understands the provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
(g)Β Β Β Β Reliance by the Company and NEP. Such Purchaser understands that the Purchased Units (and subsequently, any Issued NEP Non-Voting Units and Conversion Units that may be issued) are being offered and sold in reliance on a transactional exemption from the registration requirements of federal and state securities Laws and that the Company and NEP are relying upon the truth and accuracy of the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments, and understandings of such Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the applicability of such exemptions and the suitability of such Purchaser to acquire the Purchased Units, any Issued NEP Non-Voting Units and any Conversion Units.
Section 4.06Β Β Β Β Sufficient Funds.
(a)Β Β Β Β The Class B Purchasers have delivered to the Company correct and complete copies of (i) the executed Credit Agreement (including the schedules and exhibits thereto, and any related fee letters (subject to customary redaction of fees and flex provisions, but only to the extent relating exclusively to pricing terms by the Financing Parties party thereto) in connection therewith), among the Class B Purchasers and lenders party thereto, pursuant to which the lenders party thereto have severally committed to provide the debt financing set forth therein in an aggregate amount of at least $600 million U.S. dollars ($600,000,000) at the Closing (βDebt Financingβ), and (ii) the executed equity commitment letter (the βEquity Commitment Letter,β and the equity financing set forth therein (βEquity Financing,β and together with the Debt Financing, the βFinancingβ)) from the Sponsor to provide Equity Financing of at least $319.75 million U.S. dollars ($319,750,000) at the Closing. The Equity Commitment Letter provides that each of the Company and NEP is a third party beneficiary thereof.
(b)Β Β Β Β As of the date of this Agreement, (i) each of the Credit Agreement, the Equity Commitment Letter, and the Issuer Agreement is in full force and effect and has not been amended or modified in any respect and (ii) the respective commitments contained in the Credit Agreement and the Equity Commitment Letter have not been withdrawn, modified, reduced, or rescinded in any respect. As of the date hereof, each of the Credit Agreement, the Equity Commitment Letter, and the Issuer Agreement constitutes a valid, binding, and enforceable obligation of the Class B Purchasers, and, to the Knowledge of the Class B Purchasers, each of the Credit Agreement and the Issuer Agreement constitutes a valid, binding, and enforceable obligation of the applicable Financing Parties and the Equity Commitment Letter constitutes a valid, binding, and enforceable obligation of the Sponsor to provide the Financing contemplated thereby, subject, in each case, only to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth therein in accordance with the terms thereof, except, in each case, as may be limited by Laws affecting the enforcement of creditorsβ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). Each of the Credit Agreement and the Equity Commitment Letter constitutes the entire agreement between the parties thereto related to the Financings contemplated thereby, and there are no side letters, other agreements, or other arrangements that would permit the applicable parties to the Credit Agreement or the Equity Commitment Letter to reduce the amount of the Financing or that would otherwise affect the availability of the Financing on the Closing Date. As of the date of
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this Agreement, no event has occurred that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would or would reasonably be expected to (A)Β constitute a default or breach on the part of the Class B Purchasers under the Credit Agreement or the Equity Commitment Letter or, to the Knowledge of the Class B Purchasers, any other party to the Credit Agreement or the Equity Commitment Letter, (B) constitute or result in a failure to satisfy a condition or other contingency set forth in the Credit Agreement or the Equity Commitment Letter, or (C)Β otherwise result in any portion of the Financing not being available. The Class B Purchasers have fully paid any and all commitment fees or other fees required by the Credit Agreement and the Equity Commitment Letter, any related fee letter, and any other document entered into in connection with, or related thereto, to be paid on or before the date of this Agreement.
(c)Β Β Β Β The aggregate proceeds from the Financing, assuming such proceeds are funded in accordance with the terms of the Equity Commitment Letter and the Credit Agreement, constitute all of the financing required by the Class B Purchasers to consummate the transactions, and satisfy their obligations, contemplated by this Agreement, including the payment of the Class B Purchase Price at the Closing and payment of all fees and expenses of the Class B Purchasers due and payable at the Closing. The Credit Agreement contains all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of the Financing Parties thereunder to make the Debt Financing contemplated thereby available to Class B Purchasers at or prior to the Closing, there are no other conditions precedent to such funding, and the Class B Purchasers do not know of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in the failure of any of the conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement to be satisfied at the Closing. The Equity Commitment Letter contains all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of the Sponsor to make the Equity Financing available to Class B Purchasers at or prior to the Closing, there are no other conditions precedent to such funding, and the Class B Purchasers do not know of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in the failure of any of the conditions set forth in the Equity Commitment Letter to be satisfied at the Closing.
Section 4.07Β Β Β Β Title to Class B Purchased Units. The Class A Purchaser will be, immediately prior to the Class B Units Sale, the record and beneficial owner of, and will have valid title to, the Class B Purchased Units listed on Section I of Schedule A opposite the Class A Purchaserβs name, free and clear of all Liens and restrictions on transfer, other than (a)Β restrictions on transfer under the A&R LLC Agreement and applicable state and federal securities Laws and (b)Β such Liens as arise under the Delaware LLC Act. At the time of the Class B Unit Sale, the Class A Purchaser will have the requisite right, title, power and authority to sell, assign, convey and transfer the Class B Purchased Units as provided in this Agreement, and, immediately following the Closing, the Class A Purchaser will convey to the Class B Purchasers good and valid title to the Class B Purchased Units, which will constitute all of the issued and outstanding Class B Units of the Company, free and clear of all Liens (other than restrictions on transfer under the A&R LLC Agreement and applicable state and federal securities Laws and such Liens as arise under the Delaware LLC Act or are created by such Class B Purchaser).
Section 4.08Β Β Β Β No Side Agreements. Other than the Initial LLC Agreement and the Asset Purchase Agreement and the agreements and instruments contemplated thereby, there are no binding agreements by, among, or between the Company or any of its Affiliates, on the one
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hand, and such Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than the Transaction Documents.
Section 4.09Β Β Β Β Anti-Corruption. (a) Such Purchaser, and, to the Knowledge of such Purchaser, any Associated Person of such Purchaser has taken any action, directly or indirectly, in violation of any Anti-Corruption Law; (b) no action, suit, or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority involving such Purchaser with respect to any Anti-Corruption Law is pending or, to the Knowledge of such Purchaser, threatened; and (c) such Purchaser and, to the Knowledge of such Purchaser, its Affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws in all material respects and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure, continued compliance therewith by such Purchaser in all material respects.
Section 4.10Β Β Β Β Money-Laundering Laws. The operations of such Purchaser are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Money Laundering Laws, and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority involving such Purchaser with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Knowledge of such Purchaser, threatened.
Section 4.11Β Β Β Β Sanctions. Such Purchaser and, to the Knowledge of such Purchaser, any Associated Person of such Purchaser is a Sanctioned Person nor transacting any business with or for the benefit of any Sanctioned Person. No action, suit, or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority involving such Purchaser with respect to any Sanctions is pending or, to the Knowledge of such Purchaser, threatened.
Section 4.12Β Β Β Β Acknowledgements by the Purchasers.
(a)Β Β Β Β Other than the representations and warranties expressly set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement or the Contribution Agreement, the representations and warranties of the Company and NEP expressly and specifically set forth in Article III constitute the sole and exclusive representations, warranties, and statements (including by omission) of any kind of the Company, NEP, and their respective Affiliates and Representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and none of the Company, NEP, or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives has made, and such Purchaser has not relied on, any other representations, warranties, or statements (including by omission) of any kind or nature, whether oral or written, express or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to any matter concerning the Company Entities or their respective Affiliates or Representatives, the Purchased Units, the Assets, the accuracy or completeness of any information provided to (or otherwise obtained by) such Purchaser or its Affiliates or Representatives or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b)Β Β Β Β (i) Such Purchaser is an informed and sophisticated purchaser and has engaged expert advisors, experienced in the evaluation and purchase of securities such as the Purchased Units as contemplated hereunder; (ii) such Purchaser has conducted, to its satisfaction, and to its Representativesβ satisfaction, its own full and complete independent review and analysis of the businesses, assets, condition, operations and prospects of the Company and the Assets to be acquired by the Company and, in making its determination to proceed with the
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transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such Purchaser has relied solely on the results of its own independent review and analysis and the representations and warranties of the Company and NEP expressly and specifically set forth in Article III, and such Purchaser has not relied on any other representations, warranties, or statements (including by omission) of any kind of the Company, NEP, or their respective Affiliates or Representatives; (iii)Β NEP and the Company have given such Purchaser and its Representatives complete and open access to the books and records, key employees, documents, facilities, equipment, Contracts and other information relating to the Purchased Units and the Assets to be acquired by the Company and have provided all materials relating to the acquisition of the Purchased Units and the Assets that such Purchaser and its Representatives have requested, and such Purchaser and its Representatives have been afforded the opportunity to obtain any additional information necessary to verify the accuracy of any such information or of any representation or warranty made by the Company or NEP, or to otherwise evaluate the merits of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement; (iv) such Purchaser and its Representatives have reviewed all of the documents, records, reports, and other materials made available by (or on behalf of) NEP and the Company in any electronic data room or otherwise and are familiar with the content thereof; and (v) NEP and the Company have answered, to the satisfaction of such Purchaser, all inquiries that such Purchaser or its Representatives have made concerning the Purchased Units, the Assets, or otherwise relating to the transactions contemplated under this Agreement.Β
Section 4.13Β Β Β Β No Other Representations. Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Article IV, such Purchaser makes no representation or warranty whether oral or written, express or implied, statutory or otherwise with respect to such Purchaser or with respect to any other information provided or made available to NEP or the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including any information, documents, projections, estimates, budgets, forecasts, or other material made available to NEP or the Company or their respective Representatives in expectation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and any such other representations or warranties are hereby expressly disclaimed, and none shall be implied at law or in equity.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
Section 5.01Β Β Β Β Conduct of Business. During the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the Closing Date, each of the Company and NEP will use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct its business in the ordinary course of business, preserve intact its existence and business organization, Permits, goodwill, and present business relationships with all material customers, suppliers, licensors, distributors, and others having significant business relationships with either the Company or NEP (as applicable), to the extent the Company or NEP, as applicable, believes in its sole discretion that such relationships are and continue to be beneficial to either the Company or NEP, as applicable, and their respective businesses; provided, however, that during such period, the Company or NEP, as applicable, shall, as promptly as practicable, provide written notice to the Purchasers regarding any material adverse developments in respect of the foregoing. Prior to the Closing, neither the Company nor NEP will (a) modify, amend, or waive in any material respect any provision of the Initial LLC Agreement (other than adoption of the A&R LLC Agreement at the Closing) or the NEP Partnership Agreement (other than in connection with the NEP LPA Amendment) that is, in the
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case of the NEP Partnership Agreement, material to (i) the rights of the Company or NEP, as applicable, or (ii) the rights of the Purchasers, in their capacity as purchasers of the applicable Purchased Units, in each case, without the prior written consent of (A) the Class A Purchaser and (B) the Class B Purchaser Representative (on behalf of Class B Purchasers possessing the right to acquire not less than a majority of the Class B Purchased Units); (b)Β unless contemplated by this Agreement, and except (v) in connection with the consummation of the Asset Purchase Agreement or Contribution Agreement, (w) for the repurchase of Acquired Asset Tax Equity Interests, (x) for the repayment of Indebtedness to which the Assets (or the respective assets of the Project Companies) are subject, (y)Β those amended and restated limited liability company agreements of Acquired Project Companies listed in Schedule H hereto, and (z) and any other amendment to the Organizational Documents of any Acquired Project Company or Contributed Project Company (or parent or Subsidiary thereof) in connection with such repayment of Indebtedness or the repurchase of Acquired Asset Tax Equity Interests or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (provided that any such amendment referred to in this clause (z) that adversely affects the Company or the Class B Units shall require the prior written consent of the Class B Purchaser Representative (on behalf of Class B Purchasers possessing the right to acquire not less than a majority of the Class B Purchased Units)), take any actions that would be prohibited by Section 6.03 or Section 6.04 of the A&R LLC Agreement, in accordance with the standards of conduct set forth therein, if the taking of such actions would have been prohibited without the requisite consent of the Class B Purchasers following the Closing; or (c)Β make, or permit to be made, with respect to the Company or any Acquired Project Company or Contributed Project Company (or any parent thereof), any election under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3 (or any analogous provision of state or local income Tax Law) to be classified as a corporation.
Section 5.02Β Β Β Β Listing of Units. Prior to the Closing, NEP will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain approval for listing the Conversion Units, subject to notice of issuance of Conversion Units at the appropriate time.
Section 5.03Β Β Β Β Cooperation; Further Assurances. Each of the Company, NEP and the Purchasers shall use its respective commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all approvals and consents (including any Governmental Authorizations) required by or necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. Each of the Company, NEP, and the Purchasers agrees to execute and deliver all such documents and instruments, including in respect of any required execution of, or consenting to, applications or submissions with FERC, including any inquiries from staff, to take all commercially reasonable action and to do all other commercially reasonable things it determines to be necessary, proper, or advisable under applicable Laws and regulations or as otherwise reasonably requested by the other to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 5.04Β Β Β Β Class B Purchaser Financing.
(a)Β Β Β Β The Class B Purchasers shall use their reasonable best efforts to take, and cause to be taken, all actions and to do, and to cause to be done, all things necessary, proper, or advisable to arrange, consummate and obtain (i) the Equity Financing on the terms and conditions described in the Equity Commitment Letter and (ii) the Debt Financing on the terms and conditions described in the Credit Agreement, in each case, on the Closing Date, including
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(A)Β using reasonable best efforts to comply with and maintain in full force and effect the Equity Commitment Letter and the Credit Agreement, (B) using reasonable best efforts to timely negotiate and enter into any additional definitive agreements with respect to the Debt Financing on terms and conditions contemplated by the Credit Agreement (any such agreements, collectively with the Credit Agreement and the Issuer Agreement, the βFinancing Definitive Agreementsβ), (C) satisfying or causing to be waived on a timely basis (and, in any event, on or prior to Closing) all conditions to funding the Financing that are applicable to the Class B Purchasers, and to each Class B Purchaser, in such Equity Commitment Letter and the Financing Definitive Agreements that are within their, and as to each Class B Purchaser, its, control, (D) using reasonable best efforts to consummate the Financing at or prior to the Closing, (E) enforcing their rights under the Equity Commitment Letter and the Credit Agreement, and (F) if the conditions set forth in Section 2.05 and Section 2.06 have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied or waived at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at the Closing), consummating the Financing at the Closing. The Class B Purchasers shall not amend, amend and restate, replace, supplement, or otherwise modify or waive any of their rights under the Equity Commitment Letter or any Financing Definitive Agreement or substitute other debt or equity financing for all or any portion of the Debt Financing from the same or alternative financing sources; provided that the Class B Purchasers may amend, amend and restate, replace, supplement, or otherwise modify or waive any of their rights under, the Financing Definitive Agreements, so long as any such amendment, replacement, supplement, or other modification to or waiver of any provisions of such Financing Definitive Agreements shall not (i) permit the syndication of the Debt Financing to parties that are not commercial banks and their Affiliates or a Class B Purchaser or Affiliates of the Class B Purchasers, (ii) expand upon the conditions precedent to the funding on the Closing Date of the Debt Financing as set forth in the Credit Agreement on the date hereof or otherwise modify the Financing Definitive Agreements in a manner that would, or would reasonably be likely to, prevent, impede, or delay the Closing, including in respect of the availability of the Debt Financing, or by releasing or consenting to the termination of any Financing Definitive Agreement prior to the first to occur of Closing and the expiration of the Credit Agreement in accordance with its terms, (iii) reduce the amount of the Debt Financing or reduce the Financing Partiesβ commitments under the Credit Agreement (other than as a result of an assignment of a Financing Partiesβ commitment to another Financing Party) unless such reduced amount, when combined with the Equity Financing (including any increase thereto) is sufficient to satisfy the Class B Purchasersβ obligations, contemplated by this Agreement, including the payment of the Class B Purchase Price at the Closing and payment of all fees and expenses of the Class B Purchasers due and payable at the Closing, or (iv) affect the ability of the Class B Purchasers to enforce their rights against the Financing Parties or the Sponsor under the Credit Agreement or the Equity Commitment Letter, respectively.
(b)Β Β Β Β Prior to the Closing, the Company and NEP shall, and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause each of the Companyβs and NEPβs respective officers, directors, managers, employees, advisors, third party consultants, and engineers and the Companyβs Subsidiaries to, cooperate, in all cases at the Class B Purchasersβ sole cost and expense upon reasonable advance notice by the Class B Purchasers in connection with the Class B Purchasersβ efforts to arrange, consummate, and obtain the Debt Financing (collectively the βFinancing Arrangementsβ) (provided that such requested cooperation does not unreasonably interfere with the ongoing operations of NEP, the Company or any of the Companyβs Subsidiaries), including
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(i) providing to the Class B Purchasers and the Financing Parties as promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement unaudited financial statements relating to the Assets for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and, if available prior to the Closing, for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2019 (it being understood that such financial statements will be provided on a project basis and will not be audited or reviewed by any independent accounting firm), (ii) participating and causing appropriate senior management personnel of NEP or the Company to participate in meetings and telephone calls with a reasonable number of prospective lenders under the Debt Financing in connection with the syndication thereof upon reasonable notice and at a time and location to be mutually agreed, (iii) reasonably cooperating with the due diligence efforts of the lenders that are parties to the Credit Agreement, as such due diligence relates to the Company, its Subsidiaries, the Assets, or NEP; (iv) obtaining the consents and authorizations of accountants and consultants for use of their reports in any materials related to the Debt Financing; (v) reasonably cooperating in the preparation of any appropriate and customary offering memorandum, bank book, or similar documents used in connection with the syndication and marketing of the Financing Arrangements (including the delivery of customary authorizations and representation letters for any offering memorandum or bank book); (vi)Β having the Company acknowledge the pledge of the Class B Units and by facilitating the Financing Partiesβ perfecting any security interest therein; provided that no such action shall be effective until the Closing, and (vii) at least five (5) Business Days prior to Closing (to the extent requested from the Company at least nine (9) Business Days prior to the anticipated Closing), provide all documentation and other information about the Company as is reasonably requested by the Class B Purchaser Representative, which is required with respect to applicable βknow your customerβ and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and that is required under the Credit Agreement; provided that the Company and NEP shall not (A) be required to take any action that would or would reasonably be expected to cause any director, officer, employee or other representative of the Company or NEP to incur any personal liability, (B) be required to deliver any legal opinions or accountantsβ cold comfort letters or reliance letters, (C) be required to provide any information or other document to the extent (y) the provision thereof would or would reasonably be expected to violate a confidentiality or other agreement with a third party, violate its organizational documents or any law, rule, regulation, court order, or other legal restriction, or result in a loss of attorney-client privilege or (z) such information or document constitutes attorney work product, (D) be required to (y) pay any commitment or other fee or (z)Β incur any expense in connection with compliance with this Section 5.04, (E) have any liability or any obligation under the Equity Commitment Letter or any Financing Definitive Agreement (or alternative financing that the Class B Purchasers may raise in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), (F) be required to incur any other liability or obligation in connection with the Financing (or any alternative financing that the Class B Purchasers may raise in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with clause (e) below), or (G) be required to take any action that would result in the contravention of, or that would reasonably be expected to result in a violation or breach of, or a default under, any contract to which the Company or NEP is a party, unless, in the case of clauses (D), (E), and (F), the Class B Purchasers have agreed to reimburse, and have indemnified, the Company and NEP on terms reasonably acceptable to the Company and NEP with respect to such expenses.
(c)Β Β Β Β If requested by the Class B Purchasers or any of their Affiliates, following the Closing and the exercise of the Call Option, the Company and NEP will provide
37
the following cooperation: (i) in connection with such Class B Purchasersβ entering into any Margin Loan Financing, providing such cooperation and assistance as such Class B Purchasers or Affiliates thereof may reasonably request (including, without limitation, (A) entering into one or more βissuer agreementsβ following the date hereof, in each case, in the form of the Form Issuer Agreement, solely to the extent required in connection with (1) a refinancing of the Margin Loan Financing by the Class B Purchasers, (2) alternative financing to fund the payment of the Class B Purchase Price, as contemplated by Section 5.04(e), or (3) additional or substitute financing in connection with any exercise of the Call Option, Class B COC Option, or NEP Change of Control Option in order to permit the Class B Purchasers to repay in full the amount of Indebtedness secured by pledges of the Class B Units to be acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Call Option, as contemplated by Section 7.02, Section 7.03, or Section 7.04 of the A&R LLC Agreement, as applicable, and (B) permitting (x) the Class B Purchasers to transfer, assign, and contribute to its Affiliates any NEP Non-Voting Units or the right to receive any such NEP Non-Voting Units, (y) the parties to any Margin Loan Financing to make any reasonable and necessary amendments to the Credit Agreement or Issuer Agreement prior to a draw of any Margin Loan Financing, including amendments necessary for the lenders to perfect first priority security interests in any pledged NEP Non-Voting Units or NEP Common Units received upon conversion, and (z) the Class B Purchaser to assign to its Affiliates its rights under the Registration Rights Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof), (ii)Β using commercially reasonable efforts to enable the deposit of the pledged NEP Non-Voting Units in book entry form on the books of The Depository Trust Company, when eligible to do so, and (iii)Β if so requested by such lender or counterparty, as applicable, re-registering the pledged NEP Non-Voting Units in the name of the relevant lender, counterparty, custodian or similar party to any Margin Loan Financing, as securities intermediary and as record owner and only to the extent such Purchaser or its Affiliates continues to beneficially own such pledged NEP Non-Voting Units.
(d)Β Β Β Β The Company and NEP hereby consent to the use of the Companyβs and NEPβs logos in connection with the Debt Financing; provided that such logos are used solely in a manner that is not intended to nor reasonably likely to harm or disparage NEP or the Company or the reputation or goodwill of NEP or the Company.
(e)Β Β Β Β If all or any portion of the Debt Financing becomes unavailable on the terms (which terms include any applicable βflexβ rights) and conditions contemplated in the Credit Agreement, the Class B Purchasers shall (i) immediately notify the Company and NEP of such unavailability and the reasons thereof, and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to obtain, as promptly as practicable following the occurrence of such event, (y) alternative financing for any such portion from the same or alternative sources on terms and conditions that are not materially less favorable in the aggregate to the Class B Purchasers than the financing contemplated by the Credit Agreement and (z) one or more new Financing Definitive Agreements with respect to such alternative financing. The alternative financing shall be sufficient to pay, when added with the Equity Financing, the entire amount of the Class B Purchase Price on the Closing Date and all related fees and expenses of the Class B Purchasers due and payable at the Closing. The Class B Purchasers shall promptly provide the Company and NEP with a copy of any new Financing Definitive Agreement and any related fee letter (subject to customary redaction of fees and flex provisions, but only to the extent relating exclusively to pricing terms) in connection therewith. If any new Financing Definitive Agreement is obtained, (A) any reference in this
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Agreement to the βFinancingβ or the βDebt Financingβ shall mean the debt financing contemplated by any such new Debt Financing Agreement, (B) any reference in this Agreement to βCredit Agreementβ or βFinancing Definitive Agreementβ shall be deemed to refer to such new Credit Agreement, and (C)Β any reference in this Agreement to the βFinancing Partiesβ shall be deemed to include the lender parties to any such new Credit Agreement.
(f)Β Β Β Β The Class B Purchasers shall (i) keep the Company and NEP informed on a reasonably current basis in reasonable detail of all material activity concerning the Financing (including the status of its efforts to obtain the Financing or any alternative financing pursuant to Section 5.04(e)) and (ii) promptly provide the Company and NEP with copies of all executed amendments, modifications, or replacements of any Financing Definitive Agreement (it being understood that any amendments, modifications, or replacements shall only be as permitted herein), all Financing Definitive Agreements entered into after the date hereof, and such other information and documentation available to the Class B Purchasers as shall be reasonably requested by the Company or NEP for purposes of monitoring the progress of the financing activities. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Class B Purchaser shall promptly notify the Company and NEP (A) of any breach or default (or any event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to give rise to any breach or default) by any party to the Financing Definitive Agreements of which such Class B Purchaser becomes aware which could reasonably be expected to affect the conditionality, timing, availability or quantum of the Debt Financing, (B) of the receipt by such Class B Purchaser of any written notice or other written communication from any Financing Party or the Sponsor with respect to any breach (or threatened breach) or default (or any event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to give rise to any breach or default), or any termination or repudiation, in each case by any party to the Equity Commitment Letter or any Financing Definitive Agreements, and (C) if for any reason such Class B Purchaser at any time believes it will not be able to obtain all or any portion of the Financing to be obtained by any Class B Purchaser on the terms, in the manner or from the sources contemplated by the Equity Commitment Letter or any Financing Definitive Agreements related to the Financing.
Section 5.05Β Β Β Β Asset Purchase Agreement; Contribution Agreement; Interim Operations.
(a)Β Β Β Β Neither the Company nor the Class A Purchaser will (i)Β terminate the Asset Purchase Agreement without the prior written consent of the Class B Purchaser Representative (on behalf of Class B Purchasers possessing the right to acquire not less than a majority of the Class B Purchased Units) unless, at the time of such termination, the Company or the Class A Purchaser has the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01 or (ii) modify, amend, or waive (including the waiver of any conditions) in any material respect, or provide any consent under, any provision of the Asset Purchase Agreement that is material to (A) the rights of the Company or the Class A Purchaser or (B) the rights of the Class B Purchasers, in their capacity as purchasers of the applicable Class B Purchased Units, in each case, without the prior written consent of the Class B Purchaser Representative (on behalf of Class B Purchasers possessing the right to acquire not less than a majority of the Class B Purchased Units).
(b)Β Β Β Β The Class A Purchaser shall be solely responsible for payment of the positive amount of any Post-Closing Working Capital Adjustment Payment and any Network
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Upgrades Reimbursement (as each such term is defined and used in the Asset Purchase Agreement) and shall be exclusively entitled to receive any payments from Sellco in the event there is a negative Post-Closing Working Capital Adjustment Payment or any reduction in the APA Purchase Price as a result of any Casualty Value or Condemnation Value (as each such term is defined and used in the Asset Purchase Agreement). In the event that the Company receives any payments from Sellco in connection with any Post-Closing Working Capital Adjustment Payment or any payments in connection with any Network Upgrades Reimbursement, Casualty Value, or Condemnation Value, in each case, pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company shall promptly pay over all such amounts to the Class A Purchaser. For the avoidance of doubt, there shall be no adjustment after the Closing Date in respect of the Contributed Assets EWC, nor shall there be any payments by or to the Class A Purchaser or the Company in respect thereof nor any adjustment in respect thereof to the Class A Purchase Price.
(c)Β Β Β Β The Company and the Class A Purchaser shall promptly provide the Class B Purchaser with a copy of any notice given or received under the Asset Purchase Agreement and shall promptly provide notice when the Company or the Class A Purchaser, as applicable, becomes aware of any breach of the Asset Purchase Agreement.
(d)Β Β Β Β NEP shall cause the Class A Purchaser and NEP Acquisitions to enter into the Assignment of Asset Purchase Agreement prior to the Closing and shall use reasonable best efforts to take, and cause to be taken, all actions and do, and cause to be done, all things necessary, proper, or advisable to maintain in effect the Assignment of Asset Purchase Agreement as of the Closing Date.
(e)Β Β Β Β NEP and the Class A Purchaser shall cause the Company to enter into the Build Out Agreement at or prior to the Closing and shall use reasonable best efforts to take, and cause to be taken, all actions and do, and cause to be done, all things necessary, proper, or advisable to maintain in effect the Build Out Agreement as of the Closing Date.
(f)Β Β Β Β The Class A Purchaser shall deliver to the Class B Purchaser Representative notice of the amount of the Contributed Assets EWC and the calculation thereof at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Contributed Assets EWC shall be determined by the Class A Purchaser and the Company under the Contribution Agreement in good faith and consistent with industry standards and past practices.
(g)Β Β Β Β Without limiting any of the foregoing, any action or determination with respect to the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Assets, the Contributed Project Companies or the Acquired Project Companies (or the respective assets of the Project Companies) or otherwise that would require the consent of the Class B Purchasers under Section 6.03 or Section 6.04 of the A&R LLC Agreement, in accordance with the standards of conduct set forth therein, if such action or determination occurred following the Closing shall not be taken (and NEP shall cause its Affiliates not to take such actions or determinations) without first obtaining the consent of the Class B Purchaser Representative (on behalf of Class B Purchasers possessing the right to acquire not less than a majority of the Class B Purchased Units), except in connection with the consummation of the Asset Purchase Agreement or Contribution Agreement and except for (i) the repurchase of Acquired Asset Tax Equity Interests, (ii) the repayment of Indebtedness to
40
which the Assets (or the respective assets of the Project Companies) are subject, (iii) those amended and restated limited liability company agreements listed in ScheduleΒ H hereto, and (iv) any other amendment to the Organizational Documents of any Acquired Project Company or Contributed Project Company (or parent or Subsidiary thereof) in connection with such repayment of Indebtedness or repurchase of Acquired Asset Tax Equity Interests or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby to the extent such amendments referred to in this clause (iv) do not adversely affect the Company or the Class B Units in any material respect.
Section 5.06Β Β Β Β Change of Control. In the event that a Change of Control of NEP occurs or Persons enter into definitive agreements for a transaction that upon consummation would constitute a Change of Control of NEP prior to the Closing, each Purchaser shall have the right for thirty (30) days thereafter to elect by written notice to the Company to be released from its obligation to consummate its purchase of Purchased Units, and upon delivery of such notice such Purchaser shall be relieved from its obligations hereunder.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.01Β Β Β Β Indemnification by the Class A Purchaser and NEP.
(a)Β Β Β Β From and after consummation of the Class B Units Sale, (i) each of the Class A Purchaser and NEP agrees, jointly and not severally, to indemnify each Class B Purchaser and its Affiliates, partners, members, stockholders, and Representatives, and any Affiliate, member, partner, stockholder, or Representative of any of the foregoing (collectively, βClass B Purchaser Related Partiesβ), (ii) NEP agrees to indemnify the Class A Purchaser and its Affiliates, partners, members, stockholders, and Representatives, and any Affiliate, member, partner, stockholder, or Representative of any of the foregoing (collectively, βClass A Purchaser Related Partiesβ and, together with the Class B Purchaser Related Parties, the βPurchaser Related Partiesβ), and (iii) solely with respect to clause (C) below, NEP agrees to indemnify the Company and the Purchaser Related Parties, in each case, from costs, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever, and to hold each of the applicable Persons harmless against any and all actions, suits, proceedings (including any investigations, litigation, or inquiries), demands, and causes of action, and, in connection therewith, promptly upon demand, to pay or reimburse each such applicable Person for all costs, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and all other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with investigating, defending, or preparing to defend any such matter that may be incurred by them or asserted against or involve any of them), whether or not involving a Third-Party Claim, as a result of, arising out of, or in any way related to (A) with respect to NEPβs or the Class A Purchaserβs obligation to indemnify pursuant to clause (i) above, (1) the failure of any of the representations or warranties contained herein with respect to NEP (with respect to NEPβs obligation to indemnify) or the Class A Purchaser (with respect to the Class A Purchaserβs obligation to indemnify), to be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent any representation or warranty includes the word βmaterial,β Material Adverse Effect or words of similar import, with respect to which such representation or warranty, or applicable portions thereof, must have been true and correct in all respects), (2) the failure of any of the
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representations and warranties with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company contained in Section 3.01, Section 3.02, Section 3.03, Section 3.04, Section 3.05, Section 3.11, Section 3.13, Section 3.14, or Section 3.22, or those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, to be true and correct in all respects and (3) the failure of any of the representations or warranties contained herein with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than those described in the preceding clause (2)) to be true and correct in all material respects, in each case of clauses (1), (2) and (3), when made and as of the Closing Date (except for any representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which shall be required to be true and correct as of such date only), (B) (1) with respect to NEPβs obligation to indemnify, the breach of any covenant of NEP contained herein, (2) with respect to the Class A Purchaserβs obligation to indemnify, the breach of any covenant of the Class A Purchaser contained herein or (3) with respect to NEPβs and the Class A Purchaserβs obligation to indemnify, the breach of any covenant of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company contained herein, or (C) any actions, suits, claims, investigations, orders, injunctions or proceedings by or on behalf of the unitholders of NEP in connection with the Companyβs acquisition of the Assets, the Asset Purchase Agreement, or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided that, in the case of clause (A), such claim for indemnification is made prior to the expiration of the survival period of such representation or warranty; provided, further, that, for purposes of determining when an indemnification claim has been made, the date upon which a Purchaser Related Party or the Company, as applicable, shall have given notice (stating in reasonable detail the basis of the claim for indemnification) to the Company or NEP, as applicable, shall constitute the date upon which such claim has been made; and provided, further, that the aggregate liability of NEP to the Class A Purchaser and the Class A Purchaser and NEP to each Class B Purchaser pursuant to clauses (A) and (B) of this Section 6.01(a) shall not be greater in amount than such Purchaserβs Class A Purchase Price or Pro Rata Share of the Class B Purchase Price, as applicable, and the aggregate liability of the Class A Purchaser and NEP to all Class B Purchasers pursuant to clauses (A) and (B) of this Section 6.01(a) shall not exceed the aggregate of the Class B Purchase Price. The indemnification obligations pursuant to this Section 6.01 shall be limited as follows: (1) NEP and the Class A Purchaser shall be obligated to provide indemnification for (y) with respect to clause (A) of this Section 6.01(a), inaccuracies with respect to those representations and warranties relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries contained herein and (z) with respect to clause (B) of this Section 6.01(a), the breach by the Company and its Subsidiaries of covenants of the Company or Subsidiaries of the Company contained herein; (2) NEP shall be obligated to provide indemnification for (y) with respect to clause (A) of this Section 6.01(a), inaccuracies with respect to those representations and warranties relating to NEP contained herein and (z) with respect to clause (B) of this Section 6.01(a), the breach by NEP of any covenant of NEP and (3) the Class A Purchaser shall be obligated to provide indemnification for (y) with respect to clause (A) of this Section 6.01(a), inaccuracies with respect to those representations and warranties relating to the Class A Purchaser contained herein and (z) with respect to clause (B) of this Section 6.01(a), the breach by the Class A Purchaser of any covenant of the Class A Purchaser. No Purchaser Related Party shall be entitled to recover special, indirect, exemplary, lost profits, speculative, or punitive damages under clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 6.01(a); provided, however, that such limitation shall not prevent any Purchaser Related Party from recovering under this Section 6.01 for any such damages to the extent that such damages are in the form of diminution in value (it being understood and agreed that any change in the market price of the
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Conversion Units shall not in and of itself constitute diminution in value damages) or are payable to a third party in connection with any Third-Party Claims.
(b)Β Β Β Β Each of the Class A Purchaser and NEP agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless the Class B Purchasers from and against any and all claims, demands, or liabilities for brokerβs, finderβs, placement, or other similar fees or commissions incurred by the Class A Purchaser, the Company or NEP or alleged to have been incurred by the Class A Purchaser, the Company or NEP in connection with the sale of the Purchased Units or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 6.02Β Β Β Β Indemnification by the Purchasers.
(a)Β Β Β Β From and after consummation of the Class B Units Sale, each Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly (except that the Class B Purchasers agree severally and jointly with respect to the liability of any and all Class B Purchasers), to indemnify the Company and NEP and their respective Affiliates, partners, members, stockholders, and Representatives, and any Affiliate, member, partner, stockholder, or Representative of any of the foregoing (collectively, βNEP Related Partiesβ) from costs, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever, and to hold each of them harmless against any and all actions, suits, proceedings (including any investigations, litigation, or inquiries), demands, and causes of action, and, in connection therewith, promptly upon demand, to pay or reimburse each of them for all costs, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and all other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with investigating, defending, or preparing to defend any such matter that may be incurred by them or asserted against or involve any of them), whether or not involving a Third-Party Claim, as a result of, arising out of, or in any way related to (i) the failure of any of the representations or warranties made by such Purchaser contained herein to be true and correct in all material respects as of the date made (except to the extent any representation or warranty includes the word βmaterial,β Material Adverse Effect or words of similar import, with respect to which such representation or warranty, or applicable portions thereof, must have been true and correct) or (ii) the breach of any of the covenants of such Purchaser contained herein; provided that, in the case of the immediately preceding clause (i), such claim for indemnification relating to a breach of any representation or warranty is made prior to the expiration of the survival period of such representation or warranty; and provided, further, that, for purposes of determining when an indemnification claim has been made, the date upon which a NEP Related Party shall have given notice (stating in reasonable detail the basis of the claim for indemnification) to such Purchaser shall constitute the date upon which such claim has been made; and provided, further, that (A) the liability of the Class A Purchaser under this SectionΒ 6.02 shall not be greater in amount than the Class A Purchase Price, and (B) the liability of a Class B Purchaser shall not be greater in amount than such Class B Purchaserβs Pro Rata Share of the Class B Purchase Price. No NEP Related Party shall be entitled to recover special, indirect, exemplary, lost profits, speculative, or punitive damages under this Section 6.02; provided, however, that such limitation shall not prevent any NEP Related Party from recovering under this Section 6.02 for any such damages to the extent that such damages are in the form of diminution in value of the Purchased Units (it being understood and agreed that any change in the market price of the Conversion Units shall not in and of itself constitute diminution in value damages) or are payable to a third party in connection with any Third-Party Claims.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
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(b)Β Β Β Β Each Purchaser agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless each of the Company and NEP from and against any and all claims, demands, or liabilities for brokerβs, finderβs, placement, or other similar fees or commissions incurred by such Purchaser or alleged to have been incurred by such Purchaser in connection with the purchase of the Purchased Units or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 6.03Β Β Β Β Indemnification Procedure.
(a)Β Β Β Β A claim for indemnification for any matter not involving a Third-Party Claim shall be asserted by prompt notice to the party from whom indemnification is sought; provided, however, that failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not preclude the Indemnified Party from any indemnification which it may claim in accordance with this Article VI, except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced as a result of such failure, and except as otherwise provided in Section 6.01 and Section 6.02.
(b)Β Β Β Β Promptly after any NEP Related Party, Purchaser Related Party, or the Company, as applicable (hereinafter, the βIndemnified Partyβ) has received notice of any indemnifiable claim hereunder, or the commencement of any action, suit, or proceeding by a third person which the Indemnified Party believes in good faith is an indemnifiable claim under this Agreement (each a βThird-Party Claimβ), the Indemnified Party shall give the indemnitor hereunder (the βIndemnifying Partyβ) written notice of such Third-Party Claim, but failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party will not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability it may have to such Indemnified Party hereunder except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by such failure. Such notice shall state the nature and the basis of such Third-Party Claim to the extent then known. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to defend and settle, at its own expense and by its own counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party, any such matter as long as the Indemnifying Party pursues the same diligently and in good faith. If the Indemnifying Party undertakes to defend or settle, it shall promptly, and in no event later than ten (10) days, notify the Indemnified Party of its intention to do so, and the Indemnified Party shall cooperate with the Indemnifying Party and its counsel in all commercially reasonable respects in the defense thereof and the settlement thereof. Such cooperation shall include, but shall not be limited to, furnishing the Indemnifying Party with any books, records, and other information reasonably requested by the Indemnifying Party and in the Indemnified Partyβs possession or control. Such cooperation of the Indemnified Party shall be at the cost of the Indemnifying Party. After the Indemnifying Party has notified the Indemnified Party of its intention to undertake to defend or settle any such asserted liability, and for so long as the Indemnifying Party diligently pursues such defense, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any additional legal expenses incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with any defense or settlement of such asserted liability; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party shall be entitled (i) at its expense, to participate in the defense of such asserted liability and the negotiations of the settlement thereof and (ii) if (A) the Indemnifying Party has, within ten (10) Business Days of when the Indemnified Party provides written notice of a Third-Party Claim, failed (1) to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party or (2) to notify the Indemnified Party of such assumption or (B) if the defendants in any such action include both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party and counsel to the Indemnified Party shall have concluded that there are reasonable defenses available to the Indemnified Party that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying
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Party or if the interests of the Indemnified Party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the Indemnifying Party, then the Indemnified Party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defense and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the Indemnifying Party as incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall not settle any indemnified claim without the consent of the Indemnified Party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, and includes a complete release from liability of, and does not include any admission of wrongdoing or malfeasance by, the Indemnified Party.
Section 6.04Β Β Β Β Tax Characterization. All indemnification payments under this Article VI shall be treated as adjustments to the applicable Purchaserβs Class A Purchase Price or Pro Rata Share of the Class B Purchase Price, as applicable, for all Tax purposes, except as otherwise required by applicable Law.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
Section 7.01Β Β Β Β Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:
(a)Β Β Β Β by mutual written consent of the Company, NEP, and each of the Purchasers;
(b)Β Β Β Β by written notice from the Company, NEP or any Purchaser, if any Governmental Authority with lawful jurisdiction shall have issued a final order, decree or ruling or taken any other final action restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and such order, decree, ruling, or other action is or shall have become final and nonappealable; or
(c)Β Β Β Β by written notice from a Purchaser, if the Closing has not occurred by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Drop-Dead Date; provided, however, that (i) a Class B Purchaser may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.01(c) if such party is, at the time of providing such written notice, in breach of any of its obligations under this Agreement and (ii) the Class A Purchaser may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.01(c) if such party, the Company or NEP is, at the time of providing such written notice, in breach of any of its obligations under this Agreement; provided that if the condition set forth in Section 2.03(a) is not satisfied as of the Drop-Dead Date but all other conditions have been satisfied (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied by actions taken at the Closing, each of which shall be capable of being satisfied at the Closing), the Drop-Dead Date may be extended until the condition set forth in Section 2.03(a) has been satisfied, but no later than September 1, 2019, by the Company or any Purchaser upon notice to the other parties on the Drop-Dead Date, in which case the term βDrop-Dead Dateβ shall thereafter mean September 1, 2019, for all purposes of this Agreement.
Section 7.02Β Β Β Β Certain Effects of Termination.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
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(a)Β Β Β Β In the event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01:
(i)Β Β Β Β except as set forth in Section 7.02(a)(ii), this Agreement shall become null and void and have no further force or effect;
(ii)Β Β Β Β regardless of any purported termination of this Agreement, this SectionΒ 7.02, Section 7.03, and the provisions of Article VIII shall remain operative and in full force and effect as between the Company and NEP, on the one hand, and the Purchasers, on the other hand, unless the Company, NEP, and the Class B Purchasers possessing the right to acquire not less than majority of the Class B Purchased Units execute a writing that expressly (with specific references to the applicable Articles, Sections, or subsections of this Agreement) terminates such rights and obligations as between the Company, NEP, and the Purchasers; and
(iii)Β Β Β Β the Confidentiality Agreement shall remain in effect in accordance with Section 8.06(a).
(b)Β Β Β Β Except as provided in Section 7.03, the Class B Purchasers shall not be subject to (nor shall the NEP Related Parties seek to recover) monetary damages in connection with this Agreement, and in no event shall the NEP Related Parties seek to recover monetary damages from any Financing Related Party at any time in connection with this Agreement, including in each case in respect of (i)Β any losses suffered as a result of the failure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated, (ii) the termination of this Agreement, (iii) any liabilities or obligations arising under or relating to this Agreement, or (iv) any breach, termination or failure of or under this Agreement or any inaccuracy of any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement; provided that the foregoing shall not relieve the Class B Purchasers of their obligations under Article VI following the Closing if the Closing occurs.
Section 7.03Β Β Β Β Termination Fee.
(a)Β Β Β Β If (i)Β this Agreement is validly terminated by the ClassΒ A Purchaser pursuant to Section 7.01(c) and the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 2.03 and Section 2.04 have been satisfied or validly waived prior to such termination (other than (A)Β those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied by actions taken at the Closing, but subject to those conditions being capable of being satisfied if the Closing were to occur on the date of termination, and (B) those conditions that are not satisfied as a result of a breach of this Agreement by the Class B Purchasers), (ii) at the time of such termination pursuant to SectionΒ 7.01(c), the condition set forth in Section 2.05(b) or Section 2.06(b) is not satisfied due to a breach by any Class B Purchaser of this Agreement, and (iii) the Company has delivered an irrevocable Notice of Closing to the Purchasers no later than two (2) Business Days after the date on which the condition set forth in Section 2.03(a) is satisfied and (A)Β such Notice of Closing provides for a Closing to occur on the date that is twelve (12) Business Days after receipt by the Class B Purchasers of the Notice of Closing (provided that, if the Notice of Closing was not delivered prior to the Drop-Dead Date but the condition set forth in Section 2.03(a) is satisfied
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on or prior to the Drop-Dead Date, then the Notice of Closing shall be deemed to have been given on the Drop-Dead Date) and (B)Β the Company has confirmed that if the Equity Financing and Debt Financing are funded on such date it stands ready, willing, and able to consummate the Closing, then the Class B Purchaser Representative, on behalf of all of the Class B Purchasers, will pay or cause to be paid to the ClassΒ A Purchaser (or its designee(s)) an amount equal to the Termination Fee.
(b)Β Β Β Β If the Termination Fee is payable, Class B Purchaser Representative, on behalf of all of the Class B Purchasers, will pay, or cause to be paid, such fee to the ClassΒ A Purchaser (or its designee(s)) by wire transfer of immediately available funds on or before the second (2nd) Business Day following the date on which this Agreement is terminated as provided in Section 7.03(a). The Company and each of the Purchasers acknowledge and agree that (i) the agreements contained in this Section 7.03 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated hereby, and without these agreements the other parties hereto would not enter into this Agreement and (ii)Β any amounts payable pursuant to this Section 7.03 are a reasonable approximation of the ClassΒ A Purchaserβs damages and do not constitute a penalty. In the event of litigation relating to the payment of the Termination Fee and upon final determination of a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable decision, the non-prevailing party in such litigation shall reimburse the prevailing partyβs reasonable and documented costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneysβ fees) actually incurred in connection therewith to a maximum of two million U.S. dollars ($2,000,000.00). Subject to the right of the Company to specific performance of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.12, the parties hereto expressly acknowledge and agree that payment of the Termination Fee, if due, and the payment in full of any reimbursement, expense, or interest obligations pursuant to this Section 7.03 and the Limited Guaranty, if any, shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of NEP, the Company and the Class A Purchaser against the Class B Purchasers and their Affiliates in connection with the termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.01Β Β Β Β Expenses. All costs and expenses, including all Transfer Taxes required to be paid by any party hereto under applicable Law and all fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors, and accountants, incurred in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses (or required to pay such Transfer Taxes under applicable Law); provided, however, that, on the Closing Date, the Company will pay to (or reimburse), or cause to be paid to (or reimbursed), the Class B Purchaser Representative (on behalf of all Class B Purchasers) for their and their respective Affiliatesβ reasonable, documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with the evaluation, negotiation, and consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement up to a maximum of $7.5 million by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account(s) as designated by the Class B Purchaser Representative in writing at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date.
Section 8.02Β Β Β Β Interpretation. Article, Section, Schedule and Exhibit references in this Agreement are references to the corresponding Article, Section, Schedule or Exhibit to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. All Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement are hereby
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incorporated and made a part hereof as if set forth in full herein and are an integral part of this Agreement. All references to instruments, documents, Contracts, and agreements are references to such instruments, documents, Contracts, and agreements as the same may be amended, supplemented, and otherwise modified from time to time, unless otherwise specified. The word βincludingβ shall mean βincluding but not limited toβ and shall not be construed to limit any general statement that it follows to the specific or similar items or matters immediately following it. Whenever the Company or NEP, respectively, has an obligation under the Transaction Documents, the expense of complying with that obligation shall be an expense of the Company or NEP, as applicable, unless otherwise specified. Any reference in this Agreement to β$β shall mean U.S. dollars. Whenever any determination, consent, or approval is to be made or given by a Purchaser, such action shall be in such Purchaserβs sole discretion, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement. If any provision in the Transaction Documents is held to be illegal, invalid, not binding, or unenforceable, (a) such provision shall be fully severable and the Transaction Documents shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, not binding, or unenforceable provision had never constituted a part of the Transaction Documents, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect, and (b) the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify the Transaction Documents so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible. When calculating the period of time before which, within which, or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to the Transaction Documents, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded. If the last day of such period is not a Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next succeeding Business Day. Any words imparting the singular number only shall include the plural and vice versa. The words such as βherein,β βhereinafter,β βhereof,β and βhereunderβ refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to a subdivision in which such words appear unless the context otherwise requires. The provision of a Table of Contents, the division of this Agreement into Articles, Sections, and other subdivisions, and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect or be utilized in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
Section 8.03Β Β Β Β Survival of Provisions. The representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.01, Section 3.02, Section 3.03, Section 3.04, Section 3.05, Section 3.11, Section 3.13, Section 3.14, Section 4.01, Section 4.02, Section 4.04, Section 4.05(a), Section 4.05(b), SectionΒ 4.05(e), and Section 4.07 hereunder shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement indefinitely; the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.22 hereunder shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement until thirty (30) days following the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations; and the other representations and warranties set forth herein shall survive for a period of twelve (12) months following the Closing Date, as applicable, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, NEP, or the Purchasers. The covenants made in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall survive the Closing and remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of acceptance of any of the Purchased Units and payment therefor and repayment, exchange, or repurchase thereof.
Section 8.04Β Β Β Β No Waiver: Modifications in Writing.
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(a)Β Β Β Β Delay. No failure or delay on the part of any party in exercising any right, power, or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power, or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or remedy. The remedies provided for herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to a party at law or in equity or otherwise.
(b)Β Β Β Β Specific Waiver. Except as otherwise provided herein, no amendment, waiver, consent, modification, or termination of any provision of any Transaction Document (except in the case of the A&R LLC Agreement or the NEP LPA Amendment, for amendments adopted pursuant to the terms thereof) shall be effective unless signed by each of the parties thereto affected by such amendment, waiver, consent, modification, or termination; provided that Section 7.02, this Section 8.04, Section 8.10, Section 8.11, Section 8.12, Section 8.13, and Section 8.14 (and the related definitions of this Agreement) as they relate to the Financing Parties may not be amended, modified, or supplemented in a manner that is materially adverse to any Financing Party without the prior written consent of such Financing Party (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed). Any amendment, supplement, or modification of or to any provision of any Transaction Document, any waiver of any provision of any Transaction Document, and any consent to any departure by the Company and NEP from the terms of any provision of any Transaction Document shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which made or given. Except where notice is specifically required by this Agreement, no notice to or demand on NEP or the Company in any case shall entitle NEP or the Company to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. Any investigation by or on behalf of any party shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement contained herein.
Section 8.05Β Β Β Β Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company, NEP, each of the Purchasers, and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any right or benefit upon any Person other than the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
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Section 8.06Β Β Β Β Non-Disclosure.
(a)Β Β Β Β This Agreement shall not affect any of the terms or provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement. The Confidentiality Agreement shall continue to be in full force and effect, pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof, but for the avoidance of doubt, Confidential Information (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) refers only to information furnished by or on behalf of the Company or NEP prior to the date hereof. Each Class B Purchaser and their respective Representatives (as defined in the Confidentially Agreement) shall keep the Confidential Information confidential in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Confidentiality Agreement; provided, however, that information may be disclosed by the Class B Purchasers to prospective debt financing sources in connection with the syndication and marketing of any Debt Financing or Margin Loan Financing only following receipt of customary confidentiality undertakings from such prospective debt financing sources containing terms no less favorable than those set forth in the Confidentiality Agreement and pursuant to which NEP is an express third party beneficiary.
(b)Β Β Β Β Other than in filings made by NEP with the Commission or the NYSE, the Company, NEP, and any of their respective Representatives may disclose the identity of, or any other information concerning, the Purchasers or any of their respective Affiliates only after providing the Purchasers a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such disclosure (with such comments being incorporated or reflected, to the extent reasonable, in any such disclosure); provided, however, that nothing in this Section 8.06 shall delay any required filing or other disclosure with NYSE or any Governmental Authority or otherwise hinder either the Companyβs or NEPβs or their respective Representativesβ ability to timely comply with all Laws or rules and regulations of NYSE or other Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8.06, each of the Company and NEP may disclose in any manner it determines appropriate the terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and the Purchased Units, Issued NEP Non-Voting Units, and Conversion Units.
(c)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8.06, each party hereto agrees that each other party hereto may (i) publicize its ownership in the Company, as well as the identity of the Company and the size of its investment and its pricing terms with respect to the Membership Interests, on its internet site or in marketing materials, press releases, published βtombstoneβ announcements, or any other print or electronic medium; and (ii) display the Companyβs or NEPβs corporate logo in conjunction with any such reference; provided, however, a Purchaser may take the actions described in this Section 8.06(c) only after providing the Company and NEP with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such disclosure; provided that such review and comment shall not be required with respect to communications with limited partners of the funds affiliated with the Purchasers (with such comments being incorporated or reflected, to the extent reasonable, in any such communication).
Section 8.07Β Β Β Β Communications. All notices and demands provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by e-mail (a copy of which may also be delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, telecopy, air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery, other electronic transmission, or personal delivery) to the following addresses:
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(a)Β Β Β Β If to the Purchasers, to the addresses set forth on ScheduleΒ A.
(b)Β Β Β Β If to the Company, to:
NEP Renewables II, LLC
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Email: Xxxxxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Land
E-mail: Xxxxxxx.Xxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
(c)Β Β Β Β If to NEP, to:
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Email: Xxxxxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Land
E-mail: Xxxxxxx.Xxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
or to such other address as the Company, NEP or the Purchasers may designate in writing. All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when sent, if such e-mail is sent prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on a Business Day, or on the next succeeding Business Day, if such e-mail is sent at any other time.
Section 8.08Β Β Β Β Removal of Legend. In connection with a sale of Conversion Units by a Class B Purchaser in reliance on Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, such Class B Purchaser or its broker shall deliver to NEP a broker representation letter providing to NEP any information NEP deems necessary to determine that the sale of such Conversion Units is made in compliance with Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, including, as may be appropriate, a certification that the Purchaser is not an Affiliate of NEP (as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act) and a certification as to the length of time the such units have been held (taking into account any applicable tacking periods under Rule 144). Upon
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receipt of such representation letter, NEP shall promptly remove the notation of a restrictive legend in such Purchaserβs book-entry account maintained by NEP, including the legend referred to in Section 4.05, and NEP shall bear all costs associated with the removal of such legend in NEPβs books. At such time as the Conversion Units have been sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or have been held by any Purchaser for more than one (1) year where such Purchaser is not, and has not been in the preceding three (3) months, an Affiliate of NEP (as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act), if the book-entry account of such Purchaser still bears the notation of the restrictive legend referred to in Section 4.05, NEP agrees, upon request of the Purchaser or its permitted assignee, to take all steps necessary to promptly effect the removal of the legend described in Section 4.05, and NEP shall bear all costs associated with the removal of such legend in the books of NEP regardless of whether the request is made in connection with a sale or otherwise, so long as such Purchaser or its permitted assignee provides to NEP any information NEP deems reasonably necessary to determine that the legend is no longer required under the Securities Act or applicable state Laws, including (if there is no such registration statement) a certification that the holder is not an Affiliate of NEP (as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act), a covenant to inform the Company or NEP if it should thereafter become an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act) and to consent to the notation of an appropriate restriction, and a certification as to the length of time such units have been held. NEP shall cooperate with each Purchaser to effect the removal of the legend referred to in Section 4.05 at any time such legend is no longer appropriate.
Section 8.09Β Β Β Β Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the Confidentiality Agreement, and the other agreements and documents referred to herein are intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties, or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to in this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, or the Confidentiality Agreement with respect to the rights granted by the Company or NEP or any of their respective Affiliates or the Purchasers or any of their respective Affiliates. This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the Confidentiality Agreement, and the other agreements and documents referred to herein or therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties with respect to such subject matter.
Section 8.10Β Β Β Β Governing Law: Submission to Jurisdiction.
(a)Β Β Β Β This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract or tort) that may be based upon, arise out of, or relate to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution, or performance of this Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement), will be construed in accordance with and governed by the Laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. Any action against any party relating to the foregoing shall be brought in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction located within the State of Delaware, and the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court located within the State of Delaware over any such action. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such
52
dispute brought in such court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such dispute. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a judgment in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law.
(b)Β Β Β Β Without limitation of the foregoing and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, each of the parties hereto: (i) agrees that it will not bring or support any Person in any claims or causes of action of any kind or description, whether in law or in equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against any of the Financing Parties in any way relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any dispute arising out of or relating in any way to the Financing Definitive Agreements or the performance thereof or the financings contemplated thereby, in any forum other than the federal and New York state courts located in the Borough of Manhattan within the City of New York, (ii) agrees that, except as specifically set forth in the Financing Definitive Agreements, all claims or causes of action (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise) against any of the Financing Parties in any way relating to the Financing Definitive Agreements or the performance thereof or the financings contemplated thereby, shall be exclusively governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles or rules or conflict of laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of laws of another jurisdiction, and (iii) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury in respect of any litigation (whether in law or in equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise) directly or indirectly arising out of or relating in any way to the Financing Definitive Agreements or the performance thereof or the financings contemplated thereby. Each of the parties hereto agrees that it will not, and will not permit its Affiliates to, bring or support any claim against any of the Financing Parties in any way related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any forum other than the forum contemplated by this Section 8.10(b).
Section 8.11Β Β Β Β Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY WAIVES, AND AGREES TO CAUSE ITS AFFILIATES TO WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION (a) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR (b) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO, INCLUDING IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, OR COUNTERCLAIM AGAINST ANY FINANCING PARTY, IN EACH CASE, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY, OR OTHERWISE. EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 8.12Β Β Β Β Exclusive Remedy.
53
(a)Β Β Β Β Each party hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that the rights of each party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are special, unique, and of extraordinary character and that, if any party violates or fails or refuses to perform any covenant or agreement made by it herein, the non-breaching party may be without an adequate remedy at law. If any party violates or fails or refuses to perform any covenant or agreement made by such party herein, the non-breaching party subject to the terms hereof and in addition to any remedy at law for damages or other relief may (at any time prior to the valid termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VII) institute and prosecute an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce specific performance of such covenant or agreement or seek any other equitable relief.
(b)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 8.12(a), it is explicitly agreed that each of the Company and NEP shall be entitled to seek an injunction or other appropriate form of specific performance or equitable relief to cause the Class B Purchasers, and each Class B Purchaser, to cause, or for the Company or NEP to directly cause, in accordance with its third party beneficiary rights under the Equity Commitment Letter, the Equity Financing to be funded on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Equity Commitment Letter and this Agreement and thereafter effect the Closing if, and only if (i)Β all conditions in Section 2.03 and Section 2.04 (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied by actions taken at the Closing, each of which shall be capable of being satisfied at the Closing, but subject to those conditionsβ being capable of being satisfied at such time that specific performance or other equitable remedy is granted) have been satisfied at the time when the Closing would have occurred (or waived by the Company and NEP in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), (ii) the Class B Purchasers shall have failed to complete the Closing when required under Section 2.02, (iii) the Debt Financing has been funded or the Debt Financing will be funded in accordance with the terms thereof at the Closing if the Equity Financing is funded at the Closing, and (iv) the Company has confirmed that, if the Equity Financing and Debt Financing are funded, then the Company stands ready, willing, and able to consummate the Closing.
(c)Β Β Β Β From and after the Closing, the sole and exclusive remedy for any and all claims for damages arising under, out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be the rights of indemnification set forth in Article VI only, and no Person will have any other entitlement, remedy, or recourse, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, it being agreed that all of such other remedies, entitlements, and recourse are expressly waived and released by the parties hereto to the fullest extent permitted by Law. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall limit or otherwise restrict a Fraud claim brought by any party hereto or the right to seek specific performance pursuant to Section 8.12(a).
54
Section 8.13Β Β Β Β No Recourse Against Others.
(a)Β Β Β Β All claims, obligations, liabilities, or causes of action (whether in contract or in tort, in law or in equity, or granted by statute) that may be based upon, in respect of, arise under, out of, or by reason of, be connected with, or relate in any manner to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution, or performance of this Agreement (including any representation or warranty made in, in connection with, or as an inducement to, this Agreement), may be made only against (and are expressly limited to) the Company and NEP, on the one hand, and the Purchasers, on the other. No Person other than the Company and NEP, on the one hand, and the Purchasers on the other, including no member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, or Representative thereof, nor any member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, or Representative of any of the foregoing, shall have any liability (whether in contract or in tort, in law or in equity, or granted by statute) for any claims, causes of action, obligations, or liabilities arising under, out of, in connection with, or related in any manner to this Agreement or based on, in respect of, or by reason of this Agreement or its negotiation, execution, performance, or breach; and, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, each of the Company, NEP, and the Purchasers hereby waives and releases all such liabilities, claims, causes of action, and obligations against any such Person.
(b)Β Β Β Β Without limiting the foregoing, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, (i) each of the Company, NEP, and the Purchasers hereby waives and releases any and all rights, claims, demands, or causes of action that may otherwise be available at law or in equity, or granted by statute, to avoid or disregard the entity form of the other, or otherwise impose liability of the other on any third Person in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, whether granted by statute or based on theories of equity, agency, control, instrumentality, alter ego, domination, sham, single business enterprise, piercing the veil, unfairness, undercapitalization, or otherwise; and (ii) each of the Company, NEP, and the Purchasers disclaims any reliance upon any third Person with respect to the performance of this Agreement or any representation or warranty made in, in connection with, or as an inducement to this Agreement.
(c)Β Β Β Β Without limiting the foregoing and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, each of the Company and NEP hereby acknowledges and agrees, on behalf of itself and its respective Affiliates, that the Company Entities and their Affiliates shall not have any rights or claims of any kind or description, whether at law or in equity, in contract, tort, or otherwise, against any Financing Party in connection with this Agreement, the Financing Definitive Agreements, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby and agrees that in no event shall the Financing Parties have any liability or obligations to the Company Entities or their Affiliates, in each case relating to, arising out of, or in connection with this Agreement, the Financing Definitive Agreements, or the Debt Financing (provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this sentence shall in any way limit or modify the rights and obligations of any Financing Party to the Class B Purchasers and their Affiliates under the Financing Definitive Agreements).
Section 8.14Β Β Β Β No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person, other than the Company, NEP, the Purchasers and, for purposes of Article VI and Section 8.13 only, any Purchaser Related Party or
55
NEP Related Party, any right, benefit, or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement; provided, however, that the Financing Parties are intended third-party beneficiaries of Section 7.02(b), Section 8.04(b), Section 8.10(b), Section 8.11, Section 8.13(c) and this Section 8.14 as such sections relate to the Financing Parties and shall be entitled to enforce such provisions directly.
Section 8.15Β Β Β Β Appointment of Class B Purchaser Representative.
(a)Β Β Β Β By the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each Class B Purchaser hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints Nitrogen TL Borrower LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of such Class B Purchaser, with full power of substitution to act jointly in the name, place, and stead of the Class B Purchasers with respect to the Class B Units Sale in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and to act on behalf of the Class B Purchasers in any litigation or arbitration involving this Agreement, to do or refrain from doing all such further acts and things, and to execute all such documents as the Class B Purchaser Representative shall deem necessary or appropriate in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the power to (i) execute and deliver all amendments, waivers, ancillary agreements, certificates, and documents that the Class B Purchaser Representative deems necessary or appropriate in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) receive funds, make payments of funds, and withhold a portion of any amounts to be paid to the Class B Purchasers hereunder or any other payments to be made by or on behalf of the Class B Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement, including the Termination Fee and all amounts required to pay the fees and expenses of professionals incurred by the Class B Purchasers in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) do or refrain from doing any further act or deed on behalf of the Class B Purchasers that the Class B Purchaser Representative deems necessary or appropriate in its sole discretion relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, and (iv) receive service of process in connection with any claims under this Agreement.
(b)Β Β Β Β The appointment of the Class B Purchaser Representative hereunder shall be deemed coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable, and survive the death, incompetence, bankruptcy or liquidation of any Class B Purchaser and shall be binding on any successor thereto. The Class B Purchasers hereby confirm all that the Class B Purchaser Representative shall do or cause to be done by virtue of its appointment as the Class B Purchaser Representative. All actions taken by the Class B Purchaser Representative under this Agreement shall be binding upon each Class B Purchaser and such Class B Purchaserβs successors as if expressly confirmed and ratified in writing by such Class B Purchaser, and all defenses that may be available to any Class B Purchaser to contest, negate, or disaffirm the action of the Class B Purchaser Representative taken in good faith under this Agreement are waived.
(c)Β Β Β Β The Company, the Class A Purchaser, NEP, and any other Person may conclusively and absolutely rely, without inquiry and without any liability whatsoever, upon any action of the Class B Purchaser Representative in all matters referred to herein. Neither the Company, the Class A Purchaser, NEP, nor any other Person will be liable to any Class B Purchaser, any of Affiliate thereof, or any other Person as a result of, in connection with, or relating to the performance of the Class B Purchaser Representativeβs duties and obligations
56
under this Agreement, including with respect to any errors in judgment, negligence, oversight, breach of duty, or otherwise of the Class B Purchaser Representative.
Section 8.16Β Β Β Β Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
57
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.
NEP RENEWABLES II, LLC | |
By: | XXXX X. XXXXXXX |
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
Title: President |
NEP RENEWABLES HOLDINGS II, LLC | |
By: | XXXX X. XXXXXXX |
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
Title: President |
Solely with respect to the NEP Obligations |
By: | XXXX X. XXXXXXX |
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
Title:Β Β Β President |
[Signature page to Purchase Agreement]
CLASS B PURCHASER: | |
NITROGEN TL BORROWER LLC | |
By: | XXXXXXX XXXXXXX |
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Title: Vice President |
[Signature page to Purchase Agreement]
CLASS B PURCHASER REPRESENTATIVE: | |
NITROGEN TL BORROWER LLC | |
By: | XXXXXXX XXXXXXX |
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Title: Vice President |
[Signature page to Purchase Agreement]
Schedule A
Purchaser Allocations
Section I | ||
Name and Address of Purchaser | Purchase Price | Purchased Units |
NEP Renewables Holdings II,Β LLC 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 33408 Attention: Treasurer and Xxxxxx Lotano E-mail: Xxxxxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx | Total Purchase Price | 557,000,000 Class A Units (subject to adjustment to reflect adjustments to the Class A Purchase Price, as set forth in the definition thereof) and 1,000,000 Class B Units* * Β These Class B Units will be acquired prior to the Closing and, at the Closing, will be sold to the Class B Purchasers pursuant to the Class B Units Sale. |
Section II | |||
Name and Address of Purchaser | Purchase Price | Purchased Units | Pro Rata Share |
NEP Renewables Holdings II,Β LLC 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 33408 Attention: Treasurer and Xxxxxx Lotano E-mail: Xxxxxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx | Class A Purchase Price | 57,000,000 Class A Units (subject to adjustment to reflect adjustments to the Class A Purchase Price, as set forth in the definition thereof) | N/A |
Nitrogen TL Borrower LLC c/o Kohlberg Kravis Xxxxxxx & Co. L.P. 9 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxx Xxxx, XX 10019 Attention: General Counsel E-mail:Β Β Β Β xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx xxx x/o Kohlberg Kravis Xxxxxxx & Co. L.P. 2800 Sand Hill Rd Menlo Park, CA 94025 Attention: Xxxxxxx Velasco E-mail: Xxxxxxx.Xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx xxxx a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP 609 Main Street, Suite 4700 Houston, TX 77002 Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, P.C.;Β Β Β Β Β Β Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx X-mail: xxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx; xxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx | $900,000,000 | 1,000,000 Class B Units | 100% |
Schedule B
Acquired Assets and Contributed Assets
I. Acquired Assets
(a)Β Β Β Β Interests constituting 100% of the interest that NextEra Energy Resources, LLC indirectly owns in the following projects:
No. | Project | Owner | Size (approx.) | Location | Type |
1. | Ashtabula Wind II Wind Energy Center | Ashtabula Wind II, LLC | 120 XX | Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx Counties, ND | Wind |
2. | White Oak Wind Energy Center | White Oak Energy, LLC | 150 XX | XxXxxx County, IL | Wind |
3. | Story County II Wind Energy Center | Garden Wind, LLC | 150 MW | Story and Xxxxxx Counties, IA | Wind |
(b)Β Β Β Β Interests constituting 100% of the Class C interests of Rosmar Holdings, LLC, an indirect Subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC that owns 100% of each of the entities below, which Class C interests entitle the holder hereof to receive 49.99% of all cash distributions from each of the following projects:
No. | Project | Owner | Size (approx.) | Location | Type |
1. | Xxxxxxxx Solar Energy Center | Xxxxxxxx Solar, LLC | 62.25 XX | Xxxx County, MN | Solar |
2. | Roswell Solar Energy Center | Roswell Solar, LLC | 70 XX | Xxxxxx County, NM | Solar |
(c)Β Β Β Β Interests constituting 49.99% of the interest that NextEra Energy Resources, LLC indirectly owns in the following projects:
No. | Project | Owner | Size (approx.) | Location | Type |
1. | Silver State South Solar Energy Center | Silver State Solar Power South, LLC | 250 XX | Xxxxx County, NV | Solar |
II. Contributed Assets
Interests constituting 100% of the interest that NEP indirectly owns in the following projects:
No. | Project | Owner | Size (approx.) | Location | Type |
1. | Ashtabula Wind III Wind Energy Center | Ashtabula Wind III, LLC | 62.4 XX | Xxxxxx County, ND | Wind |
2. | Tuscola Bay Wind Energy Center | Tuscola Bay Wind, LLC | 120 MW | Tuscola, Bay, and Saginaw Counties, MI | Wind |
3. | Xxxxxx Ranch Wind Energy Center | Xxxxxx Ranch Wind, LLC | 99.2 MW | Coconino County, AZ | Wind |
4. | Stateline Wind Energy Center | FPL Energy Vansycle L.L.C. | 300 MW | Umatilla County, OR; Walla Walla County, WA | Wind |
Exhibit A
Form of A&R LLC Agreement
[Attached]
FORM OF
AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
NEP RENEWABLES II, LLC
A Delaware Limited Liability Company
[ β ], 2019
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS OF ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION. THEREFORE, THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNTIL A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR THE APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS SHALL HAVE BECOME EFFECTIVE WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSED TRANSFER OR REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR BLUE SKY LAWS IS NOT REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSFER.
TABLE OF CONTENTS | |||
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS | |||
1.01 | Definitions | 2 | |
1.02 | Interpretation | 23 | |
ARTICLE 2 ORGANIZATION | |||
2.01 | Formation | 24 | |
2.02 | Name | 24 | |
2.03 | Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office in the United States; Other Offices | 24 | |
2.04 | Purposes | 24 | |
2.05 | No State Law Partnership | 24 | |
2.06 | Term | 24 | |
2.07 | Title to Property | 25 | |
2.08 | Foreign Qualification | 25 | |
ARTICLE 3 MEMBERS | |||
3.01 | Schedule of Members | 25 | |
3.02 | Representations and Warranties of the Members | 25 | |
3.03 | Voting Rights of Members | 26 | |
3.04 | No Management Rights | 26 | |
3.05 | Limitation on Liability of Members | 26 | |
3.06 | Withdrawal of Members | 27 | |
3.07 | Access to Information | 27 | |
3.08 | Confidential Information | 28 | |
ARTICLE 4 MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS; CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; LOANS | |||
4.01 | Classes of Membership Interests | 31 | |
4.02 | Additional Membership Interests | 31 | |
4.03 | Capital Contributions | 32 | |
4.04 | Capital Calls; Optional Capital Contributions | 33 | |
4.05 | Loans | 33 | |
4.06 | No Other Capital Contribution or Loan Obligations | 34 | |
4.07 | ReturnΒ ofΒ Contributions | 34 | |
4.08 | Capital Accounts | 34 | |
i |
ARTICLE 5 DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS | |||
5.01 | Monthly Cash Distributions | 35 | |
5.02 | Distributions of Amounts Other than Available Cash | 36 | |
5.03 | Distributions on Dissolution and Winding-Up | 37 | |
5.04 | Allocations | 37 | |
5.05 | Varying Interests | 40 | |
5.06 | Amounts Withheld | 40 | |
ARTICLE 6 MANAGEMENT | |||
6.01 | Management by Managing Member | 41 | |
6.02 | Standard of Care | 41 | |
6.03 | Major Decisions | 43 | |
6.04 | Affiliate Transactions | 45 | |
6.05 | Officers | 46 | |
6.06 | Business Opportunities | 47 | |
6.07 | Insurance Coverage | 48 | |
6.08 | Exculpation and Indemnification | 48 | |
6.09 | Liquidation of Certain Subsidiaries | 50 | |
ARTICLE 7 TRANSFERS AND TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS | |||
7.01 | General Restrictions on Transfers | 50 | |
7.02 | Call Option | 56 | |
7.03 | Change of Control of NEP | 62 | |
7.04 | Change of Control of a Class B Member | 65 | |
7.05 | Non-Voting NEP Common Units | 69 | |
7.06 | Certain Assistance | 69 | |
7.07 | Standstill and Notice of Ownership | 70 | |
7.07 | Governmental Authorizations | 71 | |
7.07 | Liquidity Event | 73 | |
ARTICLE 8 TAXES | |||
8.01 | Tax Returns | 75 | |
8.02 | Certain Tax Matters | 75 | |
8.03 | Partnership Representative | 76 | |
ARTICLE 9 BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, INFORMATION UPDATES, AND BANK ACCOUNTS | |||
9.01 | Maintenance of Books | 78 | |
ii |
9.02 | Determination of Internal Rate of Return | 79 | |
9.03 | Reports | 80 | |
9.04 | Information Updates | 81 | |
9.05 | Bank Accounts | 81 | |
9.06 | Compliance with Laws | 81 | |
ARTICLE 10 WITHDRAWAL | |||
10.01 | No Right of Voluntary Withdrawal | 81 | |
10.02 | Deemed Withdrawal | 81 | |
10.03 | Effect of Withdrawal | 82 | |
ARTICLE 11 DISPUTE RESOLUTION | |||
11.01 | Disputes | 83 | |
11.02 | Negotiation to Resolve Disputes | 83 | |
11.03 | Courts | 83 | |
11.04 | Specific Performance | 83 | |
ARTICLE 12 DISSOLUTION, WINDING-UP AND TERMINATION | |||
12.01 | Dissolution | 84 | |
12.02 | Winding-Up and Termination | 84 | |
12.03 | Deficit Capital Accounts | 86 | |
12.04 | Certificate of Cancellation | 87 | |
ARTICLE 13 GENERAL PROVISIONS | |||
13.01 | Notices | 87 | |
13.02 | Entire Agreement; Superseding Effect | 87 | |
13.03 | Effect of Waiver or Consent | 87 | |
13.04 | Amendment or Restatement | 87 | |
13.05 | Binding Effect | 88 | |
13.06 | Governing Law; Severability | 88 | |
13.07 | Further Assurances | 88 | |
13.08 | Appointment of Class B Member Representative | 88 | |
13.09 | Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code | 90 | |
13.10 | Waiver of Certain Rights | 90 | |
13.11 | Counterparts | 90 | |
13.12 | Expenses | 90 | |
iii |
EXHIBITS: | ||
A β Members | ||
B β Financial Model for Internal Rate of Return | ||
SCHEDULES: | ||
1 β Excluded Parties | ||
2 β Acquired Assets and Contributed Assets | ||
3 β Blocker Election Dates |
AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
NEP RENEWABLES II, LLC
This AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this βAgreementβ) of NEP Renewables II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the βCompanyβ), dated as of [β’], 2019 (the βEffective Dateβ), is adopted, executed, and agreed to by Nitrogen TL Borrower LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in its capacities as a Class B Member and as the Class B Member Representative hereunder (the βInitial Investorβ), NEP Renewables Holdings II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (βNEP Memberβ), each Person that may be admitted as a Member pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (βNEPβ), solely to the extent of its obligations pursuant to Section 7.02, Section 7.03, Section 7.04, and SectionΒ 7.05.
RECITALS
The Company was formed by filing a Certificate of Formation of the Company (the βDelaware Certificateβ) with the Office of the Secretary of State of Delaware, and by the entrance of NEP Member, as the sole initial member of the Company, into that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, effective as of February 26, 2019 (the βInitial LLC Agreementβ), governing the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business.
Pursuant to that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 4, 2019 (the βPurchase Agreementβ), among Initial Investor, NEP Member, NEP, and the Company, at the closing of the Purchase Agreement, effective as of the Effective Date (i)Β the Initial LLC Agreement is being amended and restated on the terms set forth in this Agreement, (ii) all of the outstanding limited liability company interests of the Company are being cancelled and, in exchange therefor, the Company is issuing and selling to NEP Member such number of Class A Units as is set forth opposite the name of NEP Member in Section I of ExhibitΒ A hereto (such number representing 100% of the Class A Units outstanding at such time) and such number of Class B Units as is set forth opposite the name of NEP Member in Section I of Exhibit A hereto (such number representing 100% of the Class B Units outstanding at such time and, together with the outstanding Class A Units, 100% of all outstanding interests in the Company at such time) in exchange for NEP Memberβs contribution to the Company of the Assets (as defined below), (iii) immediately after such issuance and sale of such Class A Units and the Class B Units to NEP Member, NEP Member is selling to Initial Investor all right, title, and interest of the NEP Member to such Class B Units, in exchange for payment of the Class B Purchase Price (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) by Initial Investor to NEP Member, in a transaction described in Situation 1 of Revenue Ruling 99-5, 1999-1 CB 434; and (iv) upon such acquisition of Class B Units, Initial Investor is being admitted as a member of the Company.
In connection with the foregoing, NEP Member wishes to amend and restate the Initial LLC Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Initial Investor and NEP Member agree as follows:
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ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.01Β Β Β Β Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth in the Sections referred to below:
15% Condition has the meaning assigned that term in Section 5.01(b).
30% Condition has the meaning assigned that term in Section 5.01(b).
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95% Period has the meaning assigned that term in Section 5.01(a)(i).
Acquired Assets means those assets identified in Items (a), (b), and (c) of SectionΒ I of ScheduleΒ 2 hereto as βAcquired Assets.β
Act means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, (a) each entity that such Person Controls; (b)Β each Person that Controls such Person, including, in the case of a Member, such Memberβs Parent, if any; and (c) each entity that is under common Control with such Person, including, in the case of a Member, each entity that is Controlled by such Memberβs Parent, if any; provided that, with respect to any Member, an Affiliate shall include (y) a limited partnership or a Person Controlled by a limited partnership if the general partner of such limited partnership is Controlled by such Memberβs Parent, if any, or (z) a limited liability company or a Person controlled by a limited liability company if the managing member of the limited liability company is Controlled by such Memberβs Parent, if any; provided, further, that, for purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall not be an Affiliate of any Member, nor shall any Member be deemed to be an Affiliate of any other Member, solely by virtue of their respective ownership interests in or Control of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Affiliate Transaction means, any contract, agreement, or transaction (including any amendment, restatement, renewal, extension, modification, or termination of any existing contract, agreement, or transaction) between the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, on the one hand, and NEP Member, an Affiliate of NEP Member (other than the Company or any subsidiary of the Company), or their respective employees or officers, on the other hand, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Asset Purchase Agreement and each project operating agreement.
Affiliated Fund means, with respect to any specified Person, any Fund that is an Affiliate of such Person or that is advised by the same investment advisor as such Person or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor or such Person.
Affiliated Investment Vehicle means, with respect to any specified Person, any investment vehicle, entity, or managed account that is advised by the same investment advisor as such Person or an Affiliate of such Person.
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Agreement has the meaning assigned that term in the preamble.
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Alternative Method has the meaning assigned that term in Section 8.03(d).
APA Payments has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 6.04.
Asset Purchase Agreement means that certain Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2016, by and between NEP US SellCo, LLC and NextEra Energy Partners Acquisitions, LLC, as heretofore amended from time to time, and as amended by that certain Amendment to the Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement (2019 Projects), dated as of March 4, 2019.
Assets means the Acquired Assets and the Contributed Assets.
Assignee means any Person that acquires a Membership Interest or any portion thereof through a Disposition; provided that an Assignee shall have no right to be admitted to the Company as a Member except in accordance with Section 7.01(b). The Assignee of a dissolved Member is the shareholder, partner, member, or other equity owner or owners of the dissolved Member to whom such Memberβs Membership Interest is assigned by the Person conducting the liquidation or winding-up of such Member. The Assignee of a Bankrupt Member is (a) the Person or Persons (if any) to whom such Bankrupt Memberβs Membership Interest is assigned by order of the bankruptcy court or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such Bankruptcy, or (b) in the event of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, the creditor to which such Membership Interest is assigned.
Available Cash means, with respect to any calendar month ending prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, and without duplication:
(a)Β Β Β Β the sum of all cash and all Cash Equivalents generated by the Company and its subsidiaries and on hand at the end of such month, less
(b)Β Β Β Β the amount of any cash reserves that is necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion and good faith of the Managing Member (i)Β to provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries (including reserves for future maintenance and capital expenditures and for anticipated expenses, liabilities, and future credit needs of the Company and its subsidiaries) subsequent to such month, (ii)Β to provide for the payment of all scheduled payments of interest and principal in respect of outstanding loans made to the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to SectionΒ 4.05 or otherwise subject to Section 6.03(d), and (iii) to comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument, or other agreement or obligation to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, βAvailable Cashβ (y)Β shall not include (1)Β any cash or Cash Equivalents from Capital Contributions made by Members or equity issuances by any subsidiaries of the Company, (2) any cash or Cash Equivalents held by the Companyβs subsidiaries to the extent that contractual restrictions prohibit the distribution of such cash or
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Cash Equivalents to the Company, (3) any cash or Cash Equivalents from borrowing, refinancings, or refundings of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (4) any Post-Closing Working Capital Adjustment Payment (as that term is defined and used in the Asset Purchase Agreement), whether received by NEP Member, the Company, or otherwise, (5) any Build Out Payments, (6) any proceeds received by Silver State South Solar, LLC or its subsidiaries with respect to any CITC Claim, or (7) any Excess Insurance Proceeds, Sale Proceeds, or Bankruptcy Recovery; and (z)Β with respect to the month in which a liquidation or dissolution of the Company occurs and any subsequent month shall be deemed to equal zero.
Bankruptcy or Bankrupt means, with respect to any Person, that (a) such Person (i) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (ii) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition; (iii) becomes the subject of an order for relief or is declared insolvent in any federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings; (iv) files a petition or answer seeking for such Person a reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, or similar relief under any Law; (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against such Person in a proceeding of the type described in subclauses (i) through (iv) of this clause (a); or (vi) seeks, consents to, or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver, or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Personβs properties; or (b) against such Person, a proceeding seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, or similar relief under any Law has been commenced and one hundred twenty (120) days have expired without dismissal thereof or with respect to which, without such Personβs consent or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver, or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Personβs properties has been appointed and ninety (90) days have expired without the appointmentβs having been vacated or stayed, or ninety (90) days have expired after the date of expiration of a stay, if the appointment has not previously been vacated.
Bankruptcy Recovery means any proceeds received by the Company or its subsidiaries in settlement of any claim (including any counterclaim), action, suit, or other proceeding in connection with any Bankruptcy of any other Person.
Blocker Election Date means, with respect to each Blocker Entity, the date set forth opposite the name of such Blocker Entity on Schedule 3 hereto.
Blocker Entity means a Delaware limited liability company formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company to acquire limited liability company interests of either Rosmar Holdings, LLC or Silver State South Solar, LLC, and collectively, the Blocker Entities.
Book Value means, with respect to any Company asset, the adjusted tax basis of such asset for United States federal income tax purposes, except as follows:
(a)Β Β Β Β The initial Book Value of any asset contributed by a Member to the Company will be the gross fair market value of such asset;
(b)Β Β Β Β The Book Value of all assets of the Company will be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values immediately prior to (i) the contribution of
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money or other property to the Company by a new or existing Member as consideration for a Membership Interest; (ii) the distribution of money or other property by the Company to a Member as consideration for a Membership Interest; (iii) the liquidation of the Company; and (iv) at any other time at which revaluations of property are permitted to be made under Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv); provided that adjustments pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) of this clause (b) shall be made only if the Managing Member determines in good faith that such adjustments are necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members;
(c)Β Β Β Β The Book Value of any asset distributed to any Member will be the gross fair market value of such asset on the date of distribution (taking Section 7701(g) of the Code into account);
(d)Β Β Β Β The Book Value of Company assets will be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Section 734(b) of the Code or Section 743(b) of the Code, but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining the Capital Accounts pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and clause (c) of the definition of Net Profit and Net Loss; provided, however, that the Book Value will not be adjusted pursuant to this clause (d) to the extent the Managing Member determines that an adjustment pursuant to clause (b) of this definition is necessary or appropriate in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this clause (d); and
(e)Β Β Β Β Whenever the fair market value of a Company asset is required to be determined pursuant to this definition, the Managing Member shall determine such fair market value in its reasonable discretion; provided that, the fair market value of the Assets upon their contribution to the Company by the NEP Member shall be $557,000,000.00, as such amount may be adjusted upward or downward (i) with respect to the Acquired Assets, to reflect the amount of Estimated Working Capital (as such term is defined and used in the Asset Purchase Agreement) used to determine the APA Purchase Price (as that term is defined in the Purchase Agreement) and (ii) with respect to the Contributed Assets, to reflect the amount of Estimated Working Capital (as such term is defined and used in the Contribution Agreement) used to determine the Contribution Amount (as that term is defined in the Purchase Agreement).
