SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF AMERICAN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
Exhibit 3.1
Execution Version
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | 1 | |||||
Section 1.1
|
Definitions | 1 | ||||
Section 1.2
|
Construction | 27 | ||||
ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION | 27 | |||||
Section 2.1
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Formation | 27 | ||||
Section 2.2
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Name | 27 | ||||
Section 2.3
|
Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices | 28 | ||||
Section 2.4
|
Purpose and Business | 28 | ||||
Section 2.5
|
Powers | 28 | ||||
Section 2.6
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Term | 28 | ||||
Section 2.7
|
Title to Partnership Assets | 29 | ||||
ARTICLE III RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS | 29 | |||||
Section 3.1
|
Limitation of Liability | 29 | ||||
Section 3.2
|
Management of Business | 30 | ||||
Section 3.3
|
Outside Activities of the Limited Partners | 30 | ||||
Section 3.4
|
Rights of Limited Partners | 30 | ||||
ARTICLE IV CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | 31 | |||||
Section 4.1
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Certificates | 31 | ||||
Section 4.2
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Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates | 31 | ||||
Section 4.3
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Record Holders | 32 | ||||
Section 4.4
|
Transfer Generally | 33 | ||||
Section 4.5
|
Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests | 33 | ||||
Section 4.6
|
Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest | 34 | ||||
Section 4.7
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Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights | 35 | ||||
Section 4.8
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Restrictions on Transfers | 35 | ||||
Section 4.9
|
Eligibility Certifications; Ineligible Holders | 35 | ||||
Section 4.10
|
Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders | 37 | ||||
ARTICLE V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | 38 | |||||
Section 5.1
|
Intentionally Omitted | 38 | ||||
Section 5.2
|
Contributions by the General Partner and the Initial Limited Partners | 38 | ||||
Section 5.3
|
Contributions by Limited Partners | 38 | ||||
Section 5.4
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Interest and Withdrawal of Capital Contributions | 39 | ||||
Section 5.5
|
Capital Accounts | 39 | ||||
Section 5.6
|
Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests | 42 | ||||
Section 5.7
|
Conversion of Subordinated Units | 43 | ||||
Section 5.8
|
Limited Preemptive Right | 43 | ||||
Section 5.9
|
Splits and Combinations | 44 | ||||
Section 5.10
|
Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests | 45 |
i
Section 5.11
|
Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights | 45 | ||||
ARTICLE VI ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS | 47 | |||||
Section 6.1
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Allocations for Capital Account Purposes | 47 | ||||
Section 6.2
|
Allocations for Tax Purposes | 56 | ||||
Section 6.3
|
Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders | 57 | ||||
Section 6.4
|
Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus | 58 | ||||
Section 6.5
|
Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus | 60 | ||||
Section 6.6
|
Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels | 60 | ||||
Section 6.7
|
Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units | 61 | ||||
Section 6.8
|
Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights | 62 | ||||
Section 6.9
|
Entity-Level Taxation | 62 | ||||
ARTICLE VII MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS | 63 | |||||
Section 7.1
|
Management | 63 | ||||
Section 7.2
|
Certificate of Limited Partnership | 65 | ||||
Section 7.3
|
Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority | 65 | ||||
Section 7.4
|
Reimbursement of the General Partner | 66 | ||||
Section 7.5
|
Outside Activities | 67 | ||||
Section 7.6
|
Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members | 68 | ||||
Section 7.7
|
Indemnification | 69 | ||||
Section 7.8
|
Liability of Indemnitees | 70 | ||||
Section 7.9
|
Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties | 71 | ||||
Section 7.10
|
Other Matters Concerning the General Partner | 73 | ||||
Section 7.11
|
Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests | 73 | ||||
Section 7.12
|
Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates | 74 | ||||
Section 7.13
|
Reliance by Third Parties | 76 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS | 77 | |||||
Section 8.1
|
Records and Accounting | 77 | ||||
Section 8.2
|
Fiscal Year | 77 | ||||
Section 8.3
|
Reports | 77 | ||||
ARTICLE IX TAX MATTERS | 78 | |||||
Section 9.1
|
Tax Returns and Information | 78 | ||||
Section 9.2
|
Tax Elections | 78 | ||||
Section 9.3
|
Tax Controversies | 78 | ||||
Section 9.4
|
Withholding | 79 | ||||
ARTICLE X ADMISSION OF PARTNERS | 79 | |||||
Section 10.1
|
Admission of Limited Partners | 79 | ||||
Section 10.2
|
Admission of Successor General Partner | 80 |
ii
Section 10.3
|
Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership | 80 | ||||
ARTICLE XI WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS | 80 | |||||
Section 11.1
|
Withdrawal of the General Partner | 80 | ||||
Section 11.2
|
Removal of the General Partner | 82 | ||||
Section 11.3
|
Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner | 82 | ||||
Section 11.4
|
Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages | 84 | ||||
Section 11.5
|
Withdrawal of Limited Partners | 84 | ||||
ARTICLE XII DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION | 85 | |||||
Section 12.1
|
Dissolution | 85 | ||||
Section 12.2
|
Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution | 85 | ||||
Section 12.3
|
Liquidator | 86 | ||||
Section 12.4
|
Liquidation | 86 | ||||
Section 12.5
|
Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership | 87 | ||||
Section 12.6
|
Return of Contributions | 87 | ||||
Section 12.7
|
Waiver of Partition | 87 | ||||
Section 12.8
|
Capital Account Restoration | 87 | ||||
ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE | 88 | |||||
Section 13.1
|
Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner | 88 | ||||
Section 13.2
|
Amendment Procedures | 89 | ||||
Section 13.3
|
Amendment Requirements | 90 | ||||
Section 13.4
|
Special Meetings | 91 | ||||
Section 13.5
|
Notice of a Meeting | 91 | ||||
Section 13.6
|
Record Date | 91 | ||||
Section 13.7
|
Adjournment | 92 | ||||
Section 13.8
|
Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes | 92 | ||||
Section 13.9
|
Quorum and Voting | 92 | ||||
Section 13.10
|
Conduct of a Meeting | 93 | ||||
Section 13.11
|
Action Without a Meeting | 93 | ||||
Section 13.12
|
Right to Vote and Related Matters | 94 | ||||
ARTICLE XIV MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION | 94 | |||||
Section 14.1
|
Authority | 94 | ||||
Section 14.2
|
Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 95 | ||||
Section 14.3
|
Approval by Limited Partners | 96 | ||||
Section 14.4
|
Amendment of Partnership Agreement | 98 | ||||
Section 14.5
|
Certificate of Merger or Articles of Conversion | 98 | ||||
Section 14.6
|
Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 98 | ||||
ARTICLE XV RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS | 99 | |||||
Section 15.1
|
Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests | 99 |
iii
ARTICLE XVI GENERAL PROVISIONS | 100 | |||||
Section 16.1
|
Addresses and Notices; Written Communications | 100 | ||||
Section 16.2
|
Further Action | 101 | ||||
Section 16.3
|
Binding Effect | 101 | ||||
Section 16.4
|
Integration | 101 | ||||
Section 16.5
|
Creditors | 102 | ||||
Section 16.6
|
Waiver | 102 | ||||
Section 16.7
|
Third-Party Beneficiaries | 102 | ||||
Section 16.8
|
Counterparts | 102 | ||||
Section 16.9
|
Applicable Law; Forum; Venue and Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury | 102 | ||||
Section 16.10
|
Invalidity of Provisions | 103 | ||||
Section 16.11
|
Consent of Partners | 103 | ||||
Section 16.12
|
Facsimile Signatures | 104 | ||||
ARTICLE XVII CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING | 104 | |||||
Section 17.1
|
Non-Pro Rata Redemption of Common Units | 104 | ||||
EXHIBIT A | Certificate Evidencing Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests in American Midstream Partners, XX |
xx
THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF AMERICAN MIDSTREAM
PARTNERS, LP dated as of August 1, 2011, is entered into by and between American Midstream GP, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, and AIM Midstream Holdings, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company ( “AIM Midstream”), together with any other Persons who are now
or become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein.
WHEREAS, the General Partner and the Limited Partners entered into that certain First Amended
and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of November 4, 2009 (the “First A/R
Partnership Agreement”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the Initial Public Offering of Common Units (as such terms are
hereinafter defined) by the Partnership, the General Partner deems it necessary and appropriate to
amend and restate the First A/R Partnership Agreement to provide for certain amendments in
connection with the Initial Public Offering; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article XIII of the First A/R Partnership Agreement, the First A/R
Partnership Agreement may be amended upon approval by the General Partner, the holders of at least
90% of the Outstanding Units (as defined in the First A/R Partnership Agreement) voting as a single
class, such approval having been duly obtained in accordance with the procedures set forth in the
First A/R Partnership Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, the General Partner does hereby amend and restate the Second A/R Partnership
Agreement to provide in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions.
The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the
contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
“Acquisition” means any transaction in which any Group Member acquires (through an asset
acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other form of investment) control over all or a portion
of the assets, properties or business of another Person for the purpose of increasing the long-term
operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or
operating income of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction.
“Additional Book Basis” means the portion of any remaining Carrying Value of an Adjusted
Property that is attributable to positive adjustments made to such Carrying Value as a
result of Book-Up Events. For purposes of determining the extent that Carrying Value
constitutes Additional Book Basis:
(a) Any negative adjustment made to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property as a result of
either a Book-Down Event or a Book-Up Event shall first be deemed to offset or decrease that
portion of the Carrying Value of such Adjusted Property that is attributable to any prior positive
adjustments made thereto pursuant to a Book-Up Event or Book-Down Event.
(b) If Carrying Value that constitutes Additional Book Basis is reduced as a result of a
Book-Down Event and the Carrying Value of other property is increased as a result of such Book-Down
Event, an allocable portion of any such increase in Carrying Value shall be treated as Additional
Book Basis; provided, that the amount treated as Additional Book Basis pursuant hereto as a result
of such Book-Down Event shall not exceed the amount by which the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive
Adjustments after such Book-Down Event exceeds the remaining Additional Book Basis attributable to
all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property after such Book-Down Event (determined without regard to
the application of this clause (b) to such Book-Down Event).
“Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means any Book Basis Derivative Items that are
computed with reference to Additional Book Basis. To the extent that the Additional Book Basis
attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property as of the beginning of any taxable
period exceeds the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the beginning of such period
(the “Excess Additional Book Basis”), the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for such period
shall be reduced by the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items determined without regard to this sentence as the Excess Additional Book Basis
bears to the Additional Book Basis as of the beginning of such period. With respect to a Disposed
of Adjusted Property, the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items shall be the amount of Additional
Book Basis taken into account in computing gain or loss from the disposition of such Disposed of
Adjusted Property.
“Additional Limited Partner” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner
pursuant to Section 10.1(b) and who is shown as such on the books and records of the
Partnership.
“Adjusted Capital Account” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end
of each taxable period of the Partnership, (a) increased by any amounts that such Partner is
obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)
(or is deemed obligated to restore under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5))
and (b) decreased by (i) the amount of all losses and deductions that, as of the end of such
taxable period, are reasonably expected to be allocated to such Partner in subsequent taxable
periods under Sections 704(e)(2) and 706(d) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section
1.751-1(b)(2)(ii), and (ii) the amount of all distributions that, as of the end of such taxable
period, are reasonably expected to be made to such Partner in subsequent taxable periods in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise to the extent they exceed offsetting
increases to such Partner’s Capital Account that are reasonably expected to occur during (or prior
to) the taxable period in which such distributions are reasonably expected to be made (other than
increases as a result of a minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) or
2
Section 6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to
comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a
Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such
Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after
the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.
“Adjusted Operating Surplus” means, with respect to any period, (a) Operating Surplus
generated with respect to such period, less (b) (i) any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings
with respect to that period and (ii) any net decrease in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures
with respect to such period not relating to an Operating Expenditure made with respect to such
period, and plus (c) (i) any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings with respect to that
period, (ii) any net decrease made in subsequent periods in cash reserves for Operating
Expenditures initially established with respect to such period to the extent such decrease results
in a reduction in Adjusted Operating Surplus in subsequent periods pursuant to clause (b)(ii) above
and (iii) any net increase in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period
required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium. Adjusted
Operating Surplus does not include that portion of Operating Surplus included in clause (a)(i) of
the definition of Operating Surplus.
“Adjusted Property” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant
to Section 5.5(d).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the
Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether
through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 5.11(a).
“Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments” means, as of the end of any taxable period, the
sum of the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of all the Partners.
“Agreed Allocation” means any allocation, other than a Required Allocation, of an item of
income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1, including a
Curative Allocation (if appropriate to the context in which the term “Agreed Allocation” is used).
“Agreed Value” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or
other consideration at the time of contribution and in the case of an Adjusted Property, the fair
market value of such Adjusted Property on the date of the revaluation event as described in
Section 5.5(d), in both cases as determined by the General Partner.
“Agreement” means this Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
American Midstream Partners, LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
3
“AIM Midstream” means AIM Midstream Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“American Midstream GP” means American Midstream GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company.
“Associate” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation
or organization of which such Person is a director, officer, partner or managing member or is,
directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting
interest; (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest
or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any
relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal
residence as such Person.
“Available Cash” means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:
(a) the sum of:
(i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate
share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand
at the end of such Quarter; and
(ii) if the General Partner so determines, all or any portion of additional cash and cash
equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash
equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand on the date of
determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from Working Capital
Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter;
(b) less the amount of any cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash
reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) established by the General Partner
to:
(i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including
reserves for future capital expenditures, for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership
Group and for refunds of collected rates reasonably likely to be refunded as a result of a
settlement or hearing relating to FERC rate proceedings or rate proceedings under applicable state
law, if any) subsequent to such Quarter;
(ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt
instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is
bound or its assets are subject; or
(iii) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.4 or Section 6.5 in
respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters;
provided, however, that the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to clause
(iii) above if the effect of establishing such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to
4
distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units, plus any Cumulative Common Unit
Arrearage on all Common Units, with respect to such Quarter; and, provided further, that
disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the
end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to
such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of
determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Available Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which the
Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the General Partner.
“Book Basis Derivative Items” means any item of income, deduction, gain or loss that is
computed with reference to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property (e.g., depreciation,
depletion, or gain or loss with respect to an Adjusted Property).
“Book-Down Event” means an event that triggers a negative adjustment to the Capital Accounts
of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Book-Tax Disparity” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted
Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such
Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax
purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its
Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such
Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 and the
hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained
strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.
“Book-Up Event” means an event that triggers a positive adjustment to the Capital Accounts of
the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday
recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of Texas shall
not be regarded as a Business Day.
“Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section
5.5. The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be the
amount that such Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only interest in
the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was
first issued.
“Capital Contribution” means (i) any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of
Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership or that is contributed or deemed
contributed to the Partnership on behalf of a Partner (including, in the case of an underwritten
offering of Units, the amount of any underwriting discounts or commissions) or (ii) current
distributions that a Partner is entitled to receive but otherwise waives.
5
“Capital Improvement” means any (a) addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any
Group Member, (b) acquisition (through an asset acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other
form of investment) of existing, or the construction of new or improvement or replacement of
existing, capital assets (including gathering systems, compressors, processing plants, transmission
lines and related or similar midstream assets) or (c) capital contribution by a Group Member to a
Person that is not a Subsidiary in which a Group Member has, or after such capital contribution
will have, an equity interest to fund such Group Member’s pro rata share of the cost of the
addition or improvement to or the acquisition (through an asset acquisition, merger, stock
acquisition or other form of investment) of existing, or the construction of new or replacement of
existing, capital assets (including gathering systems, compressors, processing plants, transmission
lines and related or similar midstream assets) by such Person, in each case if and to the extent
such addition, improvement, acquisition, construction or replacement is made to increase the
long-term operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group, in the case of clauses
(a) and (b), or such Person, in the case of clause (c), from the operating capacity or operating
income of the Partnership Group or such Person, as the case may be, existing immediately prior to
such addition, improvement, acquisition, construction or replacement.
“Capital Surplus” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.3(a).
“Carrying Value” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, the
Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and
cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in respect of such Contributed
Property or Adjusted Property, and (b) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted
basis of such property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. The
Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section
5.5(d) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for
dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General
Partner.
“Cause” means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment
finding the General Partner liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a
general partner of the Partnership.
“Certificate” means (a) a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to
the First A/R Partnership Agreement (if such certificate was issued on or after November 4, 2009,
but prior to the date hereof) or substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement
(if such certificate is issued on or after the date hereof), (ii) issued in global form in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or (iii) in such other form as may be
adopted by the General Partner, in each case issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one
or more Common Units or (b) a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the General Partner,
issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership Interests.
“Certificate of Limited Partnership” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the
Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section
7.2, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from
time to time.
6
“Citizenship Eligibility Trigger” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
4.9(a)(ii).
“claim” (as used in Section 7.12(c)) has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 7.12(c).
“Closing Date” means November 4, 2009.
“Closing Price” 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 closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, in either case
as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the respective
Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests
are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the last quoted price on
such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by the primary reporting system then in use in relation to
such Limited Partner Interests of such class, 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 asked
prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited
Partner Interests of such class selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day no market
maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such
Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General Partner.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.
Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a
reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.
“Combined Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(a).
“Commences Commercial Service” means the date a Capital Improvement is first put into or
commences commercial service following completion of construction, acquisition, development and
testing, as applicable.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor
agency having jurisdiction under the Securities Act.
“Commodity Hedge Contract” means any commodity exchange, swap, forward, cap, floor, collar or
other similar agreement or arrangement entered into for the purpose of hedging the Partnership
Group’s exposure to fluctuations in the price of hydrocarbons or other commodities in their
operations and not for speculative purposes.
“Common Unit” means a Partnership Interest representing a fractional part of the Partnership
Interests of all Limited Partners, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to
Common Units in this Agreement. The term “Common Unit” does not include a Subordinated Unit prior
to its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.
7
“Common Unit Arrearage” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, as to any
Quarter within the Subordination Period, the excess, if any, of (a) the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter over (b) the sum of all
Available Cash distributed with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter pursuant to
Section 6.4(b)(i).
“Conflicts Committee” means a committee of the Board of Directors composed of one or more
Independent Directors.
“Contributed Property” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by
the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a
Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d), such property shall no longer
constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.
“Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued,
and as of the end of any Quarter, the excess, if any, of (a) the sum resulting from adding together
the Common Unit Arrearage as to an IPO Common Unit for each of the Quarters within the
Subordination Period ending on or before the last day of such Quarter over (b) the sum of any
distributions theretofore made pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(ii) and the second sentence of
Section 6.5 with respect to an IPO Common Unit (including any distributions to be made in
respect of the last of such Quarters).
“Curative Allocation” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, deduction, loss or
credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi).
“Current Market Price” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the
date of determination, the average of the daily Closing Prices per Limited Partner Interest of such
class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date.
“Delaware Act” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del. C. Section
17-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such
statute.
“Departing General Partner” means a former general partner from and after the effective date
of any withdrawal or removal of such former general partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or
Section 11.2.
“Depositary” means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust
Company and its successors and permitted assigns.
“Disposed of Adjusted Property” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
6.1(d)(xii)(B).
“Economic Risk of Loss” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
“Eligibility Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.9(b).
8
“Eligible Holder” means a Limited Partner whose (a) federal income tax status would not, in
the determination of the General Partner, have the material adverse effect described in Section
4.9(a)(i) or (b) nationality, citizenship or other related status would not, in the
determination of the General Partner, create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture as
described in Section 4.9(a)(ii).
“Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 6.9.
“Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means an estimate made in good faith by the Board
of Directors (with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee) of the average quarterly Maintenance
Capital Expenditures that the Partnership will incur over the long term. The Board of Directors
(with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee) will be permitted to make such estimate in any
manner it determines reasonable. The estimate will be made annually and whenever an event occurs
that is likely to result in a material adjustment to the amount of Maintenance Capital Expenditures
on a long term basis. The Partnership shall disclose to its Partners any change in the amount of
Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures in its reports made in accordance with Section
8.3 to the extent not previously disclosed. Except as provided in the definition of
Subordination Period, any adjustments to Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall be
prospective only.
“Event of Withdrawal” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(a).
“Existing Credit Agreement” means the Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated as of
October 5, 2009, by and among the Operating Company, the other borrowers party thereto, Comerica
Bank, as Administrative Agent, Co-Lead Arranger and Syndication Administrative Agent, BBVA Compass
Bank, as Documentation Agent and Co-Lead Arranger, and the other lenders party thereto.
“Expansion Capital Expenditures” means cash expenditures for Acquisitions or Capital
Improvements, and shall not include Maintenance Capital Expenditures or Investment Capital
Expenditures. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall include interest (and related fees) on debt
incurred and distributions on equity issued, in each case, to finance the construction of a Capital
Improvement and paid in respect of the period beginning on the date that the Group Member enters
into a binding obligation to commence construction of a Capital Improvement and ending on the
earlier to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement Commences Commercial Service and the
date that such Capital Improvement is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred or equity issued to
fund such construction period interest payments or such construction period distributions on equity
paid during such period, shall also be deemed to be debt incurred or equity issued, as the case may
be, to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement. Expansion Capital Expenditures will
include cash contributed by a Group Member to an entity of which such Group Member is, or after
such contribution will be, directly or indirectly, an equity owner to be used by such entity for
Acquisitions or Capital Improvements. Where capital expenditures are made in part for Expansion
Capital Expenditures and in part for other purposes, the General Partner, with the concurrence of
the Conflicts Committee, shall determine the allocation of such expenditures between Expansion
Capital Expenditures and expenditures made for other purposes.
9
“FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or successor to powers thereof.
“Final Subordinated Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(d)(x)(A).
“First A/R Partnership Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to
this Agreement.
“First Liquidation Target Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(c)(i)(D).
“First Target Distribution” means 115% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution per Unit (or,
with respect to the Quarter that includes the IPO Closing Date, it means the product of 115% of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution per Unit multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days in such Quarter after the IPO Closing Date, and the denominator of which is the
total number of days in such Quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section
5.11, Section 6.6 and Section 6.9.
“Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis” means, when calculating the number of Outstanding Units
for any period, a basis that includes (a) the weighted average number of Outstanding Units plus (b)
all Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants, phantom units and appreciation rights
relating to an equity interest in the Partnership (i) that are convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Units or for which Units are issuable, in each case that are senior to or pari
passu with the Subordinated Units, (ii) whose conversion, exercise or exchange price is less than
the Current Market Price on the date of such calculation, (iii) that may be converted into or
exercised or exchanged for such Units prior to or during the Quarter immediately following the end
of the period for which the calculation is being made without the satisfaction of any contingency
beyond the control of the holder other than the payment of consideration and the compliance with
administrative mechanics applicable to such conversion, exercise or exchange and (iv) that were not
converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units during the period for which the calculation
is being made; provided, however, that for purposes of determining the number of Outstanding Units
on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis when calculating whether the Subordination Period has
ended or Subordinated Units are entitled to convert into Common Units pursuant to Section
5.7, such Partnership Interests, options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights shall be
deemed to have been Outstanding Units only for the four Quarters that comprise the last four
Quarters of the measurement period; provided, further, that if consideration will be paid to any
Group Member in connection with such conversion, exercise or exchange, the number of Units to be
included in such calculation shall be that number equal to the difference between (x) the number of
Units issuable upon such conversion, exercise or exchange and (y) the number of Units that such
consideration would purchase at the Current Market Price.
“General Partner” means American Midstream GP and its successors and permitted assigns that
are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, in its capacity as general
partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).
10
“General Partner Interest” means the ownership interest of the General Partner in the
Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest
held by it) that is evidenced by Notional General Partner Units and includes any and all 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.
“Gross Liability Value” means, with respect to any Liability of the Partnership described in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i), the amount of cash that a willing assignor would pay
to a willing assignee to assume such Liability in an arm’s length transaction.
“Group” means a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has 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.
“Group Member” means a member of the Partnership Group.
“Group Member Agreement” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the
Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of
any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws
or similar organizational documents of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture
agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint venture and the
governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other
than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, as
such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Holder” as used in Section 7.12, has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
7.12(a).
“IDR Reset Common Unit” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(a).
“IDR Reset Election” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(a).
“Incentive Distribution Right” means a Limited Partner Interest issued to American Midstream
GP, which Limited Partner Interest will confer upon the holder thereof only the rights and
obligations specifically provided in this Agreement with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights
(and no other rights otherwise available to or other obligations of a holder of a Partnership
Interest). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the holder of an Incentive
Distribution Right shall not be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Right on any
Partnership matter except as may otherwise be required by law.
“Incentive Distributions” means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive
Distribution Rights (in such capacity, but not in any other capacity) pursuant to Section
6.4.
11
“Incremental Income Taxes” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.9.
“Indemnified Persons” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(c).
“Indemnitee” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person
who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person
who is or was a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent,
fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or
any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) any
Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner
or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner as a manager, managing
member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent, 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, (f) any
Person who controls a General Partner or Departing General Partner and (g) any Person the General
Partner designates as an Indemnitee for purposes of this Agreement.
“Independent Director” means any director that (a) is not a security holder, officer or
employee of the General Partner, (b) is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of
the General Partner, (c) is not a holder of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other
than Common Units and awards that may be granted to such director under the Long Term Incentive
Plan (or similar plan implemented by the General Partner or the Partnership) and (d) meets the
independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of
directors established by the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder and by any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units
are listed or admitted to trading.
“Ineligible Holder” has the meaning assigned such term in Section 4.9(c).
“Initial Limited Partners” means AIM Midstream, the LTIP Partners and the General Partner
(with respect to the Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights held by
them).
“Initial Public Offering” means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public,
as described in the Registration Statement.
“Initial Unit Price” means (a) with respect to the Common Units and the Subordinated Units,
the IPO Price or (b) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit at
which such class or series of Units is initially issued by the Partnership, as determined by the
General Partner, in each case adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give
effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.
“Interest Rate Hedge Contract” means any interest rate exchange, swap, forward, cap, floor
collar or other similar agreement or arrangement entered into for the purpose of reducing the
exposure of the Partnership Group to fluctuations in interest rates in their financing activities
and not for speculative purposes.
12
“Interim Capital Transactions” means the following transactions if they occur prior to the
Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than Working
Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account or for a deferred purchase
price in the ordinary course of business) by any Group Member and sales of debt securities of any
Group Member; (b) sales of equity interests of any Group Member; (c) sales or other voluntary or
involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other than (i) sales or other
dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business,
and (ii) sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal asset retirements or replacements;
(d) the termination of Commodity Hedge Contracts or Interest Rate Hedge Contracts prior to the
respective specified termination dates; (e) capital contributions received by a Group Member or, in
the case of capital contributions received by a Person that is not a Subsidiary of the Partnership,
capital contributions received from the owner(s) or members of such Person that is not a Group
Member; or (f) corporate reorganizations or restructurings.
“Investment Capital Expenditures” means capital expenditures other than Maintenance Capital
Expenditures and Expansion Capital Expenditures. Investment Capital Expenditures will include cash
contributed by a Group Member to an entity of which such Group Member is, or after such
contribution will be directly or indirectly, an equity owner to be used by such entity for capital
expenditures other than Maintenance Capital Expenditures and Expansion Capital Expenditures.
“IPO Closing Date” means the closing date of the sale of the Common Units in the Initial
Public Offering.
“IPO Common Units” means the Common Units sold in the Initial Public Offering.
“IPO Price” means the price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters offer the Common Units
for sale to the public as set forth on the cover page of the final prospectus filed pursuant to
Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect to the Initial Public
Offering.
“IPO Proceeds” means the portion of the net proceeds received by the Partnership from the
issuance and sale of Common Units in connection with the closing of the Initial Public Offering
that, according to the disclosure set forth in the section of the Registration Statement entitled
“Use of Proceeds,” are to be distributed to AIM Midstream, the LTIP Partners and the General
Partner.
“Liability” means any liability or obligation of any nature, whether accrued, contingent or
otherwise.
“Limited Partner” means, unless the context otherwise requires, each Initial Limited Partner,
each Additional Limited Partner and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status
from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3, in each case, in such
Person’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership; provided, however, that when the term
“Limited Partner” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including
Article XIII and Article XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include
any holder of an Incentive Distribution Right (solely with respect to its Incentive Distribution
Rights and not
13
with respect to any other Limited Partner Interest held by such Person) except as may be required
by law.
“Limited Partner Interest” means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner in the
Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Subordinated Units, Incentive Distribution
Rights or other Partnership Interests or a combination thereof or interest therein, 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 to comply with the terms and provisions of
this Agreement; provided, however, that when the term “Limited Partner Interest” is used herein in
the context of any vote or other approval, including Article XIII and Article XIV,
such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any Incentive Distribution Right except as
may be required by law.
“Liquidation Date” means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the
Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first sentence of Section
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) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of
the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.
“Liquidator” means one or more Persons selected by the General Partner to perform the
functions described in Section 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the
meaning of the Delaware Act.
“Long Term Incentive Plan” means the Long-Term Incentive Plan of the General Partner, as may
be amended, or any equity compensation plan successor thereto or otherwise adopted by the General
Partner or the Partnership.
“LTIP Partners” means those Limited Partners holding on the date hereof Common Units issued
pursuant to the Long Term Incentive Plan, in respect of such Common Units.
“Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means cash expenditures (including expenditures (i) for the
addition or improvement to or the replacement of the capital assets owned by any Group Member, (ii)
for the acquisition of existing, or the construction or development of new, capital assets or (iii)
for any integrity management program, including pursuant to the Gas Transmission Pipeline Integrity
Management Rule (49 CFR Part 192, Subpart O) and any corresponding rule of state law) if such
expenditures are made to maintain, including over the long term, the operating capacity or
operating income of the Partnership Group. Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall exclude
Expansion Capital Expenditures or Investment Capital Expenditures, but include interest (and
related fees) on debt incurred and distributions in respect of equity issued, other than equity
issued in the Initial Public Offering, in each case, to finance the construction or development of
a replacement asset and paid in respect of the period beginning on the date that a Group Member
enters into a binding obligation to commence constructing or developing a replacement asset and
ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such replacement asset Commences Commercial Service
and the date that such replacement asset is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred to pay or
equity issued, other than equity issued in the Initial Public Offering, to fund construction or
development period interest payments, or
14
such construction or development period distributions in respect of equity, shall also be
deemed to be debt or equity, as the case may be, incurred to finance the construction or
development of a replacement asset and the incremental Incentive Distributions paid relating to
newly issued equity shall be deemed to be distributions paid on equity issued to finance the
construction or development of a replacement asset. Maintenance Capital Expenditures will include
cash contributed by any Group Member to an entity of which such Group Member is, or after such
contribution will be, directly or indirectly, an equity owner to be used by such entity for capital
expenditures of the types described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above.
“Merger Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.
“Minimum Quarterly Distribution” means $0.4125 per Unit per Quarter (such amount having been
determined by the Board of Directors at the time of the Initial Public Offering (or with respect to
the Quarter that includes the IPO Closing Date, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in such Quarter after the IPO Closing Date
and the denominator of which is the total number of days in such Quarter)), subject to adjustment
in accordance with Section 5.11, Section 6.6 and Section 6.9.
“National Securities Exchange” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section
6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act and any successor to such statute.
“Net Agreed Value” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of
such property reduced by any Liability either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or
to which such property is subject when contributed, and (b) in the case of any property distributed
to a Partner by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted
pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any
Liability either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is
subject at the time of distribution, in either case, as determined and required by Treasury
Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code.
“Net Income” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of
income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination
Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of loss and
deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or
Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Income
shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items
specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items
that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any
reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).
“Net Loss” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of
loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination
Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of income and
gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net
Termination Loss) for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall
be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially
allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of
15
the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made
without regard to any reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).
“Net Positive Adjustments” means, with respect to any Partner, the excess, if any, of the
total positive adjustments over the total negative adjustments made to the Capital Account of such
Partner pursuant to Book-Up Events and Book-Down Events.
“Net Termination Gain” means, for any taxable period, the sum, if positive, of all items of
income, gain, loss or deduction (a) recognized by the Partnership (i) after the Liquidation Date or
(ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or series of related transactions
(excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group) or (b) deemed recognized by the
Partnership Group pursuant to Section 5.5(d); provided, however that the items included in
the determination of Net Termination Gain shall be determined in accordance with Section
5.5(b) and shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under
Section 6.1(d).
“Net Termination Loss” means, for any taxable period, the sum, if negative, of all items of
income, gain, loss or deduction (a) recognized by the Partnership (i) after the Liquidation Date or
(ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or series of related transactions
(excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group) or (b) deemed recognized by the
Partnership Group pursuant to Section 5.5(d); provided, however the items included in the
determination of Net Termination Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b)
and shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section
6.1(d).
“New Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of July , 2011 by and among the
Operating Company, as Borrower, the Partnership, as Parent, Bank of America, N.A., as
Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and L/C Issuer, Comerica Bank and Citicorp North America,
Inc., as Co-Syndication Agents, BBVA Compass, as Documentation Agent, and the other financial
institutions party thereto.
“New Credit Facility Proceeds” means the portion of the net proceeds of the Partnership’s
borrowings made simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering under its new credit
facility that, according to the disclosure set forth in the section of the Registration Statement
entitled “Use of Proceeds,” are to be distributed to AIM Midstream.
“Nonrecourse Built-in Gain” means with respect to any Contributed Properties or Adjusted
Properties that are subject to a mortgage or pledge securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of
any taxable gain that would be allocated to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.2(b). If
such properties were disposed of in a taxable transaction in full satisfaction of such liabilities
and for no other consideration.
“Nonrecourse Deductions” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including
any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the
principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.
16
“Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section
1.752-1(a)(2).
“Notice of Election to Purchase” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
15.1(b).
“Notional General Partner Unit” means notional units used solely to calculate the General
Partner’s Percentage Interest. The General Partner Units (as that term is defined in the First A/R
Partnership Agreement) Outstanding (as that term is defined in the First A/R Partnership Agreement)
under the First A/R Partnership Agreement immediately prior to effectiveness of this Agreement
shall be immediately and automatically converted into the same number of Notional General Partner
Units upon the effectiveness of this Agreement. Notional General Partner Units shall not
constitute “Units” for any purpose of this Agreement. There shall initially be 184,737 Notional
General Partner Units (resulting in the General Partner’s Percentage Interest being 2% after giving
effect to any exercise of the Over-Allotment Option). If the General Partner makes additional
Capital Contributions pursuant to Section 5.2(b) to maintain its Percentage Interest, the
number of Notional General Partner Units shall be increased proportionally to reflect the
maintenance of such Percentage Interest.
“Operating Company” means American Midstream, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and
any successors thereto.
“Operating Expenditures” means all Partnership Group cash expenditures (or the Partnership’s
proportionate share of expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned),
including taxes, reimbursements of expenses of the General Partner and its Affiliates, interest
payments, payments made in the ordinary course of business under Interest Rate Hedge Contracts and
Commodity Hedge Contracts (provided that payments made in connection with the termination (effected
on or after the IPO Closing Date) of any Interest Rate Hedge Contract or Commodity Hedge Contract
prior to the expiration of its stipulated settlement or termination date shall be included in
Operating Expenditures in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such
Interest Rate Hedge Contract or Commodity Hedge Contract), Estimated Maintenance Capital
Expenditures, director and officer compensation, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings and
non-Pro Rata repurchases of Units (other than those made with the proceeds of an Interim Capital
Transaction), subject to the following:
(a) deemed repayments of Working Capital Borrowings deducted from Operating Surplus pursuant
to clause (b)(iii) of the definition of “Operating Surplus” shall not constitute Operating
Expenditures when actually repaid;
(b) payments (including prepayments and prepayment penalties) of principal of and premium on
indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings shall not constitute Operating Expenditures when
actually repaid;
(c) Operating Expenditures shall not include (i) Expansion Capital Expenditures, (ii)
Investment Capital Expenditures, (iii) actual Maintenance Capital Expenditures, (iv) payment of
transaction expenses (including taxes) relating to Interim Capital Transactions, (v) distributions
to Partners (including any distributions made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)), (vi)
17
non-Pro
Rata purchases of the Units of any class made with the proceeds of an Interim Capital Transaction
or (vii) any other payments made in connection with the Initial Public Offering that are described
under “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement; and
(d) where capital expenditures are made in part for Maintenance Capital Expenditures and in
part for other purposes, the General Partner, with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee,
shall determine the allocation of such capital expenditures between Maintenance Capital
Expenditures and capital expenditures made for other purposes and, with respect to the part of such
capital expenditures consisting of Maintenance Capital Expenditures, the period over which
Maintenance Capital Expenditures will be deducted as an Operating Expenditure in calculating
Operating Surplus.
“Operating Surplus” means, with respect to any period commencing on the IPO Closing Date and
ending prior to the Liquidation Date, on a cumulative basis and without duplication,
(a) the sum of:
(i) $11.5 million;
(ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of
cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for the period beginning on
the IPO Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, but excluding cash receipts from
Interim Capital Transactions (except to the extent specified in Section 6.5 and provided
that cash receipts from the termination (effected on or after the IPO Closing Date) of a Commodity
Hedge Contract or an Interest Rate Hedge Contract prior to its specified termination date shall be
included in Operating Surplus in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of
such Commodity Hedge Contract or Interest Rate Hedge Contract);
(iii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of
cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) after the end of such period
but on or before the date of determination of Operating Surplus with respect to such period
resulting from Working Capital Borrowings; and
(iv) cash distributions paid on equity issued to finance all or a portion of the construction,
acquisition, development or improvement of a Capital Improvement or replacement of a capital asset
(such as equipment or facilities) in respect of the period beginning on the date that the Group
Member enters into a binding obligation to commence the construction, acquisition, development or
improvement of a Capital Improvement or replacement of a capital asset and ending on the earlier to
occur of the date the Capital Improvement or capital asset Commences Commercial Service or the date
that it is abandoned or disposed of (equity issued to fund construction-, acquisition-,
development- or improvement-period interest payments on debt incurred, or construction-,
acquisition-, development- or improvement-period distributions on equity issued, to finance the
construction, acquisition or development of a Capital Improvement or replacement of a capital asset
shall also be deemed to be equity issued to finance the construction, acquisition or development of
a Capital Improvement or replacement of a capital asset for purposes of this clause (iv)); less
(b) the sum of:
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(i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the IPO Closing Date and ending on the
last day of such period;
(ii) the amount of cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in
the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) established by the General Partner after the
IPO Closing Date to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures; and
(iii) all Working Capital Borrowings incurred on or after the IPO Closing Date not repaid
within twelve months after having been incurred;
provided, however, that disbursements made (including contributions to a Group Member or
disbursements on behalf of a Group Member) or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after
the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to
such period shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of
determining Operating Surplus, within such period if the General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Operating Surplus” with respect to the Quarter in which the
Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero. Cash receipts from an
Investment Capital Expenditure shall be treated as cash receipts only to the extent they are a
return on principal, but in no event shall a return of principal be treated as cash receipts.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the
Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner.
