AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.
Exhibit 3.1
Execution Version
AMENDMENT NO. 3
TO
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.
TO
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.
This Amendment No. 3 (this “Amendment”) to the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”),
dated as of February 8, 2006 (the “Partnership Agreement”), is entered into effective as of May 26,
2010, by LE GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “General Partner”), as the general
partner of the Partnership, on behalf of itself and the Limited Partners of the Partnership.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein are used as defined in the Partnership Agreement.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Section 5.8 of the Partnership Agreement provides that the General Partner, without
the approval of any Limited Partner except as otherwise provided in the Partnership Agreement, may,
for any Partnership purpose, at any time or from time to time, issue additional Partnership
Securities to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as shall be
established by the General Partner in its sole discretion;
WHEREAS, Section 13.1(d)(i) of the Partnership Agreement provides that the General Partner,
without the approval of any Partner, may amend any provision of the Partnership Agreement (to
reflect a change that, the General Partner determines, does not adversely affect the Limited
Partners in any material respect);
WHEREAS, Section 13.1(g) of the Partnership Agreement provides that the General Partner,
without the approval of any Partner, may amend any provision of the Partnership Agreement to
reflect an amendment that, the General Partner determines, is necessary or appropriate in
connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities
pursuant to Section 5.8 of the Partnership Agreement;
WHEREAS, all of the Class C Units were converted into Common Units on February 22, 2007, with
the result that all Class C Units have been canceled and there are no Class C Units Outstanding as
of the date hereof;
WHEREAS, all of the Class B Units were converted into Common Units on March 27, 2007, with the
result that all Class B Units have been canceled and there are no Class B Units Outstanding as of
the date hereof;
WHEREAS, the Partnership has entered into a General Partner Purchase Agreement, dated as of
May 10, 2010 (the “GP Purchase Agreement”), between the Partnership, ETE GP Acquirer LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (“ETE GP Acquirer”) and Regency GP Acquirer, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership (“Regency GP Seller”), pursuant to which Regency GP Seller will transfer (i)
100% of the membership interests in Regency GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“RGPLLC”)
and (ii) the 99.999% limited partner interest in
Regency GP LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“RGPLP” and, together with RGPLLC, the “Regency
GP Entities”) and the general partner of Regency Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (“Regency”) (such interests, together the “Acquired Regency GP Interests”) to ETE GP
Acquirer in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership to Regency GP Seller of 3,000,000 units of
a new class of Partnership Securities to be designated as “Series A Convertible Preferred Units”
with the rights, preferences and privileges and such other terms as are set forth in this
Amendment;
WHEREAS, the General Partner has determined that the creation of the Series A Preferred Units
(as defined below) will be in the best interests of the Partnership and beneficial to the Limited
Partners, including the holders of the Common Units;
WHEREAS, the issuance of the Series A Preferred Units complies with the requirements of the
Partnership Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the General Partner has determined, pursuant to Section 13.1(g) of the Partnership
Agreement, that the amendments to the Partnership Agreement set forth herein are necessary or
appropriate in connection with the authorization of the issuance of the Series A Preferred Units;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
Section 1. Amendments.
(a) Section 1.1 of the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended to add or amend and restate
the following definitions:
“Combined Accretion Multiple” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
5.13(b)(xi)(B).
“Election Notice Period” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
5.13(b)(ix)(A).
“Fair Market Value” means, as of a particular date, (i) for any Marketable
Security, the VWAP Price of such Marketable Security and (ii) for all property other
than a Marketable Security, the value of the property on the date it was distributed
by the Partnership in a Special Distribution, as determined in good faith by the
General Partner.
“Fractional Unit Cash Consideration” has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 5.13(b)(vii)(G).
“Fundamental Change” means (i) any merger or consolidation of the Partnership
with another entity, (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Partnership, (iii) any dissolution or liquidation of the Partnership, (iv) any other
transaction pursuant to which the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General
Partner exercises its rights to purchase all of the Outstanding Common Units
pursuant to Section 15.1 of this Agreement, (v) the sale or transfer, directly
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or indirectly, of the general partner interest of the MLP by the Partnership
(excluding any such sale or transfer to a, direct or indirect, wholly-owned
Subsidiary of the Partnership), (vi) the failure of the Partnership to continue to
maintain, directly or through direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries,
ownership of at least 25,000,000 common units of the MLP (as appropriately adjusted
for unit splits, unit distributions and the like) or (vii) the declaration of a
distribution by the MLP to its unitholders that constitutes a distribution from
Capital Surplus as opposed to Operating Surplus (as each such term is defined in the
MLP Agreement as in effect on the Series A Issuance Date).
“Fundamental Change Conversion Consideration” means (x) if Common Units will
remain Outstanding and continue to constitute Marketable Securities upon
consummation of a Fundamental Change, a number of Common Units equal to (A) the sum
of (1) the Series A Liquidation Value as of the date of consummation of the
Fundamental Change plus (2) the lesser of (a) the Series A Accretion Amount as of
the date of the consummation of a Fundamental Change or (b) $10.00, divided by (B)
the VWAP Price as of the date of the consummation of the Fundamental Change and (y)
in any circumstance not described in clause (x), the consideration received in
connection with such Fundamental Change by a hypothetical holder of the number of
Common Units that would be received by the holder of one Series A Preferred Unit
pursuant to clause (x) had Common Units remained Outstanding and continued to
constitute Marketable Securities upon consummation of such Fundamental Change.
“Fundamental Change Documentation” means any documentation (in addition to any
certificates representing a holder’s Series A Preferred Units) that the General
Partner reasonably requests to be delivered by each holder of Series A Preferred
Units in connection with the conversion or redemption of the Series A Preferred
Units due to a Fundamental Change, including, if applicable, wire transfer
instructions in respect of any cash consideration to be received in connection with
such Fundamental Change.
“Fundamental Change Elected Common Unit Consideration” has the meaning ascribed
to such term in Section 5.13(b)(ix)(C)(a)(i).
“Fundamental Change Elected Cash Consideration” has the meaning ascribed to
such term in Section 5.13(b)(ix)(C)(a)(i).
“Fundamental Change Forced Redemption Election” has the meaning ascribed to
such term in Section 5.13(b)(ix)(A)(a).
“Fundamental Change Redemption Consideration” means (i) an amount in cash equal
to the Series A Liquidation Value as of the date of the consummation of a
Fundamental Change plus (ii) the Fundamental Change Redemption Consideration
Premium.
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“Fundamental Change Redemption Consideration Premium” means, in respect of a
Fundamental Change, (x) if Common Units will remain Outstanding and continue to
constitute Marketable Securities upon the consummation of the Fundamental Change, a
number of Common Units equal to (A) the greater of (1) the Series A Accretion Amount
as of the date of the consummation of a Fundamental Change and (2) $10.00 divided by
(B) the VWAP Price of a Common Unit as of the date of consummation of the
Fundamental Change and (y) in any circumstance not described in clause (x), the
consideration received in connection with such Fundamental Change by a hypothetical
holder of the number of Common Units that would be received by the holder of one
Series A Preferred Unit pursuant to clause (x) had Common Units remained Outstanding
and continued to constitute Marketable Securities upon consummation of such
Fundamental Change.
“Fundamental Change Trigger Date” has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 5.13(b)(ix)(A).
“Investor” means, collectively, Regency GP Seller and each of its Affiliates
from time to time that is the registered holder of any Series A Preferred Units.
“Issue Price” means the price at which a Unit is purchased from the
Partnership, after taking into account any sales commission or underwriting discount
charged to the Partnership and after taking into account any other form of discount
with respect to the price at which a Unit is purchased from the Partnership;
provided, however, that in the case of the Series A Preferred Units, the Issue Price
shall be $100.00 per Unit.
“Junior Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Securities that,
with respect to distributions on such Partnership Securities and distributions upon
liquidation of the Partnership, ranks junior to the Series A Preferred Units,
including but not limited to Common Units.
“Marketable Security” means any security listed on the New York Stock Exchange
or the NASDAQ Stock Market.
“Parity Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Securities that,
with respect to distributions on such Partnership Securities or distributions upon
liquidation of the Partnership, ranks pari passu with the Series A Preferred Units.
“Partnership Event” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
5.13(b)(xi)(A).
“Partnership Event Consummation Date” has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 5.13(b)(xi)(A).
“Post-Partnership Event Accretion Multiple” has the meaning ascribed to such
term in Section 5.13(b)(xi)(B)(b).
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“Pre-Partnership Event Accretion Multiple” has the meaning ascribed to such
term in Section 5.13(b)(xi)(B)(a).
“Public Equity Partnership Event” has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 5.13(b)(xi)(B).