Build-Out Payment has the meaning assigned that term in that certain Build-Out Agreement, to be dated as of the date of the closing of the Asset Purchase Agreement, by and between XXXX and the Company (as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof).
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a holiday on which national banking associations in the State of Delaware are closed.
Call Option has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.02(a).
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Call Option Cash Consideration has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.02(e).
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Call Option Cash Shortfall has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.02(g).
Call Option Closing has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.02(b).
Call Option Closing Date has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.02(b).
Call Option Notice has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.02(b).
Call Option Purchase Price has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 7.02(a).
Capital Account means the account maintained by the Company for each Member in accordance with Section 4.08.
Capital Call has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 4.04(a).
Capital Contribution means, with respect to any Member, the amount of money and the Book Value of any property (other than money) (reduced by the amount of any liabilities that are secured by such property) contributed, or deemed to be contributed, to the Company by the Member. Any reference in this Agreement to the Capital Contribution of a Member shall include a Capital Contribution of its predecessors in interest and for the avoidance of doubt, as of immediately following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the Capital Contribution of the Class B Member shall be $900,000,000.00.
Cash Equivalents means, as of any date, with respect to any Person, all demand deposits or similar accounts with deposits available for withdrawal upon prior notice of less than ten (10) days, all marketable debt securities, short-term instruments, United States treasury bills and other evidence of indebtedness issued or guaranteed by the United States, in each case, with maturity of ten (10) days or less as of such date.
Cash Flows has the meaning assigned that term in Section 9.02(b)(ii).
Change of Control means:
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(a)Β Β Β Β with respect to NEP, any of the following events:
(i)Β Β Β Β the acquisition, directly or indirectly (including by merger), of fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting equity of NEP, the General Partner or the NEP General Partner Interest (as measured by voting power rather than the number of shares or other equity units or interests) by a Person or group that is not an Affiliate of NextEra Energy, Inc. as of the Purchase Agreement Date if such acquisition gives such Person or group the right to elect half or more of the members of the Board of Directors of NEP or the General Partner, respectively;
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(ii)Β Β Β Β any Disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of the equity interests of the OpCo General Partner or the OpCo General Partner Interest, the result of which is that (A) NEP ceases to own directly or indirectly more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the OpCo General Partner or (B)Β the OpCo General Partner ceases to hold the OpCo General Partner Interest;
(iii)Β Β Β Β any Disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, the result of which is that NextEra Energy, Inc. ceases to own directly or indirectly more than thirty-three percent (33%) of the voting equity of NEP (including the Special Voting Units, as that term is used in the NEP Limited Partnership Agreement); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be deemed to constitute a Change of Control for so long as NextEra Energy, Inc. continues to own, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of the General Partner or the NEP General Partner Interest;
(iv)Β Β Β Β any Disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of NEP and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(v)Β Β Β Β the NEP Common Units are no longer listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange;
(vi)Β Β Β Β any transaction pursuant to which NextEra Energy, Inc. or any of its Affiliates (other than NEP or any of its subsidiaries) would acquire (A) all of the NEP Common Units or (B) all or substantially all of the assets of NEP and its subsidiaries, in each case, by way of merger, consolidation, or otherwise;
(vii)Β Β Β Β the removal of the General Partner as general partner of NEP by the limited partners of NEP, unless the successor General Partner is an Affiliate of NextEra Energy, Inc.; or
(viii)Β Β Β Β the acquisition, directly or indirectly (including by merger), of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Class A Units by a Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) that is not an Affiliate of NextEra Energy, Inc. as of the Purchase Agreement Date.
(b)Β Β Β Β with respect to any Class B Member, any of the following:
(i)Β Β Β Β a transaction or series of transactions that results in such Class B Memberβs no longer being an Affiliate of, or being managed by an Affiliate of, Investor Fund;
(ii)Β Β Β Β any Disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the equity interests in such Class B Member to a Person that is not an Affiliate of Investor Fund;
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(iii)Β Β Β Β any Disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of such Class B Member to a Person that is not an Affiliate of Investor Fund; or
(iv)Β Β Β Β any foreclosure by any pledgee under a Class B Permitted Loan Financing (or any other financing or agreement of Indebtedness) of any Class B Units.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Disposition of any direct or indirect equity interests of Investor Fund or of all or substantially all of the assets of Investor Fund, in each case, shall not constitute a βChange of Controlβ of any Class B Member.
Change of Control Cash Shortfall has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 7.03(d).
Change of Control Closing has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 7.03(b)..
Change of Control Closing Date has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 7.03(b).
Change of Control Notice has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.03(b)..
Change of Control Purchase Price has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 7.03(a).
CITC Claim means any Claim relating to or arising out of the application by any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company for one or more cash grants in lieu of any investment tax credit under Section 48 of the Code under the terms of Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 with the United States Treasury
Claim means any and all judgments, claims, actions, causes of action, demands, lawsuits, suits, proceedings, Governmental investigations or audits, arbitrations, inquiries, notices of violation, litigations, citations, summons or subpoenas of any nature, civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory, or otherwise, whether at Law or in equity, and any losses, assessments, fines, penalties, administrative orders, obligations, costs, expenses, liabilities, and damages (whether actual, consequential, or punitive), including interest, penalties, reasonable attorneyβs fees, disbursements, and costs of investigations, deficiencies, levies, duties, imposts, remediation and cleanup costs, and natural resources damages.
Class A Member means a Person admitted to the Company as a Member holding Class A Units from time to time, in its capacity as such and not in its capacity as a holder of any other class or group of Membership Interest. As of the Effective Date, NEP Member is the sole Class A Member.
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Class A Percentage Interest means, as of any date, the percentage determined by dividing the number of Class A Units held by a holder of Class A Units by the total number of Class A Units then outstanding.
Class A Permitted Loan Financing means any debt financing, including debt securities or loans pursuant to indentures, debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, the issuance of notes, revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit, or similar instruments, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced, or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.
Class A Purchase Price has the meaning assigned that term in the Purchase Agreement.
Class A Units has the meaning assigned that term in Section 4.01.
Class B COC Cash Shortfall has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.04(e).
Class B COC Closing has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 7.04(b).
Class B COC Closing Date has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 7.04(b).
Class B COC Notice has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.04(b).
Class B COC Option has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.04(a).
Class B COC Purchase Price has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 7.04(a).
Class B Member means a Person admitted to the Company as a Member holding Class B Units from time to time, in its capacity as such and not in its capacity as a holder of any other class or group of Membership Interest. As of the Effective Date, after giving effect to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the Initial Investor is the sole Class B Member.
Class B Member Approval means (i) for so long as the Initial Investor owns any Class B Units, the prior written approval of the Initial Investor, on behalf of Investor, and (ii) if Investor no longer owns any Class B Units, the prior written approval of the Class B Member Representative, acting on behalf of Class B Members holding a majority of the outstanding Class B Units (excluding Class B Units owned by NEP Member and its Affiliates).
Class B Member Representative means, as of the Effective Date, the Initial Investor, and thereafter, as of any date of determination, the Class B Member Representative shall be such of Investorβs Permitted Assignees designated as successor Class B Member Representative in accordance with Section 13.08; provided, however, that a Person may be permitted to serve as Class B Member Representative only if, and for so long as, such Person
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owns Class B Units or is the managing member or general partner that Controls a Class B Member.
Class B Percentage Interest means, as of any date, the percentage determined by dividing the number of Class B Units held by a holder of Class B Units by the total number of Class B Units then outstanding.
Class B Permitted Loan Financing means (a) prior to the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Effective Date, any credit facility, solely (i) to the extent the lenders permitted thereunder prior to an acceleration of any such credit facility are (x) banks, trust companies, or other financial institutions regulated as commercial banks; provided, however, that, in the event of an Event of Default (as that term is defined in the Credit Agreement), the lenders under the Credit Agreement shall be permitted to assign such loans without any restrictions under this Agreement; (y)Β Siemens Financial Services, Inc. and its Affiliates that are lending institutions, or (z) a Class B Member or, in each case, any of their respective Affiliates and (ii) entered into in order to finance the acquisition of Class B Units (including for avoidance of doubt, the Credit Agreement and the Margin Loan), or any refinancing thereof; and (b) on or after the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Effective Date, any debt financing, including debt securities or loans pursuant to indentures, debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, the issuance of notes, revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit, or similar instruments, as such debt financing in this clause (b) may be amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced, or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.
Class B Purchase Price has the meaning assigned that term in the Purchase Agreement.
Class B Units has the meaning assigned that term in Section 4.01.
COC Member has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.04(a).
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Commission means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Company has the meaning assigned that term in the preamble.
Company Level Taxes has the meaning assigned that term in Section 8.03(e).
Confidential Information means information and data (including all copies thereof), whether oral, written, or electronic, that constitutes proprietary or confidential information about the Company, the Members, or their respective Affiliates, including this Agreement, financial statements, tax reports, valuations, analyses of potential or actual investments, reports or other materials, and other documents and information concerning the affairs of the Company and the Members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term βConfidential Informationβ shall not include any information that:
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(a)Β Β Β Β is in the public domain at the time of its disclosure or thereafter, other than as a result of a disclosure directly or indirectly by a Member or its Affiliates in contravention of this Agreement;
(b)Β Β Β Β is made available to a Member or its Affiliate from a source that, to such Memberβs or its Affiliateβs knowledge, is not prohibited from disclosing such information to such Member or its Affiliates by a legal, contractual, or fiduciary obligation;
(c)Β Β Β Β as to any Member or its Affiliates, was in the possession of such Member or its Affiliates prior to the execution of this Agreement and not subject to a separate confidentiality restriction or other legal, contractual, or fiduciary obligation; or
(d)Β Β Β Β has been independently acquired or developed by or on behalf of a Member or its Affiliates without violating any of the obligations of such Member or its Affiliates under this Agreement.
Contributed Assets means those assets identified in Section II of Schedule 2 hereto as βContributed Assets.β
Contribution Agreement means that certain Contribution Agreement to be entered into prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement on the Effective Date or within three (3) Business Days immediately preceding the Effective Date by and between NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP, NEP Member, and the Company.
Control, Controls, or Controlled means the possession, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, of the following:
(a)Β Β Β Β (i) in the case of a corporation, fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting securities thereof; (ii)Β in the case of a limited liability company, general partnership or joint venture, the right to fifty percent (50%) or more of the distributions therefrom (including liquidating distributions); (iii)Β in the case of a trust or estate, including a business trust, fifty percent (50%) or more of the beneficial interest therein; (iv)Β in the case of a limited partnership (A)Β the right to fifty percent (50%) or more of the distributions therefrom (including liquidating distributions), (B) where the general partner of such limited partnership is a corporation, ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of such corporate general partner, (C)Β where the general partner of such limited partnership is a partnership, limited liability company or other entity (other than a corporation or limited partnership), the right to fifty percent (50%) or more of the distributions (including liquidating distributions) from such general partner entity, and (D)Β where the general partner of such limited partnership is a limited partnership, Control of the general partner of such general partner in the manner described under subclause (B) or (C) of this clause (iv), in each case, notwithstanding that such Person with respect to which Control is being determined does not possess, directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, the right to receive at least fifty percent (50%) of the distributions from such limited partnership, or (v)Β in the case of any other entity, fifty percent
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(50%) or more of the economic or beneficial interest therein; or
(b)Β Β Β Β in the case of any entity, the power or authority, through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, to exercise predominant control over the management of the entity.
Covered Audit Adjustment has the meaning assigned that term in Section 8.03(d).
Covered Person has the meaning assigned that term in Section 6.08(a).
Credit Agreement has the meaning assigned that term in the Purchase Agreement.
Credit Agreement Payment in Full means, with respect to the Credit Agreement, Payment in Full, as defined in the Credit Agreement in effect on the date hereof in respect of such Class B Permitted Loan Financing.
Delaware Certificate has the meaning assigned that term in the recitals.
Delaware Courts has the meaning assigned that term in Section 11.03.
Dispose, Disposing, or Disposition means, with respect to any asset (including a Membership Interest or any portion thereof or any derivative or similar arrangement whereby a portion or all of the economic interests in, or risk of loss or opportunity for gain with respect to, such Membership Interest is transferred or shifted to another Person), a sale, assignment, lease, transfer, conveyance, gift, exchange, or other disposition of such asset, whether such disposition be voluntary, involuntary, or by operation of Law, including the following: (a) in the case of an asset owned by a natural person, a transfer of such asset upon the death of its owner, whether by will, intestate succession, or otherwise; (b) in the case of an asset owned by an entity, (i)Β a merger, division, or consolidation of such entity (other than a merger in which such entity is the survivor thereof) or (ii)Β a distribution of such asset, including in connection with the dissolution, liquidation, winding-up, or termination of such entity (unless, in the case of dissolution, such entityβs business is continued without the commencement of liquidation or winding-up); and (c)Β a disposition in connection with, or in lieu of, a foreclosure of an Encumbrance; but such terms shall not include the creation of an Encumbrance itself.
Disposing Member means any Member that proposes to consummate a Disposition, including any proposed Disposition subject to Section 7.01(c), of all or any portion of its Membership Interest (whether or not the proposed Disposition is to another Member).
Disposition Notice has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.01(a).
Dispute has the meaning assigned that term in Section 11.01.
Disputing Member has the meaning assigned that term in Section 11.01.
Dissolution Event has the meaning assigned that term in Section 12.01.
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Distribution Adjustment Date means (a) any Distribution Date that occurs during the First Distribution Adjustment Period on which the 15% Condition is not satisfied, (b) any Distribution Date that occurs during the Second Distribution Adjustment Period on which the 30% Condition is not satisfied, or (c) the Flip Date (it being understood that, with respect to each Distribution Date, in order to determine whether any Distribution Date is a Distribution Adjustment Date, the aggregate number of Class B Units purchased on or prior to such Distribution Adjustment Date pursuant to one or more exercises of the Call Option, NEP Change of Control Option, and Class B COC Option shall be measured separately for such Distribution Date).
Distribution Adjustment Period means, with respect to any Fiscal Year that includes a Distribution Adjustment Date, any period during such Fiscal Year throughout which the percentage of distributions of Available Cash to which the Class A Units are entitled as a class under Section 5.01(a) does not change.
Distribution Date has the meaning assigned that term in Section 5.01.
Economic Risk of Loss has the meaning assigned that term in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
Effective Date has the meaning assigned that term in the preamble.
Effective Date Capital Contribution has the meaning assigned that term in Section 4.03(b).
Election Out has the meaning assigned that term in Section 8.03(c).
Emergency means (a)Β a sudden, unexpected event that requires prompt action by the Company to avoid, prevent, or mitigate (i)Β imminent harm to Persons or property, including injury, illness, or death of any individual or damage to the properties or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries, any other Person, natural resources (including wildlife), or the environment; (ii)Β any damage or disrepair to any property or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries (including repairs or replacements thereof); or (iii)Β any material violation of applicable Law; or (b)Β an action required to prevent an imminent material default by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or to cure a material default, on any material contract to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party (other than a default under an Affiliate Transaction, but only to the extent relating to obligations other than the payment of money).
Encumber, Encumbering, or Encumbrance means the creation of a security interest, lien, pledge, mortgage, or other encumbrance, whether such encumbrance be voluntary, involuntary, or by operation of Law.
Excess Insurance Proceeds means the excess of any proceeds from insurance received by the Company or any of its subsidiaries over the costs and expenses incurred by the Company and its subsidiaries to remedy, repair, or mitigate the damage or other insured loss that gave rise to the receipt of such insurance proceeds.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
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Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Excluded Party means (a) the Persons listed on ScheduleΒ 1 hereto, and (b) any Person (i)Β named as a βSpecially Designated National and Blocked Personβ (βSDNβ) on the most current list (βSDN Listβ) published by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury at its official website or any replacement website or other replacement official publication of such list, or is otherwise the subject of any Sanctions, or (ii)Β in which any Person on the SDN List has fifty percent (50%) or greater ownership interest or that is otherwise Controlled by an SDN.
FERC means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any successor Governmental Authority.
First Distribution Adjustment Period means the period occurring after [β’], 2023,1 and continuing until [β’], 2024.2Β
Fiscal Year means any twelve (12) month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.
Flip Date means [β’], 2025.3Β
Flip Date Fiscal Year means the Fiscal Year in which the Flip Date occurs.
Fully Diluted Basis means, as of any date, the aggregate number of NEP Common Units that would be outstanding, as of such date, if all outstanding Non-Voting NEP Common Units, Series A Preferred Units (as that term is defined in the NEP Limited Partnership Agreement), options, warrants, and convertible securities were exercised for or converted into NEP Common Units, regardless of whether such Non-Voting NEP Common Units, Series A Preferred Units, options, warrants, and convertible securities are then convertible or exercisable by their terms or otherwise.
Fund means a private equity, infrastructure, or other investment fund entity.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, consistently applied; provided that, for any financial statements prepared as of a certain date, GAAP referenced therein shall be GAAP as of the date of such financial statements.
General Partner means NextEra Energy Partners, GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to NEP as the general partner thereof, in their capacity as general partner of NEP.
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1 | NTD - To be the date that is fifty-four (54) months after the Effective Date. | |
2 | NTD - To be the date that is sixty (60) months after the Effective Date. | |
3 | NTD - To be the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Effective Date. |
Β Β Β Β
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Governmental Authority (or Governmental) means a federal, state, local or foreign governmental or quasi-governmental authority; a state, province, commonwealth, territory or district thereof; a county or parish; a city, town, township, village, or other municipality; a district, xxxx, or other subdivision of any of the foregoing; any executive, legislative, or other governing body of any of the foregoing; any agency, authority, board, department, system, service, office, commission, committee, council, or other administrative body of any of the foregoing; any court or other judicial body, or any arbitration body or tribunal; and any officer, official, or other representative of any of the foregoing.
Governmental Authorization means any authorization, approval, order, license, certificate, determination, registration, permit, or consent required of or granted by, or any notice required to be delivered to or filed with, any Governmental Authority, including the FERC, and the expiration of any waiting period required under the HSR Act.
HSR Act means the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
including means including, without limitation.
Indebtedness means any amount payable by a Person as debtor, borrower, issuer, guarantor, or otherwise pursuant to (a) an agreement or instrument involving or evidencing money borrowed, or the advance of credit, including the face amount of any letter of credit supporting the repayment of indebtedness for borrowed money issued for the account of such Person or its subsidiaries and obligations under letters of credit and agreements relating to the issuance of letters of credit or acceptance of financing (in each case, only to the extent undrawn or, in the case of any drawing, not cash collateralized or reimbursed within two (2) Business Days of the date drawn), (b) indebtedness of a third party described in clauses (a), (c), or (d) of this definition that is (i) guaranteed by such Person or its subsidiaries or (ii) secured by any Encumbrance on assets owned or acquired by, such Person or its subsidiaries, whether or not the indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed such Person or its subsidiaries; provided that, in the case of any Indebtedness described in this clause (ii), the amount of such Indebtedness shall be deemed to be the lesser of the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness or the fair market of the assets of such Person or its subsidiaries securing such Indebtedness, (c)Β purchase-money indebtedness and capital lease obligations classified as such in accordance with GAAP (other than as a result of the adoption or implementation of Accounting Standards Codification No. 842 or any successor provision or amendment or other modification thereto), (d) obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other instruments of debt securities, or by warrants or other rights to acquire any debt instruments or debt securities.
Initial Investor has the meaning assigned that term in the recitals.
Initial LLC Agreement has the meaning assigned that term in the recitals.
Internal Rate of Return means the annual effective pre-tax discounted rate per Class B Unit computed by taking into account (a) all Cash Flows in respect of such Class B Unit and (b) for purposes of Section 7.02, Section 7.03, and Section 7.04, the Call Option Purchase Price, Change of Control Purchase
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Price, or Class B COC Purchase Price, as applicable, to be received in respect of such Class B Unit, and, in each case, calculated using the βXIRRβ function on Microsoft Office Excel 2007 (or the same function in any subsequent version of Microsoft Office Excel).
Investor means, as of the Effective Date, the Initial Investor, for so long is owns Class B Units, and, after the Effective Date, shall collectively include, as of any date, any of the Initial Investorβs Affiliates that hold Class B Units as of such date.
Investor Fund means KKR Global Infrastructure Investors III (Nitrogen) LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
IRR Report means the financial model for the transaction attached as Exhibit B to this Agreement as agreed and accepted by the Members and updated in accordance with SectionΒ 9.02 to reflect actual results of the Company.
Issuance Price has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.02(e).
Law means any federal, state, local, or foreign order, writ, injunction, judgment, settlement, award, decree, statute, law (including common law), rule, or regulation.
LIBOR has the meaning assigned that term in the Credit Agreement (as that term is defined in the Purchase Agreement).
Liquidity Event has the meaning assigned to the term in Section 7.09(a).
Major Decisions has the meaning assigned that term in Section 6.03.
Managing Member means NEP Member or any other Person hereafter appointed as a successor Managing Member of the Company as provided in Section 6.01, each in its capacity as such.
Margin Loan Agreement means that certain Margin Loan Agreement, dated as of March 4, 2019, among Nitrogen ML Borrower LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as Borrower (the βMargin Loan Borrowerβ), Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto and the other lending institutions that may become a party thereto from time to time, as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, and as may be refinanced, renewed, extended, or replaced from time to time.
Maximum Amount means, as of any date of determination, the principal amount of the loans borrowed under the Credit Agreement on the Effective Date, plus additional amounts owed thereunder as of such date pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, minus any repayments of principal of under the Credit Agreement through such date; provided, however, that the Maximum Amount on any date of determination shall not exceed seven hundred sixty million dollars ($760,000,000.00).
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
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Member means any Person executing this Agreement as of the Effective Date as a member or hereafter admitted to the Company as a New Member as provided in this Agreement, but such term does not include any Person who has ceased to be a member in the Company.
Member Nonrecourse Debt has the meaning assigned to the term βpartner nonrecourse debtβ in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain has the meaning assigned to the term βpartner nonrecourse debt minimum gainβ in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
Member Nonrecourse Deductions has the meaning assigned to the term βpartner nonrecourse deductionsβ in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(1).
Membership Interest means, with respect to any Member, (a)Β such Memberβs status as a Member; (b)Β that Memberβs share, as a holder of Class A Units or Class B Units, of the income, gain, loss, deduction, and credits of, and the right to receive distributions from, the Company; (c)Β all other rights, benefits and privileges enjoyed by that Member (under the Act, this Agreement, or otherwise) in its capacity as a Member, including such Memberβs rights to vote, consent, and approve matters, as set forth in this Agreement; and (d)Β all obligations, duties, and liabilities imposed on such Member (under the Act, this Agreement, or otherwise) in its capacity as a Member.
Minimum Gain has the meaning assigned that term in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704 2(d).
National Securities Exchange means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act (or any successor to such Section).
XXXX means NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
NEP has the meaning assigned that term in the preamble.
NEP Change of Control Option has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 7.03(a).
NEP Class B Parties means, as of any date, such of the NEP Member and its Affiliates and Permitted Assignees as hold Class B Units on such date (and each, individually, a βNEP Class B Partyβ).
NEP Common Unit means an interest of a limited partner in NEP having the rights and obligations specified with respect to βCommon Units,β as that term is used and defined in the NEP Limited Partnership Agreement.
NEP General Partner Interest means the general partner interest of NEP held by the General Partner.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
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NEP Limited Partnership Agreement means that certain Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of NEP, dated as of December 21, 2018, by and among NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as the General Partner, and NextEra Energy Equity Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, together with the other partners that are parties thereto, as may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented, or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
NEP Member has the meaning assigned that term in the preamble.
Net Profits and Net Loss means, for each Fiscal Year or other period, including any Distribution Adjustment Period and any Post-Flip Date Distribution Period, an amount equal to the Companyβs taxable income or loss for such year or period, determined in accordance with Section 703(a) of the Code (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss, or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Section 703(a)(1) of the Code shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments:
(a)Β Β Β Β any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Loss shall be added to such taxable income or loss;
(b)Β Β Β Β any expenditures of the Company described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i) and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Profits or Net Loss shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;
(c)Β Β Β Β income, gain, or loss resulting from any disposition of, distribution to a Member of, or depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deductions with respect to, Company property shall be computed by reference to the Book Value of the property disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such property differs from its Book Value;
(d)Β Β Β Β in the event the Book Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to clause (b) or clause (c) of the definition of Book Value, the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Net Profits and Net Losses;
(e)Β Β Β Β to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset pursuant to Section 734(b) of the Code or Section 743(b) of the Code is required pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution (other than in liquidation of a Memberβs interest in the Company), the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases the basis of the asset) from the disposition of the asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Net Profits or Net Losses; and
(f)Β Β Β Β notwithstanding any other provision of this definition of βNet Profitsβ and βNet Loss,β any item that is specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.04(b) shall not be taken into
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account in computing Net Profits or Net Loss. The amounts of the items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction available to be specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.04(b) shall be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in this definition of βNet Profitsβ and βNet Loss.β
New Member means a Person, other than Investor or NEP Member, admitted after the Effective Date pursuant to the terms and conditions herein.
Nonrecourse Deductions has the meaning assigned that term in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b).
Non-Voting NEP Common Units means βNon-Voting Common Unitsβ of NEP, as that term is used and defined in the NEP Limited Partnership Agreement, which have the same economic rights as the NEP Common Units but no voting rights on any matter whatsoever and shall not be listed on any National Securities Exchange.
Offer Notice has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.01(c)(ii).
OpCo General Partner means NextEra Energy Operating Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Operating Partnership as the general partner thereof, in their capacity as general partner of the Operating Partnership.
OpCo General Partner Interest means the general partner interest of the Operating Partnership held by the OpCo General Partner.
Operating Partnership means NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
Option A has the meaning assigned that term in Section 8.03(e).
Option B has the meaning assigned that term in Section 8.03(e).
Other Class B Party means, as of any date, any holder of Class B Units on such date other than the NEP Class B Parties.
Other Class B Party Percentage means, as of any date, the percentage determined by dividing the number of Class B Units held by any individual Other Class B Party on such date by the total number of Class B Units held by all NEP Class B Parties and all Other Class B Parties as of such date.
Parent means, with respect to any Member, a Person that Controls such Member.
Partnership Representative has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 8.03(a).
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
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Permitted Assignee means any assignee of all or any portion of a Memberβs Class A Units or Class B Units, the Disposition of which was made in accordance with Section 7.01.
Person has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 18β101(12) of the Act and also includes a Governmental Authority and any other entity (including any foreign trust or foreign business organization), and the heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors, and assigns of such Person where the context so provides.
Post-Flip Aggregate Other Class B Parties Percentage means, with respect to any period, the percentage of Available Cash distributable, in the aggregate, to all of the Other Class B Parties pursuant to Section 5.01(d).
Post-Flip Date Distribution Period means, with respect to (i) any portion of the Flip Date Fiscal Year commencing on the Flip Date and (ii) any Fiscal Year following the Flip Date Fiscal Year, in each case, in which the Post-Flip Aggregate Other Class B Parties Percentage changes during such Fiscal Year (or during such portion of the Fiscal Year, in the case of clause (i)), any period during such Fiscal Year (or during such portion of the Fiscal Year, in the case of clause (i)) throughout which the Post-Flip Aggregate Other Class B Parties Percentage does not change.
Purchase Agreement has the meaning assigned that term in the recitals.
Purchase Agreement Date means March 4, 2019.
Qualifying Financing means additional or substitute financings to the Margin Loan Agreement or similar existing financing on commercially reasonable terms (including with respect to the aggregate amount of fees and costs of such additional financings and any breakage costs, termination fees, or other payments that would be due or payable under the existing debt facilities in connection with such additional financings); provided that it is agreed that, with respect to Investor, any such additional or substitute financing shall be deemed to be on commercially reasonable terms if the terms of such financing (when taken together with the aggregate amount of fees and costs of such additional financing and any breakage, termination fees, or other payments that would be due or payable under existing debt facilities in connection with such additional financings) are no less favorable, in the aggregate, to Investor than the terms of the Margin Loan Agreement.
Quarter means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Company.
Registration Rights Agreement means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date of this Agreement, by and among the NEP, Initial Investor, and the other Class B Members party thereto.
Regulatory Allocations has the meaning assigned that term in SectionΒ 5.04(b)(vii).
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
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Related Party means any Person who is considered for federal income tax purposes to be purchasing electricity generated by a subsidiary of the Company and who is related to the Company or a Member within the meaning of Section 45(e)(4) of the Code or any successor provision, but excluding any Person that so purchases electricity generated by such subsidiary to the extent such Person resells the electricity to another Person who is not related to the Company or a Member within the meaning of Section 45(e)(4) of the Code; provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) a Related Party shall not include any Person (or Person related to such Person) whose sole purchases of electricity generated by any subsidiary of the Company are retail purchases from a Person other than the Company or a Member or a Person related to the Company or a Member and (ii) if a Person who otherwise would be considered a Related Party sells electricity generated by a subsidiary of the Company to a different Related Party, the seller Person shall not be considered a Related Party to the extent that the purchaser Related Party resells such electricity to another party not related to the Company or a Member. This definition is intended to comply with Section 4 of Notice 2008-60, I.R.B. 2008-30 (June 25, 2008) and shall be interpreted consistently with that notice.
Required Governmental Authorizations means those Governmental Authorizations required under Law to be obtained in connection with the exercise of the Call Option, the NEP Change of Control Option, or the Class B COC Option, each in accordance with the terms hereof.
Sale Proceeds means the net proceeds received by the Company, after payment of all of the related costs and expenses of the Company and its subsidiaries, as the result of (a)Β a sale of the Company pursuant to which any Person (or group of Persons) acquires, directly or indirectly, (i) all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis) or (ii) all of the outstanding equity securities of the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization, purchase of securities, or otherwise, or (b)Β a Disposition of any material assets of the Company or its subsidiaries, excluding in each case, any Liquidity Event.
Sanctions means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a)Β the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b)Β the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, the Treasury of the United Kingdom, or other relevant sanctions authority.
SDN has the meaning assigned that term in the definition of the term βExcluded Party.β
SDN List has the meaning assigned that term in the definition of the term βExcluded Party.β
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Second Distribution Adjustment Period means the period occurring after [β’], 2024,4 but prior to the Flip Date.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Tag-Along Notice has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.01(d).
Tag-Along Sale has the meaning assigned that term in Section 7.01(d).
Term has the meaning assigned that term in Section 2.06.
Trading Day means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which the NEP Common Units are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such NEP Common Units are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York generally are open.
Transfer Agent means such bank, trust company, or other Person as may be appointed pursuant to the NEP Limited Partnership Agreement to act as registrar and transfer agent for any class of partnership interests of NEP.
Treasury Regulations means the regulations (including temporary regulations) promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to and in respect of provisions of the Code. All references herein to sections of the Treasury Regulations shall include any corresponding provision or provisions of succeeding, similar or substitute, temporary, or final Treasury Regulations.
Triggering Event means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) on or after the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Effective Date, (A)Β NEP Member (or its permitted assignees) shall not have purchased, pursuant to one or more exercises of the Call Option, NEP Change of Control Option, or Class B COC Option, all of the outstanding Class B Units and (B) NEP Member and its Affiliates do not collectively own at least thirty-five percent (35%) of the aggregate number of Class B Units outstanding on the Effective Date; (ii)Β NEP Member (or its permitted assignee) fails to satisfy NEP Memberβs obligations pursuant to Section 7.03 upon a Class B Memberβs exercise of the NEP Change of Control Option; or (iii)Β NEP Member otherwise materially breaches its obligations under this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days following NEP Memberβs receipt of written notice of such breach.
Unreturned Contribution means, as of any date, with respect to any Member, (a) the aggregate amount of all Capital Contributions made in respect of each Class A Unit and Class B Unit held by such Member on or prior to such date (including by such Memberβs predecessor in interest with respect to such Class A Unit or Class B Unit), less (b) the aggregate amount of all distributions made by the Company in respect of each Class A Unit and Class B
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4 | NTD - To be the date that is sixty (60) months after the Effective Date. |
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Unit held by such Member on or prior to such date (including to such Memberβs predecessor in interest with respect to such Class A Unit or Class B Unit).
Unreturned Contribution Percentage means, as of any date, with respect to any Member, a fraction, the numerator of which is the Unreturned Contribution of such Member as of such date and the denominator of which is the aggregate Unreturned Contributions of all Members as of such date.
VWAP per NEP Common Unit on any Trading Day means the per NEP Common Unit volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading βBloomberg VWAPβ on Bloomberg page βNEP <equity> AQRβ (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the closing price of one NEP Common Unit on such Trading Day as reported on the New York Stock Exchangeβs website or the website of the National Securities Exchange upon which the NEP Common Units are listed); provided, however, that if the VWAP cannot be calculated for the NEP Common Units on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, then with the prior written consent of the Class B Member Representative, the VWAP of the NEP Common Units on such date shall be the fair market value as determined in good faith by the board of directors of NEP in a commercially reasonable manner.
Withdraw, Withdrawing, or Withdrawal means the withdrawal, resignation, or retirement of a Member from the Company as a Member. Such terms shall not include any Dispositions of Membership Interests (which are governed by Article 7), even though the Member making a Disposition may cease to be a Member as a result of such Disposition.
Withdrawn Member means a Member that is deemed to have Withdrawn pursuant to SectionΒ 10.03.
1.02Β Β Β Β Interpretation. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) the gender of each word used in this Agreement includes the masculine, feminine, and neuter; (b)Β references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c)Β references to Exhibits refer to the Exhibits attached to this Agreement, each of which is made a part hereof for all purposes; (d) references to Laws refer to such Laws as they may be amended from time to time, and references to particular provisions of a Law include any corresponding provisions of any succeeding Law; (e) references to money refer to legal currency of the United States of America; (f) the definitions given for terms in this Article 1 and elsewhere in this Agreement shall apply to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined; (g)Β the conjunction βorβ shall be understood in its inclusive sense (and/or); and (h) the words βhereby,β βherein,β βhereunder,β βhereof,β and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole (including any Exhibits and Schedules hereto) and not merely to the specific section, paragraph, or clause in which such word appears.
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ARTICLE 2
ORGANIZATION
2.01Β Β Β Β Formation. The Company has been formed as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing of the Delaware Certificate as of February 26, 2019, and by NEP Memberβs entrance into the Initial LLC Agreement.
2.02Β Β Β Β Name. The name of the Company is NEP Renewables II, LLC, and all Company business shall be conducted in that name or such other names that comply with Law as the Managing Member may select.
2.03Β Β Β Β Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office in the United States; Other Offices. The registered office of the Company required by the Act to be maintained in the State of Delaware shall be the office of the initial registered agent named in the Delaware Certificate or such other office (which need not be a place of business of the Company) as the Managing Member may designate in the manner provided by Law. The registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be the initial registered agent named in the Delaware Certificate or such other Person or Persons as the Managing Member may designate in the manner provided by Law. The principal office of the Company in the United States shall be at such place as the Managing Member may designate, which need not be in the State of Delaware, and the Company shall maintain records there or at such other place as the Managing Member shall designate and shall keep the street address of such principal office at the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware. The Company may have such other offices as the Managing Member may designate.
2.04Β Β Β Β Purposes. The purposes of the Company are to acquire, accept, own, hold, sell, lease, transfer, finance, refinance, exchange, manage, and operate, directly or indirectly through subsidiaries, the Assets and any other assets acquired by the Company after the Effective Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, together with the liabilities related thereto, and to engage in any lawful act or activity and to exercise any powers permitted to limited liability companies formed under the laws of the State of Delaware that are ancillary, related or incidental to, or necessary or appropriate for the accomplishment of the foregoing purposes.
2.05Β Β Β Β No State Law Partnership. The Members intend that the Company shall be a limited liability company and, except as provided herein with respect to U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income tax treatment, the Company shall not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, and no Member shall be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member, for any purposes, and this Agreement may not be construed to suggest otherwise.
Β Β Β Β
2.06Β Β Β Β Term. The period of existence of the Company (the βTermβ) commenced on February 26, 2019, and shall end at such time as the Company is dissolved and wound up in accordance with this Agreement and the Act and a certificate of cancellation is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with Section 12.04.
Β Β Β Β
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2.07Β Β Β Β Title to Property. All assets, property, and rights of the Company shall be owned or leased by the Company as an entity and, except with respect to assets, property, or rights of the Company leased or licensed to the Company by a Member (subject to the terms hereof), no Member shall have any ownership interest in such assets, property, or rights in its individual name or right, and each Memberβs Membership Interest shall be personal property for all purposes. The Company shall hold all assets, property, and rights of the Company in the name of the Company and not in the name of any Member.
2.08Β Β Β Β Foreign Qualification. Prior to the Companyβs conducting business in any jurisdiction other than Delaware, the Company shall comply with all requirements necessary to qualify the Company as a foreign limited liability company in any jurisdiction in which the Company owns property or transacts business to the extent such qualification or registration is necessary or advisable for the protection of the limited liability of the Members or to permit the Company lawfully to own property or transact business. The Company shall execute and deliver any or all certificates or other instruments conforming with this Agreement that are necessary or appropriate to qualify, continue, or terminate the Company as a foreign limited liability company in all jurisdictions in which the Company conducts business.
ARTICLE 3
MEMBERS
3.01Β Β Β Β Schedule of Members. The name and address of each Member, the amount of each Memberβs Capital Contributions, and the number and class of Membership Interest held by each Member are set forth on the schedule of Members attached hereto as Exhibit A. As of the Effective Date, Initial Investor and NEP Member are the Members of the Company, and their respective Effective Date Capital Contributions and class of Membership Interest are set forth in Section II of Exhibit A hereto. The Managing Member shall cause the schedule of Members set forth on Exhibit A to be amended, and the books and records of the Company to be updated, to reflect the admission of any new Member, the withdrawal or substitution of any Member, the Disposition of Membership Interests, additional Capital Contributions made by any Member, or the receipt by the Company of notice of any change of address of a Member, each in accordance with, and after compliance with, the terms of this Agreement. No amendment or revision to the schedule of Members shall be deemed an amendment to this Agreement or require the consent of any Member. Any reference in this Agreement to the schedule of Members shall be deemed to be a reference to the schedule of Members as amended and in effect from time to time.
3.02Β Β Β Β Representations and Warranties of the Members. Each Member hereby represents and warrants to the Company and each other Member that the following statements are true and correct as of the Effective Date and shall be true and correct at all times:
(a)Β Β Β Β such Member is duly incorporated, organized, or formed (as applicable), validly existing, and in good standing under the Law of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, organization, or formation; if required by applicable Law, such Member is duly qualified and in good standing in the jurisdiction of its principal place of business, if different from its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization, or formation; and such Member has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and all
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necessary actions by the board of directors, stockholders, managers, members, partners, trustees, beneficiaries, or other applicable Persons necessary for the due authorization, execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by such Member have been duly taken;
(b)Β Β Β Β such Member has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, and the other documents that this Agreement contemplates that such Member will execute, and they each constitute the valid and binding obligation of such Member, enforceable against such Member in accordance with their respective terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar Laws of general application and by the effect of general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered at law or in equity); and
(c)Β Β Β Β such Memberβs authorization, execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement does not and will not (i)Β conflict with, or result in a breach, default, or violation of, or result in a default or the creation of an Encumbrance, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, or acceleration of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (A)Β the organizational and governing documents of such Member, (B)Β any material contract or material agreement to which such Member is a party or by which it or its assets are bound, or (C)Β any Law, order, judgment, decree, writ, injunction, or arbitral award to which such Member is subject; or (ii)Β require any consent, approval, or authorization from, filing or registration with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority or other Person, unless such requirement has already been satisfied.
3.03Β Β Β Β Voting Rights of Members. Other than with respect to the Managing Member, in its capacity as such, and except as provided in Section 3.06, SectionΒ 4.04(b), Section 6.01, Section 6.03, Section 6.04, Section 7.01(a), Section 7.09, Section 8.03, Section 12.01(a), and Section 13.04, no vote, consent, or approval by the Members will be required for any matter or matters relating to the Company and its business or affairs or otherwise arising under this Agreement. If at any time there is more than one Class A Member, then any action requiring the Class A Members to act as a class will require the approval of a majority of the outstanding Class A Units, and, if at any time there is more than one Class B Member, then any action requiring the Class B Members to act as a class will require Class B Member Approval. NEP Member and its Affiliates shall have no right to vote any Class B Units held by them on any matter.
3.04Β Β Β Β No Management Rights. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no Member, in its capacity as such, other than the Managing Member will have any right, power, or authority to take part in the management or control of the business of, or transact any business for, the Company, to sign for or on behalf of the Company or to bind the Company in any manner whatsoever. No Member other than the Managing Member will hold out or represent to any third party that any such Member has any such power or right or that any such Member is anything other than a member in the Company.
3.05Β Β Β Β Limitation on Liability of Members.
(a)Β Β Β Β To the fullest extent permitted under the Act and any other Law, no Covered Person will have any personal liability whatsoever solely by reason of being a Covered Person, whether to the Company, its creditors, or any other Person, for the debts, obligations, expenses, or liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort, or otherwise, which will be solely the debts, obligations, expenses, or liabilities of the Company. All Persons dealing with the Company shall have recourse solely to the assets of the Company for the payment of debts, obligations,
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expenses, or liabilities of the Company. No Member shall take, or cause to be taken, any action that would result in any other Memberβs having any personal liability for the obligations of the Company. In no event will any Member, including any Class A Member in its capacity as the Managing Member or any of its, the Companyβs, or any of their respective subsidiariesβ officers, directors, members, managers, stockholders, partners, principals, Affiliates, agents, or employees be liable under this Agreement to the Company or any other Member for any (i) punitive damages or (ii) consequential damages, including any loss of future revenue or income, loss of business reputation or business opportunity, damages based on any type of multiple, or any damages that are not reasonably foreseeable, except if in any such case such damages relate to, arise out of or in any way relate to any breach of this Agreement and are in the form of diminution in value (it being understood that any change in the market price of the NEP Common Units shall not in and of itself constitute diminution in value damages) or are payable to a third party in connection with any third-party Claims.
(b)Β Β Β Β Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no Member will be required to make any additional contributions beyond its Effective Date Capital Contributions that have been made as of the Effective Date. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, the failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business or affairs under this Agreement or the Act will not be grounds for imposing personal liability on the Members for liabilities of the Company.
3.06Β Β Β Β Withdrawal of Members. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Member will be entitled to (a) voluntarily resign or otherwise Withdraw from the Company; (b)Β withdraw any part of such Memberβs Capital Contributions from the Company; (c) demand the return of such Memberβs Capital Contributions; or (d) receive property other than cash in return for such Memberβs Capital Contribution, in each case, without the prior written consent of all remaining Members, in their sole and absolute discretion.
3.07Β Β Β Β Access to Information. Each Member shall be entitled to receive any information that it may request concerning the Company and its subsidiaries, subject to Section 18-305(c) of the Act; provided, however, that this SectionΒ 3.07 shall not obligate the Company or the Managing Member to create any information that does not already exist at the time of such request (other than to convert existing information from one medium to another, such as providing a printout of information that is stored in a computer database), except as otherwise provided in Article 9. Each Member shall also have the right, upon reasonable advance notice, and at all reasonable times during usual business hours, and in such a manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the operation of the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, to inspect the properties of the Company and its subsidiaries and the books of account and other records and reports of the Company and its subsidiaries. Such right may be exercised through any agent or employee of such Member designated in writing by it or by an independent public accountant, engineer, attorney, or other consultant so designated. The Member making the request shall bear the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in any inspection made on such Memberβs behalf. The Members agree to reasonably cooperate,
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and to cause their respective independent public accountants, engineers, attorneys, and consultants to reasonably cooperate, in connection with any such request. Confidential Information obtained pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be subject to the provisions of SectionΒ 3.08.
3.08Β Β Β Β Confidential Information. (a)Β Except as permitted by Section 3.08(b), (i) each Member shall keep confidential all Confidential Information and shall not disclose any Confidential Information to any Person, including any of its Affiliates; and (ii) each Member shall use the Confidential Information only in connection with Company matters (including the Companyβs conduct of its business in accordance with Section 2.04) or the internal affairs of such Member.
(b)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding Section 3.08(a), but subject to the other provisions of this SectionΒ 3.08, a Member may make the following disclosures and uses of Confidential Information:
(i)Β Β Β Β disclosures to another Member in connection with the conduct of the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries;
(ii)Β Β Β Β disclosures and uses that are approved by the Managing Member;
(iii)Β Β Β Β disclosures to Governmental Authorities (x) as required by applicable Law or (y) as may be required from time to time to obtain the Required Governmental Authorizations;
(iv)Β Β Β Β disclosures in connection with any financing for the Company or any of its subsidiaries, as approved pursuant to SectionΒ 6.03;
(v)Β Β Β Β disclosures to an Affiliate of such Member, including the directors, officers, managers, members, partners, employees, agents, and advisors of such Affiliate, if such Affiliate is subject to a confidentiality obligation with the disclosing Member obligating such Affiliate to keep such Confidential Information confidential or if such Affiliate has agreed in writing to abide by the terms of this Section 3.08;
(vi)Β Β Β Β disclosures to a Person that is not a Member or an Affiliate of a Member, if such Person has been retained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to provide services to or for the Company or any of its subsidiaries or by the Class B Member Representative or its representatives in connection with the Class B Member Representativeβs rights under Section 7.09, and is subject to a customary confidentiality obligation with the Company obligating such Person to keep such Confidential Information confidential on terms no less favorable in any material respect to the Company than this Section 3.08;
(vii)Β Β Β Β disclosures to (A) a bona-fide potential direct or indirect purchaser of such Memberβs Membership Interest or in a Liquidity Event pursuant to an exercise of the Class B Member Representativeβs rights under Section 7.09, (B) any financing source or potential financing source to such Member or the Affiliates of such Member, or
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(C)Β any advisors, consultants, accountants, attorneys, financing sources or potential financing sources, or other representatives of any bona-fide potential direct or indirect purchaser of such Memberβs Membership Interest or in a Liquidity Event pursuant to an exercise of the Class B Member Representativeβs rights under Section 7.09 or any representatives of the foregoing, in each case, if such potential purchaser, financing source or potential financing source, or representative is subject to a confidentiality agreement with the Company obligating the potential purchaser, financing source, potential financing source, or representative to keep such Confidential Information confidential on terms no less favorable in any material respect to the Company than this Section 3.08; provided that no Class B Member shall make any disclosure of any power purchase agreement to such potential purchaser (or its financing sources or potential financing sources) unless and until such potential purchaser has been advanced (in the sole discretion of the Class B Member) beyond the initial stage of any sales process in connection with the potential Disposition of such Class B Memberβs Membership Interest or any Liquidity Event; provided, further, that no Class B Member shall make any such disclosure to an Excluded Party without the prior written consent of NEP Member;
(viii)Β Β Β Β disclosures required, with respect to a Member or an Affiliate of a Member, pursuant to (A) the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (B) the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (C) any state securities Laws, (D) the rules and regulations of any National Securities Exchange, or (E)Β pursuant to an audit or examination by a Governmental Authority, or any regulator or self-regulatory organization;
(ix)Β Β Β Β disclosures to any Fund that owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise Controls the disclosing Member, or to any Affiliated Fund, or to any existing investor in such Fund or Affiliated Fund, solely if and to the extent such disclosure is made for the purpose of reasonable financial reporting to such Fund or Affiliated Fund or such existing; provided that (A) such Fund or Affiliated Fund, as applicable, is subject to a confidentiality obligation with the Company obligating such Fund or Affiliated Fund to keep such Confidential Information confidential on terms no less favorable to the Company than those terms set forth in this Section 3.08 and (B) such existing investor in such Fund or Affiliated Fund is subject to a customary confidentiality obligation with the disclosing Member (or such Fund or Affiliated Fund) obligating such existing investor to keep such Confidential Information confidential; provided, further, that disclosures to existing investors in any such Fund or Affiliated Fund shall be limited to the Companyβs consolidated financial statements (or summaries thereof) and summary descriptions of the existing operations and performance of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries; and
(x)Β Β Β Β disclosures that a Member is legally compelled to make by deposition, interrogatory, request for documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand, order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or similar process, or otherwise by Law; provided that, prior to any such disclosure, such Member shall, to the extent legally permissible:
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(A)Β Β Β Β provide the Company and the Managing Member with prompt written notice (email being sufficient) of such requirements so that the Company or one or more of the Members may seek, at its sole cost and expense, a protective order or other appropriate remedy or waive compliance with the terms of this Section 3.08(b)(viii);
(B)Β Β Β Β consult with the Company and the Managing Member on the advisability of taking steps to resist or narrow such disclosure; and
(C)Β Β Β Β cooperate with the Company, the Managing Member, and the other Members in any attempt one or more of them may make, at its or their sole cost and expense, to obtain a protective order or other appropriate remedy or assurance that confidential treatment will be afforded the Confidential Information; and in the event such protective order or other remedy is not obtained, or the other Members waive compliance with the provisions hereof, such Member agrees (1)Β to furnish only that portion of the Confidential Information that, on the advice of such Memberβs internal or external counsel, such Member is legally required to disclose, and (2)Β to exercise reasonable efforts to obtain assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such Confidential Information.
(c)Β Β Β Β Each Member shall take such precautionary measures as may be reasonably required to ensure (and such Member shall be responsible for) compliance with this Section 3.08 by any of its Affiliates, and its and their directors, officers, managers, members, partners, employees, advisors, and agents, and any other Persons to which it may disclose Confidential Information in accordance with this Section 3.08.
(d)Β Β Β Β Promptly after a Member no longer holds any of its Membership Interest, such Person shall, at such Personβs option, destroy (and provide a written confirmation (email being sufficient) of destruction to the Company with respect to) or return to the Company all Confidential Information in its possession. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, but subject to the other provisions of this Section 3.08, such Person may retain for a stated period, but not disclose to any other Person, Confidential Information for the limited purposes of (i)Β preparing such Memberβs tax returns and defending audits, investigations, and proceedings relating thereto or (ii)Β complying with applicable Law or bona fide internal document retention policies; provided that such Person must keep such retained Confidential Information confidential in accordance with this SectionΒ 3.08 for so long as such information is retained or until the second (2nd) anniversary of the end of the Term, whichever is earlier. The Members understand and agree that a Withdrawn Memberβs computer systems may automatically back up Confidential Information, and to the extent that such computer back-up procedures create copies of the Confidential Information, the Withdrawn Member may retain such copies in its archival or back-up computer storage for the period it normally archives backed-up computer records; provided that such copies are kept confidential for so long as such information is retained. All Confidential Information retained pursuant to this SectionΒ 3.08 shall
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not be accessed by the Withdrawn Member during such period of retention other than as permitted under this SectionΒ 3.08.
(e)Β Β Β Β The Members agree that no adequate remedy at law exists for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of this Section 3.08, the continuation of which unremedied will cause the Company and the other Members to suffer irreparable harm. Accordingly, the Members agree that the Company and the other Members shall be entitled, in addition to other remedies that may be available to them, to immediate injunctive relief from any breach of any of the provisions of this Section 3.08 and to specific performance of their rights hereunder, as well as to any other remedies available at law or in equity, pursuant to SectionΒ 11.03 and Section 11.04.
(f)Β Β Β Β The obligations of the Members under this SectionΒ 3.08 (including the obligations of any Withdrawn Member) shall terminate on the second (2nd) anniversary of the end of the Term.
ARTICLE 4
MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS; CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; LOANS
4.01Β Β Β Β Classes of Membership Interests. As of the Effective Date and pursuant to this Agreement, the Membership Interests in the Company consist of Class A Units (the βClass A Unitsβ) and Class B Units (the βClass B Unitsβ). As of the Effective Date, after giving effect to the transactions set forth in Section 4.03 and in the Purchase Agreement, the Class A Units and the Class B Units shall be held by the Class A Member and the Class B Member, respectively, in the respective amounts set forth on Exhibit A. On and after the Effective Date, the Membership Interests represented by Class A Units and Class B Units will have the respective allocations, distributions, rights, powers, and preferences set forth in this Agreement.
4.02Β Β Β Β Additional Membership Interests. Subject to Section 6.03, additional Membership Interests of any class or series may be created and issued to existing Members or to other Persons, and such other Persons may be admitted to the Company as New Members, on such terms and conditions as the Managing Member may determine at the time of admission; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any foreclosure under a Class A Permitted Loan Financing or under a Class B Permitted Loan Financing on pledged Class A Units or pledged Class B Units, as applicable, shall be permitted hereunder and the Managing Member shall, subject to Section 7.01(b), take all actions reasonably required to facilitate the admission of such New Members hereunder. The terms of admission or issuance must specify the amount of the initial Capital Contribution made to the Company and may provide for the creation of different classes or groups of Members having different rights, powers, and duties, subject to Section 6.03. Any such admission is effective only after the New Member has executed and delivered to the Managing Member an instrument containing the notice address of the New Member, the New Memberβs ratification of this Agreement and agreement to be bound by it, and its confirmation that the representations and warranties in Section 3.02 are true and correct with respect to it. The provisions of this Section 4.02 shall not be construed to replace the restrictions set forth in Section 7.01.
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4.03Β Β Β Β Capital Contributions.
(a)Β Β Β Β On or prior to the Effective Date, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, (i)Β NextEra Energy Partners Acquisitions, LLC shall have acquired the Acquired Assets pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement and contributed such Acquired Assets to NEP Member, and NEP Member shall have contributed to the Company all such Acquired Assets and (ii)Β NEP Member shall have contributed, or caused the contribution on its behalf of, all of the Contributed Assets to the Company. As of the Effective Date, the Limited Liability Company Interests (as that term is defined in the Initial LLC Agreement) of the Company, all of which are held by NEP Member, are hereby cancelled and exchanged for such number of Class A Units as is set forth opposite the name of NEP Member in Section I of Exhibit A hereto and such number of Class B Units as is set forth opposite the name of NEP Member in Section I of Exhibit A hereto, and NEP Member is hereby designated the initial Class A Member and the initial Class B Member. To the extent that there are any reductions in the purchase price under Section 7.5 or Section 7.6 of the Asset Purchase Agreement, on the Effective Date, NEP Member shall contribute to the Company cash in the amount of such reduction in exchange for additional Class A Units valued at $1.00 per Class A Unit. There shall be no adjustment after the Effective Date in respect of the Estimated Working Capital (as that term is defined and used in the Contribution Agreement) nor shall there be any payments by or to the Company or NEP Member in respect thereof, nor any adjustment in respect thereof to NEP Memberβs Capital Account in the Company.
(b)Β Β Β Β As of the Effective Date, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and immediately following the issuance of the Class A Units and Class B Units to NEP Member pursuant to Section 4.03(a), NEP Member shall Dispose of all of the Class B Units held by it to Initial Investor, as its Assignee, in exchange for payment by Initial Investor to NEP Member of an amount in cash equal to the Class B Purchase Price in a transaction described in Situation 1 of Revenue Ruling 99-5, 1999-1 CB 434. Upon payment of the Class B Purchase Price to NEP Member and consummation of the closing under the Purchase Agreement, effective as of the Effective Date, (i)Β the Disposition of the Class B Units to Initial Investor by NEP Member shall be deemed to have complied with, and to have satisfied conditions to Dispositions set forth in, ArticleΒ 7 hereof, and Initial Investor shall be admitted to the Company as a Class B Member, (ii)Β Initial Investor shall accept and hold the number of Class B Units set forth opposite the name of Initial Investor in Section II of ExhibitΒ A hereto and become the sole Class B Member, (iii)Β NEP Member shall cease to be a Class B Member and shall hold the number of Class A Units set forth opposite the name set forth opposite the name of NEP Member in Section II of Exhibit A hereto, (iv) the Capital Account of NEP Member shall be equal to the Class A Purchase Price, and (v)Β the Capital Account of Initial Investor shall be equal to the Class B Purchase Price. Section II of the schedule of Members attached hereto as Exhibit A shall reflect the Capital Contributions of NEP Member and Initial Investor as of the Effective Date in the amounts set forth opposite their respective names on Exhibit A hereto (with respect to each Member, its βEffective Date Capital Contributionβ), as may be amended hereafter in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
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4.04Β Β Β Β Capital Calls; Optional Capital Contributions.
(a)Β Β Β Β The Managing Member may from time to time make one or more capital calls by written notice (each such written request, a βCapital Callβ), which Capital Call shall contain the following information: (i)Β the purpose for which the requested Capital Contribution will be used, including whether the Capital Contribution is to remedy an Emergency, (ii)Β the total amount of Capital Contributions requested from all Members, (iii)Β the amount of Capital Contribution requested from the Member to whom the request is addressed, which shall equal an amount equal to the total amount of the Capital Call multiplied by such Memberβs Unreturned Contribution Percentage as of the date of such Capital Call, and (iv)Β the date on which payments of the Capital Contributions are due (which date shall not be less than twelve (12) Business Days following the date on which the Capital Call is given) and the method of payment (provided that such date and method shall be the same for each of the Members), and, subject to SectionΒ 4.04(b), the Members will have the option (but not the obligation) to make such additional Capital Contributions to the Company in accordance with the terms specified in such Capital Call. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to Section 12.02(a)(iv), no Member shall be required to make any additional Capital Contribution (other than such Memberβs Effective Date Capital Contribution) to the Company pursuant to this Agreement, even if such Capital Call is requested to fund an Emergency.
(b)Β Β Β Β With respect to any Capital Call, if any Member elects not to make a Capital Contribution pursuant to such Capital Call, then (i) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, without the consent of the Member(s) electing not to make such Capital Contribution, no Member may make any Capital Contribution pursuant to such Capital Call, other than a Capital Call requested to fund an Emergency (and in such case, only to the extent permitted by Section 6.03); and (ii)Β solely to the extent that the purpose of the Capital Call is to remedy an Emergency, the other Members will have the option (but not the obligation) of making a loan (and in such case, only to the extent permitted by Section 6.03) upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in SectionΒ 4.05 for all or any portion of the amount of capital requested by the Managing Member in such Capital Call that is not funded by a Capital Contribution made pursuant to clauseΒ (i).
(c)Β Β Β Β In the event that the Members elect to make (or permit) a Capital Contribution pursuant to a Capital Call, then (i)Β all such Capital Contributions shall be made in cash, unless otherwise agreed by the Class B Members pursuant to SectionΒ 6.03, and (ii)Β all amounts received by the Company pursuant to this SectionΒ 4.04 shall be credited to the Capital Accounts of the respective Members making such Capital Contribution as of the date such Capital Contribution is received by the Company.
4.05Β Β Β Β Loans.
(a)Β Β Β Β In the event of an Emergency (whether or not the Managing Member makes a Capital Call with respect to such Emergency pursuant to Section 4.04(a)), subject to SectionΒ 6.03, each Member shall have the option (but not the obligation), without the consent of any other Member (to the extent not required under Section 6.03, but with prior written notice to each other Member), to make (and, upon the exercise by a Member of such right by prior written
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notice to the subsidiary of the Company having such Emergency and to the Managing Member and other Members, and upon the agreement of terms set forth below, such subsidiary shall and the Managing Member, on behalf of the Company shall cause such subsidiary to accept) an unsecured loan to the subsidiary having such Emergency for an amount equal to its Unreturned Contribution Percentage of the full amount necessary to remedy such Emergency, which loan (i) shall accrue interest at an interest rate equal to LIBOR plus two and three-quarters percent (2.75%) per annum, (ii) shall have a term of not less than twenty (20) years, (iii)Β such subsidiary shall be entitled to repay in full at any time without penalty, (iv)Β shall require monthly payment of interest and amortization of principal, but only if and to the extent of available cash at such subsidiary, before any distributions of available cash at such subsidiary to the Company, and (v)Β shall otherwise be made on reasonable terms and conditions determined by the Managing Member; provided that, if any Member fails to fund its full Unreturned Contribution Percentage of the amount required to remedy such Emergency, then the other Members may fund the difference and make a loan to such subsidiary (on the same terms as set forth above) in the full amount necessary to remedy such Emergency. The Company shall cause such subsidiary to use the proceeds from any such loan solely to remedy such Emergency. If any Member disputes the reasonableness of the terms of a loan made by another Member (including the Managing Member) pursuant to this SectionΒ 4.05(a), such Dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution mechanism set forth in Article 11.
(b)Β Β Β Β No Member shall have the right to make loans to the Company or its subsidiaries other than pursuant to SectionΒ 4.05(a), without the prior written consent of the Managing Member and Class B Member Approval (which consent may be withheld by such holders in their sole discretion).
(c)Β Β Β Β No Member (or any of its Affiliates) making a loan to the Company pursuant to this SectionΒ 4.05 shall, in its capacity as a lender to the Company, institute or consent to the institution of, or otherwise seek or cause, the Bankruptcy of the Company.
4.06Β Β Β Β No Other Capital Contribution or Loan Obligations. No Member shall be required or permitted to make any Capital Contributions or loans to the Company except pursuant to this Article 4 or as provided in Section 12.02(a)(iv).
4.07Β Β Β Β ReturnΒ ofΒ Contributions. Except as expressly provided herein, a Member is not entitled to the return of any part of its Capital Contributions or to be paid interest in respect of either its Capital Account or its Capital Contributions. An unrepaid Capital Contribution is not a liability of the Company or of any Member. A Member is not required to contribute or to lend any cash or property to the Company to enable the Company to return any Memberβs Capital Contributions.
4.08Β Β Β Β Capital Accounts. (a)Β Each Memberβs Capital Account shall be increased by (i)Β the amount of money contributed by that Member to the Company, (ii)Β the fair market value of property contributed by that Member to the Company (net of liabilities secured by such contributed property that the Company is considered to assume or take subject to under Section 752 of the Code), and (iii)Β allocations to that Member of Net Profit (or items thereof) and any items in the nature of income or gain that are specially allocated to such Member pursuant to
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Section 5.04(b), and shall be decreased by (w) the amount of money distributed to that Member by the Company, (x) the Book Value of property distributed to that Member by the Company (net of liabilities secured by such distributed property that such Member is considered to assume or take subject to under Section 752 of the Code), and (y) allocations to that Member of Net Losses (or items thereof) or other items in the nature of deductions or losses that are specially allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.04(b). A Member who has more than one Membership Interest shall have a single Capital Account that reflects all such Membership Interests, regardless of the class of Membership Interests owned by such Member and regardless of the time or manner in which such Membership Interests were acquired. Upon the Disposition of all or a portion of a Membership Interest, the Capital Account of the Disposing Member that is attributable to such Membership Interest shall carry over to the Assignee in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(l).
(b)Β Β Β Β This Section 4.08 is intended to comply with the capital account maintenance provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and will be applied and interpreted in accordance with such Regulations.
ARTICLE 5
DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS
5.01Β Β Β Β Monthly Cash Distributions. Except as provided in this Article 5, and subject to Section 7.07(b), within thirty (30) days following the end of each month, the Managing Member shall determine the amount of Available Cash with respect to such month, and all such Available Cash with respect to such month shall, to the extent legally permitted, including pursuant to Section 18-607 of the Act, be distributed to the holders of Class A Units and the holders of Class B Units, as applicable, in immediately available funds within thirty (30) days following the end of such month (the date of payment of any such distribution, a βDistribution Dateβ) as set forth below.
(a)Β Β Β Β For any Distribution Date occurring from and after the Effective Date, but on or prior to [β’], 2023,5 Available Cash shall be distributed (i) ninety-five percent (95%) to the holders of Class A Units, pro rata in accordance with their respective Class A Percentage Interests and (ii) five percent (5%) to the holders of Class B Units, pro rata in accordance with their respective Class B Percentage Interests.
(b)Β Β Β Β For any Distribution Date occurring during the First Distribution Adjustment Period, Available Cash shall be distributed (i) one percent (1%) to the holders of Class A Units, pro rata in accordance with their respective Class A Percentage Interests and (ii) ninety-nine percent (99%) to the holders of Class B Units, pro rata in accordance with their respective Class B Percentage Interests; provided, however, that if, on or prior to any given Distribution Date that occurs during the First Distribution Adjustment Period, NEP Member (or its permitted assignees) shall have purchased, pursuant to one or more exercises of the Call Option, NEP Change of Control Option, or Class B COC Option, an aggregate of fifteen percent
_________________________
5 | NTD - To be the date that is fifty-four (54) months after the Effective Date. |
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(15%) or more of the number of Class B Units outstanding on the Effective Date (the β15% Conditionβ), then distributions of Available Cash shall be distributed on such Distribution Date (and on each succeeding Distribution Date within the First Distribution Adjustment Period) in the same proportions as set forth in Section 5.01(a).
(c)Β Β Β Β For any Distribution Date occurring during the Second Distribution Adjustment Period, Available Cash shall be distributed (i) one percent (1%) to the holders of Class A Units, pro rata in accordance with their respective Class A Percentage Interests and (ii) ninety-nine percent (99%) to the holders of Class B Units, pro rata in accordance with their respective Class B Percentage Interests; provided, however, that if, on or prior to any given Distribution Date that occurs during the Second Distribution Adjustment Period, NEP Member (or its permitted assignees) shall have purchased, pursuant to one or more exercises of the Call Option, NEP Change of Control Option, or Class B COC Option, an aggregate of thirty percent (30%) or more of the number of Class B Units outstanding on the Effective Date (the β30% Conditionβ), then distributions of Available Cash shall be distributed on such Distribution Date (and on each succeeding Distribution Date within the Second Distribution Adjustment Period) in the same proportions as set forth in SectionΒ 5.01(a).
(d)Β Β Β Β For any Distribution Date occurring from and after the Flip Date, Available Cash shall be distributed (i) one percent (1%) to the holders of Class A Units, pro rata in accordance with their respective Class A Percentage Interests and (ii) ninety-nine percent (99%) to the holders of Class B Units, pro rata in accordance with their respective Class B Percentage Interests; provided, however, that, if NEP Member (or its permitted assignees) shall have purchased, on or prior to any such Distribution Date, pursuant to one or more exercises of the Call Option, NEP Change of Control Option, or Class B COC Option, an aggregate of less than one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding Class B Units as of such Distribution Date, then, in addition to the amounts distributable to the Other Class B Parties pursuant to this SectionΒ 5.01(d), forty percent (40%) of the aggregate amount of Available Cash that would otherwise be distributed to all NEP Class B Parties in respect of their Class B Units pursuant to this Section 5.01(d) (except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 7.01(c)(v)) shall instead be distributed to the Other Class B Parties, pro rata in accordance with their respective Other Class B Party Percentages, up to a maximum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the aggregate amount of Available Cash distributed to all holders of Class B Units on such Distribution Date pursuant to this SectionΒ 5.01(d).
(e)Β Β Β Β The aggregate number of Class B Units acquired by NEP Member (or its permitted assignees) pursuant to one or more exercises of the Call Option, NEP Change of Control Option, or Class B COC Option shall be measured separately on each Distribution Date. Subject to Section 5.01(d), if, on any Distribution Date, NEP Class B Parties hold Class B Units, each such Person shall be entitled to receive its proportionate share of all distributions made to holders of Class B Units pursuant to this Section 5.01 in accordance with its Class B Percentage Interest in effect as of such Distribution Date.
5.02Β Β Β Β Distributions of Amounts Other than Available Cash. The Managing Member shall determine the amount of any Build-Out Payments, Excess Insurance Proceeds, Sale Proceeds, and Bankruptcy Recoveries received by the Company from time to time and, to the
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extent legally permitted, including pursuant to Section 18-607 of the Act, shall distribute any such amounts in immediately available funds, within thirty (30) days following the end of the month in which any such amounts are received by the Company, to the holders of Class A Units and Class B Units, (a) if prior to a Distribution Adjustment Date, pro rata in accordance with their respective Unreturned Contribution Percentages as of the date of such distribution until each Memberβs Unreturned Contribution equals $0, and thereafter in accordance with the allocations of Available Cash provided under Section 5.01 and (b) if on or after a Distribution Adjustment Date, in accordance with the allocations of Available Cash provided under SectionΒ 5.01, as applicable.
5.03Β Β Β Β Distributions on Dissolution and Winding-Up. Upon a Dissolution Event, all available proceeds distributable to the Members as determined under Section 12.02 shall be distributed in the following order: (a) first, to each Member pro rata in accordance with the positive balance, if any, of such Memberβs Capital Account (determined without regard to the allocations made pursuant to Section 12.02(b)), until each Member has received such positive balance, (b) second, to each Member based upon its respective Unreturned Contribution Percentage until the amount distributed to such Member, together with any amounts distributed pursuant to clause (a) of this Section 5.03, equals the aggregate Unreturned Contribution of such Member; (c) third, to the Class B Members (including, for the avoidance of doubt, NEP Class B Parties), pro rata in accordance with their respective Class B Percentage Interests, until such Class B Members have received distributions that results in an Internal Rate of Return to such Class B Members, together with any amounts distributed pursuant to clause (a) and clause (b) of this Section 5.03, measured from the Effective Date to the date of dissolution, of either (i) eight and thirty-two hundredths of a percent (8.32%), if the dissolution occurs prior to the Flip Date, or (ii)Β nine and thirty-two hundredths of a percent (9.32%), if the dissolution occurs on or after the Flip Date (provided, however, that the Internal Rate of Return set forth in this clause (ii) shall be measured only from the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date to the date of dissolution, and, with respect to the period from the Effective Date to the day before the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date, the Internal Rate of Return shall be as set forth in clause (i)); and (d)Β fourth, any and all remaining proceeds after payment of the amounts specified in clauses (a), (b), and (c) of this Section 5.03, to the Class A Members, pro rata in accordance with their respective Class A Percentage Interests. Notwithstanding anything in the preceding sentence to the contrary, any amounts otherwise distributable to the Class B Members pursuant to clause (b) or clause (c) of this Section 5.03 shall instead be distributed to the Class A Members, pro rata in accordance with their proportionate interest in the outstanding Class A Units, to the extent necessary to ensure that the aggregate amount distributable to the Class B Members pursuant to such clauses does not cause the total proceeds distributable to such Class B Members (as determined under Section 12.02) pursuant to this Section 5.03 to exceed ninety-nine percent (99%) of such proceeds.
5.04Β Β Β Β Allocations. (a)Β For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts pursuant to Section 4.08, except as provided in Section 5.04(b) or Section 12.02(b), for each Fiscal Year or other applicable period, including any Distribution Adjustment Period or any Post-Flip Distribution Period, the Net Profits and Net Loss of the Company, including each item of income, gain, loss, credit, and deduction, shall be allocated among the Members as follows:
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(i)Β Β Β Β for the period from the Effective Date up to the first Distribution Adjustment Date and, if applicable, for any subsequent period during which Available Cash is required, pursuant to Section 5.01(b) or SectionΒ 5.01(c), to be distributed in the same proportions as set forth in Section 5.01(a) (any such period, a β95% Periodβ), ninety-five percent (95%) in the aggregate to the Class A Members, pro rata in accordance with their respective Class A Percentage Interests, and five percent (5%) in the aggregate to the Class B Members, pro rata in accordance with their respective Class B Percentage Interests; and
(ii)Β Β Β Β for all periods beginning after a Distribution Adjustment Date, except any 95% Period, one percent (1%) in the aggregate to the Class A Members, pro rata in accordance with their respective Class A Percentage Interests, and ninety-nine percent (99%) in the aggregate to the Class B Members, pro rata in accordance with their respective Class B Percentage Interests; provided, however, that, for any such period beginning on or after the Flip Date, the aggregate amount of Net Profits and Net Loss of the Company, including each item of income, gain, loss, credit, and deduction allocable in respect of the Class B Members pursuant to this Section 5.04(a)(ii) for such period, shall instead be allocated among the Class B Members in accordance with the respective amounts distributed to such Class B Members pursuant to Section 5.01(d).
The Managing Member may adopt any reasonable measures, conventions, and assumptions to give effect to the allocations required by this SectionΒ 5.04 for any Distribution Adjustment Period or any Post-Flip Date Distribution Period.
(b)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 5.04(a):
(i)Β Β Β Β Nonrecourse Deductions shall be allocated to the Members in the same proportions as the allocations of Net Profits and Net Loss were made for the Fiscal Year or other applicable period pursuant to Section 5.04(a).
(ii)Β Β Β Β Member Nonrecourse Deductions attributable to Member Nonrecourse Debt shall be allocated to the Members bearing the Economic Risk of Loss for such Member Nonrecourse Debt as determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4). If more than one Member bears the Economic Risk of Loss for such Member Nonrecourse Debt, the Member Nonrecourse Deductions attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt shall be allocated among the Members according to the ratio in which they bear the Economic Risk of Loss. This Section 5.04(b)(ii) is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(iii)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the contrary, if there is a net decrease in Minimum Gain for an allocation period (or if there was a net decrease in Minimum Gain for a prior allocation period and the Company did not have sufficient amounts of income and gain during prior periods to allocate among the Members under this Section 5.04(b)(iii)), items of income and gain shall be allocated to each Member in an amount equal to such Memberβs share of the net decrease in such Minimum Gain (as
38
determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(g)(2)). This SectionΒ 5.04(b)(iii) is intended to constitute a minimum gain chargeback under Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(iv)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary except SectionΒ 5.04(bΒ (iii) (dealing with Minimum Gain), if there is a net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain for an allocation period (or if there was a net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain for a prior allocation period and the Company did not have sufficient amounts of income and gain during prior periods to allocate among the Members under this Section 5.04(b)(iv)), items of income and gain shall be allocated to each Member in an amount equal to such Memberβs share of the net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain (as determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4)). This Section 5.04(b)(iv) is intended to constitute a partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain chargeback under Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(v)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary except Section 5.04(b)(i) and Section 5.04(b)(ii), no losses or other items of expense shall be allocated to any Member to the extent that such allocation would cause such Member to have a deficit Capital Account balance (or increase any existing deficit Capital Account balance) at the end of the allocation period in excess of the amount such Member is required to restore pursuant to Section 12.02(a)(iv). All losses and other items expense in excess of the limitation set forth in this Section 5.04(b)(v) shall be allocated to the Members who do not have a deficit Capital Account balances in excess of the amount such Member is required to restore pursuant to Section 12.02(a)(iv) in proportion to their relative positive Capital Accounts but only to the extent that such losses and other items of expense do not cause any such Member to have a deficit Capital Account balance in excess of the amount such Member is required to restore pursuant to Section 12.02(a)(iv).
(vi)Β Β Β Β If any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), or (6) resulting in a Capital Account deficit for such Member in excess of the amount such Member is required to restore pursuant to Section 12.02(a)(iv), items of income and gain will be specially allocated to such Member in any amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Treasury Regulations, such Capital Account deficit of the Member as quickly as possible; provided, however, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.04(b)(vi) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have a deficit Capital Account balance in excess of the amount such Member is required to restore pursuant to Section 12.02(a)(iv) after all other allocations provided for in this Article 5 have been tentatively made as if this SectionΒ 5.04(b)(vi) were not in this Agreement. The items of income or gain to be allocated will be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d). This subsection (vi)Β is intended to comply with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and will be applied and interpreted in accordance with such Regulations.
(vii)Β Β Β Β The allocations set forth in SectionΒ 5.04(b)(i) through
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SectionΒ 5.04(b)(vi) (the βRegulatory Allocationsβ) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2. The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Members intend to distribute the cash of the Company or allocate Company income or loss. Accordingly, the Managing Member is hereby authorized to allocate items of income, gain, loss, and deduction to the Members so as to prevent the Regulatory Allocations from distorting the manner in which cash is distributed among the Members. In general, the Members anticipate that this will be accomplished by specially allocating other items of income, gain, loss and deduction to the Members so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of such allocations and the Regulatory Allocations to the Members shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated among the Members if the Regulatory Allocations had not occurred. However, the Managing Member shall have discretion to accomplish this result in any reasonable manner, and in exercising this discretion, the Managing Member shall take into account future Regulatory Allocations under Section 5.04(b) that, although not yet made, are likely to offset other Regulatory Allocations previously made thereunder.
(c)Β Β Β Β To the maximum extent possible, except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.04(c), all items of Company income, gain, loss, and deduction for federal income tax purposes shall be allocated among the Members for such purposes in the same manner in which the corresponding items computed for Capital Account purposes are allocated pursuant to Section 5.04(a) and Section 5.04(b). Income, gain, loss, and deduction with respect to property contributed to the Company by a Member or revalued pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of βBook Valueβ shall be allocated among the Members in a manner that seeks to eliminate, by use of the βremedial methodβ pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d), the variation between the adjusted tax basis of such property and its Book Value as required by Section 704(c) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(i).
5.05Β Β Β Β Varying Interests. All items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit shall be allocated, and all distributions shall be made, to the Persons shown on the records of the Company to have been Members as of the last day of the period for which the allocation or distribution is to be made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a Member Disposes of a Membership Interest during a Fiscal Year, the Net Profits or Net Loss of the Company, and each item of income, gain, loss, credit, and deduction, allocated to such Member and its Assignee for such Fiscal Year or other applicable period will be made between such Member and its Assignee in accordance with Section 706 of the Code using any convention permitted by Section 706 of the Code and selected by the Managing Member.
5.06Β Β Β Β Amounts Withheld. The Company is authorized to withhold from payments and distributions to the Members and to pay over to any federal, state, or local Governmental Authority any amounts required to be so withheld pursuant to the Code or any provisions of any other applicable Law and shall allocate such amounts to the Members with respect to which such amounts were withheld. All amounts withheld pursuant to the Code or any provisions of any other applicable Law with respect to any payment, distribution, or allocation to the Company or the Members shall, to the extent properly remitted to the appropriate Governmental Authority, be treated for all purposes under this Agreement as amounts paid or distributed pursuant to this
40
Article 5 to the Members with respect to which such amount was withheld. To the extent operation of the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.06 would create a negative balance in a Memberβs Capital Account (or increase the amount by which such Capital Account balance is negative), such Member shall indemnify the other Members and the Company for such withholding.
ARTICLE 6
MANAGEMENT
6.01Β Β Β Β Management by Managing Member.
(a)Β Β Β Β The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by the Managing Member, and NEP Member is hereby appointed by the Members as the Managing Member of the Company. The Class A Member(s) shall have the right to designate a successor Managing Member; provided that, in the event that there is more than one Class A Member, such successor Managing Member shall be selected by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class A Units; provided, further, that the Person appointed to serve as successor Managing Member must be an Affiliate of NEP.
(b)Β Β Β Β Except as provided in Section 6.03, SectionΒ 6.04, Section 7.09, or as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Managing Member shall have full and exclusive power and authority on behalf of the Company to conduct, direct, and exercise control over all activities of the Company, to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Company, and to do or cause to be done any and all acts considered by the Managing Member to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Company, including the authority to bind the Company in making contracts and incurring obligations in the Companyβs name in the course of the Companyβs business, without the need for approval by or any other consent from any other Member. Except to the extent that a Member is also the Managing Member or authority is delegated from the Managing Member to such Member, no Member will have any authority to bind the Company or to transact any business for the Company. The Managing Member may delegate to one or more Persons all or any part of its power and authority as Managing Member hereunder, including, subject to Section 6.03(p) and SectionΒ 6.04, pursuant to any management services agreement the Company may enter into with any Affiliate of the Company, except for such power and authority with respect to Major Decisions or other matters expressly requiring a vote by or consent of the Members pursuant to this Agreement, which will be expressly retained by the Members.
6.02Β Β Β Β Standard of Care.
(a)Β Β Β Β Except for those duties expressly set forth in this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 18-1101(c) of the Act, neither the Managing Member nor any other Member shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Company or any other Member, and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the Managing Member or any other Member otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to modify, to such extent, such duties and liabilities of the Managing Member and such other Members.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall eliminate or limit (i) the express contractual provisions set forth herein or (ii) the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(b)Β Β Β Β Each Member acknowledges its express intent, and agrees with each other Member for the mutual benefit of all the Members, that, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement:
(i)Β Β Β Β to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Member, in its capacity as Member, nor any of such Memberβs or any of its Affiliatesβ respective directors, officers, stockholders, managers, members, partners, employees, or agents shall have any fiduciary duty to the Company, any other Member, or any other Person in connection with the business and affairs of the Company or any consent or approval given or withheld pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing herein shall eliminate the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and
(ii)Β Β Β Β the provisions of this Section 6.02 will apply for the benefit of each Member, and no standard of care, duty, or other legal restriction or theory of liability shall limit or modify the right of any Member to vote in the manner determined by such Member in its sole and absolute discretion, with or without cause, subject to such conditions as it shall deem appropriate, and without taking into account the interests of, and without incurring liability to, the Company, any other Member, or any officer or employee of the Company.
(c)Β Β Β Β To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law but except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, each Member hereby releases and forever discharges each other Member and its Affiliates from all liabilities that such other Member or its Affiliates might owe, under the Act or otherwise, to the Company, the releasing Member, or its Affiliates on the ground that any decision of such other Member to grant or withhold any vote, consent, or approval constituted the breach or violation of any standard of care, any fiduciary duty, or any other legal restriction or theory of liability applicable to such other Member or its Affiliates; provided, however, that nothing herein shall eliminate any Memberβs liability for any act or omission that constitutes a bad faith violation of the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Section 6.02 shall limit or waive any claims against, actions, rights to xxx, other remedies, or other recourse of the Company, any Member, or any other Person may have against any Member for a breach of contract claim relating to any binding agreement, including this Agreement.
(d)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, whenever the Managing Member makes a determination or takes or declines to take (or causes or permits a subsidiary of the Company to take or decline to take) any other action, in its capacity as such as opposed to in its individual capacity, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the Managing Member shall make such determination or take or decline to take (or cause or permit a subsidiary of the Company to 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. A determination or other action or inaction will conclusively be deemed to be in βgood faithβ for all purposes of this Agreement,
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if the Managing Member in making such determination or taking or declining to take (or causing or permitting a subsidiary of the Company to take or decline to take) such other action (i)Β reasonably believes that the determination or other action or inaction is in the best interests of the Company and its subsidiaries and (ii)Β does not take or decline to take (or cause or permit a subsidiary of the Company to take or decline to take) such action with intent to benefit any other business now owned or hereafter acquired by the Managing Member or any of its Affiliates to the detriment of the Company and its subsidiaries.
(e)Β Β Β Β Without limiting the foregoing, the Managing Member shall, and shall carry out its obligations hereunder, in accordance with all Laws and requirements of this Agreement.
6.03Β Β Β Β Major Decisions. The Company and its subsidiaries shall not, and the Managing Member shall cause the Company and its subsidiaries not to (and for the avoidance of doubt, Rosmar Holdings, LLC and Silver State South Solar, LLC shall be considered subsidiaries of the Company for so long as the Company directly or indirectly holds any equity interests therein), take any action (including by the exercise or non-exercise of the Companyβs direct or indirect approval rights in any other entity in which the Company directly or indirectly owns an interest) under this SectionΒ 6.03 (collectively, the βMajor Decisionsβ) without having first obtained Class B Member Approval (which consent, except as may be expressly provided below in this Section 6.03, may be withheld by such holders in their sole discretion):
(a)Β Β Β Β amend or waive any provisions of the Delaware Certificate, this Agreement, or the organizational documents of any subsidiary of the Company in a manner that adversely affects the Class B Membersβ interest in the Company or indirect interest in any subsidiary of the Company;
(b)Β Β Β Β alter or change the rights, preference, or privileges of the Class B Units or, if and to the extent adversely affecting the Class B Membersβ rights in the Class B Units, the Class A Units;
(c)Β Β Β Β increase or decrease the authorized or issued number of Class A Units or Class B Units;
(d)Β Β Β Β incur Indebtedness other than (i) loans pursuant to Section 4.05(a), in an aggregate amount outstanding at any one time of not more than $50 million, or (ii) in the ordinary course of business in an amount not in excess of $1 million (it being agreed that, after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Class B Member Approval shall be required under this Section 6.03(d) for the incurrence of any Indebtedness);
(e)Β Β Β Β provide for the payment of any dividend or distribution on, or the redemption or repurchase of, any equity security of the Company, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement;
(f)Β Β Β Β authorize or issue any new or additional Class A Units, Class B Units, or other equity interests of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
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(g)Β Β Β Β change the entity form, dissolve, or liquidate the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than any liquidation or merger of any Blocker Entity undertaken to liquidate such Blocker Entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes), or take any voluntary action to become Bankrupt (including any actions under ArticleΒ 12 hereof);
(h)Β Β Β Β purchase, rent, license, exchange, or otherwise acquire any material assets (it being agreed that the consent of the holders of the Class B Units shall not be required under this Section 6.03(h) with respect to any purchases or acquisitions in the ordinary course of business of spare parts or similar assets necessary to conduct the operations of the subsidiaries of the Company);
(i)Β Β Β Β Dispose of or Encumber, in any transaction or series of related transactions, any asset that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries or any assets that, in the aggregate, are material to the Company and its subsidiaries (it being agreed that (x) Class B Member Approval shall not be required under this SectionΒ 6.03(i) with respect to any Disposition or Encumbrance in the ordinary course of business of spare parts or similar assets necessary to conduct the operations of the subsidiaries of the Company and (y) after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Class B Member Approval shall be required under this SectionΒ 6.03(i) for any Disposal or Encumbrance of assets other than those described in the immediately foregoing clause (x));
(j)Β Β Β Β change any of its distribution policies, enter into any contract that prohibits or restricts distributions, or create any cash reserves in excess of the cash reserves permitted in the first sentence of the definition of Available Cash under this Agreement;
(k)Β Β Β Β enter into a new line of business other than that contemplated by Section 2.04;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(l)Β Β Β Β enter into, modify, or terminate any material acquisition or divestiture (including by merger or consolidation), joint venture, or partnership that is in excess of $1Β million;
(m)Β Β Β Β make or amend any tax election or allocation with respect to the Company or its subsidiaries in a way that would materially and adversely affect the Class B Units (including changing the Companyβs tax treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes but excluding any election to treat any Blocker Entity as an entity disregarded from the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes);
(n)Β Β Β Β enter into, amend, modify, or terminate any material contract, agreement, or transaction (including any Material Contract (as defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement)) outside the normal course of business, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed (it being agreed that withholding consent to any amendment with the effect of accelerating, deferring, or otherwise modifying the timing of payments under any power purchase agreement or other contract shall not be unreasonable);
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(o)Β Β Β Β commence, settle, terminate, or fail to pursue any material litigation, proceeding, governmental or regulatory action, or other Claim reasonably expected to involve the payment by the Company or its subsidiaries of more than $1 million individually or $5Β million in the aggregate (other than any CITC Claim, which NEP Member, on behalf of Silver State South Solar, LLC or its subsidiaries, shall be free to conduct, prosecute, settle, terminate and otherwise oversee, in its sole and absolute discretion), which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed;
(p)Β Β Β Β accelerate, delay, defer, or otherwise modify any payments, payables, receivables, or policies relating to any of the foregoing, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and the policies of the Company and its subsidiaries;
(q)Β Β Β Β adopt or amend any hedging plan or enter into, modify or terminate any hedging arrangements outside any agreed hedging plan;
(r)Β Β Β Β other than (A)Β Capital Calls pursuant to Section 4.04 and (B) Member loans in an aggregate amount outstanding at any one time of not more than $50 million pursuant to Section 4.05(a), enter into, modify, renew, fail to renew, or terminate any Affiliate Transaction that either (1) is not on armβs-length terms and in the ordinary course of business or (2) is in excess of $1 million in the aggregate for all such Affiliate Transactions, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed (it being agreed that (x) Class B Member Approval shall not be required under this Section 6.03(r) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction involving the acquisition, Disposition, or Encumbrance, on armβs-length terms and in the ordinary course of business, of spare parts or similar assets necessary to conduct the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, (y) Class B Member Approval shall be required under this SectionΒ 6.03(r) for entry into, modification, or termination of any Affiliate Transactions not in excess of $1 million in the aggregate if such Affiliate Transactions are not on armβs-length terms and (z) after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Class B Member Approval shall be required under this SectionΒ 6.03(r) for entry into, modification or termination of any Affiliate Transactions other than those described in the immediately foregoing clause (x));
(s)Β Β Β Β after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, (i) adoption or modification of any operating or capital budget, or the taking of any actions inconsistent with any such budget (ii)Β incurring, committing to, modifying or terminating any expenditure or series of related expenditures not included in, or to the extent exceeding the amount included in, the applicable operating or capital budget then in effect and approved pursuant to SectionΒ 6.03(s)(i), outside the ordinary course of business in excess of $1 million and (iii) making any Capital Call; or
(t)Β Β Β Β agree to take any of the foregoing actions.