“Option Closing Date” means the date or dates on which any Common Units are sold by the
Partnership to the Underwriters upon exercise of an Over-Allotment Option.
“Outstanding” means, with respect to Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests that are
issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the Partnership’s books and records as of
the date of determination; provided, however, that if at any time any Person or Group (other than
the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership
Interests of any class then Outstanding, all Partnership Interests owned by such Person or Group
shall not be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices
of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law),
calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes
under this Agreement, except that Units so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes
of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Units shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of
Partnership Interests for purposes of this Agreement or the Delaware Act); provided, further, that
the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the
Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding directly from the General Partner
or its Affiliates (other than the Partnership), (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more
of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from
a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that the General Partner shall have notified
such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall
19
not apply, or (iii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Interests
issued by the Partnership with the prior approval of the Board of Directors.
“Over-Allotment Option” means the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters by the
Partnership pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-2(b)(4).
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
“Partner Nonrecourse Deductions” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure
(including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with
the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse
Debt.
“Partners” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.
“Partnership” means American Midstream Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
“Partnership Group” means collectively the Partnership and its Subsidiaries.
“Partnership Interest” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership, which
shall include any General Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interests but shall exclude any
options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the
Partnership.
“Partnership Minimum Gain” means that amount determined in accordance with the principles of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).
“Per Unit Capital Amount” means, as of any date of determination, the Capital Account, stated
on a per-Unit basis, underlying any Unit held by a Person other than the General Partner or any
Affiliate of the General Partner who holds Units.
“Percentage Interest” means as of any date of determination (a) as to the General Partner
Interest (calculated based upon a number of Notional General Partner Units), and as to any
Unitholder with respect to Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage
applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Notional
General Partner Units held by the General Partner or the number of Units held by such Unitholder,
as the case may be, by (B) the total number of Outstanding Units and Notional General Partner
Units, and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership in
accordance with Section 5.6, the percentage established as a part of such issuance. The
Percentage Interest with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right shall at all times be zero.
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“Person” means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership,
joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political
subdivision thereof or other entity.
“Pro Rata” means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned among
all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (b) when used with
respect to Partners and/or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners and/or Record Holders in
accordance with their relative Percentage Interests and (c) when used with respect to holders of
Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned among all holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in
accordance with the relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held by each
such holder.
“Purchase Date” means the date determined by the General Partner as the date for purchase of
all Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of a certain class (other than Limited Partner Interests
owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV.
“Quarter” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership,
or, with respect to the fiscal quarter of the Partnership that includes the IPO Closing Date, the
portion of such fiscal quarter after the IPO Closing Date.
“Rate Eligibility Trigger” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.9(a)(i).
“Recapture Income” means any gain recognized by the Partnership (computed without regard to
any adjustment required by Section 734 or Section 743 of the Code) upon the disposition of any
property or asset of the Partnership, which gain is characterized as ordinary income because it
represents the recapture of deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.
“Record Date” means the date established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance
with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to 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 or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any
report or distribution or to participate in any offer.
“Record Holder” means (a) with respect to Partnership Interests of any class of Partnership
Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Person in whose name a Partnership
Interest of such class is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the closing of
business on a particular Business Day, or (b) with respect to other classes of Partnership
Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered on the books
that the General Partner has caused to be kept as of the closing of business on such Business Day.
“Redeemable Interests” means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been
given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.10.
“Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
333-173191) as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed
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by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and
sale of Common Units in the Initial Public Offering.
“Remaining Net Positive Adjustments” means as of the end of any taxable period, (i) with
respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units or Subordinated Units, the excess of (a) the Net
Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders holding Common Units or Subordinated Units as of the end of
such period over (b) the sum of those Partners’ Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for
each prior taxable period, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the Notional
General Partner Units), the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the General Partner as of
the end of such period over (b) the sum of the General Partner’s Share of Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items with respect to the Notional General Partner Units for each prior taxable period,
and (iii) with respect to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, the excess of (a) the Net
Positive Adjustments of the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period
over (b) the sum of the Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items of the holders of the
Incentive Distribution Rights for each prior taxable period.
“Required Allocations” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction
pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i), Section 6.1(d)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(iv),
Section 6.1(d)(v), Section 6.1(d)(vi), Section 6.1(d)(vii) or Section
6.1(d)(ix).
“Reset MQD” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(e).
“Reset Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(b).
“Retained Converted Subordinated Unit” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
5.5(c)(ii).
“Second Liquidation Target Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(c)(i)(E).
“Second Target Distribution” means 125% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution (or, with
respect to the Quarter which includes the IPO Closing Date, it means the product of 125% of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the
number of days in such Quarter after the IPO Closing Date and of which the denominator is the total
number of days in such Quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11,
Section 6.6 and Section 6.9.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from
time to time and any successor to such statute.
“Securities Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented
or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.
“Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means in connection with any allocation of
Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period, (i) with respect to the Unitholders
holding Common Units or Subordinated Units, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional
Book Basis Derivative Items as the Unitholders’ Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of
such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive
22
Adjustments as of that time, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the
Notional General Partner Units), the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items as the General Partner’s Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such
period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment as of that time, and (iii) with
respect to the Partners holding Incentive Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio
to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of the
Partners holding the Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period bears to the
Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time.
“Special Approval” means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee.
“Subordinated Unit” means a Partnership Interest representing a fractional part of the
Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and having the rights and obligations specified with
respect to Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term “Subordinated Unit” does not include a
Common Unit. A Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall not constitute a
Common Unit until such conversion occurs.
“Subordination Period” means the period commencing immediately following the distributions
provided for in Section 6.4(a) on the IPO Closing Date and ending on the first to occur of
the following dates:
(a) the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant
to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter beginning with the Quarter ending September 30,
2014 in respect of which:
(i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus (excluding the distributions
provided for in Section 6.4(a)) on each of (I) the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated
Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the
Subordinated Units and (II) the General Partner Interest, in each case with respect to each of the
three consecutive non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date, equaled or
exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for each such four-Quarter period on all
Common Units, Subordinated Units, any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution
to the Subordinated Units, in each case that were Outstanding at the time such distributions were
paid, and the related distributions on the General Partner Interest; and
(B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping
four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of (I) the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution for each such four-Quarter period on all of the Common Units, Subordinated
Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units, in each case that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average
Basis, and (II) the related distributions on the General Partner Interest (for the avoidance of
doubt, not including the distribution to the General Partner provided for in Section
6.4(a)); and
(ii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages;
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(b) the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant
to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter (beginning with the Quarter ending September
30, 2012) in respect of which:
(i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus (excluding the distributions
provided for in Section 6.4(a)) on each of (I) the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated
Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the
Subordinated Units, and (II) the General Partner Interest, in each case with respect to the
four-Quarter period immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution for such four-Quarter period on all of (I) the Common Units, Subordinated
Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units, in each case that were Outstanding at the time such distributions were paid, and (II) the
related distributions on the General Partner Interest, in each case in respect of such period; and
(B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for the four-Quarter period immediately preceding such date
equaled or exceeded the sum of (I) 150% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such four-Quarter
period on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other Units that are senior or equal
in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, in each case that were Outstanding during such
period on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis, and (II) the related distributions on the General
Partner Interest and the corresponding Incentive Distributions (for the avoidance of doubt, not
including the distribution to the General Partner provided for in Section 6.4(a));
(ii) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus (excluding the distributions
provided for in Section 6.4(a)) on each of (A) the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated
Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the
Subordinated Units that equaled or exceeded the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, and (B) the General
Partner Interest were made, in each case with respect to each Quarter during the four-Quarter
period immediately preceding such date; and
(iii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages; and
(c) the date on which the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership
upon the requisite vote by holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not
exist and no Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are voted in favor of such
removal;
provided, however, that, for purposes of determining whether the test in clause (a)(i)(B) above has
been satisfied, Adjusted Operating Surplus will be adjusted upwards or downwards if the Conflicts
Committee determines in good faith that the amount of Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures
used in the determination of Adjusted Operating Surplus in such clause was materially incorrect,
based on circumstances prevailing at the time of original determination of Estimated Maintenance
Capital Expenditures, for any one or more of the preceding two four-Quarter periods.
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“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of
the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote
in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or
indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such
Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such
Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited
partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such
partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is
owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a
corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a
combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a
majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the
directors or other governing body of such Person.
“Surviving Business Entity” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.2(b).
“Target Distributions” means each of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target
Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution.
“Third Liquidation Target Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(c)(i)(F).
“Third Target Distribution” means 150% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution (or, with respect
to the Quarter which includes the IPO Closing Date, it means the product of 150% of the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of
days in such Quarter after the IPO Closing Date and of which the denominator is the total number of
days in such Quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11, Section
6.6 and Section 6.9.
“Trading Day” means, for the purpose of determining the Current Market Price of any class of
Limited Partner Interests, a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such
class of Limited Partner Interests are listed is open for the transaction of business or, if
Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed on any National Securities Exchange, a day on
which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.
“transfer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a).
“Transfer Agent” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner
or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the General Partner to act as
registrar and transfer agent for the Common Units; provided, that if no Transfer Agent is
specifically designated for any other Partnership Interests, the General Partner shall act in such
capacity.
“Underwriters” means the underwriters in the Initial Public Offering.
25
“Underwriting Agreement” means the underwriting agreement among the Underwriters, the
Partnership, the General Partner and the other parties thereto, providing for the purchase of
Common Units by the Underwriters in connection with the Initial Public Offering.
“Unit” means a Partnership Interest that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common
Units and Subordinated Units but shall not include (i) Notional General Partner Units (or the
General Partner Interest represented thereby) or (ii) Incentive Distribution Rights.
“Unitholders” means the holders of Units.
“Unit Majority” means (i) during the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the
Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates),
voting as a separate class, and at least a majority of the Outstanding Subordinated Units, voting
as a separate class; and (ii) after the end of the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the
Outstanding Common Units, voting as a single class.
“Unpaid MQD” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(B).
“Unrealized Gain” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of
determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date
(as determined under Section 5.5(d))) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of
such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date).
“Unrealized Loss” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of
determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date
(prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date) over (b)
the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section
5.5(d)).
“Unrecovered Initial Unit Price” means at any time, with respect to a Unit, the Initial Unit
Price less the sum of all distributions constituting Capital Surplus theretofore made in respect of
an IPO Common Unit and any distributions of cash (or the Net Agreed Value of any distributions in
kind) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in
respect of an IPO Common Unit, adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give
effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of such Units.
“Unrestricted Person” means (a) each Indemnitee, (b) each Partner, (c) each Person who is or
was a member, partner, director, officer, employee or agent of any Group Member, a General Partner
or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, a General Partner or any
Departing General Partner and (d) any Person the General Partner designates as an Unrestricted
Person for purposes of this Agreement.
“U.S. GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.
“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
11.1(b).
26
“Working Capital Borrowings” means borrowings used solely for working capital purposes or to
pay distributions to Partners made pursuant to a credit facility, commercial paper facility or
other similar financing arrangements, provided that when such borrowings are incurred it is the
intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within 12 months other than from additional Working
Capital Borrowings.
Section 1.2 Construction.
Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include
the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and
verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to
Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include”, “includes”, “including” or words
of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (d) the terms
“hereof”, “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement 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.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 Formation.
The General Partner and AIM Midstream have previously formed the Partnership as a limited
partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The General Partner hereby amends and
restates the First Amended Agreement of Limited Partnership of American Midstream Partners, LP 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 (including
fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution
and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership
Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes.
Section 2.2 Name.
The name of the Partnership shall be “American Midstream Partners, LP” The Partnership’s
business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the General Partner,
including the name of the General Partner. The words “Limited Partnership,” “LP,” “Ltd.” or
similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the
purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner may
change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited
Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.
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Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices.
Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in
the State of Delaware shall be located at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of
Delaware at such registered office shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of
the Partnership shall be located at 0000 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxx, XX 00000, or such other
place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.
The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of
Delaware as the General Partner shall determine necessary or appropriate. The address of the
General Partner shall be 0000 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxx, XX 00000, or such other place as the
General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.
Section 2.4 Purpose and Business.
The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a)
engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint
venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business
activity that is approved by the General Partner, in its sole discretion, and that lawfully may be
conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection
therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the
agreements relating to such business activity, and (b) do anything necessary or appropriate to the
foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided,
however, that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or
indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would be reasonably likely
to cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise
taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the
General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve, and may, in its sole
discretion, decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business free of
any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, 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.
Section 2.5 Powers.
The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate,
proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the
purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the
Partnership.
Section 2.6 Term.
The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited
Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until the
dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The
existence of
28
the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the
Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.
Section 2.7 Title to Partnership Assets.
Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or
intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner,
individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any
portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the
Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the
General Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any
Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the General Partner or one or more
of its Affiliates or one or more nominees 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 as soon as reasonably practicable; provided,
further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as
practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record
title to the Partnership and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets
in a manner satisfactory to any successor General Partner. All Partnership assets shall be recorded
as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which
record title to such Partnership assets is held.
ARTICLE III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability.
The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided
in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.
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Section 3.2 Management of Business.
No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or
control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any
business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the
Partnership. All actions 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 not be deemed to be participating in the control
of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of
Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on
the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.
Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.5, which shall continue to be applicable to the
Persons referred to therein, regardless of whether such Persons shall also be Limited Partners,
each Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business
activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and
activities in direct competition with the Partnership Group. Neither the Partnership nor any of the
other Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any
Limited Partner.
Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners.
(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable law (other than
Section 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act, the obligations of which are expressly replaced in their
entirety by the provisions below and Section 8.3), and except as limited by Section
3.4(a)(i), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose that is reasonably related,
as determined by the General Partner, to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in
the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such
Limited Partner’s own expense to obtain:
(i) true and full information regarding the status of the business and financial condition of
the Partnership (provided that the requirements of this Section 3.4(a)(i) shall be
satisfied to the extent the Limited Partner is furnished the Partnership’s most recent annual
report and any subsequent quarterly or periodic reports required to be filed (or which would be
required to be filed) with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act);
(ii) a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each
Record Holder;
(iii) a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments
thereto, together with copies of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which
this Agreement, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto have been
executed; and
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(iv) such other information regarding the affairs of the Partnership as the General Partner
determines is just and reasonable.
(b) The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of
time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner
reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure
of which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the
Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group
Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than
agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the
obligations set forth in this Section 3.4).
ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 4.1 Certificates.
Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary herein, unless the General Partner shall
determine otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes of Partnership Interests,
Partnership Interests shall not be evidenced by certificates. Certificates that may be issued
shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, President or any
Executive Vice President or Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer or the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the General Partner. No Certificate for a class of Partnership Interests
shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent for such class
of Partnership Interests; provided, however, that if the General Partner elects to cause the
Partnership to issue Partnership Interests of such class in global form, the Certificate shall be
valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Partnership
Interests have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership. Subject
to the requirements of Section 6.7(c), if Common Units are evidenced by Certificates, on or
after the date on which Subordinated Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to the terms of
Section 5.7, the Record Holders of such Subordinated Units (i) if the Subordinated Units
are evidenced by Certificates, may exchange such Certificates for Certificates evidencing Common
Units or (ii) if the Subordinated Units are not evidenced by Certificates, shall be issued
Certificates evidencing Common Units.
Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
(a) If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent (for Common Units) or
the General Partner (for Partnership Interests other than Common Units), the appropriate officers
of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent (for
Common Units) or the General Partner (for Partnership Interests other than Common Units) shall
countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and type
of Partnership Interests as the Certificate so surrendered.
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(b) The appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute
and deliver, and the Transfer Agent (for Common Units) shall countersign, a new Certificate in
place of any Certificate previously issued, or issue uncertificated Common Units, if the Record
Holder of the Certificate:
(i) makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, that
a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;
(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate or the issuance of uncertificated Units before
the General Partner has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in
good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;
(iii) if requested by the General Partner, delivers to the General Partner a bond, in form and
substance satisfactory to the General Partner, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open
penalty as the General Partner may direct to indemnify the Partnership, the Partners, the General
Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss,
destruction or theft of the Certificate; and
(iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the General Partner.
If a Limited Partner fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period of time
after he has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the
Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the
General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, 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 or uncertificated Units.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate or uncertificated Units under this
Section 4.2, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses
(including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.
Section 4.3 Record Holders.
The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner with respect
to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or
other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person,
regardless of whether the Partnership shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as
otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any
National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.
Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or
clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some
other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests,
as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such
representative Person shall be (a) the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest and (b) bound by
this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Partner, as the case may be,
hereunder as, and to the extent, provided herein.
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Section 4.4 Transfer Generally.
(a) The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest,
shall mean a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General Partner Interest to
another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation,
mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a
Limited Partner Interest assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes
a Limited Partner, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law
or otherwise, excluding a pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage but including any transfer
upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.
(b) No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance
with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported
transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.
(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any
stockholder, member, partner or other owner of any Partner of any or all of the shares of stock,
membership or limited liability company interests, partnership interests or other ownership
interests in such Partner, and the term “transfer” shall not mean any such disposition.
Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.
(a) The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register
in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions
of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of
Limited Partner Interests.
(b) 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 General Partner for such transfer;
provided, that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section
4.5, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto. Upon surrender of a Certificate for
registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject
to the provisions hereof, the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the
Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner
Interests, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the
designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or
more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as
was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.
(c) By acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with this
Section 4.5 and except as provided in Section 4.9, each transferee of a Limited
Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited
Partner Interests for the account of another Person) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a
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Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person
when any such transfer or admission is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership and
such Limited Partner becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred,
(ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this
Agreement, (iii) represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and (iv) makes the consents, acknowledgements and waivers contained in this
Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any
Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an
amendment to this Agreement.
(d) Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section
4.3, (iii) Section 4.8, (iv) with respect to any class or series of Limited Partner
Interests, the provisions of any statement of designations or an amendment to this Agreement
establishing such class or series, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner
and (vi) provisions of applicable law including the Securities Act, Limited Partner Interests shall
be freely transferable.
(e) The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their
Subordinated Units, Common Units and Incentive Distribution Rights to one or more Persons.
Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest.
(a) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to June 30, 2021, the General Partner shall
not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest (represented by Notional General
Partner Units) to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent
or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common
Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of
its General Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual)
or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the merger or consolidation of
the General Partner with or into such other Person or the transfer by the General Partner of all or
substantially all of its assets to such other Person.
(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after June 30, 2021, the General Partner
may transfer all or any of its General Partner Interest without Unitholder approval.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all
or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the
transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and
to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of
Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner
under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a
corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent
not already so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the
appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or limited liability company
membership interest held by the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any,
of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this
Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance
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with the terms of Section 10.2, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner
effective immediately prior to the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of
the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.
Section 4.7 Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights.
The General Partner or any other holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or
all of its Incentive Distribution Rights without Unitholder approval.
Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers.
(a) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, no transfer of any
Partnership Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) terminate the existence or
qualification of the Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, or (iii)
cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be
taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).
(b) The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it
determines, with the advice of counsel, that such restrictions are necessary or advisable to (i)
avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming
taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (ii) preserve the uniformity of the
Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may impose such
restrictions by amending this Agreement; provided, however, that any amendment that would result in
the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal
National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then listed or
admitted to trading must be approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the holders of at
least a majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of such class.
(c) The transfer of a Common Unit that has been issued upon conversion of a Subordinated Unit
shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(c).
(d) The transfer of Common Units that have been issued upon conversion of Incentive
Distribution Rights shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.8(b).
(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement, other than Section 4.8(a), shall preclude the
settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities
of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to
trading.