“Record Date” means the date established by the General Partner for determining
(a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any
meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of
Partnership action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in
respect of any lawful action of Limited Partners, (b) the identity of Record Holders
entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer or (c)
the identity of the Record Holders of Series A Preferred Units entitled to convert
such Units or whose Units are to be redeemed.
“Regency GP Purchase Agreement” means the General Partner Purchase Agreement,
dated May 10, 2010, by and between the Partnership, ETE GP Acquirer LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company and Regency GP Seller.
“Regency GP Seller” means Regency GP Acquirer, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership.
“Regulation FD” means Regulation FD as promulgated by the Commission, as the
same may be amended from time to time.
“Securities Law Prohibition” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
5.13(b)(vii)(H).
“Senior Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Securities that,
with respect to distributions on such Partnership Securities or distributions upon
liquidation of the Partnership, ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Units.
“Series A Adjustment Event” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
5.13(b)(xii)(A).
“Series A Accretion Amount” means, as of a particular date (i) $100.00
multiplied by (ii) the Trading Price Accretion Percentage as of such date multiplied
by (iii) twenty-five percent (25%), expressed as a decimal.
“Series A Conversion Cash Consideration” has the meaning ascribed to such term
in Section 5.13(b)(vii)(A)(b)(ii).
“Series A Conversion Consideration” has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 5.13(b)(vii)(A).
“Series A Conversion Documentation” has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 5.13(b)(vii)(C)(c).
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“Series A Conversion Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
5.13(b)(vii)(C).
“Series A Conversion Notice Date” has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 5.13(b)(vii)(C).
“Series A Distribution Payment Date” has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 5.13(b)(ii)(A).
“Series A Distribution Rate” means a fixed rate of $2.00 per Series A Preferred
Unit per Quarter; provided, however, that with respect to the period commencing on
the Series A Issuance Date and ending on the last day of the Quarter in which the
Series A Issuance Date occurs, “Series A Distribution Rate” shall mean a fixed rate
of the product of $2.00 per Series A Preferred Unit multiplied by a fraction of
which the numerator is the number of days in such period and the denominator is 90.
“Series A Exchange Cap” means that number of units of Common Units which the
Partnership may issue upon conversion or redemption, as the case may be, of the
Series A Preferred Units without breaching the Partnership’s obligations under the
rules or regulations of any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units
are listed or admitted to trading.
“Series A Issuance Date” means May 26, 2010.
“Series A Liquidation Value” means as of a particular date, with respect to a
Series A Preferred Unit, the sum of (i) the Issue Price, plus (ii) all accumulated
and unpaid and all accrued and unpaid distributions on such Series A Preferred Unit
pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(ii)(A) as of such date.
“Series A Maturity Date” means May 26, 2014.
“Series A Optional Redemption Trigger Date” means May 26, 2013.
“Series A Preferred Unit” means a Partnership Security representing a
fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees,
and having the rights, preferences and privileges and duties and obligations
specified with respect to the Series A Preferred Units in this Agreement. The term
“Series A Preferred Unit” does not refer to a Common Unit prior to the conversion of
a Series A Preferred Unit into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement.
“Series A Pro Rata Distribution” means, in respect of any Parity Security, the
distribution permitted to be made on such Parity Security in the event that the
Partnership fails to pay in full in cash any distribution (or portion thereof) which
any holder of Series A Preferred Units accrues and is entitled to receive, which is
equal to the distribution payable in respect of such Parity Security as of such
date, multiplied by a fraction (i) the numerator of which is the distribution paid
in
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respect of each Series A Preferred Unit on the most recent Series A
Distribution Payment Date and (ii) the denominator of which is the distribution
accumulated and payable on each Series A Preferred Unit immediately prior to the
payment of such distribution on the most recent Series A Distribution Payment Date.
“Series A Redemption Confirmation” has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 5.13(b)(viii)(C)(b).
“Series A Redemption Consideration” has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 5.13(b)(viii)(A).
“Series A Redemption Documentation” has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 5.13(b)(viii)(C)(b).
“Series A Redemption Date” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
5.13(b)(viii)(C)(a).
“Series A Redemption Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
5.13(b)(viii)(C)(a).
“Special Distribution” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
5.13(b)(xii)(A).
“Successor Securities” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
5.13(b)(xi)(B).
“Trading Price Accretion Percentage” as of a particular date means, subject to
adjustment pursuant to Sections 5.13(b)(xi)(B) and 5.13(b)(xii)(A), a fraction, (i)
the numerator of which equals (A) the VWAP Price of a Common Unit as of such date
minus (B) the VWAP Price of a Common Unit as of the Series A Issuance Date and (ii)
the denominator of which equals the VWAP Price of a Common Unit as of the Series A
Issuance Date, provided that, if the numerator of the foregoing fraction is a
negative amount, then the trading Price Accretion Percentage shall equal zero.
“VWAP Price” as of a particular date means the volume-weighted average trading
price of a Common Unit on the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units
are listed or admitted to trading, calculated over the consecutive 10-Trading Day
period ending on the close of trading on the Trading Day immediately prior to such
date; provided, however, that the “VWAP Price” as of a particular date following
consummation of a Public Equity Partnership Event shall mean the volume-weighted
average trading price of the Successor Securities on the National Securities
Exchange on which the Successor Securities are listed or admitted to trading,
calculated over the consecutive 10-Trading Day period ending on the close of trading
on the Trading Day immediately prior to such date.
(b) Section 1.1 of the Partnership Agreement is hereby further amended to add the following
sentence to the end of the definition of “Common Unit”:
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“The term “Common Unit” does not refer to a Series A Preferred Unit prior to
the conversion of such Unit into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.”
(c) Section 4.7(c) of the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its
entirety as follows:
“(c) The transfer of a Series A Preferred Unit shall be subject to the
restrictions imposed by Section 5.13(b)(x) and Section 6.6.”
(d) Section 5.6(a) of the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its
entirety as follows:
“The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of
Partnership Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has
furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section
6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a
Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership
Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and the methodology set forth in Proposed Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the
amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such
Partnership Interest pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) all items of Partnership
income and gain (including, without limitation, income and gain exempt from tax)
computed in accordance with Section 5.6(b) and allocated with respect to such
Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and decreased by (x) the amount of
cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property
made with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to this Agreement and (y)
all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section
5.6(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section
6.1. The Partnership shall follow the methodology set forth in the proposed
noncompensatory option regulations under Proposed Treasury Regulation Sections
1.704-1, 1.721-2 and 1.761-3 at all times, including when the assets of the
Partnership are revalued or any Series A Preferred Units are converted pursuant to
Section 5.13. For the avoidance of doubt, the Series A Preferred Units will be
treated as a partnership interest in the Partnership for federal income tax
purposes, and, therefore, each holder of a Series A Preferred Unit will be treated
as a partner in the Partnership.”
(e) Section 5.6(d)(i) of the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in
its entirety as follows:
“(i) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and
Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s), on an issuance of
additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of
Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the conversion
of the General Partner’s Combined Interest to Units pursuant to
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Section 11.3(b) or the conversion of a Series A Preferred Unit, the Capital
Account of all Partners and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property
immediately prior to such issuance, or immediately after such conversion (with
respect to the conversion of a Series A Preferred Unit), shall be adjusted upward or
downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such
Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been
recognized on an actual sale of each such property immediately prior to such
issuance or on the date of such conversion. Any such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized
Loss (or items thereof) shall be allocated (A) if the operation of this sentence is
triggered by the conversion of a Series A Preferred Unit, first to the Partners
holding converted Series A Preferred Units until the Capital Account of each
converted Series A Preferred Unit is equal to the Per Unit Capital Amount for a then
Outstanding Common Unit (other than a converted Series A Preferred Unit), and (B)
any remaining Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be allocated among the
Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(c) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss
actually recognized would have been allocated. If the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized
Loss allocated as a result of the conversion of a Series A Preferred Unit is not
sufficient to cause the Capital Account of each converted Series A Preferred Unit to
equal the Per Unit Capital Amount for a then Outstanding Common Unit (other than a
converted Series A Preferred Unit), then Capital Account balances shall be
reallocated between the Partners holding converted Series A Preferred Units and the
Partners holding Common Units (other than converted Series A Preferred Units) so as
to cause the Capital Account of each converted Series A Preferred Unit to equal the
Per Unit Capital Amount for a then Outstanding Common Unit (other than a converted
Series A Preferred Unit), in accordance with Proposed Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(3). In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss,
the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets
(including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the
issuance of additional Partnership Interests shall be determined by the General
Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt; provided, however, that the
General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into account the
fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time and must
reduce the fair market value of all Partnership assets by the excess, if any, of the
fair market value of any Outstanding Series A Preferred Units that have not yet been
converted over the aggregate Issue Price of such Series A Preferred Units to the
extent of any Unrealized Gain that has not been reflected in the Partners’ Capital
Accounts previously, pursuant to Proposed Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2). The General Partner shall allocate such aggregate value
among the assets of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines) to arrive at a
fair market value for individual properties.”