Β Β Β Β
6.04Β Β Β Β Affiliate Transactions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement but subject to Section 6.03, the taking of any action, or failure to take any action, by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the Companyβs or such subsidiaryβs capacity as a party to an Affiliate Transaction in connection with (a) any amendment, modification, extension, renewal, election, notice, or consent by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Affiliate Transaction, (b)Β a breach, default, indemnity, or other Claim (or alleged breach, default,
45
indemnity, or other Claim) by the Company or any of its subsidiaries against a counterparty to an Affiliate Transaction or by a counterparty to an Affiliate Transaction against the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including a waiver of the breach or default, notice of breach or default, or notice of termination for breach or default in accordance with the terms of the Affiliate Transaction), or (c) the enforcement or exercise of, or failure to enforce or exercise, any of the Companyβs or any of its subsidiariesβ rights or remedies in respect to such election, notice, or consent, or breach, default, indemnity, or other Claim (or alleged breach, default, indemnity, or other Claim) shall, only after the Class B Members and the Managing Member cooperate in good faith to resolve any disputes among them arising out of or in connection with any of the foregoing, be conducted by or under the direction of the Class B Member Representative, in consultation with the Managing Member, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall, and the Managing Member shall not cause the Company or any of its subsidiaries to, take or fail to take any actions in respect of any of the foregoing without the consent of Class B Member Representative. The advisors, consultants, and other representatives retained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in connection with any matter subject to this SectionΒ 6.04 shall be selected by Class B Member Representative, in its reasonable discretion, and the reasonable, documented out-of-pocket fees, costs, and expenses of any such advisors, consultants, or representatives so selected by the Class B Member Representative shall be borne by the Company. The Class A Member hereby agrees to pursue any claims for indemnification or other remedies available on behalf of itself, any other Member, the Company or any of the Companyβs subsidiaries or any other Purchaser Indemnified Parties (as defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement) under or in respect of the Asset Purchase Agreement and to the extent any indemnification or other payments thereunder (βAPA Paymentsβ) are made to the Class A Member or any of its Affiliates, the Class A Member shall pay to the Class B Member its portion of such APA Payments to the same extent as each Class B Member would have received such APA Payments if the Company had received such APA Payments and distributed them in the same manner as Build-Out Payments are required to be distributed pursuant to Section 5.02, and for all purposes of this Agreement such payments shall be deemed distributions under Section 5.02. Without limiting the foregoing, the Asset Purchase Agreement shall be considered an Affiliate Transaction for purposes of this Section 6.04 and the Class B Members shall have the same rights hereunder with respect to the Asset Purchase Agreement as it would if the Company rather than the Class A Member were the βPurchaserβ thereunder.
6.05Β Β Β Β Officers. The Managing Member may from time to time as it deems advisable appoint officers of the Company to act on behalf of the Company and assign in writing titles (including president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer) to any such person, and any such assignment of such title shall constitute the delegation to such person of the authorities and duties that are normally associated with such title. Each such officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly appointed or until his death, resignation, or removal. Any such officer may be removed by the Managing Member at any time for any reason, with or without cause, in its sole discretion. Any new or replacement officer shall be duly appointed in writing by the Managing Member. All officers shall serve at the discretion of and subject to the direction of the Managing Member. The Managing Member shall be responsible for the actions or inactions of the officers of the Company to the same extent as the Managing Member would be responsible if such actions and inactions were taken by the Managing Member. Each person
46
listed below is hereby appointed to the office set forth opposite such personβs name, to serve until such personβs successor shall have been duly appointed or until such personβs earlier death, resignation, or removal:
Name | Title |
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx | President |
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | Vice President & Treasurer |
Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx XX | Vice President |
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | Vice President |
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | Vice President |
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx | Vice President |
Xxxxxxx XβXxxxxxxx | Vice President |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | Vice President |
Xxxxxxx Xxxx | Vice President |
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | Secretary |
W. Xxxxx Xxxxxx | Assistant Secretary |
6.06Β Β Β Β Business Opportunities.
(a)Β Β Β Β Each Member, including the Managing Member, and each Affiliate of a Member may engage in and possess interests in business ventures of any and every type and description, independently or with others, including ones in competition with the Company, with no obligation to offer to the Company, any other Member, or any Affiliate of another Member the right to participate therein. Subject to Section 6.03(p), the Company may transact business with any Member or Affiliate thereof, and no Affiliate of a Member shall be restricted in its right to conduct, individually or jointly with others, for its own account any business activities. No Member or its Affiliates shall have any duty or obligation, express or implied, fiduciary or otherwise, to account to, or to share the results or profits of such business activities with, the Company, any other Member, or any Affiliate of any other Member, by reason of such business activities. The provisions of this SectionΒ 6.06 constitute an agreement to modify or eliminate, as applicable, fiduciary duties pursuant to the provisions of SectionΒ 18-1101 of the Act.
(b)Β Β Β Β In furtherance of the foregoing, but subject to Section 6.03, each Member:
(i)Β Β Β Β renounces in advance each and every interest or expectancy it or any of its Affiliates might be considered to have under the Act, at common law or in equity, by reason of its membership in the Company in any business opportunity, or in any opportunity to participate in any business opportunity, in any business or industry in which any other Member or its Affiliates now or in the future engages, that is presented to the Company, to any other Member, to any of their respective Affiliates, or to any present or future partner, member, director, officer, manager, supervisor, employee,
47
agent, or representative of the Company or of any other Member or any of their respective Affiliates; and
(ii)Β Β Β Β waives and consents to the elimination of any fiduciary or other duty, including any duty of loyalty, that any other Member or any of its Affiliates might be considered to owe to the waiving Member, at common law or in equity, by reason of the waiving Memberβs membership in the Company, to offer to the Company or the waiving Member or any of its Affiliates any such business opportunity, or in any such opportunity to participate in any such business opportunity.
(c)Β Β Β Β The Company:
(i)Β Β Β Β renounces in advance each and every interest or expectancy it might be considered to have under the Act, at common law, or in any business opportunity, or in any opportunity to participate in any business opportunity, in any business or industry in which any Member or any of its Affiliates now or in the future engages, which is presented to such Member or any of its Affiliates or to any present or future partner, member, director, officer, manager, supervisor, employee, agent, or representative of such Member or any of its Affiliates; and
(ii)Β Β Β Β waives and consents to the elimination of any fiduciary or other duty, including any duty of loyalty, that any Member or any of its Affiliates might be considered to owe to the Company, at common law or in equity, by reason of such Memberβs membership in the Company, to offer to the Company any such business opportunity, or in any such opportunity to participate in any such business opportunity.
6.07Β Β Β Β Insurance Coverage. The Managing Member shall cause the Company to acquire and maintain casualty, general liability (including product liability), property damage, and other types of insurance as the Managing Member may deem necessary or appropriate in its reasonable discretion and as is consistent with applicable industry standards for the industry in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate and as otherwise maintained by, or required to by maintained by, the Company and its subsidiaries for any project owned or operated by the Company or its subsidiaries.
6.08Β Β Β Β Exculpation and Indemnification.
(a)Β Β Β Β To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each Member (including the Managing Member), each present and former officer of the Company, and each present and former Affiliate of a Member, and each of their respective present and former officers, directors, stockholders, partners, members, managers, employees, Affiliates, representatives, and agents, and their respective successors, heirs, and legal and personal representatives (each, a βCovered Personβ) shall have no liability to the Company, any Member, or any other Person and is hereby exculpated from any liability arising out of or relating to the Company, its business, assets, properties, subsidiaries, or liabilities or any act or omission performed or omitted by such Covered Person in relation thereto; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not eliminate any Covered Person from liability resulting from fraud, gross negligence, or the willful misconduct
48
of such Covered Person, a breach of the express provisions this Agreement, or a bad faith breach of the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6.08 shall be deemed to impose fiduciary duties on any Member or otherwise modify or limit the standard of care set forth in Section 6.02.
(b)Β Β Β Β To the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Covered Person from and against any and all Claims in which such Covered Person may be involved, or threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, arising out of or relating to the Company, its business, assets, properties, subsidiaries, or liabilities or any act or omission performed or omitted by such Covered Person in relation thereto; provided, however, that no Covered Person shall be entitled to indemnification under this Section 6.08(b) with respect to any Claim to the extent (i) resulting from fraud, gross negligence, or the willful misconduct of such Covered Person, a breach of the express provisions of this Agreement, or a bad faith breach of the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing or (ii) initiated by such Covered Person unless such Claim (or part thereof) (A)Β was brought to enforce such Personβs rights to indemnification hereunder or (B) was authorized or consented to by the Managing Member in connection with Claims brought against such Covered Person by Persons that are not the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) or Affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Expenses incurred by a Covered Person in defending any Claim shall be paid by or on behalf of the Company in advance of the final disposition of such Claim upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that such Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized by this Section 6.08(b).
(c)Β Β Β Β The Company acknowledges and agrees that the obligation of the Company under this Agreement to indemnify or advance expenses to any Covered Person for the matters covered hereby shall be the primary source of indemnification and advancement for such Covered Person in connection therewith, and any obligation on the part of any other indemnitor under any other agreement to indemnity or advance expenses to such Covered Person shall be secondary to the Companyβs obligation and shall be reduced by any amount that such Covered Person may collect as indemnification or advancement from the Company. Subject to the foregoing, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of such Covered Person against, and shall be entitled to seek contribution from, any third party, including any insurance company, that is not an Affiliate of any Member (or any insurance policy covering such Member or its Affiliates) to recover the amount of such indemnification (or such portion thereof as to which the Company shall be entitled to contribution) after the Covered Person shall have been fully and completely indemnified (whether pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise) in respect of the Claim which gave rise to such indemnification. Any such Covered Person shall fully cooperate with the Company, at the Companyβs expense, in its efforts to enforce against any such third party the rights to which it is so subrogated.
(d)Β Β Β Β The Company, as an indemnifying party from time to time, agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, its obligation to indemnify Covered Persons under this Agreement shall apply to any amounts expended by any other indemnitor under any other agreement in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses to any Covered
49
Person in connection with any Claims to the extent such amounts extended by such other indemnitor are on account of any unpaid indemnity amounts hereunder.
(e)Β Β Β Β The right of any Covered Person to the indemnification provided herein is cumulative of, and in addition to, any and all rights to which such Covered Person may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of Law or equity, and extend to such Covered Personβs successors, assigns, and legal representatives.
(f)Β Β Β Β If this SectionΒ 6.08 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction or properly constituted arbitration panel, then the Company shall nonetheless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, indemnify and hold harmless each Person entitled to be indemnified pursuant to this SectionΒ 6.08 as to liabilities to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this SectionΒ 6.08 that shall not have been invalidated.
6.09Β Β Β Β Liquidation of Certain Subsidiaries. From and after the applicable Blocker Election Date, the Class B Member Representative shall be permitted to require the Company to cause the applicable Blocker Entity to liquidate for U.S. federal income tax purposes (in each case, to the extent not previously liquidated prior to such date). Any such liquidations for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be effected by the Managing Memberβs causing an entity classification election pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3(c) to be filed to treat the applicable Blocker Entity as an entity disregarded from the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes effective on or after the applicable Blocker Election Date, or, if such election is unavailable for any reason, by causing the applicable Blocker Entity to merge with and into the Company or any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; provided, however, that the governance provisions set forth in the limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents of each Blocker Entity shall not be amended in connection with any such liquidation or merger. The Managing Member and the Class B Member Representative shall cooperate in the preparation and filing of the elections described in this Section 6.09, including by providing any necessary signatures for such elections, or, if applicable, in carrying out a merger pursuant to this Section 6.09.
ARTICLE 7
TRANSFERS AND TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
7.01Β Β Β Β General Restrictions on Transfers.
(a)Β Β Β Β Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.03 or in this Article 7, and other than Dispositions by a Member to one or more of its Affiliates, (i)Β (A) NEP Member and its Affiliates holding Class A Units may not Dispose of all or any portion of their Class A Units without Class B Member Approval and (B) prior to [β’], 2026,6. NEP Member and its Affiliates holding Class B Units may not Dispose of all or any portion of their Class B Units without Class B Member Approval, unless, in each case, prior to or concurrently with (and conditioned upon)
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6 | NTD - The date that is eighty-seven (87) months after the Effective Date. |
50
such Disposition, as applicable, as of such time, NEP Member (or its permitted assignee) purchases, pursuant to one or more exercises of the Call Option, NEP Change of Control Option, or Class B COC Call Option in accordance with Section 7.02, Section 7.03, or Section 7.04, as applicable, all of the Class B Units then outstanding and not held by NEP Member or any of its Affiliates; and (ii)Β no Class B Member (other than NEP Member and its Affiliates holding Class B Units) may Dispose of all or any portion of its Class B Units prior to the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date without the prior written consent of NEP Member, except Dispositions to one or more of its Affiliates; provided, however, that (1)Β each Class A Member shall be permitted to pledge all or a portion of its Membership Interest in, and distributions with respect to, its Class A Units in connection with a Class A Permitted Loan Financing, and each Member agrees to provide reasonable cooperation in connection therewith (it being agreed by the Members that any foreclosure under such Class A Permitted Loan Financing on pledged Class A Units shall not be deemed to violate this Section 7.01(a)); and (2) each Class B Member shall be permitted to pledge all or a portion of its Membership Interest in, and distributions with respect to, its Class B Units in connection with a Class B Permitted Loan Financing, and NEP Member agrees to provide reasonable cooperation in connection therewith (it being agreed by the Members that any foreclosure under such Class B Permitted Loan Financing on pledged Class B Units shall not be deemed to violate this Section 7.01(a)). Subject to SectionΒ 7.01(b), at any time on or after the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date, each of the Class B Members (other than NEP Member and its Affiliates holding Class B Units) may freely Dispose of all or any portion of its Class B Units to any Person, other than an Excluded Party, without the consent of NEP Member, but only to the extent that, on or prior to the date of such Class B Memberβs delivery of a Disposition Notice (as defined below) with respect to such Disposition of Class B Units, such Class B Member has not received a then pending Call Option Notice or Class B COC Notice with respect to all of the Class B Units held by such Class B Member (including a Call Option Notice or Class B COC Notice for which the Call Option Closing or Class B COC Closing has been delayed as a result of a Cash Shortfall or Class B Cash Shortfall pursuant to Section 7.02(g) or Section 7.04(e), as applicable) (in which event, such Class B Member shall be permitted to Dispose of only such number of its Class B Units as is not subject to such Call Option Notice or Class B COC Notice, as applicable), subject to the rights of NEP Member with respect to such Class B Units, as set forth in Section 7.01(c). Each Member agrees that it shall provide the Managing Member and the other Members with prior written notice of any proposed Disposition or Encumbrances of its Membership Interests (a βDisposition Noticeβ). Any attempted Disposition or Encumbrance of a Membership Interest other than in strict accordance with this Article 7 shall be, and is hereby declared, null and void ab initio.
(b)Β Β Β Β An Assignee may be admitted to the Company as a Member, with the Membership Interest so Disposed of to such Assignee, only if such Disposition is effected in accordance with Section 7.01(a) and, if applicable, Section 7.02 or Section 7.03. In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 7.01(a), any admission of an Assignee as a Member shall also be subject to the following requirements, and such Disposition (and admission, if applicable) shall not be effective unless such requirements are complied with; provided that the Managing Member, in its sole and absolute discretion, may waive any of the following requirements (it being understood and agreed that the Disposition of the Class B Units to Initial Investor by NEP Member in accordance with and pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and
51
SectionΒ 4.03 hereof satisfies all requirements set forth in this Agreement to effect such Disposition and admit Initial Investor as a Member):
(i)Β Β Β Β Disposition Documents. The following documents must be delivered to the Managing Member and must be satisfactory, in form and substance, to the Managing Member (provided that, in the case of a Disposition pursuant to a foreclosure under a Class A Permitted Loan Financing or a Class B Permitted Loan Financing, the documents under clause (B) below shall be required to be executed and delivered by only the Assignee of the Disposing Member and all expenses required to be paid under clause (ii) below may be paid by the applicable Assignee):
(A)Β Β Β Β Disposition Instrument. A copy of the instrument pursuant to which the Disposition is effected.
(B)Β Β Β Β Ratification of this Agreement. An instrument, executed by the Disposing Member and its Assignee, containing the following information and agreements, to the extent they are not contained in the instrument described in Section 7.01(b)(i)(A): (aa) the notice address of the Assignee and, if applicable, each Parent of the Assignee; (bb) the Unreturned Contribution Percentages, after giving effect to the Disposition, of the Disposing Member and its Assignee (which together must total the Unreturned Contribution Percentage of the Disposing Member before the Disposition); (cc) the Assigneeβs ratification of this Agreement and agreement to be bound by it, and its confirmation that the representations and warranties in Section 3.02 are true and correct with respect to it; and (dd) representations and warranties by the Disposing Member and its Assignee that the Disposition and admission is being made in accordance with all applicable Laws and, to the extent applicable, any Class A Permitted Loan Financing or Class B Permitted Loan Financing.
(ii)Β Β Β Β Payment of Expenses. The Disposing Member and its Assignee shall pay, or reimburse the Company for, all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Disposition and admission on or before the tenth (10th) day after the receipt by that Person of the Companyβs invoice for the amount due. The Company will provide such invoice as soon as practicable after the amount due is determined but in no event later than ninety (90) days thereafter.
(iii)Β Β Β Β No Release. No Disposition of a Membership Interest shall effect a release of the Disposing Member from any liabilities to the Company or the other Members arising from events occurring prior to the Disposition.
(iv)Β Β Β Β No Violation of Laws. No Disposition of a Membership Interest shall be permitted unless such Disposition is being made (A)Β pursuant to a valid exemption from registration under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities
52
Law and in accordance with such securities Laws and (B) in accordance with all other applicable Laws.
(v)Β Β Β Β PTP. No Disposition shall be permitted if such Disposition would result in the Companyβs being treated as a publicly traded partnership subject to tax as an association for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
(c)Β Β Β Β If, at any time on or after the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date, any Class B Member wishes to Dispose of any or all of its Class B Units other than to an Affiliate or in connection with a Liquidity Event and NEP Member has not, at such time, delivered a then pending Call Option Notice or Class B COC Notice with respect to all of the Class B Units then held by such Class B Member, then NEP Member shall have a right of first offer with respect thereto in accordance with the following provisions:
(i)Β Β Β Β The Disposing Member shall provide the Managing Member and NEP Member with a Disposition Notice specifying the number of Class B Units that the Disposing Member intends to Dispose of (which shall not include any Class B Units subject to a pending Call Option Notice).
(ii)Β Β Β Β NEP Member shall have a period of up to thirty (30) days following receipt of such Disposition Notice to offer in writing (an βOffer Noticeβ) to purchase all of the Class B Units specified in the Disposition Notice, which Offer Notice shall include the proposed aggregate purchase price (which may be payable in cash and NEP Common Units, Non-Voting NEP Common Units, or other marketable securities, as set forth in such Offer Notice) and the date on which such purchase is proposed to be consummated.
(iii)Β Β Β Β If NEP Member fails to submit an Offer Notice within such period of thirty (30) days or such Class B Member rejects NEP Memberβs offer contained in the Offer Notice, then, for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days thereafter, the Disposing Member shall be permitted to sell to any Person other than an Excluded Party all of the Class B Units specified in the Disposition Notice on terms that are, in the aggregate, no less favorable to such Class B Member than that offered by NEP Member pursuant to Section 7.01(c)(ii) hereof (including taking into account amount and form of consideration (including any liquidity discounts) and such other factors as such Class B Member may reasonably determine in good faith), subject to compliance with Section 7.01(b).
(iv)Β Β Β Β Investor hereby agrees that, in connection with any Disposition of its Class B Units pursuant to this Section 7.01(c), Investor shall use all cash and all Cash Equivalents received pursuant to this SectionΒ 7.01(c) (net of any deductions or withholdings required under applicable Law) and all other cash on hand and all Cash Equivalents of Investor, to repay, all of Investorβs then outstanding Indebtedness required to be repaid under the Credit Agreement (including any breakage costs, termination fees, or other payments that would be due or payable thereunder) and all other Indebtedness pursuant to which the Class B Units being acquired pursuant to this Section 7.01(c) are
53
Encumbered, plus the amounts required to be paid by Investor constituting amounts owed by Investor as termination payments and unpaid amounts under any swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transaction entered into in connection with the hedging of interest rates under the Credit Agreement.
(v)Β Β Β Β NEP Member may, in its sole discretion, assign to NEP or any Affiliate of NEP its right to offer to purchase the Class B Units of any Class B Member pursuant to this Section 7.01(c).
(vi)Β Β Β Β No Class B Unit acquired by NEP Member (or its assignee) pursuant to this Section 7.01(c) shall be subject to the limitation on amounts distributable to NEP Class B Parties pursuant to Section 5.01(d), and each such Class B Unit shall be eligible to receive distributions pursuant to Section 5.01(d), without regard to such limitation.
(d)Β Β Β Β If, at any time on or after [β’], 2026,7 NEP Member or any of its subsidiaries proposes to Dispose of all or any portion of its Class B Units (any such Disposition, a βTag-Along Saleβ), then NEP Member shall, at least fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the consummation of any such proposed Disposition, furnish a written notice (the βTag-Along Noticeβ) to Investor, which Tag-Along Notice shall specify (w)Β the number of Class B Units proposed to be sold in the Tag-Along Sale, (x) the aggregate purchase price proposed to be paid in the Tag-Along Sale and the form of consideration in which the purchase price will be paid, (y) the identity of the proposed purchaser, and (z)Β any other material terms offered by such purchaser. Investor shall have ten (10) Business Days following receipt of the Tag-Along Notice to deliver written notice to NEP Member indicating whether Investor wishes to include in the proposed Tag-Along Sale all (but not less than all) of the Class B Units then held by Investor and its Affiliates.
(i)Β Β Β Β If Investor exercises its rights under this Section 7.01(d), Investor shall agree to make the same representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements in connection with a Tag-Along Sale as NEP Member and its Affiliates; provided that (A) Investor shall not be required to make any representations or warranties about the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries; (B) Investor shall not be liable for the inaccuracy of any representation or warranty or the breach of any covenant made by NEP Member or any of its Affiliates; and (C) any liability relating to representations, warranties, or covenants (and related indemnities) and other indemnification obligations entered into in connection with the Tag-Along Sale shall be shared by Investor and NEP Member pro rata based on their respective gross proceeds to be received in respect of Class B Units Disposed of in the Tag-Along Sale (except with respect to representations and warranties or covenants or indemnities as to any specific holder of Class B Units, for which only such holder shall be responsible) and in any event shall not exceed the total proceeds actually received by Investor as consideration for its Class B Units in such Tag-Along Sale. Each of Investor and NEP Member will be responsible for its proportionate
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7 | NTD - The date that is eighty-seven (87) months after the Effective Date. |
54
share of the third party, out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with the proposed Tag-Along Sale.
(ii)Β Β Β Β If Investor exercises its rights under this Section 7.01(d), (A) then the closing of the Disposition of Investorβs Class B Units shall take place concurrently with the closing of the Disposition of NEP Memberβs Class B Units (as a condition to closing the Disposition of NEP Memberβs Class B Units); and (B) Investor shall use reasonable best efforts to secure any Governmental Authorization required to be obtained by Investor or any of its Affiliates and shall provide any information that may be needed from Investor in connection therewith, to comply as soon as reasonably practicable with all applicable Laws, and to take all such other actions and to execute such additional documents as are necessary or appropriate in order to consummate the sale of Investorβs Class B Units in conjunction with the Tag-Along Sale.
(iii)Β Β Β Β If the proposed purchaser elects to purchase an aggregate number of Class B Units that is less than (A) the number of Class B Units as originally agreed with NEP Member plus (B) all Class B Units held by Investor and its Affiliates, then the number of Class B Units to be sold by NEP Member and Investor and its Affiliates shall be reduced pro rata (based upon the relative number of Class B Units each of NEP Member and the Investor and its Affiliates proposes to sell in such Tag-Along Sale) to such aggregate number. In the event that Investor fails to timely exercise its rights to participate in a Tag-Along Sale pursuant to this Section 7.01(d), NEP Member shall have ninety (90) days from the date of the Tag-Along Notice to consummate the transaction on terms no more favorable to NEP Member than those set forth in the Tag-Along Notice without being required to provide an additional Tag-Along Notice to Investor. Any Class B Units not sold by NEP Member within such period of ninety (90) days shall continue to be subject to the requirements of this Section 7.01(d).
(iv)Β Β Β Β Investor hereby agrees that, in connection with the consummation of any Tag-Along Sale, Investor shall use all cash and all Cash Equivalents received pursuant to this Section 7.01(d) (net of any deductions or withholdings required under applicable Law) and all other cash on hand and all Cash Equivalents of Investor, to repay all of Investorβs then outstanding Indebtedness required to be repaid under the Credit Agreement (including any breakage costs, termination fees, or other payments that would be due or payable thereunder) and all other Indebtedness pursuant to which the Class B Units being acquired pursuant to this SectionΒ 7.01(d) are Encumbered, plus the amounts required to be paid by Investor constituting amounts owed by Investor as termination payments and unpaid amounts under any swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transaction entered into in connection with the hedging of interest rates under the Credit Agreement.
(e)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, other than Sections 7.02, 7.03, and 7.04, no Member may Dispose of all or any portion of its Membership Interest to the extent (i) the transferee is, during the period that any tax credits allocated or allowed, or that would otherwise be allocable or allowable, to any Member pursuant to Section 45 of the Code (or any successor provision) may be claimed with respect to the output of any
55
Company asset, a Person who is a Related Party; (ii) the Disposition would, with respect to any Member who is not the transferring Member, result in any recapture, loss, unavailability, delay, or disallowance of all or a portion of any credits otherwise available pursuant to Section 45 of the Code or Section 48 of the Code or Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, P.L. 111-5 (2009) (or, in each case, any successor provision) allocated or allowed, or that would otherwise be allocable or allowable, to such Member; or (iii) the Disposition would cause any of the assets held by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to become βtax-exempt use propertyβ within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code during any applicable recovery period.
7.02Β Β Β Β Call Option.
(a)Β Β Β Β At any time, and from time to time, on or after [β’], 2022,8 but prior to [β’], 2026,9 NEP Member shall have the right, but not the obligation, to acquire, subject to the limitations and requirements of this Section 7.02, all or any portion of the outstanding Class B Units at a purchase price that results in an Internal Rate of Return per Class B Unit purchased pursuant to this Section 7.02, measured from the Effective Date to the Call Option Closing Date (the βCall Option Purchase Priceβ), upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7.02 (the βCall Optionβ), of (i) eight and thirty-two hundredths of a percent (8.32%) on each Class B Unit acquired upon the exercise of such Call Option, for any Call Option Closing Date that occurs prior to the Flip Date, or (ii)Β nine and thirty-two hundredths of a percent (9.32%) on each Class B Unit acquired upon the exercise of such Call Option, for any Call Option Closing Date that occurs on or after the Flip Date (provided, however, that the Internal Rate of Return set forth in this clause (ii) shall be measured only from the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date to the applicable Call Option Closing Date, and, with respect to the period from the Effective Date to the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date, the Internal Rate of Return shall be as set forth in clause (i)). NEP Member may not assign its right to purchase the outstanding Class B Units pursuant to this Section 7.02 to any Person other than NEP or a subsidiary thereof; provided, however, that, in the event of any such assignment, NEP Member and NEP shall remain subject to their respective obligations set forth in this SectionΒ 7.02 upon any exercise of the Call Option.
(b)Β Β Β Β To exercise the Call Option, NEP Member shall deliver to the Class B Members written notice of such exercise (the βCall Option Noticeβ) following the end of trading on a Trading Day containing (i) the date (the βCall Option Closing Dateβ) on which the Call Option is to be consummated (the βCall Option Closingβ), (ii) the number of Class B Units to be purchased, (iii) the Call Option Purchase Price per Class B Unit, and (iv) the form of consideration to be used to pay the Call Option Purchase Price, which shall be either cash, Non-Voting NEP Common Units (or NEP Common Units if the holder of Class B Units to be purchased requests in writing, not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the applicable Call Option Closing Date, the issuance of NEP Common Units), or a combination of cash and Non-Voting NEP Common Units (or NEP Common Units if the holder of Class B Units to be
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8 | NTD - To be the date that is forty-two (42) months after the Effective Date. | |
9 | NTD - To be the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Effective Date. |
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purchased requests in writing, not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the applicable Call Option Closing Date, the issuance of NEP Common Units), subject to the other requirements of this Section 7.02, and the respective proportions thereof to be paid to the Class B Members (or their nominee(s)); provided, however, that NEP Member may issue a maximum of (A) three (3) Call Option Notices in any calendar year and (B) one (1) Call Option Notice in any calendar quarter. The Call Option Notice shall be delivered to the Class B Members at least seven (7) Business Days and no more than ten (10) Business Days in advance of the Call Option Closing Date and shall be irrevocable. Delivery of the initial Call Option Notice may be made prior to the first date on which NEP Member is permitted to exercise the Call Option in accordance with the preceding sentence (but for the avoidance of doubt, no Call Option Closing shall occur prior to [β’], 2022).10 No Call Option Notice may be delivered, nor may any Call Option Closing be consummated, within fourteen (14) calendar days before any date on which NEP publicly announces its earnings for any Quarter or Fiscal Year (or any other expected public announcement of earnings or other βblackout periodβ under NEP Memberβs trading policies that are applicable to all holders of NEP Common Units).
(c)Β Β Β Β The following restrictions shall apply to each exercise of the Call Option:
(i)Β Β Β Β no Call Option may be exercised, and no Call Option Notice may be issued, (i) for a number of Class B Units that is less than eight percent (8%) of the Class B Units outstanding on the date of the applicable Call Option Notice; and (ii) if, and to the extent that, as a result of such exercise, on the applicable Call Option Closing Date, the holders of Class B Units other than the NEP Class B Parties would own less than sixteen percent (16%) of the Class B Units then outstanding, unless, in the case of this clause (ii), the exercise of such Call Option is for the purchase of all remaining Class B Units not held by the NEP Class B Parties; and
(ii)Β Β Β Β the aggregate number of Class B Units purchased in any Call Option shall, cumulatively when taken together with all Class B Units purchased in all prior exercises of the Call Option, shall be no more than:
(A)Β Β Β Β from [β’], 2022,11 but prior to [β’], 2023,12 ten percent (10%) of the total number of outstanding Class B Units;
(B)Β Β Β Β from [β’], 2023,13 but prior to [β’], 202314, twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of outstanding Class B Units;
(C)Β Β Β Β from [β’], 2023,15 but prior to [β’], 2024,16 fifty percent (50%) of the total number of outstanding Class B Units;
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10 | NTD - To be the date that is forty-two (42) months after the Effective Date. | |
11 | NTD - To be the date that is forty-two (42) months after the Effective Date. | |
12 | NTD - To be the date that is forty-eight (48) months after the Effective Date. | |
13 | NTD - To be the date that is forty-eight (48) months after the Effective Date. | |
14 | NTD - To be the date that is fifty-four (54) months after the Effective Date. |
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(D)Β Β Β Β from [β’], 2024,17 but prior to [β’], 2024,18 seventy-five percent (75%) of the total number of outstanding Class B Units; and
(E)Β Β Β Β from [β’], 2024,19 but prior to [β’], 2026,20 one hundred percent (100%) of the total number of outstanding Class B Units.
(d)Β Β Β Β Non-Voting NEP Common Units (or, if requested pursuant to SectionΒ 7.02(b), NEP Common Units) may be used for payment of the Call Option Purchase Price at any Call Option Closing Date subject to the following limitations and the satisfaction of each of the following conditions as of the applicable Call Option Closing Date:
(i)Β Β Β Β the NEP Common Units are listed or admitted to trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange;
(ii)Β Β Β Β the Registration Rights Agreement is in effect with respect to the NEP Common Units into which the Non-Voting NEP Common Units are convertible, subject to and in accordance with the terms of the NEP Limited Partnership Agreement;
(iii)Β Β Β Β NEP shall have filed a registration statement with the SEC registering the resale of the NEP Common Units into which the Non-Voting NEP Common Units issued at such Call Option Closing are convertible, and such registration shall have been declared effective by the SEC, and no stop order shall have been issued with respect thereto;
Β Β Β Β
(iv)Β Β Β Β (A)Β none of NEP or its Affiliates has knowledge of previously undisclosed material events or developments that NEP or such Affiliate would be obligated to disclose publicly, under applicable Law or the rules of the National Securities Exchange on which the NEP Common Units are listed, if NEP or such Affiliate were offering and selling NEP Common Units (or other publicly traded securities), the disclosure of which would reasonably be expected to negatively affect the trading price of NEP Common Units on the applicable National Securities Exchange; and (B) NEP (or its Affiliates) shall have publicly disclosed any material events or developments that would reasonably be expected to negatively affect the trading price of NEP Common Units on the applicable National Securities Exchange at least one (1) full Trading Day (on which NEP Common Units traded on the applicable National Securities Exchange without stop or interruption) prior to the issuance of any Call Option Notice;
(v)Β Β Β Β in any exercise of the Call Option, the aggregate number of NEP Common Units and Non-Voting NEP Common Units that will be issued to holders of
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15 | NTD - To be the date that is fifty-four (54) months after the Effective Date. | |
16 | NTD - To be the date that is sixty (60) months after the Effective Date. | |
17 | NTD - To be the date that is sixty (60) months after the Effective Date. | |
18 | NTD - To be the date that is sixty-six (66) months after the Effective Date. | |
19 | NTD - To be the date that is sixty-six (66) months after the Effective Date. | |
20 | NTD - To be the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Effective Date. |
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Class B Units at the applicable Call Option Closing, together with all NEP Common Units and Non-Voting NEP Common Units issued in all prior exercises of the Call Option, shall be no more than twenty-two and one half percent (22.5%) of the total number of outstanding NEP Common Units on a Fully Diluted Basis (including any NEP Common Units to be issued at the applicable Call Option Closing); and
(vi)Β Β Β Β on such Call Option Closing Date, there being no Call Option Cash Shortfall.
(e)Β Β Β Β NEP Member may pay any Call Option Purchase Price, at its option (subject to Section 7.02(d) above), in either cash, Non-Voting NEP Common Units (or, if requested pursuant to SectionΒ 7.02(b), NEP Common Units), or a combination of cash and Non-Voting NEP Common Units (or, if requested pursuant to SectionΒ 7.02(b), NEP Common Units); provided, however, that the holder of Class B Units to be purchased shall be entitled to require, by written notice delivered to NEP Member not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the applicable Call Option Closing Date, that up to thirty percent (30%) of the Call Option Purchase Price payable at such Call Option Closing consist of cash (the βCall Option Cash Considerationβ). Any NEP Common Units or Non-Voting NEP Common Units to be issued as payment of (or partial payment of) any Call Option Purchase Price will be issued at a price (the βIssuance Priceβ) specified in the applicable Call Option Notice, which Issuance Price shall be the lesser of (i) the 10-day VWAP on the date of the Call Option Notice and (ii)Β the listed price of a NEP Common Unit as of the end of trading on the date of the Call Option Notice.
(f)Β Β Β Β On each Call Option Closing Date, (i) the Class B Members will convey all right, title, and interest in and to the applicable Class B Units, free of all Encumbrances (other than those created by this Agreement or securities Laws), to NEP Member or its nominee; (ii)Β NEP Member or its nominee will pay the cash portion of the Call Option Purchase Price to the Class B Members (or their nominee(s)) by wire transfer of immediately available funds; and (iii) NEP shall satisfy the remaining portion of the Call Option Purchase Price by issuing Non-Voting NEP Common Units (or, if requested pursuant to SectionΒ 7.02(b), NEP Common Units) to the Class B Members, and, in connection therewith, NEP shall instruct, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause, its Transfer Agent to record the issuance of such NEP Common Units or Non-Voting NEP Common Units, as the case may be, to such Class B Members (or the Margin Loan Borrower as their nominee or such other nominee(s)); provided, however, that the Call Option Closing Date may be delayed by written notice to NEP Member from the Class B Member Representative (on behalf of the Class B Members), for a period of up to, but not exceeding, seven (7) Business Days solely to the extent there is an Issuer Trading Suspension (as defined in the Margin Loan Agreement) or a Facility Adjustment Event (as defined in the Margin Loan Agreement) that exists or will exist on such Call Option Closing Date. No fractional NEP Common Units or Non-Voting NEP Common Units, as the case may be, will be issued. The Members agree that each Call Option Closing shall be subject to the receipt of all applicable Required Governmental Authorizations. In the event any such Required Governmental Authorizations shall not have been obtained by the date that is otherwise scheduled to be the Call Option Closing Date, then such Call Option Closing Date shall automatically be delayed until such date as all such Required Governmental Authorizations have been obtained and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Call Option Purchase Price set forth in the
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Call Option Notice shall be calculated from the Effective Date until the date of the actual Call Option Closing.
(g)Β Β Β Β Each Class B Member hereby agrees that, in connection with the Call Option Closing, such Class B Member (or its Affiliates) shall borrow under the Margin Loan Agreement the maximum amount available thereunder (subject to the terms and conditions of the Margin Loan, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the LTV Initial Level), and shall use such borrowings, together with any Call Option Cash Consideration and all other cash on hand and all Cash Equivalents of the Class B Member, to repay, all of such Class B Memberβs then outstanding Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement (including any breakage costs, termination fees, or other payments that would be due or payable thereunder) and all other Indebtedness required to be repaid as a result of the exercise of such Call Option, in each case, pursuant to which the Class B Units being acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Call Option are Encumbered (other than Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Margin Loan Agreement (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be secured by Encumbrances on any Class B Units)). To the extent it is determined that the net proceeds from the Margin Loan Agreement, together with any Call Option Cash Consideration (net of any deductions or withholdings therefrom pursuant to Section 7.02(l)) and any other cash on hand and Cash Equivalents of the Class B Member, are insufficient to repay in full all Indebtedness of the Class B Member and any other Indebtedness pursuant to which such Class B Units are Encumbered required to be repaid as a result of the exercise of such Call Option, plus the amounts required to be paid by the Class B Member constituting amounts owed by the Class B Member as termination payments and unpaid amounts under any swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transaction entered into in connection with the hedging of interest rates under the Credit Agreement, and minus amounts required to be paid to the Class B Member constituting amounts owed by the counterparty under any such swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transaction as termination payments and unpaid amounts under any such swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transaction (such deficiency, a βCall Option Cash Shortfallβ), then the Class B Members shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain Qualifying Financing in an amount required to remedy the Call Option Cash Shortfall as promptly as practicable. The Members agree that, until the Credit Agreement Payment In Full, each Call Option Closing shall be subject to there being no Call Option Cash Shortfall. If there is a Call Option Cash Shortfall and the applicable Class B Members are unable, using reasonable best efforts, to secure Qualifying Financing or refinance the existing Margin Loan with a Qualifying Financing or otherwise remedy the Call Option Cash Shortfall by the Call Option Closing Date, then the applicable Call Option Closing shall automatically be delayed for a period of at least five (5) Business Days until such date as the Class B Members obtain such additional or replacement financing to remedy the Call Option Cash Shortfall or there otherwise would no longer be a Call Option Cash Shortfall associated with the exercise of such Call Option; provided, however, that at the applicable Call Option Closing (if any) following the end of such delay, (i) the Call Option Purchase Price shall be calculated from the Effective Date to the date on which such Call Option Closing actually occurs, and (ii) the Issuance Price of the NEP Common Units and Non-Voting NEP Common Units, if any, to be issued as payment (or partial payment) of the applicable Call Option Purchase Price shall be the price set forth in the original Call Option Notice. If the Call Option Closing is delayed for more than ten (10) Business Days in connection with the preceding sentence, then the NEP Member
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and applicable Class B Members shall work in good faith to remedy the applicable Call Option Cash Shortfall (provided that the foregoing shall not require the Class B Members to take any actions to remedy such Call Option Cash Shortfall other than seeking additional or replacement financing in accordance with this Section 7.02(g)). If the NEP Member and Class B Members are unable to remedy the applicable Call Option Cash Shortfall within twenty (20) Business Days thereafter, then the applicable Call Option Notice shall be deemed revoked. If the Class B Members are able to obtain Qualifying Financing in an amount sufficient to remedy the Call Option Cash Shortfall, then (1) the Class B Member Representative shall promptly deliver written notice thereof to NEP Member, and (2) the Call Option Closing shall occur as promptly thereafter as practicable.
(h)Β Β Β Β Following consummation of the Call Option pursuant to which all of a Class B Memberβs Class B Units are acquired by NEP Member (or its nominee), the Managing Member will amend this Agreement to reflect the withdrawal of such Class B Member and the transfer of the Class B Units effective as of the applicable Call Option Closing.
(i)Β Β Β Β If, in the exercise of any Call Option, the number of Class B Units to be purchased is less than all of the outstanding Class B Units and there are multiple holders of such Class B Units, the Class B Units so purchased will be acquired pro rata from the Class B Members (other than NEP Member and its Affiliates, if they hold Class B Units) based on the number of Class B Units held.
(j)Β Β Β Β Each Member agrees to cooperate fully with the Company, the Managing Member, and NEP to effect the Call Option Closing, including using its reasonable best efforts to obtain all applicable Governmental Authorizations, terminating and releasing all Encumbrances on the Class B Units (other than those created by this Agreement or securities Laws), and entering into any agreements and instruments and executing any certificates or other documents the Managing Member reasonably deems necessary or appropriate to consummate the Disposition of the Class B Units. The Class B Members and NEP agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to coordinate with the Transfer Agent to record the issuance of NEP Common Units and Non-Voting NEP Common Units, as the case may be, to such Class B Members (or the Margin Loan Borrower as their nominee or such other nominee(s)). Investor agrees that it shall use reasonable best efforts to (i) cause the Call Option Closing to occur as promptly as practicable (it being agreed that Investor shall not be required to seek any additional capital contributions from its equity holders or Affiliates or any other financing other than a Qualifying Financing in accordance with this Section 7.02 in order to cure any Call Option Cash Shortfall), (ii) keep NEP Member reasonably informed of developments in Investorβs efforts to obtain Qualifying Financing, and (iii) set a Call Option Closing Date mutually agreed upon by NEP Member.
(k)Β Β Β Β Until the Credit Agreement Payment in Full, the Class B Member agrees that it shall not incur Indebtedness, under the Credit Agreement or otherwise, in excess of the amount of Indebtedness borrowed under the Credit Agreement on the Effective Date, plus the amount of Indebtedness subsequently incurred under the Credit Agreement pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof or (provided that the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness of the Class B Member under the Credit Agreement following the effectiveness
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of any such changes in terms shall not exceed the Maximum Amount immediately prior to such changes) on terms not less favorable to the Class A Members, plus amounts under any swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transactions of the nature described in Section 7.02(g), plus $1,000,000.00. The Class B Member further agrees that it shall not take any actions or omit to take any actions which result in Encumbrances on the Class B Units securing Indebtedness in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000,000.00, other than Encumbrances that secure the obligations of the Class B Member under the Credit Agreement or any related loan documents and under any swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transactions of the nature described in Section 7.02(g).
(l)Β Β Β Β The NEP Member or its nominee shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from each Call Option Purchase Price the amounts each NEP Member or its nominee is required to deduct and withhold under any applicable Law, and amounts so withheld and properly remitted to the appropriate Governmental Authority shall be deemed paid for all purposes of this Agreement to the Person with respect to which such amount was withheld; provided that any such amounts shall be specified by the NEP Member in the applicable Call Option Notice; provided, further, that if, on the Call Option Closing Date, the Class B Members deliver to the NEP Member or its nominee withholding certificates pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-2(b)(2) and, in the case of a sale of the Class B Units, IRS Notice 2018-29, that the Class B Member (or if such entity is a disregarded entity, its regarded owner) is not a non-U.S. person, the NEP Member or its nominee shall not withhold any amounts under Section 1445 or Section 1446(f) of the Code unless there is a change in applicable Law prior to the Call Option Closing Date that requires such withholding.
7.03Β Β Β Β Change of Control of NEP.
(a)Β Β Β Β If, at any time, there is an announcement of a proposed Change of Control of NEP (or the entry into any agreement providing therefor), then, commencing on the date of such announcement of a proposed Change of Control of NEP or such entry into such agreement and ending on the date that is ninety (90) calendar days after the consummation of such Change of Control of NEP, each Class B Member shall have the right, but not the obligation, to require NEP Member to acquire all or any portion of the Class B Units held by such Class B Member at a purchase price for each Class B Unit for which such election is made that is the greater of (i) a purchase price that results in a return to such Class B Member of at least an Internal Rate of Return on each such Class B Unit purchased pursuant to this Section 7.03, measured from the Effective Date to the Change of Control Closing Date, of nine and thirty-two hundredths of a percent (9.32%) or (ii) an amount that, together with the aggregate amount of distributions received by such Member in respect of such Class B Units, provides a return of 140% of such Class B Memberβs aggregate Capital Contributions in respect of such Class B Units, measured from the date on which any applicable Capital Contribution is made to the Company to the Change of Control Closing Date (collectively, the βChange of Control Purchase Priceβ), upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7.03 (the βNEP Change of Control Optionβ). NEP Member may not assign its obligation to purchase such Class B Units pursuant to this SectionΒ 7.03 to any Person other than NEP or a subsidiary thereof.
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(b)Β Β Β Β To exercise its rights pursuant to Section 7.03(a), a Class B Member shall deliver to NEP Member written notice executed by such Class B Member of such exercise (the βChange of Control Noticeβ) containing (i) the date on which the acquisition of the Class B Units identified in the Change of Control Notice (the βChange of Control Closingβ) is to be consummated (such date, the βChange of Control Closing Dateβ), and (ii) the number of Class B Units to be purchased and the Change of Control Purchase Price per Class B Unit. NEP Member may pay the Change of Control Purchase Price, at its option, in either cash, Non-Voting NEP Common Units (or NEP Common Units if the holder of Class B Units to be purchased requests in writing, not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the applicable Change of Control Closing Date, the issuance of NEP Common Units), or a combination of cash and Non-Voting NEP Common Units (or NEP Common Units if the holder of Class B Units to be purchased requests in writing, not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the applicable Change of Control Closing Date, the issuance of NEP Common Units); provided, however, that NEP may issue a security that is substantially equivalent to the NEP Common Units in terms of rights, preferences and privileges, including with respect to economics, governance, transferability and liquidity, if, as a result of the Change of Control of NEP, NEP will cease to exist or the NEP Common Units will cease to be listed on a National Securities Exchange. If some or all of the Change of Control Purchase Price consists of NEP Common Units or Non-Voting NEP Common Units, the Issuance Price for each such NEP Common Unit or Non-Voting NEP Common Unit will be specified as the 10-day VWAP of the NEP Common Units on the date of the announcement of the proposed Change of Control of NEP. The Change of Control Notice shall be delivered to NEP Member at least seven (7) Business Days and no more than ten (10) Business Days in advance of the Change of Control Closing Date.
(c)Β Β Β Β On the Change of Control Closing Date, (i) each Class B Member exercising the NEP Change of Control Option will convey the Class B Units identified in the applicable Change of Control Notice, free of all Encumbrances (other than those created by this Agreement or securities Laws), to NEP Member or its nominee; (ii)Β NEP Member or its nominee (or, if the foregoing do not pay, NEP) will pay the cash portion, if any, of the Change of Control Purchase Price to such Class B Member (or its nominee(s)) by wire transfer of immediately available funds; and (iii)Β NEP shall satisfy the remaining portion, if any, of the Change of Control Purchase Price by issuing NEP Common Units, Non-Voting NEP Common Units, or a substantially equivalent security, as determined pursuant to Section 7.03(b), to such Class B Member no later than three (3) Business Days after the Change of Control Closing Date, and, in connection therewith, NEP shall instruct, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause, its Transfer Agent to record the issuance of such NEP Common Units or Non-Voting NEP Common Units, as the case may be, to such Class B Member (or the Margin Loan Borrower as their nominee or such other nominee(s)). No fractional NEP Common Units or Non-Voting NEP Common Units, as the case may be, will be issued. The Members agree that the Change of Control Closing shall be subject to the receipt of all applicable Required Governmental Authorizations. In the event any such Required Governmental Authorizations shall not have been obtained by the date that is otherwise scheduled to be the Change of Control Closing Date, then such Change of Control Closing date shall automatically be delayed until such date as all such Required Governmental Authorizations have been obtained and, for the avoidance of doubt,
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the Change of Control Purchase Price set forth in the Change of Control Notice shall be calculated from the Effective Date until such date of the actual Change of Control Closing.
(d)Β Β Β Β Investor hereby agrees that, in connection with the Change of Control Closing, Investor (or its Affiliates) shall use any cash portion of the Change of Control Purchase Price and all cash on hand and all Cash Equivalents of Investor to repay all of Investorβs then outstanding Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement (including any breakage costs, termination fees, or other payments that would be due or payable thereunder) and all other Indebtedness required to be repaid as a result of the exercise of such NEP Change of Control Option, in each case, pursuant to which the Class B Units being acquired pursuant to the exercise of such NEP Change of Control are Encumbered (other than Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Margin Loan Agreement (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be secured by Encumbrances on any Class B Units)). To the extent it is determined that the cash portion (if any) of the Change of Control Purchase Price (net of any deductions or withholdings required under applicable Law), and all cash on hand and all Cash Equivalents of Investor are insufficient to repay in full all Indebtedness of Investor and any other Indebtedness pursuant to which such Class B Units are Encumbered required to be repaid as a result of the exercise of such NEP Change of Control Option, plus the amounts required to be paid by Investor constituting amounts owed by Investor as termination payments and unpaid amounts under any swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transaction entered into in connection with the hedging of interest rates under the Credit Agreement, and minus amounts required to be paid to Investor constituting amounts owed by the counterparty under any such swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transaction as termination payments and unpaid amounts under any such swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transaction (such deficiency, a βChange of Control Cash Shortfallβ), then Investor shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain Qualifying Financing in an amount required to remedy the Change of Control Cash Shortfall. The Members agree that, until the Credit Agreement Payment In Full, each Change of Control Closing shall be subject to there being no Change of Control Cash Shortfall. If there is a Change of Control Cash Shortfall and Investor is unable, using reasonable best efforts, to secure Qualifying Financing by the Change of Control Closing Date, then the applicable Change of Control Closing shall automatically be delayed for a period of at least five (5) Business Days until such date as Investor obtains such additional or replacement financing to remedy the Change of Control Cash Shortfall or there otherwise would no longer be a Change of Control Cash Shortfall associated with the exercise of such NEP Change of Control Option. If the Change of Control Closing is delayed for more than ten (10) Business Days in connection with the preceding sentence, then NEP Member and Investor shall work in good faith to remedy the applicable Change of Control Cash Shortfall (provided that the foregoing shall not require Investor to take any actions to remedy such Change of Control Cash Shortfall other than seeking additional or replacement financing in accordance with this Section 7.03(d)). If the NEP Member and Investor are unable to remedy the applicable Change of Control Cash Shortfall within twenty (20) Business Days thereafter, then the applicable Change of Control Notice shall be deemed revoked; provided, however, that, if Investor notifies NEP Member in writing that it is continuing to using reasonable best efforts to obtain Qualifying Financing to remedy the applicable Change of Control Cash Shortfall, the applicable Change of Control Closing shall automatically be delayed for an additional period of ninety (90) days, and the applicable Change of Control Notice shall be deemed revoked if such Call Option Closing
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shall not have occurred prior to the expiration of such period of ninety (90) days (or sooner if the Class B Member shall send a written notice of revocation to the NEP Member). If Investor is able to obtain Qualifying Financing in an amount equal to or greater than the Change of Control Cash Shortfall, then (1)Β Investor shall promptly deliver written notice thereof to NEP Member, (2) the Call Option Closing shall occur as promptly thereafter as practicable, (3) the Change of Control Purchase Price shall be calculated from the Effective Date to the date on which such Change of Control Closing actually occurs, and (4) the Issuance Price of the NEP Common Units and Non-Voting NEP Common Units, if any, to be issued as payment (or partial payment) of the applicable Change of Control Purchase Price shall be the price set forth in the original Change of Control Notice.
(e)Β Β Β Β Following consummation of the transactions contemplated by this SectionΒ 7.03, to the extent a Class B Member has Disposed of all of its Class B Units, the Managing Member will amend this Agreement to reflect the withdrawal of such Class B Member and the transfer of such Class B Units effective as of the Change of Control Closing.
(f)Β Β Β Β Each Member agrees to cooperate fully with the Company, the Managing Member, and NEP to effect the Change of Control Closing as reasonably requested, including using its reasonable best efforts to obtain all applicable Governmental Authorizations, terminating and releasing all Encumbrances on the Class B Units (other than those created by this Agreement or securities Laws), and entering into any agreements and instruments and executing any certificates or other documents the Managing Member reasonably deems necessary or appropriate to consummate the Disposition of the Class B Units (provided that the foregoing shall not require Investor to take any actions to remedy any Change of Control Cash Shortfall other than using all cash on hand of Investor seeking additional or replacement financing in accordance with Section 7.03(d)). Investor agrees that it shall use reasonable best efforts to (i) cause the Change of Control Closing to occur as promptly as practicable, (ii) keep NEP Member reasonably informed of developments in Investorβs efforts to obtain Qualifying Financing, and (iii) set a Change of Control Closing Date mutually agreed upon by NEP Member. The Class B Members and NEP agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to coordinate with the Transfer Agent to record the issuance of NEP Common Units and Non-Voting NEP Common Units, as the case may be, to such Class B Members (or the Margin Loan Borrower as their nominee or such other nominee(s)).
7.04Β Β Β Β Change of Control of a Class B Member.
(a)Β Β Β Β If, at any time prior to the Flip Date, there is an announcement of a proposed Change of Control of a Class B Member or a Class B Member enters into any agreement providing therefor, then, commencing on the date of such announcement of a proposed Change of Control of a Class B Member or such entry into such agreement and ending on the date that is ninety (90) calendar days after the consummation of such Change of Control of such Class B Member, NEP Member shall have the right, but not the obligation, to acquire all or any portion of the outstanding Class B Units held by such Class B Member (in such capacity, the βCOC Memberβ) at a purchase price that results in an Internal Rate of Return on each Class B Unit for each Class B Unit for which such election is made, measured from the Effective Date to the Class B COC Closing Date, of eight and thirty-two hundredths of a percent (8.32%) (the
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βClass B COC Purchase Priceβ), upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7.04 (the βClass B COC Optionβ). NEP Member may not assign its right to purchase the applicable Class B Units pursuant to this Section 7.04 to any Person other than NEP or a subsidiary thereof; provided, however, that, in the event of any such assignment, NEP Member and NEP shall remain subject to their respective obligations set forth in this SectionΒ 7.04 upon any exercise of the Class B COC Option.
(b)Β Β Β Β To exercise the Class B COC Option, NEP Member shall deliver to the COC Member written notice of such exercise (the βClass B COC Noticeβ) containing (i) the date (the βClass B COC Closing Dateβ) on which the Class B COC Option is to be consummated (the βClass B COC Closingβ), (ii) the number of Class B Units to be purchased, (iii) the Class B COC Purchase Price per Class B Unit, and (iv) the form of consideration to be used to pay the Class B COC Purchase Price, which shall be, at NEP Memberβs election, either cash, Non-Voting NEP Common Units (or NEP Common Units if the holder of Class B Units to be purchased requests in writing, not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the applicable Class B COC Closing Date, the issuance of NEP Common Units), or a combination of cash and Non-Voting NEP Common Units (or NEP Common Units if the holder of Class B Units to be purchased requests in writing, not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the applicable Class B COC Closing Date, the issuance of NEP Common Units); provided, however, that the holder of Class B Units to be purchased shall be entitled to require, by written notice delivered to NEP Member not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the applicable Class B COC Closing Date, that up to thirty percent (30%) of the Class B COC Purchase Price payable at such Class B COC Closing consist of cash. If some or all of the Class B COC Purchase Price consists of NEP Common Units or Non-Voting NEP Common Units, the Issuance Price for each such NEP Common Unit or Non-Voting NEP Common Unit will be specified as the 10-day VWAP of the NEP Common Units on the date of the announcement of, or entry into agreement with respect to, the proposed Change of Control of the applicable Class B Member. The Class B COC Notice shall be delivered to the COC Member at least seven (7) Business Days and no more than ten (10) Business Days in advance of the Class B COC Closing Date.
(c)Β Β Β Β Non-Voting NEP Common Units (or, if requested pursuant to SectionΒ 7.04(b), NEP Common Units) may be used for payment of the Class B COC Purchase Price at any Class B COC Closing Date only if each of the following conditions is satisfied as of the applicable Class B COC Closing Date:
(i)Β Β Β Β the NEP Common Units are listed or admitted to trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange;
(ii)Β Β Β Β the Registration Rights Agreement is in effect with respect to the NEP Common Units into which the Non-Voting NEP Common Units are convertible, subject to and in accordance with the terms of the NEP Limited Partnership Agreement;
(iii)Β Β Β Β NEP shall have filed a registration statement with the SEC registering the resale of the NEP Common Units into which the Non-Voting NEP Common Units issued at such Class B COC Closing are convertible, and such registration
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shall have been declared effective by the SEC, and no stop order shall have been issued with respect thereto; and
(iv)Β Β Β Β the aggregate number of NEP Common Units and Non-Voting NEP Common Units that will be issued to holders of Class B Units at the Class B COC Closing, together with all NEP Common Units and Non-Voting NEP Common Units issued in all prior exercises of the Call Option, shall be no more than twenty-two and one half percent (22.5%) of the total number of outstanding NEP Common Units on a Fully Diluted Basis (including any NEP Common Units to be issued at the applicable Class B COC Closing).
(d)Β Β Β Β On the Class B COC Closing Date, (i) the COC Member will convey all of its right, title, and interest in and to such COC Memberβs Class B Units identified in the Class B COC Notice, free of all Encumbrances (other than those created by this Agreement or securities Laws), to NEP Member or its nominee; (ii)Β NEP Member or its nominee will pay the cash portion of the Class B COC Purchase Price to such COC Member (or its nominee) by wire transfer of immediately available funds; and (iii)Β NEP shall satisfy the remaining portion of the Class B COC Purchase Price by issuing Non-Voting NEP Common Units (or, if requested by the COC Member pursuant to Section 7.04(b), NEP Common Units) to such COC Member no later than three (3) Business Days after the Class B COC Closing Date, and, in connection therewith, NEP shall instruct, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause, its Transfer Agent to record the issuance of such Non-Voting NEP Common Units or NEP Common Units, as the case may be, to such COC Member (or its nominee). No fractional NEP Common Units or Non-Voting NEP Common Units, as the case may be, will be issued. The Members agree that the Class B COC Closing shall be subject to the receipt of all applicable Required Governmental Authorizations. In the event any such Required Governmental Authorizations shall not have been obtained by the date that is otherwise scheduled to be the Class B COC Closing Date, then such Class B COC Closing date shall automatically be delayed until such date as all such Required Governmental Authorizations have been obtained and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Class B COC Purchase Price set forth in the Class B COC Notice shall be calculated from the Effective Date until such date as all such Required Governmental Authorizations have been obtained.
(e)Β Β Β Β Investor hereby agrees that, in connection with the Class B COC Closing, Investor (or its Affiliates) shall use any cash portion of the Class B COC Purchase Price and all other cash on hand and all Cash Equivalents of Investor to repay all of Investorβs then outstanding Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement (including any breakage costs, termination fees, or other payments that would be due or payable thereunder) and all other Indebtedness required to be repaid as a result of the exercise of such Class B COC Option, in each case, pursuant to which the Class B Units being acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Class B COC Option are Encumbered (other than Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Margin Loan Agreement (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be secured by Encumbrances on any Class B Units)). To the extent it is determined that the cash portion (if any) of the Class B COC Purchase Price (net of any deductions or withholdings required under applicable Law), and all cash on hand and all Cash Equivalents of Investor, are insufficient to repay in full all Indebtedness of Investor and any other Indebtedness pursuant to which such Class B Units are
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Encumbered required to be repaid as a result of the exercise of such Class B COC Closing, plus the amounts required to be paid by Investor constituting amounts owed by Investor as termination payments and unpaid amounts under any swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transaction entered into in connection with the hedging of interest rates under the Credit Agreement, and minus amounts required to be paid to Investor constituting amounts owed by the counterparty under any such swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transaction as termination payments and unpaid amounts under any such swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transaction (such deficiency, a βClass B COC Cash Shortfallβ), then Investor shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain Qualifying Financing in an amount required to remedy the Class B COC Cash Shortfall. The Members agree that until the Credit Agreement Payment In Full, each Class B COC Closing shall be subject to there being no Class B COC Cash Shortfall. If there is a Class B COC Cash Shortfall and Investor is unable, using reasonable best efforts, to secure Qualifying Financing by the Class B COC Closing Date, then the applicable Class B COC Closing shall automatically be delayed for a period of at least five (5) Business Days until such date as Investor obtains such additional or replacement financing to remedy the Class B COC Cash Shortfall or there otherwise would no longer be a Class B COC Cash Shortfall associated with the exercise of such Class B COC Option. If the Class B COC Closing is delayed for more than ten (10) Business Days in connection with the preceding sentence, then NEP Member and Investor shall work in good faith to remedy the applicable Class B COC Cash Shortfall (provided that the foregoing shall not require Investor to take any actions to remedy such Class B COC Cash Shortfall other than seeking additional or replacement financing in accordance with this Section 7.04(e)). If Investor is able to obtain Qualifying Financing in an amount equal to or greater than the Class B COC Cash Shortfall, then (1) Investor shall promptly deliver written notice thereof to NEP Member, (2) the Class B COC Closing shall occur as promptly thereafter as practicable, (3)Β the Class B COC Purchase Price shall be calculated from the Effective Date to the date on which such Class B COC Closing actually occurs, and (4)Β the Issuance Price of the NEP Common Units and Non-Voting NEP Common Units, if any, to be issued as payment (or partial payment) of the applicable Class B COC Purchase Price shall be the price set forth in the original Class B COC Notice.
(f)Β Β Β Β Each Member agrees to cooperate fully with the Company, the Managing Member, and NEP to effect the Class B COC Closing as reasonably requested, including using its reasonable best efforts to obtain all applicable Governmental Authorizations, terminating and releasing all Encumbrances on the applicable Class B Units (other than those created by this Agreement or securities Laws), and entering into any agreements and instruments and executing any certificates or other documents the Managing Member reasonably deems necessary or appropriate to consummate the Disposition of the applicable Class B Units (provided that the foregoing shall not require the Class B Members to take any actions to remedy any Class B COC Cash Shortfall other than seeking additional or replacement financing in accordance with Section 7.04(e)). The Class B Members and NEP agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to coordinate with the Transfer Agent to record the issuance of NEP Common Units and Non-Voting NEP Common Units, as the case may be, to the COC Member (or its nominee).
(g)Β Β Β Β Until the earlier of the date that (A) the Credit Agreement Payment in Full or (B) the Flip Date occurs, the Class B Member agrees that it shall not incur Indebtedness, under the Credit Agreement or otherwise, in excess of the amount of Indebtedness borrowed
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under the Credit Agreement on the Effective Date, plus the amount of Indebtedness subsequently incurred under the Credit Agreement pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof or (provided that the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness of the Class B Member under the Credit Agreement following the effectiveness of any such changes in terms shall not exceed the Maximum Amount immediately prior to such changes) on terms not less favorable to the Class A Members, plus amounts under any swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transactions of the nature described in Section 7.04(d), plus $1,000,000.00. The Class B Member further agrees that, prior to the Flip Date, it shall not take any actions or omit to take any actions which result in Encumbrances on the Class B Units securing Indebtedness in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000,000.00, other than Encumbrances that secure the obligations of the Class B Member under the Credit Agreement or any related loan documents and under any swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transactions of the nature described in Section 7.04(d).
7.05Β Β Β Β Non-Voting NEP Common Units.
(a)Β Β Β Β Subject to and in accordance with the terms of the NEP Limited Partnership Agreement, (i) a Non-Voting NEP Common Unit shall automatically convert into one (1) NEP Common Unit immediately upon the Disposition of such Non-Voting NEP Common Unit to any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Class B Member Disposing of such Non-Voting NEP Common Unit; and (ii)Β each Class B Member shall have the right, but not the obligation, to convert all or any portion of the Non-Voting NEP Common Units held by it into NEP Common Units on the date that is sixty-one (61) days following delivery to the Company and NEP by such Class B Member of a written election of conversion. NEP hereby agrees that it shall not, without the consent of the Class B Members, alter, amend, or waive any provision of the NEP Limited Partnership Agreement in a manner that would require the consent of the Non-Voting NEP Common Units if the Non-Voting NEP Common Units were outstanding and held solely by the Class B Members.
(b)Β Β Β Β In the event of a Disposition of Non-Voting NEP Common Units, NEP hereby agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate the conversion of such Non-Voting NEP Common Units in connection with such Disposition, including coordinating with the Transfer Agent to facilitate such Disposition and to record the transfer and conversion of Non-Voting NEP Common Units in a manner that permits the sale of the Non-Voting NEP Common Units in market transactions.
7.06Β Β Β Β Certain Assistance.
(a)Β Β Β Β After the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Effective Date, subject to SectionΒ 7.01(c), Managing Member shall use commercially reasonable efforts to assist Investor in connection with a private placement of the Class B Units then held by Investor and its Affiliates if such Class B Units are not acquired by NEP Member (or its assignee) pursuant to SectionΒ 7.01(c). In furtherance of the foregoing, the Managing Member shall, and shall cause the Company and its subsidiaries to, use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with, provide reasonable assistance with respect to, and take customary actions reasonably requested by Investor, including (a) making the Companyβs properties, books and records, and other assets
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reasonably available for inspection by potential acquirers, (b) establishing a physical or electronic data room that includes materials customarily made available to potential acquirers in connection with such processes, (c) upon reasonable notice, making employees of the Managing Member, the Company, and its Affiliates reasonably available for presentations, site visits, interviews, and other diligence activities, and (d) reasonably assisting in the termination of Encumbrances on the Class B Units under any Class B Permitted Loan Financing and in the perfection of any security interest of other Encumbrances on the Class B Units by the lenders of any such potential acquirers, subject, in each case, to customary confidentiality provisions; provided that none of the foregoing actions unreasonably interferes with the operation of any business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Investor shall, promptly upon written request by NEP Member, reimburse NEP Member and its Affiliates for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs, fees, and expenses (including attorneysβ fees and expenses), incurred by NEP Member or any of its Affiliates or any of the directors, officers, managers, members, partners, employees, stockholders, representatives, advisors, or Affiliates of NEP Member or any of its Affiliates in connection with any such Personβs complying with the obligations under this Section 7.06(a).
(b)Β Β Β Β In connection with (i) any Class B Member seeking any additional or substitute financing in accordance with Section 7.02(g), Section 7.03(d), or Section 7.04(e) in order to remedy any Call Option Cash Shortfall, Change of Control Cash Shortfall, or Class B COC Cash Shortfall, as applicable, or (ii) any Class B Permitted Loan Financing following the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Effective Date (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any modification to or replacement of any existing Class B Permitted Loan Financing), the Managing Member and the Company shall, and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Companyβs and its subsidiariesβ authorized representatives to, cooperate, in all cases at the Class B Membersβ sole cost and expense and upon reasonable advance notice by the Class B Members in connection with the Class B Membersβ efforts to arrange, consummate, and obtain any such financing described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii). The Managing Member and the Company agree that such cooperation shall be on terms (including with respect to rights to indemnification) that are identical to the cooperation provided by the Company and NEP under Section 5.04 of the Purchase Agreement, mutatis mutandis, in connection with any such financing.
7.07Β Β Β Β Standstill and Notice of Ownership.
(a)Β Β Β Β Except (A) as permitted pursuant to the exercise of any Call Option, NEP Change of Control Option, or Class B COC Option or (B) with respect to any Class B Permitted Loan Financing or any swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transactions of the nature described in Section 7.02(g) that is entered into pursuant to any hedging of interest rates under the Credit Agreement or Margin Loan Agreement, Investor and each other Class B Member agrees that, for so long as such Person or any of its Affiliates, Affiliated Funds, or Affiliated Investment Vehicles holds Class B Units, neither such Person nor any of its Affiliates, Affiliated Funds, or Affiliated Investment Vehicles, or any of its or their respective representatives (acting on behalf of, or in concert with, Investor or any of its other representatives), will in any manner, directly or indirectly, (i) effect (or seek, offer, or propose to effect), (ii)Β announce any intention to effect, or (iii) cause or participate in or in any way knowingly assist, facilitate, or encourage
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any other person to effect (or seek, offer, or propose to effect) any short sale or any purchase, sale, or grant of any option, warrant, convertible security, unit appreciation right, or other similar right (including any put or call option or βswapβ or hedging transaction with respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index)) that includes, relates to, or derives any significant part of its value from a decline in the market price or value of any NEP Common Units or any other securities of NEP if, as a result of such short sale, purchase, sale, or grant Investor would no longer have a βnet long positionβ (as defined in Rule 14e-4 promulgated under the Exchange Act) in respect of NEP Common Units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 7.07(a) (1) shall not apply to or restrict the activities of any of Investorβs Affiliates, Affiliated Funds, and Affiliated Investment Vehicles other than Investor Fund and any such Affiliates, Affiliated Funds, and Affiliated Investment Vehicles as are Controlled by Investor Fund and (2) shall terminate and no longer be of any effect following the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Effective Date.
(b)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if and for so long as any Class B Member is in violation of the provisions of SectionΒ 7.07(a), the Managing Member shall be entitled to withhold from such Class B Member and its Affiliates holding Class B Units all distributions that they would otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to Section 5.01 and Section 5.02, in each case, until such Class B Member has complied with the requirements of this Section 7.07.
7.08Β Β Β Β Governmental Authorizations.
(a)Β Β Β Β In furtherance and not in limitation of each Memberβs obligations pursuant to Section 7.02, Section 7.03, and Section 7.04, each Member shall cooperate with the Managing Member and each other Member and shall use reasonable best efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and to do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper, or advisable on its part to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable, including preparing and filing as promptly as reasonably practicable all documentation to obtain all Required Governmental Authorizations, including under the HSR Act and as may be required by the FERC. The Company shall pay all filing fees to obtain such Required Governmental Authorizations.
(b)Β Β Β Β In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each of the Members agrees that, to the extent the Managing Member determines that any Required Governmental Authorization is needed in connection with the occurrence of a Distribution Adjustment Date or the consummation of the Call Option, the NEP Change of Control Option, or the Class B COC Option, the applicable Members (and their respective subsidiaries, if applicable) shall file, or cause to be filed, all appropriate notifications, applications, and filings in connection therewith, including pursuant to the HSR Act and as may be required by the FERC, as promptly as practicable and shall promptly supply any additional information and documentary material that may be requested of such Person by the applicable Governmental Authorities in connection with the HSR Act or any other Law. Each of the Members agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to promptly furnish any information required to be submitted to comply with any request for information or equivalent request from the relevant Governmental Authorities. Each of the Members agrees to (A) give the other Members prompt notice of the making or commencement
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of any request, litigation, hearing, examination, action, or proceeding with respect to any Governmental Authorization sought hereby; (B) keep the Managing Member reasonably informed as to the status of any such request, litigation, hearing, examination, action, or proceeding; and (C) promptly inform the Managing Member of any material or substantive communication to or from any Governmental Authority to the extent regarding any Governmental Authorization sought hereby and provide a copy of all written communications. Each of the Members further agrees, to the extent not prohibited by Law, to consult the Managing Member on all the information relating to such Member that appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any Governmental Authority. Each party shall cause its respective counsel to furnish each other party such necessary information and reasonable assistance as such other party may reasonably request in connection with the preparation of necessary filings or submissions under the provisions of the HSR Act or any other Law. Each party shall cause its counsel to supply to each other party copies of the date-stamped receipt copy of the cover letters delivering the filings or submissions required under the HSR Act to any Governmental Authority and shall provide prompt notification to the other party when it becomes aware that any consent or approval is obtained, taken, made, given, or denied, as applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Managing Member shall have the principal responsibility for devising and implementing the strategy for obtaining any necessary Governmental Authorizations and shall take the lead in all meetings and communications with any Governmental Authority in connection with obtaining any necessary Governmental Authorizations; provided that no party shall participate in any meeting or substantive discussion with any Governmental Authority in respect of any such filings or related investigations or other inquires unless, to the extent not prohibited by Law, it consults with the other parties in advance and, to the extent permitted by the applicable Governmental Authority and Law, gives the other parties the opportunity to attend and participate in such meeting.
(c)Β Β Β Β Each of the Members agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain early termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act and any other Law, and, in furtherance of the foregoing, each Member agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to avoid or eliminate as soon as possible each and every impediment under the HSR Act and any other Law that may be asserted by any Governmental Authority so as to enable the Members hereto to promptly consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no Member (and no Parent, subsidiary, or Affiliate of a Member) shall be required to take any of the following actions (or any action that would require a Member (or its Parent, subsidiaries, Affiliates or, in the case of a Class B Member, any direct or indirect portfolio company of investment funds advised or managed by one or more Affiliates of such Class B Member or any investment of such Class B Member or an Affiliate of such Class B Member in connection therewith) to take any of the following actions): (i) committing to or effecting, by consent decree, hold separate orders, trust, or otherwise, the divestiture, sale, license, transfer, assignment, or other Disposition of assets or business of such Persons; (ii)Β terminating, relinquishing, modifying, transferring, assigning, restructuring, or waiving existing agreements, collaborations, contractual rights, obligations, or other arrangements of such Persons; (iii)Β creating or consenting to create any contractual rights, obligations, tolling agreements, or other arrangements of such Persons, or (iv)Β otherwise limiting the freedom of
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action with respect to, any assets, rights, products, licenses, business, operations, or interests therein of any such Persons.
7.09Β Β Β Β Liquidity Event.
(a)Β Β Β Β At any time following a Triggering Event, the Class B Member Representative shall be entitled to cause the Company and other Members (including the Managing Member) to seek a sale of the Company (whether by way of sale of all or substantially all of the assets or Membership Interests of the Company, merger or other business combination, or otherwise) or other liquidity event for the Company (any such transaction, a βLiquidity Eventβ), the consummation of which shall be subject to receipt of all applicable Required Governmental Authorizations and compliance with, or obtaining any required consents or waivers under, any change of control or other applicable restriction set forth in any material agreement to which the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries is a party.
(b)Β Β Β Β If the Class B Member Representative elects to cause the Company to undertake a Liquidity Event pursuant to this Section 7.09, then the Class B Member Representative may exclusively identify, negotiate, structure, and otherwise pursue the Liquidity Event in good faith, in accordance with this SectionΒ 7.09. The Class B Member Representative shall regularly consult and cooperate with the Managing Member with respect to the status of the sale process for such Liquidity Event; provided, however, that no Member shall have any consent, voting, or appraisal rights with respect to the final terms of a Liquidity Event or have any right under this Agreement to object to a Liquidity Event that is completed in compliance with this Section 7.09. The Managing Member, the Company and each other Member shall, and shall cause their respective representatives to, use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with the Class B Member Representative in pursuing and effecting any Liquidity Event. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Managing Member and the Company shall, and the Company shall cause its subsidiaries to, take such action as the Class B Member Representative may reasonably request in connection with any proposed Liquidity Event, including engaging an investment banker or other advisors selected by the Class B Member Representative in connection with such Liquidity Event, providing such financial and operational information as the Class B Member Representative may request, and causing representatives of the Company and its subsidiaries to cooperate (including by participating in management presentations, preparing marketing materials, and making diligence materials available in an electronic data room) with the Class B Member Representative in any marketing process in connection with any proposed Liquidity Event. Each Member shall cause its applicable Controlled Affiliates, and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause its applicable Affiliates that are not Controlled Affiliates, to deliver any consents or waivers required from such Affiliate (including of any preferential transfer rights, rights of first offer, rights of first refusal and change of control or ownership provisions) under any agreement to which the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their assets is bound in connection with any Liquidity Event.
(c)Β Β Β Β The Members will consent to, participate in, raise no objection against, and not impede or delay any such Liquidity Event and will take or cause to be taken all other actions to approve such Liquidity Event reasonably necessary or desirable to cause the consummation of such Liquidity Event on the terms proposed by the Class B Member
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Representative. The Members, including the Managing Member, will execute any applicable merger, asset purchase, securities purchase, recapitalization, or other agreement negotiated by the Class B Member Representative in connection with any such Liquidity Event; provided, however, that (i) each Member shall make the same representations and warranties, covenants, and indemnities as each other Member; (ii) no Member shall be liable for the breach of any covenants, or inaccuracies in any representations or warranties, of any other Member and vice versa; (iii) in no event shall any Member be required to make representations, warranties, or covenants or provide indemnities as to any other Member; (iv) any liability relating to representations, warranties, and covenants (and related indemnities) or other indemnification obligations regarding the business of the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with the Liquidity Event shall be shared by the Members pro rata on a several (but not joint) basis in proportion to the amount of proceeds received by each Member in the Liquidity Event; and (v) in no event shall any Member be responsible for any liabilities or indemnities in connection with such Liquidity Event in excess of the amount of proceeds received by such Member in the Liquidity Event.
(d)Β Β Β Β In connection with any Liquidity Event, (i) the Class B Member Representative shall in good faith use its commercially reasonable efforts to maximize value to the Members (as a whole) in connection with any Liquidity Event (and in connection therewith, Class B Member Representative may consider such factors as the Class B Member Representative determines in good faith to be necessary or appropriate, including with respect to the amount and form of consideration, timing, and transaction execution risk), (ii) each Member shall receive the same form of consideration as each other Member, and (iii) the amount of consideration to be received by each of the Members will be calculated by taking the aggregate amount of proceeds received in such Liquidity Event and allocating such proceeds among the Members in accordance with the distribution provisions set forth in Section 5.01.
(e)Β Β Β Β Investor hereby agrees that, in connection with the consummation of any Liquidity Event, Investor shall use all cash or other liquid consideration received upon a Liquidity Event (net of any deductions or withholdings required under applicable Law) and all other cash on hand of Investor to repay all of Investorβs then outstanding Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement (including any breakage costs, termination fees, or other payments that would be due or payable thereunder) and all other Indebtedness pursuant to which the Class B Units being acquired pursuant to such Liquidity Event are Encumbered, plus the amounts required to be paid by Investor constituting amounts owed by Investor as termination payments and unpaid amounts under any swap, cap, forward, future, or other derivative transaction entered into in connection with the hedging of interest rates under the Credit Agreement.
(f)Β Β Β Β Other than as provided in Section 7.09(e), the Company shall bear the reasonable, documented and out-of-pocket costs incurred by each Member in connection with a Liquidity Event.
(g)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 7.09 to the contrary, there shall be no liability or obligation on behalf of the Class B Member Representative if the Class B Member Representative determines, for any reason, not to consummate a Liquidity Event, and the Class B Member Representative shall be permitted to, and shall have the authority
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to cause the Company to, discontinue at any time any Liquidity Event. Under no circumstances shall this Section 7.09 be construed to grant to any Member any dissenterβs rights or appraisal rights or give any Member any right to vote in any Liquidity Event structured as a merger or consolidation, it being understood that the Members hereby expressly waive any rights that could be granted under Section 18-210 of the Act in connection with any Liquidity Event, and grant to the Class B Member Representative the sole right to approve or consent to a merger or consolidation of the Company in connection with a Liquidity Event.
ARTICLE 8
TAXES
8.01Β Β Β Β Tax Returns. The Managing Member shall prepare and timely file (on behalf of the Company) all federal, state, and local tax returns required to be filed by the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each Member shall furnish to the Managing Member all pertinent information in its possession relating to the Companyβs operations that is necessary to enable the Companyβs tax returns to be timely prepared and filed. The Company shall bear the costs of the preparation and filing of its returns. Within seventy-five (75) days after the end of each calendar year, the Company shall provide estimated federal, state and local income tax information and schedules as may be necessary for tax reporting purposes or reasonably, including Internal Revenue Service ScheduleΒ K-1, and shall provide final information on or about July 31 of each calendar year. The Company shall promptly provide any other tax information reasonably requested by each Member with respect to such year.
8.02Β Β Β Β Certain Tax Matters.
(a)Β Β Β Β The Company shall make the following elections on the appropriate tax returns:
(i)Β Β Β Β to adopt as the Companyβs fiscal year the calendar year;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β to adopt the accrual method of accounting;
(iii)Β Β Β Β if a distribution of the Companyβs property occurs as described in SectionΒ 734 of the Code or upon a transfer of Membership Interest as described in SectionΒ 743 of the Code, on request by notice from any Member, to elect, pursuant to SectionΒ 754 of the Code, to adjust the basis of the Companyβs properties;
(iv)Β Β Β Β to elect to deduct or amortize the organizational expenses of the Company in accordance with SectionΒ 709(b) of the Code, to elect under Code Section 168(g)(7) to apply the βalternative depreciation systemβ to Company property, and to cause the Blocker Entities to elect to apply the alternative depreciation system to their property;
(v)Β Β Β Β subject to SectionΒ 8.03(g), any other election the Managing Member may deem appropriate; and
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(vi)Β Β Β Β to elect out of any βbonusβ depreciation under Section 168(k) of the Code or any corresponding provision of the Code.
(b)Β Β Β Β Neither the Company nor any Member shall make an election for the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries to be (i) subject to tax as an association for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (ii) excluded from the application of the provisions of subchapterΒ K of chapterΒ 1 of subtitleΒ A of the Code or any similar provisions of applicable state law and no provision of this Agreement shall be construed to sanction or approve such an election.
8.03Β Β Β Β Partnership Representative. (a)Β The Managing Member shall serve as the βpartnership representativeβ of the Company within the meaning of Section 6223(a) of the Code (the βPartnership Representativeβ). The Partnership Representative shall inform each other Member of all material matters that may come to its attention in its capacity as the Partnership Representative by giving notice thereof on or before the fifth (5th) Business Day after becoming aware thereof and, within that time, shall forward to each other Member copies of all material written communications it may receive in that capacity. The Managing Member is hereby directed and authorized to take whatever steps it, in its reasonable discretion, deems necessary or desirable to perfect such designation, including filing any forms or documents with the IRS, designating an individual to serve as the sole individual through whom the Partnership Representative will act, and taking such other action as may from time to time be required under the Regulations. The Managing Member will remain as the Partnership Representative so long as it retains any ownership interests in the Company unless it requests that it not serve as Partnership Representative; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Managing Member shall not be permitted to resign unless and until the Members have found a replacement Partnership Representative approved unanimously in writing by the Members.