Section 4.9 Eligibility Certifications; Ineligible Holders.
(a) If at any time the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that
(i) the U.S. federal income tax status (or lack of proof of the U.S. federal income tax
status) of one or more Limited Partners has or is reasonably likely to have a material adverse
effect on the rates that can be charged to customers by any Group Member on assets that
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are subject to regulation by the FERC or analogous regulatory body (a “Rate Eligibility
Trigger”); or
(ii) any Group Member is subject to any federal, state or local law or regulation that would
create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Group Member
has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or other related status of a Partner (a
“Citizenship Eligibility Trigger”);
then, the General Partner may adopt such amendments to this Agreement as it determines to be
necessary or advisable to (x) in the case of a Rate Eligibility Trigger, obtain such proof of the
U.S. federal income tax status of the Limited Partners and, to the extent relevant, their
beneficial owners, as the General Partner determines to be necessary to establish those Limited
Partners whose U.S. federal income tax status does not or would not have a material adverse effect
on the rates that can be charged to customers by any Group Member or (y) in the case of a
Citizenship Eligibility Trigger, obtain such proof of the nationality, citizenship or other related
status of the Partner (or, if the Partner is a nominee holding for the account of another Person,
the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such Person) as the General Partner
determines to be necessary to establish those Partners whose status as Partners does not or would
not subject any Group Member to a significant risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its
properties or interests therein.
(b) Such amendments may include provisions requiring all Partners to certify as to their (and
their beneficial owners’) status as Eligible Holders upon demand and on a regular basis, as
determined by the General Partner, and may require transferees of Units to so certify prior to
being admitted to the Partnership as a Partner (any such required certificate, an “Eligibility
Certificate”).
(c) Such amendments may provide that any Partner who fails to furnish to the General Partner
within a reasonable period requested proof of its (and its beneficial owners’) status as an
Eligible Holder or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other requested information
the General Partner determines that a Partner is not an Eligible Holder (such a Partner an
“Ineligible Holder”) the Partnership Interests owned by such Limited Partner shall be subject to
redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10. In addition, the General
Partner shall be substituted for all Limited Partners that are Ineligible Holders as the Limited
Partner in respect of the Ineligible Holders’ Partnership Interests.
(d) The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Partnership Interests
held by it on behalf of Ineligible Holders, distribute the votes in the same ratios as the votes of
Partners (including the General Partner and its Affiliates) in respect of Partnership Interests
other than those of Ineligible Holders are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the
matter.
(e) Upon dissolution of the Partnership, an Ineligible Holder shall have no right to receive a
distribution in kind pursuant to Section 12.4 but shall be entitled to the cash equivalent
thereof, and the Partnership shall provide cash in exchange for an assignment of the Ineligible
Holder’s share of any distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated for
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Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the Ineligible Holder of his
Partnership Interest (representing his right to receive his share of such distribution in kind).
(f) At any time after an Ineligible Holder can and does certify that he has become an Eligible
Holder, an Ineligible Holder may, upon application to the General Partner, request that with
respect to any Partnership Interests of such Ineligible Holder not redeemed pursuant to Section
4.10, such Ineligible Holder be admitted as a Limited Partner, and upon approval of the General
Partner, such Ineligible Holder shall be admitted as a Limited Partner and shall no longer
constitute an Ineligible Holder and the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited
Partner in respect of such Ineligible Holder’s Partnership Interests.
Section 4.10 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders.
(a) If at any time a Partner fails to furnish an Eligibility Certificate or other information
requested within the period of time specified in amendments adopted pursuant to Section
4.9, or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other information the General
Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Partner is not an Eligible Holder, the
Partnership may, unless the Partner establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that
such Partner is an Eligible Holder or has transferred his Partnership Interests to a Person who is
an Eligible Holder and who furnishes an Eligibility Certificate to the General Partner prior to the
date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Partnership Interest of such Partner as
follows:
(i) The General Partner shall, not later than the 30th day before the date fixed for
redemption, give notice of redemption to the Partner, at his last address designated on the records
of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. The
notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable
Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption
price will be made upon redemption of the Redeemable Interests (or, if later in the case of
Redeemable Interests evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender of the Certificates evidencing the
Redeemable Interests) and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no further allocations or
distributions to which the Partner would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable
Interests will accrue or be made.
(ii) The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to the
Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of
Partnership Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Partnership
Interests of each such class included among the Redeemable Interests. The redemption price shall be
paid, as determined by the General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the
Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 5%
annually and payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued
interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.
(iii) The Partner or his duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the
payment for the Redeemable Interests at the place of payment specified in the notice of redemption
on the redemption date (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Interests evidenced by Certificates,
upon surrender by or on behalf of the Partner at the place specified in the notice
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of redemption, of the Certificates evidencing the Redeemable Interests, duly endorsed in blank
or accompanied by an assignment duly executed in blank).
(iv) After the redemption date, Redeemable Interests shall no longer constitute issued and
Outstanding Partnership Interests.
(b) The provisions of this Section 4.10 shall also be applicable to Partnership
Interests held by a Partner as nominee of a Person determined to be an Ineligible Holder.
(c) Nothing in this Section 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption
from transferring his Partnership Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise
permitted under this Agreement. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner
shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Partnership Interest
certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that he is an Eligible Holder. If the
transferee fails to make such certification, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee
on the original redemption date.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND
ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1 Intentionally Omitted.
Section 5.2 Contributions by the General Partner and the Initial Limited Partners.
(a) Prior to the IPO Closing Date, the General Partner, AIM Midstream and the LTIP Partners
made capital contributions in exchange for Partnership Interests.
(b)
Upon the issuance of any Additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership (other
than (i) the Common Units issued in the Initial Public Offering (including Common Units issued upon
the exercise by the Underwriters of the Over-Allotment Option), (ii) any Common Units issued upon
conversion of Subordinated Units and (iii) Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11),
the General Partner may, in order to maintain its Percentage Interest, make additional Capital
Contributions in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the quotient determined
by dividing (A) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest immediately prior to the issuance of such
Additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership by (B) 100 less the General Partner’s
Percentage Interest immediately prior to the issuance of such Additional Limited Partner Interests
by the Partnership times (ii) the amount contributed to the Partnership by the Limited Partners in
exchange for such Additional Limited Partner Interests. Except as set forth in Article XII,
the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contributions to the
Partnership.
Section 5.3 Contributions by Limited Partners.
(a) On the IPO Closing Date and pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter shall
contribute cash to the Partnership in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units
to each Underwriter, as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.
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(b) Upon the exercise, if any, of the Over-Allotment Option, each Underwriter shall contribute
cash to the Partnership in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to each
Underwriter, all as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.
(c) No Limited Partner will be required to make any Capital Contribution to the Partnership
pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 5.4 Interest and Withdrawal of Capital Contributions.
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 liquidation of the Partnership may be
considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the
extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner
either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any
such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners agree within the meaning of Section
17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.5 Capital Accounts.
(a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership
Interests held by a nominee 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). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital
Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest and (ii) all items
of Partnership income and gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance
with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to
Section 6.1, and decreased by (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 and (y) all
items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and
allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1.
(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction that
is to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and is to be reflected in the Partners’ Capital
Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as
its determination, recognition and classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes (including
any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:
(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 5.5, the Partnership shall be treated as
owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the
provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement) of all property owned by (x) any other Group
Member that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and (y) any other
partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity
39
classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes of which a Group Member is,
directly or indirectly, a partner, member or other equity holder.
(ii) All fees and other expenses incurred by the Partnership to promote the sale of (or to
sell) a Partnership Interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized under Section 709 of the
Code, if any, shall, for purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of
deduction at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall be allocated among the
Partners pursuant to Section 6.1.
(iii) Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the
computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any
election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership and, as to those items
described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such
items are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any
Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital
Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain
or loss.
(iv) Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any Partnership
property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of
disposition were equal in amount to the Partnership’s Carrying Value with respect to such property
as of such date.
(v) In accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions for
depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Contributed Property shall be
determined as if the adjusted basis of such property on the date it was acquired by the Partnership
were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an adjustment pursuant to Section
5.5(d) to the Carrying Value of any Partnership property subject to depreciation, cost recovery
or amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery or amortization
attributable to such property shall be determined, under the rules prescribed by Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-3(d)(2), as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the
Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment.
(vi) The Gross Liability Value of each Liability of the Partnership described in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i) shall be adjusted at such times as provided in this Agreement
for an adjustment to Carrying Values. The amount of any such adjustment shall be treated for
purposes hereof as an item of loss (if the adjustment increases the Carrying Value of such
Liability of the Partnership) or an item of gain (if the adjustment decreases the Carrying Value of
such Liability of the Partnership).
(c) (i) A transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a Pro Rata portion of the
Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so transferred.
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(ii) Subject to Section 6.7(c), immediately prior to the transfer of a Subordinated
Unit or of a Common Unit that has been issued upon conversion of a Subordinated Unit pursuant to
Section 5.7 by a holder thereof (other than a transfer to an Affiliate unless the General
Partner elects to have this Section 5.5(c)(ii) apply), the Capital Account maintained for
such Person with respect to its Subordinated Units or Common Units issued upon conversion of
Subordinated Units will (A) first, be allocated to the Subordinated Units or Common Units issued
upon conversion of Subordinated Units to be transferred in an amount equal to the product of (x)
the number of such Subordinated Units or Common Units issued upon conversion of Subordinated Units
to be transferred and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit, and (B) second, any
remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the transferor, regardless of whether
it has retained any Subordinated Units or Common Units issued upon conversion of Subordinated Units
(“Retained Converted Subordinated Units”). Following any such allocation, the transferor’s Capital
Account, if any, maintained with respect to the retained Subordinated Units or Retained Converted
Subordinated Units, if any, will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (B)
hereinabove, and the transferee’s Capital Account established with respect to the transferred
Subordinated Units or Common Units issued upon conversion of Subordinated Units will have a balance
equal to the amount allocated under clause (A) hereinabove.
(iii) Upon the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11(a), the
Capital Account maintained with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights shall (A) first, be
allocated to IDR Reset Common Units in an amount equal to the product of (x) the Aggregate Quantity
of IDR Reset Common Units and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an IPO Common Unit, and (B)
second, any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the holder of the
Incentive Distributions Rights. In the event that there is not a sufficient Capital Account
associated with the Incentive Distribution Rights to allocate the full Per Unit Capital Amount for
an IPO Common Unit to the IDR Reset Common Units in accordance with clause (A) of this Section
5.5(c)(iii), the IDR Reset Common Units shall be subject to Section 6.1(d)(x)(B) and
Section 6.1(d)(x)(C).
(d) (i) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of
additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of Partnership
Interests as consideration for the provision of services or the conversion of the Combined Interest
to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Capital Account of each Partner and the
Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted
upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such
Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an
actual sale of each such property immediately prior to such issuance for an amount equal to its
fair market value and had been allocated to the Partners at such time pursuant to Section
6.1(c) and Section 6.1(d) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually
recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been
allocated; provided, however, that in the event of an issuance of Partnership Interests for a de
minimis amount of cash or Contributed Property, or in the event of an issuance of a de minimis
amount of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the General Partner
may determine that such adjustments are unnecessary for the proper administration of the
Partnership. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market
value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the
41
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. 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.
(ii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to
any actual or deemed distribution to a Partner of any Partnership property (other than a
distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the
Capital Accounts of all Partners and the Carrying Value of all Partnership property shall be
adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such
Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized in a sale
of such property immediately prior to such distribution for an amount equal to its fair market
value, and had been allocated to the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1(c) and
Section 6.1(d) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following
an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated. In
determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate fair market value of all
Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall
(A) in the case of an actual distribution that is not made pursuant to Section 12.4 or in
the case of a deemed distribution, be determined and allocated in the same manner as that provided
in Section 5.5(d)(i) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to
Section 12.4, be determined and allocated by the Liquidator using such method of valuation
as it may adopt.
Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests.
(a) The Partnership may issue additional Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants,
appreciation rights, tracking and phantom interests, and other economic interests relating to the
Partnership Interests (including pursuant to Section 7.4(c)) for any partnership purpose at
any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and
conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited
Partners.
(b) Each additional Partnership Interest or other security authorized to be issued by the
Partnership pursuant to Section 5.6(a) or Section 7.4(c) 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 or other securities), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right
to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership
distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether,
and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the
Partnership Interest (including sinking fund provisions) or other security; (v) whether such
Partnership Interest or other security is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and,
if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon
which each Partnership Interest or other security will be issued, evidenced by certificates and
assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such
Partnership Interest; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Interest to vote on
Partnership
42
matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such
Partnership Interest.
(c) The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or
appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Interests and options, rights,
warrants, appreciation rights, tracking and phantom interests, and other economic interests in the
Partnership or relating to Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.6 or
Section 7.4(c), (ii) the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement, (iii) the issuance of Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11, (iv)
the admission of Additional Limited Partners and (v) all additional issuances of Partnership
Interests. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the
holders of the Units or other Partnership Interests or other securities being so issued. The
General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and
directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any
future issuance of Partnership Interests or other securities or in connection with the conversion
of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance
with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency
or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Interests are listed or
admitted to trading.
(d) No fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.
Section 5.7 Conversion of Subordinated Units.
(a) All of the Subordinated Units shall automatically convert into Common Units on a
one-for-one basis on the expiration or termination of the Subordination Period.
(b) A Common Unit that has been issued upon conversion of a Subordinated Unit shall be subject
to the provisions of Section 6.7.
Section 5.8 Limited Preemptive Right.
Except as provided in this Section 5.8 and in Section 5.2 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 or
other security, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. The General Partner
shall have the right, that it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its
Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Interests from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms
that, the Partnership issues Partnership Interests to Persons other than the General Partner and
its Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner
and its Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such
Partnership Interests. Any determination by the General Partner whether to exercise its right
pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall be a determination made in its individual
capacity and not as the general partner of the Partnership, and such determination may be made in
accordance with Section 7.9(c).
43
Section 5.9 Splits and Combinations.
(a) Subject to Section 5.9(d), Section 6.6 and Section 6.9 (dealing
with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of
Partnership Interests to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of
Partnership Interests so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage
Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per-Unit basis
(including any Common Unit Arrearage or Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage) or stated as a number of
Units (including the number of Subordinated Units that may convert prior to the end of the
Subordination Period) are proportionately adjusted.
(b) Whenever such a Pro Rata distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests
is declared, the General Partner shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution,
subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior
to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of
such notice. The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected
by it to calculate the number of Partnership Interests to be held by each Record Holder after
giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The General Partner shall be
entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of
such calculation.
(c) If a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Interests, or a subdivision or combination of
Partnership Interests, is made as contemplated in this Section 5.9, the number of Notional
General Partner Units constituting the Percentage Interest of the General Partner (as determined
immediately prior to the Record Date for such distribution, subdivision or combination), shall be
appropriately adjusted as of the effective date for payment of such distribution, subdivision or
combination to maintain such Percentage Interest of the General Partner.
(d) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may
issue Certificates or uncertificated Partnership Interests to the Record Holders of Partnership
Interests as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Interests
held by such Record Holders, or the General Partner may adopt such other procedures that it
determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results
in a smaller total number of Partnership Interests Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a
condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of such new Certificate or uncertificated Partnership
Interests, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such
Record Date.
(e) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units or Notional General Partner Units upon
any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or
combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units or fractional Notional
General Partner Units but for the provisions of this Section 5.9(e), each fractional Unit
or fractional Notional General Partner Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit or Notional
General Partner Unit (and a 0.5 Unit or Notional General Partner Unit shall be rounded to the next
higher Unit or Notional General Partner Unit).
44
Section 5.10 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests.
All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of,
this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the
Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by either or both of Sections 17-607
and 17-804 of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.11 Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution
Rights.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.11, the holder of the Incentive
Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the
holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right,
exercisable at its option at any time when there are no Subordinated Units Outstanding and the
Partnership has made a distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(c)(v) for each of the four most
recently completed Quarters and the amount of each such distribution did not exceed Adjusted
Operating Surplus for such Quarter, to make an election (the “IDR Reset Election”) to cause the
Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11(e) and,
in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become
entitled to receive their respective proportionate share of a number of Common Units (the “IDR
Reset Common Units”) derived by dividing (i) the average aggregate amount of cash distributions
made by the Partnership for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset
Notice (as defined in Section 5.11(b)) in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights by
(ii) the average of the cash distributions made by the Partnership in respect of each Common Unit
for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (the number of
Common Units determined by such quotient is referred to herein as the “Aggregate Quantity of IDR
Reset Common Units”). If at the time of any IDR Reset Election the General Partner and its
Affiliates are not the holders of a majority interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights, then
the IDR Reset Election shall be subject to the prior written concurrence of the General Partner
that the conditions described in the immediately preceding sentence have been satisfied. The
Percentage Interest of the General Partner, with respect to the General Partner Interest, after the
issuance of the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units shall equal the Percentage Interest of
the General Partner, with respect to the General Partner Interest, prior to the issuance of the
Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and the General Partner shall not be obligated to make
any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership in order to maintain its Percentage Interest
in connection therewith and shall be issued an additional number of Notional General Partner Units
as is required to maintain such Percentage Interest. The making of the IDR Reset Election in the
manner specified in Section 5.11(b) shall cause each of the Target Distributions to be
reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11(e) and, in connection therewith,
the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive IDR
Reset Common Units on the basis specified above, without any further approval required by the
General Partner or the Unitholders, at the time specified in Section 5.11(c) unless the IDR
Reset Election is rescinded pursuant to Section 5.11(d).
(b) To exercise the right specified in Section 5.11(a), the holder of the Incentive
Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the
holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall deliver a written
45
notice (the “Reset Notice”) to the Partnership. Within 10 Business Days after the receipt by
the Partnership of such Reset Notice, the Partnership shall deliver a written notice to the holder
or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights of the Partnership’s determination of the aggregate
number of IDR Reset Common Units that each holder of Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled
to receive.
(c) The holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive the
Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units on the fifteenth Business Day after receipt by the
Partnership of the Reset Notice; provided, however, that the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units to
the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights shall not occur prior to the approval of
the listing or admission for trading of such IDR Reset Common Units by the principal National
Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then listed or admitted for trading if any such
approval is required pursuant to the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange.
(d) If the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded
has not approved the listing or admission for trading of the Common Units to be issued pursuant to
this Section 5.11 on or before the 30th calendar day following the Partnership’s receipt of
the Reset Notice and such approval is required by the rules and regulations of such National
Securities Exchange, then the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more
than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the
Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right to either rescind the IDR Reset Election or
elect to receive other Partnership Interests having such terms as the General Partner may approve,
with the approval of a Conflicts Committee, that will provide (i) the same economic value, in the
aggregate, as the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units would have had at the time of the
Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice, as determined by the General Partner, and (ii) for the
subsequent conversion (on terms acceptable to the National Securities Exchange upon which the
Common Units are then traded) of such Partnership Interests into Common Units within not more than
12 months following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice upon the satisfaction of one or
more conditions that are reasonably acceptable to the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights
(or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a
majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights).
(e) The Target Distributions shall be adjusted at the time of the issuance of Common Units or
other Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.11 such that (i) the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution shall be reset to equal the average cash distribution amount per Common Unit
for the two Quarters immediately prior to the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice (the “Reset
MQD”), (ii) the First Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 115% of the Reset MQD, (iii) the
Second Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 125% of the Reset MQD and (iv) the Third Target
Distribution shall be reset to equal 150% of the Reset MQD.
46
ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes.