(f) Article V of the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended to add a new Section 5.13
creating a new series of Units as follows:
“Section 5.13 Establishment of Series A Preferred Units.
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(a) General. The General Partner hereby designates and creates a series of
Units to be designated as “Series A Convertible Preferred Units” and consisting of
a total of 3,000,000 Series A Preferred Units, having the same rights, preferences
and privileges, and subject to the same duties and obligations, as the Common
Units, except as set forth in this Section 5.13 and in Sections 5.6(d)(i), 6.6 and
12.10. The class of Series A Preferred Units shall be closed immediately following
the Series A Issuance Date and thereafter no additional Series A Preferred Units
shall be designated, created or issued without the prior written approval of the
General Partner and the holders of a majority of the Outstanding Series A Preferred
Units. The initial Capital Account balance in respect of each Series A Preferred
Unit issued on the Series A Issuance Date shall be the Issue Price for such Series
A Preferred Unit.
(b) Rights of Series A Preferred Units. The Series A Preferred Units shall
have the following rights, preferences and privileges and shall be subject to the
following duties and obligations:
(i) Allocations.
(A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section
6.1(a), prior to any allocation made pursuant to Section 6.1(a),
but after giving effect to any special allocations set forth in
Section 6.1(d), any Net Income shall be allocated to all
Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the
Capital Account in respect of each Outstanding Series A Preferred
Unit is equal to the Series A Liquidation Value.
(B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section
6.1(b), Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units shall not
receive any allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(b) unless and until
the Adjusted Capital Accounts of all other Partners have been
reduced to zero, in which case prior to allocating any remaining
Net Losses to the General Partner, Net Losses shall be allocated to
all Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until
the Adjusted Capital Accounts of such Unitholders in respect of
such Units have been reduced to zero.
(C) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section
6.1(c)(i), (x) Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units shall be
allocated Net Termination Gain in accordance with Section
6.1(c)(i)(A) but shall not receive any allocation pursuant to
Sections 6.1(c)(i)(B) – (D) with respect to their Series A Preferred
Units, and (y) following any allocation made pursuant to Section
6.1(c)(i)(A) and prior to any allocation made pursuant to Section
6.1(c)(i)(B), any remaining Net Termination Gain shall be allocated
to all Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units, Pro
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Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Outstanding
Series A Preferred Unit is equal to the Series A Liquidation Value.
(D) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section
6.1(c)(ii), (x) Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units shall
not receive any allocation pursuant to Sections 6.1(c)(ii)(A) with
respect to their Series A Preferred Units, and (y) following the
allocations made pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(A), and prior to any
allocation made pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(B), any remaining Net
Termination Loss shall be allocated to all Unitholders holding Series
A Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of
each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit has been reduced to zero.
(ii) Distributions.
(A) Commencing on the Series A Issuance Date, the holders of the
Series A Preferred Units as of an applicable Record Date shall accrue
and be entitled to receive cumulative distributions, prior to any
other distributions pursuant to Section 6.3, in cash in an amount
equal to the Series A Distribution Rate on each Outstanding Series A
Preferred Unit. All such distributions shall be paid Quarterly, in
arrears, within fifty (50) days after the end of each Quarter (a
“Series A Distribution Payment Date”). If the Partnership fails to
pay in full in cash any distribution (or portion thereof) which any
holder of Series A Preferred Units accrues and is entitled to receive
pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(ii)(A), then (x) the amount of such
accrued and unpaid distributions will accumulate until paid in full
in cash and (y) the Partnership shall not be permitted to, and shall
not, declare or make (i) any distributions in respect of any Junior
Securities and (ii) any distributions in respect of any Parity
Securities, other than Series A Pro Rata Distributions, unless and
until all accrued and accumulated distributions on the Series A
Preferred Units has been paid in full in cash.
(B) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.13(b)(ii) to the
contrary, with respect to Series A Preferred Units that are converted
into Common Units, the holder thereof shall not be entitled to a
Series A Preferred Unit distribution and a Common Unit distribution
with respect to the same period, but shall be entitled only to the
distribution to be paid based upon the class of Units held as of the
close of business on the Record Date for the distribution in respect
of such period.
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(C) Accrued and unpaid distributions in respect of the Series A
Preferred Units will not accrue interest.
(iii) Issuance of Series A Preferred Units. The Series A Preferred
Units shall be issued by the Partnership pursuant to the terms and
conditions of the Regency GP Purchase Agreement.
(iv) Liquidation Value. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Partnership, either voluntary or involuntary, the
holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall be entitled to receive, out of
the assets of the Partnership available for distribution to Unitholders,
prior and in preference to any distribution of any assets of the Partnership
to the holders of any other class or series of Partnership Securities, the
positive value in each such holder’s Capital Account in respect of such
Series A Preferred Units. If in the year of such liquidation, dissolution
or winding up any such holder’s Capital Account in respect of such Series A
Preferred Units is less than the aggregate Series A Liquidation Value of
such Series A Preferred Units, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, and prior to any other allocation pursuant to
this Agreement for such year and prior to any distribution pursuant to the
preceding sentence, items of gross income and gain shall be allocated to all
Unitholders holding Series A Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital
Account in respect of each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit is equal to
the Series A Liquidation Value (and no other allocation pursuant to this
Agreement shall reverse the effect of such allocation). If in the year of
such liquidation, dissolution or winding up any such holder’s Capital
Account in respect of such Series A Preferred Units is less than the
aggregate Series A Liquidation Value of such Series A Preferred Units after
the application of the preceding sentence, then to the extent permitted by
law and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, items of gross income and gain for any preceding taxable
period(s) with respect to which Schedule K-1s have not been filed by the
Partnership shall be reallocated to all Unitholders holding Series A
Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each
Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit is equal to the Series A Liquidation
Value (and no other allocation pursuant to this Agreement shall reverse the
effect of such allocation).
(v) Voting Rights.
(A) The Series A Preferred Units shall not be entitled to vote on any
matters related to the Partnership other than as expressly provided in this
Section 5.13(b)(v).
(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in addition
to all other requirements imposed by Delaware law, and all other
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voting rights granted under this Agreement, the affirmative vote of
holders of a majority of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, voting
separately as a class with one vote per Series A Preferred Unit, shall be
necessary to amend this Agreement in any manner that (i) alters or changes
the rights, preferences or privileges or duties and obligations of the
Series A Preferred Units, (ii) increases or decreases the authorized number
of Series A Preferred Units (including without limitation any issuance of
additional Series A Preferred Units), or (iii) otherwise adversely affects
the Series A Preferred Units in any material respect, including without
limitation the creation (by reclassification or otherwise) of any class of
Senior Securities (or amending the provisions of any existing class of
Partnership Securities to make such class of Partnership Securities a class
of Senior Securities); provided, however, that the Partnership may, without
the consent or approval of the holders of the Series A Preferred Units (a)
create (by reclassification or otherwise) and issue Junior Securities and
Parity Securities (including by amending the provisions of any existing
class of Partnership Securities to make such class of Partnership Securities
a class of Junior Securities or Parity Securities) in an unlimited amount
and (b) consummate any Fundamental Change.
(vi) Certificates.
(A) The Series A Preferred Units shall be evidenced by certificates in
such form as the General Partner may approve and, subject to the
satisfaction of any applicable legal, regulatory and contractual
requirements, may be assigned or transferred in a manner identical to the
assignment and transfer of other Units; unless and until the General Partner
determines to assign the responsibility to another Person, the General
Partner will act as the registrar and transfer agent for the Series A
Preferred Units. The certificates evidencing Series A Preferred Units shall
be separately identified and shall not bear the same CUSIP number as the
certificates evidencing Common Units.
(B) The certificate(s) representing the Series A Preferred Units may be
imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form (in addition to
the legend required pursuant to Section 4.7(e)):
“THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN
EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
(THE “SECURITIES ACT”) AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE THIRD AMENDED AND
RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P., AS
AMENDED. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF ENERGY
13
TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD,
PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER 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 ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.
UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUITY, L.P. 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). LE GP, LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF
ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P., MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE
TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH
RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUITY, L.P. BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE
AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. 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.”
(vii) Conversion.