(b)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, and with the exception that the approval of Investor described in this paragraph is not required for disputes regarding the amount of taxes resulting from the liquidation or merger of any Blocker Entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Partnership Representative must: (i) obtain the prior written approval of Investor (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) with respect to (y)Β commencing any judicial or administrative action or appealing any adverse determination of a Governmental Authority, in each case relating to taxes and (z) surrendering, settling or compromising any audit or proceeding relating to taxes, in each case of clause (y) or (z), only to the extent such action, adverse determination, audit or proceeding, as applicable, relates to a taxable period during which Investor held Class B Units; and (ii) inform and consult with Investor, on a timely basis, regarding the status of investigations, audits, proceedings and negotiations with any Governmental Authority, in each case, to the extent relating to taxes and a taxable period during which the Investor held Class B Units. Any reasonable cost or expense incurred by the Partnership Representative in connection with its duties, including the preparation for or pursuance of administrative or judicial proceedings, shall be paid by the Company.
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(c)Β Β Β Β The Partnership Representative may, in its reasonable discretion, make the election provided by Section 6221(b) of the Code to have Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of the Code not apply (the βElection Outβ).
(d)Β Β Β Β If the Internal Revenue Service proposes an adjustment in the amount of any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit of the Company, or any Memberβs (or former Memberβs) distributive share thereof, and such adjustment results in an βimputed underpaymentβ as described in Section 6225(b) of the Code (a βCovered Audit Adjustmentβ), the Partnership Representative may (but shall not be required to) elect, to the extent that such election is available (taking into account whether the Partnership Representative has received any needed information on a timely basis from the Members and former Members, if applicable), and the Election Out was not previously made, to apply the alternative method provided by Section 6226 of the Code (the βAlternative Methodβ). To the extent that the Partnership Representative does not elect the Alternative Method with respect to a Covered Audit Adjustment, the Partnership Representative shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (a)Β request information necessary to, and to make any modifications available under Sections 6225(c) of the Code to the extent that such modifications are available (taking into account whether the Partnership Representative has received any needed information on a timely basis from the Members and former Members) as would, reduce any Company Level Taxes payable by the Company with respect to the Covered Audit Adjustment, and (b) if requested by a Member, provide to such Member information allowing such Member to file an amended U.S. federal income tax return, as described in Section 6225(c)(2) of the Code, to the extent that such amended return and payment of any related U.S. federal income taxes would reduce any Company Level Taxes payable by the Company with respect to the Covered Audit Adjustment (after taking into account any modifications described in clause (a)). Similar procedures shall be followed in connection with any state or local income tax audit that incorporates rules similar to Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of the Code.
(e)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any taxes, penalties, and interest payable under the Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of the Code by the Company (βCompany Level Taxesβ) shall be treated as attributable to the Members (and former Members if applicable) of the Company, and the Partnership Representative shall cause the Company to allocate the burden of any such Company Level Taxes to those Members (and former Members if applicable) to whom such amounts are reasonably attributable (whether as a result of their status, actions, inactions, or otherwise), taking into account the effect of any modifications described in Section 8.03(d) that reduce the amount of Company Level Taxes. All Company Level Taxes allocated to a Member (or a former Member if applicable), at the option of the Managing Member, shall (i) be promptly paid to the Company by such Member (or former Member if applicable) (βOption Aβ) or (ii) be paid by reducing the amount of the current or next succeeding distribution or distributions which would otherwise have been made to such Member pursuant to Section 5.01 or Section 5.02 and, if such distributions are not sufficient for that purpose, by reducing the proceeds of liquidation otherwise payable to such Member pursuant to Section 5.03 (βOptionΒ Bβ). If the Managing Member selects Option A, the Companyβs payment of the Company Level Taxes allocated to the applicable Member (or former Member if applicable) shall be treated as a distribution to such Member (or former Member) and the payment by such Member (or former Member) to the Company shall be treated as a capital contribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes; provided that such payments shall not affect
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the Capital Accounts of, any other contributions to be made by, or the distributions and allocations to be made to the applicable Members (or former Member) under this Agreement. If the Managing Member selects Option B, the applicable Member shall for all purposes of this Agreement be treated as having received a distribution of the amount of its allocable share of the Company Level Taxes at the time such Company Level Taxes are paid by the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Member (whether or not such Member becomes a Member after the Effective Date) hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the other Members (or former Members if applicable) from and against any liability for Company Level Taxes allocated to such Member in accordance with this Section 8.03(e) (including, with respect to any former Member, any Company Level Taxes allocated to such former Member that are attributable to taxable periods (or portions thereof) during which such former Member was treated as holding an interest in the Company).
(f)Β Β Β Β If any Member intends to file a notice of inconsistent treatment under Section 6222(c) of the Code, such Member shall give reasonable notice under the circumstances to the other Members of such intent and the manner in which the Memberβs intended treatment of an item is (or may be) inconsistent with the treatment of that item by the other Members.
(g)Β Β Β Β Except as may be required by applicable Law, the Managing Member and the Company shall not make any election or take any action, including such elections or actions specifically authorized under this Section 8.03, that reasonably would be expected to have a disproportionate adverse effect on Investor or its direct or indirect investors. For the avoidance of doubt, this provision shall not apply to an election to effect the liquidation or merger of any Blocker Entity.
(h)Β Β Β Β for U.S. federal income tax purposes
ARTICLE 9
BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, INFORMATION UPDATES, AND BANK ACCOUNTS
9.01Β Β Β Β Maintenance of Books.
(a)Β Β Β Β The Managing Member shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Company or at such other location it deems necessary or appropriate complete and accurate books and records of the Company, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Members any information required to be provided pursuant to SectionΒ 3.07, Section 9.02 and Section 9.03, supporting documentation of the transactions with respect to the conduct of the Companyβs business, and minutes of the proceedings of its Members and the Managing Member, and any other books and records that are required to be maintained by applicable Law.
(b)Β Β Β Β The books of account of the Company shall be (i) maintained on the basis of a fiscal year that is the calendar year; (ii)Β maintained on an accrual basis in accordance with GAAP; and (iii)Β audited by a nationally recognized certified public accounting firm selected by the Managing Member and retained by the Company at the end of each Fiscal Year; provided
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that the Membersβ Capital Accounts shall be maintained in accordance with Article 4 and ArticleΒ 5.
9.02Β Β Β Β Determination of Internal Rate of Return.
(a)Β Β Β Β Quarterly Determinations. For so long as the Class B Units are held by Investor, the Managing Member will (i) calculate at least quarterly the Internal Rate of Return achieved by Investor and (ii) send Investor, within forty-five (45) days after the end of each Quarter, a report in the form of the IRR Report showing the Internal Rate of Return as of such date. The Managing Member will make its advisors available to answer any questions regarding the calculations contained in any such IRR Report.
(b)Β Β Β Β Calculation Rules and Conventions. The Managing Member will employ the following calculation rules and conventions in determining the Internal Rate of Return of a Class B Member:
(i)Β Β Β Β Continuity of Ownership. The Managing Member will treat ownership of the Class B Units as being continuous from the Effective Date to the date as of which the calculation is being made without regard to any change in ownership of the Class B Units during such period.
(ii)Β Β Β Β Cash Flows. The βCash Flowsβ taken into account in determining the Internal Rate of Return with respect to a per Class B Unit shall consist solely of (A) the sum of (x)Β the amount of the Effective Date Capital Contribution per Class B Unit made by the applicable Class B Member in exchange for such Class B Unit on the Effective Date, (y)Β any additional Capital Contributions made by such Class B Member pursuant to Section 4.04 in respect of such Class B Unit, and (z) all distributions to the applicable Class B Member, including distributions in respect of such Class B Unit pursuant to the proviso set forth in SectionΒ 5.01(d) (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, βCash Flowsβ shall not include any payments or reimbursements made to or for the account of the Class B Members or their Affiliates for expense reimbursements pursuant to Section 8.01 of the Purchase Agreement). Any amount received by the Class B Members that is in the nature of a recovery or replacement of, or indemnity or compensation for, and is the substantial economic equivalent of, an item that would otherwise be taken into account in the foregoing clauses (x), (y), or (z) (which for the avoidance of doubt, will not include any recovery or replacement of, or indemnity or compensation for, actual out-of-pocket losses, costs, or expenses of the Class B Members) will be deemed received for purposes of the calculation of the Internal Rate of Return on the date so received by such Class B Member (or its nominee).
(c)Β Β Β Β Any dispute by a Class B Member of any item or procedure or calculation of, or which affects, the achievement of the Internal Rate of Return contained in any notice or report delivered to the Class B Members will be disputed in accordance with the dispute resolution mechanism set forth in Article 11.
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9.03Β Β Β Β Reports.
(a)Β Β Β Β No later than one hundred seventy-five (175) days following the end of each fiscal year of the Company, the Managing Member shall prepare and deliver to each Member annual financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis audited by a nationally recognized certified public accounting firm and prepared in accordance with GAAP, including a balance sheet, an income statement, a statement of cash flows, and a statement of changes in each Memberβs equity as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year, starting with the year ended December 31, 2020.
(b)Β Β Β Β No later than seventy-five (75) days following the last day of each of the first three Quarters of each fiscal year, the Managing Member shall prepare and deliver to each Member an unaudited consolidated balance sheet, income statement, and a statement of cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such Quarter, as well as operating reports on a consolidated and a project basis for such Quarter; provided that the Managing Member shall prepare and deliver to each Member an unaudited consolidated balance sheet for the fourth Quarter of each fiscal year no later than ninety (90) days following the last day of such Quarter. Within thirty (30) days after the end of each Quarter, the Managing Member shall prepare and deliver to each Member quarterly certificates or other evidence of ownership of Class B Units by such Member and the Call Option Purchase Price as of the last day of such Quarter. Within thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar month, the Managing Member shall prepare and deliver to each Member a narrative report regarding the operational performance of the assets of the Company on a consolidated and a project basis. All unaudited financial statements and other information shall be prepared in conformance with GAAP, based on the information available at the time such financial statements or other information is issued.
(c)Β Β Β Β Investor shall be permitted to deliver to its lenders under any Class B Permitted Loan Financing any financial information or report delivered to it by the Managing Member pursuant to this Section 9.03.
(d)Β Β Β Β Concurrent with its distribution to the Companyβs lenders, if any, the Managing Member shall provide to each Member any report, financial statements, or other information that is to be distributed to such lenders pursuant to any credit agreement or other agreement of Indebtedness to which the Company is a party.
(e)Β Β Β Β In addition to its obligations set forth above, the Managing Member shall timely prepare and deliver to any Member or its Parent, upon such Memberβs reasonable request, all of such additional financial statements and additional financial information as may be required in order for each Member and its Affiliates to comply with any applicable reporting requirements under (i) the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (ii)Β any National Securities Exchange or automated quotation system, or (iii) any other any other rules or regulations promulgated by a Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Class B Member or its Affiliates.
(f)Β Β Β Β The cost of preparing any financial statements or other information pursuant to this SectionΒ 9.03 shall be borne by the Company.
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9.04Β Β Β Β Information Updates.
(a)Β Β Β Β The Managing Member shall notify the Class B Members of the occurrence of any Emergency or material risk of Emergency, material developments, or events that would reasonably be likely to adversely affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and any breaches of any Affiliate Transactions or other material contracts to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, including (for the avoidance of doubt) any breach or threatened breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement under the Purchase Agreement. The Managing Member shall provide notice of the foregoing events promptly, but in no event more than five (5) Business Days following the date on which the Managing Member becomes aware of such events.
(b)Β Β Β Β From and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, as requested by the Class B Member Representative upon reasonable advance notice, and at reasonable times during usual business hours and in such a manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the operation of the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the Managing Member will make employees and representatives of the Company and its subsidiaries available to answer questions regarding the performance of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries.
9.05Β Β Β Β Bank Accounts. The Company shall establish and maintain one or more separate bank and investment accounts and arrangements for Company funds in the Companyβs name with such financial institutions and firms as the Managing Member may determine. Funds of the Company shall be deposited in such banks or other depositories as shall be designated from time to time by the Managing Member. The Companyβs funds may not be commingled with the funds of any other Person. All withdrawals from any such depository shall be made only as authorized by the Managing Member and shall be made only by check, wire transfer, debit memorandum, or other written instruction.
9.06Β Β Β Β Compliance with Laws. The Managing Member shall adopt, revise, and maintain policies and procedures sufficient to ensure compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, including without limitation Sanctions and applicable anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws.
ARTICLE 10
WITHDRAWAL
10.01Β Β Β Β No Right of Voluntary Withdrawal. A Member has no power or right to voluntarily Withdraw from the Company without the prior written consent of all remaining Members, in their sole and absolute discretion.
10.02Β Β Β Β Deemed Withdrawal. A Member is deemed to have Withdrawn from the Company if such Member is Bankrupt or dissolves and commences liquidation or winding-up or if it is unlawful for a Member to continue to be a Member. If there occurs an event that makes it unlawful for a Member to continue to be a Member, then the Members shall negotiate in good faith to determine a workaround to allow such Member to continue to receive the benefits of being a Member.
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10.03Β Β Β Β Effect of Withdrawal. A Member that is deemed to have Withdrawn pursuant to Section 10.02 (a βWithdrawn Memberβ) must comply with the following requirements in connection with its deemed Withdrawal:
(a)Β Β Β Β The Withdrawn Member ceases to be a Member immediately upon the occurrence of the applicable Withdrawal event.
(b)Β Β Β Β The Withdrawn Member shall not be entitled to receive any distributions from the Company except as set forth in Section 10.03(e), to exercise any voting or consent rights, or to receive any further information (or access to information) from the Company. The Unreturned Contribution Percentage of such Withdrawn Member shall not be taken into account in calculating the Unreturned Contribution Percentages of the remaining Members for any purposes of this Agreement.
(c)Β Β Β Β The Withdrawn Member must pay to the Company all amounts owed to it by such Withdrawn Member.
(d)Β Β Β Β The Withdrawn Member shall remain obligated for all liabilities it may have under this Agreement or otherwise with respect to the Company that accrued prior to the Withdrawal.
(e)Β Β Β Β The Withdrawn Member shall (i) have the status of only an Assignee, and not a Member, and (ii) be entitled to receive, in such capacity, its share of the Net Profits and Net Losses of the Company and to receive its portion of each distribution that is made by the Company pursuant to Section 5.01, Section 5.02, and Section 5.03 as if it held the Membership Interest held immediately prior to its Withdrawal. From the date of the Withdrawal to the date on which the Company is dissolved and its affairs wound up in accordance with Article 12, the former Capital Account balance of the Withdrawn Member shall be recorded as a contingent obligation of the Company, and not as a Capital Account. The rights of a Withdrawn Member under this Section 10.03(e) shall (A) be subordinate to the rights of any other creditor of the Company, (B) not include any right on the part of the Withdrawn Member to receive any interest or other amounts with respect thereto (except as may otherwise be provided in the evidence of any Indebtedness of the Company owed to such Withdrawn Member); (C) not require any Member to make a Capital Contribution or a loan to permit the Company to make a distribution or otherwise to pay the Withdrawn Member; and (D) be treated as a liability of the Company for purposes of SectionΒ 12.02.
(f)Β Β Β Β Except as set forth in Section 10.03(e), a Withdrawn Member shall not be entitled to receive any return of its Capital Contributions or other payment from the Company in respect of its Membership Interest.
(g)Β Β Β Β The Unreturned Contribution Percentage of the remaining Members shall be amended to reflect the Withdrawal of the Withdrawn Member, and such Withdrawn Memberβs Class A Units or Class B Units, as applicable, shall be deemed cancelled and extinguished.
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(h)Β Β Β Β All costs and expenses incurred by the Withdrawn Member in connection with its Withdrawal shall be borne by such Withdrawn Member, and the Withdrawn Member shall reimburse all other Members for all costs and expenses incurred by such Members in connection with such Withdrawal.
ARTICLE 11
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
11.01Β Β Β Β Disputes. This Article 11 shall apply to any dispute arising under or related to this Agreement (whether arising in contract, tort, or otherwise, and whether arising at law or in equity), including (a) any dispute regarding the construction, interpretation, performance, validity, or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement or whether any Person is in compliance with, or breach of, any provisions of this Agreement, and (b) subject to SectionΒ 11.02, any deadlock among the Members with respect to any matter subject to a vote of the Members, and (c) the applicability of this Article 11 to a particular dispute. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Article 11 shall not apply to any matters that, pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, are to be determined solely by the Managing Member. Any dispute to which this Article 11 applies is referred to herein as a βDispute.β With respect to a particular Dispute, each Member that is a party to such Dispute is referred to herein as a βDisputing Member.β The provisions of this Article 11 shall be the exclusive method of resolving Disputes.
11.02Β Β Β Β Negotiation to Resolve Disputes. If a Dispute arises, the Disputing Members (or agents thereof) shall promptly meet (whether by telephone or in person) in a good faith attempt to resolve the Dispute.
11.03Β Β Β Β Courts. If a Dispute is still unresolved following ten (10) Business Days after the Disputing Members attempted in good faith to resolve the Dispute in accordance with SectionΒ 11.02, then any of such Disputing Members may submit such Dispute to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, in the event that such Court does not have jurisdiction over the subject matter of such dispute, to another court of the State of Delaware or a U.S. federal court located in the State of Delaware (collectively, βDelaware Courtsβ). Each of the Members irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of, and agrees not to commence any action, suit, or proceeding relating to a Dispute except in, the Delaware Courts and hereby consents to service of process in any such Dispute by the delivery of such process to such party at the address and in the manner provided in Section 13.01. Each of the Members hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue in any Dispute in the Delaware Courts and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any action, suit, or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH MEMBER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, suit, OR PROCEEDING arising out of, relating to or otherwise WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT or any transaction contemplated hereby.
11.04Β Β Β Β Specific Performance. The Members understand and agree that (a)Β irreparable damage would occur in the event that any provision of this Agreement were not performed in
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accordance with its specific terms, (b)Β although monetary damages may be available for the breach of such covenants and agreements such monetary damages are not intended to and do not adequately compensate for the harm that would result from a breach of this Agreement, would be an inadequate remedy therefor and shall not be construed to diminish or otherwise impair in any respect any Memberβs or the Companyβs right to specific performance, and (c)Β the right of specific performance is an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and without that right none of the Members would have entered into this Agreement. It is accordingly agreed that, in addition to any other remedy that may be available to it, including monetary damages, each of the Members and the Company shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement. Each of the Members further agrees that neither the Company nor any Member shall be required to obtain, furnish, or post any bond or similar instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any remedy referred to in this SectionΒ 11.04, and each Member waives any objection to the imposition of such relief or any right it may have to require the obtaining, furnishing, or posting of any such bond or similar instrument.
ARTICLE 12
DISSOLUTION, WINDING-UP AND TERMINATION
12.01Β Β Β Β Dissolution. The Company shall dissolve and its affairs shall be wound up on the first to occur of the following events (each a βDissolution Eventβ):
(a)Β Β Β Β consent of NEP Member and Class B Member Approval; or
(b)Β Β Β Β an event that makes it unlawful for the business of the Company to be carried on; provided that, if such an event occurs, then the Members shall negotiate in good faith to determine a workaround to allow the business of the Company to be lawfully carried on and such event shall not be deemed a βDissolution Eventβ unless and until the Members mutually agree that no such workaround is reasonably feasible.
Each Member hereby waives its right to make an application for the dissolution of the Company pursuant to SectionΒ 18-802 of the Act.
12.02Β Β Β Β Winding-Up and Termination. (a)Β On the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Managing Member shall, or shall designate another Person to, serve as liquidator. The liquidator shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Act. The costs of winding-up shall be borne as a Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidator shall continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the Members. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidator are as follows:
(i)Β Β Β Β as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final winding-up, the liquidator shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the liquidatorβs choosing of the Companyβs assets, liabilities, and operations through the last calendar day of the month in which the dissolution occurs or the final winding-up is completed, as applicable;
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(ii)Β Β Β Β the liquidator shall discharge from Company funds all of the Indebtedness of the Company and other debts, liabilities, expenses, and obligations of the Company (including all expenses incurred in winding-up and any loans described in Section 4.05) or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including the establishment of a cash escrow fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidator may reasonably determine); and
(iii)Β Β Β Β all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members as follows:
(A)Β Β Β Β the liquidator may sell any or all Company property, including to Members, and any resulting gain or loss from each sale shall be computed and allocated to the Capital Accounts of the Members in accordance with Section 12.02(b);
(B)Β Β Β Β with respect to all Company property that has not been sold, the fair market value of that property shall be determined and the Capital Accounts of the Members shall be adjusted to reflect the manner in which the unrealized income, gain, loss, and deduction inherent in property that has not been reflected in the Capital Accounts previously would be allocated among the Members if there were a taxable disposition of that property for the fair market value of that property on the date of distribution, as determined by the Managing Member in its reasonable discretion (it being agreed by the Members that a determination by the Managing Member that the fair market value of any such property equals the value of such property reflected in current financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP shall be deemed reasonable); and
(C)Β Β Β Β Company property (including cash) shall be distributed among the Members in accordance with Section 5.03; and those distributions shall be made before the end of the taxable year in which liquidation of the Company occurs or, if later, within 90 days after the date of the liquidation of the Company.
(iv)Β Β Β Β If, after giving effect to all allocations, distributions and contributions for all periods (other than those required by this Section 12.02(a)(iv)), the NEP Member has a deficit in its Capital Account balance following the βliquidation,β within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), of the NEP Memberβs Membership Interest, the NEP Member will be obligated to contribute cash to the Company in an amount equal to such deficit balance by the end of the Fiscal Year of the Company during which the liquidation of the Company occurs, or if later, within ninety (90) days after the date of such liquidation, except that the restoration obligation of the NEP Member in the aggregate pursuant to this SectionΒ 12.02(a)(iv) shall not be more than five percent (5%) of the NEP Memberβs Effective Date Capital Contribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) the NEP Member will have the unilateral right by written notice to the Managing Member to (1) increase the amount of its deficit
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restoration obligation over the amount described in the immediately preceding sentence or (2) decrease the amount of, or eliminate, its deficit restoration obligation at any time in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(f); (B) after the Flip Date, at the end of any Fiscal Year in which the NEP Memberβs deficit restoration obligation exceeds the absolute value of the NEP Memberβs deficit Capital Account balance, such deficit restoration obligation shall be automatically reduced in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(f) to equal such absolute value; and (C) the NEP Memberβs deficit restoration obligation will be eliminated in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(f) on the first date on or after the Flip Date on which the Capital Account balance of the NEP Member is equal to or greater than zero. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no other Member shall have any obligation to restore any deficit in its Capital Account balance unless and until such deficit restoration obligation is consented to in writing by the Managing Member.
(b)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything in Section 5.04 to the contrary, in the Fiscal Year or other applicable period in which a Dissolution Event occurs, items of income, gain, loss, and deduction shall be allocated among the Members in a manner such that the Capital Account of each Member, immediately after giving effect to such allocation, is, as nearly as possible, equal (proportionately) to the amount of the distributions that would be made to such Member pursuant to Section 5.03.
(c)Β Β Β Β The distribution of cash or property to a Member in accordance with the provisions of this SectionΒ 12.02 constitutes a complete return to the Member of its Capital Contributions and a complete distribution to the Member of its Membership Interest and all the Companyβs property and constitutes a compromise to which all Members have consented pursuant to Section 18-502(b) of the Act. To the extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, it has no claim against any other Member for those funds.
(d)Β Β Β Β No dissolution or termination of the Company shall relieve a Member from any obligation to the extent such obligation has accrued as of the date of such dissolution or termination. Upon such termination, any books and records of the Company that the liquidator reasonably determines may ever be needed again by one or more Persons who were Members as of the dissolution or termination shall be retained by the Managing Member or its designee, who shall keep such books and records (subject to review by any Person that was a Member at the time of dissolution) for a period at least three (3) years. After the expiration of such period of three (3) years, if the Managing Member (or its designee) no longer agrees to keep such books and records, it shall offer the Persons who were Members at the time of dissolution or termination a reasonable opportunity to take over such custody, (i)Β shall deliver such books and records to such Persons if they elect to take over such custody (or as all of such Persons otherwise direct) and, upon request by any other Person that elects to take custody (and at such other Personβs cost), deliver a copy of such books and records to such other Person, or (ii) may destroy such books and records if no such Person so elects.
12.03Β Β Β Β Deficit Capital Accounts. Except as provided in Section 12.02(a)(iv), no Member will be required to pay to the Company, to any other Member or to any third party any deficit balance that may exist from time to time in its or another Memberβs Capital Account.
86
12.04Β Β Β Β Certificate of Cancellation. On completion of the distribution of Company assets as provided herein, the Managing Member shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to SectionΒ 2.06, and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company. Upon the filing of such certificate of cancellation, the existence of the Company shall terminate (and the Term shall end), except as may be otherwise provided by the Act or other applicable Law.
ARTICLE 13
GENERAL PROVISIONS
13.01Β Β Β Β Notices. Except as expressly set forth to the contrary in this Agreement, all notices, requests, or consents provided for or permitted to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and must be delivered to the recipient by electronic mail (a copy of which may be delivered in person or by courier or mail). A notice, request, or consent given under this Agreement is effective on receipt by the applicable Member. All notices, requests, and consents to be sent to a Member must be sent to or made at the addresses given for that Member on Exhibit A or such other address as that Member may specify by notice to the Managing Member and the other Members. Any notice, request, or consent to the Company must be given to all of the Members. Whenever any notice is required to be given by Law, the Delaware Certificate, or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof, signed by the Person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
13.02Β Β Β Β Entire Agreement; Superseding Effect. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (as that term is defined in the Purchase Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement of the Members and their Affiliates relating to the Company and the transactions contemplated hereby and supersedes all provisions and concepts contained in all prior agreements.
13.03Β Β Β Β Effect of Waiver or Consent. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a waiver or consent, express or implied, to or of any breach or default by any Member in the performance by that Member of its obligations with respect to the Company is not a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Member of the same or any other obligations of that Member with respect to the Company. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, failure on the part of a Member to complain of any act of any Member or to declare any Member in default with respect to the Company, irrespective of how long that failure continues, does not constitute a waiver by that Member of its rights with respect to that default until the applicable statute of limitations has run.
13.04Β Β Β Β Amendment or Restatement. Each of this Agreement and the Delaware Certificate may, subject to Section 6.03(a), be amended or restated only by a written instrument executed (or, in the case of the Delaware Certificate, approved) by the Managing Member. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a)Β the Managing Member may amend this Agreement without the approval of any Members (i) to implement the valid admission of New Members or Assignees as Members; (ii) to correct typographical, formatting, cross-referencing, or other similar errors; and (iii) to update Exhibit A from time to time to reflect the valid admission of
87
New Members, the valid admission of Assignees as Members, the making of additional Capital Contributions by Members, the issuances of Class A Units, Class B Units, or other classes or groups of Membership Interests, and the Disposition of Membership Interests, so long as such transactions were approved and consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and (b) if the Managing Member determines that any amendment of this Agreement is necessary to satisfy any Law, the Members shall negotiate in good faith to enter into an amendment of this Agreement to satisfy such Law that is mutually agreeable.
13.05Β Β Β Β Binding Effect. Subject to the restrictions on Dispositions set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement is binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Members and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
13.06Β Β Β Β Governing Law; Severability. THIS AGREEMENT IS GOVERNED BY AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICT-OF-LAWS RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT MIGHT REFER THE GOVERNANCE OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION. In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and any mandatory, non-waivable provision of the Act, such provision of the Act shall control. If any provision of the Act provides that it may be varied or superseded in a limited liability company agreement (or otherwise by agreement of the members or managers of a limited liability company), such provision shall be deemed superseded and waived in its entirety if this Agreement contains a provision addressing the same issue or subject matter. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Member or circumstance is held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, (a) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of that provision to other Members or circumstances is not affected thereby, and (b) the Members shall negotiate in good faith to replace that provision with a new provision that is valid and enforceable and that puts the Members in substantially the same economic, business, and legal position as they would have been in if the original provision had been valid and enforceable.
13.07Β Β Β Β Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Member shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and those transactions; provided, however, that this Section 13.07 shall not obligate a Member to furnish guarantees or other credit supports by such Memberβs Parent or other Affiliates.
13.08Β Β Β Β Appointment of Class B Member Representative.
(a)Β Β Β Β By the execution and delivery of this Agreement (or any joinder or counterpart thereto), each Class B Member hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Class B Representative as the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of such Class B Member, with full power of substitution to act jointly in the name, place, and stead of the Class B Member to act on behalf of such Class B Member in any litigation or arbitration involving this Agreement, to do or refrain from doing all such further acts and things, and to execute all such documents as the Class B Member Representative shall deem necessary or appropriate in connection with the
88
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the power to (i) execute and deliver all amendments, waivers, ancillary agreements, certificates, and documents that the Class B Member Representative deems necessary or appropriate in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii)Β grant any and all approvals or consents on behalf of Class B Members pursuant to this Agreement, and any and all other matters requiring the consent or approval of the Class B Members under this Agreement or any other agreement, instrument, or document contemplated hereby or in connection with the Class B Units, other than any such matter that requires consent of any particular Class B Member, (iii)Β receive funds, make payments of funds, and withhold a portion of any amounts to be paid to the Class B Members hereunder or any other payments to be made by or on behalf of the Class B Members pursuant to this Agreement, including amounts required to pay the fees and expenses of professionals incurred by the Class B Members in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) do or refrain from doing any further act or deed on behalf of the Class B Members that the Class B Member Representative deems necessary or appropriate in its sole discretion relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, and (v) receive service of process in connection with any claims under this Agreement. Initial Investor is hereby appointed as the initial Class B Member Representative.
(b)Β Β Β Β The appointment of the Class B Member Representative hereunder shall be deemed coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable, and survive the death, incompetence, bankruptcy or liquidation of any Class B Member and shall be binding on any successor thereto; provided, however, that the Class B Member Representativeβs appointment hereto shall terminate automatically when the Class B Member Representative is no longer the record owner of any Class B Units or is no longer the managing member or general partner that Controls a Class B Member that owns Class B Units. Initial Investor shall have the right to designate a successor Class B Member Representative upon written notice delivered to the Managing Member not less than ten (10) Business Days in advance of such designation; provided that the Person appointed to serve as successor Class B Member Representative must be a record owner of Class B Units or the managing member or general partner that Controls a Class B Member that owns Class B Units. The Class B Members hereby confirm all that the Class B Member Representative shall do or cause to be done by virtue of its appointment hereby as the Class B Member Representative. All actions taken by the Class B Member Representative under this Agreement shall be binding upon each Class B Member and such Class B Memberβs successors as if expressly confirmed and ratified in writing by such Class B Member, and all defenses that may be available to any Class B Member to contest, negate, or disaffirm the action of the Class B Member Representative taken in good faith under this Agreement are waived.
(c)Β Β Β Β The Company, NEP Member, NEP, and any other Person may conclusively and absolutely rely, without inquiry and without any liability whatsoever, upon any action of the Class B Member Representative in all matters referred to herein, including that the Class B Member Representative has obtained any prior approval or consent of the Class B Members as may be required, under this Agreement or otherwise, to take any such action. Neither the Company, NEP Member, NEP, nor any other Person will be liable to any Class B Member, any of Affiliate thereof, or any other Person as a result of, in connection with, or relating to the performance of the Class B Member Representativeβs duties and obligations under
89
this Agreement, including with respect to any errors in judgment, negligence, oversight, breach of duty, or otherwise of the Class B Member Representative.
13.09Β Β Β Β Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code. No Class B Member may elect to cause any Membership Interest or other equity interest held by a Class B Member to constitute a βsecurityβ within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of Delaware or Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any other applicable jurisdiction.
13.10Β Β Β Β Waiver of Certain Rights. Each Member irrevocably waives any right it may have to maintain any action for dissolution of the Company or for partition of the property of the Company.
13.11Β Β Β Β Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument.
13.12Β Β Β Β Expenses. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.06, each Member shall bear its own transaction costs and any other costs and expenses incurred in connection with being a Member, holding its Membership Interest, and administering its rights and obligations under this Agreement.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank. Signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Members have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
MEMBERS: | |
NITROGEN TL BORROWER LLC, in its capacity | |
as a Class B Member and the Class B Member | |
Representative | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
NEP RENEWABLES HOLDINGS II, LLC | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
Solely with respect to its obligations pursuant to |
Section 7.02, Section 7.03, Section 7.04, and |
Section 7.05: |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
[Signature page to Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of NEP Renewables, LLC]
EXHIBIT A
MEMBERS
Section I | ||
Name and Address of Purchaser | Capital Contributions | Number and Class of Membership Interest |
NEP Renewables Holdings II,Β LLC 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 33408 Attention: Treasurer and Xxxxxx Lotano E-mail: Xxxxxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx | $1,457,000,000.0021 | 557,000,000 Class A Units22Β and 1,000,000 Class B Units* * These Class B Units will be acquired prior to the Closing and, at the Closing, will xx xxxx to the Class B Purchasers pursuant to the Class B Units Sale. |
Section II | ||
Name and Address of Purchaser | Capital Contributions | Number and Class of Membership Interest |
NEP Renewables Holdings II,Β LLC c/o NextEra Energy Partners, LP 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 33408 Attention: Treasurer and Xxxxxx Lotano E-mail: Xxxxxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx | $557,000,000.0023 | 557,000,000 Class A Units22Β and 1,000,000 Class B Units* * These Class B Units will be acquired prior to the Closing and, at the Closing, will xx xxxx to the Class B Purchasers pursuant to the Class B Units Sale. |
Nitrogen TL Borrower LLC c/o Kohlberg Kravis Xxxxxxx & Co. L.P. 9 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxx Xxxx, XX 10019 Attention: General Counsel E-mail:Β Β Β Β xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx and x/x Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. L.P. 2800 Sand Hill Rd Menlo Park, CA 94025 Attention: Xxxxxxx Velasco E-mail: Xxxxxxx.Xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx xxxx a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP 609 Main Street, Suite 4700 | $900,000,000.00 | 1,000,000 Class B Units |
________________________
21 | NTD - Subject to adjustment to reflect adjustment of the Class A Purchase Price, as set forth in the definition | |||
thereof in the Purchase Agreement. | ||||
22 | NTD - Class A Units to be issued at $1 per Class A Unit at the Closing (one Class A Unit for each dollar of the | |||
Class A Purchase Price), subject to adjustment to reflect adjustments to the Class A Purchase Price, as set forth in | ||||
the definition thereof in the Purchase Agreement. | ||||
23 | NTD - Amount equals the Class A Purchase Price under the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement and is | |||
subject to the adjustments set forth in the definition thereof in the Purchase Agreement. | ||||
24 | NTD - Class A Units to be issued at $1 per Class A Unit at the Closing (one Class A Unit for each dollar of the | |||
Class A Purchase Price), subject to adjustment to reflect adjustments to the Class A Purchase Price, as set forth in | ||||
the definition thereof in the Purchase Agreement. | ||||
Exhibit A - Page1 |
Houston, TX 77002 Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, P.C.; Xxxxx X. Nelson Email: xxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx; Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β xxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx |
Exhibit A - Page 2
Exhibit B
Financial Model for Internal Rate of Return
[ Excel File ]
Exhibit B
Form of Amended NEP Partnership Agreement
[Attached]
FORM OF
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS,Β LP
A Delaware Limited Partnership
Dated as of
Β [β’], 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS | ||
Page | ||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | ||
Section 1.1 | Definitions | 1 |
Section 1.2 | Construction | 20 |
ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION | ||
Section 2.1 | Formation | 20 |
Section 2.2 | Name | 20 |
Section 2.3 | Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices | 21 |
Section 2.4 | Purpose and Business | 21 |
Section 2.5 | Powers | 21 |
Section 2.6 | Term | 21 |
Section 2.7 | Title to Partnership Assets | 22 |
ARTICLE III RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS | ||
Section 3.1 | Limitation of Liability | 22 |
Section 3.2 | Management of Business | 22 |
Section 3.3 | Rights of Limited Partners | 22 |
ARTICLE IV CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | ||
Section 4.1 | Certificates | 24 |
Section 4.2 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates | 24 |
Section 4.3 | Record Holders | 25 |
Section 4.4 | Transfer Generally | 25 |
Section 4.5 | Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests | 26 |
Section 4.6 | Transfer of the General Partnerβs General Partner Interest | 27 |
Section 4.7 | Restrictions on Transfers | 28 |
A-i |
ARTICLE V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | ||
Section 5.1 | Capital Contributions | 29 |
Section 5.2 | Interest and Withdrawal | 29 |
Section 5.3 | Units | 29 |
Section 5.4 | Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests | 30 |
Section 5.5 | Limited Preemptive Right | 31 |
Section 5.6 | Splits and Combinations | 33 |
Section 5.7 | Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests | 33 |
Section 5.8 | Series A Preferred Units | 33 |
Section 5.9 | Non-Voting Common Units | 50 |
ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTIONS | ||
Section 6.1 | Distributions to Record Holders | 56 |
ARTICLE VII MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS | ||
Section 7.1 | Management by Board of Directors | 57 |
Section 7.2 | Certificate of Limited Partnership | 64 |
Section 7.3 | Restrictions on the Partnershipβs Authority to Sell Assets of the Partnership Group | 64 |
Section 7.4 | Reimbursement of the General Partner | 64 |
Section 7.5 | Outside Activities | 65 |
Section 7.6 | Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members | 66 |
Section 7.7 | Indemnification | 67 |
Section 7.8 | Liability of Indemnitees | 69 |
Section 7.9 | Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties | 70 |
Section 7.10 | Certain Additional Matters Requiring Consent of the General Partner | 72 |
Section 7.11 | Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests | 72 |
Section 7.12 | Reliance | 73 |
ARTICLE VIII BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS | ||
Section 8.1 | Records and Accounting | 74 |
Section 8.2 | Fiscal Year | 74 |
Section 8.3 | Reports | 74 |
A-ii |
Β | ARTICLE IX TAX MATTERS | ||
Β | |||
Β | |||
Β | Section 9.1 | Tax Characterizations, Elections and Information | 75 |
Β | Section 9.2 | Withholding | 75 |
Β | |||
Β | ARTICLE X ADMISSION OF PARTNERS | ||
Β | |||
Β | Section 10.1 | Admission of Limited Partners | 75 |
Β | Section 10.2 | Admission of Successor General Partner | 76 |
Β | Section 10.3 | Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership | 77 |
Β | |||
Β | ARTICLE XI WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS | ||
Β | |||
Β | Section 11.1 | Withdrawal of the General Partner | 77 |
Β | Section 11.2 | Removal of the General Partner | 78 |
Β | Section 11.3 | Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner | 79 |
Β | Section 11.4 | Withdrawal of Limited Partners | 80 |
Β | |||
Β | ARTICLE XII DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION | ||
Β | |||
Β | Section 12.1 | Dissolution | 80 |
Β | Section 12.2 | Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution | 81 |
Β | Section 12.3 | Liquidator | 82 |
Β | Section 12.4 | Liquidation | 82 |
Β | Section 12.5 | Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership | 83 |
Β | Section 12.6 | Return of Contributions | 83 |
Β | Section 12.7 | Waiver of Partition | 83 |
Β | |||
Β | ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE; VOTING | ||
Β | |||
Β | Section 13.1 | Amendments to the Partnership Agreement | 83 |
Β | Section 13.2 | Amendment Procedures | 85 |
Β | Section 13.3 | Amendment Requirements | 86 |
Β | Section 13.4 | Annual and Special Meetings | 89 |
Β | Section 13.5 | Notice of a Meeting | 92 |
Β | Section 13.6 | Record Date | 92 |
Β | Section 13.7 | Postponement and Adjournment | 92 |
Β | |||
Β | |||
Β | |||
Β | A-iii |
Section 13.8 | Waiver of Notice of a Meeting | 93 |
Section 13.9 | Quorum and Voting | 93 |
Section 13.10 | Conduct of a Meeting | 94 |
Section 13.11 | Action Without a Meeting | 94 |
Section 13.12 | Right to Vote and Related Matters | 95 |
Section 13.13 | Reductions in Voting Power | 95 |
Section 13.14 | Special Voting Units | 96 |
ARTICLE XIV MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION | ||
Section 14.1 | Authority | 96 |
Section 14.2 | Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 97 |
Section 14.3 | Approval by Limited Partners | 99 |
Section 14.4 | Certificate of Merger or Certificate of Conversion | 100 |
Section 14.5 | Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 101 |
ARTICLE XV PROXY ACCESS FOR DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS | ||
Section 15.1 | General | 102 |
Section 15.2 | Timely Notice | 102 |
Section 15.3 | Number of Nominees | 103 |
Section 15.4 | Ownership Requirement for Eligibility to Make Nominations | 103 |
Section 15.5 | Ownership Amount and Period of Ownership | 104 |
Section 15.6 | Eligible Limited Partnerβs Statement; Partnershipβs Statement | 106 |
Section 15.7 | Nominee Information and Representations | 106 |
Section 15.8 | Disqualification of Limited Partner Nominees | 107 |
Section 15.9 | Effect of Breach of Agreements | 108 |
Section 15.10 | Obligation to File Soliciting and Communication Materials | 108 |
Section 15.11 | Authority for Implementation | 108 |
ARTICLE XVI GENERAL PROVISIONS | ||
Section 16.1 | Addresses and Notices; Written Communications | 109 |
Section 16.2 | Binding Effect | 110 |
Section 16.3 | Integration | 110 |
Section 16.4 | Creditors | 110 |
Section 16.5 | Waiver | 110 |
Section 16.6 | Third-Party Beneficiaries | 110 |
Section 16.7 | Counterparts | 110 |
Section 16.8 | Applicable Law; Forum; Venue and Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury | 110 |
Section 16.9 | Invalidity of Provisions | 000 |
X-xx |
Section 16.10 | Consent of Partners | 111 |
Section 16.11 | Facsimile and Email Signatures | 112 |
A-v |
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
This FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP, dated as of [β’], 2019, is entered into by and between NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as the General Partner, and NextEra Energy Equity Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, together with any other Persons who are or become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein. In consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1Β Β Β Β Definitions.Β Β The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
β61-Day Converting Class B Memberβ means any (a) Class B LLC Member of NEP Renewables II, LLC or (b) βClass B Memberβ under another Qualified Agreement (as such term is defined therein) that provides for conversion of Non-Voting Common Units into Common Units upon sixty-one (61) daysβ prior written notice.
βAdjusted Percentage Interestβ means as of any date of determination (a) as to any Unitholder with respect to Units, as the case may be, the product obtained by multiplying (i) one hundred percent (100%) less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Units held by such Unitholder, as the case may be, by (B) the total number of all Outstanding Units and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.4, the percentage established as a part of such issuance. In calculating the number of Units in clauses (A) and (B) above, the applicable number of Units shall include Outstanding Common Units and the Common Units that would be issued if all Series A Preferred Units and Non-Voting Common Units were converted to Common Units on such date of determination. The Adjusted Percentage Interest with respect to a Series A Preferred Unit shall only be defined by reference to the Adjusted Percentage Interest attributable to the Common Units into which such Series A Preferred Unit would be converted if conversion took place on such date of determination (whether or not such Series A Preferred Units were eligible for conversion at such time).
βAffected Directorβ has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(d)(ii).
βAffiliateβ 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 βcontrolβ 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. For purposes of the use of the term Group in Section 13.13, a Person will be deemed to βcontrolβ if such
1
Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, ten percent (10%) or more of the voting securities of the subject Person.
βAgreementβ means this Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of NextEra Energy Partners, LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
βApplicable Independence Standardsβ means the listing standards of the National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are listed, any applicable rules of the Commission and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, in determining and disclosing the independence of the Partnershipβs Directors.
βAssociateβ means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a)Β 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 ten percent (10%) or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest, (b)Β any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a ten percent (10%) beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity and (c)Β any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.
βAttribution Partiesβ has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9(b)(v)(B).
βAudit Committeeβ means the committee of the Board of Directors composed of no fewer than three (3) Directors who shall meet the independence and experience requirements 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). At least one member of the Audit Committee shall be an βaudit committee financial expertβ as defined by rules of the Commission.
βAutomatic Conversion Noticeβ has the meaning set forth in SectionΒ 5.9(b)(v)(A).
βAvailable Cashβ means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:
Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β the sum of:
(i)Β Β Β Β all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership on hand at the end of such Quarter; and
Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership expected, on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter, to be received by the Partnership from distributions on OpCo Common Units, OpCo Non-Voting Common Units and OpCo Preferred Units by the Operating Partnership, in each case, made with respect to such Quarter subsequent to the end of such Quarter, less;
2
(b)Β Β Β Β the amount of any cash reserves established by the Board of Directors to:
(i)Β Β Β Β provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership subsequent to such Quarter, including the payment of income taxes by the Partnership; or
(ii)Β Β Β Β comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which the Partnership is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject;
provided, that disbursements made by the Partnership 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 Board of Directors so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, βAvailable Cashβ shall not include any proceeds received pursuant to the Series A Purchase Agreement or any proceeds received for the purchase of any Series A Preferred Units or Series A Parity Securities subsequently issued in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(iv), and with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
βAverage VWAPβ per Common Unit over a certain period shall mean the arithmetic average of the VWAP per Common Unit for each Trading Day in such period.
βBlackRock Affiliated Purchasersβ means Nasa B Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership and Nasa Co-invest Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
βBlackRock Purchaserβ means Nasa A Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
βBlackRock Purchaser Notice Addressβ means
Nasa A Holdings LP,
c/o Global Energy & Power Infrastructure Funds,
0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Email: xxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
BlackRock, Inc.
Office of the General Counsel
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 00xx xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
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or such other address as the BlackRock Purchaser may designate in writing to the Partnership from time to time.
βBoardβ and βBoard of Directorsβ have the meanings set forth in Section 7.1(a).
βBusiness Dayβ 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 Florida shall not be regarded as a Business Day.
βCapital Contributionβ means (a)Β any cash, cash equivalents or the Fair Market Value of Contributed Property, net of Liabilities, that a Partner contributes to the Partnership or that is contributed or deemed contributed to the Partnership on behalf of a Partner, net of any liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property or other consideration is subject when contributed (including, in the case of an underwritten offering of Units, the amount of any underwriting discounts or commissions) or (b)Β current distributions that a Partner is entitled to receive but otherwise waives.
βCapital Distribution Basketβ means, at the time of determination, (i) an amount equal to four times the total distributions to the holders of OpCo Common Units and OpCo Non-Voting Common Units under the OpCo Partnership Agreement for the preceding Quarter less (ii) the sum of (x) any amounts previously distributed by the OpCo Partnership to the holders of OpCo Common Units and OpCo Non-Voting Common Units under the OpCo Partnership Agreement from Capital Surplus (as defined in the OpCo Partnership Agreement) on or following the date of the Series A Purchase Agreement and (y) any amounts previously distributed by the Partnership to the Common Unitholders and Non-Voting Common Unitholders under this Agreement from Capital Proceeds on or following the date of the Series A Purchase Agreement; provided that if during the preceding Quarter, there was a distribution by the Partnership or the Operating Partnership that reduced the Capital Distribution Basket, the amount in clause (i) shall be determined by reference to the last preceding Quarter during which no such distributions were made.
βCash Sweep and Credit Support Agreementβ means the Amended and Restated Cash Sweep and Credit Support Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2017, between the Operating Partnership and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC.
βCash Sweep Withdrawalsβ has the meaning set forth in the Cash Sweep and Credit Support Agreement.
βCauseβ means (i) as used in Section 11.3 with respect to the General Partner, a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the General Partner liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct to the Partnership or any Limited Partner in the General Partnerβs capacity as a general partner of the Partnership; and (ii) as used in SectionΒ 7.1(d)(v) with respect to a Director, such Director has (a)Β been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any crime or offense constituting a felony or any other crime involving (y) an act of theft, embezzlement, fraud or dishonesty or (z) a violation of the federal securities laws of the United States; (b) materially breached the terms of this Agreement; or (c)Β materially violated a written policy or procedure established by the Partnership.
4Β Β Β Β
βCertificateβ means a certificate in such form (including global form if permitted by applicable rules and regulations) as may be adopted by the Board of Directors and 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 the Common Units is attached as ExhibitΒ A to this Agreement. The initial form of certificate approved by the General Partner for the Series A Preferred Units is attached as ExhibitΒ B to this Agreement, and the initial form of certificate approved by the General Partner for the Non-Voting Common Units is attached as ExhibitΒ D to this Agreement.
βCertificate of Limited Partnershipβ means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in SectionΒ 7.2, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
βClass B LLC Memberβ means (a)Β a holder of limited liability company interests of NEP Renewables, LLC designated as βClass B Unitsβ in the NEP Renewables LLC Agreement and admitted as a βClass B Member,β as that term is defined in the NEP Renewables LLC Agreement, in accordance with the terms thereof; or (b) a holder of limited liability company interests of NEP Renewables II, LLC designated as βClass B Unitsβ in the NEP Renewables II LLC Agreement and admitted as a βClass B Member,β as that term is defined in the NEP Renewables II LLC Agreement, in accordance with the terms thereof.
βClosing Priceβ means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the last closing bid and ask prices on such day, regular way, in either case as reported on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the average of the high bid and low ask prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by such other system then in use, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and ask prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the Board of Directors, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the Board of Directors.
βCodeβ 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.
βCombined Interestβ means a Departing General Partnerβs General Partner Interest and its or its Affiliatesβ general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members.
βCommissionβ means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
5Β Β Β Β
βCommon Unitβ means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement. The term βCommon Unitβ does not refer to or include (i) prior to its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof, any Series A Preferred Unit, (ii) prior to its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof, any Non-Voting Common Unit or (iii) any Special Voting Unit, except that, with respect to Article VI and the Management Services Agreement, the term βCommon Unitβ shall be deemed to also refer to any Non-Voting Common Units.
βConflicts Committeeβ means the committee of the Board of Directors composed of two (2) or more Directors, each of whom (A)Β is not an officer or employee of the General Partner or the Partnership, (B)Β is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership, (C)Β is not a holder of any ownership interest in the General Partner or its Affiliates or the Partnership Group other than (1)Β Common Units and (2)Β 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)Β is determined by the Board of Directors to be independent under the independence standards, 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), for directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors.
βContributed Propertyβ means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership.
βConversion Dateβ has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9(b)(v)(D).
βConverting Holderβ means a Record Holder of Non-Voting Common Units who delivers an Automatic Conversion Notice or Optional Conversion Notice pursuant to SectionΒ 5.9(b)(v)(A) or (B), respectively.
βDelaware Actβ means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6Β DelΒ C. SectionΒ 17-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
βDeparting General Partnerβ means a former general partner from and after the effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former general partner pursuant to SectionΒ 11.1 or SectionΒ 11.2.
βDerivative Partnership Interestsβ 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; provided, however, that a Partnership Interest relating to, convertible into or exchangeable for another Partnership Interest shall not be a Derivative Partnership Interest.
βDirectorsβ has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).
βEligible Limited Partnerβ means a holder of Common Units that satisfies, or a Group of no more than twenty (20) holders of Common Units that together satisfy, the
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requirements of Article XV (including ownership of the Required Units); provided, however, that NEE shall not be entitled to qualify as an Eligible Limited Partner for so long as either it or one of its Affiliates serves as Manager under the Management Services Agreement; provided, further, that a holder of Special Voting Units shall not be entitled, solely by virtue of holding any number of Special Voting Units, to qualify as an Eligible Limited Partner (or member of a Group that otherwise satisfies the requirements of Article XV); provided, further, that a holder of Series A Preferred Units shall not be entitled, solely by virtue of holding any number of Series A Preferred Units, to qualify as an Eligible Limited Partner (or member of a Group that otherwise satisfies the requirements of Article XV); provided, further, that a holder of Non-Voting Common Units shall not be entitled, solely by virtue of holding any number of Non-Voting Common Units, to qualify as an Eligible Limited Partner (or member of a Group that otherwise satisfies the requirements of Article XV).
βEvent of Withdrawalβ has the meaning given such term in SectionΒ 11.1(a).
βExchange Actβ means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
βExchange Agreementβ means the Exchange Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2014, among NEE Equity, the Partnership, the General Partner and the Operating Partnership.
βExcess Unitsβ has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9(b)(v)(B).
βFair Market Valueβ means, with respect to any property or asset, the fair market value of that property or asset, as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith.
βGeneral Partnerβ means NextEra Energy Partners, GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, in their capacity as general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires). The General Partner is the sole general partner of the Partnership and the holder of the General Partner Interest.
βGeneral Partner Interestβ means the non-economic interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest), which includes any and all rights, powers and benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. The General Partner Interest does not include any rights to ownership or profits or losses or any rights to receive distributions from operations or upon the liquidation or winding-up of the Partnership.
βGroupβ 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 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.
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βGroup Memberβ means a member of the Partnership Group.
βGroup Member Agreementβ 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, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
βIDR Feeβ has the meaning given such term in the Management Services Agreement.
βIndemniteeβ means (a)Β the General Partner, (b)Β any Departing General Partner, (c)Β any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d)Β any Person who is or was a manager, managing member, general partner, director (including each LP Elected Director and each NEP GP Appointed Director), officer, fiduciary or trustee of (i)Β any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or (ii)Β any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e)Β any Person who is or was serving at the request of the Board of Directors, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner as a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of another Person owing a fiduciary duty to any Group Member; provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services and (f)Β any Person the General Partner or Board of Directors designates as an βIndemniteeβ for purposes of this Agreement because such Personβs status, service or relationship exposes such Person to potential claims, demands, suits or proceedings relating to the Partnership Groupβs business and affairs.
βInitial Distribution Periodβ means, with respect to a Series A Preferred Unit, the period commencing on the date of issuance of such Series A Preferred Unit and ending on the third (3rd) anniversary thereof; provided that the Initial Distribution Period with respect to a Series A PIK Unit shall be deemed to be the same as that of the Series A Preferred Unit on which the Series A PIK Unit is paid.
βIPO Registration Statementβ means the Registration Statement on FormΒ S-1 (File No.Β 333-196099), as amended, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Partnershipβs initial public offering of such Common Units to the public.
βLiabilityβ means any liability or obligation of any nature, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise.
βLimited Partnerβ means, unless the context otherwise requires, each Person that is admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and
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any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to SectionΒ 11.3, in each case, in such Personβs capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership.
βLimited Partner Interestβ means an interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Series A Preferred Units, Common Units, Non-Voting Common Units, Special Voting Units or other Partnership Interests (other than a General Partner Interest), or a combination thereof (but excluding Derivative Partnership Interests), and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
βLimited Partner Nomineeβ has the meaning set forth in Section 15.1.
βLiquidation Dateβ means (a)Β in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership of the type described in clausesΒ (a) and (b) of SectionΒ 12.2, the date on which the applicable time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election being made and (b)Β in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.
βLiquidatorβ means one or more Persons selected by the General Partner to perform the functions described in SectionΒ 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware Act.
βLP Elected Directorβ has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(d)(ii).
βManagement Services Agreementβ means the Second Amended and Restated Management Services Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2017, among the Operating Partnership, the Partnership, NextEra Energy Operating Partners GP, LLC and NextEra Energy Management Partners, LP.
βManagerβ means the Person serving as the manager under the terms of the Management Services Agreement.
βMaximum Percentageβ has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9(b)(v)(B).
βMerger Agreementβ has the meaning given such term in SectionΒ 14.1.
βNational Securities Exchangeβ means an exchange registered with the Commission under SectionΒ 6(a) of the Exchange Act (or any successor to such Section).
βNEEβ means NextEra Energy, Inc., a Florida corporation.
βNEE Equityβ means NextEra Energy Equity Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
βNEP GP Appointed Directorβ has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(d)(i).
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βNEP Renewables, LLCβ means NEP Renewables, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
βNEP Renewables LLC Agreementβ means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of NEP Renewables, LLC, dated as of December 21, 2018, by and among the members party thereto, as it may be amended, supplemented, or restated from time to time in accordance with its terms.
βNEP Renewables II, LLCβ means NEP Renewables II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
βNEP Renewables II LLC Agreementβ means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of NEP Renewables II, LLC, dated as of [β’], 2019, by and among the members party thereto, as it may be amended, supplemented, or restated from time to time in accordance with its terms.
βNomination Noticeβ has the meaning set forth in Section 15.1.
βNon-Voting Common Unitsβ means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Units designated as βNon-Voting Common Unitsβ in this Agreement.
βOpCo Common Unitsβ means limited partner interests in the Operating Partnership having the rights and obligations specified with respect to βCommon Unitsβ in the OpCo Partnership Agreement, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
βOpCo General Partnerβ means NextEra Energy Operating Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Operating Partnership as general partner of the Operating Partnership, in their capacity as general partner of the Operating Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires). The OpCo General Partner is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and the holder of the OpCo General Partner Interest.
βOpCo General Partner Interestβ means the non-economic management interest of the OpCo General Partner in the Operating Partnership (in its capacity as general partner without reference to any limited partner interest), which includes any and all rights, powers and benefits to which the OpCo General Partner is entitled as provided in the OpCo Partnership Agreement, together with all obligations of the OpCo General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of the OpCo Partnership Agreement. The OpCo General Partner Interest does not include any rights to ownership or profits or losses or any rights to receive distributions from operations or upon the liquidation or winding-up of the Operating Partnership.
βOpCo Non-Voting Common Unitsβ means limited partner interests in the Operating Partnership having the rights and obligations specified with respect to βNon-Voting Common Unitsβ in the OpCo Partnership Agreement, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
Β Β Β Β
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βOpCo Partnership Agreementβ means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, as amended through the date of this Agreement, and as it may be further amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
βOpCo Preferred Unitsβ means limited partner interests in the Operating Partnership having the rights and obligations specified with respect to βSeries A Preferred Unitsβ in the OpCo Partnership Agreement, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
βOpCo Series A Parity Securitiesβ means any class or series of limited partner interests in the Operating Partnership that, with respect to distributions on such limited partner interests or distributions upon liquidation of the Operating Partnership, ranks pari passu with (but not senior to) the OpCo Series A Preferred Units.
βOperating Partnershipβ means NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
βOperating Planβ means the operational plan approved annually by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(iv).
βOpinion of Counselβ 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 Board of Directors or to such other person selecting such counsel or obtaining such opinion.
βOptional Conversion Noticeβ has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9(b)(v)(C).
βOrganizational Limited Partnerβ means NEE Equity in its capacity as the organizational limited partner of the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.
βOutstandingβ means, with respect to Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding in the Register as of the date of determination; provided, however, that Restricted Interests shall not be counted for purposes of determining whether a matter has been approved by Limited Partners, except to the extent such votes are reallocated pursuant to Section 13.13; provided, further, that Restricted Interests shall be considered to be Outstanding for all other purposes of this Agreement, it being understood, however, that Restricted Interests shall in each case not be treated as a separate class of Partnership Interests for purposes of this Agreement or the Delaware Act.
βPartnersβ means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.
βPartnershipβ means NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
βPartnership Groupβ means, collectively, the Partnership and its Subsidiaries.
Β Β Β Β
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βPartnership Interestβ means the General Partner Interest and any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership, which shall include any Limited Partner Interests but shall exclude any Derivative Partnership Interests.
βPercentage Interestβ means as of any date of determination (a) as to any Unitholder with respect to Units (other than with respect to Series A Preferred Units), as the case may be, the product obtained by multiplying (i) one hundred percent (100%) less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Units (excluding Series A Preferred Units) held by such Unitholder, as the case may be, by (B) the total number of Outstanding Units (excluding Series A Preferred Units), and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Interests (other than with respect to Series A Preferred Units) issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.4, the percentage established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to a Series A Preferred Unit shall at all times be zero.
βPermitted Loanβ means any bona fide loan or other extension of credit entered into by a Series A Preferred Unitholder or any of its Affiliates with one or more financial institutions and secured by a pledge, hypothecation or other grant of security interest in Series A Preferred Units, Series A Conversion Units, Common Units, or other assets.
βPersonβ means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, estate, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
βPlan of Conversionβ has the meaning given such term in SectionΒ 14.1.
βPro Rataβ means (a)Β when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests; (b)Β when used with respect to Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests; and (c) when used with respect to Series A Preferred Unitholders, apportioned 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.
βQualified Agreementβ means the NEP Renewables LLC Agreement, the NEP Renewables II LLC Agreement, and any other agreement pursuant to which the Partnership has issued or agreed to issue Non-Voting Common Units, in each case, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented, or restated from time to time in accordance with its terms.
βQualified Call Optionβ means any of the Call Option, NEP Change of Control Option, or Class B COC Option (as each such term is defined in the NEP Renewables LLC Agreement or the NEP Renewables II LLC Agreement, as applicable), or any similar call option or change of control option provided for in any other Qualified Agreement.
βQuarterβ means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership.
βRecord Dateβ means the date established by the Board of Directors or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a)Β the identity of the Record Holders entitled to receive notice of, or entitled
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to exercise rights in respect of, any lawful action of Limited Partners (including voting) or (b)Β the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.
βRecord Holderβ means (a)Β 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 and the Register as of the Partnershipβs close of business on a particular Business Day or (b)Β with respect to other classes of Partnership Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered in the Register as of the Partnershipβs close of business on a particular Business Day.
βRegisterβ means one or more registers in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Board of Directors may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests, and any Derivative Partnership Interests, as applicable, shall be recorded.
βRegistration Rights Agreementβ means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2014, between the Partnership and NEE.
βRequired Informationβ means, for purposes of Article XV, (i) the information concerning the Limited Partner Nominee(s) and the Eligible Limited Partner that is required to be disclosed in the Partnershipβs proxy statement by the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act; and (ii) if the Eligible Limited Partner so elects, a Statement. To be timely, the Required Information must be delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary of the Partnership within the time period specified in Article XV for providing the Nomination Notice.
βRequired Unitsβ means that number of Common Units (including Series A Conversion Units and Common Units that have been issued upon exchange or conversion of Special Voting Units or upon conversion of Non-Voting Common Units) as shall constitute ten percent (10%) or more of the aggregate number of Outstanding Common Units (including Series A Conversion Units and Common Units that have been issued upon exchange or conversion of Special Voting Units or upon conversion of Non-Voting Common Units) and Special Voting Units. For the avoidance of doubt, no Series A Preferred Units that have not been converted into Series A Conversion Units, Special Voting Units that have not been converted into or exchanged for Common Units or Non-Voting Common Units that have not been converted into Common Units shall be counted as Required Units.
βRestricted Interestsβ means Limited Partner Interests with respect to which, pursuant to Section 13.13, the votes cast by the holder thereof on a matter to be acted upon by Limited Partners shall not be counted.
βRight of First Offer Agreementβ means the Amended and Restated Right of First Offer Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2017, among the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC.
βRight of First Refusal Agreementβ means the Right of First Refusal Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2017, among the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC.
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βSecurities Actβ means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
βSeries A Cash COC Eventβ means a Series A Change of Control involving a payment of consideration directly to the holders of Common Units of the Partnership, and more than ninety percent (90%) of such consideration is cash.
βSeries A Change of Controlβ means the occurrence of any of the following:
(a)Β Β Β Β the acquisition, directly or indirectly (including by merger), of fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting equity of the Partnership, the General Partner or the General Partner Interest (as measured by voting power rather than the number of shares, units or the like, and excluding voting power exercisable pursuant to a proxy granted by a Limited Partner in connection with a proxy solicitation conducted pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act) by a Person or Group that is not an Affiliate of NEE as of the Series A Initial Issuance Date if such acquisition gives such Person or Group the right to elect half or more of the members of the Board of Directors of the Partnership or the General Partner, respectively;
(b)Β Β Β Β any sale, lease, pledge, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, the result of which is that (i) the Partnership ceases to own directly or indirectly more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting equity of the OpCo General Partner (as measured by voting power rather than the number of shares, units or the like, and excluding voting power exercisable pursuant to a proxy granted by a Limited Partner in connection with a proxy solicitation conducted pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act) or (ii) the OpCo General Partner ceases to hold one hundred percent (100%) the OpCo General Partner Interest;
(c)Β Β Β Β any sale, lease, pledge, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, the result of which is that NEE ceases to own directly or indirectly more than thirty-three percent (33%) of the voting equity of the Partnership (including the Special Voting Units); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be deemed to constitute a Series A Change of Control for so long as NEE continues to own, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting equity of the General Partner or the General Partner Interest (as measured by voting power rather than the number of shares, units or the like, and excluding voting power exercisable pursuant to a proxy granted by a Limited Partner in connection with a proxy solicitation conducted pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act);
(d)Β Β Β Β any sale, lease, pledge, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (other than to one of the Partnershipβs wholly-owned Subsidiaries);
(e)Β Β Β Β the Common Units are no longer listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange;
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(f)Β Β Β Β any transaction pursuant to which NEE or any of its Affiliates (other than the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries) would acquire (i) all of the Partnershipβs Outstanding Common Units or (ii) all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, in each case, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise; or
(g)Β Β Β Β the removal of the General Partner as general partner of the Partnership by the Limited Partners of the Partnership, except where the successor General Partner is an Affiliate of NEE.
βSeries A COC Conversion Premiumβ means (a) on or prior to the first anniversary of the Series A Initial Issuance Date, one hundred fifteen percent (115%), (b) after the first anniversary but on or prior to the second (2nd) anniversary of the Series A Initial Issuance Date, one hundred ten percent (110%), (c) after the second (2nd) anniversary of the Series A Initial Issuance Date but on or prior to the third (3rd) anniversary of the Series A Initial Issuance Date, one hundred five percent (105%), or (d) after the third (3rd) anniversary of the Series A Initial Issuance Date, one hundred one percent (101%).
βSeries A COC Conversion Rateβ means a conversion ratio equal to the greater of (a) the then applicable Series A Conversion Rate (regardless of whether the Series A Preferred Units are then convertible) and (b) the quotient of (i) the sum of (x) the product of (A) the sum of (aa) the Series A Issue Price, plus (bb) all Series A Unpaid Distributions on the applicable Series A Preferred Unit, multiplied by (B) the Series A COC Conversion Premium plus (y) Series A Partial Period Distributions on the applicable Series A Preferred Unit, divided by (ii) the Average VWAP for the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Days ending immediately prior to the execution of definitive documentation relating to the Series A Change of Control.
βSeries A Conversion Dateβ has the meaning given such term in Section 5.8(b)(vi)(D).
βSeries A Conversion Noticeβ has the meaning given such term in Section 5.8(b)(vi)(C)(1).
βSeries A Conversion Notice Dateβ has the meaning given such term in Section 5.8(b)(vi)(A).
βSeries A Conversion Rateβ means, as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(vi)(E), the number of Common Units issuable upon the conversion of each Series A Preferred Unit, which shall be the quotient of (a) the sum of (i) the Series A Issue Price, plus (ii) any Series A Unpaid Distributions on the applicable Series A Preferred Unit, plus (iii) only for purposes of the definition of βSeries A COC Conversion Rate,β any Series A Partial Period Distributions on the applicable Series A Preferred Unit, divided by (b) the Series A Issue Price.
βSeries A Conversion Unitβ means a Common Unit issued upon conversion of a Series A Preferred Unit pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(vi)(D). Immediately upon such issuance, each Series A Conversion Unit shall be considered a Common Unit for all purposes hereunder.
βSeries A Converting Unitholderβ means a Series A Preferred Unitholder (i) who has delivered a Series A Conversion Notice to the Partnership in accordance with Section
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5.8(b)(vi)(C)(1) or (ii) to whom the Partnership has delivered a Series A Forced Conversion Notice in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(vi)(C)(2).
βSeries A Distribution Amountβ means (a) with respect to any Quarter ending on or before the end of the Initial Distribution Period for a Series A Preferred Unit, an amount per Quarter per Series A Preferred Unit equal to $0.4413; (b) with respect to any Quarter ending after the end of the Quarter during which the Initial Distribution Period ends for a Series A Preferred Unit, an amount per Quarter per Series A Preferred Unit equal to the greater of (i) the amount set forth in clause (a) and (ii) the amount of distributions for such Quarter that would have been payable with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit if such Series A Preferred Unit had converted immediately prior to the Record Date for such Quarter in respect of which such distributions are being paid into the number of Common Unit(s) into which such Series A Preferred Unit would be convertible at the then-applicable Series A Conversion Rate (regardless of whether the Series A Preferred Units are then convertible); and (c) with respect to the Quarter during which the Initial Distribution Period ends, a prorated amount based on the date that the Initial Distribution Period ends, which amount shall equal the sum of (i) the amount set forth in clause (a) of this paragraph, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which equals the number of days in such Quarter commencing on the start of the applicable Quarter and ending on, and including, the last day of the Initial Distribution Period, and the denominator of which equals the total number of days in such Quarter, and (ii) the amount determined as provided in clause (b) of this paragraph, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which equals the number of days in such Quarter commencing on the day following the last day of the Initial Distribution Period and ending on, and including, the last day of such Quarter, and the denominator of which equals the total number of days in such Quarter; provided, however, that the Series A Distribution Amount for the Quarter during which the Initial Distribution Period commences shall be prorated for such period and shall equal the amount calculated by multiplying the amount set forth in clause (a) of this paragraph by a fraction, the numerator of which equals the number of days in such Quarter commencing on the applicable issuance date and ending on, and including, the last day of such Quarter, and the denominator of which equals the total number of days in such Quarter.
βSeries A Distribution Payment Dateβ has the meaning given such term in Section 5.8(b)(i)(A).
βSeries A Forced Conversion Noticeβ has the meaning given such term in Section 5.8(b)(vi)(C)(2).
βSeries A Forced Conversion Notice Dateβ has the meaning given such term in Section 5.8(b)(vi)(B).
βSeries A Initial Issuance Dateβ means the date on which Series A Preferred Units are first issued under the Series A Purchase Agreement.
βSeries A Issue Priceβ means $39.2253 per Series A Preferred Unit.
βSeries A Junior Securitiesβ means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests and distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership, ranks junior to the Series A Preferred Units, including Common Units and
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Non-Voting Common Units, but excluding any Series A Parity Securities and Series A Senior Securities.
βSeries A Liquidation Valueβ means the amount equal to the sum of (i) the Series A Issue Price, plus (ii) all Series A Unpaid Distributions, plus (iii) Series A Partial Period Distributions, in each case, with respect to the applicable Series A Preferred Unit.
βSeries A Parity Equivalent Unitsβ has the meaning given such term in Section 5.8(b)(iv).
βSeries A Parity Securitiesβ means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests or distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership, ranks pari passu with (but not senior to) the Series A Preferred Units.
βSeries A Partial Period Distributionsβ means, with respect to a conversion or redemption of Series A Preferred Units or a liquidation, (a) an amount equal to the Series A Distribution Amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days elapsed in the Quarter in which such conversion, redemption or liquidation occurs and the denominator of which is the total number of days in such Quarter, plus (b) to the extent such conversion, redemption or liquidation occurs prior to the Series A Distribution Payment Date in respect of the Quarter immediately preceding such conversion, redemption or liquidation, an amount equal to the Series A Distribution Amount.
βSeries A PIK Payment Dateβ has the meaning given such term in Section 5.8(b)(i)(E).
βSeries A PIK Unitsβ means any Series A Preferred Units issued pursuant to a Series A Quarterly Distribution in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(i).
βSeries A Preferred Unitholderβ means a Record Holder of Series A Preferred Units.
βSeries A Preferred Unitsβ means any Units designated as βSeries A Convertible Preferred Unitsβ and issued pursuant to Section 5.8, including any Units issued under Section 5.8(b)(ii) and any Series A PIK Units.
βSeries A Purchase Agreementβ means the Series A Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2017, by and among the Partnership and the Series A Purchasers thereunder, as may be amended from time to time.
βSeries A Purchase Agreement Purchasersβ means those Persons set forth on Schedule A to the Series A Purchase Agreement.
βSeries A Purchaser Change of Controlβ means, (i) with respect to the BlackRock Purchaser and the BlackRock Affiliated Purchasers, a transaction or series of transactions which results in such Person no longer being controlled by an Affiliate of Global Energy & Power Infrastructure Fund II, L.P. and (ii) with respect to KKR Flatirons Aggregator L.P., as Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser, a transaction or series of transactions which
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results in such Person no longer being controlled by an Affiliate of Kohlberg Kravis Xxxxxxx & Co. L.P.
βSeries A Purchasersβ means (a) any Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser and (b) any Person who subsequently purchases any Series A Preferred Units issued in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(iv).
βSeries A Quarterly Distributionβ has the meaning given such term in Section 5.8(b)(i)(A).
βSeries A Required Voting Percentageβ has the meaning given such term in Section 13.3(c).
βSeries A Senior Securitiesβ means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests or distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership, ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Units.
βSeries A Substantially Equivalent Unitβ has the meaning given such term in Section 5.8(b)(vii)(B)(2).
βSeries A Unpaid Distributionsβ has the meaning given such term in Section 5.8(b)(i)(B).
βSpecial Approvalβ means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee acting in good faith.
βSpecial Voting Unitβ means a Partnership Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Special Voting Units in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, holders of Special Voting Units, in their capacity as such, shall not have any rights to ownership or profits or losses or any rights to receive distributions from operations or upon the liquidation or winding-up of the Partnership.
βStatementβ means a written statement for inclusion in the Partnershipβs proxy statement for the annual meeting, not to exceed five hundred (500) words, in support of a Limited Partner Nomineeβs candidacy.
βSubsidiaryβ means, with respect to any Person, (a)Β a corporation of which more than fifty percent (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)Β 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 such Person, directly or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, controls such partnership on the date hereof; or (c)Β 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, hasΒ the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.
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Surviving Business Entityβ has the meaning given such term in SectionΒ 14.2(b).
βTrading Dayβ 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.
βTransaction Documentsβ means this Agreement, the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member, the Management Services Agreement, the Exchange Agreement, the Right of First Offer Agreement, the Right of First Refusal Agreement, the Cash Sweep and Credit Support Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, as each such agreement is amended or supplemented from time to time.
βtransferβ has the meaning given such term in SectionΒ 4.4(a).
βTransfer Agentβ 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 Board of Directors 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.
βTreasury Regulationβ means the United States Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code.
βUnitβ means a Limited Partner Interest that is designated by the Board of Directors as a βUnitβ and shall include Series A Preferred Units, Common Units, Non-Voting Common Units and Special Voting Units.
βUnit Majorityβ means at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Special Voting Units, voting together as a single class (and including the Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding the Non-Voting Common Units).
βUnitholdersβ means the Record Holders of Units.
βUnrestricted Personβ means (a)Β each Indemnitee, (b)Β each Partner, (c)Β 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)Β any Person the General Partner designates from time to time as an βUnrestricted Personβ for purposes of this Agreement.
βU.S.Β GAAPβ means United States generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect from time to time, consistently applied.
βVWAPβ per Common Unit on any Trading Day shall mean the per Common Unit volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading βBloomberg VWAPβ on
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Bloomberg page βNEP <equity> AQRβ (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the closing price of one Common Unit on such Trading Day as reported on the New York Stock Exchangeβs website or the website of the National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are listed). If the VWAP cannot be calculated for the Common Units on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the VWAP of the Common Units on such date shall be the Fair Market Value.
Section 1.2Β Β Β Β Construction.Β Β Unless the context requires otherwise: (a)Β 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)Β references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c)Β the terms βinclude,β βincludes,β βincludingβ or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words βwithout limitationβ; and (d)Β the terms βhereof,β βhereinβ or βhereunderβ 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 and the Board of Directors have the power to construe and interpret this Agreement and to act upon any such construction or interpretation. Any construction or interpretation of this Agreement by the General Partner or the Board of Directors, and any action taken pursuant thereto, and any determination made by the General Partner or the Board of Directors in good faith shall, in each case, be conclusive and binding on all Record Holders and all other Persons for all purposes.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1Β Β Β Β Formation.Β Β The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The initial agreement of limited partnership was amended and restated in its entirety by the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated as of July 1, 2014, which is hereby amended and restated in its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties, liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the record owner thereof for all purposes.
Section 2.2Β Β Β Β Name.Β Β The name of the Partnership shall be βNextEra Energy Partners, LP.β Subject to applicable law, the Partnershipβs business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the Board of Directors. The words βLimited Partnership,β βL.P.,β βLtd.β or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnershipβs name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The Board of Directors may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.
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Section 2.3Β Β Β Β Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices.Β Β Unless and until changed by the Board of Directors, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be Corporation Service Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, or such other place as the Board of Directors 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 Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.
Section 2.4Β Β Β Β Purpose and Business.Β Β The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a)Β 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 Board of Directors and 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)Β do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however, that, without the prior written consent of the General Partner, which consent may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion, the Partnership and each other Group Member shall not have any power or authority to solicit, review, respond to or otherwise participate in any request for proposal relating to, or otherwise engage in, or seek to engage in, the development of, (i) any wind or solar energy project (other than any off-shore project), (ii) any natural gas pipeline, or (iii) any utility-scale battery storage facility, in each case, anywhere in the world, other than those projects described in clauses (i) through (iii) that are owned or are being developed by a Group Member as of the date of this Agreement. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the General Partner nor the Board of Directors shall have any duty or obligation to propose or approve the conduct by the Partnership of any business and may decline to do so free of any 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 and the Board of Directors in determining whether to propose or approve the conduct by the Partnership of any business shall be permitted to do so, each in its sole and absolute discretion.
Section 2.5Β Β Β Β Powers.Β Β 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 SectionΒ 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.
Section 2.5Β Β Β Β Term.Β Β 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 ArticleΒ XII.
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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 2.7Β Β Β Β Title to Partnership Assets.Β Β Title to the assets of the Partnership, 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 assets of the Partnership or any portion thereof. Title to any or all assets of the Partnership 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 Board of Directors may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any assets of the Partnership 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 Partnershipβs 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 assets of the Partnership shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such assets of the Partnership is held.
ARTICLE III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
Section 3.1Β Β Β Β Limitation of Liability.Β Β The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.
Section 3.2Β Β Β Β Management of Business.Β 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 Partnershipβs business, transact any business in the Partnershipβs 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 SectionΒ 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 3.3Β Β Β Β Rights of Limited Partners.
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(a)Β Β Β Β Each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partnerβs interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partnerβs own expense:
(i)Β Β Β Β to obtain from the Partnership either (A)Β the Partnershipβs most recent filings with the Commission on FormΒ 10-K and any subsequent filings on FormΒ 10-Q and 8-K or (B)Β if the Partnership is no longer subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the information specified in, and meeting the requirements of, RuleΒ 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act or any successor or similar rule or regulation under the Securities Act (provided that the foregoing materials shall be deemed to be available to a Limited Partner in satisfaction of the requirements of this SectionΒ 3.3(a)(i) if posted on or accessible through the Partnershipβs or the Commissionβs website);
(ii)Β Β Β Β to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner; and
(iii)Β Β Β Β to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto.
(b)Β Β Β Β The rights to information granted the Limited Partners pursuant to SectionΒ 3.3(a) replace in their entirety any rights to information provided for in SectionΒ 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act and each of the Partners and each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in Partnership Interests hereby agrees to the fullest extent permitted by law that they do not have any rights as Partners to receive any information either pursuant to SectionsΒ 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act or otherwise except for the information identified in SectionΒ 3.3(a).
(c)Β Β Β Β The Board of Directors may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the Board of Directors deems reasonable, (i)Β any information that the Board of Directors or the General Partner determines is in the nature of trade secrets or (ii)Β other information the disclosure of which the Board of Directors determines (A)Β is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B)Β could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C)Β that any Group Member is required by law or regulation 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 SectionΒ 3.3). Any disclosure of any of the foregoing information to Limited Partners shall require the prior written consent of the General Partner, which consent may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion.
(d)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or SectionΒ 17-305 of the Delaware Act, each of the Partners, each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement hereby agrees to the fullest extent permitted by law that they do not have rights to receive information from the Partnership or any Indemnitee for the purpose of determining whether to pursue litigation or assist in pending litigation against the Partnership or any Indemnitee relating to the affairs of the Partnership except pursuant to the applicable rules of discovery relating to litigation commenced by such Person or Group.
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ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP
INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 4.1Β Β Β Β Certificates.Β Β Owners of Partnership Interests and, where appropriate, Derivative Partnership Interests, shall be recorded in the Register and ownership of such interests shall be evidenced by a physical certificate or book entry notation in the Register. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, unless the Board of Directors shall determine otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests, Partnership Interests and Derivative 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 Vice President and the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or other authorized officer of the Partnership, and shall bear the legend set forth in SectionΒ 4.7(c). The signatures of such officers upon a certificate may 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 Board of Directors 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 Board of Directors 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 4.2Β Β Β Β Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the appropriate officers 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 or Derivative Partnership Interests as the Certificate so surrendered.
(b)Β Β Β Β The appropriate officers 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)Β Β Β Β makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the Board of Directors, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;
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(ii)Β Β Β Β requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the Partnership has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;
(iii)Β Β Β Β if requested by the Partnership, delivers to the Partnership a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the Partnership, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the Partnership 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)Β Β Β Β satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent.
If a Limited Partner fails to notify the Partnership within a reasonable period of time after such Limited Partner has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership 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)Β Β Β Β As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this SectionΒ 4.2, the Partnership may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.
Section 4.3Β Β Β Β Record Holders.Β Β The names and addresses of Unitholders as they appear in the Register shall be the official list of Record Holders of the Limited Partner Interests for all purposes. The Partnership and the General Partner shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Limited Partner with respect to any Limited Partner Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Limited Partner 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 Limited Partner 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 or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Person or Group on the other, such representative Person shall be the Limited Partner with respect to such Limited Partner Interest upon becoming the Record Holder in accordance with Article X and have the rights and obligations of a Limited Partner hereunder as, and to the extent, provided herein, including SectionΒ 10.1(a).
Section 4.4Β Β Β Β Transfer Generally.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β The term βtransfer,β when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction (i)Β by which the General Partner
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assigns all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii)Β by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest assigns all or any part of such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is a Limited Partner 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)Β Β Β Β No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this ArticleΒ IV. Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this ArticleΒ IV shall be null and void, and the Partnership shall have no obligation to effect or recognize any such transfer or purported transfer.
(c)Β Β Β Β 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 Personβs shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in the General Partner or such Limited Partner, and the term βtransferβ shall not include any such disposition.
Section 4.5Β Β Β Β Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β The Partnership shall keep, or cause to be kept by the Transfer Agent on behalf of the Partnership, the Register. Without limiting the foregoing and without limiting the discretion of the Board of Directors to change or appoint a new third-party Transfer Agent at any time, on or prior to the Series A Initial Issuance Date the Board of Directors shall appoint the same Transfer Agent for the Common Units to be Transfer Agent for the Series A Preferred Units, and on or prior to the date on which the Partnership issues Non-Voting Common Units the Board of Directors shall appoint the same Transfer Agent for the Common Units to be Transfer Agent for the Non-Voting Common Units.
(b)Β Β Β Β The Partnership shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the Partnership for such transfer; provided that, as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this SectionΒ 4.5, the Partnership may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith. 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 SectionΒ 4.5(b), the appropriate officers 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 holderβs instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by
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the Certificate so surrendered. Upon the proper surrender of a Certificate, such transfer shall be recorded in the Register.
(c)Β Β Β Β Upon the receipt by the Partnership of proper transfer instructions from the Record Holder of uncertificated Partnership Interests, such transfer shall be recorded in the Register.
(d)Β Β Β Β By acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests pursuant to a transfer in accordance with this ArticleΒ 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)Β 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 Register and such Person becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii)Β shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii)Β shall be deemed to represent that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv)Β shall be deemed to make any consents, acknowledgements or waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.
(e)Β Β Β Β Subject to (i)Β the foregoing provisions of this SectionΒ 4.5, (ii)Β SectionΒ 4.3, (iii)Β SectionΒ 4.7, (iv)Β 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)Β any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vi)Β provisions of applicable law, including the Securities Act, Limited Partner Interests shall be freely transferable.
(f)Β Β Β Β The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Common Units to one or more Persons; provided that NEE Equity may not transfer its Special Voting Units to any Person other than to an Affiliate of NEE Equity to which NEE Equity has also transferred the same number of its OpCo Common Units in accordance with the OpCo Partnership Agreement.
Section 4.6Β Β Β Β Transfer of the General Partnerβs General Partner Interest.Β Β The General Partner may transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest without the consent of any other Partner. 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 (a)Β 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, (b)Β 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 and (c)Β such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest the General Partner holds 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 SectionΒ 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of SectionΒ 10.2, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner effective immediately prior to
27
the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.Β
Section 4.7Β Β Β Β Restrictions on Transfers.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding the other provisions of this ArticleΒ IV, no transfer of any Partnership Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i)Β 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)Β terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation or (iii) cause the Operating Partnership or the Operating Partnershipβs Subsidiaries 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)Β Β Β Β The Board of Directors 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 Operating Partnership or the Operating Partnershipβs Subsidiaries 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) Β preserve the uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The Board of Directors 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 and any Outstanding Limited Partner Interest convertible into such class other than any Non-Voting Common Units (regardless of whether such Outstanding Limited Partnership Interest is then convertible), voting together as a single class.