For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners
among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in
accordance with Section 5.5(b)) for each taxable period shall be allocated among the
Partners as provided herein below.
(a) Net Income. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section
6.1(d), Net Income for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction
taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:
(i) First, to the General Partner until the aggregate of the Net Income allocated to the
General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(i) and the Net Termination Gain allocated
to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)(A) or Section 6.1(c)(iv)(A)
for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the Net Loss
allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable
periods and the Net Termination Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section
6.1(c)(ii)(D) or Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B) for the current and all previous taxable
periods; and
(ii) The balance, if any, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest, and (y) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage
applicable to subclause (x).
(b) Net Loss. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section
6.1(d), Net Loss for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction
taken into account in computing Net Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:
(i) First, to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata; provided, that Net Losses
shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such
allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at
the end of such taxable period (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital
Account); and
(ii) The balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
(c) Net Termination Gains and Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set
forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss (including a pro rata
part of each item of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net
Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period shall be allocated in the manner
set forth in this Section 6.1(c). All allocations under this Section 6.1(c) shall
be made after Capital Account balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under
this Section 6.1 and after all distributions of Available Cash provided under Section
6.4 and
47
Section 6.5 have been made; provided, however, that solely for purposes of this Section
6.1(c), Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for distributions made pursuant to Section
12.4.
(i) Except as provided in Section 6.1(c)(iv), Net Termination Gain (including a pro
rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, and deduction taken into account in computing Net
Termination Gain) shall be allocated:
(A) First, to the General Partner until the aggregate of the Net Termination Gain allocated
to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(i)(A) or Section
6.1(c)(iv)(A) and the Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section
6.1(a)(i) for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the
Net Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for all
previous taxable periods and the Net Termination Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant
to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(D) or Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B) for all previous taxable
periods;
(B) Second, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y)
to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General
Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then
Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any
distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(i) or Section 6.4(c)(i) with respect to
such Common Unit for such Quarter (the amount determined pursuant to this clause (2) is
hereinafter defined as the “Unpaid MQD”) and (3) any then existing Cumulative Common Unit
Arrearage;
(C) Third, if such Net Termination Gain is recognized (or is deemed to be recognized) prior
to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, (x) to the General Partner in
accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units,
Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the
Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding equals the sum of (1) its
Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, determined for the taxable period (or portion thereof) to which
this allocation of gain relates, and (2) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter
during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section
6.4(b)(iii) with respect to such Subordinated Unit for such Quarter;
(D) Fourth, to the General Partner and all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account
in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered
Initial Unit Price, (2) the Unpaid MQD, (3) any then existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage,
and (4) the excess of (aa) the First Target Distribution less the Minimum Quarterly Distribution
for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any
distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to
Section 6.4(b)(iv) and Section 6.4(c)(ii) (the sum of (1), (2), (3) and (4) is
hereinafter defined as the “First Liquidation Target Amount”);
(E) Fifth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 13%
to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and
48
(z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the
percentages applicable to subclauses (x) and (y) of this clause (E), until the Capital Account
in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the First Liquidation
Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Second Target Distribution less the First Target
Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit
amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made
pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(v) and Section 6.4(c)(iii) (the sum of (1) and (2) is
hereinafter defined as the “Second Liquidation Target Amount”);
(F) Sixth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 23%
to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro
Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (x)
and (y) of this clause (F), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then
Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the Second Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess
of (aa) the Third Target Distribution less the Second Target Distribution for each Quarter of
the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of
Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section
6.4(b)(vi) and Section 6.4(c)(iv) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter defined as
the “Third Liquidation Target Amount”); and
(G) Finally, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 48%
to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro
Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (x)
and (y) of this clause (G).
(ii) Except as otherwise provided by Section 6.1(c)(iii), Net Termination Loss
(including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, and deduction taken into account in
computing Net Termination Loss) shall be allocated:
(A) First, if Subordinated Units remain Outstanding, (x) to the General Partner in
accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units,
Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the
Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;
(B) Second, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y)
to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General
Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then
Outstanding has been reduced to zero;
(C) Third, to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata; provided that Net
Termination Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(ii)(C) to the
extent such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted
Capital Account (or increase any existing deficit in its Adjusted Capital Account); and
(D) Fourth, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
49
(iii) Any Net Termination Loss deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d) prior to
the Liquidation Date shall be allocated:
(A) First, to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata; provided that Net
Termination Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iii)(A) to the
extent such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted
Capital Account at the end of such taxable period (or increase any existing deficit in its
Adjusted Capital Account); and
(B) The balance, if any, to the General Partner.
(iv) If a Net Termination Loss has been allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(iii),
subsequent Net Termination Gain deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d) prior to the
Liquidation Date shall be allocated:
(A) First, to the General Partner until the aggregate Net Termination Gain allocated to the
General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iv)(A) is equal to the aggregate Net
Termination Loss previously allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B);
(B) Second, to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the aggregate Net
Termination Gain allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iv)(B) is equal to the
aggregate Net Termination Loss previously allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(iii)(A);
and
(C) The balance, if any, pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(c)(i).
(d) Special Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section
6.1, the following special allocations shall be made for such taxable period:
(i) Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 6.1, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership
taxable period, each Partner shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such
period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury
Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6), 1.704-2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision.
For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall
be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to
the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d) with respect to
such taxable period (other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi) and
Section 6.1(d)(vii)). This Section 6.1(d)(i) is intended to comply with the
Partnership Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall
be interpreted consistently therewith.
(ii) Chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Notwithstanding the other
provisions of this Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(d)(i)), except as provided
in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse
Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, any Partner with a
50
share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period shall
be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent
periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and
1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each
Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or
gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations
pursuant to this Section 6.1(d), other than Section 6.1(d)(i) and other than an
allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii), with respect to
such taxable period. This Section 6.1(d)(ii) is intended to comply with the chargeback of
items of income and gain requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith.
(iii) Priority Allocations.
(A) If the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property distributed (except cash
or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4) with respect to a Unit exceeds the
amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed with respect to another Unit (the
amount of the excess, an “Excess Distribution” and the Unit with respect to which the greater
distribution is paid, an “Excess Distribution Unit”), then (1) there shall be allocated gross
income and gain to each Unitholder receiving an Excess Distribution with respect to the Excess
Distribution Unit until the aggregate amount of such items allocated with respect to such Excess
Distribution Unit pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) for the current taxable period
and all previous taxable periods is equal to the amount of the Excess Distribution; and (2) the
General Partner shall be allocated gross income and gain with respect to each such Excess
Distribution in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (aa) the quotient
determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time when the Excess
Distribution occurs by (y) a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage
Interest at the time when the Excess Distribution occurs, times (bb) the total amount allocated
in clause (1) above with respect to such Excess Distribution.
(B) After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A), the remaining items of
Partnership income or gain for the taxable period, if any, shall be allocated (1) to the holders
of Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated
to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B)
for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the cumulative
amount of all Incentive Distributions made to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights from
the IPO Closing Date to a date 45 days after the end of the current taxable period; and (2) to
the General Partner an amount equal to the product of (aa) an amount equal to the quotient
determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (y) the sum of 100 less
the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause
(1) above.
(iv) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments,
allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4),
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership gross income and gain
shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient
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to eliminate, to
the extent required by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section
704(b) of the Code, the deficit balance, if any, in its Adjusted Capital Account created by
such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation
pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iv) shall be made only if and to the extent that such
Partner would have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account as adjusted after all other
allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if this
Section 6.1(d)(iv) were not in this Agreement.
(v) Gross Income Allocations. In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital
Account at the end of any taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Partner is
required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is
deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5),
such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership gross income and gain in the amount
of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section
6.1(d)(v) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit
balance in its Capital Account as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this
Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if Section 6.1(d)(iv) and this
Section 6.1(d)(v) were not in this Agreement.
(vi) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated
to the Partners Pro Rata. If the General Partner determines that the Partnership’s Nonrecourse
Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the
Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is
authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically
closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.
(vii) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period
shall be allocated 100% to the Partner that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the
Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in
accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one Partner bears the Economic
Risk of Loss with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt, such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions
attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among such Partners in accordance with the
ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of Loss.
(viii) Nonrecourse Liabilities. For purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3),
the Partners agree that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the
amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be
allocated among the Partners Pro Rata.
(ix) Code Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of
any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital
Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain
(if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such
basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner
consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to
such Section of the Treasury Regulations.
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(x) Economic Uniformity; Changes in Law.
(A) At the election of the General Partner with respect to any taxable period ending upon,
or after, the termination of the Subordination Period, all or a portion of the remaining items
of Partnership gross income or gain for such taxable period, after taking into account
allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(iii), shall be allocated 100% to each Partner
holding Subordinated Units that are Outstanding as of the termination of the Subordination
Period (“Final Subordinated Units”) in the proportion of the number of Final Subordinated Units
held by such Partner to the total number of Final Subordinated Units then Outstanding, until
each such Partner has been allocated an amount of gross income or gain that increases the
Capital Account maintained with respect to such Final Subordinated Units to an amount that after
taking into account the other allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction to be made with
respect to such taxable period will equal the product of (A) the number of Final Subordinated
Units held by such Partner and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit. The purpose of
this allocation is to establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying Final
Subordinated Units and the Capital Accounts underlying Common Units held by Persons other than
the General Partner and its Affiliates immediately prior to the conversion of such Final
Subordinated Units into Common Units. This allocation method for establishing such economic
uniformity will be available to the General Partner only if the method for allocating the
Capital Account maintained with respect to the Subordinated Units between the transferred and
retained Subordinated Units pursuant to Section 5.5(c)(ii) does not otherwise provide
such economic uniformity to the Final Subordinated Units.
(B) With respect to an event triggering an adjustment to the Carrying Value of Partnership
property pursuant to Section 5.5(d) during any taxable period of the Partnership ending
upon, or after, the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11, after
the application of Section 6.1(d)(x)(A), any Unrealized Gains and Unrealized Losses
shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner that to the nearest extent possible results in
the Capital Accounts maintained with respect to such IDR Reset Common Units issued pursuant to
Section 5.11 equaling the product of (a) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common
Units and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an IPO Common Unit.
(C) With respect to any taxable period during which an IDR Reset Common Unit is transferred
to any Person who is not an Affiliate of the transferor, all or a portion of the remaining items
of Partnership gross income or gain for such taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the
transferor Partner of such transferred IDR Reset Common Unit until such transferor Partner has
been allocated an amount of gross income or gain that increases the Capital Account maintained
with respect to such transferred IDR Reset Common Unit to an amount equal to the Per Unit
Capital Account for an IPO Common Unit.
(D) For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity
of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall
(i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation,
amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations of income, gain, loss,
deduction, Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss; and (iii)
53
amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or
promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y)
otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or
classes thereof). The General Partner may adopt such conventions, make such allocations and make
such amendments to this Agreement as provided in this Section 6.1(d)(x)(D) only if such
conventions, allocations or amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the Partners,
the holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests issued and Outstanding or the
Partnership, and if such allocations are consistent with the principles of Section 704 of the
Code.
(xi) Curative Allocation.
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, other than the
Required Allocations, the Required Allocations shall be taken into account in making the Agreed
Allocations so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of items of gross income, gain, loss
and deduction allocated to each Partner pursuant to the Required Allocations and the Agreed
Allocations, together, shall be equal to the net amount of such items that would have been
allocated to each such Partner under the Agreed Allocations had the Required Allocations and the
related Curative Allocation not otherwise been provided in this Section 6.1.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Required Allocations relating to (1) Nonrecourse
Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease
in Partnership Minimum Gain and (2) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into
account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum
Gain. In exercising its discretion under this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A), the General
Partner may take into account future Required Allocations that, although not yet made, are
likely to offset other Required Allocations previously made. Allocations pursuant to this
Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the
extent the General Partner determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with
the economic agreement among the Partners. Further, allocations pursuant to this Section
6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall be deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and (2)
hereof to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations are likely to be
offset by subsequent Required Allocations.
(B) The General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the
provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) in whatever order is most likely to minimize the
economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required Allocations, and (2) divide
all allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is
likely to minimize such economic distortions.
(xii) Corrective and other Allocations. In the event of any allocation of Additional Book
Basis Derivative Items or any Book-Down Event or any recognition of a Net Termination Loss, the
following rules shall apply:
(A) Except as provided in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B), in the case of any allocation of
Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or
Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d)), the General Partner shall allocate such
Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (1) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights
54
and the General Partner to the same extent that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss
giving rise to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items was allocated to them pursuant to
Section 5.5(d) and (2) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, to the extent that the Unrealized
Gain or Unrealized Loss giving rise to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items was allocated
to any Unitholders pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
(B) In the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an
allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d) or an allocation
of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss pursuant to Section 6.1(c) as a result
of a sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset that is an Adjusted Property
(“Disposed of Adjusted Property”), the General Partner shall allocate (1) additional items of
gross income and gain (aa) away from the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and (bb) to
the Unitholders, or (2) additional items of deduction and loss (aa) away from the Unitholders
and (bb) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, to the extent that the Additional Book
Basis Derivative Items allocated to the Unitholders exceed their Share of Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items with respect to such Disposed of Adjusted Property. Any allocation made
pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B) shall be made after all of the other Agreed
Allocations have been made as if this Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement
and, to the extent necessary, shall require the reallocation of items that have been allocated
pursuant to such other Agreed Allocations.
(C) In the case of any negative adjustments to the Capital Accounts of the Partners
resulting from a Book-Down Event or from the recognition of a Net Termination Loss, such
negative adjustment (1) shall first be allocated, to the extent of the Aggregate Remaining Net
Positive Adjustments, in such a manner, as determined by the General Partner, that to the extent
possible the aggregate Capital Accounts of the Partners will equal the amount that would have
been the Capital Account balances of the Partners if no prior Book-Up Events had occurred, and
(2) any negative adjustment in excess of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments shall
be allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof.
(D) For purposes of this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the Unitholders shall be treated as
being allocated Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to the extent that such Additional Book
Basis Derivative Items have reduced the amount of income that would otherwise have been
allocated to the Unitholders under this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, if an
Adjusted Property is contributed by the Partnership to another entity classified as a
partnership for federal income tax purposes (the “lower tier partnership”), the General Partner
may make allocations similar to those described in Sections (d)(xii)(A)-(C) to the
extent the General Partner determines such allocations are necessary to account for the
Partnership’s allocable share of income, gain, loss and deduction of the lower tier partnership
that relate to the contributed Adjusted Property in a manner that is consistent with the purpose
of this Section 6.1(d)(xii).
(xiii) Special Curative Allocation in Event of Liquidation Prior to End of Subordination
Period. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other than the Required
Allocations), if the Liquidation Date occurs prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding
Subordinated Unit, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for the taxable
55
period that includes the Liquidation Date (and, if necessary, items arising in previous
taxable periods to the extent the General Partner determines such items may be so allocated), shall
be specially allocated among the Partners in the manner determined appropriate by the General
Partner so as to cause, to the maximum extent possible, the Capital Account in respect of each
Common Unit to equal the amount such Capital Account would have been if all prior allocations of
Net Termination Gain and Net Termination Loss had been made pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)
or Section 6.1(c)(ii), as applicable.
Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, for federal income tax purposes, each item of income,
gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its
correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Section
6.1.
(b) In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or
Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost recovery
deductions shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes among the Partners in the manner
provided under Section 704(c) of the Code, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section
704(b) and 704(c) of the Code, as determined appropriate by the General Partner (taking into
account the General Partner’s discretion under Section 6.1(d)(x)(D)); provided, that the
General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) in all events.
(c) The General Partner may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment
under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property
(to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the
depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the Unamortized Book-Tax Disparity
of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section
1.167(c)-l(a)(6) or any successor regulations thereto. If the General Partner determines that such
reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and
amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same
month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate
as if they had purchased a direct interest in the Partnership’s property. If the General Partner
chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other depreciation
and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any
Limited Partner Interests, so long as such conventions would not have a material adverse effect on
the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.
(d) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1245-1(e) and 1.1250-1(f), any gain
allocated to the Partners upon the sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset
shall, to the extent possible, after taking into account other required allocations of gain
pursuant to this Section 6.2, be characterized as Recapture Income in the same proportions
and to the same extent as such Partners (or their predecessors in interest) have been allocated any
deductions directly or indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gains as Recapture Income.
56
(e) All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit recognized by the Partnership for
federal income tax purposes and allocated to the Partners in accordance with the provisions hereof
shall be determined without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made
by the Partnership; provided, however, that such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted (in the
manner determined by the General Partner) to take into account those adjustments permitted or
required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.
(f) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction, for federal income tax
purposes, shall be determined for each taxable period and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be
allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the
Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each month;
provided, however, such items for the period beginning on the IPO Closing Date and ending on the
last day of the month in which the Option Closing Date or the expiration of the Over-Allotment
Option occurs shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities
Exchange on which the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business
Day of the next succeeding month; and provided, further, that gain or loss on a sale or other
disposition of any assets of the Partnership or any other extraordinary item of income or loss
realized and recognized other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined by the General
Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange
on which the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of
the month in which such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General
Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or
required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.
(g) Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this
Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner Interests held
by a nominee 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 determined by the
General Partner.
Section 6.3 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record
Holders.
(a) Except as described in Section 6.3(b) or Section 6.3(c), within 45 days
following the end of each Quarter, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such
Quarter shall be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the
Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. All amounts of Available Cash
distributed by the Partnership on any date following the IPO Closing Date from any source shall be
deemed to be Operating Surplus until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash distributed by the
Partnership to the Partners following the IPO Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.4(b)
equals the Operating Surplus from the IPO Closing Date through the close of the immediately
preceding Quarter. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on such
date shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5, be deemed to be “Capital Surplus.”
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, all distributions required to be made under
this Agreement or otherwise made by the Partnership shall be made subject to Sections 17-607 and
17-804 of the Delaware Act. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in
57
this Agreement, the Partnership shall not be required to make a distribution to any Partner on
account of its interest in the Partnership if such distribution would violate the Delaware Act or
any other applicable law.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a), 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, other than from Working Capital Borrowings, shall be applied and distributed solely in
accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.
(c) The General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts
withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the Partners, as a distribution of Available Cash
to such Partners.
(d) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership,
directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record
Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment
shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in respect of such
payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason
of an assignment or otherwise.
Section 6.4 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus.
(a) On the IPO Closing Date. Subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, on the IPO
Closing Date and immediately prior to the commencement of the Subordination Period, the IPO
Proceeds and New Credit Facility Proceeds shall be distributed to (x) the General Partner in
accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) AIM Midstream and the LTIP Partners, as
Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest.
The distribution made to AIM Midstream and the General Partner will be a reimbursement for certain
capital expenditures incurred with respect to Partnership assets.
(b) During Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter within the
Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6.3 or Section 6.5 shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act and
after giving effect to the distributions pursuant to Section 6.4(a), be distributed as
follows, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 5.6 in respect of other Partnership
Interests or other securities issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to
the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General
Partner’s Percentage Interest until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then
Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(ii) Second, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to
the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General
Partner’s Percentage Interest until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then
Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage existing with respect to such
Common Unit;
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(iii) Third, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to
the Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General
Partner’s Percentage Interest until there has been distributed in respect of each Subordinated Unit
then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv) Fourth, to the General Partner and all Unitholders, in accordance with their respective
Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an
amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution
for such Quarter;
(v) Fifth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 13% to
the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a
percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of
this clause (v) until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount
equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such
Quarter;
(vi) Sixth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 23% to
the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a
percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of
this clause (vi), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an
amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for
such Quarter; and
(vii) Thereafter, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B)
48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro
Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and
(B) of this clause (vii);
provided, however, that if the Target Distributions have been reduced to zero pursuant to the
second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be
Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section
6.4(b)(vii).