(A) Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 5.13(b)(xi) and
(xii), immediately prior to the close of business on the Series A Maturity
Date, each Series A Preferred Unit shall convert into the right to receive,
upon the satisfaction of the terms and conditions of this Section
5.13(b)(vii), at the election of the Partnership, either:
a. a number of Common Units equal to:
i. the sum of (A) the Series A Liquidation Value as of the
Series A Maturity Date plus (B) the lesser of (1) the Series A
Accretion Amount as of the Series A Maturity Date and (2) $10.00,
divided by
ii. the VWAP Price as of the Series A Maturity Date; or
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b. a number of Common Units and an amount of cash equal to:
i. a number of Common Units equal to (x) the sum of (A) fifty
percent (50%) of the Series A Liquidation Value as of the Series A
Maturity Date plus (B) the lesser of (1) the Series A Accretion
Amount as of the Series A Maturity Date and (2) $10.00, divided by
(y) the VWAP Price as of the Series A Maturity Date, and
ii. an amount of cash equal to fifty percent (50%) of the
Series A Liquidation Value as of the Series A Maturity Date (the cash
consideration to be received pursuant to this clause (ii), the
“Series A Conversion Cash Consideration”).
The consideration to be received by the holder of a Series A Preferred Unit
upon the conversion of such Series A Preferred Unit as provided in this
Section 5.13(b)(vii)(A) is referred to as the “Series A Conversion
Consideration.”
(B) Any Common Units received by a holder of Series A Preferred Units
as the Series A Conversion Consideration shall be fully paid, validly issued
and non-assessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by
matters described in Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware
Act). Immediately prior to the close of business on the Series A Maturity
Date, all Series A Preferred Units shall be converted automatically into and
shall thereafter represent solely the right to receive the Series A
Conversion Consideration. All Series A Preferred Units that have converted
into the right to receive the Series A Conversion Consideration shall be
automatically canceled and shall cease to exist, and the holders of
converted Series A Preferred Units shall cease to have any rights with
respect to such Series A Preferred Units other than the right to receive the
Series A Conversion Consideration. Upon such conversion, any certificates
representing Series A Preferred Units shall thereafter represent solely the
right to receive the Series A Conversion Consideration.
(C) Within two Business Days following the Series A Maturity Date, the
Partnership shall send written notice (a “Series A Conversion Notice”) to
each holder of record of Outstanding Series A Preferred Units as of the
Series A Maturity Date, stating:
a. the election of the Partnership as to whether the Series A
Preferred Units have converted into (i) Common Units pursuant to Section
5.13(b)(vii)(A)(a) or (ii) both Common Units and the Series A Conversion
Cash Consideration pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(vii)(A)(b);
15
b. the Partnership’s computation of the number of Common Units to be
issued and the amount of Series A Conversion Cash Consideration, if any, to
be paid in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit pursuant to Section
5.13(b)(vii)(A) (including, in each case, any adjustments pursuant to
Sections 5.13(b)(xi) and (xii)), including the Partnership’s computation of
the Series A Liquidation Value, the Series A Accretion Amount and the VWAP
Price, in each case as of the Series A Maturity Date; and
c. that the holder must surrender the certificate or certificates
representing any Series A Preferred Units held by such holder to the
Partnership, and provide such other documentation as reasonably requested by
the General Partner including wire transfer instructions in respect of any
Series A Cash Conversion Cash Consideration or any Fractional Unit Cash
Consideration (the “Series A Conversion Documentation”), in order to receive
the Series A Conversion Consideration.
In addition to delivery in accordance with the general notice provisions
contained in Section 17.1, the Series A Conversion Notice shall be deemed
properly delivered on the date the Partnership issues a press release
distributed through a widely circulated news or wire service as would
satisfy the requirements of Regulation FD, containing the information
required to be included in the Series A Conversion Notice pursuant to this
Section 5.13(b)(vii)(C). The date any Series A Conversion Notice is deemed
delivered shall be referred to as the “Series A Conversion Notice Date.”
(D) As promptly as practicable following the Series A Conversion Notice
Date and subject to the book-entry provisions set forth below, the holders
of Series A Preferred Units shall surrender the certificate or certificates
representing the Series A Preferred Units being converted, duly endorsed, at
the office of the Partnership or, if identified in the Series A Conversion
Notice to such holder by the Partnership, at the offices of any transfer
agent for such Units, together with the Series A Conversion
Documentation. As promptly as practicable following the receipt of such
certificate or certificates (or a lost unit affidavit reasonably acceptable
to the Partnership in the event of a lost certificate) representing the
Series A Preferred Units and the Series A Conversion Documentation by the
Partnership or the Transfer Agent as provided in the immediately preceding
sentence (but in any event no later than five (5) Business Days thereafter),
the Partnership shall issue to such holder a certificate or certificates for
the number of Common Units to which such holder shall be entitled under
Section 5.13(b)(vii)(A) (with the number of and denomination of such
certificates designated by such holder). In lieu of delivering physical
certificates representing the Common Units issuable
16
upon conversion of Series A Preferred Units, provided the Transfer
Agent is participating in the Depository’s Fast Automated Securities
Transfer program, upon request of the holder, the Partnership shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Transfer Agent to
electronically transmit the Common Units issuable upon conversion to the
holder, by crediting the account of the holder’s prime broker with the
Depository through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission (DWAC) system.
The holders of Series A Preferred Units and the Partnership agree to
coordinate with the Depository to accomplish this objective. The conversion
pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(vii) shall be deemed to have occurred
immediately prior to the close of business on the Series A Maturity Date
(whether or not the conversion includes the right to receive Series A Cash
Consideration under Section 5.13(b)(vii)(A)(b) or Fractional Unit Cash
Consideration under Section 5.13(b)(vii)(G)). The Person or Persons
entitled to receive the Common Units issuable upon such conversion shall be
treated for all purposes as the Record Holder or Holders of such Common
Units at the close of business on the Series A Maturity Date.
(E) If the Partnership (i) elects to have the Series A Preferred Units
convert into both Common Units and the right to receive the Series A
Conversion Cash Consideration under Section 5.13(b)(vii)(A)(b) or (ii) is
required to pay Fractional Unit Cash Consideration pursuant to Section
5.13(b)(vii)(G), then, as promptly as practicable following the receipt of
such certificate or certificates (or a lost unit certificate affidavit
reasonably acceptable to the Partnership in the event of a lost certificate)
representing the Series A Preferred Units and the Series A Conversion
Documentation by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent as provided in the
first sentence of Section 5.13(b)(vii)(D) (but in any event within five (5)
Business Days thereafter), the Partnership shall remit the Series A Cash
Conversion Consideration and the Fractional Unit Cash Consideration, as
applicable, to the holder surrendering such certificate or certificates (or
a lost unit affidavit reasonably acceptable to the Partnership in the event
of a lost certificate) representing Series A Preferred Units by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by such
holder in writing.
(F) The Partnership shall pay any and all issue, documentary, stamp and
other taxes, excluding any income, franchise or similar taxes, that may be
payable in respect of any issue or delivery of Common Units on conversion
of, or payment of distributions on, Series A Preferred Units pursuant
hereto. However, the holder of any Series A Preferred Units shall pay any
tax that is due because the Common Units issuable upon conversion thereof or
distribution payment thereon are issued in a name other than such holder’s
name.
17
(G) No fractional Common Units shall be issued upon the conversion of
any Series A Preferred Units. All Common Units (including fractions thereof)
issuable upon conversion of more than one Series A Preferred Unit by a
holder thereof shall be aggregated for purposes of determining whether the
conversion would result in the issuance of any fractional unit. If, after
the aforementioned aggregation, the conversion would result in the issuance
of a fraction of a Common Unit, the Partnership shall, in lieu of issuing
any fractional unit, either round up the number of units to the next highest
whole number or, at the Partnership’s option, pay the holder otherwise
entitled to such fraction a sum in cash equal to such fraction multiplied by
the VWAP Price as of the Series A Maturity Date. The consideration payable
in lieu of fractional Common Units pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(vii)(G)
as well as any consideration payable in lieu of fractional Common Units
pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(viii)(F), are referred to as “Fractional Unit
Cash Consideration.”
(H) The Partnership shall not be obligated to issue any Common Units
upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Units, whether pursuant to this
Section 5.13(b)(vii), or otherwise, if the issuance of such Common Units
would exceed the Series A Exchange Cap or if such issuance could reasonably
be expected to violate any 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 issuance (a “Securities Law Prohibition”). To the extent that a
holder’s Series A Preferred Units would otherwise be converted into a number
of Common Units that would exceed the Series A Exchange Cap, the Partnership
shall pay in cash to such holder an amount equal to the VWAP Price as of the
Series A Maturity Date multiplied by the number of Common Units that are not
so issued but would otherwise be issuable as part of the Series A Conversion
Consideration absent such Series A Exchange Cap or Securities Law
Prohibition.
(I) Any Common Units issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred
Units pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(vii) shall not be subject to the
first proviso contained in the definition of “Outstanding” contained in this
Agreement for so long as held by the Investor.
(viii) Optional Redemption.