(c)Β Β Β Β Each certificate or book entry evidencing Partnership Interests (other than Series A Preferred Units) shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the following form:
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT) WOULD (A)Β 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 OR (B)Β TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE. 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 PARTNERSHIP AT THE
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PRINCIPAL OFFICE 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.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1Β Β Β Β Capital Contributions.Β Β Neither the General Partner nor any Limited Partner will be required to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 5.2Β Β Β Β Interest and Withdrawal.Β Β Β Β
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 SectionΒ 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.3Β Β Β Β Units. Β
(a)Β Β Β Β The Limited Partner Interests of the Limited Partners shall be represented by issued and outstanding Units, which may be divided into one or more types, classes or series, with each type, class or series having the rights and privileges set forth in this Agreement. The Partnership shall maintain a schedule of all Limited Partners from time to time, and the respective Units held by them. Ownership of a Unit shall not entitle a Limited Partner to call for a partition or division of any property of the Partnership or for any accounting. As of the date of this Agreement, the Partnership is authorized to issue Series A Preferred Units, Common Units, Non-Voting Common Units and Special Voting Units. All Series A Preferred Units, Common Units and Special Voting Units issued and outstanding immediately prior to the date of this Agreement shall remain issued and outstanding immediately following the date of this Agreement and shall be governed by the terms of this Agreement. Subject to Section 13.13, each holder of Common Units, and each holder of Special Voting Units, shall be entitled to cast, in person or by proxy, one vote for each Common Unit or Special Voting Unit, as applicable, on all matters upon which Limited Partners have the right to vote as set forth in this Agreement and provided under the Delaware Act. The rights of Series A Preferred Unitholders to vote together with the Common Units are set forth in Section 5.8(b)(iii). The rights of holders of Non-Voting Common Units to vote are set forth in Section 5.9(b)(iii).
(b)Β Β Β Β As of the date of this Agreement, the number of issued and outstanding Special Voting Units is equal to the number of OpCo Common Units held of record by NEE Equity. In the event that, after the date hereof, NEE Equity becomes the record holder of an additional OpCo Common Unit or ceases to be the record holder of any OpCo Common Unit, the Partnership shall issue Special Voting Units to NEE Equity or cancel Special Voting Units held by NEE
29
Equity, as applicable, such that the number of Special Voting Units held by NEE Equity is equal to the number of OpCo Common Units held by NEE Equity; provided that no Special Voting Units shall be cancelled in connection with a transfer of Special Voting Units by NEE Equity to an Affiliate in accordance with Section 4.5(f). The determination of the Board of Directors as to the number of OpCo Common Units held of record by NEE Equity and the number of Special Voting Units held by NEE Equity shall be made by a good faith determination of the Board of Directors, based on the books and records of the Operating Partnership, which determination shall, absent manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Partners.
(c)Β Β Β Β At such time as the Partnership issues Non-Voting Common Units, the Partnership shall contribute the cash proceeds or other consideration received from the issuance of such Non-Voting Common Units to the Operating Partnership in exchange for a number of OpCo Non-Voting Common Units equal to the number of Non-Voting Common Units so issued.
Section 5.4Β Β Β Β Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Subject to Section 5.8(b)(iv), the Partnership may issue additional Partnership Interests (other than General Partner Interests) and Derivative Partnership Interests for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors shall determine, all without the approval of any Partner; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not issue any additional Common Units, Non-Voting Common Units, Series A Preferred Units or Series A Parity Securities unless the Partnership contributes the cash proceeds or other consideration received from the issuance of such additional Common Units, Non-Voting Common Units, Series A Preferred Units or Series A Parity Securities in exchange for an equivalent number of OpCo Common Units, OpCo Non-Voting Common Units, OpCo Preferred Units or OpCo Series A Parity Securities, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership may (x) issue Common Units (i) pursuant to employee benefit plans or pursuant to the Exchange Agreement or (ii) pursuant to a distribution (including any split or combination) of Common Units to all of the holders of Common Units pursuant to Section 5.6 and (y) issue Non-Voting Common Units pursuant to a distribution (including any split or combination) of Non-Voting Common Units to all of the holders of Non-Voting Common Units pursuant to Section 5.9(b)(v)(E).
(b)Β Β Β Β Each additional Partnership Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to SectionΒ 5.4(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 Board of Directors, including (i)Β the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii)Β the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii)Β the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv)Β whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Interest; (v)Β whether such Partnership Interest is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi)Β the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Interest will be issued, evidenced by Certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii)Β the
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method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Interest; and (viii)Β 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)Β Β Β Β The Board of Directors shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i)Β each issuance of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests pursuant to this SectionΒ 5.4, (ii)Β the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii)Β reflecting admission of such additional Limited Partners in the Register as the Record Holders of such Limited Partner Interests and (iv)Β all additional issuances of Partnership Interests. The Board of Directors shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Interests being so issued. The Board of Directors 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 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)Β Β Β Β No fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.
Section 5.5Β Β Β Β Limited Preemptive Right.Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Except as provided in this SectionΒ 5.5 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.
(b)Β Β Β Β 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 Adjusted Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Interests.
(c)Β Β Β Β After the Series A Initial Issuance Date, for as long as any Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser or any of its then-Affiliates continues to own any Series A Preferred Units, such Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser (or its then-Affiliate designees) shall have the right to purchase any Series A Preferred Units or Series A Parity Securities proposed to be issued by the Partnership (other than any Series A PIK Units or any Series A Parity Security PIK units) to any Person other than the Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers or their Affiliates in an amount equal to the number of such Series A Preferred Units or Series A Parity Securities required in order to maintain such Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaserβs (and its Affiliates that own Series A Preferred Units) Adjusted Percentage Interest (assuming conversion of any outstanding convertible securities) equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Series A Preferred Units or Series A Parity Securities, on the same terms and conditions that apply to all offerees in such transaction. In the event of a proposed
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transaction giving rise to any Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaserβs preemptive rights under the foregoing sentence, the Partnership shall provide notice to the Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers by sending notice to the BlackRock Purchaser (on behalf of itself and as representative of the other Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers and any such Affiliates and to the BlackRock Purchaser Notice Address) no later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the expected consummation of such transaction. The BlackRock Purchaser shall provide notice (on behalf of itself and/or any other Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers) of its and any other Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaserβs (and its Affiliates that own Series A Preferred Units) election to exercise its or their preemptive rights within five (5) Business Days after the Partnership gives the notice described in the immediately preceding sentence by delivering such notice to the Partnership at both of the following physical addresses (or such other address or addresses as the Partnership may designate in writing to the BlackRock Purchaser from time to time):
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
and
Β
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Email: Xxxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
If no notice from the BlackRock Purchaser is received by the Partnership within the specified time, neither the BlackRock Purchaser nor any other Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser (or any of their Affiliates) shall have any further preemptive rights with respect to such proposed transaction. The Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers may not transfer their preemptive rights under this SectionΒ 5.5(c) (on behalf of itself and/or its Affiliates) (other than to its Affiliates), and each Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser, and its Affiliates and Affiliate transferees, shall no longer have preemptive rights under this Section 5.5(c) after the occurrence of a Series A Purchaser Change of Control with respect to such Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser. The BlackRock Purchaser may not transfer any of the rights or obligations to give or receive notices hereunder (on behalf of itself and/or any Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser or any of its or their Affiliates), without the express written consent of the Partnership. Following such time as the BlackRock Purchaser ceases to own Series A Preferred Units, the BlackRock Purchaser may continue to give or receive notices under this Section 5.5(c) on behalf of any other Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser or any of its Affiliates who continue to have rights under this Section 5.5(c).
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Section 5.6Β Β Β Β Splits and Combinations.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Subject to SectionΒ 5.6(d), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Interests to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event (subject to the effect of SectionΒ 5.8(b)(vi)(E)), and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted; provided, however, that the Partnership may not effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests described in this Section 5.6(a) unless the Operating Partnership also effects an equivalent subdivision or combination.
(b)Β Β Β Β Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests is declared, the Board of Directors shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least twenty (20) days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than ten (10)Β days prior to the date of such notice (or such shorter periods as required by applicable law). The Board of Directors 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 Board of Directors shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.
(c)Β Β Β Β 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 Board of Directors may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Partnership Interests Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of Partnership Interests represented by Certificates, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.
(d)Β Β Β Β The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of SectionΒ 5.4(d) and this SectionΒ 5.6(d), each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (with fractional Units equal to or greater than a 0.5 Unit being rounded to the next higher Unit).
Section 5.7Β Β Β Β Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests.Β Β All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this ArticleΒ V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by SectionsΒ 17-303, 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.8Β Β Β Β Series A Preferred Units.
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(a)Β Β Β Β General. There is hereby created a class of Units designated as βSeries A Convertible Preferred Units,β with the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties as set forth in this Section 5.8 and elsewhere in this Agreement.
(b)Β Β Β Β 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)Β Β Β Β Distributions.
(A)Β Β Β Β Subject to Section 5.8(b)(i)(B), commencing with the Quarter that includes the Series A Initial Issuance Date, subject to Section 5.8(b)(i)(D), the Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units as of the applicable Record Date for each Quarter shall be entitled to receive, in respect of each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit, cumulative distributions in respect of such Quarter equal to the sum of (1) the Series A Distribution Amount for such Quarter and (2) any Series A Unpaid Distributions (collectively, a βSeries A Quarterly Distributionβ). With respect to any Quarter (or portion thereof for which a Series A Quarterly Distribution is due) ending on or before the end of the Initial Distribution Period for a Series A Preferred Unit, such Series A Quarterly Distribution shall be paid, as determined by the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, in Series A PIK Units or in cash, or in a combination of Series A PIK Units and cash. For any Quarter ending after the end of the Initial Distribution Period for a Series A Preferred Unit, each Series A Quarterly Distribution on such Series A Preferred Unit shall be paid, as determined by the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, in cash or in a combination of Series A PIK Units and cash; provided that, no more than one-ninth (1/9th) of any such Series A Quarterly Distribution shall consist of Series A PIK Units for any Quarter following the Quarter during which the Initial Distribution Period ends; and provided, further, that for the Quarter during which the Initial Distribution Period ends, (i) the portion of the Series A Distribution Amount calculated through the end of the Initial Distribution Period shall not be subject to the foregoing one-ninth (1/9th) limitation, and (ii) the portion of the Series A Distribution Amount calculated after the end of the Initial Distribution Period shall be subject to the foregoing one-ninth (1/9th) limitation. If the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, elects to pay all or any portion of a Series A Quarterly Distribution in Series A PIK Units, the number of Series A PIK Units to be issued in connection with such Series A Quarterly Distribution shall equal the quotient of (A) the applicable Series A Distribution Amount (or portion thereof to be paid in Series A PIK Units) divided by (B) the Series A Issue Price; provided that instead of issuing any fractional Series A PIK Unit, the Partnership shall round the number of Series A PIK Units issued to each Series A Preferred Unitholder down to the nearest whole Series A PIK Unit and pay cash in lieu of any resulting fractional unit (with the amount of such cash payment being based on the value of such fractional Series A PIK Unit, which shall be the product of the Series A Issue Price multiplied by the number of Series A Conversion Units into which such fractional Series A PIK Units would be convertible at the applicable Series A Conversion Rate on such Record Date (without regard to whether any Series A Preferred Units are then convertible)). Each Series A Quarterly Distribution shall be paid within 45 days
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following the end of each Quarter (each such payment date, a βSeries A Distribution Payment Dateβ) and, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, shall have the same Record Date as established by the Partnership for any distribution to be made by the Partnership on other Partnership Interests in respect of such Quarter. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to Section 5.8(b)(i)(D), the Series A Preferred Units shall not be entitled to any distributions made to Common Unitholders pursuant to Section 6.1(b) for any Quarter so long as the Series A Quarterly Distribution has been declared and paid in full (including any Series A Unpaid Distributions comprising part thereof) in accordance with this Section 5.8(b)(i) on the Series A Preferred Units with respect to such Quarter.
(B)Β Β Β Β If the Partnership fails to pay in full the Series A Distribution Amount of any Series A Quarterly Distribution (in cash or Series A PIK Units) when due for any Quarter during the applicable Initial Distribution Period, then the Series A Preferred Unitholders entitled to such unpaid Series A Quarterly Distribution shall be deemed to have nonetheless received such Series A Quarterly Distribution in Series A PIK Units and, accordingly, shall have all other rights under this Agreement as if such Series A PIK Units had, in fact, been issued on the date such distribution was due. If the Partnership fails to pay in full the Series A Distribution Amount of any Series A Quarterly Distribution (in cash or Series A PIK Units) in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(i)(A) when due for any Quarter following the applicable Initial Distribution Period, then (i) the Series A Preferred Unitholders entitled to such unpaid Series A Quarterly Distribution shall be deemed to have nonetheless received one-ninth (1/9th) of such Series A Quarterly Distribution in Series A PIK Units and, accordingly, shall have all other rights under this Agreement as if such Series A PIK Units had, in fact, been issued on the date such distribution was due and (ii) 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 (which arrearages shall exclude, for the avoidance of doubt, the Series A PIK Units deemed received under the immediately preceding clause (i)), (1) the amount of such unpaid cash distributions (on a per Series A Preferred Unit basis, βSeries A Unpaid Distributionsβ) unless and until paid will accrue and accumulate from and including the first day of the Quarter immediately following the Quarter in respect of which such payment is due until paid in full and (2) the Partnership shall not be permitted to, and shall not, declare or make, any distributions, redemptions or repurchases in respect of any Series A Junior Securities or Series A Parity Securities (including, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to the Quarter for which the Partnership first failed to pay in full any such cash Series A Distribution Amount when due); provided, however, that pro rata distributions may be declared and paid on the Series A Preferred Units and the Series A Parity Securities in amounts per Series A Preferred Unit and Series A Parity Security that bear to each other the same ratio that accrued and accumulated distributions per Series A Preferred Unit and Series A Parity Security bear to each other.
(C)Β Β Β Β The aggregate Series A Distribution Amount (excluding any portion paid in Series A PIK Units) shall be paid out of Available Cash and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be paid prior to any distributions to the Common Unitholders under Section 6.1.
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(D)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.8(b)(i) to the contrary, with respect to any Series A Preferred Unit that is converted into a Common Unit, (i) with respect to a distribution to be made to Record Holders as of the Record Date preceding such conversion, the Record Holder as of such Record Date of such Series A Preferred Unit shall be entitled to receive such distribution in respect of such Series A Preferred Unit on the corresponding Series A Distribution Payment Date, but shall not be entitled to receive such distribution in respect of the Common Units into which such Series A Preferred Unit was converted on the payment date thereof, and (ii) with respect to a distribution to be made to Record Holders as of any Record Date following such conversion, the Record Holder as of such Record Date of the Common Units into which such Series A Preferred Unit was converted shall be entitled to receive such distribution in respect of such converted Common Units on the payment date thereof, but shall not be entitled to receive such distribution in respect of such Series A Preferred Unit on the corresponding Series A Distribution Payment Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Series A Preferred Unit is converted into Common Units pursuant to the terms hereof following a Record Date but prior to the corresponding Series A Distribution Payment Date, then the Record Holder of such Series A Preferred Unit as of such Record Date shall nonetheless remain entitled to receive on the Series A Distribution Payment Date a distribution in respect of such Series A Preferred Unit pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(i)(A) and, until such distribution is received, Section 5.8(b)(i)(B) shall continue to apply, but shall not be entitled to receive such distribution in respect of the Common Units into which such Series A Preferred Unit was converted on the Series A Distribution Payment Date.
(E)Β Β Β Β When any Series A PIK Units are payable to a Series A Preferred Unitholder pursuant to this Section 5.8, the Partnership shall issue the Series A PIK Units to such holder in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(i)(A) (the date of issuance of such Series A PIK Units, the βSeries A PIK Payment Dateβ). On the Series A PIK Payment Date, the Partnership shall have the option to (i) issue to such Series A Preferred Unitholder a certificate or certificates for the number of Series A PIK Units to which such Series A Preferred Unitholder shall be entitled, or (ii) cause the Transfer Agent to make a notation in book entry form in the books of the Partnership.
(ii)Β Β Β Β Issuance of the Series A Preferred Units. The Series A Preferred Units (other than the Series A PIK Units) shall be issued by the Partnership pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Series A Purchase Agreement (as to the Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers) and pursuant to such terms and conditions the Partnership in its sole discretion determines (with respect to any Series A Purchaser who subsequently purchases any Series A Preferred Units issued in accordance with SectionΒ 5.8(b)(iv)).
(iii)Β Β Β Β Voting Rights.
(A)Β Β Β Β The Outstanding Series A Preferred Units shall have voting rights that are identical to the voting rights of the Common Units and shall vote with the Common Units as a single class, so that each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit will be entitled to one vote for each Common Unit into which such Series A Preferred Unit
36
would be convertible at the then applicable Series A Conversion Rate (regardless of whether the Series A Preferred Units are then convertible) on each matter with respect to which each Record Holder of a Common Unit is entitled to vote. Each reference in this Agreement to a vote of Record Holders of Common Units shall be deemed to be a reference to the Record Holders of Common Units and Series A Preferred Units, voting together as a single class during any period in which any Series A Preferred Units are Outstanding.
(B)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.8(b)(iii), in no event shall the consent of the Series A Preferred Unitholders, as a separate class, be required in connection with any Series A Change of Control; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the voting rights of any Series A Preferred Unitholder in connection with any vote of Record Holders of Common Units and Series A Preferred Units together as a single class that may be required.
(C)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding any rights a Series A Preferred Unitholder may have under this Agreement or applicable law, until the Series A Preferred Units are converted to Series A Conversion Units in accordance with the terms hereof, each Series A Preferred Unitholder hereby fully waives any right to nominate or participate in the nomination of any Person for election as a Director of the Partnership or as a member of any other governing body of the Partnership; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the voting rights of a Preferred Unitholder in the election and removal of LP Elected Directors and in the removal of the General Partner in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A). For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing waiver shall not apply to any Series A Preferred Units that have been converted to Series A Conversion Units.
(D)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Partnership shall not declare or pay distributions in any given Quarter that exceed an amount equal to the then available Capital Distribution Basket from (i) borrowings, refinancing or refundings of indebtedness and sales of debt securities by the Partnership, (ii) sales of equity interests by the Partnership and (iii) sales or dispositions of any assets of the Partnership (any of the foregoing, βCapital Proceedsβ).
(iv)Β Β Β Β No Series A Senior Securities; Series A Parity Securities. Other than issuances contemplated by the Series A Purchase Agreement, the Partnership shall not, without the consent of the holders of the Series A Required Voting Percentage, issue any (A) Series A Senior Securities (or amend the provisions of any class of Partnership Interests to make such class of Partnership Interests a class of Series A Senior Securities) or (B) Series A Parity Securities (or amend the provisions of any class of Partnership Interests to make such class of Partnership Interests a class of Series A Parity Securities) or Series A Preferred Units; provided that, without the consent or vote of any Series A Preferred Unitholder (but without prejudice to their rights under Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A)), the Partnership may issue after the Series A Initial Issuance Date (1) Series A Preferred Units pursuant to the Series A Purchase Agreement, (2) up to the greater of (a) an aggregate issue price of $1 billion of Series A Parity Securities, and (b) a number of Series A Parity Securities such that, as of the date of the issuance of the Series A Parity Securities, the aggregate number of Series A Parity Securities, together with the Series A
37
Preferred Units contemplated by the Series A Purchase Agreement, in each case on an as-converted basis (or, if the Series A Parity Securities are not convertible, assuming that such 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 Parity Securities, divided by (ii) the Average VWAP for the thirty (30) Trading Day period ending immediately prior to such issuance (such Common Units, the βSeries A Parity Equivalent Unitsβ)), equals no more than fifteen percent (15%) of all Outstanding Common Units and Special Voting Units (including as Outstanding for such purposes, (i) any Common Units issuable in respect of the Series A Preferred Units at the then-applicable Series A Conversion Rate (regardless of whether the Series A Preferred Units are then convertible), (ii) any Common Units issuable in respect of Series A Parity Securities (including any warrants issued in connection with Series A Parity Securities) at the initial or then-applicable conversion rate, as applicable, (iii) any Common Units issuable in respect of any outstanding warrants or options issued by the Partnership, (iv) any Series A Parity Equivalent Units and (v) any Common Units that would otherwise be excluded by operation of the definition of the term βOutstandingβ), and (3) if the Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers and their then-Affiliates hold a number of Series A Preferred Units purchased under the Series A Purchase Agreement (excluding for this purpose, for the avoidance of doubt, any Series A PIK Units) having an aggregate Series A Issue Price of less than or equal to thirty-three and one-third percent (33-1/3%) of the aggregate Series A Issue Price of all Series A Preferred Units purchased pursuant to the Series A Purchase Agreement (excluding for this purpose, for the avoidance of doubt, any Series A PIK Units), then such number of Series A Parity Securities as determined by the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, at any time on and after the first time that the Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasersβ and their Affiliatesβ holdings are below such threshold; provided that following a Series A Purchaser Change of Control with respect to a Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser, any Series A Preferred Units held by such Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser and its Affiliates shall not be considered held by a Series A Purchaser Agreement Purchaser and its then-Affiliates for purposes of the determination under the foregoing clause (3). Subject to Section 5.8(b)(vi)(E), the Partnership may, without any consent or vote of the holders of Outstanding Series A Preferred Units (but without prejudice to their rights under Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A)), issue the Series A PIK Units contemplated by this Agreement or create (by reclassification or otherwise) and issue Series A Junior Securities in an unlimited amount.
(v)Β Β Β Β Legends. Each certificate or book entry evidencing a Series A Preferred Unit shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit C of this Agreement.
(vi)Β Β Β Β Conversion.
(A)Β Β Β Β At the Option of the Series A Preferred Unitholders. Beginning with the earlier of (1) the second (2nd) anniversary of (x) the date of the Series A Purchase Agreement, with respect to the Series A Preferred Units purchased by the Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers under the Series A Purchase Agreement, or (y) the date of issuance of a Series A Preferred Unit, with respect to any Series A Purchaser who subsequently purchases any Series A Preferred Units issued in accordance with
38
SectionΒ 5.8(b)(iv), and (2) immediately prior to the liquidation of the Partnership under Section 12.4, the Series A Preferred Units owned by such Series A Preferred Unitholder on such date shall be convertible, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time thereafter upon the request of such Series A Preferred Unitholder, but not more than once per Quarter, in accordance with this Section 5.8(b)(vi). If Series A Preferred Units purchased by the Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers become convertible under clause (x) of the preceding sentence, each such Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser and its Affiliates shall be entitled to (and limited to) a single conversion right per Quarter (in the aggregate and inclusive of any conversion by any such Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaserβs Affiliates, with each Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser and its Affiliates being entitled to a single separate conversion right per Quarter), which may be exercised only by the delivery by the BlackRock Purchaser (on behalf of itself and any other Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers, and any of its or their Affiliates) of a proper Series A Conversion Notice. If Series A Preferred Units owned by a non-Affiliate transferee of a Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser (or an Affiliate thereof) become convertible under clause (x) of the first sentence of this paragraph, or if Series A Preferred Units owned by a purchaser of Series A Preferred Units issued under Section 5.8(b)(iv) become convertible under clause (y) of the first sentence of this paragraph, each such other Series A Preferred Unitholder and its Affiliates shall be entitled to (and limited to) a single conversion right per Quarter (in the aggregate and inclusive of any conversion by such Series A Preferred Unitholderβs Affiliates). If Series A Preferred Units become convertible under this Section 5.8(b)(vi)(A), such Series A Preferred Units shall be convertible into a number of Common Units determined by multiplying the number of Series A Preferred Units to be converted by (y) in the case of clause (1) of the first sentence of this paragraph, the Series A Conversion Rate at such time and (z) in the case of clause (2) of the first sentence of this paragraph, the Series A COC Conversion Rate; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be obligated to honor any such conversion request if such conversion request does not involve an underlying value of Common Units of at least $50 million (taking into account and including any concurrent conversion requests or other Quarterly conversion requests that are required to be aggregated as provided above) based on the Closing Price of Common Units on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date on which a Series A Conversion Notice is received under Section 5.8(b)(vi)(C)(1) (a βSeries A Conversion Notice Dateβ) (or a lesser amount to the extent such exercise covers all of such Series A Preferred Unitholderβs and its Affiliatesβ Series A Preferred Units or has been approved by the Partnership). Immediately upon the issuance of Common Units as a result of any conversion of Series A Preferred Units, subject to Section 5.8(b)(i)(D), all rights of the Series A Converting Unitholder with respect to such Series A Preferred Units shall cease, including any further accrual of distributions, and such Series A Converting Unitholder thereafter shall be treated for all purposes as the owner of Common Units. Fractional Common Units shall not be issued to any Person pursuant to this Section 5.8(b)(vi)(A) (each fractional Common Unit shall be rounded down with the remainder being paid an amount in cash based on the Closing Price of Common Units on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Series A Conversion Notice Date).
(B)Β Β Β Β At the Option of the Partnership. Following the first anniversary of the date of issuance of a Series A Preferred Unit, the Partnership shall
39
have the option at any time, but not more than once per Quarter, to convert all or a portion of the Series A Preferred Units that were issued on such date and that are then Outstanding into a number of Common Units determined by multiplying the number of Series A Preferred Units to be converted by the Series A Conversion Rate at such time; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be permitted to convert a number of Series A Preferred Units representing in aggregate more than (x) one-third (1/3) of the total Series A Preferred Units issued pursuant to the Series A Purchase Agreement prior to the second (2nd) anniversary of the final date Series A Preferred Units are purchased under the Series A Purchase Agreement (excluding, for this purpose, for the avoidance of doubt, any Series A PIK Units) or (y) two-thirds (2/3) of the total Series A Preferred Units issued pursuant to the Series A Purchase Agreement prior to the third (3rd) anniversary of the final date Series A Preferred Units are purchased under the Series A Purchase Agreement (excluding, for this purpose, for the avoidance of doubt, any Series A PIK Units). Fractional Common Units shall not be issued to any Person pursuant to this Section 5.8(b)(vi)(B) (each fractional Common Unit shall be rounded down with the remainder being paid an amount in cash based on the Closing Price of Common Units on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date on which a Series A Forced Conversion Notice under Section 5.8(b)(vi)(C)(2) is sent (a βSeries A Forced Conversion Notice Dateβ)). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order for the Partnership to exercise such option:
(1)Β Β Β Β The Closing Price of the Common Units must be greater than, (x) with respect to a Series A Forced Conversion Notice Date occurring prior to the second (2nd) anniversary of the final date Series A Preferred Units are purchased under the Series A Purchase Agreement (excluding, for this purpose, for the avoidance of doubt, any Series A PIK Units), one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the Series A Issue Price, (y) with respect to a Series A Forced Conversion Notice Date occurring on or after the second (2nd) anniversary of the final date Series A Preferred Units are purchased under the Series A Purchase Agreement (excluding, for this purpose, for the avoidance of doubt, any Series A PIK Units) but prior to the third (3rd) anniversary thereof, one hundred thirty percent (130%) of the Series A Issue Price, or (z) with respect to a Series A Forced Conversion Notice Date occurring on or after the third (3rd) anniversary of the final date Series A Preferred Units are purchased under the Series A Purchase Agreement (excluding, for this purpose, for the avoidance of doubt, any Series A PIK Units), one hundred forty percent (140%), of the Series A Issue Price, for at least twenty (20) Trading Days out of the thirty (30) Trading Day period immediately preceding the Series A Forced Conversion Notice Date;
(2)Β Β Β Β The average daily trading volume of the Common Units on the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are then listed or admitted to trading must be equal to or exceed 165,000 (as such amount may be adjusted to reflect any Unit split, combination or similar event) for at least twenty (20) Trading Days out of the thirty (30) Trading Day period immediately preceding the Series A Forced Conversion Notice Date; and
40
(3)Β Β Β Β The Common Units are listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange;
provided that each such conversion by the Partnership shall be for an aggregate amount of Series A Preferred Units involving an underlying value of Common Units of at least $50 million based on the Closing Price of Common Units on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Series A Forced Conversion Notice Date (or a lesser amount if such amount includes all then Outstanding Series A Preferred Units) and shall be allocated among the Series A Preferred Unitholders on a Pro Rata basis or on such other basis as may be agreed upon by all Series A Preferred Unitholders.
(C)Β Β Β Β Conversion Notice.
(1)Β Β Β Β To convert Series A Preferred Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(vi)(A), a Series A Converting Unitholder shall give written notice (a βSeries A Conversion Noticeβ) to the Partnership stating that such Series A Preferred Unitholder elects to so convert Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(vi)(A), the number of Series A Preferred Units to be converted. The Series A Conversion Units shall be issued in the name of the Record Holder of such Series A Preferred Units. A Series A Converting Unitholder who is a Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser (or an Affiliate thereof) may only provide a Series A Conversion Notice through the BlackRock Purchaser as and to the extent provided in Section 5.8(b)(vi)(A), and the BlackRock Purchaser may not transfer any of the rights or obligations to give or receive notices under this Section 5.8(b)(vi) (on behalf of itself and/or any Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser or any of its or their Affiliates) without the express written consent of the Partnership. Following such time as the BlackRock Purchaser ceases to own Series A Preferred Units, the BlackRock Purchaser may continue to give or receive notices pursuant to the foregoing on behalf of any other Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser or any of its Affiliates who are required to provide notice through the BlackRock Purchaser under this Section 5.8(b)(vi). A Series A Conversion Notice shall be considered given under this Section 5.8(b)(vi) when such notice is actually received by the Partnership at both of the following physical addresses (or such other address or addresses as the Partnership may designate in writing to the BlackRock Purchaser from time to time):
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
and
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
41
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Email: Xxxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
(2)Β Β Β Β To convert Series A Preferred Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(vi)(B), the Partnership shall give written notice (a βSeries A Forced Conversion Noticeβ) to each Record Holder of Series A Preferred Units stating that the Partnership elects to force conversion of Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(vi)(B) and the number of Series A Preferred Units to be so converted; provided that the Partnership may satisfy the foregoing with respect to any or all Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers and any or all of their Affiliates by sending such Series A Forced Conversion Notice solely to the BlackRock Purchaser (on behalf of itself and as representative of the other Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers and its and their Affiliates) to the BlackRock Purchaser Notice Address. The Series A Conversion Units shall be issued in the name of the Record Holder of such Series A Preferred Units.
(D)Β Β Β Β Timing. If a Series A Conversion Notice is delivered by a Series A Preferred Unitholder to the Partnership or a Series A Forced Conversion Notice is delivered by the Partnership to a Series A Preferred Unitholder, each in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(vi)(C), the Partnership shall issue the applicable Series A Conversion Units no later than three (3) Business Days after the Series A Conversion Notice Date or the Series A Forced Conversion Notice Date, as the case may be, occurs (any date of issuance of such Common Units, and any date of issuance of Common Units upon conversion of Series A Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 5.8(b)(vi) or Section 5.8(b)(vii), a βSeries A Conversion Dateβ). On the Series A Conversion Date, the Partnership shall instruct, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause, its Transfer Agent to electronically transmit the Series A Conversion Units to such Series A Preferred Unitholder. The Series A Preferred Unitholders and the Partnership agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to coordinate with the Transfer Agent to accomplish this objective. Subject to Section 5.8(b)(i)(D), upon issuance of Series A Conversion Units to the Series A Converting Unitholder, all rights under the converted Series A Preferred Units shall cease, and such Series A Converting Unitholder shall be treated for all purposes as the Record Holder of such Series A Conversion Units.
(E)Β Β Β Β Distributions, Combinations, Subdivisions and Reclassifications by the Partnership. If, after the Series A Initial Issuance Date, the Partnership (i) makes a distribution on its Common Units payable in Common Units or other Partnership Interests, (ii) subdivides or splits its outstanding Common Units into a greater number of Common Units, (iii) combines or reclassifies its Common Units into a lesser number of Common Units, (iv) issues by reclassification of its Common Units any Partnership Interests (including any reclassification in connection with a merger,
42
consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person), (v) effects a Pro Rata repurchase of Common Units, in each case other than in connection with a Series A Change of Control (which shall be governed by Section 5.8(b)(vii)), (vi) issues to holders of Common Units, in their capacity as holders of Common Units, rights, options or warrants entitling them to subscribe for or purchase Common Units at less than the market value thereof, (vii) distributes to holders of Common Units evidences of indebtedness, Partnership Interests (other than Common Units) or other assets (including securities, but excluding any distribution referred to in clause (i), any rights or warrants referred to in clause (ii), any consideration payable in connection with a tender or exchange offer made by the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries and any distribution of Units or any class or series, or similar Partnership Interest, of or relating to a subsidiary or other business unit in the case of certain spin-off transactions described below), or (viii) consummates a spin-off, where the Partnership makes a distribution to all holders of Common Units consisting of Units of any class or series, or similar equity interests of, or relating to, a subsidiary or other business unit, then the Series A Conversion Rate and, solely for purposes Section 5.8(b)(vi)(B)(1), the Series A Issue Price, in each case, in effect at the time of the Record Date for such distribution or the effective date of any such other transaction shall be proportionately adjusted: (1) in respect of clauses (i) through (iv) above, so that the conversion of the Series A Preferred Units after such time shall entitle each Series A Preferred Unitholder to receive the aggregate number of Common Units (or any Partnership Interests into which such Common Units would have been combined, consolidated, merged or reclassified, as applicable) that such Series A Preferred Unitholder would have been entitled to receive if the Series A Preferred Units had been converted into Common Units immediately prior to such Record Date or effective date, as the case may be, (2) in respect of clauses (v) through (viii) above, in the reasonable discretion of the Board of Directors to appropriately ensure that the Series A Preferred Units are convertible into an economically equivalent number of Common Units after taking into account the event described in clauses (v) through (viii) above, and (3) in addition to the foregoing, in the case of a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person, the Partnership shall provide effective provisions to ensure that the provisions in this Section 5.8 relating to the Series A Preferred Units shall not be abridged or amended and that the Series A Preferred Units shall thereafter retain the same powers, economic rights, preferences and relative participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereon, that the Series A Preferred Units had immediately prior to such transaction or event, and, solely for purposes of Section 5.8(b)(vi)(B)(1), the Series A Issue Price, and any other terms of the Series A Preferred Units that the Board of Directors, in its reasonable discretion, determines require adjustment to achieve the economic equivalence described below, shall be proportionately adjusted to take into account any such subdivision, split, combination or reclassification. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 5.8(b)(vi)(E) shall become effective immediately after the Record Date in the case of a distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination, reclassification (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person) or split. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any event described above shall occur.
43
(F)Β Β Β Β No Adjustments for Certain Items. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 5.8(b)(vi), no adjustment shall be made to the Series A Conversion Rate or the Series A Issue Price pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(vi)(E) as a result of any of the following:
(1)Β Β Β Β Any issuance of Partnership Interests in exchange for cash;
(2)Β Β Β Β Any grant of Common Units or options, warrants or rights to purchase or receive Common Units or the issuance of Common Units upon the exercise or vesting of any such options, warrants or rights in respect of services provided to or for the benefit of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries, under compensation plans and agreements approved by the Board of Directors (including any long-term incentive plan);
(3)Β Β Β Β Any issuance of Common Units as all or part of the consideration to effect (i) the closing of any acquisition by the Partnership of assets or equity interests of a third party in an armβs-length transaction, (ii) closing of any acquisition by the Partnership of assets or equity interests of NEE or any of its Affiliates or (iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Partnership with another entity in which the Partnership survives and the Common Units remain Outstanding to the extent any such transaction set forth in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above is validly approved by the Board of Directors; or
(4)Β Β Β Β The issuance of Common Units upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Units or Series A Parity Securities.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, whenever the issuance of a Partnership Interest or other event would require an adjustment to the Series A Conversion Rate under one or more provisions of this Agreement, only one adjustment shall be made to the Series A Conversion Rate in respect of such issuance or event.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 5.8(b)(vi)(E), unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, no adjustment to the Series A Conversion Rate or the Series A Issue Price shall be made with respect to any distribution or other transaction described in Section 5.8(b)(vi)(E) if the Series A Preferred Unitholders are entitled to participate in such distribution or transaction as if they held a number of Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Units immediately prior to such event at the then applicable Series A Conversion Rate, without having to convert their Series A Preferred Units.
(viii)Β Β Β Β Series A Change of Control.
(A)Β Β Β Β Subject to Section 5.8(b)(vi)(B), in the event of a Series A Cash COC Event, the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units shall be automatically converted, without requirement of any action of the Series A Preferred Unitholders, into Common Units immediately prior to the closing of the applicable Series A Change of Control at the Series A COC Conversion Rate.
44
(B)Β Β Β Β Subject to Section 5.8(b)(vi)(B), at least 10 Business Days prior to consummating a Series A Change of Control (other than a Series A Cash COC Event), the Partnership shall provide written notice thereof to the Series A Preferred Unitholders, which notice requirement the Partnership may satisfy with respect to any or all Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers (and any Affiliates thereof) by sending such notice solely to the BlackRock Purchaser (on behalf of itself and as representative of the other Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers and any of its and their Affiliates) to the BlackRock Purchaser Notice Address. Subject to Section 5.8(b)(vi)(B), if a Series A Change of Control (other than a Series A Cash COC Event) occurs, then each Series A Preferred Unitholder, with respect to all but not less than all of its Series A Preferred Units, by notice given to the Partnership within five (5) Business Days after the date the Partnership provides written notice of the execution of definitive agreements that provide for such Series A Change of Control, shall be entitled to elect one of the following (with the understanding that any Series A Preferred Unitholder who fails to timely provide notice of its election to the Partnership shall be deemed to have elected the option set forth in sub-clause (1) below). Notice of an election under this Section 5.8(b)(vii)(B) shall be considered given to the Partnership when such notice is actually received by the Partnership at both of the following physical addresses (or such other address or addresses as the Partnership may designate in writing to the BlackRock Purchaser from time to time):
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
and
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Email: Xxxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, the BlackRock Purchaser shall notify the Partnership of the election made by the Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers (on behalf of itself and as representative of the other Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers and its and their Affiliates), all Series A Purchase Agreement Purchasers (and any of their Affiliates) may provide notice of an election under this Section only through such a notice by the BlackRock Purchaser on their behalf and shall be deemed to have made such election as indicated to the Partnership by the BlackRock Purchaser, and the BlackRock Purchaser may not transfer any of the rights or obligations
45
to give or receive notices hereunder (on behalf of itself and/or any Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser or any of its or their Affiliates) without the express written consent of the Partnership. Following such time as the BlackRock Purchaser ceases to own Series A Preferred Units, the BlackRock Purchaser may continue to give or receive notices pursuant to the foregoing on behalf of any other Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser or any of its Affiliates who are required to provide notice through the BlackRock Purchaser under this Section 5.8(b)(vii)(B).
(1)Β Β Β Β Convert all, but not less than all, of such Series A Preferred Unitholderβs Outstanding Series A Preferred Units into Common Units, at the then-applicable Series A Conversion Rate;
(2)Β Β Β Β If the Partnership will not be the surviving entity of such Series A Change of Control or 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, require the Partnership to use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Series A Preferred Unitholders, in exchange for their Series A Preferred Units upon such Series A Change of Control, a security in the surviving entity or the parent of 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 5.8(b)(i) and a conversion rate proportionately adjusted such that the conversion of such security in the surviving entity or parent of the surviving entity immediately following the Series A Change of Control would entitle the Record Holder to the number of common securities of such entity (together with a number of common securities of equivalent value to any other assets received by holders of Common Units in such Series A Change of Control) which, if a Series A Preferred Unit had been converted into Common Units immediately prior to such Series A Change of Control, such Record Holder would have been entitled to receive immediately following such Series A Change of Control (such security in the surviving entity, a βSeries A Substantially Equivalent Unitβ); provided, however, that, if the Partnership is unable to deliver or cause to be delivered Series A Substantially Equivalent Units to any Series A Preferred Unitholder in connection with such Series A Change of Control, each Series A Preferred Unitholder shall be entitled to (I) require conversion or redemption of such Series A Preferred Units in the manner contemplated by subclause (1) or (4) of this Section 5.8(b)(vii)(B) (at such holderβs election) or (II) convert the Series A Preferred Units held by such Series A Preferred Unitholder immediately prior to such Series A Change of Control into a number of Common Units at a conversion ratio equal to the quotient of: (a) the product of (i) one hundred sixty percent (160%) multiplied by (ii) the Series A Issue Price less the Series A Preferred Unitholderβs Pro Rata portion of the sum of (A) all cash distributions paid on all Series A Preferred Units on or prior to the date of the Series A Change of Control and (B) an amount in cash equal to the aggregate of the Series A Quarterly Distributions paid in Series A PIK Units (based on the value of such Series A PIK Units on the applicable Series A PIK Payment Date) on or before the date of the Series A
46
Change of Control, divided by (b) an amount equal to ninety-five percent (95%) of the Average VWAP for the thirty (30) Trading Day period prior to the closing of the Series A Change of Control; provided, however, that such ratio shall in no event exceed a value per Series A Preferred Unit equal to (aa) one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the Series A Issue Price in the case of a Series A Change of Control occurring prior to the first anniversary of the Series A Initial Issuance Date, (bb) one hundred thirty percent (130%) of the Series A Issue Price in the case of a Series A Change of Control occurring on or after the first anniversary of the Series A Initial Issuance Date, but prior to the second (2nd) anniversary of the Series A Initial Issuance Date, and (cc) one hundred forty percent (140%) of the Series A Issue Price in the case of a Series A Change of Control occurring on or after the second (2nd) anniversary of the Series A Initial Issuance Date, but prior to the third (3rd) anniversary of the Series A Initial Issuance Date.
(3)Β Β Β Β If the Partnership is the surviving entity of such Series A Change of Control, continue to hold Series A Preferred Units; or
(4)Β Β Β Β Require the Partnership to redeem the Series A Preferred Units at a price per Series A Preferred Unit equal to the sum of (A) the product of one hundred one percent (101%) and the sum of (x) the Series A Issue Price plus (y) Series A Unpaid Distributions on the applicable Series A Preferred Unit, plus (B) Series A Partial Period Distributions on the applicable Series A Preferred Unit. Any redemption pursuant to this sub-clause (4) shall, as determined by the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, be paid in cash, Common Units listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange or any combination thereof. If all or any portion of such redemption is to be paid in Common Units, the Common Units to be issued shall be valued at ninety-five percent (95%) of the Average VWAP for the thirty (30) Trading Day period ending on the fifth (5th) Trading Day immediately prior to the Series A Change of Control. No later than three (3) Trading Days prior to the consummation of the related Series A Change of Control, the Partnership shall deliver a written notice to the Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units stating the date on which the Series A Preferred Units will be redeemed and the Partnershipβs computation of the amount of cash or Common Units to be received by the Record Holder upon redemption of such Series A Preferred Units. If the Partnership shall be the surviving entity of the related Series A Change of Control, then no later than ten (10) Business Days following the consummation of such Series A Change of Control, the Partnership shall remit the applicable cash or Common Unit listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange consideration to the Record Holders of then Outstanding Series A Preferred Units. If the Partnership shall not be the surviving entity of the related Series A Change of Control, then the Partnership shall remit the applicable cash immediately prior to the consummation of the Series A Change of Control. The Record Holders shall deliver to the Partnership any Certificates representing the Series A Preferred Units as soon as practicable following the redemption. Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall retain all of the rights and privileges thereof unless and until the consideration due to them as a result of such redemption shall be paid in full in
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cash or Common Units, as applicable. After any such redemption, any such redeemed Series A Preferred Unit shall no longer constitute an issued and Outstanding Limited Partner Interest.
(viii)Β Β Β Β Series A Preferred Unit Transfer Restrictions.
(A)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.8(b)(viii) (other than the restriction on transfers to a Person that is not a U.S. resident individual or an entity that is not treated as a U.S. corporation or partnership set forth in Section 5.8(b)(viii)(B)), subject to Section 4.7, each Series A Preferred Unitholder shall be permitted to transfer any Series A Preferred Units owned by such Series A Preferred Unitholder to any of its Affiliates or to any other Series A Preferred Unitholder.
(B)Β Β Β Β Without the prior written consent of the Partnership, except as specifically provided in the Series A Purchase Agreement or this Agreement, each Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser (and its Affiliates to which Series A Preferred Units are transferred pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(viii)(A)) shall not, (a) during the period commencing on the date of the Series A Purchase Agreement and ending on the first anniversary of the latest date on which any Series A Preferred Units are purchased thereunder (for the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of the foregoing, excluding any Series A PIK Units), offer, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of its Series A Preferred Units or any rights with respect to such Units, (b) during the period commencing on the date of the Series A Purchase Agreement and ending on the second (2nd) anniversary of the latest date on which any Series A Preferred Units are purchased thereunder (for the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of the foregoing, excluding any Series A PIK Units), directly or indirectly engage in any short sales or other derivative or hedging transactions with respect to the Series A Preferred Units or Common Units that are designed to, or that might reasonably be expected to, result in the transfer to another, in whole or in part, of any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Series A Preferred Units or any rights with respect to such Units, (c) transfer any Series A Preferred Units to any non-U.S. resident individual, non-U.S. corporation or partnership, or any other non-U.S. entity, including any foreign governmental entity, including by means of any swap or other transaction or arrangement that transfers or that is designed to, or that might reasonably be expected to, result in the transfer to another, in whole or in part, of any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Series A Preferred Units or any rights with respect to such Units, regardless of whether any transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of Series A Preferred Units, Common Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply if, prior to any such transfer or arrangement, such individual, corporation, partnership or other entity establishes to the satisfaction of the Partnership, its entitlement to a complete exemption from tax withholding, including under Code Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1471 through 1474, and the Treasury Regulations thereunder), or (d) effect any transfer of Series A Preferred Units or Series A Conversion Units or any rights with respect to such Units in a manner that violates the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, that such Series A Preferred Unitholder may make a bona fide pledge of all or any portion of
48
its Series A Preferred Units in connection with a Permitted Loan, and any foreclosure by any pledgee under such Permitted Loan on any such pledged Series A Preferred Units or related Series A Conversion Units (or any sale thereof) shall not be considered a violation or breach of this Section 5.8(b)(viii)(B), and the transfer of the Series A Preferred Units by a pledgee who has foreclosed on such a Permitted Loan shall not be considered a violation or breach of this Section 5.8(b)(viii)(B). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transferee receiving any Series A Preferred Units pursuant to any part of this SectionΒ 5.8(b)(viii) shall agree to the restrictions set forth in this Section 5.8(b)(viii)(B) and Section 5.8(b)(iii)(C) and, to the extent still applicable take all actions necessary to become a party to any confidentiality agreement between the transferor of such Series A Preferred Units and the Partnership. For the avoidance of doubt, in no way does this Section 5.8(b)(viii)(B) prohibit changes in the composition of any Series A Preferred Unitholder or its partners or members so long as such changes in composition only relate to changes in direct or indirect ownership of such Series A Preferred Unitholder among such Series A Preferred Unitholder or its partners or members, so long as such changes in composition only relate to changes in direct or indirect ownership of the Series A Preferred Unitholder among such Series A Unitholder, its Affiliates and the limited partners of the private equity fund vehicles that indirectly own such Series A Preferred Unitholder.
(C)Β Β Β Β Subject to Section 4.7, following the first anniversary of the latest date on which any Series A Preferred Units are purchased under the Series A Purchase Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of the foregoing, excluding any Series A PIK Units), the Series A Preferred Unitholders may freely transfer Series A Preferred Units involving an underlying value of Common Units of at least $50 million (taking into account any concurrent transfers by Affiliates of such Series A Preferred Unitholder) based on the Closing Price of Common Units on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of such transfer (or such lesser amount if it (i) constitutes the remaining holdings of Series A Preferred Units of such Series A Preferred Unitholder or (ii) has been approved by the Board of Directors), subject to compliance with applicable securities laws and this Agreement; provided, however, that this Section 5.8(b)(viii)(C) shall not eliminate, modify or reduce the obligations set forth in subclauses (b), (c) or (d) of Section 5.8(b)(viii)(B).
(ix)Β Β Β Β Notices. For the avoidance of doubt, the Partnership shall distribute to the Record Holders of Series A Preferred Units copies of all notices, materials, annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements, information statements and any other documents distributed generally to the Record Holders of Common Units of the Partnership, at such times and by such method as such documents are distributed to such Record Holders of such Common Units.
(x)Β Β Β Β OpCo Preferred Unit Terms. Without the consent of the holders of the Series A Required Voting Percentage, the Partnership shall not (i) amend the terms of the OpCo Preferred Units in a manner that is adverse to and inconsistent with the terms of the Series A Preferred Units, (ii) amend Section 5.11(b)(iii)(B) of the OpCo Partnership Agreement, (iii) transfer any OpCo Preferred Units or (iv) provide any consent of the
49
OpCo Preferred Units required under the first paragraph of Section 5.11(b)(iv) of the OpCo Partnership Agreement.
Section 5.9Β Β Β Β Non-Voting Common Units.Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β General. The class of Units designated as βNon-Voting Common Unitsβ shall have the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties of Non-Voting Common Units as set forth in this Section 5.9 and elsewhere in this Agreement.
(b)Β Β Β Β Rights of Non-Voting Common Units. The Non-Voting Common Units shall have the following rights, preferences and privileges and the holders of Non-Voting Common Units shall be subject to the following duties and obligations:
(i)Β Β Β Β Distributions.
(A)Β Β Β Β Commencing with the Quarter that includes the date on which Non-Voting Common Units are issued by the Partnership in accordance with the applicable Qualified Agreement, the Record Holders of the Non-Voting Common Units as of the applicable Record Date for each Quarter shall be entitled to receive, in respect of each outstanding Non-Voting Common Unit, their Pro Rata portion of the distributions made with respect to such Quarter to the holders of Common Units (including Non-Voting Common Units) pursuant to and in accordance with Section 6.1.
(B)Β Β Β Β If a Non-Voting Common Unit is converted into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof following a Record Date for a distribution but prior to the payment date of such distribution pursuant to Section 6.1, then the Record Holder of such Non-Voting Common Unit as of such Record Date shall nonetheless remain entitled to receive, on the payment date thereof, such distribution in respect of such Non-Voting Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.9(b)(i)(A) but shall not be entitled to receive any distribution in respect of the Common Units into which such Non-Voting Common Unit was converted on the payment date of such distribution. For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to a distribution to be made to Record Holders as of any Record Date following such conversion, the Record Holder as of such Record Date of the Common Unit into which such Non-Voting Common Unit was converted shall be entitled to receive such distribution in respect of such converted Common Unit on the payment date thereof pursuant to and in accordance with Section 6.1.
(ii)Β Β Β Β Issuance of the Non-Voting Common Units. The Non-Voting Common Units shall be issued by the Partnership from time to time pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the applicable Qualified Agreement.
(iii)Β Β Β Β Voting Rights. Except as provided pursuant to Section 13.3 and Section 14.3, the Outstanding Non-Voting Common Units shall have no voting rights on any matter whatsoever under this Agreement, the Delaware Act or otherwise. To the extent Record Holders of Non-Voting Common Units vote pursuant to Section 13.3 or Section 14.3, each Outstanding Non-Voting Common Unit will be entitled to one vote on
50
any matter with respect to which the Record Holders of Non-Voting Common Units are entitled to vote thereunder.
(iv)Β Β Β Β Legends. Each certificate or book entry evidencing a Non-Voting Common Unit shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit D of this Agreement.
(v)Β Β Β Β Conversion.
(A)Β Β Β Β Automatic Conversion. Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.9(b)(v), each Non-Voting Common Unit held by a Record Holder that is a Class B LLC Member shall automatically convert into one (1) Common Unit (or such number as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.9(b)(v)(E)) immediately upon its transfer by such Class B LLC Member to any Person that is not an Affiliate (as that term is defined in the applicable Qualified Agreement) of such Class B LLC Member. At least one (1) Business Day before the closing of any transfer that results in an automatic conversion pursuant to this Section 5.9(b)(v)(A), the Converting Holder shall deliver written notice of such transfer (an βAutomatic Conversion Noticeβ) to the Partnership at the addresses listed in Section 5.9(b)(v)(C). For purposes of this SectionΒ 5.9(b)(v)(A), a pledge (including any pledge where the relevant lender or its custodian becomes the Record Holder, so long as the applicable Class B Member retains beneficial ownership), grant of security interest, or other encumbrance of any Non-Voting Common Units by a Record Holder that is a Class B LLC Member shall not be considered a βtransferβ hereunder.
(B)Β Β Β Β Optional Conversion.
(1)Β Β Β Β Upon delivery of an Optional Conversion Notice to the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.9(b)(v)(C), each Class B LLC Member of NEP Renewables, LLC shall have the right, but not the obligation, to convert all or any portion of the Non-Voting Common Units held by it into one (1) Common Unit for each Non-Voting Common Unit being converted. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Class B LLC Member of NEP Renewables, LLC shall have the right to convert any Non-Voting Common Units to the extent that, after giving effect to the conversion set forth on the applicable Optional Conversion Notice, such Class B LLC Member of NEP Renewables, LLC (together with such Class B LLC Memberβs Affiliates and any other Persons acting as a group with such Class B LLC Member or any of such Class B LLC Memberβs Affiliates (such Persons, βAttribution Partiesβ)) would beneficially own in excess of 19.8% of the number of Common Units outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion (the βMaximum Percentageβ). In the event that the issuance of Common Units to a Class B LLC Member of NEP Renewables, LLC upon exercise of this option to convert results in such Class B LLC Memberβs and the other Attribution Partiesβ being deemed to beneficially own, in the aggregate, more than the Maximum Percentage, (aa) the number of Common Units so issued by which such Class B LLC Memberβs and the other Attribution Partiesβ aggregate beneficial ownership exceeds the Maximum Percentage (the βExcess Unitsβ) shall be deemed null and void ab
51
initio, (bb) such Class B LLC Member shall not have the power to vote or to transfer the Excess Shares, and (cc) the conversion of such Excess Units from Non-Voting Common Units to Common Units shall be deemed null and void ab initio and such Class B LLC Member shall be deemed to have retained the number of Non-Voting Common Units equal to the amount of such Excess Units as if, in all respects, such conversion had not occurred. For purposes of this Section 5.9(b)(v)(B)(1), beneficial ownership and the beneficial ownership percentage shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including taking into account any other securities held by the applicable Class B LLC Member of NEP Renewables, LLC or any of the Attribution Parties that are convertible into Common Units, as applicable.
(2)Β Β Β Β Each 61-Day Converting Class B Member shall have the right, but not the obligation, to convert all or any portion of the Non-Voting Common Units held by it into one (1) Common Unit for each Non-Voting Common Unit being converted, upon delivery of an Optional Conversion Notice to the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.9(b)(v)(C), by specifying the number of Non-Voting Common Units to be converted and, on the date that is sixty-one (61) days following delivery of such Optional Conversion Notice, the number of Non-Voting Common Units specified in such Optional Conversion Notice shall automatically be converted into an equal number of Common Units.
(3)Β Β Β Β For the avoidance of doubt, each Class B LLC Member shall be entitled to (and limited to) a single conversion right under this Section 5.9(b)(v)(B) in each Quarter. Immediately upon the issuance of Common Units as a result of any conversion of Non-Voting Common Units, all rights of the Converting Holder with respect to such Non-Voting Common Units so converted shall cease, subject to Section 5.9(b)(i)(B), and such Converting Holder thereafter shall be treated for all purposes as the owner of the Common Units issuable upon such conversion.
Β Β Β Β
(C)Β Β Β Β Conversion Notice. To convert Non-Voting Common Units into Common Units pursuant to SectionΒ 5.9(b)(v)(B)(1) or SectionΒ 5.9(b)(v)(B)(2), a Class B LLC Member holding Non-Voting Common Units shall give written notice (a βOptional Conversion Noticeβ) to the Partnership stating that such Converting Holder elects to convert all or a portion of its Non-Voting Common Units into Common Units pursuant to, and subject to the terms of, SectionΒ 5.9(b)(v)(B)(1) or SectionΒ 5.9(b)(v)(B)(2), as applicable. The Common Units issuable upon conversion shall be issued in the name of the Converting Holder or to a transferee specified in such Optional Conversion Notice. An Optional Conversion Notice shall be considered given under this SectionΒ 5.9(b)(v) when such notice is actually received by the Partnership at both of the following physical addresses (or such other address or addresses as the Partnership may designate in writing to the holders of Non-Voting Common Units from time to time):
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
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000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
and
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Email: Xxxxxxx.Xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
(D)Β Β Β Β Timing. If an Automatic Conversion Notice or an Optional Conversion Notice is delivered by a Converting Holder or Class B LLC Member, as applicable, to the Partnership, each in accordance with this Section 5.9(b)(v), the Partnership shall issue the applicable Common Units no later than two (2) Business Days after the date on which such Automatic Conversion Notice or Optional Conversion Notice is actually received by the Partnership (the βConversion Dateβ). On the Conversion Date, the Partnership shall instruct, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause, its Transfer Agent to electronically transmit the Common Units issued upon such conversion to the applicable Converting Holder or its specified transferee. The Converting Holder and the Partnership agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to coordinate with the Transfer Agent to accomplish this objective. Subject to Section 5.9(b)(i)(B), upon issuance of Common Units to a Converting Holder (or its specified transferee), all rights under the converted Non-Voting Common Units shall cease, and such holder shall be treated for all purposes as the Record Holder of such Common Units.
(E)Β Β Β Β Distributions, Combinations, Subdivisions and Reclassifications by the Partnership. If, at any time from and after the beginning of any period specified in a Qualified Agreement for the determination of the number of Non-Voting Common Units to be issued by the Partnership in connection with a Qualified Call Option, the Partnership (i)Β makes a distribution on its Common Units payable in Common Units or other Partnership Interests, (ii) subdivides or splits its outstanding Common Units into a greater number of Common Units, (iii) combines or reclassifies its Common Units into a lesser number of Common Units, (iv) issues Pro Rata to all holders of Common Units, by reclassification of its Common Units, any Partnership Interests (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person), (v) effects a Pro Rata repurchase of Common Units, (vi) issues Pro Rata to all holders of Common Units, in their capacity as holders of Common Units, rights, options or warrants entitling them to subscribe for or purchase Common Units, (vii) distributes Pro Rata to all holders of Common Units evidences of indebtedness, Partnership Interests (other than Common
53
Units), or other assets (including securities, but excluding any distribution referred to in clause (i), any rights or warrants referred to in clause (ii), any consideration payable in connection with a tender or exchange offer made by the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries, and any distribution of Units or any class or series, or similar Partnership Interest, of or relating to a subsidiary or other business unit in the case of certain spin-off transactions described below), or (viii) consummates a spin-off, pursuant to which the Partnership makes a distribution Pro Rata to all holders of Common Units consisting of Units of any class or series, or similar equity interests of, or relating to, a subsidiary or other business unit, then, (1) in respect of clauses (i) through (iv) above, the Non-Voting Common Units then Outstanding at the time of the Record Date for such distribution or the effective date of any such other transaction shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of such Non-Voting Common Units shall be entitled to receive an aggregate number of Non-Voting Common Units (or any Partnership Interests other than Common Units into which such Common Units would have been combined, consolidated, merged or reclassified, as applicable) equal to the number of Common Units that such holder would have been entitled to receive if the Non-Voting Common Units had been converted into Common Units immediately prior to such Record Date or effective date, as the case may be, (2)Β in respect of clauses (v) through (viii) above, in the reasonable discretion of the Board of Directors, the holders of Non-Voting Common Units shall have the right to participate in such repurchases, issuances, or distributions, and exercise rights with respect to such issuances, as applicable, on the same basis as they would have if such Non-Voting Common Units had been converted into Common Units immediately prior to the Record Date or effective date, as applicable, thereof, and (3) in addition to the foregoing, in the case of a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person, the Partnership shall provide effective provisions to ensure that the provisions in this Section 5.9 relating to the Non-Voting Common Units shall not be abridged or amended and that the Non-Voting Common Units shall thereafter retain the same powers, economic rights, preferences and relative participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereon, as the Non-Voting Common Units had immediately prior to such transaction or event, and any other terms of the Non-Voting Common Units that the Board of Directors, in its reasonable discretion, determines require adjustment to achieve the economic equivalence described above shall be proportionately adjusted to take into account any such subdivision, split, combination or reclassification. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 5.9(b)(v)(E) shall become effective immediately after the Record Date in the case of a distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination, reclassification (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person) or split. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any event described above shall occur. For the avoidance of doubt and without limiting the foregoing, it is intended that a Non-Voting Common Unit shall be economically equivalent to a Common Unit and that the Board of Directors will take any action that it determines is reasonably necessary to preserve such intent.
(F)Β Β Β Β No Adjustments for Certain Items. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 5.9(b)(v), no adjustment shall be made to the Non-
54
Voting Common Units pursuant to Section 5.9(b)(v)(E) as a result of any of the following:
(1)Β Β Β Β Any issuance of Partnership Interests in exchange for cash;
(2)Β Β Β Β Any grant of Common Units or options, warrants or rights to purchase or receive Common Units or the issuance of Common Units upon the exercise or vesting of any such options, warrants or rights in respect of services provided to or for the benefit of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries, under compensation plans and agreements approved by the Board of Directors (including any long-term incentive plan);
(3)Β Β Β Β Any issuance of Common Units as all or part of the consideration to effect (i) the closing of any acquisition by the Partnership of assets or equity interests of a third party in an armβs-length transaction, (ii)Β closing of any acquisition by the Partnership of assets or equity interests of NEE or any of its Affiliates, or (iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Partnership with another entity in which the Partnership survives and the Common Units remain Outstanding to the extent any such transaction set forth in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above is validly approved by the Board of Directors; or
(4)Β Β Β Β The issuance of Common Units upon conversion of Non-Voting Common Units.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, whenever the issuance of a Partnership Interest or other event would require an adjustment to the Non-Voting Common Units under one or more provisions of this Agreement, only one adjustment shall be made to the Non-Voting Common Units in respect of such issuance or event to the extent that applying more than one adjustment would not preserve the economic equivalence between a Common Unit and a Non-Voting Common Unit.
(G)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in SectionΒ 5.9(b)(v)(E), unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, no adjustment to the Non-Voting Common Units shall be made with respect to any distribution or other transaction described in Section 5.9(b)(v)(E) if the holders of Non-Voting Common Units are entitled to participate in such distribution or transaction as if they held a number of Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Non-Voting Common Units immediately prior to such event without having to convert their Non-Voting Common Units.
(H)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the case of a merger, consolidation, or business combination in which the Common Units are converted into or exchanged for cash or other consideration (including securities), the Board of Directors will take all actions reasonably necessary to ensure that the Non-Voting Common Units will be converted into or exchanged for the
55
cash or other consideration that a holder of Non-Voting Common Units would have been entitled to receive if the Non-Voting Common Units had been converted into Common Units immediately prior to the effectiveness of such merger, consolidation, or business combination.
(c)Β Β Β Β Transfer Assistance. In the event of a transfer of Non-Voting Common Units to any Person, the Partnership will use commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate the conversion of such Non-Voting Common Units in connection with such transfer, including coordinating with the Transfer Agent to facilitate such transfer and to record the transfer and conversion of such Non-Voting Common Units in a manner that permits the sale of the Non-Voting Common Units in market transactions. For the avoidance of doubt, a holder of Non-Voting Common Units may pledge any Non-Voting Common Units in connection with a bona fide loan or other extension of credit entered into by such holder.
ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 6.1Β Β Β Β Distributions to Record Holders.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Subject to Section 5.8(b)(i), within forty-five (45)Β days following the end of each Quarter, an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be distributed in accordance with this ArticleΒ VI by the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the Board of Directors. All distributions required to be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to SectionsΒ 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act.
(b)Β Β Β Β The Partnership will first distribute the aggregate Series A Distribution Amount (excluding any portion paid in Series A PIK Units) and then will distribute the remaining Available Cash to all Common Unitholders (including, for the avoidance of doubt, all holders of Non-Voting Common Units in accordance with Section 5.9(b)(i)), Pro Rata.
(c)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding SectionΒ 6.1(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, SectionΒ 12.4.
(d)Β Β Β Β 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 Partnershipβs 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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ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section 7.1Β Β Β Β Management by Board of Directors.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Establishment of Board of Directors. Effective as of the date of this Agreement, there is hereby established a committee (the βBoardβ or the βBoard of Directorsβ) composed of seven (7) natural persons (the βDirectorsβ) having the authority and duties set forth in this Agreement.
(i)Β Β Β Β The initial Directors of the Partnership as of the date of this Agreement are the following individuals: Xxxxx X. Robo (Chairman), Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Austin, Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx X. Kind, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xx. and Xxxxx X. Xxxxx. Each of the foregoing initial Directors shall serve a term commencing on the date of this Agreement and expiring at 11:59:59 p.m. on DecemberΒ 31, 2017 (or such Directorβs earlier resignation, retirement, removal from office or death), or such later date as the LP Elected Directors shall have been duly elected and qualified.
(ii)Β Β Β Β Each Director shall be entitled to one vote on all matters to be decided by the Board. Any decision to be made by the Board shall require the approval of at least four (4) Directors present and voting at any meeting at which a quorum is present; provided, however, that in the event that the number of Directors then serving on the Board of Directors is fewer than four (4) Directors, the act of the majority of the Directors present and voting at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors; provided, further, that, if the Board of Directors is unable to make a decision with respect to any matter contemplated by Section 7.1(b)(i), SectionΒ 7.1(b)(iii), SectionΒ 7.1(b)(iv), SectionΒ 7.1(b)(vi) or Section 7.1(b)(xiii), the Manager shall be authorized to take any action with respect to such matter that is consistent with the Operating Plan then in effect. No Director acting alone (except as provided in Section 7.1(e)(iii)) or with any other Director or Directors (except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence) shall have the power to act for or on behalf of, or to bind, the Partnership. The Board of Directors shall constitute a committee within the meaning of Section 17-303(b)(7) of the Delaware Act.
(b)Β Β Β Β Management Generally. In order to enable the Board of Directors to manage the business and affairs of the Partnership, the General Partner hereby delegates to the Board of Directors all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership that it may now or hereafter possess under applicable law (other than those powers retained by the General Partner, as set forth in SectionΒ 1.2, Section 2.4, Section 3.3(c), Section 7.1(d), SectionΒ 7.2, Section 7.7(d), SectionΒ 7.10, Section 12.4, Section 13.1(b), Section 13.4(b) and Section 14.4, and other than the General Partnerβs obligations pursuant to Article IX of this Agreement) as permitted under Section 17-403(c) of the Delaware Act. The General Partner further agrees to take any and all action necessary and appropriate, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, to effect any actions duly authorized by the Board of Directors or any officer of the Partnership, including executing or filing any agreements, instruments or certificates, delivering all documents, providing all information and taking or refraining from taking any
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action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve all the effective delegation of power described in this Section 7.1. Each of the Partners and each Person who may acquire an interest in a Limited Partner Interest is hereby deemed to have approved, consented to, ratified and confirmed such delegation. The delegation by the General Partner to the Board of Directors of management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall not cause the General Partner to cease to be the general partner of the Partnership, nor shall it cause the Board of Directors or any member thereof to be a general partner of the Partnership or to have or be subject to any liabilities of a general partner of the Partnership that may be applicable. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement (including pursuant to SectionΒ 1.2, Section 2.4, Section 3.3(c), Section 7.1(d), SectionΒ 7.2, Section 7.7(d), SectionΒ 7.10, Section 12.4, Section 13.1(b), Section 13.4(b), Section 14.4 and Article IX of this Agreement), and except as delegated to the βManager Groupβ (as defined in the Management Services Agreement) as set forth in the Management Services Agreement or as otherwise provided therein, the management of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the Board of Directors and, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Partnershipβs officers and the Board of Directors shall, subject to SectionΒ 7.3, 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 SectionΒ 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in SectionΒ 2.4, including the following:
(i)Β Β Β Β 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 (subject to Section 5.8(b)(iv) with respect to Series A Senior Securities and Series A Parity Securities), and the incurring of any other obligations;
(ii)Β Β Β Β the making of regulatory and other filings (other than tax filings of Group Members, for which the General Partner retains authority pursuant to Article IX), or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership;
(iii)Β Β Β Β 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 clauseΒ (iii) being subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by SectionΒ 7.3 and ArticleΒ XIV);
(iv)Β Β Β Β the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including (A) the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership Group; (B) the Partnershipβs annual Operating Plan; (C) subject to SectionΒ 7.6(a), the lending of funds to other Persons (including other Group Members); (D) the repayment or guarantee of obligations of any Group Member; and (E) the making of capital contributions to any Group Member;
(v)Β Β Β Β the negotiation, authorization and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the
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Partnership under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership, with the other party to the contract having 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 are less favorable to the Partnership than would otherwise be the case);
(vi)Β Β Β Β the distribution of cash held by the Partnership;
(vii)Β Β Β Β subject to the terms of the Management Services Agreement, the selection and dismissal of employees (including employees having titles such as βpresident,β βvice president,β βsecretary,β and βtreasurerβ) and agents, internal and outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors, and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;
(viii)Β Β Β Β approval of any agreement or arrangement (or any termination or amendment thereof) between any Partner or its Affiliate (other than a Group Member), on the one hand, and the Partnership or any other Group Member, on the other hand;
(ix)Β Β Β Β 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 SectionΒ 2.4;
(x)Β Β Β Β 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)Β Β Β Β the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;
(xii)Β Β Β Β 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 4.7);
(xiii)Β Β Β Β subject to Section 5.8(b)(iv) and Article XIV, the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Interests, or the issuance of Derivative Partnership Interests; and
(xiv)Β Β Β Β the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnershipβs participation in the management of any Group Member, including (A) the Partnershipβs authorization and approval, as the sole member of the OpCo General Partner, of any actions on behalf of the Operating Partnership, and (B) authorizing the officers of the OpCo General Partner to act or approve any matter on behalf of the Operating Partnership, including the declaration and payment of distributions by the Operating Partnership.
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(c)Β Β Β Β Neither the General Partner nor any of the Limited Partners in their capacities as such shall have any part in the management of the Partnership (except, with respect to the General Partner, pursuant to SectionΒ 1.2, Section 2.4, Section 3.3(c), Section 7.1(d), SectionΒ 7.2, Section 7.7(d), SectionΒ 7.10, Section 12.4, Section 13.1(b), Section 13.4(b), SectionΒ 14.4 and Article IX of this Agreement) and shall have no authority or right to act on behalf of the Partnership or deal with any third parties on behalf of the Partnership in connection with any matter, except as requested or authorized by the Board of Directors.
(d)Β Β Β Β Number of Directors; Term of Office. The authorized number of Directors shall be seven (7) Directors.
(i)Β Β Β Β Three (3) Directors shall be appointed by the General Partner, in its sole discretion. A Director appointed by the General Partner may sometimes be referred to herein as an βNEP GP Appointed Director.β Each NEP GP Appointed Director shall hold office for the term of which he is appointed and until his successor shall have been duly appointed and qualified or until his earlier resignation, retirement, removal from office or death. The initial NEP GP Appointed Directors shall take office commencing at 12:00:01 a.m. on January 1, 2018 (or such later date as such NEP GP Appointed Directors shall have been duly appointed and qualified).
(ii)Β Β Β Β At each annual meeting of Limited Partners commencing with the annual meeting of Limited Partners held in 2017, the Limited Partners shall elect four (4) Directors. A Director elected by the Limited Partners may sometimes be referred to herein as an βLP Elected Director.β Each LP Elected Director shall hold office for a term of one (1) year commencing at 12:00:01 a.m. on January 1 (or such later date as such LP Elected Director shall have been duly elected and qualified) of the next succeeding year and extending through 11:59:59 p.m. on December 31 of such year (or such later date as such LP Elected Directorβs successor shall have been duly elected and qualified). Each LP Elected Director shall hold office for the term of which he is elected and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his earlier resignation, retirement, removal from office or death. No person who shall have attained the age of seventy-two (72) years by the date of election shall be eligible for election as an LP Elected Director; provided, however, that the Board of Directors is authorized, in circumstances it deems appropriate and by unanimous approval of all of the Directors then in office (except the LP Elected Director whose qualification is the subject of the action), to render an LP Elected Director then in office (the βAffected Directorβ) eligible for election as an LP Elected Director until either the date of election next following the Affected Directorβs seventy-third (73rd) birthday or the date of election next following the Affected Directorβs seventy-fourth (74th) birthday.
(iii)Β Β Β Β Candidates for election to the Board of Directors as LP Elected Directors shall be designated by the Partnershipβs Chief Executive Officer, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that, if the Board of Directors fails to approve one or more of the nominees proposed by the Partnershipβs Chief Executive Officer, after the Partnershipβs Chief Executive Officer shall have had a reasonable opportunity to present to, and discuss with, the Board of Directors his proposed nominees (and any alternative candidates), then (A) any such nominee shall
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nevertheless be included in the proxy statement for the next annual meeting of Limited Partners and (B)Β the LP Elected Directors, by a majority vote of the LP Elected Directors then in office, shall be entitled to include in the proxy statement for the next annual meeting of Limited Partners a corresponding number of its own nominees for election to the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Limited Partners shall be entitled to include in the Partnershipβs proxy statement nominees for election to the Board of Directors as LP Elected Directors in accordance with Article XV, subject to compliance with the terms thereof.
(iv)Β Β Β Β Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors shall be filled only by a majority vote of the Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director, and each Director so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at 11:59:59 p.m. on December 31 of the year in which the vacancy is filled; provided that, if at any time a vacancy is created on the Board of Directors by reason of the death, removal or resignation of any NEP GP Appointed Director, then only the General Partner shall be entitled (in its sole discretion) to designate a replacement for such Director.
(v)Β Β Β Β An LP Elected Director may be removed from the Board of Directors (A) by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors, but only for Cause; or (B) by Limited Partners at a special meeting at which the notice of meeting properly includes the removal of LP Elected Directors for Cause in accordance with Section 13.4; provided that a quorum is present and the required vote of Limited Partners is obtained in accordance with Section 13.9(c). An NEP GP Appointed Director may be removed from the Board of Directors only by the General Partner, with or without Cause.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(e)Β Β Β Β Meetings of the Board. Regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places (either within or outside the State of Delaware) as may be determined by the Board of Directors. Notice of the time and place of any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each Director either by personal delivery, e-mail, facsimile, reputable overnight delivery service, telegram, cablegram or by telephone at least two (2) days prior to the meeting. Notice may also be given through the postal service if mailed at least five (5) days prior to the meeting.
(i)Β Β Β Β Notice of a meeting of the Board of Directors need not be given to any Director who signs a waiver of notice either before or after the meeting. Attendance of a Director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting and a waiver of any and all objections to the place of the meeting, the time of the meeting or the manner in which it has been called or convened, except when a Director states, at the beginning of the meeting, any objection to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
(ii)Β Β Β Β Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
(iii)Β Β Β Β Four (4) Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that, whenever, for any reason, vacancies occur in the
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Board of Directors that reduce the number of Directors then serving on the Board of Directors to fewer than four (4) Directors, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, solely for the purpose of filling such vacancies pursuant to SectionΒ 7.1(d)(iv).
(iv)Β Β Β Β A majority of the Directors present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, whether or not a quorum exists, may adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Notice of any such adjourned meeting shall be given to the Directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment and, unless the time and place of the adjourned meeting are announced at the time of adjournment, to the other Directors.
(v)Β Β Β Β Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership or by any three (3) Directors. Regular meetings of committees shall be held on the schedule approved by the Board of Directors. Special meetings of committees may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the chairman of such committee or any three (3) members of such committee.
(vi)Β Β Β Β Members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of Directors by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
(vii)Β Β Β Β Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, or if such position is vacant or such person is absent, by the Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership. If neither the Chairman of the Board nor the Chief Executive Officer is present, the Directors shall elect a chairman for the meeting from one of their members present.
(viii)Β Β Β Β Any action required to be taken at a meeting of the Directors, or any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Directors or a committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so to be taken, signed by such number of Directors as would be required to approve such matter if a meeting of Directors were held, is filed in the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors or of the committee. Such consent shall have the same effect as a unanimous vote.
(f)Β Β Β Β Compensation of the Directors. Directors, as such, shall not receive any stated salary for their services, but shall receive such compensation for their services as may be from time to time agreed upon by the Board of Directors. In addition, a fixed sum and reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses of attendance, if any, may be allowed for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors; provided that nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to preclude any Director (including the Chief Executive Officer) from serving the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries in any other capacity and receiving compensation for such service.
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(g)Β Β Β Β Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership, unless the Board of Directors designates another individual to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors. At any time, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, may be removed from his position as Chairman by the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, in his capacity as such, shall not have any of the rights or powers of an officer of the Partnership, unless he, in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Directors, is appointed as an officer of the Partnership. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and at all meetings of the Partners at which he is present.
(h)Β Β Β Β Committees of the Board. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, designate from among the Directors one or more committees (which shall include the Audit Committee and the Conflicts Committee), each of which shall be composed of one or more Directors, and may designate one or more of the Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may, subject to any limitations imposed by the Board of Directors, replace absent or disqualified Directors at any meeting of that committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in such resolution, shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors, subject to the limitations set forth in the Delaware Act, if any, or in the establishment of the committee. Any member of any such committee may be removed from such committee by the Board of Directors. Unless the resolution designating a particular committee or this Agreement expressly so provides, a committee of the Board of Directors shall not have the authority to authorize or make a distribution to the Limited Partners or to authorize the issuance of Limited Partner Interests. Any committee of the Board of Directors shall constitute a committee within the meaning of Section 17-303(b)(7) of the Delaware Act. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the delegation to any committee of the Board of Directors of any management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall not cause the General Partner to cease to be a general partner of the Partnership nor shall it cause such committee of the Board of Directors or any member thereof to be a general partner of the Partnership or to have or be subject to any liabilities of a general partner of the Partnership that may be applicable. The initial members of the Audit Committee as of the date of this Agreement are Xxxxx X. Xxxxx (Chairman), Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Austin and Xxxxx X. Kind. The initial members of the Conflicts Committee as of the date of this Agreement are Xxxxx X. Kind (Chairman), Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxx X. Xxxxx.
(i)Β Β Β Β Officers and Agents. Officers, employees, agents and consultants of the Partnership shall be appointed, retained, terminated and replaced by the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion; provided, however, that, for so long as NextEra Energy Management Partners, LP (or another Affiliate of NEE) serves as Manager under the Management Services Agreement (or any successor agreement), such officers, employees, agents and consultants of the Partnership shall be appointed, retained, terminated and replaced by the Board of Directors, subject to and in accordance with the designations of the Manager pursuant to the Management Services Agreement. Each such officer, employee, agent and consultant shall have the power, acting individually or jointly, to affix the signature of the Partnership to all deeds, conveyances, mortgages, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates and other papers and instruments in writing that have been authorized by the Board of Directors, enter into contracts on behalf of the Partnership and otherwise represent and bind the Partnership in all matters, in each case, in accordance with the scope of their respective duties.
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Section 7.2Β Β Β Β Certificate of Limited Partnership.Β Β 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 Board of Directors shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the Board of Directors 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 or the Board of Directors determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner or the Partnership 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 SectionΒ 3.3(a), neither the Partnership nor the General Partner shall 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 7.3Β Β Β Β Restrictions on the Partnershipβs Authority to Sell Assets of the Partnership Group.Β Β
Except as provided in ArticleΒ XII and ArticleΒ XIV, the Partnership 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 without the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion, and the approval of (a) at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units and all Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), voting as a separate class, and (b) at least a majority of (i) the Outstanding Special Voting Units and (ii) the Outstanding Common Units (including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units) owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates, voting together as a single class; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the Partnershipβs ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance.
Section 7.4Β Β Β Β Reimbursement of the General Partner.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Except as provided in the Management Services Agreement 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)Β Β Β Β Subject to the Management Services Agreement, and without duplication, the General Partner and its Affiliates shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i)Β all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group and (ii)Β all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner or its Affiliates in connection
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with its service as General Partner of the Partnership (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 SectionΒ 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to SectionΒ 7.7. 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)Β Β Β Β The Board of Directors, 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 options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation rights or phantom or tracking interests relating to Partnership Interests), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the Partnership or any of its Affiliates in each case for the benefit of officers, employees and directors of the Partnership 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 any of its Affiliates any Partnership Interests that the Partnership 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, if any, 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 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 Partnerβs General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6.
Section 7.5Β Β Β Β Outside Activities.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β The General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership, (i)Β 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)Β shall not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities except in connection with or incidental to (A)Β its performance as general partner or managing member, if any, of one or more Group Members or as described in the Partnershipβs public filings with the Commission or (B)Β the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt securities or equity interests in any Group Member.
(b)Β Β Β Β Subject to the terms of SectionΒ 7.5(c), the Right of First Offer Agreement and the Right of First Refusal Agreement, each Unrestricted Person (other than the General
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Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to any Group Member or any Partner; provided such Unrestricted Person does not engage in such business or activity using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such Unrestricted Person. None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any Unrestricted Person.
(c)Β Β Β Β Subject to the terms of SectionΒ 7.5(a) and Section 7.5(b), the Right of First Offer Agreement and the Right of First Refusal Agreement, but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i)Β the engaging in competitive activities by any Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this SectionΒ 7.5 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii)Β it shall be deemed not to be a breach of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, 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)Β 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, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner). No Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Partnership shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Partnership, and such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement for breach of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, 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 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)Β Β Β Β The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Interests and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option and in their sole discretion, all rights relating to all Units or other Partnership Interests acquired by them. The term βAffiliatesβ when used in this SectionΒ 7.5(d) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.
Section 7.6Β Β Β Β Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members.Β Β
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Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β (a)Β Β Β Β The General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than the Partnership) may, but has no obligation to, lend to any Group Member (including, subject to the consent of the Board of Directors, the Partnership), and any Group Member (including, subject to the consent of the Board of Directors, the Partnership) may borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than the Partnership), funds needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such amounts as the General Partner (and, if the Partnership is the borrowing party, the Board of Directors) may determine; provided, however, that in any such case the lending party may charge the borrowing party interest at prevailing rates (including prevailing origination fees) that would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an armβs-length basis (without reference to the lending partyβs financial abilities or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner (and, if the Partnership is the borrowing party, the Board of Directors). 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 SectionΒ 7.6(a) and SectionΒ 7.6(b), the term βGroup Memberβ shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.
(b)Β Β Β Β 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 Board of Directors. No Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another Group Member); provided, however, that Cash Sweep Withdrawals shall not be subject to this Section 7.6(b).
(c)Β Β Β Β No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the Board of Directors shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever, expressed or implied, of the Board of Directors 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 Partnerβs or its Affiliatesβ Percentage Interest of the total amount distributed to all Limited Partners.
Section 7.7Β Β Β Β Indemnification.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β 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 omitting 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
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engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemniteeβs conduct was unlawful; provided, further, that no indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be available to any Indemnitee (other than a Group Member or a Director) with respect to any such Affiliateβs obligations pursuant to the Transaction Documents. Any indemnification pursuant to this SectionΒ 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)Β Β Β Β To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to SectionΒ 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 SectionΒ 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 SectionΒ 7.7.
(c)Β Β Β Β The indemnification provided by this SectionΒ 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under this Agreement, any other agreement, including the Management Services 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 Indemniteeβs 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)Β Β Β Β 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 Partnershipβs activities or such Personβs activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.
(e)Β Β Β Β For purposes of this SectionΒ 7.7: (i) 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; (ii) excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute βfinesβ within the meaning of SectionΒ 7.7(a); and (iii) 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)Β Β Β Β In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.
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(g)Β Β Β Β An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this SectionΒ 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)Β Β Β Β The provisions of this SectionΒ 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)Β Β Β Β No amendment, modification or repeal of this SectionΒ 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 SectionΒ 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 7.8Β Β Β Β Liability of Indemnitees.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the Partnership Interests 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 fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemniteeβs conduct was criminal.
(b)Β Β Β Β Each of the General Partner and the Board of Directors 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 employees or agents, and neither the General Partner nor the Board of Directors shall be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such employee or agent appointed in good faith by the General Partner or the Board of Directors.
(c)Β Β Β Β 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 Partnershipβs business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.
(d)Β Β Β Β Any amendment, modification or repeal of this SectionΒ 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 SectionΒ 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
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Section 7.9Β Β Β Β Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β 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 or any Director, 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 or the Board of Directors 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)Β approved by Special Approval, (ii)Β approved by the vote of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding all Non-Voting Common Units and excluding, if the conflict involves the General partner or any of its Affiliates, Common Units and Special Voting Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates, but including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in SectionΒ 5.8(b)(iii)(A)), (iii)Β determined by the Board of Directors to be on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv)Β determined by the Board of Directors to be 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 Board of Directors shall be authorized but not required in connection with the resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval or Unitholder approval of such resolution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner, for itself and its Affiliates, and the Board of Directors, for any Group Member, may also each adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval. Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever the Board of Directors makes a determination to refer or not to refer any potential conflict of interest to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval, or whenever the General Partner, for itself and its Affiliates, or the Board of Directors, as applicable, determines to seek or not to seek Unitholder approval, the General Partner or the Board of Directors, as applicable, 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 or the Board of Directors, as applicable, 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 General Partner or the Board of Directors, as applicable, 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 clausesΒ (iii) or (iv)Β above, 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 Board of Directors, any action by the Board of Directors in determining whether the resolution or course of action taken with
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respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clausesΒ (iii) or (iv)Β above, 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; in all cases subject to the provisions for conclusive determination in SectionΒ 7.9(b). 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.