(c) After Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter after the
Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6.3 or Section 6.5 shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be
distributed as follows, except as otherwise required by Section 5.6 in respect of
additional Partnership Interests or other securities issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective
Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an
amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit
59
then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iii) Third, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 13% to
the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a
percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of
this clause (iii), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an
amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for
such Quarter;
(iv) Fourth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 23% to
the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a
percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (A) and (B) of
this clause (iv), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an
amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for
such Quarter; and
(v) Thereafter, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 48%
to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro
Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and
(B) of this clause (v);
provided, however, that if the Target Distributions have been reduced to zero pursuant to the
second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be
Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section
6.4(c)(v).
Section 6.5 Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus.
Available Cash with respect to any Quarter ending on or after the IPO Closing Date that is
deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3(a) shall, subject to
Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act and after giving effect to the distributions pursuant to
Section 6.4(a), be distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.3 require
otherwise, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution has been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a).
Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus shall then be distributed (a) to the General
Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (b) to all Unitholders holding Common Units,
Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there
has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the
Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage. Thereafter, all Available Cash shall be distributed as if it
were Operating Surplus and shall be distributed in accordance with Section 6.4.
Section 6.6 Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels.
(a) The Target Distributions, Common Unit Arrearages and Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages
shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision
(whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other
60
Partnership Interests. In the event of a distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be
from Capital Surplus, the then applicable Target Distributions shall be reduced in the same
proportion that the distribution had to the fair market value of the Common Units immediately prior
to the announcement of the distribution. If the Common Units are publicly traded on a National
Securities Exchange, the fair market value will be the Current Market Price before the ex-dividend
date. If the Common Units are not publicly traded, the fair market value will be determined by the
Board of Directors.
(b) The Target Distributions shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section
5.11 and Section 6.9.
Section 6.7 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units.
(a) Except with respect to the right to vote on or approve matters requiring the vote or
approval of a percentage of the holders of Outstanding Common Units and the right to participate in
allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common
Units, the holder of a Subordinated Unit shall have all of the rights and obligations of a
Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder; provided, however, that immediately upon the conversion
of Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7, the Unitholder holding a
Subordinated Unit shall possess all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common
Units hereunder with respect to such Common Units issued upon conversion of such Subordinated
Units, including the right to vote as a Common Unitholder and the right to participate in
allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common
Units; provided, however, that such Common Units issued upon conversion of such Subordinated Units
shall remain subject to the provisions of Section 5.5(c)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(x)(A),
Section 6.7(b) and Section 6.7(c).
(b) A Unitholder shall not be permitted to transfer a Subordinated Unit or a Common Unit that
has been issued upon conversion of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit
pursuant to Section 5.7 (other than a transfer to an Affiliate) if the remaining balance in
the transferring Unitholder’s Capital Account with respect to the retained Subordinated Units or
Retained Converted Subordinated Units would be negative after giving effect to the allocation under
Section 5.5(c)(ii)(B).
(c) A Unitholder holding a Common Unit that has resulted from the conversion of a Subordinated
Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to
Section 4.1, if the Common Units are evidenced by Certificates, and shall not be permitted
to transfer such Common Unit to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the holder until such time as
the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each such Common Unit should have,
as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and U.S. federal income tax characteristics, in
all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and U.S. federal income tax characteristics of an
IPO Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.7(c), the
General Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to such Common
Units in preparation for a transfer of such Common Units, including the application of Section
5.5(c)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(x), Section 6.7(b); provided, however, that no such
steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common
Units.
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Section 6.8 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the
Incentive Distribution Rights (i) shall (A) possess the rights and obligations provided in this
Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article III and Article VII
and (B) have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other
provisions related thereto and (ii) shall not (A) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the
approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, (B) be entitled to
any distributions other than as provided in Section 6.4(b)(v), Section 6.4(b)(vi)
and Section 6.4(b)(vii), Section 6.4(c)(iii), Section 6.4(c)(iv) and
Section 6.4(c)(v), and Section 12.4 or (C) be allocated items of income, gain, loss
or deduction other than as specified in this Article VI.
(b) The Unitholder holding Common Units that have resulted from the conversion of Incentive
Distribution Rights pursuant to Section 5.11 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate
pursuant to Section 4.1 if the Common Units are evidenced by Certificates, and shall not be
permitted to transfer such Common Unit to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the holder until
such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each such Common Unit
should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and U.S. federal income tax
characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and U.S. federal income tax
characteristics of an IPO Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this
Section 6.8(b), the General Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide
economic uniformity to such Common Units in preparation for a transfer of such Common Units,
including the application of Section 5.5(c)(iii), Section 6.1(d)(x)(B), or
Section 6.1(d)(x)(C); provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a
material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units.
Section 6.9 Entity-Level Taxation.
If legislation is enacted or the official interpretation of existing legislation is modified
by a governmental authority, which after giving effect to such enactment or modification, results
in a Group Member becoming subject to federal, state or local or non-U.S. income or withholding
taxes in excess of the amount of such taxes due from the Group Member prior to such enactment or
modification (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any increase in the rate of such taxation
applicable to the Group Member), then the General Partner may, in its sole discretion, reduce the
Target Distributions by the amount of income or withholding taxes that are payable by reason of any
such new legislation or interpretation (the “Incremental Income Taxes”), or any portion thereof
selected by the General Partner, in the manner provided in this Section 6.9. If the
General Partner elects to reduce the Target Distributions for any Quarter with respect to all or a
portion of any Incremental Income Taxes, the General Partner shall estimate for such Quarter the
Partnership Group’s aggregate liability (the “Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount”) for all
(or the relevant portion of) such Incremental Income Taxes; provided that any difference between
such estimate and the actual liability for Incremental Income Taxes (or the relevant portion
thereof) for such Quarter may, to the extent determined by the General Partner, be taken into
account in determining the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount with respect to each Quarter
in which any such difference can be determined. For each such Quarter, the Target Distributions
shall be the product obtained by multiplying (a) the amounts therefor that are set
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out herein prior to the application of this Section 6.9 times (b) the quotient
obtained by dividing (i) Available Cash with respect to such Quarter by (ii) the sum of Available
Cash with respect to such Quarter and the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for such
Quarter, as determined by the General Partner. For purposes of the foregoing, Available Cash with
respect to a Quarter will be deemed reduced by the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for
that Quarter.
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section 7.1 Management.
(a) The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, but without limitation on the ability of
the General Partner to delegate its rights and powers to other Persons, all management powers over
the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and
no Limited Partner shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the
Partnership. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited
partnership under applicable law or that are granted to the General Partner under any other
provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.3, shall have full
power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or
appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in
Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the
following:
(i) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or
guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of
evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible or exchangeable into
Partnership Interests, and the incurring of any other obligations;
(ii) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other
reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the
Partnership;
(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange
of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of the
Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii) being subject,
however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3 and Article
XIV);
(iv) the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose
consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the
operations of the Partnership Group; subject to Section 7.6(a), the lending of funds to
other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment or guarantee of obligations of any
Group Member; and the making of capital contributions to any Group Member;
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(v) the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other
instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Partnership under contractual
arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership, with the other party to the contract
to have no recourse against the General Partner or its assets other than its interest in the
Partnership, even if the same results in the terms of the transaction being less favorable to the
Partnership than would otherwise be the case);
(vi) the distribution of Partnership cash;
(vii) the selection, employment, retention and dismissal of employees (including employees
having titles such as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer”) and agents,
outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors of the General Partner or the
Partnership Group and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or
hiring;
(viii) the maintenance of insurance for the benefit of the Partnership Group, the Partners and
Indemnitees;
(ix) the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and
the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations,
limited liability companies or other Persons (including the acquisition of interests in, and the
contributions of property to, any Group Member from time to time) subject to the restrictions set
forth in Section 2.4;
(x) the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership,
including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the
conduct of litigation, arbitration or mediation and the incurring of legal expense and the
settlement of claims and litigation;
(xi) the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent
permitted by law;
(xii) the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the
delisting of some or all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that trading be
suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior approval that may be required under
Section 4.8);
(xiii) the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Interests, or the
issuance of options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights, tracking and phantom interests or
other economic interests in the Partnership or relating to Partnership Interests;
(xiv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s participation in any
Group Member; and
(xv) the entering into of agreements with any of its Affiliates to render services to a Group
Member or to itself in the discharge of its duties as General Partner of the Partnership.
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the
Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and each other Person
who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or in the Partnership or is otherwise bound by
this Agreement hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance
by the parties thereto of this Agreement, the Underwriting Agreement and the other agreements
described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the
transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement (in each case other than this Agreement,
without giving effect to any amendments, supplements or restatements after the date hereof); (ii)
agrees that the General Partner (on its own or on behalf of the Partnership) is authorized to
execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i) of this sentence and the
other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration
Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or
the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or is otherwise bound by
this Agreement; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the General
Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement
authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any
Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV) shall not
constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the
Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other
agreements) or of any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise.
Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership.
The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner
shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the
General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation,
qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited
partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the
Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the General Partner determines
such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and
restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the
Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited
partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in
which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section
3.4(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a
copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto
to any Limited Partner.
Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority.
Except as provided in Article XII and Article XIV, the General Partner may not
sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership
Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions without the
approval of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the
General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or
substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of
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any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other
realization upon, any such encumbrance.
Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner.
(a) Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the
General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or managing member
of any Group Member.
(b) The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the
General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it
makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation,
employment benefits and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General
Partner to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge
of its duties to the Partnership Group), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership
Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner in connection with operating the Partnership
Group’s business (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). The
General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the General Partner or the
Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any
reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section
7.7. Any allocation of expenses to the Partnership by Affiliates of the General Partner in a
manner consistent with then-applicable accounting and allocation methodologies generally permitted
by FERC for rate-making purposes (or in the absence of then-applicable methodologies permitted by
FERC, consistent with the most-recently applicable methodologies) and past business practices shall
be deemed to be fair and reasonable to the Partnership.
(c) The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right
to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership benefit plans,
programs and practices (including the Long Term Incentive Plan and other 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 or other economic interests in the
Partnership or relating to Partnership Interests), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership
Interests or other securities in connection with, or pursuant to, any benefit plan, program or
practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates in each case for
the benefit of employees, officers and directors of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates,
in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group.
The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any
Partnership Interests or other securities that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated
to provide to any employees, officers and directors pursuant to any such benefit plans, programs or
practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs
and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership
Interests or other securities purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates, from the
Partnership or otherwise, 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 benefit plans, programs or 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
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Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the
General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6.
(d) The General Partner and its Affiliates may charge any member of the Partnership Group a
management fee to the extent necessary to allow the Partnership Group to reduce the amount of any
state franchise or income tax or any tax based upon the revenues or gross margin of any member of
the Partnership Group if the tax benefit produced by the payment of such management fee or fees
exceeds the amount of such fee or fees.
Section 7.5 Outside Activities.
(a) The General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership (i)
agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing member, as the case
may be, of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the
Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake activities that are
ancillary or related thereto (including being a Limited Partner in the Partnership) and (ii) shall
not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities except in connection with
or incidental to (A) its performance as general partner or managing member, if any, of one or more
Group Members or as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, (B) the acquiring,
owning or disposing of debt securities or equity interests in any Group Member or (C) the guarantee
of, and mortgage, pledge, or encumbrance of any or all of its assets in connection with, any
indebtedness of any Affiliate of the General Partner.
(b) Each Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage
in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and
possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in
businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with
others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and
activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or
any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to any Group Member or any Partner.
None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue
of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, or the partnership relationship established hereby
in any business ventures of any Unrestricted Person.
(c) Subject to the terms of Section 7.5(a) and Section 7.5(b), but otherwise
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive
activities by any Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 7.5 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii)
it shall be deemed not to be a breach of any fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any type
whatsoever of the General Partner or any other Unrestricted Person for the Unrestricted Persons
(other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference
to or to the exclusion of the Partnership and (iii) the Unrestricted Persons shall have no
obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise,
to present business opportunities to the Partnership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
this Agreement, 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
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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 fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that
such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires for itself, directs
such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the
Partnership; provided such Unrestricted Person does not engage in such business or activity as a
result of or using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the
Partnership to such Unrestricted Person.
(d) The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership
Interests in addition to those acquired on the IPO Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided
in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units
or other Partnership Interests acquired by them. The term “Affiliates” when used in this
Section 7.5(d) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any
provision of this Agreement purports or is interpreted to have the effect of restricting or
eliminating the fiduciary duties that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other applicable
law, be owed by the General Partner to the Partnership and its Limited Partners, or to constitute a
waiver or consent by the Limited Partners to any such restriction or elimination, such provisions
shall be deemed to have been approved by the Partners.
Section 7.6 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or
Group Members.
(a) The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may, but shall be under no obligation to,
lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may, but shall be under no obligation to, borrow
from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the Group Member for
such periods of time and in such amounts as the General Partner may determine; provided, however,
that, in any such case the lending party may not charge the borrowing party interest at a rate
greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party, or impose terms less favorable to
the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party, by unrelated lenders
on comparable loans made on an arm’s-length basis (without reference to the lending party’s
financial abilities or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner. The borrowing party
shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional interest costs) incurred
by the lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds. For purposes of this
Section 7.6(a) and Section 7.6(b), the term “Group Member” shall include any
Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.
(b) The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may
borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the General Partner. No
Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another
Group Member).
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(c) No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner shall be
deemed to constitute a breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or
otherwise, of the General Partner or its Affiliates to the Partnership or the Limited Partners
existing hereunder, or existing at law, in equity or otherwise by reason of the fact that the
purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to (i) enable distributions to the
General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their capacities as Limited Partners) to exceed the
General Partner’s Percentage Interest of the total amount distributed to all Partners or (ii)
hasten the expiration of the Subordination Period or the conversion of any Subordinated Units into
Common Units.
Section 7.7 Indemnification.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided
in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including
legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts
arising from any and all threatened pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or
proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or
informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be
involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee and acting (or
refraining to act) in such capacity; provided, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and
held harmless pursuant to this Agreement if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment
entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which
the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee acted in bad
faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with
knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. Any indemnification pursuant to this
Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that
the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no
obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to
effectuate such indemnification.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses)
incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in appearing at,
participating in or defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to
time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a
court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee
is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7, the Indemnitee is not entitled to
be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee
to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified as authorized by this Section 7.7.
(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other
rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the
holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both
as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other
capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall
inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.
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(d) The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the General Partner or its
Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the General Partner, its Affiliates, the
Indemnitees and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability
that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with
the Partnership’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless
of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability
under the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) For purposes of this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed to have
requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance
by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by,
it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee
with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within
the meaning of Section 7.7(a); and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any
employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to
be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for
a purpose that is in the best interests of the Partnership.
(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason
of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.
(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this
Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which
the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this
Agreement.
(h) The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees and
their heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create
any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
(i) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof
shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee
to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the Partnership to indemnify any such
Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.7 as in effect
immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or
relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or
repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall
be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the 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
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misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s
conduct was criminal.
(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section
7.1(a), the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and
perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents,
and the General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of
any such agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.
(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary
duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, the General Partner
and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not
be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of
this Agreement.
(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof
shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the
Indemnitees under this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment,
modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in
whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims
may arise or be asserted.
Section 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of
Duties.
(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement,
whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner (in its
individual capacity or its capacity as general partner, limited partner or holder of Incentive
Distribution Rights) or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group
Member or any Partner, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or
its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by
all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement,
of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty hereunder stated or implied by law
or equity or otherwise, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of
interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the
Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates),
(iii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or
available from unrelated third parties or (iv) fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into
account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other
transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The General
Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of
interest to seek Special Approval or Unitholder approval of such resolution, and the General
Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or
Unitholder approval. If Special Approval is sought, then it shall be presumed that, in making its
decision, the Conflicts Committee acted in good faith, and if neither Special Approval nor
Unitholder approval is sought and 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
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clauses (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Board
of Directors acted in good faith, and 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 such
approval, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming
such presumption. 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 Registration
Statement and any actions of the General Partner taken in connection therewith are hereby approved
by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or of any duty hereunder or
existing at law, in equity or otherwise.
(b) Whenever the General Partner, the Board of Directors or any committee thereof (including
the Conflicts Committee), makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or
any of its Affiliates causes the General Partner to do so, in the General Partner’s capacity as the
general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this
Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise,
then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, the
Board of Directors, 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. In order for a determination or
other action to be in “good faith” for purposes of this Agreement, the Person or Persons making
such determination or taking or declining to take such other action must subjectively believe that
the determination or other action is in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Partnership.
(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other
action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in
its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group
Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner,
or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to
make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty (including
any fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any other
Person bound by this Agreement, 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.
By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrases, “at the option of the General
Partner,” “in its sole discretion” or some variation of those phrases, are used in this Agreement,
it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of
doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership Interests, or refrains from
voting or transferring its Partnership Interests, or otherwise acts in its capacity as a limited
partner or holder of Partnership Interests other than the General Partner Interest, it shall be
acting in its individual capacity.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and its
Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise
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dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or
(ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its
Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically
dealing with such use. Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter
into such contracts shall be in its sole discretion.
(e) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any other
Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or
any Limited Partner and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict,
eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the
General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the
Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other
Indemnitee.
(f) The Limited Partners hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as
a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve of actions by the general partner or managing
member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner
pursuant to this Section 7.9.
Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner.
(a) The General Partner may rely upon, and shall be protected in acting or refraining from
acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have
been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
(b) The General Partner 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 reasonably believes to be within
such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or
omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
(c) The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations
hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a duly appointed attorney or
attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of the Partnership or any Group Member.
Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests.
The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership
Interests; provided that, except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.10, the General Partner
may not cause any Group Member to purchase Subordinated Units during the Subordination Period. As
long as Partnership Interests are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Interests shall not be
considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Partner
or any Affiliate of the General Partner may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or
otherwise dispose of Partnership Interests for its own account, subject to the provisions of
Article IV and Article X.
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Section 7.12 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(a) If (i) the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including for purposes
of this Section 7.12, any Person that is an Affiliate of the General Partner at the date
hereof notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an Affiliate of the General Partner, but
excluding any individual who is an Affiliate of the General Partner based on such individual’s
status as an officer, director or employee of the General Partner or an Affiliate of the General
Partner) holds Partnership Interests that it desires to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities
Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not
available to enable such holder of Partnership Interests (the “Holder”) to dispose of the number of
Partnership Interests it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under
the Securities Act, then at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall
file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use all
commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of
not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate
when all Partnership Interests covered by such registration statement have been sold, a
registration statement under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of
Partnership Interests specified by the Holder; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be
required to effect more than three registrations pursuant to this Section 7.12(a); and
provided further, however, that if the General Partner determines that a postponement of the
requested registration would be in the best interests of the Partnership and its Partners due to a
pending transaction, investigation or other event, the filing of such registration statement or the
effectiveness thereof may be deferred for up to six months, but not thereafter. In connection with
any registration pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the Partnership shall (i) promptly
prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities
subject to such registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall
reasonably request; provided, however, that no such qualification shall be required in any
jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of
process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership
doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such registration, and (B) such documents
as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Interests subject to such
registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii)
do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to
consummate a public sale of such Partnership Interests in such states. Except as set forth in
Section 7.12(c), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than
the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement
by the Holder.