(A) Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 5.13(b)(xi) and
(xii), beginning on the Series A Optional Redemption Trigger Date and ending
on the last Business Day immediately prior to the Series A Maturity Date,
the Partnership may, at its option, cause all, but not less than all, of the
Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed by the Partnership for (a) cash in
an amount per Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit equal to the Series A
Liquidation Value on the Series A Redemption Date plus (b) a
18
number of Common Units per Outstanding Series A Preferred Units equal
to (i) the greater of (x) the Series A Accretion Amount on the Series A
Redemption Date and (y) $10.00 (such cash amount, the “Series A Redemption
Consideration”) divided by (ii) the VWAP Price as of the Series A Redemption
Date.
(B) Any Common Units received by a holder of Series A Preferred Units
as the Series A Redemption Consideration shall be fully paid, validly issued
and non-assessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by
matters described in Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware
Act). At the time of the redemption pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(viii),
all Series A Preferred Units shall be converted automatically into and shall
thereafter represent solely the right to receive the Series A Redemption
Consideration. All such Series A Preferred Units that have converted into
the right to receive the Series A Redemption Consideration shall be
automatically canceled and shall cease to exist, and the holders of redeemed
Series A Preferred Units shall cease to have any rights with respect to such
Series A Preferred Units other than the right to receive the Series A
Redemption Consideration. Upon such conversion, any certificates
representing Series A Preferred Units shall thereafter represent solely the
right to receive the Series A Redemption Consideration.
(C) To redeem Series A Preferred Units pursuant to this Section
5.13(b)(viii), the Partnership shall:
a. no earlier than 30 days nor later than two days prior to the Series
A Redemption Date, send a written notice (the “Series A Redemption Notice”)
to each holder of record of Outstanding Series A Preferred Units as of the
date of such notice stating that the Series A Preferred Units will be
redeemed pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(viii) effective as of the date set
forth in the Series A Redemption Notice (the “Series A Redemption Date”);
and
b. as promptly as practicable following the Series A Redemption Date,
send a written notice (a “Series A Redemption Confirmation”) to each holder
of record of Outstanding Series A Preferred Units as of the Series A
Redemption Date stating: (i) that the Series A Preferred Units have been
redeemed pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(viii) effective as of the Series A
Redemption Date; (ii) the Partnership’s computation of the amount of Series
A Redemption Consideration to be paid in respect of each Series A Preferred
Unit pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(viii)(A) (including any adjustments
pursuant to Sections 5.13(b)(xi) and (xii)), including the Partnership’s
computation of the Series A Liquidation Value, the Series A Accretion Amount
and the VWAP Price, in each case as of the Series A Redemption Date; and
(iii) that such
19
holder must surrender the certificate or certificates representing any
Series A Preferred Units held by such holder to the Partnership and provide
such other documentation as reasonably requested by the General Partner
including wire transfer instructions in respect of the Series A Redemption
Consideration (the “Series A Redemption Documentation”), in order to receive
the Series A Redemption Consideration.
In addition to delivery in accordance with the general notice provisions
contained in Section 17.1, the Series A Redemption Notice and/or a Series A
Redemption Confirmation shall be deemed properly delivered on the date the
Partnership issues a press release distributed through a widely circulated
news or wire service as would satisfy the requirements of Regulation FD,
containing the information required to be included in the Series A
Redemption Notice pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(viii)(C).
(D) As promptly as practicable following the Series A Redemption Date,
the holders of Series A Preferred Units shall surrender the certificate or
certificates representing the Series A Preferred Units being redeemed, duly
endorsed, at the office of the Partnership or, if identified in the Series A
Redemption Notice to such holder by the Partnership, at the offices of any
transfer agent for such Units, together with the Series A Redemption
Documentation. As promptly as practicable following the receipt of such
certificate or certificates (or a lost unit affidavit reasonably acceptable
to the Partnership in the event of a lost certificate) representing the
Series A Preferred Units and the Series A Conversion Documentation by the
Partnership or the Transfer Agent as provided in the immediately preceding
sentence (but in any event no later than five (5) Business Days thereafter),
the Partnership shall:
a. issue to such holder a certificate or certificates for the number of
Common Units to which such holder shall be entitled under Section
5.13(b)(viii)(A) (with the number of and denomination of such certificates
designated by such holder). In lieu of delivering physical certificates
representing the Common Units issuable upon redemption of Series A Preferred
Units, provided the Transfer Agent is participating in the Depository’s Fast
Automated Securities Transfer program, upon request of the holder, the
Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
Transfer Agent to electronically transmit the Common Units issuable upon
redemption to the holder, by crediting the account of the holder’s prime
broker with the Depository through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission
(DWAC) system. The holders of Series A Preferred Units and the Partnership
agree to coordinate with the Depository to accomplish this objective; and
b. remit the applicable cash portion of the Series A Redemption
Consideration to the holder surrendering such certificate or
20
certificates representing Series A Preferred Units by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account specified by such holder in
writing.
The redemption pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(viii) shall be deemed to
have occurred immediately prior to the close of business on the Series A
Redemption Date. The Person or Persons entitled to receive the Common Units
issuable upon such redemption shall be treated for all purposes as the
Record Holder or Holders of such Common Units at the close of business on
the Series A Maturity Date.
(E) The Partnership shall pay any and all issue, documentary, stamp and
other taxes, excluding any income, franchise or similar taxes, that may be
payable in respect of any issue or delivery of Common Units on redemption
of, or payment of distributions on, Series A Preferred Units pursuant
hereto. However, the holder of any Series A Preferred Units shall pay any
tax that is due because the Common Units issuable upon redemption thereof or
distribution payment thereon are issued in a name other than such holder’s
name.
(F) No fractional Common Units shall be issued upon the redemption of
any Series A Preferred Units. All Common Units (including fractions thereof)
issuable upon redemption of more than one Series A Preferred Unit by a
holder thereof shall be aggregated for purposes of determining whether the
redemption would result in the issuance of any fractional unit. If, after
the aforementioned aggregation, the redemption would result in the issuance
of a fraction of a Common Unit, the Partnership shall, in lieu of issuing
any fractional unit, either round up the number of units to the next highest
whole number or, at the Partnership’s option, pay the holder otherwise
entitled to such fraction a sum in cash equal to such fraction multiplied by
the VWAP Price as of the Series A Redemption Date.
(G) The Partnership shall not be obligated to issue any Common Units
upon redemption of the Series A Preferred Units, whether pursuant to this
Section 5.13(b)(viii), or otherwise, if the issuance of such Common Units
would exceed the Series A Exchange Cap or if such issuance could reasonably
be expected to conflict with a Securities Laws Prohibition. To the extent
that a holder’s Series A Preferred Units would otherwise be redeemed for a
number of Common Units that would exceed the Series A Exchange Cap, the
Partnership shall pay in cash to such holder an amount equal to the VWAP
Price as of the Series A Redemption Date multiplied by the number of Common
Units that are not so issued but would otherwise be issuable as part of the
Series A Redemption Consideration absent such Series A Exchange Cap or
Securities Law Prohibition.
21
(H) Any Common Units issued upon redemption of the Series A Preferred
Units pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(viii) shall not be subject to the
first proviso contained in the definition of “Outstanding” contained in this
Agreement for so long as held by the Investor.
(ix) Fundamental Change.
(A) If on the earlier of the date (x) the Partnership enters into a
definitive agreement to consummate a Fundamental Change, (y) of the
consummation of a Fundamental Change or (z) of the declaration of a
distribution by the MLP described in subsection (vii) of the definition of
Fundamental Change (the “Fundamental Change Trigger Date”), Investor holds,
in the aggregate, at least fifty percent (50%) of the Series A Preferred
Units issued pursuant to the Regency GP Purchase Agreement, then the
Partnership will within 10 Business Days of such date send a written notice
to the Investor stating the nature of the Fundamental Change, including a
description of the material terms of the transaction constituting a
Fundamental Change and, if the Fundamental Change has not yet occurred, the
date or expected date of consummation. No later than 10 Business Days
following delivery of the notice provided for in the previous sentence (the
“Election Notice Period”), the Investor may, in its sole discretion, deliver
written notice to the Partnership of its election, in its sole discretion,
to:
a. upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in
subsections (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of the definition of Fundamental
Change, require the Partnership to redeem all of the Outstanding
Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(ix)(B)(a) (a
“Fundamental Change Forced Redemption Election”); or
b. upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in
subsections (v), (vi) or (vii) of the definition of Fundamental
Change, require the Partnership to elect to convert or redeem the
Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(ix)(C).
If at any time the Investor does not hold, in the aggregate, at least fifty
percent (50%) of the Series A Preferred Units issued pursuant to the Regency
GP Purchase Agreement, then the provisions of this Section 5.13(b)(ix) shall
immediately cease to have any force or effect and the Investor and the
holders of Series A Preferred Units shall have no rights hereunder,
regardless of whether or not the Investor subsequently acquires additional
Series A Preferred Units.