(b)Β Β Β Β Whenever the General Partner or the Board of Directors, or any Director or any committee of the Board of Directors (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, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, the Board of Directors or such Director 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 βgood faithβ 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; provided that, if the Board of Directors is making a determination or taking or declining to take an action pursuant to clauseΒ (iii) or clauseΒ (iv) of the first sentence of SectionΒ 7.9(a), then in lieu thereof, such determination or other action or inaction will conclusively be deemed to be in βgood faithβ for all purposes of this Agreement if the members of the Board of Directors making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action subjectively believe that the determination or other action or inaction meets the standard set forth in clauseΒ (iii) or clauseΒ (iv) of the first sentence of SectionΒ 7.9(a), as applicable.
(c)Β Β Β Β 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, βthe General Partner at its option,β or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual
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capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership Interests, or refrains from voting or transferring its Partnership Interests, it shall be acting in its individual capacity.
(d)Β Β Β Β The General Partnerβs 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, by its stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or by the members or stockholders of the General Partnerβs general partner, if the General Partner is a partnership.
(e)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the Board of Directors and the General Partner and its Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business and (ii)Β the General Partner and its Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except, in each case, as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use. Any determination by the Board of Directors or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall be at its option.
(f)Β Β Β Β Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or required by the Delaware Act, neither the General Partner, nor any Director, 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, Directors 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall eliminate or limit (i) the express contractual provisions set forth herein or (ii) the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(g)Β Β Β Β The Unitholders shall be deemed to have authorized the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a general partner or managing 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 SectionΒ 7.9.
Section 7.10Β Β Β Β Certain Additional Matters Requiring Consent of the General Partner. In addition to the General Partnerβs powers pursuant to Article IX and in addition to any other powers held by, or actions ascribed to, the General Partner under this Agreement or the Delaware Act, the General Partnerβs consent, which may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion, shall be required for (a)Β the merger, consolidation or conversion of any Group Member; (b) the dissolution of any Group Member; (c)Β any amendment of the OpCo Partnership Agreement; and (d) any direct or indirect transfer of all or any portion of the general partner interest in the Operating Partnership to any Person.
Section 7.11Β Β Β Β Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests.Β Β The Board of Directors 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
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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
Section 7.12Β Β Β Β Reliance.
(a)Β Β Β Β Reliance on Information.
(i)Β Β Β Β The General Partner, the Board of Directors 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.
(ii)Β Β Β Β The General Partner, the Board of Directors 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, the Board of Directors or such Indemnitee, respectively, reasonably believes to be within such Personβs professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
(iii)Β Β Β Β The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of the Partnership or any Group Member; provided, however, that officers of the General Partner shall be entitled to act on behalf of and to bind the Partnership only in such matters as the General Partner is authorized to act pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(b)Β Β Β Β 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 Board of Directors, the General Partner and any officer authorized by the Board of Directors or 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 Board of Directors, the General Partner or any such officer as if it were the Partnershipβs 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 Board of Directors, the General Partner or any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the Board of Directors, the General Partner or any such officer or their 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 Board of Directors, the General Partner or any such officer or their representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the
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Board of Directors, the General Partner or their officers or representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Personβs relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (i)Β at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (ii)Β 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 (iii)Β 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 8.1Β Β Β Β Records and Accounting.Β Β The Partnership shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnershipβs business, including the Register and all other books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to SectionΒ 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, 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.Β GAAP. The Partnership shall not be required to keep books maintained on a cash basis and the Board of Directors shall be permitted to calculate cash-based measures by making such adjustments to its accrual basis books to account for non-cash items and other adjustments as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 8.2Β Β Β Β Fiscal Year.Β Β The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending DecemberΒ 31.
Section 8.3Β Β Β Β Reports.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β 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 105Β days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership (or such shorter period as required by the Commission), the Partnership shall mail or make available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnershipβs or the Commissionβs website) to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the Board of Directors, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S.Β 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 Board of Directors, 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 Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.
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Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β (b)Β Β Β Β 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 50Β 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 Partnership shall mail or make available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnershipβs or the Commissionβs website) to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the Board of Directors, 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 Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.
ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS
Section 9.1Β Β Β Β Tax Characterizations, Elections and Information
(a)Β Β Β Β The Partnership is authorized and has elected to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
(b)Β Β Β Β The General Partner shall determine whether the Partnership shall make any other tax elections permitted by the Code or state, local or foreign tax law. The General Partner shall have exclusive authority for the making of tax filings, or rendering of periodic or other tax reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership.
(c)Β Β Β Β The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for U.S. federal income tax reporting purposes shall be furnished to Record Holders on or before the date required under the Code and Treasury Regulations thereunder.
Section 9.2Β Β Β Β Withholding.Β Β 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 SectionsΒ 1441, 1442, 1445, 1471 and 1472 of the Code, or established under any foreign law. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner, the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to SectionΒ 6.1 in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.
ARTICLE X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
Section 10.1Β Β Β Β Admission of Limited Partners.
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(a)Β Β Β Β By acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests transferred in accordance with ArticleΒ IV or acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to ArticleΒ V or pursuant to a merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to ArticleΒ XIV, each transferee of, or other such Person acquiring, a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee, agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person or Group, which nominee, agent or representative shall be subject to SectionΒ 10.1(b) below) (i)Β 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)Β shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii)Β shall be deemed to represent that the transferee or acquirer has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv)Β shall be deemed to make any consents, acknowledgements or waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement. A Person may become a Limited Partner without the consent or approval of any of the Partners. A Person may not become a Limited Partner without acquiring a Limited Partner Interest and becoming the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest.
(b)Β Β Β Β With respect to Units that are held for a Personβs 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 rights of a Limited Partner in respect of such Units, including the right to vote 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 in accordance with the direction of the Person who is the beneficial owner of such Units, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume such Record Holder is so acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this SectionΒ 10.1(b) are subject to the provisions of SectionΒ 4.3.
(c)Β Β Β Β The name and mailing address of each Record Holder shall be listed in the Register. The Partnership shall update the Register from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable).
(d)Β Β Β Β 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 SectionΒ 10.1(a).
Section 10.2Β Β Β Β Admission of Successor General Partner.Β Β A successor General Partner approved pursuant to SectionΒ 11.1 or SectionΒ 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner Interest pursuant to SectionΒ 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 SectionΒ 11.1 or 11.2 or the transfer of the General Partner Interest pursuant to SectionΒ 4.6; provided, however, that no such successor shall be admitted to the Partnership until compliance with the terms of SectionΒ 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
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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 10.3Β Β Β Β Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership.Β Β To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the Board of Directors shall take all steps necessary or appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the Register and any other 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 Partnership shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership.
ARTICLE XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
Section 11.1Β Β Β Β Withdrawal of the General Partner.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β 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 βEvent of Withdrawalβ);
(i)Β Β Β Β The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written notice to the other Partners pursuant to Section 11.1(b);
(ii)Β Β Β Β The General Partner transfers all of its General Partner Interest pursuant to SectionΒ 4.6;
(iii)Β Β Β Β The General Partner is removed pursuant to SectionΒ 11.2;
(iv)Β Β Β Β The General Partner (A)Β makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B)Β filesΒ a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under ChapterΒ 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; (C)Β filesΒ a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D)Β 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 clausesΒ (A)-(C) of this SectionΒ 11.1(a)(iv); or (E)Β 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)Β Β Β Β A final and non-appealable order of relief under ChapterΒ 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)Β Β Β Β (A) if the General Partner is a corporation, a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent is filed for the General Partner, or 90Β 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)Β if the General Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General Partner; (C)Β if the General Partner is acting in such capacity by virtue
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of being a trustee of a trust, the termination of the trust; (D)Β if the General Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of incompetency; and (E)Β otherwise upon the termination of the General Partner.
If an Event of Withdrawal specified in SectionΒ 11.1(a)(iv), (v)Β or (vi)(A), (B), (C)Β or (E)Β occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the Limited Partners within 30Β days after such occurrence. The Partners hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this SectionΒ 11.1 shall result in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.
(b)Β Β Β Β 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)Β in respect of the Event of Withdrawal specified in SectionΒ 11.1(a)(i), the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90Β daysβ advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; or (ii)Β at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to SectionΒ 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to SectionΒ 11.2. 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 SectionΒ 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. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this SectionΒ 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of SectionΒ 10.2.
Section 11.2Β Β Β Β Removal of the General Partner.Β Β The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least sixty-six and two thirds percent (66Β 2/3%) of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates, but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units) 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 holders of a Unit Majority. Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to SectionΒ 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 SectionΒ 11.2, such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to SectionΒ 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, voting together as a single class, to remove the General Partner pursuant to this SectionΒ 11.2 shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that such removal (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. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this SectionΒ 11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of SectionΒ 10.2.
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Section 11.3Β Β Β Β Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β In the event of (i)Β withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii)Β 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 SectionΒ 11.1 or SectionΒ 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 Combined Interest in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its withdrawal or removal. If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of SectionΒ 11.1 or SectionΒ 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to SectionΒ 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 SectionΒ 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 SectionΒ 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 30Β days after the effective date of such Departing General Partnerβs withdrawal or removal, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert that is selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor and that, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination by which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45Β 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 Partnerβs 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 Partnershipβs assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner, the value of the General Partner Interest and other factors it may deem relevant.
(b)Β Β Β Β If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in SectionΒ 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
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by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to SectionΒ 11.3(a), without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.
(c)Β Β Β Β If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of SectionΒ 11.1 or SectionΒ 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to SectionΒ 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the option described in SectionΒ 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)Β the quotient obtained by dividing (A)Β the Adjusted Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner by (B)Β a percentage equal to one hundred percent (100%) less the Adjusted Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner and (y)Β the Fair Market Value of the Partnershipβs assets on such date, net of Liabilities.
(d)Β Β Β Β In such event, such successor General Partner shall, subject to the following sentence, be entitled to its Adjusted 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 Partnerβs admission, the successor General Partnerβs interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Adjusted Percentage Interest.
Section 11.4Β Β Β Β Withdrawal of Limited Partners.Β Β No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however, that when a transferee of a Limited Partnerβs 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 12.1Β Β Β Β Dissolution.Β Β 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 SectionΒ 11.1, SectionΒ 11.2 or SectionΒ 12.2, 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 SectionΒ 12.2) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:
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(a)Β Β Β Β an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in SectionΒ 11.1(a) (other than SectionΒ 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and, if applicable, the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel pursuant to Section 11.2 as to the matters set forth therein, and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to SectionΒ 10.2;
(b)Β Β Β Β an election to dissolve the Partnership by the Board of Directors that is approved by the General Partner, in its sole discretion, and by the holders of (i) at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units and excluding all Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), voting as a separate class, and (ii) at least a majority of (A) the Outstanding Special Voting Units and (B) the Outstanding Common Units (including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units) owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates, voting together as a single class;
(c)Β Β Β Β the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act; or
(d)Β Β Β Β at any time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without dissolution in accordance with the Delaware Act.
Section 12.2Β Β Β Β Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution.Β Β Upon (a)Β dissolution of the Partnership following an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in SectionΒ 11.1(a)(i) or (iii)Β and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to SectionΒ 11.1 or SectionΒ 11.2, then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within ninety (90)Β days thereafter or (b)Β dissolution of the Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in SectionΒ 11.1(a)(iv), (v)Β or (vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within one hundred eighty (180)Β 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)Β Β Β Β the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this ArticleΒ XII;
(ii)Β Β Β Β 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 SectionΒ 11.3; and
(iii)Β Β Β Β the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this Agreement;
provided, that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless
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the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner under the Delaware Act.
Section 12.3Β Β Β Β Liquidator.Β Β Upon dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII, 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 and Special Voting Units, voting together as a single class (including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units). The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without fifteen (15)Β daysβ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Special Voting Units, voting together as a single class (including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units). Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within thirty (30)Β days thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Special Voting Units, voting together as a single class (including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units). The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this ArticleΒ 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 and the Board of Directors 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 SectionΒ 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 12.4Β Β Β Β Liquidation.Β Β 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 SectionΒ 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:
(a)Β Β Β Β 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 SectionΒ 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its Fair Market Value, net of Liabilities; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnershipβs assets for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnershipβs assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidator may distribute the Partnershipβs 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.
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(b)Β Β Β Β Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of SectionΒ 12.3) and amounts to Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under ArticleΒ 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)Β Β Β Β All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in SectionΒ 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with the priorities for distributions set forth in Article VI, and such distribution shall be made by the end of such taxable period (or, if later, within ninety (90)Β days after said date of such occurrence); provided that any cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed with respect to the Series A Preferred Units and Series A Senior Securities prior to any distribution of cash or cash equivalents with respect to the Series A Junior Securities. The amount of such distribution paid to the holders of Series A Preferred Units shall be the greater of (i) the Series A Liquidation Value and (ii) the amount that holders of Series A Preferred Units would receive had they converted Series A Preferred Units into the number of Common Units determined by multiplying the number of Series A Preferred Units held by such holder by the Series A Conversion Rate immediately prior to the distribution (regardless of whether the Series A Preferred Units are then convertible).
Section 12.5Β Β Β Β Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership.Β Β Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in SectionΒ 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 12.6Β Β Β Β Return of Contributions.Β Β 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 assets of the Partnership.
Section 12.7Β Β Β Β Waiver of Partition.Β Β To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE; VOTING
Section 13.1Β Β Β Β Amendments to the Partnership Agreement.Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Each Partner agrees that the Board of Directors, without the approval of any Partner, may amend or modify, as applicable, any provision of this Agreement and execute,
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swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:
(i)Β Β Β Β a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal office of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership;
(ii)Β Β Β Β admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;
(iii)Β Β Β Β a change that the Board of Directors 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 Operating Partnership and the Operating Partnershipβs Subsidiaries will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for federal income tax purposes;
(iv)Β Β Β Β a change that the Board of Directors determines (A)Β 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, (B)Β to be necessary or appropriate to (1)Β satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (2)Β 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, (C) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 5.6 or (D)Β is required to effect the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;
(v)Β Β Β Β a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership including a change in the definition of βQuarterβ and the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;
(vi)Β Β Β Β an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, the General Partner or their respective 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 βplan assetβ 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;
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(vii)Β Β Β Β an amendment that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests pursuant to SectionΒ 5.4;
(viii)Β Β Β Β any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the Board of Directors acting alone;
(ix)Β Β Β Β an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in accordance with SectionΒ 14.3;
(x)Β Β Β Β an amendment that the Board of Directors 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 SectionΒ 2.4;
(xi)Β Β Β Β a merger, conveyance or conversion pursuant to SectionΒ 14.3(d);
(xii)Β Β Β Β a modification pursuant to Section 15.11 with respect to any annual meeting of Limited Partners; or
(xiii)Β Β Β Β any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.
(b)Β Β Β Β Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any other Partner, may, in its sole discretion, amend any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, in connection with such changes to the ownership structure of OpCo Common Units and Special Voting Units held by the General Partner or its Affiliates as may be required to avoid adverse tax consequences resulting from changes to tax laws, so long as such amendment is not materially adverse to the Partnership or the Limited Partners.
(c)Β Β Β Β Each Partner agrees that, without the approval of any Partner, the Board of Directors may amend any provision of this Agreement in such manner as the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate to prevent the consolidation of the Partnership Groupβs financial results with those of NEE and its Subsidiaries (other than Group Members) under U.S. GAAP, so long as such amendment is not materially adverse to the Partnership or the Limited Partners.
Section 13.2Β Β Β Β Amendment Procedures.Β Β Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner, to the extent permitted under Section 13.1(b), or by the Board of Directors in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the General Partner nor the Board of Directors shall have any duty or obligation to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement, and each of the General Partner and the Board of Directors 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
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contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner or Board of Directors 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 or Board of Directors, as applicable, and, except as otherwise provided by SectionΒ 13.1 or SectionΒ 13.3, the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a different percentage of Outstanding Units is required under this Agreement; provided that, subject to Section 13.1(c), any amendment to Article VI, Article VII, Section 13.1(b), Section 13.1(c), Section 13.2, Section 13.4, Section 13.9, Section 13.13 or Article XV, or any defined terms used therein, shall require the approval of the holders of (a) at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units and excluding all Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), voting as a separate class, and (b) at least a majority of (i) the Outstanding Special Voting Units and (ii) the Outstanding Common Units (including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units) owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates, voting together as a single class. For the avoidance of doubt, any modification or waiver of any terms set forth in Article XV of this Agreement made by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 15.11 shall not constitute an amendment of this Agreement. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units or class of Limited Partners shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the General Partner or the Board of Directors, as applicable, shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or class of Limited Partners or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The Board of Directors shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any amendments. The General Partner and the Board of Directors shall be deemed to have notified all Record Holders as required by this SectionΒ 13.2 if the Partnership has posted or made accessible such amendment through the Partnershipβs or the Commissionβs website.
Section 13.3Β Β Β Β Amendment Requirements.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding the provisions of SectionΒ 13.1 and SectionΒ 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) or class of Limited Partners required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of (i)Β in the case of any provision of this Agreement other than SectionΒ 11.2 or SectionΒ 13.4, reducing such percentage or (ii)Β in the case of SectionΒ 11.2 or SectionΒ 13.4(b), increasing such percentages, unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Common Units and Special Voting Units, voting together as a single class (including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units), whose aggregate Outstanding Common Units and Special Voting Units, voting together as a single class (including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units), constitute (x)Β in the case of a reduction as described in subclauseΒ (a)(i) hereof, not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced, (y)Β in the case of an increase in the percentage in SectionΒ 11.2, not less than ninety percent (90%) of the Outstanding Units (excluding Non-
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Voting Common Units) or (z)Β in the case of an increase in the percentage in SectionΒ 13.4(b), not less than a majority of the Outstanding Units (excluding Non-Voting Common Units).
(b)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding the provisions of SectionΒ 13.1 and SectionΒ 13.2, no amendment to this Agreement may (i)Β 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 SectionΒ 13.3(c) or (ii)Β 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)Β Β Β Β Except as provided in SectionΒ 14.3, and without limitation of the General Partnerβs or Boardβs authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any Partner as contemplated in SectionΒ 13.1, any amendment (including by merger or otherwise) 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. For the avoidance of doubt, (i)Β any amendment (including by merger or otherwise) adversely affecting the distribution, liquidation, transfer, conversion, or voting rights of the holders of Non-Voting Common Units (including any amendment that would (A) result in the Non-Voting Common Units and Common Units not having the same economic rights, (B)Β provide the Non-Voting Common Units with voting rights in addition to those set forth in this Agreement, (C)Β impose new or additional restrictions on transfer of the Non-Voting Common Units, (D) adversely change the conversion rights of the Non-Voting Common Units or impose new or additional restrictions on conversion of such Non-Voting Common Units, (E)Β adversely change the process of converting the Non-Voting Common Units to Common Units, (F) change the beneficial ownership threshold set forth in SectionΒ 5.9(b)(v)(B)(1), (G)Β make the Non-Voting Common Units redeemable or convertible at the option of the Partnership, other than as set forth herein, or (H)Β adversely change the Partnershipβs obligation to provide transfer assistance in connection with a transfer of Non-Voting Common Units to any Person) would require approval pursuant to the foregoing sentence; and (ii) any amendment (including by merger or otherwise) adversely affecting the distribution, liquidation or conversion rights (including in connection with a Series A Change of Control) of the Series A Preferred Unitholders or the ranking or seniority of the Series A Preferred Units in relation to any other class of Partnership Interests would require approval pursuant to the foregoing sentence; provided that (A) for so long as (y) each Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser (together with such Purchaserβs then-Affiliates) continues to be the Record Holder or beneficial owner of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, and (z) a Series A Purchaser Change of Control has not occurred with respect to any Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser, any amendments that require approval under this sentence must be approved by Series A Preferred Unitholders holding at least sixty-six and two thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units; and (B) from and after such time as (y) any Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser (together with such Purchaserβs then-Affiliates) ceases to be the Record Holder or beneficial owner of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, or (z) a Series A Purchaser Change of Control occurs with respect to any Series A Purchase Agreement Purchaser, any amendments that require approval under this sentence must be approved by holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Unitholders (the vote required by
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clause (A) or (B), as applicable, of the foregoing proviso, the βSeries A Required Voting Percentageβ). Without limiting the generality of clause (ii) of the foregoing sentence, any amendment shall be deemed to have such a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of the Series A Preferred Units if such amendment would:
(i)Β Β Β Β Reduce the Series A Distribution Amount, change the form of payment of distributions on the Series A Preferred Units, defer the date from which distributions on the Series A Preferred Units will accrue, cancel any accrued Series A Unpaid Distributions, or change the seniority rights of the Series A Preferred Unitholders as to the payment of distributions in relation to the holders of any other class or series of Partnership Interests;
(ii)Β Β Β Β Reduce the amount payable or change the form of payment to the Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership, or change the seniority of the liquidation preferences of the Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units in relation to the rights upon liquidation of the holders of any other class or series of Partnership Interests;
(iii)Β Β Β Β Make the Series A Preferred Units redeemable or convertible at the option of the Partnership other than as set forth herein; or
(iv)Β Β Β Β Adversely amend the provisions of Section 5.5(c), SectionΒ 5.8(b)(iii)(D) or Section 5.8(b)(x).
(d)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any amendment to the provisions relating to the IDR Fee contained in the Management Services Agreement that would materially adversely affect the holders of the Common Units shall be approved by holders of a Unit Majority.
(e)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, prior to the approval by the Partnership, as a holder of OpCo Common Units, of (i) any amendment of the OpCo Partnership Agreement that requires approval by holders of a βUnit Majorityβ (as defined therein), such amendment shall also be approved by holders of a Unit Majority hereunder, and (ii) any amendment of the OpCo Partnership Agreement that requires approval by holders of at least ninety percent (90%) of the OpCo Common Units, such amendment shall also be approved by holders of at least ninety percent (90%) of the Outstanding Units hereunder.
(f)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to SectionΒ 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by SectionΒ 14.3(b), no amendments shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least ninety percent (90%) of the Outstanding Units 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.
(g)Β Β Β Β Except as provided in SectionΒ 13.1, this SectionΒ 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least ninety percent (90%) of the Outstanding
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Units; provided that clauses (d) and (e)(i) of this Section 13.3 may be amended with the approval of the holders of a Unit Majority.
Section 13.4Β Β Β Β Annual and Special Meetings.Β Β All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this ArticleΒ XIII. Meetings of the Limited Partners for the election of Directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
(a)Β Β Β Β An annual meeting of the Limited Partners for the election of Directors shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. Limited Partners shall not be entitled to bring business at any annual meeting of Limited Partners except pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(b)Β Β Β Β Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof duly authorized to call such a meeting), by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning (without giving effect to Section 13.13) twenty percent (20%) or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed, subject to compliance with the provisions of this SectionΒ 13.4(b).
(i)Β Β Β Β Limited Partners may call a special meeting of Limited Partners by delivering to the Secretary of the Partnership one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting of all Limited Partners and indicating the specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called; provided, however, that the Limited Partners shall be entitled to call a special meeting only to remove LP Elected Directors for Cause or the General Partner and not to conduct any other business. No other business may be brought by any Limited Partner before such special meeting except the business listed in the related request; provided that nominations of Directors shall not be permitted at any special meeting requested by Limited Partners. To be in proper written form, a request for a special meeting of Limited Partners must set forth in writing the following:
(A)Β Β Β Β as to the Limited Partner or Limited Partners making the request and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made:
(1)Β Β Β Β the name and address of such Limited Partner or Limited Partners as they appear on the Partnershipβs books, and of such beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if any;
(2)Β Β Β Β information about all holdings or other interests in the Partnershipβs securities, including: (I) the class or series and number of Units or other Limited Partner Interests that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or owned beneficially by the Limited Partner(s) and such beneficial owner(s), if any, and a representation that the Limited Partner(s) and beneficial owner(s), if any, will notify the Partnership in writing of the class or series and number of such Units or other Limited Partner Interests owned of record and beneficially as of the Record Date for the meeting, promptly following the later of the Record
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Date and the date notice of the Record Date is first publicly announced; (II) any Derivative Partnership Interests directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such Limited Partner(s) and beneficial owner(s), if any, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of Limited Partner Interests; (III) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Limited Partner(s) and beneficial owner(s), if any, have a right to vote any security of the Partnership; (IV) any short interest in any security of the Partnership (for purposes hereof, a person or entity shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person or entity directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security); (V) any rights to distributions from the Limited Partner Interests of the Partnership owned beneficially by such Limited Partner(s) and beneficial owner(s), if any, that are separated or separable from the underlying securities of the Partnership; (VI) any proportionate interest in Limited Partner Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests held, directly or indirectly, by (xx) a general or limited partnership in which such Limited Partner(s) and beneficial owner(s), if any, are general partners or, directly or indirectly, beneficially own an interest in a general partner, (yy) a limited liability company in which such Limited Partner(s) and beneficial owner(s), if any, are managing members or, directly or indirectly, beneficially own an interest in a managing member or (zz)Β another entity or enterprise in which such Limited Partner(s) and beneficial owner(s), if any, serve in a similar management capacity or directly or indirectly, beneficially own an interest in an entity or enterprise that serves in such a management capacity; and (VII) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such Limited Partner(s) and beneficial owner(s), if any, are entitled to be based on any increase or decrease in the value of Limited Partner Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests, if any, as of the date of such request, including any such interests held by such Limited Partnersβ and beneficial ownersβ, if any, Affiliates, any person or entity with whom such Limited Partners and beneficial owners, if any, is acting in concert or members of such Limited Partnersβ and beneficial ownersβ, if any, immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be supplemented by such Limited Partner(s) and beneficial owner(s), if any, not later than ten (10) days after the later of the Record Date for the special meeting or the date on which the Record Date for such special meeting is first publicly announced);
(3)Β Β Β Β a representation that each Limited Partner is a holder of record of Limited Partner Interests entitled to vote at such special meeting on the removal of LP Elected Directors or the General Partner and intends to appear in person or by proxy at such meeting to propose such removal; and
(4)Β Β Β Β any other information relating to such Limited Partner(s) and beneficial owner(s), if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with
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solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(B)Β Β Β Β in addition, the request must include the following:
(1)Β Β Β Β the identity of the LP Elected Director (or LP Elected Directors) or the General Partner sought to be removed at the meeting, the reason for the proposed removal and any material interest of such Limited Partner(s) and beneficial owner(s), if any, in connection with such removal;
(2)Β Β Β Β a brief statement as to how such Limited Partner(s) intend to vote on such removal; and
(3)Β Β Β Β a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings, whether written or oral, between such Limited Partner(s) and beneficial owner(s), if any, and any other person or persons (including the names of such persons) in connection with the proposal of such matter by such Limited Partner(s).
(ii)Β Β Β Β Within sixty (60)Β days after receipt of a request 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 Board of Directors shall send a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners either directly or indirectly. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors on a date not less than ten (10)Β days nor more than sixty (60)Β days after the time notice of the meeting is given as provided in SectionΒ 16.1.
(iii)Β Β Β Β If the notice requirements set forth in this Section 13.4(b) are satisfied by the Limited Partners requesting a special meeting and such Limited Partnersβ proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by management of the Partnership to solicit proxies for the applicable special meeting of Limited Partners and such Limited Partners do not appear or send a qualified representative to present such proposal at such meeting, the Partnership need not present such proposal for a vote at such meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Partnership. For purposes of this Section 13.4(b), to be considered a qualified representative of a Limited Partner, a person must be authorized by a writing executed by such Limited Partner or an electronic transmission delivered by such Limited Partner to the Secretary of the Partnership (in the case of a writing, delivered in person or by facsimile, or sent by U.S. certified mail and received, at the principal executive offices of the Partnership) to act for such Limited Partner as proxy at the meeting of Limited Partners, and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable printed reproduction of such writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of Limited Partners.
(iv)Β Β Β Β 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
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control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partnersβ 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, it shall be deemed null and void to the extent necessary so as not to jeopardize the Limited Partnersβ limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.
(v)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.4(b), a Limited Partner shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and all applicable rules and requirements of the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common Units are not so listed or admitted to trading, the quotation system on which the Partnershipβs securities are listed or quoted, in each case, with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 13.4(b); provided, however, that any references in this Agreement to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to proposals as to any business to be considered pursuant to this Section 13.4(b). Nothing in this Section 13.4(b) shall be deemed to affect any rights of Limited Partners to request inclusion of proposals in the Partnershipβs proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
Section 13.5Β Β Β Β Notice of a Meeting.Β Β Notice of an annual meeting of Limited Partners called pursuant to Section 13.4(a) shall be given to the Record Holders of all Outstanding Units by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with SectionΒ 16.1. Notice of a special meeting called pursuant to SectionΒ 13.4(b) 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 SectionΒ 16.1.
Section 13.6Β Β Β Β Record Date.Β Β 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 SectionΒ 13.11, the Board of Directors shall set a Record Date, which shall not be less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60)Β days before (a)Β the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading or U.S. federal securities laws, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange or U.S. federal securities laws shall govern) or (b)Β in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which such Limited Partners are requested in writing by the Board of Directors to give such approvals.
Section 13.7Β Β Β Β Postponement and Adjournment.Β Β Prior to the date upon which any meeting of Limited Partners is to be held, the Board of Directors 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 (2) days before the date of such meeting and otherwise in accordance with this ArticleΒ XIII. When a meeting is postponed, a new Record Date need not be fixed unless the aggregate amount of such postponement shall be for more than forty-five
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(45)Β days after the original meeting date. Any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned by the Board of Directors (or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors) 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 vote of the Limited Partners shall be required for any adjournment. A meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned by the Board of Directors 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 forty-five (45)Β days. If the adjournment is for more than forty-five (45)Β 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 ArticleΒ XIII. At any adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 13.8Β Β Β Β Waiver of Notice of a Meeting.Β The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if they had occurred at a meeting duly held after call and notice in accordance with Section 13.4 and this Section 13.5, 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 13.9Β Β Β Β Quorum and Voting.
(a)Β Β Β Β (i) The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called and which are entitled to vote at such meeting (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) 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 different percentage of such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such different percentage. (ii) 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 (on all matters on which the holders of all Units vote together as a single class) or a majority of the Outstanding Units of each class entitled to vote at such meeting (on all matters on which the holders of each class of Units vote separately by class) shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners, unless a different percentage or class vote 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 with respect to the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting (on all matters on which the holders of all Units vote together as a single class) or a majority of the Outstanding Units of each class entitled to vote at such meeting (on all matters on which the holders of each
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class of Units vote separately by class) shall be required; provided, in each case, the vote of any such quorum shall be subject to the provisions of Section 13.13. (iii) 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 or class of Limited Partner Interests specified in this Agreement.
(b)Β Β Β Β If a quorum exists, a nominee for LP Elected Director shall be elected to the Board of Directors if, subject to Section 13.13, the votes cast for such nomineeβs election by Limited Partners present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter exceed the votes cast by such Limited Partners against such nomineeβs election; provided, however, that if the number of persons considered by the Limited Partners for election as LP Elected Directors exceeds the total number of LP Elected Directors to be elected, LP Elected Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast; provided, further, that all persons considered for election (other than those recommended for nomination by or at the direction of the Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership, the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof) shall have met all applicable requirements and procedures in being placed in nomination and considered for election, including the requirements set forth in this Agreement and in all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
(c)Β Β Β Β If a quorum exists, an LP Elected Director shall be removed from the Board of Directors if, subject to Section 13.13, the votes cast for such LP Elected Directorβs removal by the Limited Partners present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter exceeds the votes cast by such Limited Partners against such LP Elected Directorβs removal.
Section 13.10Β Β Β Β Conduct of a Meeting.Β Β The Board of Directors 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 SectionΒ 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 Board of Directors 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 Partnership. The Board of Directors 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 13.11Β Β Β Β Action Without a Meeting.Β Β If authorized by the Board of Directors, 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 (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) that, subject to Section 13.13, would be necessary to
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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 Board of Directors 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 twenty (20)Β days, specified by the Board of Directors. 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.
Section 13.12Β Β Β Β Right to Vote and Related Matters.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Only those Record Holders of the Outstanding Units on the Record Date set pursuant to SectionΒ 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the definition of βOutstandingβ) 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)Β Β Β Β With respect to Units that are held for a Personβs 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 or as otherwise permitted by the applicable rules and requirements of the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading, vote such Units in favor of, and in accordance with the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial owner of such Units, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume such Record Holder is so acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this SectionΒ 13.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of SectionΒ 4.3.
Section 13.13Β Β Β Β Reductions in Voting Power.
(a)Β Β Β Β Five Percent (5%) Voting Limitation. If any Person acquires or holds Limited Partner Interests in an amount that would result in such Personβs owning, controlling or holding, together with the members of any related Group, the power to vote five percent (5%) or more of the then Outstanding Limited Partner Interests entitled to vote in the election or removal of LP Elected Directors, then such Person, and any related Group (with the voting limitation set forth herein being applied to each member pro rata within such Group), shall be entitled to vote not more than five percent (5%) of such Outstanding Limited Partner Interests in the election or removal of LP Elected Directors, and the amount of Limited Partner Interests held by such Person and by any related Group in excess of five percent (5%) in voting power shall not be entitled to vote in the election or removal of LP Elected Directors.
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(b)Β Β Β Β Other Voting Limitations. If any Person acquires or holds Limited Partner Interests in an amount that would result in such Personβs owning, controlling or holding, together with the members of any related Group, the power to vote ten percent (10%) or more of the Limited Partner Interests present and actually voted on any matter (provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 13.13(b) shall be given effect after giving effect to Section 13.13(a)), then the voting power of such Person and any related Group (with the voting limitation set forth herein being applied to each member pro rata within such Group) shall be reduced as follows:
(i)Β Β Β Β If such Person is not the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, then such Person, together with any related Group, shall be entitled to vote not more than 9.99% of such Limited Partner Interests present and actually voted on any matter (including the election or removal of LP Elected Directors), and the amount of Limited Partner Interests held by such Person and by any related Group equaling ten percent (10%) or greater in voting power shall be voted proportionally with all other votes of holders of Limited Partner Interests on such matter.
(ii)Β Β Β Β If such Person is the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, then such Person, together with any related Group, shall be entitled to vote not more than 9.99% of such Limited Partner Interests present and actually voted in the election or removal of LP Elected Directors, and the amount of Limited Partner Interests held by such Person and by any related Group equaling ten percent (10%) or greater in voting power shall be voted proportionally in the election or removal of LP Elected Directors with all other votes of holders of Limited Partner Interests in the election or removal of LP Elected Directors; provided that this Section 13.13(b)(ii) shall not apply to voting rights on any matter other than the election or removal of LP Elected Directors.
(c)Β Β Β Β The incremental voting power voted proportionally pursuant to Section 13.13(b) shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (with fractional Units equal to or greater than 0.5 Unit being rounded to the next higher Unit).
Section 13.14Β Β Β Β Special Voting Units. Each of the Partners and each other Person who may acquire Partnership Interests agrees that the holders of Special Voting Units shall be entitled to receive notice of, be included in any requisite quora for and participate in any and all approvals, votes or other actions of the Partners on a pro rata basis as, and treating such Persons for all purposes as if they are, Limited Partners holding Common Units, including any and all notices, quora, approvals, votes and other actions that may be taken pursuant to the requirements of the Delaware Act or any other applicable law, rule or regulation, except as otherwise explicitly provided hereunder. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all Special Voting Units voting separately as a class shall be required to alter, amend or repeal this Section 13.14 or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith.
ARTICLE XIV
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION
Section 14.1Β Β Β Β Authority.Β Β The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate
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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, pursuant to a written plan of merger or consolidation (βMerger Agreementβ) or a written plan of conversion (βPlan of Conversionβ), as the case may be, in accordance with this ArticleΒ XIV.
Section 14.2Β Β Β Β Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to this ArticleΒ XIV requires the prior consent of the General Partner, which consent may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion, and approval of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner and the Board of Directors shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in declining to consent to a merger, consolidation or conversion, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner and Board of Directors, in determining whether to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership, shall be permitted to do so in their sole and absolute discretion.
(b)Β Β Β Β If the Board of Directors approves, and if the General Partner shall determine to consent to, the merger or consolidation, the Board of Directors shall authorize the officers of the Partnership to execute, deliver and perform the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:
(i)Β Β Β Β name and state of domicile of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;
(ii)Β Β Β Β the name and state of domicile of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the βSurviving Business Entityβ);
(iii)Β Β Β Β the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;
(iv)Β Β Β Β 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)Β 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)Β in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property
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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)Β Β Β Β 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)Β Β Β Β the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to SectionΒ 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and stated therein); and
(vii)Β Β Β Β such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(c)Β Β Β Β If the Board of Directors approves, and if the General Partner shall determine, in its sole discretion, to consent to, the conversion, the Board of Directors shall authorize the officers of the Partnership to execute, deliver and perform the Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:
(i)Β Β Β Β the name of the converting entity and the converted entity;
(ii)Β Β Β Β a statement that the Partnership is continuing its existence in the organizational form of the converted entity;
(iii)Β Β Β Β 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)Β Β Β Β 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)Β Β Β Β in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership;
(vi)Β Β Β Β in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership, articles of incorporation or other organizational documents of the converted entity;
(vii)Β Β Β Β the effective time of the conversion, which may be the date of the filing of the articles 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
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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 articles of conversion and stated therein); and
(viii)Β Β Β Β such other provisions with respect to the proposed conversion that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 14.3Β Β Β Β Approval by Limited Partners.Β Β Except as provided in SectionΒ 14.3(d), the Board of Directors, 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 ArticleΒ 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 RegulationΒ 14A pursuant to the Exchange Act or successor provision, no other disclosure regarding the proposed merger, consolidation or conversion shall be required.
(a)Β Β Β Β Except as provided in SectionΒ 14.3(d) and SectionΒ 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 (i) at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units and excluding all Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), voting as a separate class, and (ii) at least a majority of (A) the Outstanding Special Voting Units and (B) the Outstanding Common Units (including Series A Preferred Units, as provided in Section 5.8(b)(iii)(A), but excluding all Non-Voting Common Units) owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates, voting together as a single class, unless the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, effects an amendment to any provision of this Agreement that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement adopted pursuant to ArticleΒ 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.
(b)Β Β Β Β Except as provided in SectionΒ 14.3(d) and SectionΒ 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 SectionΒ 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.
(c)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything else contained in this ArticleΒ XIV or in this Agreement, the Partnership is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnershipβs 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)Β the Partnership 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
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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 Operating Partnership or the Operating Partnershipβs Subsidiaries 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)Β 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)Β the Board of Directors 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.
(d)Β Β Β Β Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this ArticleΒ XIV or in this Agreement, the Partnership is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another limited liability entity if (i)Β the Partnership 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 Operating Partnership or the Operating Partnershipβs Subsidiaries 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)Β the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to this Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to SectionΒ 13.1, (iii)Β the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (iv)Β 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)Β the number of Partnership Interests to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the Partnership Interests Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.
(e)Β Β Β Β Pursuant to SectionΒ 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this ArticleΒ XIV may (i)Β effect any amendment to this Agreement or (ii)Β 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 SectionΒ 14.3 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.
Section 14.4Β Β Β Β Certificate of Merger or Certificate of Conversion.Β Β Upon the required approval by the Board of Directors, 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.
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Section 14.5Β Β Β Β Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β At the effective time of the merger:
(i)Β Β Β Β 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)Β Β Β Β 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)Β Β Β Β 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)Β Β Β Β 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)Β Β Β Β At the effective time of the conversion:
(i)Β Β Β Β 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)Β Β Β Β all rights, title and interests to all real estate and other property owned by the Partnership shall continue to be owned by the converted entity in its new organizational form without reversion or impairment, without further act or deed, and without any transfer or assignment having occurred, but subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances thereon;
(iii)Β Β Β Β 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)Β Β Β Β 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)Β Β Β Β 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
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(vi)Β Β Β Β 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
PROXY ACCESS FOR DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS
Section 15.1Β Β Β Β General.Β Β Whenever the Board of Directors solicits proxies with respect to the election of LP Elected Directors at an annual meeting of Limited Partners, subject to the provisions of this Article XV, the Partnership shall include in its proxy statement for such annual meeting, in addition to any natural persons nominated for election as an LP Elected Director by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or the Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership, in accordance with Section 7.1(d)(iii), the name, together with the Required Information (as defined below), of any natural person nominated for election (a βLimited Partner Nomineeβ) to the Board of Directors as an LP Elected Director by an Eligible Limited Partner that expressly elects at the time of providing the notice required by this Article XV (the βNomination Noticeβ) to have its nominee included in the Partnershipβs proxy materials pursuant to this Article XV. Other than any Person included in the Partnershipβs proxy statement for election as an LP Elected Directors by Eligible Limited Partners in compliance with this Article XV, Limited Partners shall not have any right to nominate candidates for election as Directors.
Section 15.2Β Β Β Β Timely Notice.Β Β To be timely, a Limited Partnerβs Nomination Notice must be delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary of the Partnership at the principal executive offices of the Partnership not earlier than the opening of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to, and not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to, the first anniversary of the date on which the Partnershipβs proxy statement for the immediately preceding annual meeting of Limited Partners was made available; provided, however, that, with respect to the annual meeting of Limited Partners held in 2017, a Limited Partnerβs Nomination Notice must be delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary of the Partnership at the principal executive offices of the Partnership no later than September 22, 2017, and no earlier than August 23, 2017; provided, further, that, in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is more than thirty (30) days earlier or more than sixty (60) days later than such first anniversary date, to be timely the Nomination Notice must be so received on the later of the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the date of such annual meeting of Limited Partners or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Partnership. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the public announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Nomination Notice as described above. For purposes of this Section 15.2, βpublic announcementβ shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Xxxxx News Services, Associated Press or comparable national news service, or in a document publicly filed by the Partnership with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or posted on the Partnershipβs website.
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Section 15.3Β Β Β Β Number of Nominees.Β Β The total number of Limited Partner Nominees (including Limited Partner Nominees who were submitted by an Eligible Limited Partner for inclusion in the Partnershipβs proxy solicitation materials pursuant to this Article XV, but who are subsequently withdrawn or whom the Board of Directors decides to nominate as LP Elected Directors) eligible to appear in the Partnershipβs proxy materials with respect to an annual meeting of Limited Partners shall not exceed four (4); provided that no Eligible Limited Partner (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Group that collectively constitutes an Eligible Limited Partner in accordance with Section 15.5) shall be entitled to nominate more than two (2) LP Elected Directors. In the event that the number of Limited Partner Nominees submitted by all Eligible Limited Partners pursuant to this Article XV exceeds this maximum number, each Eligible Limited Partner will select one Limited Partner Nominee for inclusion in the Partnershipβs proxy materials until the maximum number is reached, choosing in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of Units each Eligible Limited Partner disclosed as owned in its respective Nomination Notice submitted to the Partnership and confirmed by the Partnership. If the maximum number is not reached after each Eligible Limited Partner has selected one Limited Partner Nominee, this selection process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the maximum number is reached. In the event that two or more Eligible Limited Partners disclose ownership of the same number of Units, such Eligible Limited Partners will choose in the order of receipt of their respective Nomination Notice by the Secretary of the Partnership.
Section 15.4Β Β Β Β Ownership Requirement for Eligibility to Make Nominations.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β For purposes of this Article XV, an Eligible Limited Partner shall be deemed to βownβ only those Outstanding Common Units (including Series A Conversion Units and Common Units that have been issued upon exchange or conversion of Special Voting Units or upon conversion of Non-Voting Common Units) as to which the Limited Partner possesses both (i) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the Common Units and (ii)Β the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such Common Units; provided that the number of Common Units calculated in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii) shall not include any Common Units (A) sold by such Limited Partner or any of its Affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, (B) borrowed by such Limited Partner or any of its Affiliates for any purposes or purchased by such Limited Partner or any of its Affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell or (C) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale or other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such Limited Partner or any of its Affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with Common Units or with cash based on the notional amount or value of Common Units, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, the purpose or effect of (1) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such Limited Partnerβs or any of its Affiliateβs full right to vote or direct the voting of any such Common Units or (2) hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree gain or loss arising from the full economic interest in such Common Units by such Limited Partner or Affiliate.
(b)Β Β Β Β A Limited Partner shall βownβ Units held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the Limited Partner retains the right to instruct how the Units are voted on all matters, including with respect to the election of LP Elected Directors and possesses the full economic interest in the Units. A personβs ownership of Units shall be deemed to
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continue during any period in which (i) the person has loaned such Units, provided that the person has the power to recall such loaned Units on five (5) business daysβ notice or (ii) the person has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the person. The terms βowned,β βowningβ and other variations of the word βownβ shall have correlative meanings. Whether Outstanding Units are βownedβ for these purposes shall be determined by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or an officer of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 15.11, which determination shall be conclusive and binding on the Partnership and its Limited Partners, any Limited Partner Nominee and any other person.
Section 15.5Β Β Β Β Ownership Amount and Period of Ownership.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β An Eligible Limited Partner must have owned (as ownership is defined above in Section 15.4) the Required Units continuously for the holding period set forth below that is opposite the year in which the applicable annual meeting is to be held, with the final date of such holding period ending as of a date that is at least seven (7) days prior to both (i) the date of the Nomination Notice and (ii) the Record Date for determining Limited Partners entitled to vote with respect to the election of LP Elected Directors at the annual meeting:
Annual Meeting of Limited Partners | Holding Period |
2019 | at least one (1) year; |
2020 | at least two (2) years; |
2021 and following | at least three (3) years. |
(b)Β Β Β Β For purposes of satisfying the foregoing ownership requirement under this Article XV, (i) the Common Units owned by one or more Limited Partners, or by the person or persons who own Common Units and on whose behalf any Limited Partner is acting, may be aggregated (provided that the number of Limited Partners and other persons whose ownership of Units may be aggregated for such purpose shall not exceed twenty (20)); (ii) a Group of funds under common management and investment control shall be treated as one Limited Partner or person for this purpose; and (iii) solely for purposes of satisfying the holding periods set forth in SectionΒ 15.5(a), (A) Series A Conversion Units shall be deemed to have been owned by such holder since the date on which such Series A Conversion Units were issued, (B) Common Units issued to a holder of Special Voting Units upon conversion or exchange of such Special Voting Units shall be deemed to have been owned by such holder since the date on which such holder first acquired such Special Voting Units so converted or exchanged, and (C)Β Common Units issued to a holder of Non-Voting Common Units upon conversion of such Non-Voting Common Units shall be deemed to have been owned by such holder since the date on which such holder first acquired such Non-Voting Common Units so converted. No person may be a member of more than one Group of persons constituting an Eligible Limited Partner under this Article XV, and each Group of persons constituting Eligible Limited Partners under this Article XV may not engage in the solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of another Group of persons constituting Eligible Limited Partners under this Article XV. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Group of
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Limited Partners aggregates ownership of Common Units in order to meet the requirements under this Article XV, all Common Units held by each Limited Partner constituting its contribution to the Required Units must be held by that Limited Partner continuously for at least the applicable period set forth in Section 15.5(a), and evidence satisfactory to the Partnership of such continuous ownership shall be provided.
(c)Β Β Β Β Within the time period specified in this Article XV for providing the Nomination Notice, an Eligible Limited Partner (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each Limited Partner that is a member of a Group that collectively constitutes an Eligible Limited Partner) must provide the following information in writing to the Secretary of the Partnership (in a form reasonably to be specified by the Secretary of the Partnership):
(i)Β Β Β Β one or more written statements from each Record Holder of the Common Units (and from each intermediary through which the Common Units are or have been held during the requisite holding period, as set forth in Section 15.5(a)) verifying that, as of a date within seven (7) days prior to the date of the Nomination Notice, the Eligible Limited Partner owns, and has owned continuously for the preceding requisite holding period, the Required Units, and the Eligible Limited Partnerβs agreement to provide, within five (5) business days after the Record Date for the annual meeting, written statements from the Record Holder and intermediaries verifying the Eligible Limited Partnerβs continuous ownership of the Required Units through the Record Date;
(ii)Β Β Β Β the written consent of each Limited Partner Nominee to being named in the proxy statement and proxy card as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected, together with the information and representations that would be required to be set forth in a Limited Partnerβs request pursuant to Section 13.4(b);
(iii)Β Β Β Β a copy of the Schedule 14N (or any successor form or schedule) that has been filed with the Commission as required by Rule 14a-18 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation);
(iv)Β Β Β Β a representation that the Eligible Limited Partner (including each member of any Group of holders of Units that together is an Eligible Limited Partner under this Article XV) (A) acquired the Required Units in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control of the Partnership, and does not presently have such intent, (B) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting any person other than the Limited Partner Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this Article XV, (C)Β has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not and will not be a βparticipantβ in another personβs, βsolicitationβ within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation), in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Limited Partner Nominee or a nominee of the Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership or the Board of Directors, (D) will not distribute to any Limited Partner any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Partnership and (E) in the case of a nomination by a Group of Limited Partners that together is an Eligible Limited Partner, the designation by all Group
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members of one Group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all such members with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including any withdrawal of the nomination; and
(v)Β Β Β Β an undertaking that the Eligible Limited Partner agrees to (A) own the Required Units through the date of the annual meeting, (B) assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Limited Partnerβs communications with the Limited Partners or out of the information that the Eligible Limited Partner provided to the Partnership, (C) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the General Partner, the Partnership and their respective directors, officers, Affiliates and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the General Partner, the Partnership and their respective directors, officers, Affiliates or employees arising out of the Statement or any nomination, solicitation or other activity by the Eligible Limited Partner in connection with its efforts to elect the Limited Partner Nominee pursuant to this ArticleΒ XV, (D) comply with all other laws and regulations applicable to any solicitation in connection with the annual meeting and (E) provide to the Partnership prior to the annual meeting such additional information as may be necessary or required with respect to (D) above.
Section 15.6Β Β Β Β Eligible Limited Partnerβs Statement; Partnershipβs Statement.Β Β The Eligible Limited Partner may provide to the Secretary of the Partnership, at the time the information required by this Article XV is provided, a Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article XV, the Partnership may omit from its proxy materials any information or Statement (or portion thereof) that it, in good faith, believes would violate any applicable law or regulation or be materially misleading or inappropriate. The Partnership may solicit against, and include in the Partnershipβs proxy statement or any other solicitation materials its own statement opposing or otherwise relating to, any Limited Partner Nominee.
Section 15.7Β Β Β Β Nominee Information and Representations.Β Β Within the time period specified in this Article XV for delivering the Nomination Notice, a Limited Partner Nominee must deliver to the Secretary of the Partnership, in a form reasonably to be specified by the Secretary of the Partnership, a written representation and agreement that the Limited Partner Nominee (a) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Partnership, will vote or otherwise act on any matter that has not been disclosed to the Partnership or any commitment that could interfere with the nomineeβs ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Partnership, with such personβs duties under applicable law and this Agreement, (b) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Partnership with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as an LP Elected Director that has not been disclosed to the Partnership, (c)Β will act as a representative of all of the Limited Partners while serving as an LP Elected Director, (d) will provide statements and other information in all communications with and by the Partnership that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and shall not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading and (e) will comply with all the
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Partnershipβs governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines, and any other Partnership policies and guidelines applicable to Directors, as well as any applicable law, rule or regulation or listing standards of the National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are listed. At the request of the Partnership, the Limited Partner Nominee must submit all completed and signed questionnaires required of the Partnershipβs Directors and officers. The Partnership may request such additional information as necessary to permit the Board of Directors, or a committee thereof or an officer of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 15.11, to determine if each Limited Partner Nominee is independent under the Applicable Independence Standards and otherwise meets the criteria for non-employee directors, as set forth in any applicable policies of the Partnership, which determination shall be conclusive and binding on the Partnership and its Limited Partners, any Limited Partner Nominee and any other person. If the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or an officer of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 15.11 determines that the Limited Partner Nominee is not independent under the Applicable Independence Standards or does not meet the criteria for non-employee directors, as set forth in the applicable policies of the Partnership, the Limited Partner Nominee will not be eligible for inclusion in the Partnershipβs proxy materials. In the event that any information or communication provided by an Eligible Limited Partner or a Limited Partner Nominee ceases to be true and correct in all material respects or omits a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, each Eligible Limited Partner or Limited Partner Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary of the Partnership of all defects in such previously provided information and of the information that is required to correct all such defects.
Section 15.8Β Β Β Β Disqualification of Limited Partner Nominees.Β Β The Partnership shall not be required to include, pursuant to this Article XV, any Limited Partner Nominee in its proxy materials for any annual meeting (a) if the Eligible Limited Partner who has nominated such Limited Partner Nominee has engaged in or is currently engaged in, or has been or is a βparticipantβ in another personβs, βsolicitationβ within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation), in support of the election of any individual as a director at the meeting other than its Limited Partner Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership or the Board of Directors, (b) who is not independent under the Applicable Independence Standards, as determined by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or an officer of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 15.11, which determination shall be conclusive and binding on the General Partner, the Partnership, the Limited Partners, any Limited Partner Nominee and any other person, (c) whose election as a member of the Board of Directors would cause the Partnership to be in violation of this Agreement, the listing standards of the National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are listed, or any applicable law, rule or regulation, (d) who is an employee or director of a competitor or significant (or potentially significant) customer, supplier, contractor, counselor or consultant, (e) who is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in such a criminal proceeding within the past ten (10) years, (f) who is subject to any order, judgment, decree or other disqualification of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation), (g) if such Limited Partner Nominee or the applicable Eligible Limited Partner shall have provided information to the Partnership with respect to such nomination that was untrue in any material respect or omitted to state a material fact necessary in
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order to make the statement made, in light of the circumstances under which it was made, not misleading, as determined by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or an officer of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 15.11, which determination shall be conclusive and binding on the Partnership and its Partners, any Limited Partner Nominee and any other person, (h) who is a director or officer of any public utility company or other entity regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or the Public Utilities Commission of Texas, (i)Β whose then-current business or personal interests place the Limited Partner Nominee in a conflict of interest with the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or (j) if the Eligible Limited Partner or applicable Limited Partner Nominee otherwise contravenes any of the agreements or representations made by such Eligible Limited Partner or Limited Partner Nominee or otherwise fails to comply with its obligations pursuant to this Article XV.
Section 15.9Β Β Β Β Effect of Breach of Agreements.Β Β Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Article XV, the Board of Directors, a committee thereof, an officer of the Partnership designated pursuant Section 15.11 or the person presiding at the meeting shall declare a nomination by an Eligible Limited Partner to be invalid, which determination shall be conclusive and binding on the General Partner, the Partnership, the Limited Partners, any Limited Partner Nominee and any other person, and such nomination shall be disregarded notwithstanding that proxies may have been received by the Partnership that cast votes βforβ the election of such Eligible Limited Partnerβs Limited Partner Nominee(s), if (a) the Limited Partner Nominee(s) or the applicable Eligible Limited Partner shall have breached his or its obligations, agreements or representations contemplated under this Article XV, as determined by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof, an officer of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 15.11 or the person presiding at the annual meeting of Limited Partners or (b) the Eligible Limited Partner (or a qualified representative thereof) does not appear at the annual meeting of Limited Partners to present any nomination pursuant to this Article XV.
Section 15.10Β Β Β Β Obligation to File Soliciting and Communication Materials.Β Β The Eligible Limited Partner (including any person who owns Common Units that constitute part of the Eligible Limited Partnerβs ownership for purposes of satisfying Section 15.5) shall file with the Commission any solicitation materials or other communication with the Partnershipβs Limited Partners relating to the annual meeting at which the Limited Partner Nominee will be nominated, regardless of whether (a) any filing of such materials or other communication is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (or any successor regulation) or (b) any exemption from filing is available for such materials or other communication under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (or any such successor rule or regulation).
Section 15.11Β Β Β Β Authority for Implementation.Β Β Any determination to be made with respect to the satisfaction of any term or condition of this Article XV, or the resolution of any dispute with respect thereto, shall be made by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or any officer designated by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, and any such determination or resolution shall be final and binding on the Partnership, any Eligible Limited Partner, any Limited Partner Nominee and any other Person so long as made in good faith (without any further requirements). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Board of Directors determines that the effect of the requirements set forth in Article XV with respect to a particular annual meeting of Limited Partners, or any other aspect of an annual meeting of Limited Partners, is such that it is reasonably likely that no two holders of Common Units acting
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individually (and no two separate Groups of such holders) could each qualify as an Eligible Limited Partner, then the Board of Directors shall waive or modify such requirements with respect to such annual meeting of Limited Partners to make it reasonably likely, as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith, that at least two holders of Common Units (or at least two Groups of such holders) could each qualify as an Eligible Limited Partner for the relevant annual meeting of Limited Partners. The person presiding at the annual meeting of Limited Partners, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall have the power and duty to determine whether a Limited Partner Nominee has been nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Article XV and, if not so nominated, shall direct and declare at the meeting that such Limited Partner Nominee shall not be considered for election as an LP Elected Director at the meeting.
ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 16.1Β Β Β Β Addresses and Notices; Written Communications.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner at the address described below. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interests at his address as shown in the Register, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Interests by reason of any assignment or otherwise. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this SectionΒ 16.1 executed by the Partnership, 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 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 Partnership at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to SectionΒ 2.3; provided that when a different notice address is provided herein, such notice shall be deemed given if received at such other address. The Partnership 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.
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(b)Β Β Β Β The terms βin writing,β βwritten communications,β βwritten noticeβ and words of similar import shall be deemed satisfied under this Agreement by use of e-mail and other forms of electronic communication.
(c)Β Β Β Β Further Action.Β Β 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 16.2Β Β Β Β Binding Effect.Β Β 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 16.3Β Β Β Β Integration.Β Β This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.
Section 16.4Β Β Β Β Creditors.Β Β None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.
Section 16.5Β Β Β Β Waiver.Β Β 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 16.6Β Β Β Β Third-Party Beneficiaries.Β Β Each Partner agrees that (a)Β 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)Β 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 16.7Β Β Β Β Counterparts.Β Β 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 SectionΒ 10.1(a) without execution hereof.
Section 16.8Β Β Β Β Applicable Law; Forum; Venue and Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury.Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β 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)Β Β Β Β 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):
110
(i)Β Β Β Β irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings (A)Β 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)Β brought in a derivative manner on behalf of the Partnership, (C)Β asserting a claim of breach of a duty (including a fiduciary duty) owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, or owed by the General Partner, to the Partnership or the Partners, (D)Β asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Act or (E)Β 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)Β Β Β Β irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding;
(iii)Β Β Β Β agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A)Β 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)Β such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or (C)Β the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper;
(iv)Β Β Β Β expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing such claim, suit, action or proceeding; and
(v)Β Β Β Β 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 clauseΒ (v) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
Section 16.9Β Β Β Β Invalidity of Provisions.Β Β 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, 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 any such provision or part shall be reformed so that it would be valid, legal and enforceable to the maximum extent possible.
Section 16.10Β Β Β Β Consent of Partners.Β Β Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative
111
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 16.11Β Β Β Β Facsimile and Email Signatures.Β Β The use of facsimile signatures and signatures delivered by email in portable document (.pdf) or similar format affixed in the name and on behalf of the Transfer Agent of the Partnership on certificates representing Common Units or Non-Voting Common Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.
Β
[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: | |
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS GP, INC. | |
INC. | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
EXHIBIT A
to the Fourth Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
No. | Common Units |
In accordance with SectionΒ 4.1 of the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of NextEra Energy Partners, LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the βPartnership Agreementβ), NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the βPartnershipβ), hereby certifies that Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β (the βHolderβ) is the registered owner of Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the βCommon Unitsβ) 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 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000. 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 NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT) WOULD (A)Β 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 OR (B)Β TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE. 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 OFFICE 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.
Exhibit A - 1
The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i)Β 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)Β 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)Β 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: | NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP | |||
By: | NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc. | |||
By: | ||||
By: |
Countersigned and Registered by:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
as Transfer Agent and Registrar
By: | |
Authorized Signature |
Exhibit 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:
Β
TEN COM-as tenants in common | UNIF GIFT TRANSFERS MIN ACT | |||
TEN ENT-as tenants by the entireties | Custodian | |||
(Cust) | (Minor) | |||
JT TEN-Β as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common |
Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
Exhibit A - 3
ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS OF
NEXTERA ENERGY 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) |
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Common Units representing limited partner interests evidenced by this Certificate, subject to the Partnership Agreement, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β as its attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution to transfer the same on the books of NextEra Energy Partners, LP.
Date:__________________ | NOTE: The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or change. | |
Β | (Signature) | |
Β | (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.Β RULEΒ 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.
Exhibit A - 4
EXHIBIT B
to the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of NextEra Energy Partners, LP
Certificate Evidencing Series A Preferred Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
No.___________________________________ | Series A Preferred Units___________________ |
In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of NextEra Energy Partners, LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the βPartnership Agreementβ), NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the βPartnershipβ), hereby certifies that _______________ (the βHolderβ) is the registered owner of Series A Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the βSeries A Preferred Unitsβ) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed, subject to certain restrictions. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Series A Preferred Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Series A Preferred 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 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.
THE SERIES A PREFERRED UNITS (ALSO REFERRED TO AS βTHIS SECURITYβ) HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THE SERIES A PREFERRED UNITS MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT IN EFFECT WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER AND, IN THE CASE OF A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION, NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OR SUCH OTHER DOCUMENTATION SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH TRANSACTION DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NEXTERA ENERGY 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 NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE; OR (C) VIOLATE THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS TO WHICH THE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 5.8 AND 4.7 OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OR SECTION 5.4 OF THE SERIES A PREFERRED UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT DATED JUNE 20, 2017. 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 OFFICE OF THE PARTNERSHIP.
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
Exhibit B - 1
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.
Exhibit B - 2
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: _____________________________ | NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP |
By:Β Β NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc., its | |
General Partner | |
By:Β Β ____________________________________ | |
By:Β Β _____________________________________ | |
Countersigned and Registered by: | |
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | |
as Transfer Agent and Registrar | |
By: | |
Authorized Signature |
[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 under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors Act (State) and not as tenants in common.
Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
Exhibit B - 3
ASSIGNMENT OF SERIES A PREFERRED UNITS OF
NEXTERA ENERGY 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) | |
_____________ Series A Preferred 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 NextEra Energy Partners, LP.
Date: | NOTE: The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or change. | |
(Signature) | ||
(Signature) |
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.
No transfer of the Series A Preferred Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Series A Preferred Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer.
Exhibit B - 4
EXHIBIT C
to the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of NextEra Energy Partners, LP
Restrictions on Transfer of Series A Preferred Units
THE SERIES A PREFERRED UNITS (ALSO REFERRED TO AS βTHIS SECURITYβ) HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THE SERIES A PREFERRED UNITS MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT IN EFFECT WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER AND, IN THE CASE OF A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION, NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OR SUCH OTHER DOCUMENTATION SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH TRANSACTION DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NEXTERA ENERGY 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 NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE; OR (C) VIOLATE THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS TO WHICH THE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 5.8 AND 4.7 OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OR SECTION 5.4 OF THE SERIES A PREFERRED UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT DATED JUNE 20, 2017. 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 OFFICE OF THE PARTNERSHIP.
Exhibit C - 1
EXHIBIT D
to the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of NextEra Energy Partners, LP
Certificate Evidencing Non-Voting Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
No.___________________________________ | Non-Voting Common Units ________________ |
In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of NextEra Energy Partners, LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the βPartnership Agreementβ), NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the βPartnershipβ), hereby certifies that _______________ (the βHolderβ) is the registered owner of Non-Voting Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the βNon-Voting Common Unitsβ) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed, subject to certain restrictions. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Non-Voting Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Non-Voting 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 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.
THE NON-VOTING COMMON UNITS (ALSO REFERRED TO AS βTHIS SECURITYβ) HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THE NON-VOTING COMMON UNITS MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT IN EFFECT WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER AND, IN THE CASE OF A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION, NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OR SUCH OTHER DOCUMENTATION SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH TRANSACTION DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NEXTERA ENERGY 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 NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE; OR (C)Β VIOLATE THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS TO WHICH THE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT PURSUANT TO SECTION 4.7 OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. 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 OFFICE OF THE PARTNERSHIP.
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
Exhibit D - 1
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.
Ex D-2
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: _____________________________ | NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP |
By: NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc., its | |
General Partner | |
By: ________________________________ | |
By: _________________________________ |
Countersigned and Registered by: Computershare Trust Company, X.X. xx Transfer Agent and Registrar |
By:Β ____________________________________________ |
Authorized Signature |
[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 under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors Act (State) and not as tenants in common.
Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
Ex D-3
ASSIGNMENT OF NON-VOTING COMMON UNITS OF
NEXTERA ENERGY 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) | |
_____________ Non-Voting 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 NextEra Energy Partners, LP. | ||
Date: | NOTE: The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or change. | |
(Signature) | ||
(Signature) |
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.
No transfer of the Non-Voting Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Non-Voting Common Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer.
Ex D-4
Exhibit C
Form of Registration Rights Agreement
[Attached]
FORM OF
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP,
KKR GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTORS III LP
AND
THE CLASS B PURCHASERS NAMED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
___________________________________________
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of [β’], 2019
___________________________________________
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
TABLE OF CONTENTS | ||
Page | ||
Article I DEFINITIONS | ||
Section 1.01 | Definitions | 1 |
Section 1.02 | Registrable Securities | 5 |
Article II REGISTRATION RIGHTS | ||
Section 2.01 | Shelf Registration | 6 |
Section 2.02 | Piggyback Registration | 7 |
Section 2.03 | Underwritten Offerings | 9 |
Section 2.04 | Further Obligations | 11 |
Section 2.05 | Cooperation by Holders | 16 |
Section 2.06 | Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities | 16 |
Section 2.07 | Expenses | 16 |
Section 2.08 | Indemnification | 17 |
Section 2.09 | Rule 144 Reporting | 19 |
Section 2.10 | Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights | 20 |
Section 2.11 | Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights | 20 |
Article III MISCELLANEOUS | ||
Section 3.01 | Communications | 20 |
Section 3.02 | Binding Effect | 21 |
Section 3.03 | Assignment of Rights | 21 |
Section 3.04 | Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting Units | 21 |
Section 3.05 | Aggregation of Registrable Securities | 22 |
Section 3.06 | Specific Performance | 22 |
Section 3.07 | Counterparts | 22 |
Section 3.08 | Governing Law, Submission to Jurisdiction | 22 |
Section 3.09 | Waiver of Jury Trial | 22 |
Section 3.10 | Entire Agreement | 23 |
Section 3.11 | Amendment | 23 |
Section 3.12 | No Presumption | 23 |
Section 3.13 | Obligations Limited to Parties to Agreement | 23 |
Section 3.14 | Interpretation | 24 |
Schedule A | Purchaser Name; Notice and Contact Information |
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of [β’], 2019 (this βAgreementβ), is entered into by and among NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the βPartnershipβ), KKR Global Infrastructure Investors III LP, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (βInvestorβ), and the Persons named on Schedule A hereto (each such Person, a βClass B Purchaserβ and, collectively, the βClass B Purchasersβ).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, this Agreement is made in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of [β’], 2019, by and among NEP Renewables II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the βCompanyβ), the Partnership, NEP Renewables Holdings II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the βNEP Memberβ), and the Class B Purchasers (the βPurchase Agreementβ); and
WHEREAS, the Partnership has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Class B Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01Β Β Β Β Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings in this Section 1.01:
βAffiliateβ 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 βcontrolβ (including, with correlative meanings, βcontrolled byβ and βunder common control withβ) 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. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, (a) the Partnership, on the one hand, and Investor or any Class B Purchaser, on the other, shall not be considered Affiliates; and (b) any fund or account managed, advised, or subadvised, directly or indirectly, by Investor or a Class B Purchaser or their respective Affiliates shall be considered an Affiliate of Investor or such Class B Purchaser.
βAgreementβ has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
βAverage VWAPβ per Common Unit over a certain period shall mean the arithmetic average of the VWAP per Common Unit for each Trading Day in such period.
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Β Β Β Β
βBusiness Dayβ means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, any federal legal holiday, or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or Florida are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.
βCall Optionβ means the Call Option as defined in the Company LLC Agreement.
βCall Option Purchase Priceβ means the Call Option Purchase Price as defined in the Company LLC Agreement.
βChange of Controlβ means (a) for any Holder that is a Class B Purchaser, a βChange of Control,β as defined in the Company LLC Agreement, as that term is applicable to a Class B Member; and, (b) for any other Holder, (i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly (including by merger, consolidation, or otherwise), of fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting equity of such Holder or any direct or indirect parent of such Holder (as measured by voting power rather than the number of shares or other equity units or interests) by a Person or group that is not an Affiliate of such Holder, (ii) any sale, lease, pledge, assignment, transfer, conveyance, or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of such Holder or any direct or indirect parent of such Holder, or (iii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of the right to elect half or more of the members of the board of directors or other governing body of such Holder by a Person or group that is not an Affiliate of such Holder.
βClass B Purchasersβ has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
βClass B Unitsβ means those limited liability company interests of the Company.
βCommissionβ means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
βCommon Unitsβ means the interests of limited partners in the Partnership having the rights and obligations specified with respect to βCommon Units,β as that term is used and defined in the Partnership Agreement.
βCompanyβ has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
βCompany LLC Agreementβ means that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of [β’], 2019, as may be amended, supplemented, or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
βDemand Noticeβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a).
βEffective Dateβ means the date of effectiveness of any Registration Statement.
βEffectiveness Periodβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a)(ii).
βExchange Actβ means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
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βGeneral Partnerβ means NextEra Energy Partners, GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as the general partner thereof, in their capacity as general partner of the Partnership.
βHolderβ means a record holder of any Registrable Securities.
βHolder Underwriterβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(q).
βHolder Underwriter Registration Statementβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(q).
βIncluded Registrable Securitiesβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).
βInvestorβ has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
βLossesβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.08(a).
βManaging Underwriterβ means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the book running lead manager of such Underwritten Offering.
βMaximum Numberβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).
βNational Securities Exchangeβ means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act (or any successor to such Section) and any other securities exchange (whether or not registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) (or successor to such Section) of the Exchange Act) that the Partnership shall designate as a National Securities Exchange for purposes of this Agreement.
βNEP Memberβ has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
βNon-Voting NEP Common Unitsβ means the non-voting common units of the Partnership that have the same economic rights as the Common Units but no voting rights on any matter whatsoever, shall not be listed on any National Securities Exchange, and are issuable upon exercise of the Call Option, the NEP Change of Control Option, or the Class B COC Option (as each such term is defined in the Company LLC Agreement) pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Company LLC Agreement and the Partnership Agreement.
βPartnershipβ has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
βPartnership Agreementβ means that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of NEP, dated as of [β’], 2019, by and among NextEra Energy Partners GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as the General Partner, and NextEra Energy Equity Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, together with the other partners that are parties thereto, as may be amended, supplemented, or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
βPersonβ means any individual, corporation, company, voluntary association, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, government (or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof), or any other form of entity.
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βPiggyback Noticeβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).
βPiggyback Opt-Out Noticeβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).
βPiggyback Registrationβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).
βPurchase Agreementβ has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
βRegistrable Securitiesβ means all Common Units issuable upon conversion of Non-Voting NEP Common Units pursuant to the Company LLC Agreement and the Partnership Agreement that are held by Class B Purchasers and any Specified Transferee, all of which Common Units shall be subject to the rights provided herein until such time as such securities cease to be Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 1.02 or cease to be held by a Class B Purchaser or any Specified Transferee.
βRegistrationβ means any registration pursuant to this Agreement, including pursuant to a Registration Statement or a Piggyback Registration.
βRegistration Expensesβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(a).
βRegistration Statementβ means a registration statement filed with the Commission by the Partnership registering Registrable Securities pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
βSecurities Actβ means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
βSelling Expensesβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(a).
βSelling Holderβ means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or any other registration statement filed with the Commission by the Partnership with respect to any Holder has rights pursuant to Section 2.02.
βSelling Holder Indemnified Personsβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.08(a).
βSpecified Transfereeβ has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
βTarget Effective Dateβ means the earlier to occur of the following: (a) the date on which the first Call Option Notice (as that term is defined in the Company LLC Agreement) is delivered by the NEP Member in accordance with Section 7.02 of the Company LLC Agreement and (b)Β thirty (30) days after the announcement of a Change of Control (as that term is defined in the Company LLC Agreement) with respect to a Class B Purchaser.
βTrading Dayβ means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such Common Units are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.
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βUnderwriterβ means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the underwriters of such Underwritten Offering.
βUnderwritten Offeringβ means an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Registration Statement) in which Common Units are sold to an Underwriter on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public for cash or an offering that is a βbought dealβ with one or more investment banks, in either case, in the sole discretion of the Partnership. For the avoidance of doubt, the term Underwritten Offering does not include at-the-market offerings.
βVWAPβ per Common Unit on any Trading Day shall mean the per Common Unit volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading βBloomberg VWAPβ on Bloomberg page βNEP <equity> AQRβ (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the closing price of one Common Unit on such Trading Day as reported on the New York Stock Exchangeβs website or the website of the National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are listed). If the VWAP cannot be calculated for the Common Units on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the VWAP of the Common Units on such date shall be the fair market value as determined in good faith by the Partnership in a commercially reasonable manner.
Section 1.02Β Β Β Β Registrable Securities. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, a Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security under this Agreement upon the earliest to occur of the following: (a) when a registration statement covering such Registrable Security becomes or has been declared effective by the Commission and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement, (b) when such Registrable Security has been disposed of (excluding transfers or assignments by a Holder to a Specified Transferee to whom the rights under this Agreement have been transferred pursuant to Section 2.10) pursuant to any transaction exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act, (c) when such Registrable Security is held by the Partnership or one of its Affiliates, and (d) when such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of in a private transaction in which the Holderβs rights under this Agreement are not assigned to a Specified Transferee of such securities pursuant to SectionΒ 2.10. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) the provisions of this Section 1.02 do not modify the transfer restrictions applicable to Holders under the Partnership Agreement and (ii) only a Holder that (A) is a named Class B Purchaser under the Purchase Agreement, (B) is an Affiliate of a named Class B Purchaser both (y) at the time any Registrable Securities are transferred to such Holder in compliance with the Purchase Agreement and the Partnership Agreement and (z)Β at the time of exercise of registration rights pursuant to Section 2.02 or Section 2.03, or (C)Β acquires Registrable Securities from a Holder specified in clause (A) or clause (B) above upon foreclosure of a pledge thereof under a Class B Permitted Loan Financing (as that term is defined in the Company LLC Agreement) shall have any registration rights under this Agreement.
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ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Section 2.01Β Β Β Β Shelf Registration.
(a)Β Β Β Β Shelf Registration Statements
(i)Β Β Β Β The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (A) prepare and file an initial Registration Statement to permit the public resale of the Registrable Securities on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act, or such other rule as is then applicable, at then prevailing prices and (B) cause such initial Registration Statement to become effective no later than the Target Effective Date.
(ii)Β Β Β Β The Partnership will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.01(a) (or any additional Registration Statement) to be continuously effective under the Securities Act, with respect to any Holder, until the earliest to occur of the following: (A) the date on which there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding and (B) the earlier to occur of (1) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (2) the third (3rd) anniversary of the date on which the Partnership shall have acquired, pursuant to one or more exercises of the Call Option or Class B COC Option (as each such term is defined in the Company LLC Agreement), or otherwise, all of the Class B Units (as such term is defined in the Company LLC Agreement) issued to the Class B Purchasers at the closing of the Purchase Agreement (the βEffectiveness Periodβ). A Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.01(a) shall be on such appropriate registration form of the Commission as shall be selected by the Partnership; provided that, if the Partnership is then eligible, it shall file such Registration Statement on Form S-3. A Registration Statement when declared effective (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) shall comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (and, in the case of any prospectus contained in such Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made). The plan of distribution indicated in the Registration Statement will include all such methods of sale as Investor may reasonably request in writing at least five Business Days prior to the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement and that can be included in the Shelf Registration Statement under the rules and regulations of the SEC. As soon as practicable following the date that a Registration Statement becomes effective, but in any event within three (3) Business Days of such date, the Partnership shall provide the Holders with written notice of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement.
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(b)Β Β Β Β Delay Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Partnership may, upon written notice to any Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement, suspend such Selling Holderβs use of any prospectus that is a part of such Registration Statement (in which event the Selling Holder shall suspend sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement) if (i)Β the Partnership is pursuing an acquisition, merger, reorganization, disposition, or other similar transaction and the Partnership determines in good faith that the Partnershipβs ability to pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially and adversely affected by any required disclosure of such transaction in such Registration Statement, (ii) the Partnership determines it must amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the related Prospectus so that such Registration Statement or Prospectus 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 (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (iii) the Partnership determines in good faith that it would be required to make disclosure of material information in the Registration Statement that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential, or (iv) the Partnership has experienced some other material non-public event, the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith determination of the Partnership, would materially and adversely affect the Partnership; provided, however, that in no event shall the Selling Holders be suspended from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement for a period that exceeds an aggregate of sixty (60) days in any 180-day period or ninety (90) days in any 365-day period. Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, the Partnership shall provide prompt notice to the Selling Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement, shall promptly terminate any suspension of the use of prospectus that is a part of such Registration Statement it has put into effect, and shall take such other actions necessary or appropriate to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated in this Agreement.
Section 2.02Β Β Β Β Piggyback Registration.
(a)Β Β Β Β Participation. If at any time (i) on or after January 1, 2023, and (ii)Β except in connection with the exercise of a demand registration pursuant to Section 2.03, prior to December 31, 2027, (x) the Partnership proposes to file a Registration Statement related to an Underwritten Offering or (y) prospectus supplement to an effective registration statement of the Partnership, including pursuant to Section 2.03, then the Partnership shall give not less than four (4) Business Daysβ notice (including notification by electronic mail) (the βPiggyback Noticeβ) of such proposed Underwritten Offering to Investor, and such Piggyback Notice shall offer Investor (on behalf of and as representative of each Holder) the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering a number of Registrable Securities (including the securities being registered pursuant to Section 2.03) (the βIncluded Registrable Securitiesβ); provided, however, that the aggregate amount of Registrable Securities that may be included in Underwritten Offerings pursuant to piggyback registration rights exercised in any twelve month period pursuant to this Section 2.02 shall not exceed one third of the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that is the sum of: (A) a number of Registrable Securities that would be outstanding if the NEP Member exercised its Call Option for all outstanding Class B Units in full on the date of the Piggyback Notice (assuming the Class B Purchasers requested pursuant to Section 7.02(b) of the Company LLC Agreement to receive Common Units with respect to such Call Option) equal
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to (x) the product of the Call Option Purchase Price with respect to all then outstanding Class B Units and (y) 0.70, divided by the Β 10-day VWAP average on the date of the Piggyback Notice and (B) the number of Registrable Securities that would be outstanding as of the date of the Piggyback Notice if all of the Non-Voting NEP Common Units issued on such date were converted on such date into Common Units, (or such larger number of Registrable Securities, to the extent consented to by the Partnership in its sole and absolute discretion) (the βMaximum Numberβ), as Investor may request in writing (a βPiggyback Registrationβ); provided further that the Partnership shall not be required to offer such opportunity (A) if Investor (on behalf of all Holders) does not request registration of a minimum of $50 million of Registrable Securities in the aggregate (determined by multiplying the number of Included Registrable Securities owned by the Average VWAP for the ten (10) Trading Days preceding the date of such Piggyback Notice) or (B) if the Partnership has been advised by the Managing Underwriter that the inclusion of Registrable Securities for sale for the benefit of the Class B Purchasers and the other Holders will have a materially adverse effect on the price, timing, or distribution of the Common Units in such Underwritten Offering, in which case the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the accounts of the Class B Purchasers and the other Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.02(b). Each Piggyback Notice shall be provided to Investor on a Business Day pursuant to Section 3.01, and receipt of such notice shall be confirmed and kept confidential by the Class B Purchasers and the other Holders (and neither the Class B Purchasers nor any other Holder receiving such notice shall purchase or sell Common Units) (provided that any Holder may provide such notice to its personnel, advisors, and other representatives on a confidential basis) until either (x)Β such proposed Underwritten Offering has been publicly announced by the Partnership or (y) Investor has received notice from the Partnership that such proposed Underwritten Offering has been abandoned, which the Partnership shall provide to Investor reasonably promptly after the final decision to abandon a proposed Underwritten Offering has been made. Investor will have two (2)Β Business Days (or one (1) Business Day in connection with any overnight or bought Underwritten Offering) after such Piggyback Notice has been delivered to request in writing (on behalf of all Holders) that the Partnership include a number of Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering up to the Maximum Number. If no request for inclusion from Investor is received by the Partnership within the specified time, neither Investor nor any Holder shall have any further right to participate in such Underwritten Offering. If, at any time after giving written notice of the Partnershipβs intention to undertake an Underwritten Offering and prior to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering, such Underwritten Offering is terminated or delayed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, the Partnership shall give written notice of such determination to Investor (on behalf of all Holders), and (1)Β in the case of a termination of such Underwritten Offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to sell any Included Registrable Securities in connection with such terminated Underwritten Offering, and (2)Β in the case of a determination to delay such Underwritten Offering, shall be permitted to delay offering any Included Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in the Underwritten Offering. Investor (on behalf of any Selling Holder) shall have the right to withdraw its request for inclusion of such Registrable Securities, in whole or in part (subject to the other provisions of this Agreement), in such Underwritten Offering by giving written notice to the Partnership of such withdrawal at least two (2) Business Days prior to the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering. Investor may deliver written notice (a βPiggyback Opt-Out Noticeβ) to the Partnership requesting that Investor (on behalf of all Holders) not receive notice from the Partnership of any proposed Underwritten
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Offering; provided, however, that Investor may later revoke any such Piggyback Opt-Out Notice in writing. Following receipt of a Piggyback Opt-Out Notice (unless subsequently revoked), the Partnership shall not be required to deliver any notice to Investor or any Holder pursuant to this SectionΒ 2.02(a), and the Holders shall no longer be entitled to participate in Underwritten Offerings pursuant to this Section 2.02(a), unless such Piggyback Opt-Out Notice is subsequently revoked by Investor. Investor shall have the right (on behalf of all Holders) to exercise the piggyback registration rights set forth in this Section 2.02 up to four (4) times, but not more frequently than once in any six-month period; provided, however, that if the number of Included Registrable Securities included in the Underwritten Offering is reduced by fifty percent (50%) or more, Investor (on behalf of all Holders) will have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering by delivering written notice to the Partnership at least two (2) Business Days prior to the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering, and such exercise of piggyback registration rights will not decrease the number of piggyback registration rights that Investor shall have the right to request under this Section 2.02(a).
(b)Β Β Β Β Priority of Piggyback Registration. If the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering advise the Partnership that the total amount of Registrable Securities that Holders intend to include in such offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units offered or the market for the Common Units, then the Partnership shall include the number of Common Units that such Managing Underwriter or Underwriters advise the Partnership can be sold without having such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated (i) first, to the Common Units proposed to be included in such Underwritten Offering prior to the delivery by the Partnership of the Piggyback Notice hereunder, unless such Underwritten Offering is undertaken pursuant to the exercise of a Holderβs rights under Section 2.03 below, in which case the allocation between all participating Holders shall be determined as if all such Holders were exercising piggyback registration rights in the following clause, and (ii) second, pro rata among the Persons who are exercising piggyback registration rights related to such Underwritten Offering (based, for each such Holder, on the percentage derived by dividing (x) the number of Common Units proposed to be sold by such Holder in such Underwritten Offering by (y) the aggregate number of Common Units proposed to be sold by all Holders and by any other Persons exercising pari passu piggyback registration rights in such Underwritten Offering).
Section 2.03Β Β Β Β Underwritten Offerings.
(a)Β Β Β Β Demand Rights. At any time on or after January 1, 2025, and prior to December 31, 2031, Investor (on behalf of any Holder) shall have the right to dispose of Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering if Investor reasonably expects (for any Holder) (i)Β gross proceeds of at least $100 million from such Underwritten Offering or (ii) gross proceeds of at least $50Β million from such Underwritten Offering and such Registrable Securities represent one hundred percent (100%) of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities held by any applicable Selling Holder. Investor (on behalf of any Holder) shall exercise any such demand registration right by delivering a written notice (a βDemand Noticeβ) to the Partnership specifying that (x) it is exercising a demand registration right, (y) the name of each Selling Holder, and (z) the amount of Registrable Securities to be included in the Underwritten Offering. Promptly upon receipt of the written notice, the
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Partnership shall enter into an underwriting agreement in a form that is customary in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Partnership with the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters selected by the Partnership, which shall include, among other provisions, indemnities to the effect and to the extent provided in Section 2.08, and shall take all such other reasonable actions as are requested by the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that Investor shall have the right (on behalf of all Holders) to exercise the demand registration rights set forth in this Section 2.03 not more than four (4) times (and not more frequently than once in any six-month period), and only in the event that either the Partnership has not conducted an Underwritten Offering of Common Units in the preceding six-month period in which Investor (on behalf of the Holders) was eligible to exercise piggyback registration rights pursuant to Section 2.02 or, if the Partnership has conducted such an Underwritten Offering, Investor (on behalf of all Holders) has been reduced in the amount of Registerable Securities included in such offering pursuant to Section 2.02(b) by twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Included Registrable Securities; provided, further, that the aggregate amount of Registerable Securities that may be included in Underwritten Offerings pursuant to demand registration rights exercised in any twelve month period pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall not exceed one third of the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that would be outstanding as of the date of delivery of a Demand Notice if all of the Non-Voting NEP Common Units issued on such date were converted on such date into Common Units (or such larger number of Registrable Securities to the extent consented to by the Partnership in its sole and absolute discretion); provided, further, that if the Partnership or any of its Affiliates (A) is conducting or actively pursuing a merger, acquisition, or disposition transaction with a third party, (B) is conducting or actively pursuing a securities offering of the Partnershipβs Common Units with anticipated gross offering proceeds of at least $100 million (other than in connection with any at-the-market offering or similar continuous offering program), or (C) is in possession of material nonpublic information affecting the Common Units that the Partnership has determined, in good faith in the best interests of the Partnership, should not be publicly disclosed at that time, then the Partnership may suspend Investorβs right to require the Partnership to conduct an Underwritten Offering on such Selling Holderβs behalf pursuant to this Section 2.03; provided, however, that the Partnership may only suspend such demand registration right to require the Partnership to conduct an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.03 once in any six-month period and in no event for a period that exceeds an aggregate of ninety (90) days in any 180-day period or one hundred twenty (120) days in any 365-day period.