(b) If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the
Securities Act for an offering of Partnership Interests for cash (other than an offering relating
solely to a benefit plan), the Partnership shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to include
such number or amount of Partnership Interests held by any Holder in such registration statement as
the Holder shall request; provided, that the Partnership is not required to make any effort or take
any action to so include the Partnership Interests of the Holder once the registration statement
becomes or is declared effective by the Commission, including any registration statement providing
for the offering from time to time of Partnership Interests pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities
Act. If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.12(b) shall be an
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underwritten offering, then, in the event that the managing underwriter or managing
underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and the Holder that in their opinion the
inclusion of all or some of the Holder’s Partnership Interests would adversely and materially
affect the timing or success of the offering, the Partnership shall include in such offering only
that number or amount, if any, of Partnership Interests held by the Holder that, in the opinion of
the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not so adversely and materially affect the
offering. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(c), all costs and expenses of any such
registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by
the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.
(c) If underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this
Section 7.12, the Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations, covenants,
opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
such underwriters. Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership’s obligation
under Section 7.7, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify
and hold harmless the Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder
(within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, “Indemnified
Persons”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several,
expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or
other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be involved,
or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise
(hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.12(c) as a “claim” and in the plural as
“claims”) based upon, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement under which any Partnership
Interests were registered under the Securities Act or any state securities or Blue Sky laws, in any
preliminary prospectus (if used prior to the effective date of such registration statement), or in
any summary or final prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus or in any amendment or supplement
thereto (if used during the period the Partnership is required to keep the registration statement
current), or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made
therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be liable to any
Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or results from
an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such
registration statement, such preliminary, summary or final prospectus or any free writing
prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically
for use in the preparation thereof.
(d) The provisions of Section 7.12(a) and Section 7.12(b) shall continue to be
applicable with respect to the General Partner (and any of the General Partner’s Affiliates) after
it ceases to be a general partner of the Partnership, during a period of two years subsequent to
the effective date of such cessation and for so long thereafter as is required for the Holder to
sell all of the Partnership Interests with respect to which it has requested during such two-year
period inclusion in a registration statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be
filed; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to file successive
registration
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statements covering the same Partnership Interests for which registration was demanded during
such two-year period. The provisions of Section 7.12(c) shall continue in effect
thereafter.
(e) The rights to cause the Partnership to register Partnership Interests pursuant to this
Section 7.12 may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a
transferee or assignee of such Partnership Interests, provided (i) the Partnership is, within a
reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such
transferee or assignee and the Partnership Interests with respect to which such registration rights
are being assigned; and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and
subject to the terms set forth in this Section 7.12.
(f) Any request to register Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall
(i) specify the Partnership Interests intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the
request, (ii) express such Person’s present intent to offer such Partnership Interests for
distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership
Interests, and (iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and
materials and take all action as may be required in order to permit the Partnership to comply with
all applicable requirements in connection with the registration of such Partnership Interests.
(g) The Partnership may enter into separate registration rights agreements with the General
Partner or any of its Affiliates.
Section 7.13 Reliance by Third Parties.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the
Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner and any officer of the General
Partner authorized by the General Partner to act on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership
has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of
the Partnership and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such
Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner or any such officer as if it were the
Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be
available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner or
any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with
the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the
terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of
any act or action of the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives. Each and
every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the
General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every
Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of
such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the
Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and
empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or
instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.
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ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section 8.1 Records and Accounting.
The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership
appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and
records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided
pursuant to Section 3.4(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the
Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record Holders of
Units or other Partnership Interests, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may
be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, magnetic tape, photographs,
micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, that the books and records so
maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time.
The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual
basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Partnership shall not be required to keep books maintained
on a cash basis and the General Partner shall be permitted to calculate cash-based measures,
including Operating Surplus and Adjusted Operating Surplus, by making such adjustments to its
accrual basis books to account for non-cash items and other adjustments as the General Partner
determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 8.2 Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.
Section 8.3 Reports.
(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each fiscal
year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any
reasonable means to each Record Holder of a Unit or other Partnership Interest as of a date
selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the
Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP,
including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such
statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General
Partner.
(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each Quarter
except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made
available, by any reasonable means to each Record Holder of a Unit or other Partnership Interest,
as of a date selected by the General Partner, a report containing unaudited financial statements of
the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule
of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the
General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(c) The General Partner shall be deemed to have made a report available to each Record Holder
as required by this Section 8.3 if it has either (i) filed such report with the Commission
via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system, or any successor
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system, and such report is publicly available on such system or (ii) made such report
available on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership.
ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS
Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information.
The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for
federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable
period or years that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined by the
General Partner. In the event the Partnership is required to use a taxable period other than a
year ending on December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to change the taxable
period of the Partnership to a year ending on December 31. The tax information reasonably required
by Record Holders for federal, state and local income tax reporting purposes with respect to a
taxable period shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which
the Partnership’s taxable period ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income,
gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for U.S.
federal income tax purposes.
Section 9.2 Tax Elections.
(a) The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with
applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any
such election upon the General Partner’s determination that such revocation is in the best
interests of the Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the
purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the General Partner shall
be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a
Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited
Partner Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are
listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur
pursuant to Section 6.2(f) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall determine whether the
Partnership should make any other elections permitted by the Code.
Section 9.3 Tax Controversies.
Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the Tax Matters Partner
(as defined in the Code) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the
Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax
authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership
funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner agrees to cooperate
with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by
the General Partner to conduct such proceedings.
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Section 9.4 Withholding.
(a) The General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, all or less than
all of the Partners, either as a distribution of cash to such Partners or as a general expense of
the Partnership, as determined appropriate under the circumstances by the General Partner.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized
to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply
with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local
law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the
Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount
resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner (including by reason of
Section 1446 of the Code), the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of
cash pursuant to Section 6.3 in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.
ARTICLE X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
Section 10.1 Admission of Limited Partners.
(a) The General Partner and AIM Midstream were admitted to the Partnership as Initial Limited
Partners on November 4, 2009. The LTIP Partners were admitted to the Partnership as Limited
Partners at various dates prior to the date hereof.
(b) A Person shall be admitted as a Limited Partner and shall become bound by the terms of
this Agreement if such Person purchases or otherwise lawfully acquires any Limited Partner Interest
and becomes the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests in accordance with the provisions
of Article IV or Article V. A Person may become a Record Holder of a Limited
Partner Interest 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 until such Person is reflected on
the books and records of the Partnership as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest.
The rights and obligations of a Person who is an Ineligible Holder shall be determined in
accordance with Section 4.9. Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to the
Underwriters as described in Section 5.3 in connection with the Initial Public Offering,
the Underwriters will automatically be admitted to the Partnership as Limited Partners in respect
of the Common Units issued to them.
(c) The name and mailing address of each Record Holder shall be listed on the books and
records of the Partnership maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent.
The General Partner shall update the books and records of the Partnership from time to time as
necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do
so, as applicable). A Limited Partner Interest may be represented by a Certificate, as provided in
Section 4.1.
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(d) Any transfer of a Limited Partner Interest shall not entitle the transferee to share in
the profits and losses, to receive distributions, to receive allocations of income, gain, loss,
deduction or credit or any similar item or to any other rights to which the transferor was entitled
until the transferee becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.1(b).
Section 10.2 Admission of Successor General Partner.
A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2
or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner Interest (represented by Notional
General Partner Units) pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a
successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective
immediately prior to the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner,
pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transfer of the General Partner
Interest (represented by Notional General Partner Units) pursuant to Section 4.6, provided,
however, that no such successor shall be admitted to the Partnership until compliance with the
terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such successor has executed and delivered such other
documents or instruments as may be required to effect such admission. Any such successor is hereby
authorized to and shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the
Partnership Group without dissolution.
Section 10.3 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership.
To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all
steps necessary or appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the records of the Partnership to
reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this
Agreement and, if required by law, the General Partner shall prepare and file an amendment to the
Certificate of Limited Partnership.
ARTICLE XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner.
(a) The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the
occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred to as an “Event of
Withdrawal”);
(i) The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written notice to
the other Partners;
(ii) The General Partner transfers all of its General Partner Interest pursuant to Section
4.6;
(iii) The General Partner is removed pursuant to Section 11.2;
(iv) The General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B)
files a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States
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Bankruptcy Code; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution
or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading
admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the General
Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A)-(C) of this Section
11.1(a)(iv); or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee (but not a
debtor-in-possession), receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or of all or any substantial
part of its properties;
(v) A final and non-appealable order of relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy
Code is entered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction pursuant to a voluntary or involuntary
petition by or against the General Partner; or
(vi) (A) in the event the General Partner is a corporation, a certificate of dissolution or
its equivalent is filed for the General Partner, or 90 days expire after the date of notice to the
General Partner of revocation of its charter without a reinstatement of its charter, under the laws
of its state of incorporation; (B) in the event the General Partner is a partnership or a limited
liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General Partner; (C) in
the event the General Partner is acting in such capacity by virtue of being a trustee of a trust,
the termination of the trust; (D) in the event the General Partner is a natural person, his death
or adjudication of incompetency; and (E) otherwise in the event of the termination of the General
Partner.
If an Event of Withdrawal specified in Section 11.1(a)(iv), Section
11.1(a)(v), Section 11.1(a)(vi)(A), Section 11.1(a)(vi)(B), Section
11.1(a)(vi)(C) or Section 11.1(a)(vi)(E) occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall
give notice to the Limited Partners within 30 days after such occurrence. The Partners hereby
agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section 11.1 shall result in the
withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.
(b) Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of
Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i)
at any time before 12:00 midnight, Central Time, on June 30, 2021, the General Partner voluntarily
withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited
Partners; provided, that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved
by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units
held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the Partnership
an Opinion of Counsel (“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel”) that such withdrawal (following the
selection of the successor General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability
under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or any Group Member or cause any Group Member to be
treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S.
federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after
12:00 midnight, Central Time, on June 30, 2021, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving
at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date
specified in such notice; (iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General
Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2; or
(iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily
withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited
Partners, such withdrawal to take
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effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such
notice is given one Person and its
Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record
or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the
Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of
the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the
other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal, the holders of a Unit
Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner.
The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general
partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the
General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the
General Partner’s withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), a successor is not selected by
the Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not receive a Withdrawal Opinion of
Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with Section 12.1 unless the
business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2. Any successor General
Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 10.2.
Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner.
The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at
least 662/3% of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the General Partner and its
Affiliates) voting as a single class. Any such action by such holders for removal of the General
Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the Unitholders
holding a majority of the Outstanding Common Units, voting as a separate class and a majority of
the Outstanding Subordinated Units (if any Subordinated Units are then Outstanding) voting as a
separate class (including, in each case, Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates).
Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner
pursuant to Section 10.2. The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically
constitute the removal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent
applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a
managing member. If a Person is elected as a successor General Partner in accordance with the
terms of this Section 11.2, such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to Section
10.2, automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent
applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a
managing member. The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall
not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an opinion opining as to the matters
covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance
with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section
10.2.
Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner.
(a) In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such
withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the General Partner by the holders of
Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the successor General Partner
is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, the
Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the
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withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its
General Partner Interest and its or its Affiliates’ general partner interest (or equivalent
interest), if any, in the other Group Members and all of its or its Affiliates’ Incentive
Distribution Rights (collectively, the “Combined Interest”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal
to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of
the effective date of its withdrawal or removal. If the General Partner is removed by the
Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the General Partner withdraws under
circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is
elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the
business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General
Partner is not the former General Partner), such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior
to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner (or, in the
event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the
Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such
Combined Interest. In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all
reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.4, including any
employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the
termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other
than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.
For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of the Combined Interest
shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its successor or,
failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partner’s
withdrawal or removal, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert
selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other
experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties
cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45
days after the effective date of such withdrawal or removal, then the Departing General Partner
shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing
General Partner’s successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other
independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment
banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other
independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest. In making its
determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may
consider the value of the Units, including the then current trading price of Units on any National
Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed or admitted to trading, the value of the
Partnership’s assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner, the value of the
Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner Interest and other factors it may deem
relevant.
(b) If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section
11.3(a), the Departing General Partner (and its Affiliates, if applicable) shall become a
Limited Partner and the Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a
valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to
Section 11.3(a), without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to
proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner
shall indemnify the Departing General Partner as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership
arising
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on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner becomes a Limited Partner. For
purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest to Common Units will be characterized as if the
Departing General Partner (and its Affiliates, if applicable) contributed the Combined Interest to
the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.
(c) If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section
11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to
Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the
option described in Section 11.3(a) is not exercised by the party entitled to do so, the
successor General Partner shall, at the effective date of its admission to the Partnership,
contribute to the Partnership cash in the amount equal to the product of (x) the quotient obtained
by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General
Partner by (B) a percentage equal to 100% less the Percentage Interest of the General Partner
Interest of the Departing General Partner and (y) the Net Agreed Value of the Partnership’s assets
on such date. In such event, such successor General Partner shall, subject to the following
sentence, be entitled to its Percentage Interest of all Partnership allocations and distributions
to which the Departing General Partner was entitled in respect of its General Partner Interest. In
addition, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect that,
from and after the date of such successor General Partner’s admission, the successor General
Partner’s interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage
Interest.
Section 11.4 Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and
Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is removed as general
partner of the Partnership under circumstances where Cause does not exist and Units held by the
General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of such removal, (i) the Subordination
Period will end and all Outstanding Subordinated Units will immediately and automatically convert
into Common Units on a one-for-one basis (provided, however, that such converted Subordinated Units
shall remain subject to the provisions of Section 5.5(c)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(x) and
Section 6.7(c)), (ii) all Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on the Common Units will be
extinguished and (iii) the General Partner will have the right to convert its General Partner
Interest (represented by Notional General Partner Units) and its Incentive Distribution Rights into
Common Units or to receive cash in exchange therefor in accordance with Section 11.3.
Section 11.5 Withdrawal of Limited Partners.
No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however,
that when a transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record Holder of
the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a
Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.
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ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 12.1 Dissolution.
The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of Additional Limited Partners or by
the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon
the removal or withdrawal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected
pursuant to Section 11.1, Section 11.2 or Section 12.2, the Partnership
shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner is hereby authorized to, and shall,
continue the business of the Partnership. Subject to Section 12.2, the Partnership shall
dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:
(a) an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a),
unless a successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement;
(b) an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner that is approved by the
holders of a Unit Majority;
(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the
provisions of the Delaware Act; or
(d) at any time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without
dissolution in accordance with the Delaware Act.
Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution.
Upon an Event of Withdrawal caused by (a) the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as
provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or Section 11.1(a)(iii) and the failure of the
Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1
or Section 11.2, then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) an event constituting an Event of
Withdrawal as defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv), Section 11.1(a)(v) or Section
11.1(a)(vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the
holders of a Unit Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing, effective as of the date of the Event of
Withdrawal, as a successor General Partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority.
Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the
Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is
so made, then:
(i) the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in accordance
with this Article XII;
(ii) if the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the interest of
the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section 11.3; and
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(iii) the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General Partner,
effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this Agreement;
provided, that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner
and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the
Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the exercise of the right would not result
in the loss of limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner and (y) neither the
Partnership nor any Group Member would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or
otherwise be taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of such
right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).
Section 12.3 Liquidator.
Upon dissolution of the Partnership, 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 Subordinated Units, if any, voting as a single class. The Liquidator
(if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior
notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by
holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, if any,
voting as a single class. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor
and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the
original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority
of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, if any, voting as a single class. The
right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed
to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein
provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the
manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any
of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this
Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the
exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.3)
necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and
during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as
provided for herein.
Section 12.4 Liquidation.
The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its
liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by
the Liquidator, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:
(a) The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one
or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any
property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of
Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously
therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners.
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The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership’s assets for a
reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the
Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The
Liquidator may distribute the Partnership’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines
that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.
(b) Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for
serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3) and amounts to Partners
otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article VI. With respect to
any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable,
the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish
a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the
reserve shall be applied as additional liquidation proceeds.
(c) All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided
in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with, and to the
extent of, the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking
into account all Capital Account adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions
pursuant to this Section 12.4(c)) for the taxable period of the Partnership during which
the liquidation of the Partnership occurs (with such date of occurrence being determined pursuant
to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)), and such distribution shall be made by the
end of such taxable period (or, if later, within 90 days after said date of such occurrence).
Section 12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership.
Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in
Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of
Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in
jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be
necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.
Section 12.6 Return of Contributions.
The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to
contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return
of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it
being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.
Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of
the Partnership property.
Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration.
No Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account
upon liquidation of the Partnership. The General Partner shall be obligated to restore any
negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of its interest in the
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Partnership by the end of the taxable period of the Partnership during which such liquidation occurs, or, if later,
within 90 days after the date of such liquidation.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT;
MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner.
Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner, may amend
any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record
whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:
(a) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business
of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the
Partnership;
(b) the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this
Agreement;
(c) a change that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or
continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which
the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group
Members will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities
for federal income tax purposes;
(d) a change that the General Partner determines, (i) does not adversely affect in any
material respect the Limited Partners considered as a whole or any particular class of Partnership
Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests, (ii) to be necessary or
appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion,
directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or
contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the
trading of the Units (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Units into
different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units) or
comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on
which the Units are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate
in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.9 or (iv) is
required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the
provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;
(e) a change in the fiscal year or taxable period of the Partnership and any other changes
that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the
fiscal year or taxable period of the Partnership including, if the General Partner shall so
determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions are to be
made by the Partnership;
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(f) an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, or
the General Partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any
manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are
substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States
Department of Labor;
(g) an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in
connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership
Interests and options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights, tracking and phantom interests or
other economic interests in the Partnership relating to Partnership Interests pursuant to
Section 5.6, including any amendment that the General Partner determines is necessary or
appropriate in connection with (i) the adjustments of the Target Distributions pursuant to the
provisions of Section 5.11, (ii) the implementation of the provisions of Section
5.11 or (iii) any modifications to the Incentive Distribution Rights made in connection with
the issuance of Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.6, provided that, with respect
to this clause (iii), the modifications to the Incentive Distribution Rights and the related
issuance of Partnership Interests have received Special Approval;
(h) any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the General Partner
acting alone;
(i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in
accordance with Section 14.3;
(j) an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect
and account for the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection
with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Section 2.4 or
Section 7.1(a);
(k) a merger, conveyance or conversion pursuant to Section 14.3(d); or
(l) any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.
Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures.
Except as provided in Section 13.1 and Section 13.3, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the requirements
contained in this Section 13.2. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the
General Partner; provided, however, that, to the full extent permitted by law, the General Partner
shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement and may
decline to do so free of any duty (including any fiduciary 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 the fullest extent permitted by law shall not be required to
act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member
Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule
or regulation or at equity.
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A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the
General Partner and, except as otherwise provided by Section 13.1 and Section 13.3,
the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a
greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement. Each proposed amendment
that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be
set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is
proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of
Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed
amendment. The General Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any such
proposed amendments. The General Partner shall be deemed to have notified all Record Holders as
required by this Section 13.2 if it has either (i) filed such amendment with the Commission
via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system, or any successor system, and such
amendment is publicly available on such system or (ii) made such amendment available on any
publicly available website maintained by the Partnership.
Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of
Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) or requires a vote or
approval of Partners (or a subset of the Partners) holding a specified Percentage Interest required
to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that
would have the effect of in the case of any provision of this Agreement other than Section
11.2 or Section 13.4, reducing such percentage, unless such amendment is approved by
the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate
Outstanding Units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced or
increased, as applicable or the affirmative vote of Partners whose aggregate Percentage Interest
constitutes not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced, as applicable.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no
amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of (including requiring any holder of a
class of Partnership Interests to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership) any
Limited Partner without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an
amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c), or (ii) enlarge the obligations of,
restrict, change or modify in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts
distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates
without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at its option.
(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3 and Section 13.1 (this Section
13.3(c) being subject to the General Partner’s authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement
without the approval of any Partners as contemplated in Section 13.1), any amendment that
would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of Partnership
Interests in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests must be approved by the holders of
not less than a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected. If the
General Partner determines an amendment does not satisfy the requirements of Section
13.1(d)(i) because it adversely affects one or more classes of Partnership Interests, as
compared to other classes of Partnership Interests, in any material respect, such amendment shall
only be required to be approved by the adversely affected class or classes.
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(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to
Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(b), no amendments
shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Percentage
Interests of all Limited Partners voting as a single class unless the Partnership obtains an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any
Limited Partner under applicable partnership law of the state under whose laws the Partnership is
organized.
(e) Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only be
amended with the approval of Partners (including the General Partner and its Affiliates) holding at
least 90% of the Percentage Interests of all Limited Partners.
Section 13.4 Special Meetings.
All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of
the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more
of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners
shall call a special meeting by delivering to the General Partner one or more requests in writing
stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the general
or specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called. Within 60 days after receipt of
such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for
the Partnership to comply with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar
requirements governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a
meeting, the General Partner shall send a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners either
directly or indirectly through the Transfer Agent. A meeting shall be held at a time and place
determined by the General Partner on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the
time notice of the meeting is given as provided in Section 16.1. Limited Partners shall not
vote on matters that would cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the
management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the
Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which
the Partnership is qualified to do business.
Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting.
Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4
shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is
proposed in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with Section
16.1. The notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail or
sent by other means of written communication.
Section 13.6 Record Date.
For purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice
of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as
provided in Section 13.11 the General Partner may set a Record Date, which shall not be
less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement
conflicts with any
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rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units
are listed or admitted to trading or U.S. federal securities laws, in which case the rule,
regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange or U.S. federal
securities laws shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the
date by which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such
approvals. If the General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for
determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited
Partners shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given,
and (b) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a
meeting shall be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Partnership in care of
the General Partner in accordance with Section 13.11.
Section 13.7 Adjournment.
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need
not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and
place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such
adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact
any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for
more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the
adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII.
Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes.
The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever
held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice,
if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting
shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the
meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction
of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance
at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be
included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at
the meeting.
Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting.
The holders of a majority, by Percentage Interest, of the
Partnership Interests of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including
Partnership Interests deemed owned by the General Partner) represented in person or by proxy shall
constitute a quorum at a meeting of Partners of such class or classes unless any such action by the
Partners requires approval by holders of a greater Percentage Interest, in which case the quorum
shall be such greater Percentage Interest. At any meeting of the Partners duly called and held in
accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Partners holding
Partnership Interests that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Percentage Interest of
those present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all
Partners, unless a greater or
different percentage is required with respect to such action under the provisions of this
Agreement, in which case the act of the Partners holding Partnership Interests that in the
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aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage shall be required; provided,
however, that if, as a matter of law or amendment to this Agreement, approval by plurality vote of
Partners (or any class thereof) is required to approve any action, no minimum quorum shall be
required. The Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may
continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Partners
to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by Partners
holding the required Percentage Interest specified in this Agreement. In the absence of a quorum
any meeting of Partners may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of Partners with
at least a majority, by Percentage Interest, of the Partnership Interests entitled to vote at such
meeting (including Partnership Interests deemed owned by the General Partner) represented either in
person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section
13.7.
Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting.
The General Partner shall have full power and authority
concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of
approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a
quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4, the conduct of voting, the
validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges
arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The General Partner shall designate a
Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes
of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by the
General Partner. The General Partner may make such other regulations consistent with applicable
law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the
Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the
appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the
submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the revocation
of approvals in writing.
Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting.
If authorized by the General Partner, any action that
may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting, without a vote
and without prior notice, if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by
Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage, by Percentage Interest, of the
Partnership Interests of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including
Partnership Interests deemed owned by the General Partner), as the case may be, that would be
necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners entitled
to vote at such meeting were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule,
regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are
listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such
National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a
meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General
Partner may specify that any written ballot, if any, submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose
of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period,
which shall be not less than 20 days,
specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all
of the Units held by the Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to
receive a
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ballot for the Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any action by the
Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the
written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the
Partnership in care of the General Partner and (b) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the
General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken
with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be
taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to
jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the
state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the
Partners. Nothing contained in this Section 13.11 shall be deemed to require the General
Partner to solicit all Limited Partners in connection with a matter approved by the holders of the
requisite Percentage Interest acting by written consent without a meeting.
Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters.
(a) Only those Record Holders of the Outstanding Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 shall be entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners or to act with respect to matters as to
which the holders of the Outstanding Units have the right to vote or to act. All references in this
Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Units shall be deemed to
be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Units.
(b) With respect to Units that are held for a Person’s account by another Person (such as a
broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing),
in whose name such Units are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights
in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides
otherwise, vote such Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial
owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without further inquiry. The
provisions of this Section 13.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are
subject to the provisions of Section 4.3.
ARTICLE XIV
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION
Section 14.1 Authority.
The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more
corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment
trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or
limited (including a limited liability 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 (“Merger Agreement”) or a written
plan of conversion (“Plan of Conversion”), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article
XIV.
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Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) Merger, consolidation or
conversion of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the prior consent of
the General Partner, provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General
Partner shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of
the Partnership and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the
Partnership, 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.
(b) If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the merger or consolidation, the
General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:
(i) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of each of the business entities
proposing to merge or consolidate;
(ii) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the business entity that is to
survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the “Surviving Business Entity”);
(iii) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;
(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity interests of each constituent
business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the
Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any interests, securities or rights of any constituent
business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or
interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, then 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) that the holders of such interests, securities or rights are to
receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and (ii) in
the case of equity interests represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates,
which cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business
Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company,
unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences
thereof, are to be delivered;
(v) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent
documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust,
certificate or agreement of limited partnership, certificate of formation or limited liability
company agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity
to be effected by such merger or consolidation;
(vi) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate
of merger pursuant to Section 14.5 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 and stated in the certificate of merger); and
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(vii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that the
General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(c) If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the conversion, the General Partner
shall approve the Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:
(i) the name of the converting entity and the converted entity;
(ii) a statement that the Partnership is continuing its existence in the organizational form
of the converted entity;
(iii) a statement as to the type of entity that the converted entity is to be and the state or
country under the laws of which the converted entity is to be incorporated, formed or organized;
(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity interests or other rights or
securities of the converting entity for, or into, cash, property, rights, securities or interests
of the converted entity, or, in addition to or in lieu thereof, cash, property, rights, securities
or interests of another entity;
(v) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of conversion; and
(vi) in an attachment or exhibit, the articles of incorporation or other organizational
documents of the converted entity;
(vii) the effective time of the conversion, which may be the date of the filing of the
certificate of conversion or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Plan
of Conversion (provided, that if the effective time of the conversion is to be later than the date
of the filing of such certificate of conversion, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or
time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of conversion and stated
therein); and
(viii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed conversion that the General Partner
determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners.
(a) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d),
the General Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the
case may be, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, be
submitted to a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by written consent, in
either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XIII. A copy or a summary of the
Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be included in or enclosed
with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.
(b) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), the Merger
Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be approved upon receiving the
affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority unless the Merger Agreement or the
Plan of
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Conversion, as the case may be, effects an amendment to any provision of this Agreement that,
if contained in an amendment to this Agreement adopted pursuant to Article XIII, would
require for its approval the vote or consent of the holders of a greater percentage of the
Outstanding Units or of any class of Limited Partners, in which case such greater percentage vote
or consent shall be required for approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the
case may be.
(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), after such
approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the
certificate of merger or certificate of conversion pursuant to Section 14.5, the merger,
consolidation or conversion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in
the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.
(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement,
the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or
any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member
into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity that shall be
newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such merger,
conveyance or conversion other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if
(i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger, conveyance or
conversion, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any
Limited Partner as compared to its limited liability under the Delaware Act or cause the
Partnership or any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or
otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already
treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such merger, conveyance or conversion is to effect a
mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii)
the General Partner determines that the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited
Partners and the General Partner with substantially the same rights and obligations as are herein
contained.
(e) Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in
this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or
consolidate the Partnership with or into another entity if (A) the General Partner has received an
Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the
loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner as compared to its limited liability under the
Delaware Act or cause the Partnership or any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable
as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the
extent not already treated as such), (B) the merger or consolidation would not result in an
amendment to this Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to
Section 13.1, (C) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or
consolidation, (D) each Partnership Interest outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of
the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Partnership Interest of the Partnership after the
effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (E) the number of Partnership Interests to be
issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation does not exceed 20% of the Partnership
Interests (other than the Incentive Distribution Rights) Outstanding immediately prior to the
effective date of such merger or consolidation.
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Section 14.4 Amendment of Partnership Agreement.
Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article
XIV may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new
partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such
amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.4 shall be effective at the
effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.
Section 14.5 Certificate of Merger or
Certificate of Conversion.
Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders
of a Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger or
certificate of conversion, as applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.
Section 14.6 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) At the effective time of the merger:
(i) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged
or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those
business entities and all other things and causes of action belonging to each of those business
entities, shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation
shall be the property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were of each constituent
business entity;
(ii) the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those constituent
business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the merger or
consolidation;
(iii) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any of
those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and
(iv) all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall attach to
the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts,
liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.
(b) At the effective time of the conversion:
(i) the Partnership shall continue to exist, without interruption, but in the organizational
form of the converted entity rather than in its prior organizational form;
(ii) all rights, title, and interests to all real estate and other property owned by the
Partnership shall continue to be owned by the converted entity in its new organizational form
without reversion or impairment, without further act or deed, and without any transfer or
assignment having occurred, but subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances thereon;
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(iii) all liabilities and obligations of the Partnership shall continue to be liabilities and
obligations of the converted entity in its new organizational form without impairment or diminution
by reason of the conversion;
(iv) all rights of creditors or other parties with respect to or against the interest holders
or other owners of the Partnership in their capacities as such in existence as of the effective
time of the conversion will continue in existence as to those liabilities and obligations and may
be pursued by such creditors and obligees as if the conversion did not occur;
(v) a proceeding pending by or against the Partnership or by or against any of Partners in
their capacities as such may be continued by or against the converted entity in its new
organizational form and by or against the prior partners without any need for substitution of
parties; and
(vi) the Partnership Units or other rights, securities or interests of the Partnership that
are to be converted into cash, property, rights, securities or interests in the converted entity,
or rights, securities or interests in any other entity, as provided in the Plan of Conversion shall
be so converted, and Partners shall be entitled only to the rights provided in the Plan of
Conversion.
ARTICLE XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time the General Partner and its Affiliates hold more than
80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding, the General Partner shall
then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership
or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable in its sole discretion, to purchase all, but
not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons
other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price
as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is
mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates for any such
Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that
the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed.
(b) If the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to
exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section
15.1(a), the General Partner shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to
purchase (the “Notice of Election to Purchase”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy
of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such
class or classes (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner) at least 10, but not more
than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be
published for a period of at least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of
general circulation printed in the English language and published in the Borough of Xxxxxxxxx,
00
Xxx Xxxx. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price
(determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) at which Limited Partner Interests will be
purchased and state that the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be,
elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such
Limited Partner Interests in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates in
exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may
specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner
Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a
Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the records of the
Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner
receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the
Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient
to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in
accordance with this Section 15.1. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been
duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the
Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the
holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after
the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for
purchase, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon cease, except
the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for
Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the
Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests in the case of Limited Partner Interests
evidenced by Certificates, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be
transferred to the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the
record books of the Transfer Agent and the Partnership, and the General Partner or any Affiliate of
the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of all
such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the
owner of such Limited Partner Interests.
(c) In the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, at any time from and
after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited Partner Interest subject to purchase as
provided in this Section 15.1 may surrender his Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner
Interest to the Transfer Agent in exchange for payment of the amount described in Section
15.1(a), therefor, without interest thereon.
ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices; Written Communications.
(a) Any notice, demand, request,
report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner under this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when
sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner at
the address described below. 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
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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 on the records of
the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Partnership, regardless of any claim
of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Interests by reason of any assignment or
otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) a Partner shall consent to receiving notices,
demands, requests, reports or proxy materials via electronic mail or by the Internet or (ii) the
rules of the Commission shall permit any report or proxy materials to be delivered electronically
or made available via the Internet, any such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials
shall be deemed given or made when delivered or made available via such mode of delivery. An
affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the
mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment
or report. If any notice, payment or report given or made in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 16.1 is returned marked to indicate that such notice, payment or report was unable
to be delivered, such notice, payment or report and, in the case of notices, payments or reports
returned by the United States Postal Service (or other physical mail delivery mail service outside
the United States of America), 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) or other delivery
if they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of
one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other
Partners. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by the General Partner at
the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The General
Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner
or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.
(b) The terms “in writing”, “written communications,” “written notice” and words of similar
import shall be deemed satisfied under this Agreement by use of e-mail and other forms of
electronic communication.
Section 16.2 Further Action.
The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all
information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve
the purposes of this Agreement.
Section 16.3 Binding Effect.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives
and permitted assigns.
Section 16.4 Integration.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties
hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings pertaining thereto.
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Section 16.5 Creditors.
None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of,
or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.
Section 16.6 Waiver.
No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any
covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy
consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant,
duty, agreement or condition.
Section 16.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries.
Each Partner agrees that (a) any Indemnitee shall be
entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect
to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Indemnitee
and (b) any Unrestricted Person shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a
third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a
right, benefit or privilege to such Unrestricted Person.
Section 16.8 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which
together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all
such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become
bound by this Agreement (a) immediately upon affixing its signature hereto, (b) in the case of the
General Partner and the holders of Limited Partner Interests outstanding immediately prior to the
closing of the Initial Public Offering, immediately upon the closing of the Initial Public
Offering, without the execution hereof, or (c) in the case of a Person acquiring a Limited Partner
Interest pursuant to Section 10.1(b), immediately upon the acquisition of such Limited
Partner Interest, without execution hereof.
Section 16.9 Applicable Law; Forum; Venue and Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury.
(a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware,
without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.
(b) Each of the Partners and each Person holding any beneficial interest in the Partnership
(whether through a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any
of the foregoing or otherwise):
(i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings (A) arising out of or
relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply
or enforce the provisions of this Agreement or the duties, obligations or liabilities among
Partners or of Partners to the Partnership, or the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the
Partners or the Partnership), (B) brought in a derivative manner on behalf of the Partnership, (C)
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asserting a claim of breach of duty (including any fiduciary duty) owed by any director,
officer, or other employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, or owed by the General
Partner, to the Partnership or the Partners, (D) asserting a claim arising pursuant to or to
interpret or enforce any provision of the Delaware Act or (E) asserting a claim governed by the
internal affairs doctrine, shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of
Delaware, in each case regardless of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings sound in
contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other
grounds, or are derivative or direct claims;
(ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State
of Delaware in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding;
(iii) agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or
proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of
the State of Delaware or of any other court to which proceedings in the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an
inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper;
(iv) expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing such
claim, suit, action or proceeding;
(v) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing,
certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for
notices hereunder, and agrees that such services shall constitute good and sufficient service of
process and notice thereof; provided, nothing in clause (v) hereof shall affect or limit any right
to serve process in any other manner permitted by law; and
(vi) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION TO ENFORCE OR INTERPRET THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT.
Section 16.10 Invalidity of Provisions.
If any provision or part of a provision of this
Agreement is or becomes for any reason, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions and part thereof contained herein
shall not be affected thereby and this Agreement shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be
reformed and construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, or part of a
provision, had never been contained herein, and such provision or part reformed so that it would be
valid, legal and enforceable to the maximum extent possible.
Section 16.11 Consent of Partners.
Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that,
whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or
consent of less than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less
than all of the Partners and each Partner and each other Person bound by the provisions of this
Agreement shall be bound by the results of such action.
103
Section 16.12 Facsimile Signatures.
The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and
on behalf of the transfer agent and registrar of the Partnership on Certificates representing
Common Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.
ARTICLE XVII
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE INITIAL PUBLIC
OFFERING
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE INITIAL PUBLIC
OFFERING
Section 17.1 Non-Pro Rata Redemption of Common Units.
The General Partner is authorized to
use the proceeds from any exercise by the Underwriters of the Over-Allotment Option in the Initial
Public Offering to redeem from AIM Midstream, but not from other Partners, that number of Common
Units that corresponds to the number of Common Units issued upon such exercise at a price per
Common Unit equal to the price per Common Unit received by the Partnership for the Common Units
issued to the Underwriters upon such exercise. The distribution of the proceeds from such exercise
to AIM Midstream will be a reimbursement for certain capital expenditures incurred with respect to
Partnership assets.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
104
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the General Partner has executed this Agreement as of the date first
written above.
GENERAL PARTNER AMERICAN MIDSTREAM GP, LLC |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | CEO and President | |||
[Signature Page — Second Amended & Restated Agreement
of Limited Partnership of American Midstream Partners, LP]
of Limited Partnership of American Midstream Partners, LP]
EXHIBIT A
to the Second Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
American Midstream Partners, LP
to the Second Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
American Midstream Partners, LP
Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
American Midstream Partners, LP
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
American Midstream Partners, LP
Certificate No. ________ | Number of Common Units: ________ |
In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of American Midstream Partners, LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to
time (the “Partnership Agreement”), American Midstream Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership
(the “Partnership”), hereby certifies that ________ (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of
Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Common Units”)
transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon
surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the
Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are
issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership
Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without
charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the
Partnership located at 0000 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxx, XX 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 AMERICAN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
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 AMERICAN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR (C)
CAUSE AMERICAN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR
OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO
TREATED OR TAXED). AMERICAN MIDSTREAM GP, LLC OR ITS SUCCESSOR, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF AMERICAN
MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT
RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF
AMERICAN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP 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
A-1
NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, (i) shall become bound by the terms of the
Partnership Agreement, (ii) represents and warrants that the Holder has all right, power and
authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement and
(iii) makes the waivers and gives 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 and Registrar.
Dated: | American Midstream Partners, LP | |||||||
Countersigned and Registered by: | By: | American Midstream GP, LLC, its General Partner |
||||||
By: | ||||||||
as Transfer Agent and Registrar | Name: | |||||||
By:
|
By: | |||||||
Authorized Signature | Secretary |
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ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate,
shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM -
|
as tenants in common | UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT | ||
TEN ENT -
|
as tenants by the entireties | _____Custodian_____ | ||
(Cust) (Minor) | ||||
JT TEN -
|
as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common | under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors Act (State) |
Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _________________________ hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers
unto
(Please print or typewrite name and
address of assignee)
|
(Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee) |
______________ Common Units representing limited partner interests evidenced by this Certificate, subject to the Partnership Agreement, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ____________________ as its attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution to transfer the same on the books of American Midstream Partners, LP |
Date:
|
NOTE: | The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or change. | ||
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE |
||||
GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE |
(Signature) | |||
MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C.
RULE 17Ad-15
|
(Signature) |
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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.
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