(B) Upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in subsections
(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of the definition of Fundamental Change:
22
a. If the Investor timely makes a Fundamental Change Forced Redemption
Election, then the Partnership will redeem all of the Outstanding Series A
Preferred Units for cash and Common Units in an amount per Outstanding
Series A Preferred Unit equal to the Fundamental Change Redemption
Consideration.
i. Subject to Section 5.13(b)(ix)(B)(a)(ii), in connection with
a redemption pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(ix)(B)(a), the
Partnership will deliver notice of the redemption, the Series A
Preferred Units will be canceled, the certificates representing
Series A Preferred Units will be surrendered in exchange for the
issuance of Common Units and the cash portion of the Fundamental
Change Redemption Consideration and any Fractional Unit Cash
Consideration will be paid, each in a manner consistent with the
provisions of Section 5.13(b)(viii)(B)-(H), except that, for purposes
of applying such provisions to a redemption pursuant to this Section
5.13(b)(ix)(B)(a), (A) all references to the “Series A Redemption
Consideration” will mean the “Fundamental Change Redemption
Consideration,” (B) all references to “Series A Redemption Date” will
mean the time immediately prior to the consummation of the
Fundamental Change, (C) all references to “Series A Redemption
Documentation” will mean “Fundamental Change Documentation,” (D) the
Partnership must deliver the Series A Redemption Notice no later than
two Business Days following the later of the date of consummation of
the Fundamental Change and the expiration of the Election Notice
Period and (E) references to Section 5.13(b)(viii)(A) shall mean a
redemption pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(ix)(B)(a).
ii. In the event the Fundamental Change Redemption Consideration
Premium does not consist of Common Units, the Partnership shall (i)
make appropriate provision, in the definitive transaction document
governing the Fundamental Change or otherwise, to ensure that the
holders of Series A Preferred Units receive the Fundamental Change
Redemption Consideration (including the Fundamental Change Redemption
Consideration Premium) reasonably promptly following such Fundamental
Change upon the surrender of their certificates representing Series A
Preferred Units and (ii) deliver reasonable notice of such provisions
to the holders of Series A Preferred Units (which notice may be
delivered in a manner consistent with that contemplated for delivery
of a Series A Redemption Notice pursuant to Section
5.13(b)(viii)(C)).
23
b. If the Investor does not timely make a Fundamental Change Forced
Redemption Election, then each Series A Preferred Unit Outstanding
immediately prior to the consummation of the Fundamental Change will
automatically be converted into the right to receive the Fundamental Change
Conversion Consideration pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(ix)(B)(b).
i. In the event the Fundamental Change Conversion Consideration
consists of Common Units, the Partnership will deliver notice of the
conversion, the Series A Preferred Units will be canceled, the
certificates representing Series A Preferred Units will be
surrendered in exchange for the issuance of Common Units and
Fractional Unit Cash Consideration will be paid, each in a manner
consistent with the provisions of Section 5.13(b)(vii)(B)-(I), except
that, for purposes of applying such provisions to a conversion
pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(ix)(B)(b), (A) all references to the
“Series A Conversion Consideration” will mean the “Fundamental Change
Conversion Consideration,” (B) all references to the “Series A
Maturity Date” will mean the time immediately prior to the
consummation of the Fundamental Change, (C) all references to “Series
A Conversion Documentation” will mean “Fundamental Change
Documentation,” (D) the Partnership must deliver the Series A
Conversion Notice no later than two Business Days following the later
of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Change and the
expiration of the Election Notice Period, (E) Section
5.13(b)(vii)(C)(a) shall be inapplicable, (F) references to Section
5.13(b)(vii)(A) shall mean a conversion pursuant to Section
5.13(b)(ix)(B)(b) and (G) Section 5.13(b)(vii)(H) shall apply to any
Common Units that would otherwise be issuable as a result of the
Fundamental Change.
ii. In the event the Fundamental Change Conversion Consideration
does not consist of Common Units, the Partnership shall (i) make
appropriate provision, in the definitive transaction document
governing the Fundamental Change or otherwise, to ensure that the
holders of Series A Preferred Units receive the Fundamental Change
Conversion Consideration reasonably promptly following such
Fundamental Change upon the surrender of their certificates
representing Series A Preferred Units and (ii) deliver reasonable
notice of such provisions to the holders of Series A Preferred Units
(which notice may be delivered in a manner consistent with that
contemplated for delivery of a Series A Conversion Notice pursuant to
Section 5.13(b)(vii)(C)).
24
(C) a. Upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in
subsections (v), (vi) or (vii) of the definition of Fundamental Change and
the election of the Investor to require the Partnership to elect to convert
or redeem the Series A Preferred Units pursuant to this Section
5.13(b)(ix)(C), the Partnership will, within two Business Days following the
later of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Change and the
expiration of the Election Notice Period, deliver written notice to the
holders of all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units as of the date of
consummation of such Fundamental Change, stating (i) the Partnership’s
election to either (x) convert each of the Series A Preferred Units
Outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of the Fundamental Change
into, for each Series A Preferred Unit then Outstanding, the right to
receive a number of Common Units equal to (A) the Series A Liquidation Value
on the date of consummation of the Fundamental Change divided by (B) the
VWAP Price as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Change (the
“Fundamental Change Elected Common Unit Consideration”) or (y) redeem each
of the Series A Preferred Units Outstanding immediately prior to the
consummation of the Fundamental Change for an amount in cash per Series A
Preferred Unit then Outstanding equal to the Series A Liquidation Value on
the date of the consummation of the Fundamental Change (the “Fundamental
Change Elected Cash Consideration”), (ii) the Partnership’s calculation of
the Fundamental Change Elected Common Unit Consideration or Fundamental
Change Elected Cash Consideration, as applicable, and (iii) that the holder
must surrender the certificate or certificates representing Series A
Preferred Units to the Partnership, together with the Fundamental Change
Documentation, in order to receive the Fundamental Change Elected Common
Unit Consideration or the Fundamental Change Elected Cash Consideration, as
applicable. In addition to delivery in accordance with the general notice
provisions contained in Section 17.1, any notice required to be delivered by
the Partnership pursuant to this section shall be deemed properly delivered
on the date the Partnership issues a press release distributed through a
widely circulated news or wire service as would satisfy the requirements of
Regulation FD, containing the information required to be included in such
notice.
b. In addition to the requirements of Section 5.13(b)(ix)(C)(a) and
(c), upon the declaration of a distribution by the MLP described in
subsection (vii) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the Partnership
will promptly give written notice to the Investor of such declaration and,
if (x) the Investor delivers written notice to the Partnership no later than
two Business Days after receipt of such notice from the Partnership and the
Partnership elects to issue the Fundamental Change Elected Common Unit
Consideration pursuant to Section 5.13(ix)(C)(a), then the Partnership shall
cause such conversion to occur prior to the Record Date for the distribution
on the Common Units next succeeding
25
such election by the Partnership so that the Investor will be a holder
of Common Units as of such Record Date; or (y) if the Investor delivers
written notice to the Partnership no later than two Business Days after
receipt of such notice from the Partnership and the Partnership elects to
redeem the Series A Preferred Units for the Fundamental Change Elected Cash
Consideration pursuant to Section 5.13(ix)(C)(a), then the Partnership shall
cause such redemption to occur prior to payment of the distribution in
respect of the Partnership’s Common Units for the Record Date for the
distribution on the Common Units next succeeding such election by the
Partnership.
c. In the event the Partnership elects to convert the Series A
Preferred Units into the right to receive the Fundamental Change Elected
Common Unit Consideration, the Series A Preferred Units will be canceled,
the certificates representing Series A Preferred Units will be surrendered
in exchange for the issuance of Common Units and the Fractional Unit Cash
Consideration, if any, will be paid, each in accordance with the provisions
of Section 5.13(b)(vii)(B)-(I), except that, for purposes of applying such
provisions to a conversion pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(ix)(C)(a)(i)(x), (A)
all references to the “Series A Conversion Consideration” will mean the
“Fundamental Change Elected Common Unit Consideration,” (B) all references
to the “Series A Maturity Date” will mean the time immediately prior to the
consummation of the Fundamental Change, (C) all references to “Series A
Conversion Documentation” will mean “Fundamental Change Documentation,” (D)
Section 5.13(b)(vii)(C)(a) shall be inapplicable, (E) references to Section
5.13(b)(vii)(A) shall mean a conversion pursuant to Section
5.13(b)(ix)(C)(a)(i)(x) and (F) Section 5.13(b)(vii)(H) shall apply to any
Common Units that would otherwise be issuable as a result of the Fundamental
Change.
d. In the event the Partnership elects to redeem the Series A
Preferred Unit for the Fundamental Change Elected Cash Consideration, the
Series A Preferred Units will be canceled, the certificates representing
Series A Preferred Units will be surrendered and the Fundamental Change
Elected Cash Consideration will be paid in accordance with the provisions of
Section 5.13(b)(viii)(B)-(H), except that, for purposes of applying such
sections to a redemption pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(ix)(C)(a)(i)(y) (A) all
references to the “Series A Redemption Consideration” will mean the
“Fundamental Change Elected Cash Consideration,” (B) all references to
“Series A Redemption Date” will mean the time immediately prior to the
consummation of the Fundamental Change and (C) all references to “Series A
Redemption Documentation” will mean “Fundamental Change Documentation” and
(D) references to Section 5.13(b)(viii)(A) shall mean a redemption pursuant
to Section 5.13(b)(ix)(C)(a)(i)(y).