(b)Β Β Β Β General Procedures. In connection with any Underwritten Offering contemplated by Section 2.02 or Section 2.03(a), the underwriting agreement into which each Selling Holder and the Partnership shall enter shall contain such representations, covenants, indemnities (subject to Section 2.08), and other rights and obligations as are customary in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Partnership. No Selling Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Partnership or the Underwriters, other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holderβs authority to enter into such underwriting agreement and to sell Registerable Securities pursuant thereto, its ownership of the securities being registered on its behalf, its intended method of distribution, and any other representation regarding matters required by law. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the terms of each Underwritten Offering shall be approved or disapproved in the sole reasonable discretion of the Partnership; provided, however,
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that, in an Underwritten Offering undertaken pursuant to this Section 2.03, underwriting discounts and commissions shall be approved by Investor; provided, further, that the Partnership and Investor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate and coordinate relating to the terms of an Underwritten Offering, including indicative pricing ranges, at all times following the time a notice of exercise a demand registration right is given pursuant to this Section 2.03. If any Selling Holder disapproves of the terms of an Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Section 2.03, Investor may (on behalf of such Selling Holder) withdraw such Selling Holderβs Registerable Securities from such Underwritten Offering by written notice to the Partnership and the Managing Underwriter; provided, however, that, to be effective, such withdrawal must be made at least two (2) Business Days prior to the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering; provided, further, that, in the event the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering advise the Partnership that the total amount of Common Units that Holders intend to include in such offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have a materially adverse effect on the price, timing, or distribution of the Registrable Securities offered or the market for the Common Units, and the amount of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.03(a) is reduced in accordance with Section 2.02(b) by fifty percent (50%) or more, Investor (on behalf of the Holders) will have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering by delivering written notice to the Partnership at least two (2) Business Days prior to the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering, in which case the Partnership will have no obligation to proceed with such Underwritten Offering and such Underwritten Offering, whether or not completed, will not decrease the number of Underwritten Offerings that Investor shall have the right to request under this Section 2.03. Notwithstanding the ability of Investor (on behalf of any Holder) to withdraw Registrable Securities from an Underwritten Offering, the exercise of piggyback registration rights or demand registration rights under this Agreement shall be irrevocable, and, except as otherwise specifically provided above, shall decrease the number of Underwritten Offerings that Investor (on behalf of itself and the other Holders) shall have the right to request under Section 2.02 and Section 2.03.
Section 2.04Β Β Β Β Further Obligations. In connection with its obligations under this ArticleΒ II, the Partnership will:
(a)Β Β Β Β promptly prepare and file with the Commission the Registration Statements and such amendments and supplements to any Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the period of the Underwritten Offering and as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement;
(b)Β Β Β Β if a prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an Underwritten Offering under a Registration Statement and the Managing Underwriter at any time shall notify the Partnership in writing that, in the sole judgment of such Managing Underwriter, inclusion of detailed information to be used in such prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success of such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include such information in such prospectus supplement;
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(c)Β Β Β Β furnish to Investor (on behalf of each Selling Holder) (i)Β as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing a Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any supplement or amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the Commission), and provide Investor the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to Investor and such Selling Holder and the plan of distribution that is contained therein and, to the extent timely received, make the corrections reasonably requested with respect to such information prior to filing such Registration Statement or such other registration statement and the prospectus included therein or any supplement or amendment thereto, and (ii)Β such number of copies of such Registration Statement or such other registration statement and the prospectus included therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Selling Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the resale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or other registration statement;
(d)Β Β Β Β if applicable, use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by any Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Holders or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, the Managing Underwriter, shall reasonably request; provided, however, that the Partnership will not be required to qualify generally to transact business in any jurisdiction in which it is not then required to so qualify or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction in which it is not then so subject;
(e)Β Β Β Β promptly notify Investor (on behalf of each Selling Holder), at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered by any such Selling Holder under the Securities Act, of (i) the filing of a Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any other registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; and (ii) the receipt of any written comments from the Commission with respect to any filing referred to in clause (i) and any written request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or any other registration statement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereto;
(f)Β Β Β Β promptly notify Investor (on behalf of each Selling Holder), at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered by any such Selling Holder under the Securities Act, of (i) the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in a Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made); (ii)Β the issuance or express threat of issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; or (iii) the receipt by the Partnership of any notification with
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respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction. Following the provision of such notice, the Partnership agrees 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 action as is reasonably necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof, or proceedings related thereto;
(g)Β Β Β Β upon request and subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations, furnish to Investor (on behalf of each Selling Holder) copies of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence with the Commission or any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to such offering of Registrable Securities;
(h)Β Β Β Β in the case of an Underwritten Offering, furnish, or use its reasonable efforts to cause to be furnished, upon request, (i) an opinion of counsel for the Partnership addressed to the Underwriters, dated the date of the closing under the applicable underwriting agreement and (ii) a βcomfort letterβ addressed to the Underwriters, dated the pricing date of such Underwritten Offering and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the applicable underwriting agreement, in each case, signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Partnershipβs financial statements included or incorporated by reference into the applicable registration statement, and each of the opinion and the βcomfort letterβ shall be in customary form and covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus and any prospectus supplement) as have been customarily covered in opinions of issuerβs counsel and in accountantsβ letters delivered to the Underwriters in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Partnership and such other matters as such Underwriters may reasonably request;
(i)Β Β Β Β otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission;
(j)Β Β Β Β make available to the appropriate representatives of the Managing Underwriter during normal business hours access to such information and Partnership personnel as is reasonable and customary to enable such parties to establish a due diligence defense under the Securities Act; provided, however, that the Partnership need not disclose any non-public information to any such representative unless and until such representative has entered into a confidentiality agreement with the Partnership;
(k)Β Β Β Β use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement to be listed on each securities exchange or nationally recognized quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Partnership are then listed;
(l)Β Β Β Β use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities
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as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Partnership to enable the Selling Holders to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(m)Β Β Β Β provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by any Registration Statement not later than the Effective Date of such Registration Statement;
(n)Β Β Β Β enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by Investor (on behalf of each Selling Holder) or the Underwriters, if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities (including making appropriate representatives of the Partnership available to participate in customary marketing activities); provided, however, that representatives of the Partnership shall not be required to dedicate an unreasonably burdensome amount of time in connection with any roadshow and related marketing activities for any Underwritten Offering which, in any event, shall be commensurate with the amount of time customarily dedicated in similar Underwritten Offerings undertaken by the Partnership and its Affiliates;
(o)Β Β Β Β if reasonably requested by Investor (on behalf of any Selling Holder), (i) incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as Investor reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; and (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(p)Β Β Β Β if reasonably required by the Partnershipβs transfer agent, the Partnership shall promptly deliver any authorizations, certificates, and directions required by the transfer agent which authorize and direct the transfer agent to transfer Registrable Securities without legend upon sale by the Holder of such Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement; and
(q)Β Β Β Β if any Holder could reasonably be deemed to be an βunderwriter,β as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act (a βHolder Underwriterβ), in connection with a Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereof (a βHolder Underwriter Registration Statementβ), then the Partnership will reasonably cooperate with Investor (on behalf of such Holder Underwriter) in allowing Investor (on behalf of such Holder Underwriter) to conduct customary βunderwriterβs due diligenceβ with respect to the Partnership and satisfy its obligations in respect thereof; provided, however, that the Partnership need not disclose any non-public information to any representative of Investor unless and until Investor and its representatives have entered into a confidentiality agreement with the Partnership. In addition, at the request of Investor (on behalf of such Holder Underwriter), the Partnership will furnish to Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of the Holder Underwriter Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as Investor may reasonably request (provided that such request shall not be more frequently than on a semi-annual basis), (i) a βcomfort letter,β dated such date, from the Partnershipβs independent certified public accountants in form and substance as has been customarily given by independent certified public accountants to
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underwriters in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Partnership, (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Partnership for purposes of the Holder Underwriter Registration Statement, in form, scope, and substance as has been customarily given in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Partnership, accompanied by standard β10b-5β negative assurance for such offerings, and (iii) a standard officerβs certificate from the chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or other Persons serving such functions, as has been customarily given by such officers in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Partnership. The Partnership will also use its reasonable efforts to provide legal counsel to Investor with an opportunity to review and comment upon any such Holder Underwriter Registration Statement, and any amendments and supplements thereto, prior to its filing with the Commission.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.04, the Partnership will not name a Holder as an underwriter (as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act) in any Registration Statement or Holder Underwriter Registration Statement, as applicable, without such Holderβs consent. If the staff of the Commission requires the Partnership to name any Holder as an underwriter (as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act), and such Holder does not consent thereto, then such Holderβs Registrable Securities shall not be included on the applicable Registration Statement, and the Partnership shall have no further obligations hereunder with respect to Registrable Securities held by such Holder, unless Investor (on behalf of each Selling Holder) has not had an opportunity to conduct customary underwriterβs due diligence as set forth in Section 2.04(q) with respect to the Partnership at the time such Holderβs consent is sought.
Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from the Partnership or from Investor of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.04(f), shall forthwith discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities by means of a prospectus or prospectus supplement until such Selling Holderβs receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 2.04(f) 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, and, if so directed by the Partnership, such Selling Holder will, or will request that the Managing Underwriter or Managing Underwriters, if any, deliver to the Partnership (at the Partnershipβs expense) all copies in its or their possession or control, other than permanent file copies then in such Selling Holderβs possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
Section 2.05Β Β Β Β Cooperation by Holders. The Partnership shall have no obligation to include Registrable Securities of a Holder in a Registration Statement or in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.03(a) if Investor or such Holder has failed to timely furnish such information that the Partnership reasonably determines, after consultation with its counsel, is required in order for any registration statement or prospectus supplement, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act.
Section 2.06Β Β Β Β Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each Holder of Registrable Securities who is participating in an Underwritten Offering agrees to enter into a customary letter agreement (each, a βLockupβ) with underwriters providing that such Holder will not effect any public sale or distribution of a Common Unit during the forty-five (45) calendar day period beginning on the date of a prospectus or prospectus supplement filed with
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the Commission with respect to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i)Β the duration of the foregoing restrictions shall be no longer than the duration of the shortest restriction imposed by the Underwriters on the Partnership or the officers, directors, or any other Affiliate of the Partnership on whom a restriction is imposed, (ii) the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.06 shall not apply to any Registrable Securities that are included in such Underwritten Offering by such Holder, and (iii) the Partnership will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that each Lockup shall include customary carve-outs, including carve-outs for the pledge, hypothecation, or other granting of a security interest in Common Units or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Units as collateral or security for any loan, advance or extension of credit and any transfer upon foreclosure upon such Common Units or such securities.
Section 2.07Β Β Β Β Expenses.
(a)Β Β Β Β Certain Definitions. βRegistration Expensesβ shall not include Selling Expenses but otherwise means all expenses incurred by the Partnership incident to the Partnershipβs performance under or compliance with this Agreement to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.01, or effect a Piggyback Registration pursuant to SectionΒ 2.02, or an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.03, and the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including all registration, filing, securities exchange listing and National Securities Exchange fees, all registration, filing, qualification and other fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, fees of transfer agents and registrars, all word processing, duplicating, and printing expenses, and the fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for the Partnership, including the expenses of any special audits or βcold comfortβ letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance. βSelling Expensesβ means all underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions and transfer taxes allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities, plus any costs or expenses related to any roadshows conducted in connection with the marketing of any Underwritten Offering.
(b)Β Β Β Β Expenses. The Partnership will pay all reasonable, documented Registration Expenses, as determined in good faith, in connection with a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.01(a) and any Piggyback Registration or an Underwritten Offering, whether or not any sale is made pursuant to such Piggyback Registration or Underwritten Offering. Each Selling Holder shall pay its pro rata share of all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of its Registrable Securities hereunder. In addition, the Partnership shall not be responsible for the fees and expenses incurred by Investor or any Holder, including professional fees (including legal fees) incurred in connection with the exercise of Investorβs or such Holderβs rights hereunder.
Section 2.08Β Β Β Β Indemnification.
(a)Β Β Β Β By the Partnership. In the event of a Registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, the Partnership will indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder thereunder, its directors, officers, managers, partners, employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls such Selling Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, managers,
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partners, employees or agents (collectively, the βSelling Holder Indemnified Personsβ), against any losses, claims, damages, expenses, or liabilities (including reasonable attorneysβ fees and expenses) (collectively, βLossesβ), joint or several, to which such Selling Holder Indemnified Person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact (in the case of any prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which such statement is made) contained in (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes documents incorporated by reference in) the applicable Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement, or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or any free writing prospectus relating thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and will reimburse each such Selling Holder Indemnified Person for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by such Selling Holder Indemnified Person in connection with investigating, defending, or resolving any such Loss or actions or proceedings; provided, however, that the Partnership will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished to it by Investor or such Selling Holder Indemnified Person in writing specifically for use in the applicable Registration Statement or other registration statement or prospectus supplement, as applicable. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Selling Holder Indemnified Person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Selling Holder.
(b)Β Β Β Β By Each Selling Holder. Each Selling Holder severally and not jointly (other than the Selling Holders that are Class B Purchasers, whose obligations will be joint and several) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership, the General Partner, and their respective directors, officers, employees, and agents and each Person who, directly or indirectly, controls the Partnership within the meaning of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act 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 or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement, or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any free writing prospectus relating thereto; provided, however, that the liability of each Selling Holder (other than the Selling Holders that are Class B Purchasers, whose obligations will be joint and several) shall not be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of any Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holders from the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.
(c)Β Β Β Β Notice. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party other than under this Section 2.08(c), except to
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the extent that the indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by such failure. In any action brought against any indemnified party, it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 2.08 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof, other than reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel so selected; provided, however, that, (i) if the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or (ii) if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and counsel to the indemnified party shall have concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, then the indemnified party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defense and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the reasonable expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other reasonable expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no indemnifying party shall settle any action brought against any indemnified party with respect to which such indemnified party may be entitled to indemnification hereunder without the consent of the indemnified party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, includes a complete and unconditional release from liability of, and does not contain any admission of wrongdoing by, the indemnified party.
(d)Β Β Β Β Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.08 is held by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to any indemnified party or is insufficient to hold such indemnified party harmless in respect of any Losses, then each such indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and of the indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that the liability of each Selling Holder (other than the Selling Holders that are Class B Purchasers, whose liability shall be joint and several) shall not be greater than the maximum amount for which such Selling Holder could have been liable under the proviso contained in Section 2.08(b). The relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and the indemnified party, on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact has been made by, or relates to, information supplied by such party, and the partiesβ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include any legal and
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other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, defending, or resolving any Loss that is the subject of this paragraph. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e)Β Β Β Β Other Indemnification. The provisions of this Section 2.08 shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that an indemnified party may have pursuant to law, equity, contract, or otherwise.
Section 2.09Β Β Β Β Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may permit the resale of the Registrable Securities without registration, the Partnership agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to:
(a)Β Β Β Β make and keep public information regarding the Partnership available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision then in effect), at all times from and after the date hereof until no Holder owns Registrable Securities;
(b)Β Β Β Β file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Partnership under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date hereof until no Holder owns Registrable Securities; and
(c)Β Β Β Β so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish (i) to the extent accurate, forthwith upon request, a written statement of the Partnership that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision then in effect) and (ii) unless otherwise available via the Commissionβs XXXXX filing system, to such Holder forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Partnership, and such other reports and documents so filed as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration.
Section 2.10Β Β Β Β Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause the Partnership to register Registrable Securities under this Article II may be transferred or assigned by a Holder only if (a) such transferee or assignee is an Affiliate of such Holder, and after such transfer or assignment continues to be, an Affiliate of such Holder, or such transferee acquires Registrable Securities from a Class B Purchaser or an Affiliate of a Class B Purchaser upon foreclosure of a pledge thereof under a Class B Permitted Loan Financing (as that term is defined in the Company LLC Agreement) (each of the transferees and assignees specified in this clause (a), a βSpecified Transfereeβ), (b) the amount of Registrable Securities transferred or assigned to such transferee or assignee shall represent at least $50 million of Registrable Securities (determined by multiplying the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be transferred by the Average VWAP for the ten (10) Trading Days preceding the date of such transfer or assignment), or such lesser amount if it constitutes the remaining holdings of the Holder and its Affiliates, (c) the Partnership is given written notice prior to any such transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each such transferee or assignee and identifying the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (d)
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with respect to such Holder, a Change of Control has not occurred, and (e) each such transferee or assignee assumes in writing responsibility for its portion of the obligations of such transferring Holder under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Investor may not transfer any of its rights to give or receive notices, including in respect of the exercise of piggyback or demand registration rights hereunder, on behalf of itself or any Holder without the express written consent of the Partnership. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Investor may continue to give or receive notices and exercise piggyback or demand registration rights hereunder on behalf of all Holders regardless of whether Investor owns Registrable
Section 2.11Β Β Β Β Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date hereof, the Partnership shall not, without the prior written consent of Investor (on behalf of itself and each Selling Holder), enter into any agreement with any current or future holder of any securities of the Partnership that would allow directly or indirectly such current or future holder to require the Partnership to include securities in any registration statement filed by the Partnership on a basis other than pari passu with, or expressly subordinate to, the piggyback rights of the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder. For purposes of this Agreement, the term βpari passuβ shall mean only the right to include Common Units in an Underwritten Offering subject to customary cutback provisions, such as contained Section 2.02(b), and shall not refer to any other term of this Agreement or any other agreement or instrument pursuant to which registration rights are granted.
ARTICLE III
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.01Β Β Β Β Communications. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, telecopy or facsimile, air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery, personal delivery, or (in the case of any notice given by the Partnership to Investor or any Class B Purchaser or any other Holder) email to the following addresses:
(a)Β Β Β Β If to Investor or the Class B Purchasers, to the addresses set forth on ScheduleΒ A.
(b)Β Β Β Β If to the Partnership:
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
e-mail: Xxxxxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
with a copy to:
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Skadden, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
000 X. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Land
e-mail: Xxxxxxx.Xxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
or to such other address as the Partnership, Investor, any Class B Purchaser, or any other Holder may designate to each other in writing from time to time or, if to a transferee or assignee of any Class B Purchaser or any transferee or assignee thereof, to such transferee or assignee at the address provided pursuant to Section 2.10. All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; upon actual receipt if sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, or regular mail, if mailed; upon actual receipt of the facsimile or email copy, if sent via facsimile or email; and upon actual receipt when delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Section 3.02Β Β Β Β Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Partnership, Investor, each of the Class B Purchasers, and their respective successors and permitted assigns, including subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities to the extent permitted herein. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any right or benefit upon any Person other than the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 3.03Β Β Β Β Assignment of Rights. Except as provided in Section 2.10, neither Investor, the Class B Purchasers, nor any other Holder may assign or transfer this Agreement or any of the rights, benefits, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Partnership.
Section 3.04Β Β Β Β Recapitalization, Exchanges, etc. Affecting Units. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any and all units of the Partnership or any successor or assign of the Partnership (whether by merger, acquisition, consolidation, reorganization, sale of assets, or otherwise) that may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Registrable Securities, and shall be appropriately adjusted for combinations, unit splits, recapitalizations, pro rata distributions of units, and the like occurring after the date of this Agreement.
Section 3.05Β Β Β Β Aggregation of Registrable Securities. All Registrable Securities held or acquired by Persons who are Affiliates of one another shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement.
Section 3.06Β Β Β Β Specific Performance. Damages in the event of breach of this Agreement by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that each such Person, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to seek an injunction or
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other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any such Person from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity that such Person may have.
Section 3.07Β Β Β Β Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same agreement.
Section 3.08Β Β Β Β Governing Law, Submission to Jurisdiction. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract or tort) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution, or performance of this Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement), will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. Any action against any party relating to the foregoing shall be brought in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction located within the State of Delaware, and the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court located within the State of Delaware over any such action. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such dispute brought in such court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such dispute. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a judgment in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
Section 3.09Β Β Β Β Waiver of Jury Trial. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT EACH HEREBY WAIVE, AND AGREE TO CAUSE THEIR AFFILIATES TO WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION (A) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR (B) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO, IN EACH CASE, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT EACH HEREBY AGREE AND CONSENT THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 3.10Β Β Β Β Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Purchase Agreement, and the other agreements and documents referred to herein and therein are intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and are intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties, or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein or in the Purchase Agreement, with respect to the rights granted by the Partnership, Investor, the Class B Purchasers, or any of their respective
20
Affiliates set forth herein or therein. This Agreement, the Purchase Agreement, and the other agreements and documents referred to herein or therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Agreement, the Purchase Agreement, and the other agreements and documents referred to herein and therein are intended to modify, amend, or otherwise affect any provisions of the Partnership Agreement.
Section 3.11Β Β Β Β Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only by means of a written amendment signed by the Partnership and Investor (on behalf of itself and each Holder). Any amendment, supplement, or modification of or to any provision of this Agreement, any waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and any consent to any departure from the terms of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which such amendment, supplement, modification, waiver, or consent has been made or given.
Section 3.12Β Β Β Β No Presumption. This Agreement has been reviewed and negotiated by sophisticated parties with access to legal counsel and shall not be construed against the drafter.
Section 3.13Β Β Β Β Obligations Limited to Parties to Agreement. Each of the parties hereto covenants, agrees, and acknowledges that, other than as set forth herein, no Person other than Investor, the Class B Purchasers, the other Holders, their respective permitted assignees, and the Partnership shall have any obligation hereunder and that, notwithstanding that one or more of such Persons may be a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company, no recourse under this Agreement or under any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith shall be had against any former, current, or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder, or Affiliate of any of such Persons or their respective permitted assignees, or any former, current, or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder, or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on, or otherwise be incurred by any former, current, or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder, or Affiliate of any of such Persons or any of their respective assignees, or any former, current, or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder, or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, as such, for any obligations of such Persons or their respective permitted assignees under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligation or its creation, except, in each case, for any assignee of any Class B Purchaser or other Holder hereunder.
Section 3.14Β Β Β Β Interpretation. Article, Section, and Schedule references in this Agreement are references to the corresponding Article, Section, or Schedule to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. All Schedules to this Agreement are hereby incorporated and made a part hereof as if set forth in full herein and are an integral part of this Agreement. All references to instruments, documents, contracts, and agreements are references to such instruments, documents, contracts and agreements as the same may be amended, supplemented, or otherwise
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modified from time to time, unless otherwise specified. The word βincludingβ shall mean βincluding but not limited toβ and shall not be construed to limit any general statement that it follows to the specific or similar items or matters immediately following it. Whenever the Partnership has an obligation under this Agreement, the expense of complying with that obligation shall be an expense of the Partnership, unless otherwise specified. Any reference in this Agreement to β$β shall mean U.S. dollars. Whenever any determination, consent, or approval is to be made or given by Investor, any Class B Purchaser, or any other Holder, such action shall be in such Personβs sole discretion, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement. If any provision in this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid, not binding, or unenforceable, (a)Β such provision shall be fully severable and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, not binding, or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part of this Agreement, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect, and (b) the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible. When calculating the period of time before which, within which, or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded. If the last day of such period is a non-Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next succeeding Business Day. The words such as βherein,β βhereinafter,β βhereof,β and βhereunderβ refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to a subdivision in which such words appear unless the context otherwise requires. The provision of a Table of Contents, the division of this Agreement into Articles, Sections, and other subdivisions, and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect or be utilized in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
[Remainder of page left intentionally blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
KKR GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE | |
INVESTORS III LP | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
[CLASS B PURCHASERS] | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
SCHEDULE A
Class B Purchaser Name; Notice and Contact Information
Investor | Contact Information |
KKR Global Infrastructure Investors III LP | |
[Address] | |
[Address] | |
Attention: | |
Facsimile: | |
E-mail: |
Class B Purchasers | Contact Information |
KKR Global Infrastructure Investors III LP | |
[Address] | |
[Address] | |
Attention: | |
Facsimile: | |
E-mail: |
Exhibit D
Form of Build Out Agreement
[Attached]
FORM OF
BUILD-OUT AGREEMENT
This BUILD-OUT AGREEMENT (this βAgreementβ), dated as of [β’], 2019, is entered into by and between NEXTERA ENERGY RESOURCES, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (βNextEraβ) and NEP RENEWABLES II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (βNEP Renewables IIβ). NextEra and NEP Renewables II shall be referred to hereunder collectively as the βPartiesβ and, individually as a βPartyβ.
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:
1.Β Β Β Β (i)Β Ashtabula Wind II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (βAshtabula IIβ) has developed and owns an approximately 120 megawatt wind power electric generating facility located in Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx Counties, North Dakota (the βAshtabula II Wind Projectβ); (ii) Ashtabula Wind III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (βAshtabula IIIβ) has developed and owns an approximately 62.4 megawatt wind power electric generating facility located in Xxxxxx County, North Dakota (the βAshtabula III Wind Projectβ); (iii) Xxxxxx Ranch Wind, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (βXxxxxx Ranchβ) has developed and owns an approximately 99.2 megawatt wind power electric generating facility located in Coconino County, Arizona (the βXxxxxx Ranch Wind Projectβ); (iv) Tuscola Bay Wind, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (βTuscola Bayβ) has developed and owns an approximately 120 megawatt wind power electric generating facility located in Bay, Tuscola and Saginaw Counties, Michigan (the βTuscola Bay Wind Projectβ); (v) FPL Energy Vansycle L.L.C., a Florida limited liability company (βStatelineβ) has developed and owns an approximately 300 megawatt wind power electric generating facility located in Walla Walla County, Washington and northern Umatilla County, Oregon (the βStateline Wind Projectβ); (vi)Β Garden Wind, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (βStory County IIβ) has developed and owns an approximately 150 megawatt wind power electric generating facility located in Story and Xxxxxx Counties, Iowa (the βStory County II Wind Projectβ); and (vii)Β White Oak Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (βWhite Oakβ, and together with Ashtabula II, Ashtabula III, Xxxxxx Ranch, Tuscola Bay, Stateline, and Story County II, the βProject Ownersβ, and each, a βProject Ownerβ) has developed and owns an approximately 150 megawatt wind power electric generating facility located in XxXxxxx County, Illinois (the βWhite Oak Wind Projectβ, and together with the Ashtabula II Wind Project, the Ashtabula III Wind Project, the Xxxxxx Ranch Wind Project, the Tuscola Ranch Wind Project, the Stateline Wind Project and the Story County II Wind Project the βProjectsβ, and each, a βProjectβ). Each of the Projects is located on the land described in the easements, rights of way, leases, deeds and other instruments in real property to which the applicable Project Owner is a party on the date hereof (βProject Easementsβ).
2.Β Β Β Β NextEra or its Affiliates own, or may in the future own options to, and/or may obtain, easements, leases or other land rights in neighboring or adjacent lands to one or more of the Projects (to the extent within five (5) kilometers of any Wind Turbines of any such Project, the βSubsequent Phase Land Rightsβ, and together with the Project Easements for any such Project, the βWind Farm Land Rightsβ).
3.Β Β Β Β On [β’], 0000, XXX Renewables II consummated the direct or indirect acquisition of one hundred percent (100%) of NextEraβs indirect interest in each Project Owner pursuant to the Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2016, as amended by the Amendment to the Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of March [β’], 2019.
4.Β Β Β Β The Parties contemplate that the Subsequent Phase Land Rights would be used in connection with the construction of additional wind farms.
5.Β Β Β Β The Parties wish to set forth the rights, obligations and restrictions binding on and in favor of the Parties and their Affiliates with respect to (a)Β the economic effects, if any, on each Project Owner (including the owners of each of the Project Owners) as a result of the Wind Interference Effect, Transmission Access Effect and O&M Interference Effect caused by the Implementation of Subsequent Phases, (b)Β ensuring that the participants in each Subsequent Phase possess sufficient real estate rights in respect to transmission lines on and across the lands covered by the applicable Project Easements to develop that Subsequent Phase (but excluding the placement of Wind Turbines thereon) in an orderly and financeable manner, and (c)Β the protection of each of the Project Ownerβs (as applicable) rights under the applicable Interconnection Agreement, in each such case, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants, representations and warranties set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the Parties acknowledge, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby agree to the following:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION
1.1Β Β Β Β Definitions. The following capitalized terms will have the respective meanings set forth below.
βAffiliateβ means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term βcontrolβ (including the terms βcontrolled byβ or βunder common control withβ) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership, by contract, or otherwise. Any Person will be deemed to be an Affiliate of any specified Person if such Person owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities of the specified Person, if the specified Person owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities of such Person, or if more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities of the specified Person and such Person are under common control.
βAgreementβ means this Build-Out Agreement, as amended from time to time.
βBuild-Out Paymentβ means (A)Β as to the Ashtabula II Wind Project, the amount set forth in cell βD73β in the Ashtabula II DCF tab of the Project Model for Ashtabula II after such
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Project Model has been updated with any changes needed to take into account the Subsequent Phase Effect caused by a Subsequent Phase on the Project, as determined by NextEra in consultation with each of the applicable Independent Engineer and the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant, (B)Β as to the Ashtabula III Wind Project, the amount set forth in cell βD79β in the DCF tab of the Project Model for Ashtabula III after such Project Model has been updated with any changes needed to take into account the Subsequent Phase Effect caused by a Subsequent Phase on the Project, as determined by NextEra in consultation with each of the applicable Independent Engineer and the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant, (C)Β as to the Xxxxxx Ranch Wind Project, the amount set forth in cell βD79β in the DCF tab of the Project Model for Xxxxxx Ranch after such Project Model has been updated with any changes needed to take into account the Subsequent Phase Effect caused by a Subsequent Phase on the Project, as determined by NextEra in consultation with each of the applicable Independent Engineer and the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant, (D)Β as to the Tuscola Bay Wind Project, the amount set forth in cell βD79β in the DCF tab of the Project Model for Tuscola Bay after such Project Model has been updated with any changes needed to take into account the Subsequent Phase Effect caused by a Subsequent Phase on the Project, as determined by NextEra in consultation with each of the applicable Independent Engineer and the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant, (E)Β as to the Stateline Wind Project, the amount set forth in cell βD79β in the DCF tab of the Project Model for Stateline after such Project Model has been updated with any changes needed to take into account the Subsequent Phase Effect caused by a Subsequent Phase on the Project, as determined by NextEra in consultation with each of the applicable Independent Engineer and the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant, (F)Β as to the Story County II Wind Project, the amount set forth in cell βD79β in the Story County II DCF tab of the Project Model for Story County II after such Project Model has been updated with any changes needed to take into account the Subsequent Phase Effect caused by a Subsequent Phase on the Project, as determined by NextEra in consultation with each of the applicable Independent Engineer and the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant and (G)Β as to the White Oak Wind Project, the amount set forth in cell βD73β in the White Oak DCF tab of the Project Model for the White Oak Acquired Companies (as defined in the Purchase and Sale Agreement) after the Project Model has been updated with any changes needed to take into account the Subsequent Phase Effect caused by a Subsequent Phase on the White Oak Wind Project, as determined by NextEra in consultation with each of the applicable Independent Engineer and the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant.
βCash Adjustmentβ means, on any date of determination, with respect to any Subsequent Phase, as to each of the Projects, (i) the excess, if any, of the Build-Out Payment for all Subsequent Phases over two hundred fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) for Ashtabula II, (ii) the excess, if any, of the Build-Out Payment for all Subsequent Phases over two hundred fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) for Ashtabula III, (iii) the excess, if any, of the Build-Out Payment for all Subsequent Phases over two hundred fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) for Xxxxxx Ranch, (iv) the excess, if any, of the Build-Out Payment for all Subsequent Phases over two hundred fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) for Tuscola Bay, (v) the excess, if any, of the Build-Out Payment for all Subsequent Phases over two hundred fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) for Stateline, (vi) the excess, if any, of the Build-Out Payment for all Subsequent Phases over two hundred fifty thousand Dollars
3
($250,000) for Story County II, and (vii) the excess, if any, of the Build-Out Payment for all Subsequent Phases over two hundred fifty thousand Dollars ($250,000) for the White Oak Acquired Companies (as defined in the Purchase and Sale Agreement).
βGovernmental Authorityβ means the United States of America, any state, commonwealth, territory or possession thereof, any county or municipal government, any governmental authority and any political subdivision, or agency of any of the foregoing, including courts, departments, commissions, boards, bureaus, regulatory bodies, agencies or other instrumentalities, including any regional transmission organizations or independent system operators.
βImplementationβ or βImplementβ means as to each of the Projects, the material on-site development, construction or operation of any Subsequent Phase which could reasonably be expected to affect the applicable Project.
βIndependent Engineerβ means (A)Β as to the Ashtabula II Wind Project, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxx, LLC, (B)Β as to the Ashtabula III Wind Project, DNV GL, (C)Β as to the Xxxxxx Ranch Wind Project, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxx, L.L.C., (D)Β as to the Tuscola Bay Wind Project, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxx, L.L.C., (E)Β as to the Stateline Wind Project, DNV GL, (F)Β as to the Story County II Wind Project, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxx, LLC, and (G)Β as to the White Oak Wind Project, X.X. Xxxx, Inc., a company of SAIC Energy, Environment & Infrastructure, LLC or, with respect to each Project, a successor independent engineer appointed by NextEra and approved by NEP Renewables II (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
βIndependent Transmission Consultantβ means (A)Β as to the Ashtabula II Wind Project, X.X. Xxxx, Inc., (B)Β as to the Ashtabula III Wind Project, Siemens Industry, Inc. and Siemens Power Technologies International, (C)Β as to the Xxxxxx Ranch Wind Project, Navigant Consulting, Inc., (D)Β as to the Tuscola Bay Wind Project, Navigant Consulting, Inc., (E)Β as to the Stateline Wind Project, Siemens Industry, Inc. and Siemens Power Technologies International, (F)Β as to the Story County II Wind Project, X.X. Xxxx, Inc., and (G)Β as to the White Oak Wind Project, SAIC Energy, Environment & Infrastructure, LLC, or, with respect to each Project, a successor independent transmission consultant appointed by NextEra and approved by NEP Renewables II (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
βInterconnection Agreementβ means as to each of the Projects, (i)Β that certain Large Generator Interconnection Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2009, by and between Ashtabula II and Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc., (ii)Β that certain Large Generator Interconnection Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2010, by and between Ashtabula III and Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc., (iii) that certain Large Generator Interconnection Agreement, dated September 17, 2012, by and among Xxxxxx Ranch, the United States of America (acting through the Secretary of the Interior), Arizona Public Service Company, the City of Los Angeles (by and through the Department of Water and Power), Nevada Power Company, Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District and Tucson Electric Power Company, (iv)Β that certain Amended and Restated Generator Interconnection Agreement, dated July 5, 2016, by and between Tuscola Bay, Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC, and Mindcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., (v) Β that certain Generation Interconnection Agreement, dated December 14, 2001, by and between Stateline and PacifiCorp, (vii) that certain Interconnection Agreement, by and between Stateline and United States of America, Department
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of Energy, acting by and through the Bonneville Power Administration (βBonnevilleβ), executed by Stateline on December 7, 2001 and by Bonneville on December 4, 2001, (vii)Β that certain Amended and Restated Generator Interconnection Agreement, dated May 21, 2015, among Story County II, ITC Midwest LLC and Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc., and (viii)Β that certain Amended and Restated Large Generator Interconnection Agreement, dated September 27, 2011, by and among White Oak, Ameren Services Company as agent for Ameren Illinois Company d/b/a Ameren Illinois and Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.
βLawβ means any applicable statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rate, ruling, order, restriction, requirement, writ, injunction, decree or other official act of or by any Governmental Authority.
βNextEraβ has the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.
βO&M Interference Effectβ means as to each of the Projects, the specifically identifiable increased costs or cash savings achieved by the applicable Project due to the Implementation of a Subsequent Phase as a result of sharing the Subsequent Phase Rights, facilities and infrastructure, all of the above as then reasonably determined by the Independent Engineer.
βPartiesβ or βPartyβ has the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement and shall include the respective successors and permitted assigns of each Party.
βPersonβ means a natural person, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, trust, business trust, estate, association, joint venture, cooperative, corporation, custodian, nominee or any other individual or entity in its own or any represented capacity.
βPhase Designβ has the meaning given in Section 2.1(a).
βPoint of Interconnectionβ has the meaning given in each Interconnection Agreements.
βProjectβ or βProjectsβ has the meaning given in paragraph 1 of the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement, and shall include all related interconnection facilities, and all other rights necessary for the ownership and operation of the Projects and the sale of power from the Projects.
Β Β Β Β
βProject Easementsβ has the meaning given in paragraph 1 of the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.
βProject Modelβ, (i) with respect to Ashtabula II, Story County II and White Oak, has the meaning set forth in the Purchase and Sale Agreement with respect to each of such Projects, (ii) with respect to Ashtabula III and Stateline means the financial model for Meadowlark Wind, LLC developed NextEra prior to the consummation of the Purchase and Sale Agreement and (iii) with respect to Xxxxxx Ranch and Tuscola Bay, means the financial model for Canyon Wind, LLC developed NextEra prior to the consummation of the Purchase and Sale Agreement.
Β Β Β Β
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βPurchase and Sale Agreementβ means the Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2016, as amended, supplemented and modified by the Amendment to Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2019, and the Acquired Companies Annex for the 2019 Acquired Companies attached as Attachment 1 thereto.
βSubsequent Partyβ means, with respect to any Subsequent Phase, any Party, NextEra Affiliate, or other valid successor or assignee thereof that owns or plans to develop such Subsequent Phase.
βSubsequent Phaseβ means any wind farm or expansion of a wind farm which is to be Implemented using Subsequent Phase Rights; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any wind farm that is Implemented after giving effect to and complying with the terms and conditions of this Agreement (a βCompliant Projectβ), shall not, subject to the immediately following sentence, be a βSubsequent Phaseβ for purposes of Section 2.1 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that more than two (2) Wind Turbines included in any Compliant Project are to be relocated and such Wind Turbines would be within five (5) kilometers of any Project after such relocation, then the relocation of such Wind Turbines will be treated as an Implementation of a Subsequent Phase for purposes of Section 2.1 (other than the first sentence thereof) of this Agreement. For avoidance of doubt, the Projects shall not be, or be deemed for any purpose to be, a Subsequent Phase and any expansion of, or re-location of the Wind Turbines at, the Projects shall not be subject to this Agreement.
βSubsequent Phase Effectβ means as to each of the Projects, the net effect on the applicable Project of the aggregate of the Wind Interference Effect, the Transmission Access Effect and the O&M Interference Effect.
βSubsequent Phase Land Rightsβ has the meaning given in paragraph 2 of the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.
βSubsequent Phase Ownerβ means any Party or NextEra Affiliate or any Subsequent Party which has or subsequently acquires Subsequent Phase Rights after the date of this Agreement.
βSubsequent Phase Rightsβ means the right to use (i)Β the Wind Farm Land Rights, (ii)Β any facilities or infrastructure of any Project Owner, or (iii)Β any Projectβs substation or the portion of the transmission line or facilities used by any Project Owner which are located between the applicable Project substation and the Point of Interconnection, in each case, to the extent such right relates to the Implementation after the date hereof of a new wind farm, the expansion after the date hereof of a wind farm (other than the applicable Project), or the relocation after the date hereof of more than two (2) Wind Turbines at a wind farm (other than the applicable Project).
βTransmission Access Effectβ means, with respect to the Implementation of a Subsequent Phase, as to each of the Projects, the identified detrimental effect on the applicable Project as a result of Subsequent Phase being granted access to and use of such Projectβs substation or any transmission line or transmission facility used by any Project Owner located on the applicable
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Projectβs side of each Point of Interconnection, including any increase in line losses and any added costs, expenses or losses (including lost revenues, on a grossed up basis, and lost federal and state production tax credits) of such Project associated with the curtailment, down time or line loss of such Project resulting from the upgrading, tying into, starting up, testing, commissioning or use of such Projectβs substation, transmission line or transmission facility by the Subsequent Phase, as then reasonably determined by the Independent Transmission Consultant.
βWind Farm Land Rightsβ has the meaning given in paragraph 2 of the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.
βWind Interference Effectβ means, with respect to the Implementation of a Subsequent Phase, as to each of the Projects, the identified detrimental effect on any Project Owner, calculated as a percentage reduction in the net capacity factor of the applicable Project set forth in the Project Model as a result of wake effects created by the presence of Wind Turbines of the Subsequent Phase in connection with the Implementation of the Subsequent Phase, as then reasonably determined by the applicable Independent Engineer.
βWind Turbineβ means a wind turbine generator, each including the following components: a tower, a nacelle, turbine blades, controller/low voltage distribution panel console (including interconnecting cabling from the nacelle to the ground controller), control panels, wind vanes, FAA lighting, grounding, and anemometers.
1.2Β Β Β Β Rules of Interpretation.
(a)Β Β Β Β Titles, captions and headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not be used for the purposes of construing or interpreting this Agreement.
(b)Β Β Β Β In this Agreement, unless a clear, contrary intention appears: (i)Β the singular includes the plural and vice versa; (ii)Β reference to any Person includes such Personβs successors and assigns but, in the case of a Party, only if such assigns are permitted by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity; (iii)Β reference to any gender includes each other gender; (iv)Β reference to any agreement (including this Agreement), document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms of this Agreement; (v)Β reference to any law means such law as amended, modified, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time, including, if applicable, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (vi)Β reference to any Article or Section means such Article or Section of this Agreement, and references in any Article, Section or definition to any clause means such clause of such Article, Section or definition; (vii)Β βhereunderβ, βhereofβ, βheretoβ and words of similar import will be deemed references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other provision of this Agreement; (viii)Β βincludingβ (and with correlative meaning βincludeβ) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term; and (ix)Β relative to the determination of any period of time, βfromβ means βfrom and includingβ, βtoβ means βto but excludingβ and βthroughβ means βthrough and includingβ.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
7
(c)Β Β Β Β Words and abbreviations not defined in this Agreement that have well-known technical or power industry meanings in the United States are used in this Agreement in accordance with those recognized meanings.
(d)Β Β Β Β This Agreement was negotiated and prepared by the Parties with advice of counsel to the extent deemed necessary by each Party. The Parties have agreed to the wording of this Agreement, and none of the provisions of this Agreement will be construed against one Party on the ground that such Party is the author of this Agreement or any part of this Agreement.
ARTICLE TWO
OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES
2.1Β Β Β Β Rights to Develop Subsequent Phases. In accordance with the terms of this Agreement, NEP Renewables II acknowledges and agrees to the right of any Subsequent Phase Owner to Implement any Subsequent Phase. Each Party and each Subsequent Phase Owner which is a party hereto agrees that it will not Implement any Subsequent Phase, except in compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.1. Without limiting the foregoing, NextEra agrees that it will not permit any of its Affiliates to Implement any Subsequent Phase unless such Affiliate complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.1 or enters into a build-out agreement with respect to such Subsequent Phase (an βAffiliate Build-Out Agreementβ) in substantially the form of, or becomes a party to, this Agreement. In addition, NextEra further agrees that prior to it or any of its Affiliates selling or otherwise transferring any direct or indirect interest in an Affiliate of NextEra that has Subsequent Phase Rights to any non-Affiliate, it shall cause such Affiliate holding such Subsequent Phase Rights to become a party to this Agreement or to enter into a build-out agreement with respect to such Subsequent Phase Rights in substantially the form of this Agreement (a βTransferred Affiliate Build-Out Agreementβ) unless the Affiliate holding such Subsequent Phase Rights continues to be controlled directly or indirectly by NextEra. Without limiting NextEraβs obligations under this Section 2.1, any Affiliate Build-Out Agreement or Transferred Affiliate Build-Out Agreement shall apply only to the Subsequent Phase Rights acquired by such Affiliate while it is an Affiliate of NextEra.
(a)Β Β Β Β Prior to the later of (i)Β the beginning of the Implementation of any Subsequent Phase or (ii)Β ten (10) days following the execution of this Agreement, the Subsequent Phase Owner will, at its own expense, prepare and present to each Project Owner, each Independent Engineer and each Independent Transmission Consultant a detailed development procedure (including the proposed design and construction timetable for the Subsequent Phase) (the βPhase Designβ) sufficient to allow (i)Β the applicable Independent Engineer to analyze and determine on a preliminary basis the applicable Wind Interference Effect and the applicable O&M Interference Effect and (ii)Β the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant to analyze and determine on a preliminary basis the applicable Transmission Access Effect. NextEra, or its Affiliates, and the Subsequent Phase Owner will cause (i)Β the applicable Independent Engineer to calculate the applicable Wind Interference Effect and the applicable O&M Interference Effect and (ii)Β the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant to calculate the applicable Transmission Access Effect; provided, however, that NextEra, its Affiliates and the Subsequent Phase Owner shall have no obligation to cause any Independent Engineer to perform such calculation with respect
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to a Wind Interference Effect if no Wind Turbines of the Subsequent Phase will be within five (5) kilometers of any Wind Turbines of any Project.
(b)Β Β Β Β Based on the Subsequent Phase Effect, if any, as reasonably determined by the applicable Independent Engineer (taking into account the Transmission Access Effect, if any, reasonably determined by the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant) under Section 2.1(a), NextEra will run the applicable Project Model for such Project or Projects, in each case, changing the inputs or assumptions, as applicable, solely to give effect to the applicable Subsequent Phase Effect as calculated on a preliminary basis.
(c)Β Β Β Β If the applicable Project Model as modified for the Subsequent Phase Effect, as reasonably determined by the applicable Independent Engineer (taking into account the Transmission Access Effect, if any, reasonably determined by the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant) on a preliminary basis, results in a Build-Out Payment greater than zero, then NextEra will determine the relevant Cash Adjustment assuming that the Subsequent Phase is built in accordance with the Phase Design. If a Cash Adjustment is equal to or less than zero, no further action is required under this Section 2.1(c).
(d)Β Β Β Β As a condition to commencing construction of the Subsequent Phase or relocation of the applicable Wind Turbine included in such Subsequent Phase, the Subsequent Phase Owner will provide one or more guarantees by NextEra for any Cash Adjustment, as applicable, or in lieu thereof, a letter of credit or other security in form and substance, and issued by a party, reasonably satisfactory to NEP Renewables II.
(e)Β Β Β Β Prior to commencement of operation of a Subsequent Phase (or any portion thereof which could reasonably be expected to affect any Project) on a commercial basis, the Subsequent Phase Owner and NextEra will cause the applicable Independent Engineer (taking into account the Transmission Access Effect, if any, reasonably determined by the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant) to calculate the Subsequent Phase Effect on a final basis to reflect the final design and construction timetable (including changes in the projected construction schedule and operations date).
(f)Β Β Β Β Based on the Subsequent Phase Effect, if any, as reasonably determined by the applicable Independent Engineer (taking into account the Transmission Access Effect, if any, reasonably determined by the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant) under Section 2.1(c), NextEra will re-run the applicable Project Model for such Project or Projects, changing the inputs or assumptions, as applicable, solely to give effect to the final Subsequent Phase Effect.
(g)Β Β Β Β If the final determination of the Subsequent Phase Effect, as reasonably determined by the applicable Independent Engineer (taking into account the Transmission Access Effect, if any, reasonably determined by the applicable Independent Transmission Consultant), in connection with the Implementation of the Subsequent Phase is negative as to NEP Renewables II, NextEra will determine the Cash Adjustment, if applicable, and the Subsequent Phase Owner will, within thirty (30) days of such determination, pay any such Cash Adjustment, as applicable, due to NEP Renewables II. If the applicable Project Model, as
9
modified on a final basis for the final Subsequent Phase Effect results in a Cash Adjustment equal to or less than zero, then, no further action is required under this Section 2.1(g).
(h)Β Β Β Β Upon payment of a Cash Adjustment, the applicable Project Model, will be revised to reflect, with respect to any Project or Projects, (i) the final Subsequent Phase Effect and (ii) the final Cash Adjustment and, as so revised, will be the Project Model used for purposes of this Section 2.1 in respect of the next Subsequent Phase, if any.
(i)Β Β Β Β If NEP Renewables II disputes the calculation of a Cash Adjustment, the Subsequent Phase Owner and the Parties shall meet and work together in good faith to resolve such dispute. If the Subsequent Phase Owner and the Parties cannot resolve such disagreement within twenty (20) days, the Subsequent Phase Owner shall pay the portion of any Cash Adjustment, as the case may be, that is not in dispute and each shall appoint an independent expert to resolve such dispute. Thereafter, if such independent experts cannot agree within twenty (20)Β days of receiving all appropriate information, they shall jointly appoint a third independent expert whose decision shall be binding on the parties and failing agreement on such third independent expert within ten (10) days such third independent expert shall be appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce upon the request of any party. To the extent it is determined that any Cash Adjustment was not calculated correctly, the Subsequent Phase Owner shall make a supplemental Cash Adjustment payment (with interest at the prevailing rate) as necessary. The cost of the independent experts shall be the responsibility of the Subsequent Phase Owner unless NEP Renewables II or its Affiliates shall have acted in bad faith in which case they shall be obligated to pay such costs.
(j)Β Β Β Β NextEra will not and will not permit any NextEra Affiliate to, and each Party agrees it will not, sell or transfer any Subsequent Phase Rights to another Subsequent Party, unless it simultaneously assigns and delegates to such Subsequent Party, and such Subsequent Party shall assume, the rights and obligations of the Subsequent Phase Owner under this Agreement to the extent relating to such Subsequent Phase or enters into a build-out agreement in respect of such Subsequent Phase in substantially the form of this Agreement; provided, that in connection with any assignment of any Subsequent Phase Rights relating to a Subsequent Phase which is being Implemented and for which a guaranty by NextEra, letter of credit or other security is outstanding, such guaranty, letter of credit or other security shall either remain in full force and effect or be replaced with another guaranty, letter of credit or other security in form and substance, and issued by a party which is, reasonably satisfactory to NEP Renewables II.
ARTICLE THREE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
3.1Β Β Β Β Notices. Any notice to be given under this Agreement will be in writing and will be delivered by hand or express courier against written receipt, or sent by prepaid first class mail, e-mail or facsimile copy to the Persons and addresses specified below (or such other Person or address as a Party may previously have notified all other Parties in writing for that purpose). A notice will be deemed to have been served when delivered by hand or express courier at that address or received by, e-mail (provided, in the case of e-mail only, that a copy is sent by one of the other delivery methods described in this Section 3.1) or facsimile copy, or, if sent by
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registered mail as aforesaid, on the date delivered. The names and addresses for the service of notices referred to in this Section 3.1 are:
If to NEP Renewables II, to:
NEP Renewables II, LLC
c/o NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention:Β Β Β Β Corporate Secretary
Telephone:Β Β Β Β (000) 000-0000
Facsimile:Β Β Β Β (000) 000-0000
Β Β Β Β
If to NextEra, to:
Β Β Β Β
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention:Β Β Β Β Director, Business Management
Telephone:Β Β Β Β (000) 000-0000
Facsimile:Β Β Β Β (000) 000-0000
3.2Β Β Β Β No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and this Agreement will not otherwise be deemed to confer upon or give to any other third party any right, claim, cause of action, or other interest in this Agreement.
3.3Β Β Β Β Amendment and Waiver. Neither this Agreement nor any term of this Agreement may be changed, amended or terminated orally, but only by written act of all of the Parties. No failure or delay on the part of a Party in the exercise of any right under this Agreement will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other of further exercise thereof or of any other right.
3.4Β Β Β Β Binding Nature; Assignment; Consent to Assignment. Except as required by Section 2.1(j), no Party will assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Parties, and any such assignment contrary to the terms of this Agreement will be null and void and of no force and effect; provided, however, that (i)Β each of the Parties will be entitled, without in any way being released from its obligations under this Agreement, to assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to an Affiliate thereof, and (ii)Β NEP Renewables II or the Subsequent Phase Owner may assign its rights under this Agreement to any lender as collateral for its obligations in connection with any financing documents providing financing for the Project or a Subsequent Phase. Upon request of NEP Renewables II or the Subsequent Phase Owner, any Party will execute a consent to said assignment to any such lender on reasonably acceptable terms and conditions.
3.5Β Β Β Β Governing Law. This Agreement will be deemed made and prepared and will be construed and interpreted in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without
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regard to principles of conflicts of law thereof that may require the application of the law of another jurisdiction.
3.6Β Β Β Β Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be an original, but all of which, when taken together, will constitute one and the same instrument.
3.7Β Β Β Β Headings. The section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and will not affect in any way the meaning and interpretation of this Agreement.
3.8Β Β Β Β Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction will, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement (provided the substance of the agreement between the Parties is not thereby materially altered), and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction will not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable Laws, the Parties waive any provision of law that renders any provision of this Agreement prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.
3.9Β Β Β Β Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersedes all prior statements or agreements, whether oral or written, among the Parties with respect to such subject matter.
3.10Β Β Β Β No Agents. No Party nor any Affiliate thereof has retained any broker, agent or finder or incurred any liability or obligation for any brokerage fees, commissions or finder fees with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
3.11Β Β Β Β Expenses. No Party will be responsible for paying any fees, costs or expenses incurred by any other Party in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
3.12Β Β Β Β Specific Performance; Consequential Damages. Each Party hereto may enforce its rights and the obligations of the other Parties by the remedy of specific performance. Except as expressly provided herein, in no event shall any party be liable hereunder to any other party for any indirect, consequential damages of any nature whatsoever, whether based on contract or tort, or for any punitive or exemplary damages.
3.13Β Β Β Β Further Assurances. Each Party hereto agrees to provide such information and to take such other actions as may be necessary or reasonably requested by another Party hereto, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement and which do not involve assumptions of obligations other than those provided for in this Agreement, in order to give full effect to this Agreement and to carry out the intent of this Agreement, including, without limitation, to amend this Agreement as reasonably requested by any lender or equity investor providing construction or term financing in connection with a Subsequent Phase; provided that any such amendment does not have a material adverse effect on any Project Owner or NEP Renewables II.
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SIGNATURES FOLLOW ON NEXT PAGE
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective duly authorized representatives as of the day and year first above written.
NEXTERA ENERGY RESOURCES LLC | |
By: | |
Name:Β Β | |
Title:Β |
[Signature Page to Build-Out Agreement]
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NEP RENEWABLES II, LLC | |
By: | |
Name:Β | |
Title: |
[Signature Page to Build-Out Agreement]
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Exhibit E
Form of Contribution Agreement
[Attached]
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FORM OF
CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
This CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this βAgreementβ) is executed and delivered this [β’] day of [β’], 2019, by and between NEP Renewables Holdings II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (βRenewables Holdings IIβ), and, solely with respect to Section 2, Section 5, Section 6, and Section 8 of this Agreement, NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (βOpCoβ and, together with Renewables Holdings II, the βAssignorβ), and NEP Renewables II, LLC (βAssigneeβ), a Delaware limited liability company. Terms defined in the preamble or other Sections of this Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in Exhibit A.
WHEREAS, Assignee is a wholly owned subsidiary of Assignor;
WHEREAS, Assignor owns certain limited liability company interests in certain entities, as set forth on Exhibit B hereto (collectively, the βInterestsβ); and
WHEREAS, Assignor desires to contribute, assign, transfer and convey all of its right, title and interest in and to the Interests to Assignee, and Assignee desires to accept the assignment and transfer of the Interests from Assignor (the βContributionβ).
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, agreements representations, warranties and covenants set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby mutually acknowledged, the Parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1.Β Β Β Β Contribution; Final Contribution Amount. Effective as of the date hereof (the βContribution Dateβ), Assignor hereby contributes, assigns, transfers and conveys to Assignee, as a contribution to the capital of Assignee, all of Assignorβs right, title and interest in and to the Interests, and Assignee hereby accepts the foregoing contribution, assignment, transfer and conveyance of the Interests. On the Contribution Date, Renewable Holdings II's capital account in Assignee shall be credited in respect of the Contribution in an amount equal to the Base Contribution Amount, as adjusted by the amount of Estimated Working Capital (as so adjusted, the "Final Contribution Amount"). The Portfolio Project Model sets forth the Base Contribution Amount as of the Contribution Date that has been agreed to by Assignor and Assignee. The Base Contribution Amount shall be adjusted by the Estimated Working Capital (positive or negative) as of the Closing Date. Such Base Contribution Amount, as adjusted, shall be the Final Contribution Amount. For the avoidance of doubt, there shall be no adjustment after the Closing Date in respect of the Estimated Working Capital nor shall there be any payments by or to the Assignor or Assignee in respect thereof nor any adjustment in respect thereof to Renewable Holdings II's capital account in Assignee.
2.Β Β Β Β Representations and Warranties of Assignor. Except as disclosed in, or qualified by any matter set forth in, the Schedules hereto, Assignor hereby represents and warrants to Assignee:
(a)Β Β Β Β Organization. Assignor is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware.
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(b)Β Β Β Β Authority, Enforceability. Assignor has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including to hold, sell and transfer the Interests. The execution and delivery by Assignor of this Agreement, and the performance by Assignor of its obligations hereunder, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action on behalf of Assignor. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Assignor and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Assignor enforceable against Assignor in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, arrangement, moratorium or other similar Laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, or by general equitable principles.
(c)Β Β Β Β The Interests. Renewable Holdings II is the sole member of each Contributed Company, and holds each Interest free of all Encumbrances or restrictions on transfer other than (i) those arising under the Organizational Documents of the Contributed Companies, (ii) those arising under this Agreement, (iii) those securing Taxes not yet due and payable, (iv) those arising under any applicable securities Laws of any jurisdiction and (v) those described in Schedule 2(c) of the Schedules for such Contributed Company. Assignor is the only Person with an interest in the profits, losses, distributions and capital of, or other economic interest in, each Contributed Company. Each Interest is validly issued and fully paid. Assignor has good and valid title to each such Interest, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than as provided in the first sentence of Section 2(c).
(d)Β Β Β Β No Violation or Breach; Consents and Approvals. With respect to the Contribution, the execution and delivery by Assignor of this Agreement does not, and the performance by Assignor of its obligations under this Agreement will not:
(i)Β Β Β Β result in a violation or breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Organizational Documents of Assignor;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β result in a violation or a breach of, default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both), or require the giving of any notice under, any Material Contract to which Assignor is a party or Permit, except for any such violations, breaches or defaults (or rights of termination, cancellation or acceleration) which would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; or
(iii)Β Β Β Β result in a violation or breach of any term or provision of any Law applicable to Assignor, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect or require any Consent of any Governmental Authority under any applicable Law.
(e)Β Β Β Β Brokers. Assignor has no liability or obligation to pay fees or commissions or like payments to any broker, finder or agent with respect to the Contribution for which Assignee or any Contributed Company could become liable or obligated.
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3.Β Β Β Β Representations and Warranties Regarding the Contributed Companies. Except as disclosed in, or qualified by any matter set forth in, the Schedules hereto, Assignor hereby represents and warrants to Assignee with respect to each of the Contributed Companies:
(a)Β Β Β Β Organization. Each Contributed Company is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of formation, and has all requisite limited liability company power and authority, as applicable, to conduct its business as it is now being conducted and to own, lease and operate its assets. Each Contributed Company is duly qualified or authorized to do business as a foreign company and is in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property and each other jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or the ownership of its properties requires such qualification or authorization, except where the failure to be so qualified, authorized or in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Prior to the Contribution Date, Assignor has made available to Assignee complete and correct copies of the Organizational Documents of each Contributed Company, each as amended, restated or otherwise supplemented, and such documents are in full force and effect.
(b)Β Β Β Β Capitalization.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β Schedule 3(b) of the Schedules accurately sets forth the ownership structure and capitalization of each Contributed Company as of the Contribution Date.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β Except as set forth on Schedule 3(b) of the Schedules, (A) there are no outstanding Equity Securities of any Contributed Company; (B) no Contributed Company has granted to any Person any agreement or option, or any right or privilege capable of becoming an agreement or option, for the purchase, subscription, allotment or issue of any unissued interests, units or other securities (including convertible securities, warrants or convertible obligations of any nature) of any Contributed Company; and (C) none of the Equity Securities of any Contributed Company is subject to any voting trust, member or partnership agreement or voting agreement or other agreement, right, instrument or understanding with respect to any purchase, sale, issuance, transfer, repurchase, redemption or voting of any Equity Securities of any Contributed Company, other than the Organizational Documents of any Contributed Company.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iii)Β Β Β Β Except for the Assignorβs ownership of the Interests and as set forth on Schedule 3(b) of the Schedules, none of the Contributed Companies have subsidiaries or own Equity Interests in any Person.
(c)Β Β Β Β No Violation or Breach; Consents and Approval. With respect to the Contribution, the execution and delivery by Assignor of this Agreement does not, the performance by Assignor of its obligations hereunder will not, and such Contribution will not:
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β result in a violation or breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Organizational Documents of any applicable Contributed Company;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β result in a material violation or a material breach of, default (or give rise to any material right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both), or require the giving of any notice under, any Material Contract, Land Contract or Permit or result in the imposition or creation of any Encumbrance
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(other than as set forth on Schedule 3(c)) on any asset of any applicable Contributed Company or on the applicable Interest;
(iii)Β Β Β Β result in a material violation or material breach of any term or provision of any Law applicable to any Contributed Company or any of its assets or require any Consent of any Governmental Authority under any applicable Law; or
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iv)Β Β Β Β require Assignor to obtain any Consent of, or give notice to, any Person as a result of or under any terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract or Permit by which it is bound.
(d)Β Β Β Β Business. The Business of the applicable Contributed Companies is the only business operation carried on by such Contributed Companies. The assets that the applicable Contributed Companies have the right to use do, and immediately after the Contribution, will constitute the tangible assets that are sufficient to conduct their Business as currently conducted and as conducted on the Contribution Date except for such additional tangible assets that are expected to be contributed after the Contribution Date, as the case may be, from future capital expenditures made by the applicable Contributed Company that are reflected in the applicable Project Model. Such assets, taken as a whole, are in good condition, normal wear and tear excepted. The applicable Contributed Companies have good title to the assets they purport to own, free and clear of any Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances) and have valid leases, licenses or other rights to use the other assets referred to in the prior sentence, subject to the exception referred to in the prior sentence.
(e)Β Β Β Β Bank Accounts. Schedule 3(e) of the Schedules sets forth an accurate and complete list of the names and locations of banks, trust companies and other financial institutions at which each Contributed Company maintains accounts of any nature (other than accounts maintained under a collateral accounts agreement or similar depositary agreement entered into in connection with any financing to which a Contributed Company is a party and which accounts are referenced in one or more Material Contracts) or safe deposit boxes and the names of all Persons authorized to draw thereon, make withdrawals therefrom or have access thereto.
(f)Β Β Β Β Legal Proceedings. There is no Claim pending, or to Assignorβs Knowledge, threatened against any Contributed Company that affects the Contributed Company, the applicable Project or the assets of any such Contributed Company that (i) if adversely determined would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect any Contributed Company, the applicable Project or any assets of any Contributed Company or (ii) seeks a writ, judgment, order or decree restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting or making illegal the Contribution.
(g)Β Β Β Β Compliance with Laws and Orders. Each Contributed Company is in material compliance with all Laws and orders applicable to it; provided, however, that this Section 3(g) does not address Taxes, which are exclusively addressed by Section 3(i); employee matters and employee benefits, which are exclusively addressed by Sections 3(r) and 3(s), respectively; or environmental matters, which are exclusively addressed by Section 3(p).
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(h)Β Β Β Β Liabilities. No Contributed Company has any liability or obligation that would be required to be disclosed on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for liabilities and obligations of such Contributed Companies (i) incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business, (ii) that do not and are not individually or in the aggregate reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) that constitute amounts due under the Material Contracts to which the applicable Contributed Company is a party.
(i)Β Β Β Β Taxes. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(i) of the Schedules: (i) all material Tax Returns that are required to be filed on or before the Contribution Date by each Contributed Company have been or will have been duly and timely filed, (ii) all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects, (iii) all Taxes that are shown to be due on such Tax Returns and all other Taxes whether or not shown as due on such Tax Returns that are due and owing have been or will have been timely paid in full or have been or will be adequately reserved in accordance with GAAP, (iv) all withholding Tax requirements imposed on the Contributed Companies have been satisfied in full in all material respects, except for amounts that are being contested in good faith, (v) no Contributed Company has in force any waiver of any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency, (vi) there are no pending or active, or to Assignorβs Knowledge threatened audits or legal proceedings involving Tax matters with respect to the Contributed Companies nor has Assignor been notified of any request for examination, (vii) there are no liens for Taxes upon the Interests or upon any of the assets of the Contributed Companies, except for Permitted Encumbrances, (viii) immediately upon the Contribution, none of the Contributed Companies will be a party to or will be bound by any Tax allocation or sharing agreement or Tax indemnity agreement (excluding, however, commercial agreements entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and not primarily concerned with Taxes) pursuant to which it is liable for the Taxes of any other Person, other than any Tax allocation or sharing agreements, if any, that the Contributed Companies become subject to as a result of Assigneeβs ownership of the Contributed Companies, (ix) each of the Contributed Companies is, and has been since its formation, classified as either an entity disregarded as separate from its owner or a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and has no liability for the Taxes of any Person under Reg. Β§1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. law), as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise, (x) no written claim, or to Assignorβs Knowledge unwritten claim, has been made by any Taxing Authority (domestic or foreign) in any jurisdiction where the Contributed Companies do not file Tax Returns that any such entity (or its owner for Tax purposes in the case of a disregarded entity) may be subject to Tax by that jurisdiction; (xi) neither the Contributed Companies nor the Assignor, nor any Affiliate of Assignor with respect to the assets or operations of a Contributed Company, is or has ever entered into or been a party to any βlisted transactionβ, as defined in Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations; and (xii) none of the Contributed Companies owns an interest in real property in any state or local jurisdiction in which a Tax is imposed, or the value of the interest is reassessed, on the transfer of an interest in real property and which treats the transfer of an interest in an entity that owns an interest in real property as a transfer of the interest in real property. The representations and warranties in this Section 3(i) are the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Assignor with respect to Taxes.
(j)Β Β Β Β Regulatory Status. The applicable Contributed Company is an βExempt Wholesale Generatorβ within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, and has been granted authorization by FERC to charge market-based rates for sales of electric energy,
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capacity and ancillary services. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(j) of the Schedules, no consent, approval, authorization, order, filing, registration or qualification of or with FERC or any other Governmental Authority is required to be obtained with respect to (i) the execution and delivery of this Agreement or (ii) the consummation of the Contribution.
Β Β Β Β
(k)Β Β Β Β Contracts.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β Schedule 3(k)(i) of the Schedules sets forth a list of the following Contracts to which a Contributed Company is a party or by which the Contributed Company may be bound (the βMaterial Contractsβ):
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(A)Β Β Β Β Contracts for the future purchase, exchange or sale of electric power or ancillary services;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(B)Β Β Β Β Contracts for the future transmission of electric power;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(C)Β Β Β Β interconnection Contracts;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(D)Β Β Β Β partnership, joint venture or limited liability company agreements;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(E)Β Β Β Β Contracts under which it has created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed any outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money or any capitalized lease obligation, or under which it has imposed a security interest on any of its assets, tangible or intangible, which security interest secures outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money; and
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(F)Β Β Β Β all Contracts with respect to the purchase, issuance, transfer or Encumbrance of the membership interests of the Contributed Companies.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β Except as set forth on Schedule 3(k)(ii) of the Schedules, Assignor has provided Assignee with, or access to, copies of all applicable Material Contracts.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iii)Β Β Β Β Except as set forth on Schedule 3(k)(iii) of the Schedules, each of the applicable Material Contracts, in all material respects, is in full force and effect and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Contributed Company party thereto and, to Assignorβs Knowledge, of the other parties thereto.
(iv)Β Β Β Β Except as set forth on Schedule 3(k)(iv) of the Schedules, no Contributed Company is in breach or default in any material respect under any applicable Material Contract, and to Assignorβs Knowledge, no other party to any of the applicable Material Contracts is in breach or default in any material respect thereunder.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(v)Β Β Β Β Each Contributed Company is a party to such other Contracts (excluding for all purposes of this Section 3(k)(v) all Land Contracts) for the procurement of services, equipment and materials that are sufficient for the ownership, use, operation and maintenance of the applicable Project in accordance with Good Industry Practices. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(k)(v) of the Schedules, (A) each of such other Contracts, in all material respects, is in full force and effect and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the applicable
6
Contributed Company and, to Assignorβs Knowledge, of the other parties thereto, (B) no Contributed Company is, and to Assignorβs Knowledge no other party to any of such other Contracts is, in breach or default in any material respect under such other Contracts, (C) the material revenues and expenses expected to be received or incurred pursuant to such other Contracts have been included in the applicable Projections and (D) the Contributed Company is not a party to any Contract (other than the applicable Material Contracts) under which the performance or failure to perform by a party thereto would reasonably be expected to result in a material and adverse effect on any Contributed Company, the applicable Project or any assets of any Contributed Company. No Contributed Company is a party to, or bound by, any material Contract other than the Material Contracts.
Β Β Β Β
(l)Β Β Β Β Real Property.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β The Property constitutes all the real property owned leased, licensed or subleased by any of the Contributed Companies.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β Each Contributed Company has good and valid fee simple title to such portions of the Property that are owned in fee simple absolute, good and valid leasehold title to such portions of the Property that are subject to leasehold interests, and good and valid title to such portions of the property that are subject to easements and rights-of-way appertaining or related thereto, in each case, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iii)Β Β Β Β Each Contributed Company is a party to Land Contracts that are sufficient for the ownership, use, operation and maintenance of the applicable Project in accordance with Good Industry Practices. Other than as described in Schedule 3(l)(iii) of the Schedules:
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(A)Β Β Β Β each of such Land Contracts is in full force and effect and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Contributed Company party thereto and, to Assignorβs Knowledge, of the other parties thereto;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(B)Β Β Β Β no Contributed Company is in breach or default in any material respect under any such Land Contract, and to Assignorβs Knowledge, no other party to any of such Land Contracts is in breach or default in any material respect thereunder; and
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(C)Β Β Β Β pursuant to such Land Contracts, the Contributed Company leases or holds an easement interest, license or Permit to use the Property included in the Project Site, in each case, free and clear of all Encumbrances (except for Permitted Encumbrances) created by, through or under the Contributed Company.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iv)Β Β Β Β Other than as described in Schedule 3(l)(iv) of the Schedules, to Assignorβs Knowledge, there are no unrecorded Encumbrances affecting the Property included in the Project Site or any portion thereof other than Permitted Encumbrances.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(v)Β Β Β Β There is no Claim pending or, to Assignorβs Knowledge, threatened against or involving the Property before any Governmental Authority, including any condemnation proceedings.
7
(vi)Β Β Β Β No Contributed Company has received written notice of, nor, to Assignorβs Knowledge, has there been, any violation of any covenant or restriction applicable to the Property, or any part thereof, from any Governmental Authority or third party or notice of any violation of any zoning, building, fire or health code or any other Law applicable (or alleged to be applicable) to the Property, or any part thereof. The continued operation and use of the Project on the Property in the manner operated and used as of the Contribution Date comply with all zoning, building, fire or health code or any other Law applicable (or alleged to be applicable) to the Property, or any part thereof.
(vii)Β Β Β Β Other than as described in Schedule 3(l)(vii) of the Schedules, there is no pending litigation known to any Contributed Company or Assignor affecting the Property, nor any eminent domain proceedings affecting or threatened against the Property, nor, to Assignorβs Knowledge, has there been any occurrence that is reasonably foreseeable to result in any such litigation. Assignor has no knowledge of any other such threatened litigation that might result in a judicial or equitable mortgage against the Property or that might result in a consummation of judgment against Assignee. If any Contributed Company is served with process or receives notice that litigation may be commenced against it, Assignor shall promptly notify Assignee.
(viii)Β Β Β Β Other than Permitted Encumbrances, to Assignorβs Knowledge, there are no leases or licenses affecting the Property or any part thereof, and no Person has occupancy or possession of, and no Person (other than Assignee pursuant to this Agreement) has any right or option to purchase or acquire, the Property, or any part thereof or interest therein.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ix)Β Β Β Β Other than as described in Schedule 3(l)(ix) of the Schedules, no Contributed Company has entered into or made any outstanding options, rights of first offer, rights of first refusal to purchase, conditional sales agreements or other agreements or arrangements, whether oral or written, to purchase any Land Contract, the Property or any portion thereof or interests therein.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(x)Β Β Β Β Other than as described in Schedule 3(l)(x) of the Schedules, all improvements, systems, sidewalks, if any, and equipment of each Contributed Company (A) is in good condition, order and repair in all material respects, ordinary wear and tear excepted, (B) is free and clear of any damage that would materially and adversely affect its value, use or operation, (C) is structurally sound and free and clear of any material defects in materials and workmanship (including, without limitation, patent and observable structural defects) and (D) has been constructed and installed in substantial compliance with the plans and specifications relating thereto.
Β Β Β Β
(m)Β Β Β Β Permits.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β Except for Permits that have been applied for by the applicable Contributed Companies and that will have been issued by the applicable Governmental Authority prior to the Contribution Date:
(A)Β Β Β Β the Contributed Companies have all material Permits required by applicable Law for the conduct of the Business by the Contributed Companies in the
8
manner in which the Business is currently owned and operated and in the manner in which the Business is currently proposed to be owned and operated following the Contribution and that are sufficient (together with such Permits to be issued prior to the Contribution Date as described above in this Section 3(m)(i)) for the ownership, use, operation and maintenance of the applicable Project and in accordance with Good Industry Practices (the βMaterial Permitsβ);
(B)Β Β Β Β the Contributed Companies hold, and have timely applied for renewal of, all Material Permits, except any such Permits relating exclusively to the construction (and not operation) of the Business and that are no longer required to continue the operation of the Business;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(C)Β Β Β Β all Material Permits are in full force and effect; and
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(D)Β Β Β Β there are no proceedings pending or, to Assignorβs Knowledge, threatened which might reasonably result in the revocation, suspension or adverse modification of any Material Permits.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β Except as set forth on Schedule 3(m)(ii) of the Schedules, each Contributed Company is in material compliance with all Material Permits, and neither Assignor nor any Contributed Company has received any written notification from any Governmental Authority alleging that any Contributed Company is in material violation of any of such Material Permits, other than with respect to any allegation that no longer remains pending.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iii)Β Β Β Β This Section 3(m) does not address Permits required under Environmental Law, which are exclusively addressed by Section 3(n).
(n)Β Β Β Β Environmental Matters.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β Assignor has made available to Assignee copies of all material environmental site assessment reports in the possession or control of Assignor or a Contributed Company and that relate to environmental matters concerning the operation of the Business.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β The Contributed Companies hold and maintain all Permits required under Environmental Law for the ownership, use or operation of the Business by the Contributed Companies in the manner in which they are currently, or to be, owned and operated following the Contribution and that are sufficient for the ownership, use, operation and maintenance of the applicable Project and in accordance with Good Industry Practices (βEnvironmental Permitsβ). All Environmental Permits are in good standing and are in full force and effect, and, to Assignorβs Knowledge, no Environmental Permit is threatened to be revoked, revised, modified or not renewed.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iii)Β Β Β Β Except as set forth in Schedule 3(n)(iii) of the Schedules: (i) each Contributed Company is in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits and (ii) the Contributed Company has not received any written communication alleging either or both that (1) the Contributed Company may be in violation of any Environmental Law, or any Permit issued pursuant to Environmental Law or (2) the Contributed Company may have any liability under any Environmental Law;
9
(iv)Β Β Β Β Except as set forth in Schedule 3(n)(iv) of the Schedules, no Contributed Company has been served with written notice of any material Environmental Claims that are currently outstanding and, to Assignorβs Knowledge, no material Environmental Claims are threatened against a Contributed Company by any Person under any Environmental Laws. Each Contributed Company is not the subject of any outstanding order or contract with any Governmental Authority or any other third party respecting Environmental Laws, including any remedial action or any Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous Material.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(v)Β Β Β Β Except as set forth in Schedule 3(n)(v) of the Schedules, to Assignorβs Knowledge, there has been no Release of any Hazardous Material as a result of acts or omissions of the Contributed Companies at or from any Property in connection with the Business that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(vi)Β Β Β Β Except as set forth in Schedule 3(n)(vi) of the Schedules or as provided in any Phase I environmental assessment related to a Contributed Company, Hazardous Materials are not present at, on, under, in or about the Property or any real property which is the subject of any leases entered by any Contributed Company in connection with the Business (A) in violation of Environmental Law; (B) which could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under any applicable Environmental Law, materially interfere with the continued operations of the Business through and after the Contribution, or impair the value of the Property or any such leased property; or (C) reasonably be expected to require remedial action.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(vii)Β Β Β Β This Section 3(n) contains the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Assignor with respect to Hazardous Materials, Environmental Laws and other environmental matters, as identified herein.
Β Β Β Β
(o)Β Β Β Β Intellectual Property.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β Except as set forth on Schedule 3(o)(i) of the Schedules, the Contributed Companies own, free and clear of any Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances), or have the licenses or rights to use for the Business, all material Intellectual Property currently used in the Business and that will be required for Assignee to operate the Business as currently proposed to be operated following the Contribution, without payment to any Person, and the consummation of the Contribution will not alter or impair any such right. To Assignorβs Knowledge, the use by the Contributed Companies of the Intellectual Property currently used in the Business does not infringe on the rights of any Person that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β Neither Assignor nor any Contributed Company has (A) received from any Person a claim in writing, or, to Assignorβs Knowledge, unwritten, that any Contributed Company is infringing in any material respect the Intellectual Property of such Person or (B) received any written notice or, to Assignorβs Knowledge, unwritten, of any default, and, to Assignorβs Knowledge, no event has occurred that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a material default under any material Intellectual Property License that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
10
(iii)Β Β Β Β Assignor and each of the Contributed Companies has taken reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality of all material trade secrets.
Β Β Β Β
(p)Β Β Β Β Brokers. The Contributed Companies have no liability or obligation to pay fees or commissions or like payments to any broker, finder or agent with respect to the Contribution.
Β Β Β Β
(q)Β Β Β Β Employee Matters. No Contributed Company has, nor has any Contributed Company ever had, any employees. No Contributed Company is a party to a collective bargaining agreement.
Β Β Β Β
(r)Β Β Β Β Employee Benefits. The Contributed Companies do not sponsor or maintain any Benefit Plan and no Contributed Company has or has ever had any liability, actual or contingent, with respect to any Benefit Plan. The Contributed Companies have no liability with respect to any defined benefit pension plan or any post-retirement welfare plan.
Β Β Β Β
(s)Β Β Β Β Financial Statements. Assignor has made available to Assignee true and complete copies of the unaudited financial statements of each Contributed Company, in each case, consisting of a balance sheet for the period ending on the applicable Balance Sheet Date and the related statements of income for the period then ended (the βFinancial Statementsβ). The Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP and fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position of each Contributed Company as of the applicable Balance Sheet Date (subject to the absence of notes and normal year-end adjustments which are not material, either individually or in the aggregate).
Β Β Β Β
(t)Β Β Β Β Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(t) of the Schedules, (i) each Contributed Company has operated, in all material respects, in the Ordinary Course of Business and (ii) there has not been any event or condition that has had or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Β Β Β Β
(u)Β Β Β Β Insurance. Assignor or its Affiliates maintain insurance policies or other arrangements with respect to the Business consistent with Good Industry Practices.
Β Β Β Β
(v)Β Β Β Β Projections. Assignor has prepared the financial projections in the Project Model (the βProjectionsβ) in good faith, and has developed reasonable assumptions on which such Projections are based. The Projections are consistent in all material respects with the financial provisions of the Contracts relied upon or taken into account in developing such Projections.
Β Β Β Β
(w)Β Β Β Β Disclosure. No representation or warranty or other statement made by Assignor or its Affiliates in this Agreement or in any written communication described in Schedule 3(w) contains any untrue statement of material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements in this Agreement or therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading in any material respect.
Β Β Β Β
4.Β Β Β Β Representations and Warranties of Assignee. Except as disclosed in, or qualified by any matter set forth in, the Assignee Schedules, Assignee hereby represents and warrants to Assignor:
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
11
(a)Β Β Β Β Organization. Assignee is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(b)Β Β Β Β Authority. Assignee has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery by Assignee of this Agreement, and the performance by Assignee of its obligations hereunder, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action on behalf of Assignee. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Assignee and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Assignee enforceable against Assignee in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, arrangement, moratorium or other similar Laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, or by general equitable principles.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(c)Β Β Β Β No Violation or Breach; Consents and Approvals. With respect to the Contribution, the execution and delivery by Assignee does not, and the performance by Assignee of its obligations under this Agreement will not:
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β result in a violation or breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Organizational Documents of Assignee;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β result in a violation or breach of, or default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both), or require the giving of any notice under, any Material Contract to which Assignee is a party or Permit, except for any such violations, breaches or defaults (or rights of termination, cancellation or acceleration) which would not, in the aggregate, have an Assignee Material Adverse Effect; or
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iii)Β Β Β Β result in a violation or breach of any term or provision of any Law applicable to Assignee, except as would not have an Assignee Material Adverse Effect or require any Consent of any Governmental Authority under any applicable Law.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(d)Β Β Β Β Brokers. Assignee has no liability or obligation to pay fees or commissions or like payments to any broker, finder or agent with respect to the Contribution for which Assignor or any applicable Contributed Company could become liable or obligated.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(e)Β Β Β Β Acquisition as Investment. Assignee is acquiring the Interests for its own account as an investment without the present intent to sell, transfer or otherwise distribute the same to any other Person. Assignee acknowledges that such Interests are not registered pursuant to the 1933 Act and that none of such Interests may be transferred, except pursuant to an effective registration statement under, or an applicable exception from registration under, the 1933 Act. Assignee is an βaccredited investorβ as defined under Rule 501 promulgated under the 1933 Act.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(f)Β Β Β Β Opportunity for Independent Investigation; No Other Representations. Assignee acknowledges that: (i) it has had the opportunity to visit with Assignor and meet with Assignorβs Representatives to discuss any applicable Contributed Company and its business, assets, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), and prospects, (ii) all materials and information requested by Assignee have been provided to Assignee to Assigneeβs reasonable
12
satisfaction; and (iii) except as set forth in Section 2 and Xxxxxxx 0, xxxx of Assignor, any applicable Contributed Company or any Affiliate or Representative thereof makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the Interests, any applicable Contributed Company or the business, assets, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or prospects of any applicable Contributed Company.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(g)Β Β Β Β Legal Proceedings. There is no Claim pending or, to Assigneeβs Knowledge, threatened against Assignee that seeks a writ, judgment, order or decree restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting or making illegal the Contribution.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(h)Β Β Β Β Compliance with Laws and Orders. Assignee is not in violation of or in default under any Law or order applicable to Assignee or its assets the effect of which, in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to hinder, prevent or delay Assignee from performing its obligations hereunder.
Β Β Β Β
5.Β Β Β Β Taxes.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Transfer Taxes. Assignor, on the one hand, and Assignee, on the other hand, shall each bear fifty percent (50%) of any Transfer Taxes imposed as a result of the Contribution (notwithstanding any requirement of Law). Such Transfer Taxes shall be paid by the Party legally responsible to pay such Taxes and the other Party shall pay to the first Party its share of such Taxes at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Tax payment due date. Assignor and Assignee shall timely file their own Transfer Tax returns as required by applicable Law and shall notify the other Party when such filings have been made. Assignor and Assignee shall cooperate and consult with each other prior to filing such Transfer Tax returns to ensure that all such returns are accurately prepared and timely filed.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(b)Β Β Β Β Tax Matters. With respect to the Contribution and the applicable Contributed Companies, except as provided in Section 5(a) relating to Transfer Taxes:
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β With respect to any Tax Return covering a taxable period ending on or before the Contribution Date (a βPre-Contribution Taxable Periodβ) and any Tax Return covering a taxable period beginning on or before the Contribution Date and ending after the Contribution Date (a βStraddle Taxable Periodβ), in each case, that is required to be filed after the Contribution Date with respect to any applicable Contributed Company, (A) Assignor shall cause such Tax Return to be prepared in a manner consistent with practices followed in prior taxable periods and in compliance with applicable Law except as required by change in Law or fact and, with respect to Tax Returns for a Straddle Taxable Period, shall deliver such Tax Return as so prepared to Assignee not later than fifteen (15) days prior to the due date (including extensions) for filing such Tax Return for Assigneeβs review and comments, (B) Assignor shall cooperate and consult with Assignee to finalize such Tax Return and (C) Assignee shall cause such applicable Contributed Company to execute and duly and timely file such Tax Return with the appropriate Taxing Authority and shall cause such applicable Contributed Company to pay all Taxes shown as due and payable on such Tax Return.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β Assignor shall be responsible for and indemnify Assignee against any Tax with respect to any applicable Contributed Company that is attributable to a Pre-
13
Contribution Taxable Period or to that portion of a Straddle Taxable Period that ends on the Contribution Date; provided, however, that Assignor shall not be liable for, and shall not indemnify Assignee for, any liability for Taxes (A)Β that were otherwise paid by Assignor, (B)Β that were recoverable from a Person other than the Assignee or the applicable Contributed Companies or (C)Β resulting from transactions or actions taken by Assignee or the applicable Contributed Companies after the Contribution. Not later than five (5) days prior to the due date for the payment of any such Tax, Assignor shall pay to Assignee the amount of such Taxes, less any Taxes previously paid. With respect to a Straddle Taxable Period, Assignor and Assignee shall determine the Tax attributable to the portion of the Straddle Taxable Period that ends on the Contribution Date by an interim closing of the books of any applicable Contributed Company as of the Contribution Date, except for ad valorem or property Taxes (βProperty Taxesβ) and franchise Taxes of any applicable Contributed Company based solely on capital which shall be prorated on a daily basis to the Contribution Date. For this purpose, any franchise Tax paid or payable with respect to any applicable Contributed Company shall be allocated to the taxable period for which payment of the Tax provides the right to engage in business, regardless of the taxable period during which the income, operations, assets or capital comprising the base of such Tax is measured. In determining whether a Property Tax is attributable to a Pre-Contribution Taxable Period or a Straddle Taxable Period, any Property Tax that is based on the assessed value of any assets, property or other rights as of any lien date or other specified valuation date shall be deemed a Property Tax attributable to the taxable period (whether a fiscal year or other tax year) specified on the relevant Property Tax xxxx that is issued with respect to that lien date or other valuation date.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iii)Β Β Β Β Assignee shall be responsible for and shall pay, or cause to be paid, all Taxes relating to any applicable Contributed Company for which Assignor is not required to indemnify Assignee pursuant to Section 5(b)(ii) (such Taxes, βAssignee Taxesβ). Assignee shall indemnify and hold harmless Assignor against all Assignee Taxes.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iv)Β Β Β Β None of Assignee or any applicable Contributed Company shall carry back any net operating loss or other item or attribute from a period (or portion thereof) that ends after the Contribution Date to a Pre-Contribution Taxable Period.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(v)Β Β Β Β With respect to any Tax (or portion thereof) for which Assignor is responsible, Assignor shall have the right, at its sole cost and expense, to control the prosecution, settlement or compromise of any proceeding involving such Tax, including the selection of counsel and experts. Assignee shall (and shall cause any applicable Contributed Company to) take such action in connection with any such proceeding as Assignee shall reasonably request from time to time to implement the preceding sentence, including by the execution of powers of attorney. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Assignee shall be entitled to participate in any such proceeding, at its sole cost and expense, with respect to any issue that could materially and adversely affect Assignee or any applicable Contributed Company in a taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Contribution Date. Assignor shall not settle any proceeding in which Assignee is entitled to participate in accordance with the preceding sentence without Assigneeβs prior written consent, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Assignee shall (and shall cause any applicable Contributed Company to) give written notice to Assignor of its receipt of any notice of any audit, examination, claim or assessment for any Tax for which Assignor is responsible within twenty (20) days after its receipt of such notice; failure to give any such written notice
14
within such twenty (20)-day period shall limit Assignorβs indemnification obligation pursuant to this Agreement to the extent Assignor is prejudiced by such failure.
(vi)Β Β Β Β Assignor shall grant to Assignee (or its designees) access at all reasonable times to all of the information, books and records relating to any applicable Contributed Company within the possession of Assignor (including work papers and correspondence with Taxing Authorities), and shall afford Assignee (or its designees) the right (at Assigneeβs expense) to take extracts therefrom and to make copies thereof, to the extent reasonably necessary to permit Assignee (or its designees) to prepare Tax Returns, respond to Tax audits and investigations, prosecute Tax protests, appeals and refund claims and to conduct negotiations with Taxing Authorities. Assignee shall grant or cause any applicable Contributed Company to grant to Assignor (or its designees) access at all reasonable times to all of the information, books and records relating to any applicable Contributed Company for Pre-Contribution Taxable Periods or Straddle Taxable Periods within the possession of Assignee or a Contributed Company (including work papers and correspondence with Taxing Authorities) and to any employees of any Affiliate of an applicable Contributed Company, and shall afford Assignor (or its designees) the right (at Assignorβs expense) to take extracts therefrom and to make copies thereof, in each case to the extent reasonably necessary to permit Assignor (or its designees) to prepare Tax Returns, respond to Tax audits and investigations, prosecute Tax protests, appeals and refund claims and to conduct negotiations with Taxing Authorities. After the Contribution Date, Assignee will preserve all information, records or documents in its possession (or in the possession of a Contributed Company) relating to liabilities for Taxes of any applicable Contributed Company for Pre-Contribution Taxable Periods or Straddle Taxable Periods until the later of (A) six (6) years after the Contribution Date or (B) six (6) months after the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations (including extensions thereof) with respect to the assessment of such Taxes. Assignee shall not dispose of any of the foregoing items without first offering such items to Assignor.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(vii)Β Β Β Β If, after the Contribution, Assignee or any applicable Contributed Company receives a refund or utilizes a credit of any Tax of any applicable Contributed Company attributable to a Pre-Contribution Taxable Period or that portion of a Straddle Taxable Period ending on the Contribution Date, Assignee shall pay to Assignor within ten (10) Business Days after such receipt or utilization an amount equal to such refund received or credit utilized by Assignee or by an applicable Contributed Company, in each case, together with any interest received or credited thereon, net of any reasonable costs associated therewith. Assignee shall, and shall cause any applicable Contributed Company to, use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to obtain a refund or credit of any Tax of any applicable Contributed Company attributable to a Pre-Contribution Taxable Period or that portion of a Straddle Taxable Period ending on the Contribution Date or to mitigate, reduce or eliminate any such Tax that could be imposed for a Pre-Contribution Taxable Period or that portion of a Straddle Taxable Period ending on the Contribution Date (including with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby).
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(c)Β Β Β Β Treatment of Payments. Any payments made pursuant to this Section 5 or Section 6 with respect to the Contribution or the applicable Contributed Companies shall be treated as an adjustment to the Final Contribution Amount by the Parties for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by applicable Law.
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6.Β Β Β Β Indemnification, Limitations of Liability and Waivers.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Indemnification.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 6, from and after the Contribution, Assignor shall indemnify and hold harmless Assignee from and against all Losses incurred or suffered by Assignee, the Contributed Companies, and their respective directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, equity holders, agents, attorneys, Representatives, successors and assigns (the βAssignee Indemnified Partiesβ) based upon, attributable to or resulting from:
(A)Β Β Β Β any breach of any representation or warranty of Assignor contained in this Agreement with respect to the Contribution or the Contributed Companies;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(B)Β Β Β Β any breach of any covenant or agreement of Assignor contained in this Agreement with respect to the Contribution or the Contributed Companies; and
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(C)Β Β Β Β any Excluded Items.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 6, from and after the Contribution, Assignee shall indemnify and hold harmless Assignor from and against all Losses incurred or suffered by Assignor and its directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, equity holders, agents, attorneys, Representatives, successors and assigns (the βAssignor Indemnified Partiesβ) based upon, attributable to or resulting from:
(A)Β Β Β Β any breach of any representation or warranty of Assignee contained in this Agreement with respect to the Contribution; and
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(B)Β Β Β Β any breach of any covenant or agreement of Assignee contained in this Agreement with respect to the Contribution.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(b)Β Β Β Β Limitations of Liability.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary:
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(A)Β Β Β Β the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement with respect to the Contribution or the Contributed Companies shall survive until the date falling twelve (12) months after the Contribution Date, except that (x) the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 2(a), 2(b), 2(c), 2(e), 3(a), 3(b), 4(a), 4(b) and 4(d) shall survive for five (5) years following such Contribution Date and (y) the representations and warranties in Section 3(i) shall survive until sixty (60) days after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(B)Β Β Β Β the covenants and agreements in this Agreement that by their nature are required to be performed by or prior to the Contribution shall terminate six (6) months after the Contribution Date, and the covenants and agreements in this Agreement that by their nature are required to be performed following such Contribution Date shall survive, and thus a claim may brought with respect to a breach thereof, until the date on which each such post-
16
Contribution covenant has been fully performed, except that the covenants and agreements in Section 5 shall survive until sixty (60) days after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations;
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(C)Β Β Β Β neither Indemnifying Party shall have any liability pursuant to Section 6(a) with respect to the Contribution or the Contributed Companies until the aggregate amount of all Losses incurred by the other Indemnified Parties that are subject to indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) arising out of or relating to the Contribution or the applicable Contributed Companies equals or exceeds the Deductible Amount, in which event the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for Losses arising out of or relating to the Contribution or the applicable Contributed Companies only to the extent they are in excess of the Deductible Amount; provided, that this Section 6(b)(i)(C) shall not apply to any Losses incurred by any of the Assignee Indemnified Parties as a result of any breach by Assignor of any of its representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3(l)(iii), 3(m) and 3(n);
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(D)Β Β Β Β no Indemnifying Party shall have any liability pursuant to Section 6(a) in connection with any single item or group of related items that result in Losses arising out of or relating to the Contribution or the applicable Contributed Companies incurred by the Indemnified Party that are subject to indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) in the aggregate of less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000), and no such item or group of related items shall be included in or aggregated for purposes of determining whether the Deductible Amount is exceeded; provided that this Section 6(b)(i)(D) shall not apply to any Losses incurred by any of the Assignee Indemnified Parties as a result of any breach by Assignor of any of its representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3(l)(iii), 3(m) and 3(n); and
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(E)Β Β Β Β in no event shall any Indemnifying Partyβs aggregate liability for Losses arising out of or relating to the Contribution or the applicable Contributed Companies, whether relating to a breach of a representation and warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation in this Agreement and whether based on contract, tort, strict liability, other Laws or otherwise, exceed the Maximum Indemnification Amount; provided that this Section 6(b)(i)(E) shall not apply to (1) any such Losses resulting from, arising out of or relating to (x) any willful breach of any representation, warranty or covenant or (y) fraud or (2) any Losses incurred by any of the Assignee Indemnified Parties as a result of any breach by Assignor of any of its representations and warranties set forth in Section 3(l)(iii), and provided, further, that for the avoidance of doubt, the limitation set forth in this subparagraph (E) shall not be construed to limit in any respect Assigneeβs obligation to pay the Final Contribution Amount or any portion thereof when due.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a written claim or written notice is duly given in good faith under this Section 6 with respect to any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement prior to the expiration of the applicable survival period set forth in Sections 6(b)(i)(A) or 6(b)(i)(B), the Claim with respect to such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement shall continue indefinitely until such Claim is finally resolved pursuant to this Section 6.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iii)Β Β Β Β If any fact, circumstance or condition forming a basis for a Claim for indemnification under this Section 6 shall overlap with any fact, circumstance, condition,
17
agreement or event forming the basis of any other claim for indemnification under this Section 6, there shall be no duplication in the calculation of the amount of the Losses.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iv)Β Β Β Β An Indemnifying Party shall not be required to indemnify a Party seeking indemnification to the extent of any Losses that a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator(s) shall have determined by final judgment to have resulted from the fraud or willful misconduct of the Party seeking indemnification.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(c)Β Β Β Β Notice; Duty to Mitigate.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β Each Party shall give written notice to the other Party as soon as practicable after becoming aware of any breach by such other Party of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation in this Agreement.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β Each Person entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) or Section 5(b) shall use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to mitigate Losses for which indemnification may be sought pursuant to this Section 6 or Section 5, including (A) using its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to secure payment from insurance policies available and existing on the Contribution Date that provide coverage with respect to such Losses (an βInsurance Paymentβ) and (B) using its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to secure reimbursement, indemnity or other payment from any third Person obligated by contract or otherwise to reimburse, indemnify or pay the Person entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) or Section 5(b) with respect to such Losses (a βThird Party Paymentβ and, together with an Insurance Payment, a βMitigation Paymentβ). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the recovery by a Person entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) or Section 5(b) from any Party providing such indemnification shall not relieve the Person entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) or Section 5(b) of its obligation to mitigate Losses pursuant to this Section 6(c).
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iii)Β Β Β Β Any amounts payable to a Person entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) or Section 5(b) with respect to any Losses pursuant to this Section 6 or Section 5 shall be reduced by the amount of the Mitigation Payment, if any, received by the Person entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) or Section 5 with respect to such Losses. In the event a payment is made to a Person entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) or Section 5(b) with respect to any Losses and thereafter such Person receives a Mitigation Payment with respect to such Losses, such Person shall reimburse the Party providing such indemnification an amount equal to the lesser of (A) the Mitigation Payment and (B) the amount so paid by the Party providing such indemnification.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iv)Β Β Β Β Any amounts payable to a Person entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) or Section 5(b) with respect to any Losses pursuant to this Section 6 or Section 5 shall be reduced by the amount of any insurance proceeds actually recovered (less the cost to collect the proceeds of such insurance and the amount, if any, of the retroactive or other premium adjustments reasonably attributable thereto) and the amount of any net Tax benefits available to such Person as a result of the payment, incurrence or accrual of such Losses.
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(d)Β Β Β Β Indirect Claims. Without limiting any other remedies of Assignee under this Agreement, from and after the Contribution, Assignee hereby releases Assignor, its Affiliates and the officers, directors and employees of the applicable Contributed Companies (acting in their capacity as such) with respect to any claims, liabilities or obligations for controlling stockholder liability or breach of any fiduciary or other duty relating to any pre-Contribution actions or failures to act (including negligence or gross negligence) in connection with the business of the applicable Contributed Companies prior to the applicable Contribution.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(e)Β Β Β Β Waiver of Other Representations.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY AND EXCEPT THOSE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN SECTIONS 2 AND 3, IT IS THE EXPLICIT INTENT OF EACH PARTY, AND THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE, THAT NONE OF ASSIGNOR OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES HAS MADE OR IS MAKING ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AT COMMON LAW, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, WRITTEN OR ORAL, AND ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN, ASSIGNORβS INTERESTS IN THE COMPANIES AND THE ASSETS OF THE CONTRIBUTED COMPANIES ARE BEING TRANSFERRED THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE INTERESTS βAS IS, WHERE IS, WITH ALL FAULTS,β AND ASSIGNOR MAKES NO OTHER REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED AND ANY SUCH OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR IN THIS AGREEMENT, ASSIGNOR SHALL NOT HAVE OR BE SUBJECT TO ANY LIABILITY TO ASSIGNEE OR ANY OTHER PERSON RESULTING FROM THE DISTRIBUTION TO ASSIGNEE, OR ASSIGNEEβS USE OF OR RELIANCE ON, ANY INFORMATION, DOCUMENTS OR MATERIAL MADE AVAILABLE TO ASSIGNEE IN EXPECTATION OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(f)Β Β Β Β Environmental Waiver and Release. FROM AND AFTER THE CONTRIBUTION, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, ALL RIGHTS OR REMEDIES WHICH ASSIGNEE MAY HAVE AGAINST ASSIGNOR AT OR UNDER LAW OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES OR ANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS ARE WAIVED RELATING TO THE APPLICABLE CONTRIBUTED COMPANIES OR THEIR PROPERTIES OR ASSETS. FROM AND AFTER THE CONTRIBUTION, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, ASSIGNEE DOES HEREBY AGREE, WARRANT, AND COVENANT TO (AND ASSIGNEE SHALL CAUSE THE APPLICABLE CONTRIBUTED COMPANIES TO) RELEASE, ACQUIT, AND FOREVER DISCHARGE ASSIGNOR AND ANY AFFILIATE OF ASSIGNOR (INCLUDING THE APPLICABLE CONTRIBUTED COMPANIES) OR ANY REPRESENTATIVE THEREOF FROM ANY AND ALL LOSSES, INCLUDING ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, AND CAUSES OF ACTION FOR CONTRIBUTION AND INDEMNITY UNDER STATUTE OR COMMON LAW, WHICH COULD BE ASSERTED NOW OR IN THE FUTURE AND THAT RELATE TO OR IN
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ANY WAY ARISE OUT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES OR ANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS OF THE COMPANIES OR THE ASSETS OF THE APPLICABLE CONTRIBUTED COMPANIES. FROM AND AFTER THE CONTRIBUTION, ASSIGNOR AND THE APPLICABLE CONTRIBUTED COMPANIES WARRANT, AGREE, AND COVENANT NOT TO XXX OR INSTITUTE ARBITRATION AGAINST ASSIGNOR OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ASSIGNOR (INCLUDING THE APPLICABLE CONTRIBUTED COMPANIES) OR ANY REPRESENTATIVE THEREOF UPON ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, OR CAUSE OF ACTION FOR INDEMNITY AND CONTRIBUTION THAT HAVE BEEN ASSERTED OR COULD BE ASSERTED FOR ANY SUCH ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT ASSIGNEE OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ASSIGNEE (INCLUDING THE APPLICABLE CONTRIBUTED COMPANIES) OR ANY REPRESENTATIVE THEREOF IS ENTITLED TO INDEMNITY FOR SUCH MATTERS UNDER THIS SECTION 6.
(g)Β Β Β Β Waiver of Remedies.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β Assignee and Assignor acknowledge and agree that the indemnification provisions in Section 5 and this Section 6 shall be the exclusive remedy of Assignee and Assignor with respect to the Contribution; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit or restrict (A) the availability of specific performance or other injunctive or equitable relief to the extent that specific performance or such other relief would otherwise be available to the Parties hereunder (B) prior to the Contribution, any remedy or relief available under Law or otherwise with respect to the Contribution, except that, in no event may a claim be made for Non-Reimbursable Damages or (C) any remedy or relief available under Law as a result of willful misconduct or fraud.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, except in the case of fraud or willful misconduct, no Representative or Affiliate of Assignor shall have any personal liability to Assignee or any other Person as a result of the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation of Assignor in this Agreement and except in the case of fraud or willful misconduct, no Representative or Affiliate of Assignee shall have any personal liability to Assignor or any other Person as a result of the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation of Assignee in this Agreement.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(h)Β Β Β Β Indemnification Procedures.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β In the event that (A) an Assignee Indemnified Party or Assignor Indemnified Party seeking indemnification (the βIndemnified Partyβ) becomes aware of the existence of any Claim with respect to which payment may be sought under this Section 6 or Section 5 (an βIndemnification Claimβ) or (B) any legal proceedings shall be instituted, or any Claim shall be asserted, by any Person not party to this Agreement with respect to an Indemnification Claim (a βThird Party Claimβ), the Indemnified Party shall promptly cause written notice thereof (a βClaim Noticeβ) to be delivered to the party from whom indemnification is sought (the βIndemnifying Partyβ); provided that, so long as such notice is given within the applicable time period described in Section 6(b)(i)(A) or (i)(B), no delay on the part of the Indemnified Party in giving any such notice shall relieve the Indemnifying Party of any indemnification obligation hereunder unless (and then solely to the extent that) the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by such delay. Each Claim Notice shall be in writing and (x) shall specify the asserted factual basis for indemnification claimed by the Indemnified Party, (y) if such Claim Notice is being given with respect to a Third Party Claim,
20
shall describe in reasonable detail such Third Party Claim and shall be accompanied by copies of all relevant pleadings, demands and other papers served on the Indemnified Party and (z) shall specify the amount of (or if not finally determined, a good faith estimate of) the Losses being incurred by, or imposed upon, the Indemnified Party on account of the basis for the claim for indemnification.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β The Indemnifying Party shall have the right, at its sole option and expense, to be represented by counsel of its choice and to defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise handle any Indemnification Claim and if the Indemnifying Party elects to defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise handle any Indemnification Claim, it shall within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice of the underlying Third Party Claim (or sooner, if the nature of the Indemnification Claim so requires) (the βDispute Periodβ) notify the Indemnified Party of its intent to do so. If the Indemnifying Party does not elect within the Dispute Period to defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise handle any Indemnification Claim, the Indemnified Party may defend against, negotiate, settle or otherwise handle such Indemnification Claim. If the Indemnifying Party elects to defend against, negotiate, settle with or otherwise handle any Indemnification Claim, the Indemnified Party may participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such Indemnification Claim; provided, however, that such Indemnified Party shall be entitled to participate in any such defense with separate counsel at the reasonable expense of the Indemnifying Party if (A) so requested by the Indemnifying Party to participate or (B) in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Indemnified Party, a conflict exists between the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party; and provided, further, that the Indemnifying Party shall not be required to pay for more than one such counsel for all Indemnified Parties in connection with any Indemnification Claim. The Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other hand, agree to cooperate with each other in connection with the defense, negotiation or settlement of any such Indemnification Claim. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6(h) to the contrary, the Indemnifying Party shall not, without the written consent of the Indemnified Party, settle or compromise any Indemnification Claim or permit a default or consent to entry of any judgment (each a βSettlementβ) unless (x) the claimant and such Indemnifying Party provide to such Indemnified Party an unqualified release from all liability with respect to the Indemnification Claim and (y) such Settlement does not impose any liabilities or obligations on the Indemnified Party.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iii)Β Β Β Β After any final decision, judgment or award shall have been rendered by a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of the time in which to appeal therefrom, or a Settlement or arbitration shall have been consummated, or the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party shall have arrived at a mutually binding agreement with respect to an Indemnification Claim hereunder, the Indemnified Party shall forward to the Indemnifying Party notice of any sums due and owing by the Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such matter and the Indemnifying Party shall make prompt payment thereof pursuant to the terms of the agreement reached with respect to the Indemnification Claim.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(iv)Β Β Β Β If the Indemnifying Party does not undertake within the Dispute Period to defend against an Indemnification Claim, then the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to participate in any such defense at its sole cost and expense, but, in such case, the Indemnified Party shall control the investigation and defense. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in this Section 6(h) to the contrary, the Indemnified Party shall not effect a Settlement without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
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(v)Β Β Β Β In the event that an Indemnified Party has delivered a Claim Notice with respect to an Indemnification Claim that does not involve a Third Party Claim, such Indemnification Claim shall be resolved through the dispute resolution process set forth in Section 8(o).
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(vi)Β Β Β Β To the extent that this Section 6(h) conflicts with the procedures in Section 5, Section 5 shall govern.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β Access to Information. After the Contribution Date with respect to the Contribution, Assignor and Assignee shall grant each other (or their respective designees), and Assignee shall cause the applicable Contributed Companies to grant to Assignor (or its designees), access at all reasonable times upon reasonable notice to all of the information, books and records relating to the applicable Contributed Companies in its possession, to the extent such books and records reasonably relate to an Indemnification Claim or Third Party Claim and shall afford such party the right (at such partyβs expense) to take extracts therefrom and to make copies thereof, to the extent reasonably necessary to implement the provisions of, or to investigate, prosecute or defend any claims between the Parties arising under, this Agreement other than (x) information relating to post-Contribution periods that is commercially sensitive, trade secret or otherwise confidential or (y) in the case of claims between the Parties, any information that is subject to any attorney-client, work product or other privilege or that otherwise would not be required to be provided pursuant to a subpoena or other civil discovery procedure. At or promptly after the Contribution, Assignor shall deliver to Assignee all books, records, correspondence, files and other information of or relating to the applicable Contributed Companies or their properties, business, operations or condition (other than any of the foregoing items that relate to applicable Excluded Items) in Assignorβs or its Affiliateβs possession to the extent such information is not in the custody or possession of the applicable Contributed Companies on the Contribution Date other than (A) information relating to pre-Contribution periods with respect to any non-Contributed Company Affiliate that is commercially sensitive, trade secret or otherwise confidential or (B) in the case of claims between the Parties, any information that is subject to any attorney client, work product or other privilege or that otherwise would not be required to be provided pursuant to a subpoena or other civil discovery procedure. To the extent that this Section 6(i) conflicts with the procedures in Section 5, Section 5 shall govern.
Β Β Β Β
7.Β Β Β Β Further Assurances. Assignor and Assignee shall, from time to time after execution of this Agreement and without further consideration, do, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause to be done, executed, acknowledged and delivered, all further acts, conveyances, transfers, assignments and assurances as may reasonably be required to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.
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8.Β Β Β Β Miscellaneous.
Β Β Β Β
(a)Β Β Β Β Notices. Unless otherwise set forth herein, any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given, provided or furnished hereunder by any Party to the other Party shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given, provided or furnished (i) upon delivery, when delivered personally, (ii) one (1) Business Day after being sent by overnight courier or when sent by facsimile transmission (with a confirming copy sent by overnight courier) or (iii) three (3) Business Days after being sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to Assignor:
NEP Renewables Holdings II, LLC
c/o NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Treasurer and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Facsimile: Xxxxxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
If to Assignee:
NEP Renewables II, LLC
c/o NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Treasurer and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Facsimile: Xxxxxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
or to such other Persons, addresses or facsimile as may be designated in writing by the Party to receive such notice.
(b)Β Β Β Β Remedies.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β The Parties agree that damages at Law shall be an inadequate remedy for the breach of any of the covenants, promises and agreements contained in this Agreement by Assignee or Assignor, and, accordingly, the Parties shall be entitled to injunctive relief with respect to any such breach, including specific performance of such covenants, promises or agreements or an order enjoining such other party from any threatened, or from the continuation of any actual, breach of the covenants, promises or agreements contained in this Agreement, all without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy and without the necessity of posting bond. The rights set forth in this Section 8(b)(i) shall be in addition to any other rights which the parties may have at Law or in equity pursuant to this Agreement.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(ii)Β Β Β Β NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, NO PARTY OR ITS AFFILIATES, OR THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES SHALL BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INDIRECT DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOSS OF
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REVENUE, INCOME OR PROFITS BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT THE SAME ARE NOT DIRECT DAMAGES), DIMINUTION OF VALUE OR LOSS OF BUSINESS REPUTATION OR OPPORTUNITY OF ANY OTHER PARTY OR ANY OF SUCH PARTYβS AFFILIATES, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OTHER LAW OR OTHERWISE AND WHETHER OR NOT ARISING FROM THE OTHER PARTYβS OR ITS AFFILIATEβS, OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERβS, DIRECTORβS, EMPLOYEEβS OR REPRESENTATIVEβS SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER FAULT, AND IN PARTICULAR, NO βMULTIPLE OF PROFITSβ OR βMULTIPLE OF CASH FLOWβ OR SIMILAR VALUATION METHODOLOGY SHALL BE USED IN CALCULATING THE AMOUNT OF ANY LOSSES, EXCEPT IN EACH CASE, ANY SUCH AMOUNTS REQUIRED TO BE PAID TO THIRD PARTIES PURSUANT TO A THIRD-PARTY CLAIM THAT IS SUBJECT TO AN INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT (collectively, βNon-Reimbursable Damagesβ).
Β Β Β Β
(c)Β Β Β Β Entire Agreement. This Agreement supersedes all prior discussions and agreements between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and this Agreement and the other documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement contain the sole and entire agreement of the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. The Parties hereto have voluntarily agreed to define their rights, liabilities and obligations with respect to the subject matter hereof exclusively in contract pursuant to the express terms and provisions of this Agreement and the other documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement; and the Parties hereto expressly disclaim that they are owed any duties in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or are entitled to any remedies not expressly set forth in this Agreement. Furthermore, the Parties each hereby acknowledge that this Agreement embodies the justifiable expectations of sophisticated parties derived from armβs-length negotiations; all Parties specifically acknowledge that no Party has any special relationship with another Party that would justify any expectation beyond that of an ordinary buyer and an ordinary seller in an armβs-length transaction. The sole and exclusive remedies for any breach of the terms and provisions of this Agreement (including any representations and warranties set forth herein, made in connection herewith or as an inducement to enter into this Agreement) or any claim or cause of action otherwise arising out of or related to the subject matter hereof shall be those remedies available at law or in equity for breach of contract only (as such contractual remedies have been further limited or excluded pursuant to the express terms of this Agreement).
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(d)Β Β Β Β Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, each Party will pay its own costs and expenses incurred in anticipation of, relating to and in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including all expenses and costs incurred to obtain approvals required by such Party from Governmental Authorities.
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(e)Β Β Β Β Schedules. Assignor may, at its option, include in the Schedules items that are not material in order to avoid any misunderstanding, and any such inclusion, or any references to dollar amounts, shall not be deemed to be an acknowledgment or representation that such items are material, to establish any standard of materiality or to define further the meaning of such terms for purposes of this Agreement. Information disclosed in any Schedule shall constitute a disclosure for purposes of all other Schedules notwithstanding the lack of specific cross-reference thereto, but
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only to the extent the applicability of such disclosure to such other Schedule is reasonably apparent on its face. In no event shall the inclusion of any matter in the Schedules be deemed or interpreted to broaden Assignorβs representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement. The mere inclusion of an item in the Schedules shall not be deemed an admission by Assignor that such item represents a material exception or fact, event or circumstance or that such item is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(f)Β Β Β Β Nature of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement are contractual in nature only and subject to the sole and exclusive remedies set forth herein. The Parties have agreed that should any representation or warranty of any Party prove untrue, the other Parties shall have the specific rights and remedies herein specified as the exclusive remedy therefor, but that no other rights, remedies or causes of action (whether in law or in equity or whether in contract or in tort) are permitted to any Party hereto as a result of the untruth of any such representation or warranty.
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(g)Β Β Β Β Waiver. Any term or condition of this Agreement may be waived at any time by the Party that is entitled to the benefit thereof, but no such waiver shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument duly executed by or on behalf of the Party waiving such term or condition. No waiver by any Party of any term or condition of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a waiver of the same or any other term or condition of this Agreement on any future occasion. All remedies, either under this Agreement or by Law or otherwise afforded, will be cumulative and not alternative.
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(h)Β Β Β Β Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or modified only by a written instrument duly executed by or on behalf of each Party.
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(i)Β Β Β Β No Third Party Beneficiary. Except as specified in Section 6 (which provisions are intended for the benefit of the Persons identified therein), the terms and provisions of this Agreement are intended solely for the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors or permitted assigns, and it is not the intention of the Parties to confer third-party beneficiary rights upon any other Person.
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(j)Β Β Β Β Assignment; Binding Effect. Assignee may assign its rights to indemnification under this Agreement to Assigneeβs lenders for collateral security purposes, but such assignment shall not release Assignee from its obligations hereunder. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, neither this Agreement nor any right, interest or obligation hereunder may be assigned by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Party, and any attempt to do so will be void, except for assignments and transfers by operation of Law. This Agreement is binding upon, inures to the benefit of and is enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
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(k)Β Β Β Β Headings. The headings used in this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and do not define or limit the provisions hereof.
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(l)Β Β Β Β Invalid Provisions. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under any present or future Law, and if the rights or obligations of any Party under this Agreement will not be materially and adversely affected thereby, such provision
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will be fully severable, this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect and will not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance herefrom and in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there will be added automatically as a part of this Agreement a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible for such provision to be legal, valid and enforceable.
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(m)Β Β Β Β Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Any facsimile or portable document format (.pdf) copies hereof or signature hereon shall, for all purposes, be deemed originals.
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(n)Β Β Β Β Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Service of Process.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(i)Β Β Β Β This Agreement (unless expressly provided otherwise therein), and all Disputes, claims or causes of action (whether in contract or tort) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement or as an inducement to enter into this Agreement), whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise, and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal substantive Laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any conflict or choice of law provision. Each Party hereby agrees that this Agreement involves at least $1,000,000 and that this Agreement has been entered into in express reliance on Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the New York General Obligations Law.
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(ii)Β Β Β Β EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY.
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(iii)Β Β Β Β Each Party irrevocably and unconditionally consents to service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. prepaid certified or registered mail to such Partyβs respective address set forth above in Section 8(a) and agrees that such service shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction in this Section 8(n). Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or prohibit service of process by any other manner as may be permitted by applicable Law.
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(o)Β Β Β Β Alternative Dispute Resolution. In the event of any claim, dispute or controversy arising under, out of or relating to this Agreement or any breach or purported breach hereof (the βDisputeβ) which the Parties hereto have been unable to settle or agree upon in the normal course of business and within a period of fifteen (15) days after the Dispute arises, the Parties shall follow the dispute resolution process as set forth herein.
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(i)Β Β Β Β Negotiations. The Parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve the Dispute promptly by negotiation between senior officers who have authority to settle the controversy. Either Party may give the other Party written notice of the existence of any such Dispute. Within ten (10) days after delivery of the notice, the Party receiving the notice shall
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submit to the disputing Party a written response. The notice and the response shall include: (1) a statement of each Partyβs position and a summary of arguments supporting that position; and (2) the name and title of the executive who will represent the Party in the negotiations and of any other person who will accompany the senior officer. Within twenty (20) days after delivery of the disputing Partyβs notice, the senior officers shall meet in a mutually acceptable time, manner and place, and thereafter as often as they reasonably deem necessary, to attempt to resolve the Dispute. All reasonable requests for information made by a Party to the other will be honored. All negotiations pursuant to this Section 8(o) are confidential and without prejudice.
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(ii)Β Β Β Β Mediation. If the Dispute has not been resolved by negotiation within thirty (30) days of the disputing Partyβs notice, or if the Parties failed to meet within twenty (20) days after delivery of the disputing Partyβs notice and upon mutual agreements of the Parties, the Dispute shall be referred to non-binding mediation before a qualified and experienced mediator to be mutually agreed to by the Parties. The place of mediation shall be Palm Beach County, Florida. The Parties shall agree upon a mediator within ten (10) days after referral of the Dispute to non-binding mediation. If the Parties cannot agree on a mediator within such ten (10) days, either Party may submit the dispute to arbitration pursuant to Section 8(o)(iii) below. The mediator shall be a retired judge or a licensed attorney with at least ten (10) yearsβ experience in the electric utility industry from the national roster of mediators of the American Arbitration Association (the βAAAβ). Compensation of the mediator and other mediation fees; costs, and expenses assessed by the mediator shall be borne equally by the parties. Each Party shall otherwise pay for its own costs incurred to participate in the mediation.
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(iii)Β Β Β Β Arbitration.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
(A)Β Β Β Β After, but only after the period for resolution of a Dispute set forth in Section 8(o)(i) and Section 8(o)(ii), as appropriate, has terminated without a resolution, at the request of either Party to the Dispute, the Dispute shall be referred to and finally settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules (the βRulesβ) of the AAA then in effect before a panel of three (3) arbitrators. The arbitration shall be conducted in English and shall take place in Palm Beach County, Florida or in any other place and location mutually agreed upon by the Parties hereto.
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(B)Β Β Β Β The arbitration shall be conducted before a three (3) member panel, with each Party selecting one arbitrator and the third arbitrator, who shall be the chairman of the panel, being selected by the two party-appointed arbitrators. The claimant shall name its arbitrator in the demand for arbitration and the responding Party shall name its arbitrator within ten (10) days after receipt of the demand for arbitration. The third arbitrator shall be named within ten (10) days after the appointment of the second arbitrator. If the two (2) party-appointed arbitrators are unable to agree upon the third arbitrator within fifteen (15) days after the two (2) party arbitrators have been appointed; the third arbitrator shall be selected by the AAA in accordance with the Rules. Each arbitrator will be qualified by at least ten (10) yearsβ experience in the electric utility industry, and the chairman of the arbitration panel shall be a licensed attorney whose primary area of practice for the preceding ten (10) years is the electric utility industry.
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(C)Β Β Β Β The award rendered by the arbitration panel shall be: (a) in writing, signed by the arbitrators, stating the reasons upon which the award is based; (b) rendered
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as soon as practicable after conclusion of the arbitration; and (c) final and binding upon the Parties without the right of appeal to the courts, including the question of cost of the arbitration and all matters related thereto. Each of the Parties agrees that any judgment rendered by the arbitrators against it may be entered in either (i) the Federal court of the Southern District of New York to the extent that such court has or can exercise jurisdiction or (ii) the New York state courts in New York County, New York, to the extent that the Federal court of the Southern District of New York does not have or cannot exercise jurisdiction, and any such judgment entered in either such court may be executed against such Partyβs assets in any jurisdiction. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF (X) THE FEDERAL COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH COURT HAS OR CAN EXERCISE JURISDICTION AND (Y) THE NEW YORK STATE COURTS IN NEW YORK COUNTY, NEW YORK, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE FEDERAL COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK DOES NOT HAVE OR CANNOT EXERCISE JURISDICTION, AND EACH PARTY HEREBY CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS (AND OF THE APPROPRIATE APPELLATE COURTS THEREFROM) IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT OR THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING THAT IS BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES, AND SHALL NOT ASSERT AS A DEFENSE IN ANY LEGAL DISPUTE, THAT (1) SUCH PARTY IS NOT SUBJECT THERETO, (2) SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY NOT BE BROUGHT, OR IS NOT MAINTAINABLE, IN SUCH COURT, (3) SUCH PARTYβS PROPERTY IS EXEMPT OR IMMUNE FROM EXECUTION, (4) SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM OR (5) THE VENUE OF SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER. A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION FOLLOWING THE EXPIRATION OF ANY PERIOD PERMITTED FOR APPEAL AND SUBJECT TO ANY STAY DURING APPEAL SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY APPLICABLE LAWS. The arbitrators shall, in any award, allocate all of the costs of the binding arbitration (other than each Partyβs individual attorneysβ fees and costs related to the Partyβs participation in the arbitration, which fees and costs shall be borne by such Party), including the fees of the arbitrators, against the Party who did not prevail. Until such award is made, however, the Parties shall share equally in paying the costs of the arbitration.
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(D)Β Β Β Β The arbitrators shall have no jurisdiction to consider: (i) any Non-Reimbursable Damages arising under, arising out of or related to this Agreement or damages beyond the limitations of liability contained in this Agreement, regardless of the legal theory under which such damages may be sought and even if the Parties have been advised of the possibility of such damages or loss; or (ii) any challenge to the limitations of liability contained in this Agreement.
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(iv)Β Β Β Β Each Party also may, without waiving any remedy under this Agreement, seek from any court having jurisdiction as provided in Section 8(o)(iii)(C) any
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injunctive, interim or provisional relief that is necessary to protect the rights or property of that Party.
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(p)Β Β Β Β Joint and Several Liability of OpCo and Renewables Holdings II as Assignor. Each of OpCo and Renewables Holdings II shall be jointly and severally liable for each of the obligations and liabilities of Assignor under and pursuant to Section 2, Section 5, and Section 6 of this Agreement owed by Assignor to Assignee on or after the Contribution Date, including the obligations and liabilities of Assignor under the Schedules, whether now existing or hereafter arising.
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[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above.
ASSIGNOR | |
NEP RENEWABLES HOLDINGS II, LLC | |
By: | |
Name: Title: |
NEXTERA ENERGY OPERATING PARTNERS, LP Solely with respect to references to Assignor in Section 2, Section 5, Section 6, and Section 8 of this Agreement. | |
By: | |
Name: Title: |
ASSIGNEE | |
NEP RENEWABLES II, LLC | |
By: | |
Name: Title: |
1
EXHIBIT A
DEFINITIONS
Certain Definitions. As used herein:
β1933 Actβ means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
βAAAβ has the meaning set forth in Section 8(o)(ii).
βAffiliateβ means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person, and the term βcontrolβ (including the terms βcontrolled byβ and βunder common control withβ) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise.
βAgreementβ has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
βAssigneeβ has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
βAssignee Indemnified Partiesβ has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a)(i).
βAssigneeβs Knowledgeβ means the actual knowledge of the individuals listed on Schedule A-2.
βAssignee Material Adverse Effectβ means, with respect to the Contributed Companies and the Contribution, any fact, event, circumstance, condition, change or effect that has, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on (i) the business, operations, assets, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Assignee or (ii) Assigneeβs ability to consummate the Contribution; provided, however, that in determining whether an Assignee Material Adverse Effect has occurred, there shall not be taken into account any effect resulting from (a) any change in economic or business conditions generally, financial markets generally or in the industry or markets in which Assignee operates or is involved, (b) any change in general legal, regulatory or political conditions, including any commencement, continuation or escalation of war, material armed hostilities or terrorist activities or other material international or national calamity or act of terrorism directly or indirectly involving or affecting the United States, (c) any changes in accounting rules or principles (or any interpretations thereof), including changes in GAAP, (d) any change in any Laws (including Environmental Laws), (e) any increases in the costs of commodities or supplies or decreases in the price of electricity or capacity, (f) the announcement of the execution of this Agreement or the transfer of the applicable Contributed Companies, or the pendency of or consummation of the applicable Contribution, or any actions required to be taken hereunder or thereunder, including any termination of, reduction in or similar negative impact on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with any customers, suppliers, distributors, partners or employees of Assignee, to the extent due to the announcement and performance of this
1
Agreement or the identity of Assignor or the applicable Contributed Companies, or the consummation of the Contribution and (g) any actions to be taken pursuant to or in accordance with this Agreement; provided, however, that in the case of the foregoing clauses (a), (b) and (e) any such fact, event, circumstance, condition, change or event may be taken into consideration in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred if affecting Assignee in a materially disproportionate manner relative to other Persons operating in the electricity generating, transmission or distribution industry in which Assignee operates.
βAssignee Schedulesβ means the disclosure schedules delivered by Assignee to Assignor on the date hereof, as thereafter modified, supplemented or amended.
βAssignee Taxesβ has the meaning set forth in Section 5(b)(iii).
βAssignorβ has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
βAssignor Indemnified Partiesβ has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a)(ii).
βAssignorβs Knowledgeβ means the actual knowledge of the individuals listed on Schedule A-1.
βBalance Sheet Dateβ means December 31, 2018.
βBase Contribution Amountβ means an amount equal to four hundred thirty-seven million Dollars ($437,000,000.00).
βBenefit Planβ means (a) each βemployee benefit plan,β as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, (b) each plan, agreement or arrangement that would be an βemployee benefit plan,β as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, if it was subject to ERISA, such as foreign plans and plans for directors, (c) each stock bonus, stock ownership, stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, or other stock, equity or equity-based plan, agreement or arrangement (whether qualified or nonqualified) or (d) each employment, individual consulting, retention, change of control, severance, retirement, bonus, incentive compensation, deferred compensation, medical, retiree medical, vision, dental, other health, life insurance plan, agreement or arrangement insurance plan.
βBusinessβ means, with respect to the Contributed Companies, the ownership, development, construction, financing and operation of the Facility and related interconnection infrastructure.
βBusiness Daysβ means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City, New York and Florida are authorized or required by applicable Law to be closed.
βClaimβ means any demand, claim, action, investigation, legal proceeding (whether at law or in equity) or arbitration.
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βClaim Noticeβ has the meaning set forth in Section 6(h)(i).
βClosing Dateβ has the meaning set forth in the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement.
βCommercially Reasonable Effortsβ means efforts that are designed to enable a Party to satisfy a condition to, or otherwise assist in the consummation of, each Contributed Companies Contribution and that do not require the performing Party to expend any funds or assume liabilities other than expenditures and liabilities which are customary and reasonable in nature and amount in the context of such Contributed Companies Contribution.
βConsentsβ means all consents, waivers, approvals, allowances, authorizations, declarations, filings, recordings, registrations, validations or exemptions and notifications.
βContractβ means any legally binding contract, lease, license, note, mortgage, indenture, purchase order, binding bid, letter of credit, security agreement or other legally binding arrangement, whether oral or written, but shall exclude Permits.
βContributed Companyβ means each entity listed in Exhibit B hereto under the heading βOwner.β
βContributionβ has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
βContribution Dateβ has the meaning set forth in Section 1.
βDeductible Amountβ means an amount equal to four million, three hundred seventy thousand Dollars ($4,370,000.00).
βDisputeβ has the meaning set forth in Section 8(o).
βDispute Periodβ has the meaning set forth in Section 6(h)(ii).
βEncumbrancesβ means any mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, charge, claim, equitable interest, infringement of a third party patent, copyright, trade secret or other intellectual property right, encumbrance, restriction on transfer, conditional sale or other title retention device or arrangement (including a capital lease), transfer for the purpose of subjection to the payment of any indebtedness, or restriction on the creation of any of the foregoing, whether relating to any property or right or the income or profits therefrom.
βEnvironmental Claimβ means any claim, action, proceeding, loss, cost, expense, liability, fine, penalty or damage arising out of or related to any violation of, or liability under, Environmental Law.
βEnvironmental Lawβ means all applicable Laws relating to (a) pollution, (b) protection of public health and safety, (c) emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of any Hazardous Material into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, ground water,
3
land surface or subsurface strata); (d) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, generation, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of any Hazardous Material; and (e) the environment or natural resources, including, but not limited to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. Β§1251 et seq.), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. Β§6901 et. seq.), Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. Β§3000(f) et. seq.), Toxic Substances Control Act (15 X.X.X. Β§0000 et seq.), Clean Air Act (42 X.X.X. Β§0000 et. seq.), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (42 X.X.X. Β§0000 et seq.), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 X.X.X. Β§0000, et seq.), the Clean Water Act (33 X.X.X. Β§0000, et seq.), the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (42 X.X.X. Β§00000, et seq.), and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. Β§651, et seq.), and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, and corresponding state laws, and the regulations promulgated thereto.
βEnvironmental Permitsβ has the meaning set forth in Section 3(n)(ii).
βEquity Interestsβ means capital stock, partnership or membership interests, trust interests or units (whether general or limited) and any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distribution of assets of, the issuing entity.
βEquity Securitiesβ means (a) Equity Interests, (b) subscriptions, calls, warrants, options or commitments of any kind or character relating to, or entitling any Person to acquire, any Equity Interests and (c) securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Equity Interests.
βERISAβ means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
βEstimated Working Capitalβ shall be an amount equal to the estimated working capital of the Contributed Companies as set forth in cell βC8β in the Contribution Amount Calculation tab of the Portfolio Project Model as of the Closing Date.
βExcluded Itemsβ means the items of Property or personal property described on Schedule EI of the Schedules.
βFacilityβ means, as applicable, any of the facilities described on Schedule F of the Schedules.
βFERCβ means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or its successor Governmental Authority.
βFinal Contribution Amountβ has the meaning set forth in Section 1. The Final Contribution Amount will be set forth in the Portfolio Project Model as of the Contribution Date at cell βC14β in the worksheet labeled βContribution Amount Calculationβ.
βFinancial Statementsβ has the meaning set forth in Section 3(s).
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βGAAPβ means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
βGood Industry Practicesβ means any of the practices, methods, and acts generally engaged in or approved by a significant portion of the wind power generation industry or solar power generation industry, as the case may be, with respect to the Business of the applicable Contributed Companies, during the relevant time period that, in the exercise of reasonable and professional judgment in light of the applicable manufacturerβs recommendations and the facts known or that reasonably should have been known at the time the decision was made, would reasonably have been expected to accomplish the desired result consistent with Law, Permits, good business practices, reliability, safety, economy and expedition. Good Industry Practices are not intended to be limited to the optimum practice, method or act to the exclusion of all others, but rather are intended to include acceptable practices, methods or acts generally accepted in the region where the applicable Project is located.
βGovernmental Authorityβ means any court, tribunal, arbitrator, authority, agency, commission, official or other instrumentality of the United States or any other nation or any state, county, city, province or other political subdivision or similar governing entity, and including any governmental, quasi-governmental or non-governmental body administering, regulating or having general oversight over electricity, power or other markets.
βHazardous Materialβ means any and all materials (including substances, chemicals, compounds, mixtures, wastes, pollutants and contaminants) (i) to the extent such materials are regulated under Environmental Laws as being hazardous, acutely hazardous or toxic, and; or (ii) any gasoline or petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) or petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea-formaldehyde insulation or friable asbestos.
βIndemnification Claimβ has the meaning set forth in Section 6(h)(i).
βIndemnified Partyβ has the meaning set forth in Section 6(h)(i).
βIndemnifying Partyβ has the meaning set forth in Section 6(h)(i).
βInsurance Paymentβ has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c)(ii).
βIntellectual Propertyβ means all intellectual property and rights therein, however denominated, throughout the world, whether or not registered, including the following intellectual property rights, both statutory and common law rights, if applicable: (a) copyrights (including copyrights in computer programs, software, computer code, documentation, drawings, specifications and data), registrations and applications for registration thereof, (b) trademarks, service marks, trade names, slogans, domain names, business names, logos, trade dress, and registrations and applications for registrations thereof, (c) patents, as well as any reissued and reexamined patents and extensions corresponding to the patents, and any patent applications, as well as any related continuation, continuation in part and divisional applications and patents issuing therefrom, (d) trade secrets and confidential information, including ideas, technology, inventions, invention disclosures, discoveries, improvements, designs, concepts, compilations of
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information, methods, techniques, procedures, processes and other know-how, whether or not patentable and (e) the Intellectual Property Licenses.
βIntellectual Property Licensesβ means (i) any grant to a third Person of any right to use any of the Intellectual Property owned by any of the Contributed Companies or (ii) any grant to any of the Contributed Companies of a right to use a third Personβs intellectual property rights which is necessary for the use of any Intellectual Property currently used by or that will be required to be used by any of the Contributed Companies after the Contribution, which is not owned by any of the Contributed Companies.
βInterestsβ has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
βLand Contractsβ means (i) the deeds, leases, sublease or sub-sublease, letting, license, concession or other agreement (whether written or oral and whether now or hereafter in effect) pursuant to which any Person is granted a possessory interest in, or right to use or occupy all or any portion of any space in a Project Site, easements, options and other real property estates, interests or rights in and to the Project Site held by any Contributed Company, and (ii) all development, triparty and like agreements regarding a Project Site, construction contracts and any and all other agreements with county, municipal and other governmental and quasi-governmental agencies and authorities respecting the ownership, development and operation of a Project Site and all portions thereof to which any Contributed Company is a party or bound, in each case together with all modifications, supplements or amendments thereto.
βLawsβ means all federal, state, local or foreign laws, statutes, common law, rules, codes, regulations, restrictions, ordinances, tariffs, orders, decrees, approvals, directives, judgments, rulings, injunctions, writs and awards of, or issued, promulgated, enforced or entered by, any and all Governmental Authorities (including any court of competent jurisdiction), or other requirement or rule of law.
βLossβ means any and all judgments, losses, liabilities, amounts paid in settlement, damages, fines, penalties, deficiencies, losses and expenses (including interest, court costs, reasonable fees of attorneys, accountants and other experts or other reasonable expenses of litigation or other proceedings or of any claim, default or assessment). For all purposes in this Agreement the term βLossesβ does not include any Non-Reimbursable Damages.
βMaterial Adverse Effectβ means, with respect to the Contributed Companies and the Contribution, any fact, event, circumstance, condition, change or effect that has, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on (i) the business, operations, assets, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the applicable Contributed Companies taken together as a whole or (ii) Assignorβs ability to consummate the Contribution; provided, however, that in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, there shall not be taken into account any effect resulting from (a) any change in economic or business conditions generally, financial markets generally or in the industry or markets in which any applicable Contributed Company operates or is involved, (b) any change in general legal, regulatory or political conditions, including any commencement, continuation or escalation of war, material armed hostilities or terrorist activities or other material international
6
or national calamity or act of terrorism directly or indirectly involving or affecting the United States, (c) any changes in accounting rules or principles (or any interpretations thereof), including changes in GAAP, (d) any change in any Laws (including Environmental Laws), (e) any increases in the costs of commodities or supplies or decreases in the price of electricity or capacity, (f) the announcement of the execution of this Agreement or the transfer of the applicable Contributed Companies, or the pendency of or consummation of the Contribution, or any actions required to be taken hereunder or thereunder, including any termination of, reduction in or similar negative impact on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with any customers, suppliers, distributors, partners or employees of any of the applicable Contributed Companies, to the extent due to the announcement and performance of this Agreement or the identity of Assignee, or the consummation of the Contribution and (g) any actions to be taken pursuant to or in accordance with this Agreement; provided, however, that in the case of the foregoing clauses (a), (b) and (e) any such fact, event, circumstance, condition, change or event may be taken into consideration in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred if affecting the applicable Contributed Companies in a materially disproportionate manner relative to other Persons operating in the electricity generating, transmission or distribution industry in the geographic region in which the applicable Contributed Companies operate.
βMaterial Contractβ has the meaning set forth in Section 3(k)(i).
βMaterial Permitsβ has the meaning set forth in Section 3(m)(i)(A).
βMaximum Indemnification Amountβ means an amount equal to sixty-five million, five hundred fifty thousand Dollars($65,550,000.00).
βMitigation Paymentβ has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c)(ii).
βMembership Interest Purchase Agreementβ means the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 4, 2019, by and among Nitrogen TL Borrower LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Renewable Holdings II, NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and Assignee.
βNon-Reimbursable Damagesβ has the meaning set forth in Section 8(b)(ii).
βOpCoβ has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
βOrdinary Course of Businessβ means the regular, day-to-day conduct of business of a Person consistent with such Personβs past custom and practice, including the development and construction of the Facility and related interconnection infrastructure and the consummation of any financing in connection with Permitted Encumbrances set forth on Schedule OC for such Contributed Companies.
βOrganizational Documentsβ means (a) the certificate or articles of incorporation or charter documents and bylaws of each Person that is a corporation, (b) the certificate of formation, articles of organization, limited liability company agreements or regulations, as applicable, of each Person that is a limited liability company, (c) the certificates of limited
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partnership and the agreements of limited partnership of each Person that is a limited partnership, (d) the trust declaration, trust agreement, indenture or other governing instrument for any statutory or common law trust and (e) the memorandum or articles of association, charter, constitution, shareholders agreement, business license or other documentation governing the formation, organization, governance, ownership and existence of any Person organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, the District of Columbia or any State of the United States.
βPartyβ means each of Assignee and Assignor and βPartiesβ means Assignee and Assignor, collectively.
βPermitsβ means all permits, certificates of authority, authorizations, approvals, registrations, franchises and similar consents granted by a Governmental Authority required to conduct Assignorβs business, other than permits, certificates of authority, authorizations, approvals, registrations, franchises and similar consents that are not yet required, and other than permits, certificates of authority, authorizations, approvals, registrations, franchises and similar consents that are non-discretionary ministerial permits, certificates of authority, authorizations, approvals, registrations, franchises and similar consents obtainable in the Ordinary Course of Business, whose absence would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
βPermitted Encumbrancesβ means, as to each Contributed Company, (a) those exceptions to title for the Property identified in Schedule PE of the Schedules; (b) statutory Encumbrance for Taxes or other governmental charges or assessments not yet due or delinquent or the validity of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (c) mechanicsβ, materialmenβs, carriersβ, workersβ, repairersβ and other similar liens arising or incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business relating to obligations that are not reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Property or the validity of which are being contested diligently in good faith and the applicable party has set aside adequate reserves for the payment of such liens, together with all interest and penalties; (d) recorded or unrecorded Encumbrances, easements, restrictions, covenants, licenses that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (e) any Encumbrances arising in the Ordinary Course of Business by operation of Law with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent or which is being contested diligently in good faith by Assignor or any such Contributed Company and could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (f) all matters that are disclosed (whether or not subsequently deleted or endorsed over) on any survey or in the Title Policy; (g) non-exclusive license with respect to Intellectual Property granted in the Ordinary Course of Business; (h) the terms and conditions of the Material Contracts which would not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect; (i) any Encumbrance to be released on or prior to the Contribution; and (j) any other Encumbrances set forth on Schedule E of the Schedules.
βPersonβ means any natural person, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, proprietorship, other business organization, trust, union, association or Governmental Authority.
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βPortfolio Project Modelβ means the financial model for the Contributed Companies that consolidates the Project Models into one set of outputs for purposes of the calculation of (i) certain adjustments to the Base Contribution Amount and (ii) the Final Contribution Amount.
βPre-Contribution Taxable Periodβ has the meaning set forth in Section 5(b)(i).
βProjectβ means those projects listed in Exhibit B hereto under the heading βProject.β
βProject Modelβ means, collectively, the financial models for the Contributed Companies.
βProject Siteβ means the portions of the applicable Property on which each of the applicable Contributed Companiesβ Facilities are located.
βProjectionsβ has the meaning set forth in Section 3(v).
βPropertyβ means the real property owned or leased by the applicable Contributed Companies, including leasehold interests, easements and rights-of-way appertaining or related thereto.
βProperty Taxβ has the meaning set forth in Section 5(b)(ii).
βReleaseβ means any release, spill, emission, migration, leaking, pumping, pouring, emptying, escaping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal or leaching of any Hazardous Materials into the environment, to the extent giving rise to liability under applicable Environmental Laws.
βRenewables Holdings IIβ has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
βRepresentativesβ means, as to any Person, its officers, directors, employees, counsel, accountants, financial advisers, insurers, financing sources and consultants.
βRulesβ has the meaning set forth in Section 8(o)(iii)(A).
βSchedulesβ means the disclosure schedules delivered by Assignor to Assignee on the date hereof, as thereafter modified, supplemented or amended.
βSettlementβ has the meaning set forth in Section 6(h)(ii).
βStraddle Taxable Periodβ has the meaning set forth in Section 5(b)(i).
βTaxβ or βTaxesβ means any federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, ad valorem, sales and use, employment, social security, disability, occupation, property, severance, value added, transfer, capital stock, excise or other taxes imposed by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority, including any interest, penalty or addition thereto.
9
βTaxing Authorityβ means, with respect to any Tax, the Governmental Authority that imposes such Tax, and the Governmental Authority charged with the collection of such Tax for such entity or subdivision.
βTax Returnβ means any return, report, information return, declaration, claim for refund or other document (including any schedule or related or supporting information) supplied or required to be supplied to any Taxing Authority with respect to Taxes, including amendments thereto.
βThird Party Claimβ has the meaning set forth in Section 6(h)(i).
βThird Party Paymentβ has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c)(ii).
βTitle Policyβ means, as applicable, any of the title policies described on Schedule TP of the Schedules.
βTransfer Taxesβ means all transfer, sales, use, goods and services, value added, documentary, stamp duty, gross receipts, excise, transfer and conveyance Taxes and other similar Taxes, duties, fees or charges.
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EXHIBIT B
INTERESTS
βInterestsβ means (a) one hundred percent (100%) of the limited liability company interests of Ashtabula Wind III, LLC; (b) one hundred percent (100%) of the limited liability company interests of Tuscola Bay Wind, LLC; (c) one hundred percent (100%) of the limited liability company interests of Xxxxxx Ranch Wind, LLC; and (d) one hundred percent (100%) of the limited liability company interests of FPL Energy Vansycle, L.L.C.
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Exhibit F
Form Issuer Agreement
[Attached]
FORM
ISSUER AGREEMENT
[β’], 20[β’]
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to (i) the Margin Loan Agreement dated as of [β’] (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the βLoan Agreementβ), among [β’], as Borrower (βBorrowerβ), [β’], as Borrowerβs parent (βParentβ), [β’], as administrative agent (the βAdministrative Agentβ) and as calculation agent, and the lenders party thereto from time to time (each, a βLenderβ, and collectively, the βLendersβ) and (ii) the Security Agreement to be entered into on or prior to the Initial Funding Date (as defined in the Loan Agreement) between Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Lenders substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the Loan Agreement (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the βSecurity Agreementβ and, together with the Loan Agreement, the βLoan Documentsβ).
Pursuant to the Security Agreement, Borrower will from time to time pledge to Lenders (i) all Non-Voting Common Units (the βNon-Voting Unitsβ) of NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the βPartnershipβ) the Borrower may receive from the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.9(b)(ii) of the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as it may be amended from time to time (the βPartnership Agreementβ), and Section 7.02, Section 7.03, or Section 7.04 of the NEP Renewables II LLC Agreement, (ii) all Common Units of the Partnership (the βCommon Unitsβ) issued upon conversion of such Non-Voting Units (the βConverted Common Unitsβ) and (iii) any Common Units the Borrower may receive from the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Partnership Agreement and Section 7.02, Section 7.03, or Section 7.04 of the NEP Renewables II LLC Agreement (the βCall Option Common Unitsβ), in each case, to secure Borrowerβs obligations pursuant to the Loan Agreement (collectively, such pledged Non-Voting Units, Converted Common Units, and Call Option Common Units, the βCollateral Unitsβ). The loan and the related pledge under the Loan Documents are referred to herein as the βTransactions.β Borrower represents and warrants to the Partnership that the pledge of the Collateral Units is a bona fide pledge and that the Loan Documents and the loans under the Loan Documents constitute a Class B Permitted Loan Financing (as defined in the NEP Renewables II LLC Agreement).
This letter agreement (this βIssuer Agreementβ) memorializes certain understandings among the Partnership, Lenders and Borrower, and may be relied upon by parties that become Lenders under the Loan Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof (as in effect on the date hereof) on or following the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Issuer Agreement shall have the meanings given to them in the Partnership Agreement.
Definitions
βCall Optionβ has the meaning set forth in the NEP Renewables II LLC Agreement.
βCollateral Accountβ means each of the collateral accounts (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each Tranche Collateral Subaccount (as that term is defined in the Loan Agreement)) pledged in connection with the Loan Agreement.
βCustodianβ means [β’], or any successor appointed by Borrower with the consent of the requisite lenders under the Loan Agreement).
βFunding Dateβ has the meaning set forth in the Loan Agreement.
βNEP Renewables II LLC Agreementβ means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of NEP Renewables II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to be entered into upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement.
βRestrictive Conditionβ means (i) any equityholders agreement, voting agreement, investor rights agreement, lock-up agreement or any similar agreement relating to Non-Voting Units or Common Units, and (ii) any restriction, condition or requirement (whether or not under any law, rule, regulation, regulatory order or organizational documents or contracts) relating to Non-Voting Units or Common Units or a holder thereof (whether beneficial, constructive or otherwise) or any pledgee thereof would be subject to, including without limitation, any registration requirement, ownership limitation, reporting or informational requirement or mandatory redemption or transfer.
βSimilar Transactionβ means any financing, hedging or monetization transaction relating to Common Units or Non-Voting Units (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any convertible equity portfolio financing, providing for the issuance of Common Units or Non-Voting Units) with respect to which the Partnership has provided its consent or made acknowledgments and agreements similar to those in this Issuer Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, that certain βMargin Loan Credit Agreementβ dated as of August 31, 2018, among WRP Investco L.P, WRP Investco GP LLC, Citibank N.A., MUFG Union Bank, N.A. and the other lending institutions from time to time a party thereto); provided that (x) once terminated, any such transaction shall cease to be a Similar Transaction and (y) the transactions contemplated by the Margin Loan Agreement shall not constitute Similar Transactions.
βTransfer Restrictionsβ means, with respect to any Non-Voting Units or Common Units, any condition to or restriction on the ability of the owner or any pledgee thereof to pledge, sell, assign or otherwise transfer such Non-Voting Units or Common Units, to convert the Non-Voting Units into Common Units or to enforce the provisions thereof or of any document related thereto whether set forth in such Non-Voting Units or Common Units or in any document related thereto, including, without limitation, (i) any requirement that any sale, assignment or other transfer or enforcement for such Non-Voting Units or Common Units be consented to or approved by any person, including, without limitation, the issuer thereof or any other obligor
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thereon, (ii) any limitation on the type or status, financial or otherwise, of any purchaser, pledgee, assignee or transferee of such Non-Voting Units or Common Units, (iii) any requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document of any person to the issuer of, any other obligor on or any registrar or transfer agent for, such Non-Voting Units or Common Units, prior to the sale, pledge, assignment or other transfer or enforcement of such Non-Voting Units or Common Units, and (iv) any registration or qualification requirement or prospectus delivery requirement for such item of Non-Voting Units or Common Units pursuant to any federal, state, local or foreign securities law (including, without limitation, any such requirement arising under Section 5 of the Securities Act as a result of such item of Non-Voting Units or Common Units being a βrestricted securityβ or Borrower being an βaffiliateβ of the issuer of such item of Collateral, as such terms are defined in Rule 144).
Partnership Agreements
1.Β Β Β Β The Partnership:
(a)Β Β Β Β Confirms that
(i)Β Β Β Β at the time of the pledge thereof by Borrower, any Collateral Units will have been duly authorized and validly issued, will be fully paid and will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights; and
(ii)Β Β Β Β as of the date hereof, other than the Relevant Agreements and this Issuer Agreement, the Partnership has not entered into any agreements relating to the Collateral Units.
The term βRelevant Agreementsβ means the following agreements: (i) the Partnership Agreement, (ii) the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of [β’], by and among NEP Renewables II, LLC, the Partnership, NEP Renewables Holdings II, LLC and the Class B Purchasers party thereto (the βMembership Interest Purchase Agreementβ) and (iii) all other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement).
(b)Β Β Β Β Confirms that (i) as of each Funding Date, the Partnership will not consider Borrower to be an βaffiliateβ (within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as amended (βRule 144β)) of the Partnership and (ii) the Partnership would not consider Lender to be an affiliate of the Partnership based solely on account of its rights and remedies under the Loan Documents or the exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents following an event of default thereunder.
(c)Β Β Β Β Agrees that, on or prior to each Funding Date, the Partnership will direct the Transfer Agent to (i) transfer all Non-Voting Units that constitute Collateral Units in uncertificated, book entry form to Custodian, as a securities intermediary and record owner of such Non-Voting Units and (ii) deposit all Call Option Common Units that
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constitute Collateral Units into the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (βDTCβ) in global, book-entry form and without any restrictive legend (other than any restrictive legend required by the Partnership Agreement, including pursuant to Section 4.7(c) thereof) or any restrictive βCUSIPβ or similar restrictive identifier to be credited to the Collateral Accounts, notwithstanding the fact that such Call Option Common Units will be βrestricted securitiesβ (within the meaning of Rule 144).
(d)Β Β Β Β Agrees that, in connection with the removal of restrictive legends following receipt of the representation letter required by Section 8.08 of the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof) and in connection with a sale by Borrower of the Collateral Units consisting of the Converted Common Units in reliance on Rule 144 in accordance with applicable law, it will also remove any restrictive βCUSIPβ or similar restrictive identifier promptly (it being understood and agreed that this will not require the removal of any restriction required by the Partnership Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 4.7(c) thereof).
(e)Β Β Β Β Agrees that, following receipt of written notice from any Lender that an event of default under the Loan Documents has occurred, except as required by applicable law and stock exchange rules, it will not take any actions that are intended to hinder or delay the exercise of any remedies against Borrower with respect to the Collateral Units by such Lender under the Security Agreement; provided, however, that the Partnership is entitled to require that Borrower and such Lender comply with all provisions of the Partnership Agreement in connection with such Lenderβs exercise of its remedies with respect to the Collateral Units, including any applicable restrictions on transfer; provided, further, that for purposes of this Section 1(e), the Partnership will not be considered to have taken any actions that are intended to hinder or delay the exercise of any remedies against Borrower with respect to the Collateral Units by such Lender under the Security Agreement if, with respect to the conversion of any Non-Voting Units into Converted Common Units, (A) an Automatic Conversion Notice, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, executed by Custodian at the direction of such Lender, has been delivered pursuant to Section 5.9(b)(v)(A) of the Partnership Agreement and (B) the Partnership issues the same number of Converted Common Units as the Non-Voting Units subject to such Automatic Conversion Notice to such Lender no later than two Business Days after such Automatic Conversion Notice has been delivered pursuant to Section 5.9(b)(v)(A) of the Partnership Agreement, which Converted Common Units will be (y) if the DTC Conditions are satisfied as of such date, deposited into the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (βDTCβ) in global, book-entry form and without any restrictive legends (other than any restrictive legends required by the Partnership Agreement, including pursuant to Section 4.7(c) thereof) to be credited to the Collateral Account of such Lender as specified by such Lender in such Automatic Conversion Notice or (z) otherwise, transferred in uncertificated, book-entry form to Custodian, as a securities intermediary; provided that, in either case, the Partnership shall use commercially
4
reasonable efforts to cause the delivery of such certificates and/or legal opinions as may be required for the Transfer Agent to effect such deposit and/or registration, subject only to the receipt of the Partnership of the opinion specified in Section 2(c) or 2(d), as the case may be, of this Issuer Agreement.
The term βDTC Conditionsβ means, as of any date, (i) such date has been (x) more than twelve months following the pledge of the relevant Non-Voting Units pursuant to the Security Agreement or (y) more than six months following the pledge of the relevant Non-Voting Units pursuant to the Security Agreement and the Partnership has filed all reports and other materials required to be filed by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months, other than Form 8-K reports or (ii) there is an effective registration statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering foreclosures and resales by each Lender (including any agent or trustee on its behalf) or any affiliate of each Lender of the applicable Common Units and such registration statement is available on such date.
(f)Β Β Β Β Confirms that it shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide prompt notice to each Lender of any proposed Transfer Restriction or Restrictive Condition on the Collateral Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement at least 25 days prior to the effectiveness of such Transfer Restriction or Restrictive Condition.
(g)Β Β Β Β Agrees that (i) the pledge under the Security Agreement does not constitute a βtransferβ (within the meaning of the Partnership Agreement) of any Collateral Units to the Lenders, (ii) a pledgee who has foreclosed on such Non-Voting Units has the right to transfer any Converted Common Units issued upon conversion of such Non-Voting Units in a manner permitted under applicable law and (iii) such transfer of Converted Common Units shall not be considered a violation or breach of the Partnership Agreement.
(h)Β Β Β Β Agrees that it shall (i) on the date hereof, disclose to the Lenders any Similar Transactions of which it is aware, (ii) at any time while this Issuer Agreement is in effect, notify the Lenders of any Similar Transactions of which it becomes aware, and (iii) following the exercise of each Call Option, but no later than two Business Days prior to the related Funding Date, confirm the Similar Transactions of which it is aware, and, in each case, use commercially reasonable best efforts to notify the Lenders of (1) the amounts actually drawn and available to be drawn, and notional or financing amounts, under each Similar Transaction and (2) the number of Common Units and/or Non-Voting Units actually pledged and eligible to be pledged under each Similar Transaction; provided that, the Partnership shall be under no obligation to disclose the identities of the parties to, or the other economic terms of (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, as set forth in the preceding clauses (1) and (2)) any Similar Transaction, to the extent doing so would violate (A) any applicable privilege (including the attorney-client and work product privileges) or any privilege, law, rule or regulation or (B) any obligation
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of confidentiality owing to a third party to such Similar Transaction that is binding upon the Partnership.
Lender Agreements
2.Β Β Β Β Each Lender hereby acknowledges that the Collateral Units will be βrestricted securitiesβ within the meaning of Rule 144, and agrees that the Collateral Units may not be sold, except:
(a)Β Β Β Β to the Partnership or any Subsidiary thereof;
(b)Β Β Β Β pursuant to a transaction registered under the Securities Act;
(c)Β Β Β Β in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act; provided that as a condition to any such sale, the Partnership shall have received an opinion of counsel to Lender reasonably satisfactory to the Partnership, substantially in the form of Exhibit B; or
(d)Β Β Β Β pursuant to Rule 144; provided that as a condition to any such sale, the Partnership shall have received an opinion of counsel to Lender reasonably acceptable to the Partnership, substantially in the form of Exhibit C; provided further that no such opinion is required if such sale occurs on or after the date that is one year following the date of the pledge of such Common Units (it being understood and agreed that any Converted Common Units have been pledged on the date the relevant Non-Voting Units were pledged).
3.Β Β Β Β Each Lender agrees that the Partnership will not be liable to such Lender or any of its Affiliates for any claims, liabilities, or expenses arising out of or relating to the Partnershipβs performance under this Issuer Agreement (including, without limitation, the taking of any action, or refraining from taking any action, at such Lenderβs direction) other than those claims, liabilities, or expenses that result directly from its acts or omissions constituting (i) fraud, (ii) gross negligence, (iii) willful misconduct or (iv) a material breach of Section 1(e) or Section 1(f) of this Issuer Agreement (in each case, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgement), and in no event will the Partnership be liable for any punitive, special, indirect, or consequential damages, including without limitation, lost profits or the diminution in Collateral Unit value.
4.Β Β Β Β Each Lender agrees that it will provide the Partnership with a notification of any termination or expiration of any of the Loan Documents or the repayment in full of all outstanding obligations under the Loan Documents.
5.Β Β Β Β Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Issuer Agreement, any Loan Document or any other agreement, in no event shall the Partnership be required to exercise the Call Option, and the Partnership may exercise, or refrain from exercising, its rights with respect to the Call Option in its sole discretion.
Borrower Acknowledgments and Agreements
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6.Β Β Β Β Borrower hereby consents and acknowledges with the foregoing provisions of Sections 1 through 5 of this Issuer Agreement and acknowledges that the Partnership is permitted to comply with instructions, directions or orders of Custodian or each Lender, as applicable, hereunder or under the Partnership Agreement.
7.Β Β Β Β Borrower agrees that the Partnership will not be liable to Borrower or any of its Affiliates for any claims, liabilities, or expenses arising out of or relating to the Partnershipβs performance under this Issuer Agreement (including, without limitation, the taking of any action, or refraining from taking any action, at Custodianβs direction, order or instruction or at the direction, order or instruction of any Lender) other than those claims, liabilities, or expenses that result directly from its acts or omissions constituting (i) fraud, (ii) gross negligence or (iii) willful misconduct (in each case, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgement), and in no event will the Partnership be liable for any punitive, special, indirect, or consequential damages, including without limitation, lost profits or the diminution in Collateral Unit value arising out of or relating to the Partnershipβs performance under this Issuer Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in no event shall the Partnership be liable to Borrower for acting in accordance with or conclusively relying upon any power of attorney purported to be granted to Lenders by the Borrower. The Partnership shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any such power of attorney without being required to determine the authenticity or the correctness of any fact stated therein or the propriety or validity or the service thereof. The Partnership may act in conclusive reliance upon any such power of attorney and may assume that any person purporting to execute such power of attorney has been duly authorized to do so. The Partnership shall not be responsible in any respect for the form, execution, validity, value or genuineness of any such power of attorney, or for any description therein, or for the identity, authority or rights of persons executing or delivering or purporting to execute or deliver any such document.
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Miscellaneous
8.Β Β Β Β Any notice hereunder may be given (i) to the Administrative Agent by overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail, sent by facsimile, or by electronic mail at the addresses set forth in Annex A or as otherwise identified to the Partnership in writing, (ii) to the Partnership by certified or registered mail or overnight courier delivered to the following addresses: NextEra Energy Partners, LP, 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, 00000 Attention: Treasurer and NextEra Energy Partners, LP, 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx (with a copy to, which shall not constitute notice: NextEra Energy Partners, LP, 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Email: Xxxxxxx.Xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx) and (iii) to the Borrower by electronic mail delivered to the addresses provided in paragraph (a) immediately below. Any notice to the Partnership shall be effective upon receipt. Any notice to the Administrative Agent or the Borrower that is delivered by electronic mail shall be deemed delivered absent a failure to deliver notice is delivered within 30 minutes of such notice or communication being sent (it being understood that an βout of officeβ reply does not constitute a failure to deliver for this purpose).
(a)Β Β Β Β for Borrower:
c/o Kohlberg Kravis Xxxxxxx & Co. L.P.
0 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
E-mail: xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
and
c/o Kohlberg Kravis Xxxxxxx & Co. L.P.
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xx
Xxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
E-mail: Xxxxxxx.Xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, P.C; Xxxxx Xxxxx
Email: xxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx;
xxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
9.Β Β Β Β This Issuer Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
10.Β Β Β Β Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any U.S. federal or New York state court sitting in New
8
York, New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Issuer Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by registered mail addressed to the Partnership at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Attention: General Counsel shall be effective service of process against the Partnership for any suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court.
11.Β Β Β Β EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS ISSUER AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OR ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS ISSUER AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 11.
12.Β Β Β Β This Issuer Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Issuer Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof. This Issuer Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. This Issuer Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by each of the parties hereto and when each of the parties hereto shall have received counterparts hereof, which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Issuer Agreement by facsimile, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Issuer Agreement.
13.Β Β Β Β Each party hereto hereby agrees that it will negotiate in good faith to amend the terms of this Issuer Agreement in order to preserve the substance and intent of this Issuer Agreement in the event that due to a change in circumstance following the date hereof, the Lenders determine in their commercially reasonable discretion that it is necessary to perfect their security interest in the Collateral Units in a manner other than as contemplated by this Issuer Agreement or would not be commercially practicable to do so (including, but not limited to, the issuance of the
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Collateral Units in certificated form, registered in the name of the Lenders, their nominee or any other securities intermediary identified by the Lenders, in accordance with the Loan Documentation).
14.Β Β Β Β No provision of this Issuer Agreement may be amended or waived unless such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by the parties hereto, or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. Except for Sections 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 of this Issuer Agreement, this Issuer Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the payment in full of all outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement.
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If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please indicate your acceptance of the terms hereof by returning to us an executed counterpart hereof, whereupon this Issuer Agreement shall become a binding agreement between us.
Very truly yours, | |
[β] | |
as Borrower | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
[β], | |
as a Lender | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
[β], | |
as a Lender | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
[β], | |
as a Lender | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
Accepted and agreed: | |||||
NEXTERA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP | |||||
By: | |||||
Name: | |||||
Title: |
[β] | ANNEX A | |||
[Address] | ||||
[Address] | ||||
Telephone: [β] | ||||
Email: [β] | ||||
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Exhibit A
Form of Automatic Conversion Notice
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Treasurer
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
With a copy to:
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX
00000 Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Re:Β Β Β Β Notice of Automatic Conversion of Non-Voting Units (the βNon-Voting Unitsβ) of NextEra Energy Partners, LP (the βPartnershipβ)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the [Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership], as amended and in effect on the date hereof (the βPartnership Agreementβ) and the Security Agreement dated as of [______] (the βSecurity Agreementβ) between [β’], [β’] and [Name of Lender], as secured party (βSecured Partyβ). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Partnership Agreement.
This letter serves as notice that Secured Party has foreclosed on [____] Non-Voting Units, which will be automatically converted into the same number of Common Units pursuant to Section 5.9(b)(v)(A) of the Partnership Agreement, and within two Business Days from the date hereof, such Common Units shall be delivered to [Collateral Account Instructions] through facilities of the Depository Trust Company in global, book-entry form.
Secured Party and Pledgor hereby reserve the right to exercise from time to time any additional rights, powers or privileges Pledgor has and/or to which Pledgor is entitled under the Partnership Agreement, any other agreement between Pledgor and the Partnership, applicable law or otherwise.
Very truly yours,
Exhibit A-1
[Name of Custodian] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit A-2
Exhibit B
Form of Opinion of Counsel
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as counsel for [Name of Lender] (βSecured Partyβ) in connection with the sale by it of [____] Common Units (the βCommon Unitsβ) of NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the βPartnershipβ) that were pledged, or received by Secured Party upon foreclosure of the Non-Voting Units of the Partnership pledged, to it by [β’] (βBorrowerβ) to secure Borrowerβs obligations pursuant to the Margin Loan Agreement dated as of [β’], 20[β’], among, inter alia, Borrower and Secured Party.
We have examined a representation letter from Secured Party dated as of [β’] (the βSellerβs Letterβ) with respect to the sale of the Common Units. In rendering the opinion expressed herein, we have relied exclusively on the Sellerβs Letter, a copy of which is attached hereto as Schedule I, as to matters of fact, and we have without independent inquiry or investigation, assumed that (i) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and complete, (ii) all documents submitted to us as copies conform to authentic, complete originals, (iii) all signatures on all documents that we reviewed are genuine, (iv) all natural persons executing documents had and have the legal capacity to do so and (v) all statements in the Sellerβs Letter were and are accurate.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Common Units may be sold by Secured Party without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, it being understood that no opinion is expressed as to any subsequent offer or resale of any Common Units.
This opinion is limited to the federal securities laws of the United States of America.
This opinion is rendered solely to you in connection with the proposed sale of the Common Units by Secured Party. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or relied upon by any other person or furnished to any other person without our prior written consent (provided that this opinion (x) may be disclosed to persons having regulatory authority over you without our prior consent and (y) may be disclosed in connection with any litigation, arbitration or similar proceeding with respect to the sale of the Common Units by Secured Party).
Very truly yours,
Exhibit B-1
Schedule I to Exhibit B
[Counsel to Lenders]
[Address]
[Address]
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Re:Β Β Β Β Sale of [_____] Common Units (the βCommon Unitsβ) of NextEra Energy Partners, LP (the βPartnershipβ) to Qualified Institutional Buyers in a Private Placement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We hereby refer to the Security Agreement dated as of [β’] (the βSecurity Agreementβ), between [Name of Lender] (βwe,β βourβ or βusβ) and [β’] (βBorrowerβ), pursuant to which Borrower has pledged to us (i) Non-Voting Units (the βNon-Voting Unitsβ) of the Partnership and (ii) Common Units of the Partnership (the βCommon Unitsβ and, together with the Non-Voting Units, the βPledged Unitsβ to secure Borrowerβs obligations pursuant to the Margin Loan Agreement dated as of [β’], 20[β’], among, inter alia, Borrower and Secured Party. Following foreclosure of the Pledged Units by us pursuant to the Security Agreement (including the conversion of Non-Voting Units into Common Units), we propose to sell [β’] Common Units.
In connection with our proposed sale, as pledgee under the Security Agreement, of the Common Units in a private placement exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the βSecurities Actβ), we represent and warrant to you:
(a)Β Β Β Β The Common Units are being sold only to purchasers that are βqualified institutional buyersβ (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or to purchasers that we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believe are βqualified institutional buyersβ (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act). We have notified the purchasers of the restrictions on further transfer of the Common Units, and each purchaser is aware that the Common Units are being sold by us pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act for private placements of securities.
(b)Β Β Β Β The Partnership is subject to Section 13(a) and/or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(c)Β Β Β Β Neither we nor any person acting on our behalf has offered or sold the Common Units by any form of general solicitation or general advertising.
Schedule I-1 to Exhibit B
Very truly yours, | ||
[Name of Lender] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit C
Form of Opinion of Counsel
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as counsel for [Name of Lender] (βSecured Partyβ) in connection with the sale by it of [β’] Common Units (the βCommon Unitsβ) of NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the βPartnershipβ) that were pledged, or received by Secured Party upon foreclosure of the Non-Voting Units of the Partnership pledged, to it by [β’] (βBorrowerβ) to secure Borrowerβs obligations pursuant to the Margin Loan Agreement dated as of [β’], 20[β’], among, inter alia, Borrower and Secured Party.
We have examined a representation letter from Secured Party dated as of [β’] (the βSellerβs Letterβ) with respect to the sale of the Common Units. In rendering the opinion expressed herein, we have relied exclusively on the Sellerβs Letter, a copy of which is attached hereto as Schedule I, as to matters of fact, and we have without independent inquiry or investigation, assumed that (i) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and complete, (ii) all documents submitted to us as copies conform to authentic, complete originals, (iii) all signatures on all documents that we reviewed are genuine, (iv) all natural persons executing documents had and have the legal capacity to do so and (v) all statements in the Sellerβs Letter were and are accurate.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Common Units may be sold by Secured Party as described in the Sellerβs Letter without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in reliance of Rule 144 promulgated thereunder and that any restrictive legends concerning transfers of the Common Units may be removed.
This opinion is limited to the federal securities laws of the United States of America.
This opinion is rendered solely to you in connection with the proposed sale of the Common Units by Secured Party. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or relied upon by any other person or furnished to any other person without our prior written consent (provided that this opinion (x) may be disclosed to persons having regulatory authority over you without our prior consent and (y) may be disclosed in connection with any litigation, arbitration or similar proceeding with respect to the sale of the Common Units by Secured Party).
Very truly yours,
Exhibit C-1
Schedule I to Exhibit C
[Counsel to Lenders]
[Address]
[Address]
NextEra Energy Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Re:Β Β Β Β Sale of [β’] Common Units (the βCommon Unitsβ) of NextEra Energy Partners, LP (the βPartnershipβ) to Qualified Institutional Buyers in a Private Placement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We hereby refer to the Security Agreement dated as of [β’] (the βSecurity Agreementβ), between [Name of Lender] (βwe,β βourβ or βusβ) and [β’] (βBorrowerβ), pursuant to which Borrower has pledged to us (i) Non-Voting Units (the βNon-Voting Unitsβ) of the Partnership and (ii) Common Units of the Partnership (the βCommon Unitsβ and, together with the Non-Voting Units, the βPledged Unitsβ) to secure Borrowerβs obligations pursuant to the Margin Loan Agreement dated as of [β’], 20[β’] among, inter alia, Borrower and Secured Party. Following foreclosure of the Pledged Units by us pursuant to the Security Agreement (including the conversion of Non-Voting Units constituting Pledged Units into Common Units), we propose to sell [β’] Common Units.
In connection with our proposed sale, as pledgee under the Security Agreement, of the Common Units pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the βSecurities Actβ), we represent and warrant to you:
(a)Β Β Β Β We are not an βaffiliateβ of the Partnership within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and have not been such an βaffiliateβ of the Partnership within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act at any time during the three month period ending the date hereof.
(b)Β Β Β Β The Partnership is, and has been for a period of at least 90 days immediately before the proposed date of such proposed sale, subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(c)Β Β Β Β A period of at least [six][twelve] months has elapsed for purposes of Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act since the date the Pledged Units were pledged to us, and the Common Units were acquired from the Partnership solely in exchange for such Non-Voting Units for purposes of Rule 144(d)(3)(ii) under the Securities Act.
(d)Β Β Β Β [The Partnership has satisfied the conditions set forth in Rule 144(c)(1) under the Securities Act at the time of the proposed sale.]
Very truly yours, | ||
[Name of Lender] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit C-1