26
(D) If any Fundamental Change that is contemplated by a definitive
agreement is not consummated and therefore the conditions to the applicable
redemption or exchange pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(ix) have not been
satisfied, the Partnership will send written notice to such effect to the
Investor (which notice may be delivered in a manner consistent with that
contemplated for delivery of a Series A Conversion Notice pursuant to
Section 5.13(b)(vii)(C)). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, if a Fundamental Change is not consummated, no Series A Preferred
Units will be redeemed or converted pursuant to this Section 5.13(b)(ix).
(x) Limitations on Transfer. Series A Preferred Units may only be transferred to one
or more transferees that, after giving effect to such transfer, each hold at least
1,000,000 Series A Preferred Units, provided that the foregoing limitation shall not apply
to any transfer of Series A Preferred Units to (i) the holders of the class B units in
Regency GP Seller of up to eight percent (8%) of the Series A Preferred Units or (ii)
Regency GP Seller and its Affiliates. In addition, a Unitholder holding a Series A
Preferred Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.13 shall be
subject to the restrictions on transfer imposed by Section 6.6(B). For the avoidance of
doubt, nothing contained in this Section 5.13(b)(x) shall in any way affect the
restrictions on transfers of Partnership Interests contained in Section 4.7, which shall
apply to transfers of Series A Preferred Units.
(xi) Extraordinary Partnership Transactions.
(A) Except to the extent that any such event is a Fundamental Change
as a result of which the Series A Preferred Units are redeemed or converted
pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(ix), prior to the consummation of any
recapitalization, reorganization, consolidation, merger, spin-off or other
business combination in which the holders of Common Units are to receive
securities, cash or other assets or any exchange or conversion of limited
partnership interests pursuant to which all of the Common Units are
converted into Parity Securities (other than, in each case, a Series A
Adjustment Event or a Special Distribution) (any such event being a
“Partnership Event”), the Partnership shall make appropriate provision to
ensure that the holders of Series A Preferred Units receive in such
Partnership Event a preferred security, issued by the Person surviving or
resulting from such Partnership Event and containing provisions
substantially equivalent to the provisions set forth in this Section 5.13
without abridgement, including, without limitation, the same powers,
preferences, rights to distributions, rights to accumulation upon failure
to pay distributions, and relative participating, optional or other special
rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, that
the Series A Preferred Units had immediately prior to such Partnership
Event, subject to the adjustments described in Section 5.13(b)(xi)(B) and
Section
27
5.13(b)(xi)(C). The date on which a Partnership Event is consummated
is referred to as the “Partnership Event Consummation Date.”
(B) If in connection with a Partnership Event the Common Units are
converted in whole or in part into other Marketable Securities (such
securities the “Successor Securities” and such event, a “Public Equity
Partnership Event”), then, following the Partnership Event Consummation
Date, (i) upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Units pursuant to
Section 5.13(b)(vii), the redemption of the Series A Preferred Units
pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(viii), or the redemption or conversion of the
Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(ix), any portion of
the Series A Conversion Consideration, the Series A Redemption
Consideration, the Fundamental Change Redemption Consideration, the
Fundamental Change Conversion Consideration or the Fundamental Change
Elected Common Unit Consideration, as applicable, that would otherwise
consist of Common Units pursuant to the terms of Section 5.13(b)(vii),
5.13(b)(viii) or 5.13(b)(ix), as applicable, shall instead consist of
Successor Securities, (ii) references in Sections 5.13(b)(ii)(B),
5.13(b)(vii), 5.13(b)(viii), 5.13(b)(ix), 6.6(a) and 6.6(b) to “Common
Units” shall refer to the Successor Securities and (iii) the term “Trading
Price Accretion Percentage” shall be modified to mean an amount equal to (a)
the Combined Accretion Multiple less (b) 1.00. The “Combined Accretion
Multiple” shall mean an amount equal to the product of:
a. a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is the VWAP Price of
the Common Units as of the Partnership Event Consummation Date and
(ii) the denominator of which is the VWAP Price of the Common Units
as of the Series A Issuance Date (the “Pre-Partnership Event
Accretion Multiple”); multiplied by
b. a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is the VWAP Price of
the Successor Securities as of the Series A Conversion Date, the
Series A Redemption Date or the date of consummation of the
Fundamental Change, as applicable and (ii) the denominator of which
is the VWAP Price of the Successor Securities as of the eleventh
Trading Day following the Partnership Event Consummation Date (the
“Post-Partnership Event Accretion Multiple”),
provided that, if the foregoing product is less than 1.00, then the
Combined Accretion Multiple shall equal 1.00.
(C) If in connection with a Partnership Event the Common Units do not
remain Outstanding and are converted solely into cash or other assets or
securities that do not constitute Marketable Securities (or any combination
thereof), then following such Partnership Event
28
Consummation Date, upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Units
pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(vii), the redemption of the Series A Preferred
Units pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(viii), or the redemption or conversion of
the Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(ix):
a. any portion of the Series A Conversion Consideration, the
Series A Redemption Consideration, the Fundamental Change Redemption
Consideration, the Fundamental Change Conversion Consideration or the
Fundamental Change Elected Common Unit Consideration, as applicable,
that would otherwise consist of Common Units pursuant to the terms of
Section 5.13(b)(vii), 5.13(b)(viii) or 5.23(b)(ix), as applicable,
shall instead be payable solely in cash;
b. the Series A Conversion Consideration or the Series A
Redemption Consideration, as applicable, shall be an amount equal to
the Series A Liquidation Amount as of the Series A Maturity Date or
the Series A Redemption Date, as applicable, plus:
i. in the event of a redemption, the greater of (i) the
Series A Accretion Amount as of the Partnership Event
Consummation Date and (ii) $10.00; or
ii. in the event of a conversion, the lesser of (i) the
Series A Accretion Amount as of the Partnership Event
Consummation Date and (ii) $10.00;
c. the term “Fundamental Change Redemption Consideration
Premium” shall be modified to mean an amount in cash equal to the
greater of (i) the Series A Accretion Amount as of the date of the
Partnership Event Consummation Date and (ii) $10.00;
d. the term “Fundamental Change Conversion Consideration” shall
be modified to mean an amount in cash equal to the Series A
Liquidation Value as of the date of the consummation of the
Fundamental Change plus the lesser of (i) the Series A Accretion
Amount as of the Partnership Event Consummation Date and (ii) $10;
and
e. the Partnership will no longer have the option to convert the
Series A Preferred Units into Common Units pursuant to Section
5.13(b)(ix)(C), but instead must convert them into the right to
receive the Fundamental Change Elected Cash Consideration.
29
(xii) Distributions, Combinations and Subdivisions; Other Adjustments.
(A) If, after the Series A Issuance Date and prior to the earlier of
the Series A Maturity Date and the Series A Redemption Date, the
Partnership (a) makes a distribution on its Common Units in Common Units,
(b) subdivides or splits its Common Units into a greater number of Common
Units, (c) combines or reclassifies its Common Units into a smaller number
of Common Units, (each of the events described in clauses (a) through (c),
a “Series A Adjustment Event”) or (d) makes a distribution on its Common
Units in any property other than cash or Common Units (a “Special
Distribution”), then calculation of the Series A Conversion Consideration
and the Series A Redemption Consideration shall be adjusted as provided in
this Section 5.13(b)(xii)(A) and Sections 5.13(b)(xii)(C) and (D).
a. Solely for the purposes of determining the Trading Price Accretion
Percentage for purposes of Section 5.13(b)(vii)(A) (in the event of a
conversion) or Section 5.13(b)(viii)(A) (in the event of a redemption):
i. for each Series A Adjustment Event, the VWAP Price as of the
Series A Maturity Date or the Series A Redemption Date, as
applicable, shall be adjusted by multiplying such VWAP Price by a
fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number of Common
Units Outstanding immediately following such Series A Adjustment
Event and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the number of Common
Units Outstanding immediately prior to such Series A Adjustment
Event; and
ii. for each Special Distribution, the VWAP Price as of the
Series A Maturity Date or the Series A Redemption Date, as
applicable, shall be adjusted by adding to such VWAP Price the Fair
Market Value of the property distributed on a Common Unit in such
Special Distribution.
b. Solely for the purposes of determining the Trading Price Accretion
Percentage for purposes of Section 5.13(b)(xi)(C) (in the event of
conversion or redemption following a Partnership Event Consummation Date)
and determining the Pre-Partnership Event Accretion Multiple pursuant to
Section 5.13(b)(xi)(B)(a):
i. for each Series A Adjustment Event prior to the Partnership
Event Consummation Date, the VWAP Price as of the Partnership Event
Consummation Date shall be adjusted by multiplying such VWAP Price
by a fraction, (i) the numerator of
30
which shall be the number of Common Units Outstanding
immediately following such Series A Adjustment Event and (ii) the
denominator of which shall be the number of Common Units Outstanding
immediately prior to such Series A Adjustment Event; and
ii. for each Special Distribution prior to the Partnership
Event Consummation Date, the VWAP Price as of the Partnership Event
Consummation Date shall be adjusted by adding to such VWAP Price the
Fair Market Value of the property distributed on a Common Unit in
such Special Distribution.
c. Solely for the purposes of determining the Post-Partnership Event
Accretion Multiple pursuant to Section 5.13(b)(xi)(B)(b):
i. for each Series A Adjustment Event following the
Partnership Event Consummation Date, the VWAP Price as of the Series
A Maturity Date or the Series A Redemption Date, as applicable,
shall be adjusted by multiplying such VWAP Price by a fraction, (i)
the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Successor
Securities outstanding immediately following such Series A
Adjustment Event and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the
number of shares of Successor Securities outstanding immediately
prior to such Series A Adjustment Event; and
ii. for each Special Distribution following the Partnership
Event Consummation Date, the VWAP Price as of the Series A Maturity
Date or the Series A Redemption Date, as applicable, shall be
adjusted by adding to such VWAP Price the Fair Market Value of the
property distributed on a share of Successor Securities in such
Special Distribution.
For purposes of this Section 5.13(b)(ix)(A)(c), references to “Common
Units” in the definitions of “Series A Adjustment Event” and “Special
Distribution” set forth in Section 5.13(b)(ix)(A) shall refer to Successor
Securities.
(B) If, after the Series A Issuance Date and prior to the date of the
consummation of a Fundamental Change, a Series A Adjustment Event or a
Special Distribution occurs, then the calculation of the Fundamental Change
Redemption Consideration or the Fundamental Change Conversion Consideration
shall be adjusted as provided in this Section 5.13(b)(xii)(B) and Sections
5.13(b)(xii)(C) and (D). Solely for the purposes of determining the
Trading Price Accretion Percentage for purposes of calculating the
“Fundamental Change Conversion
31
Consideration” (in the event of a conversion) or the “Fundamental
Change Redemption Consideration” (in the event of a redemption):
a. for each Series A Adjustment Event, the VWAP Price as of the date of
the consummation of a Fundamental Change shall be adjusted by multiplying
such VWAP Price by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the
number of Common Units Outstanding immediately following such Series A
Adjustment Event and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the number of
Common Units Outstanding immediately prior to such Series A Adjustment
Event; and
b. for each Special Distribution, the VWAP Price as of the date of the
consummation of a Fundamental Change shall be adjusted by adding to such
VWAP Price the Fair Market Value of the property distributed on a Common
Unit in such Special Distribution.
(C) Subsequent adjustments to the applicable VWAP Price shall be made
successively in the order of occurrence of any Series A Adjustment Event or
Special Distribution whenever more than one Series A Adjustment Event or
Special Distribution occurs during an applicable period.
(D) If a Partnership Event, a Series A Adjustment Event or a Special
Distribution occurs during a ten Trading Day period used for purposes of
calculating a VWAP Price as of any particular date under any provision of
this Agreement, the Partnership shall make appropriate adjustments to the
VWAP Price to insure that the VWAP Price properly reflects the value of the
Common Units or Successor Securities, as applicable, as of any particular
date.
(g) The first sentence of Section 6.1 of the Partnership Agreement is amended and restated in
its entirety to read as follows:
“For purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of
the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and
deduction (computed in accordance with 5.6(b)) shall be allocated (subject to
Section 5.13(b)) among the Partners in each taxable year (or portion thereof) as
provided herein below.”
(h) Section 6.1(d)(ix) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
“(ix) Redemption of Series A Preferred Units. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this 6.1 (other than the Regulatory Allocations), with respect to any
taxable period during which Series A Preferred Units are redeemed pursuant to the
terms of Section 5.13(b), each Partner holding redeemed Series A Preferred Units
shall be allocated items of income, gain, loss and deduction in a manner that
results in the Capital Account balance of each such Partner attributable to its
32
redeemed Series A Preferred Units immediately prior to such redemption (and
after taking into account any applicable Regulatory Allocations) to equal (i) the
amount of cash paid to such Partner in redemption of such Series A Preferred Units,
and (ii) the product of the number of Common Units received in the redemption and
the Per Unit Capital Amount for a then Outstanding Common Unit (but only to the
extent not otherwise achieved by operation of section 5.6(d)(ii)).”
(i) Section 6.2 of the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended to add the following as
Section 6.2(i) immediately following Section 6.2(h):
“Section 6.2(i). If Capital Account balances are reallocated between the
Partners in accordance with Section 5.6(d)(i) hereof and Proposed Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(4), beginning with the year of reallocation
and continuing until the allocations required are fully taken into account, the
Partnership shall make corrective allocations (allocations of items of gross income
or gain or loss or deduction for federal income tax purposes that do not have a
corresponding book allocation) to take into account the Capital Account
reallocation, as provided in Proposed Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(4)(x).”
(j) Article VI of the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended to add a new Section 6.6 as
follows:
“Section 6.6 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Series A Preferred Units.
(A) A Unitholder holding a Series A Preferred Unit that has converted
into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.13 shall be required to provide
notice to the General Partner of the transfer of the converted Series A
Preferred Unit within the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days following such
transfer and (ii) the last Business Day of the calendar year during which
such transfer occurred, unless (x) the transfer is to an Affiliate of the
holder or (y) by virtue of the application of Section 5.6(d)(i), the General
Partner has previously determined, based on advice of counsel, that the
converted Series A Preferred Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like
intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an Initial
Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.6,
the General Partner shall take whatever steps are required to provide
economic uniformity to the converted Series A Preferred Unit in preparation
for a transfer of such Units; provided, however, that no such steps may be
taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding
Common Units represented by Common Unit Certificates (for this purpose the
allocations of income, gain, loss and deductions with respect to Series A
Preferred Units or Common Units will be deemed not to have a material
adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units).
33
(B) A Unitholder holding a Series A Preferred Unit that has converted
into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.13 shall not be permitted to
transfer, by assignment or otherwise, any such Common Unit until after 32
calendar days have elapsed from the date that the Series A Preferred Unit
was converted into such Common Unit.
(C) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this
Agreement, the holders of the Series A Preferred Units (a) shall (i) possess
the rights, preferences and privileges and the duties and obligations
provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to
Article III and Article VII and (ii) have a Capital Account as a Partner
pursuant to Section 5.6 and all other provisions related thereto and
(b) shall not (i) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval
or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided in Section
5.13, (ii) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in
Section 5.13, Article VI or Article XII or (iii) be allocated items of
income, gain, loss or deduction other than as specified in Section 5.13 or
Article VI.”
(k) Article XII of the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended to add a new Section 12.10 as
follows:
“Section 12.10. Series A Liquidation Value. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Series A Preferred Units
shall have the rights, preferences and privileges set forth in Section 5.13(b)(iv)
upon liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XII.”
(l) The Partnership Agreement is hereby amended to eliminate any references therein to “Class
B Units” or “Class C Units.”
Section 2. Ratification of Partnership Agreement. Except as expressly modified and
amended herein, all of the terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect.
Section 3. Governing Law. This Amendment will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
Section 4. Counterparts. This Amendment 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.
34
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been executed as of the date first written above.
GENERAL PARTNER: | ||||||
LE GP, LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx
President and Chief Financial Officer |
|||||
LIMITED PARTNERS: | ||||||
All Limited Partners now and hereafter admitted as limited partners of the Partnership, pursuant to Powers of Attorney now and hereafter executed in favor of, and granted and delivered to, the General Partner. | ||||||
By: LE GP, LLC, General Partner of | ||||||
Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., as | ||||||
attorney-in-fact for all Limited Partners pursuant to the powers of Attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.6 of the Partnership Agreement. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx | |||||
Xxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx, President and Chief Financial Officer |
Signature Page to
Amendment No. 3 to ETE Partnership Agreement
Amendment No. 3 to ETE Partnership Agreement