8-K
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 20, 2021

 

 

CRESTWOOD EQUITY PARTNERS LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-34664   43-1918951

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

811 Main Street

Suite 3400

HoustonTexas 77002

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(832) 519-2200

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common units representing limited partner interests   CEQP   New York Stock Exchange
Preferred units representing limited partner interest   CEQP-P   New York Stock Exchange

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

Emerging growth company  

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership

On August 20, 2021, the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Crestwood Equity Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), was amended and restated as the Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “Amended Partnership Agreement”) to, among other things, provide the holders of common units representing limited partner interests of the Partnership (“Common Units”) with voting rights in the election of the members of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Crestwood Equity GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”) on a staggered basis beginning in 2022. Pursuant to the Amended Partnership Agreement, effective on the Closing Date, the Board has been divided into three classes of directors. Three Class I directors will serve for an initial term that expires at the 2022 annual meeting, three Class II directors will serve for an initial term that expires at the 2023 annual meeting, and one Class III director will serve for an initial term that expires at the 2024 annual meeting.

The summary of the Amended Partnership Agreement in this Current Report on Form 8-K does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended Partnership Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the General Partner

On August 20, 2021, the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the General Partner was amended and restated as the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the General Partner (the “Amended LLC Agreement”) to, among other things, reflect the provisions in the Amended Partnership Agreement providing the holders of Common Units with voting rights in the election of the members of the Board on a staggered basis beginning in 2022.

The summary of the Amended LLC Agreement in this Current Report on Form 8-K does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended LLC Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 3.2 and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Crestwood Niobrara LLC

On August 20, 2021, the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Crestwood Niobrara LLC (the “Crestwood Niobrara LLC Agreement”) was amended by the First Amendment to the Crestwood Niobrara LLC Agreement (the “First Amendment”) to, among other things, reflect provisions in the First Amendment relating to procedures associated with a Change of Control of the Preferred Units (as defined in the Crestwood Niobrara LLC Agreement).

The summary of the First Amendment in this Current Report on Form 8-K does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the First Amendment, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 4.1 and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Item 3.03.

Material Modification to the Rights of Security Holders.

The description of the Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the General Partner and the First Amendment set forth under Item 1.01 above is incorporated into this Item 3.03 by reference.

 

Item 5.02.

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On August 20, 2021, the Crestwood Equity Partners LP 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan was amended by the First Amendment to the Crestwood Equity Partners LP 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP Amendment”), to among other things, reflect provisions in the LTIP Amendment relating to procedures associated with a Change of Control (as defined in the LTIP Amendment) and to authorize 4.0 million Units that may be delivered on and after the Amendment Effective Date with respect to Awards under the Plan.

 

Item  8.01.

Other Events.

Reference is made hereby to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2021 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among (i) the Partnership, as the purchaser, (ii) Crestwood Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the seller (“Seller”), and (iii) for limited purposes under the Purchase Agreement, the General Partner. A copy of the Purchase Agreement has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as Exhibit 2.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 26, 2021.

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Partnership acquired the General Partner, certain related entities, and certain of its common units and subordinated units held by such entities from Seller (the “GP Buy-In Transaction”). The Purchase Agreement provided that on a date referred to therein as the “Post-Closing Assignment Date,” the conveyance, transfer and assignment from the Seller to the Partnership of 99% of the outstanding limited partner interests and all of the outstanding general partner interests, of Crestwood Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership which owns all of the outstanding limited liability company interests in the General Partner, would become effective. In accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Post-Closing Assignment Date occurred on August 20, 2021, and consequently such conveyance, transfer and assignment of such equity interests, pursuant to the GP Buy-In Transaction, became effective on August 20, 2021.


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  3.1    Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Crestwood Equity Partners LP dated August 20, 2021.
  3.2    Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Crestwood Equity GP LLC dated August 20, 2021.
  4.1    First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Crestwood Niobrara LLC dated as of April 9, 2019.
10.1    First Amendment to Crestwood Equity Partners LP 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).


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

 

    CRESTWOOD EQUITY PARTNERS LP
    By:   Crestwood Equity GP LLC, its General Partner
Date: August 20, 2021     By:  

/s/ Michael Post

      Michael Post
      Vice President, Associate General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

 

 

 

SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

CRESTWOOD EQUITY PARTNERS LP

 

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1   Definitions      3  
Section 1.2   Construction      22  
ARTICLE II

 

ORGANIZATION

 

Section 2.1   Continuation      23  
Section 2.2   Name      23  
Section 2.3   Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices      23  
Section 2.4   Purpose and Business      23  
Section 2.5   Powers      24  
Section 2.6   Power of Attorney      24  
Section 2.7   Term      25  
Section 2.8   Title to Partnership Assets      26  
ARTICLE III

 

RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

Section 3.1   Limitation of Liability      26  
Section 3.2   Management of Business      26  
Section 3.3   Outside Activities of the Limited Partners      27  
Section 3.4   Rights of Limited Partners      27  
ARTICLE IV

 

CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS;

REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

 

Section 4.1   Certificates      28  
Section 4.2   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates      28  
Section 4.3   Record Holders      29  
Section 4.4   Transfer Generally      29  
Section 4.5   Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests      30  
Section 4.6   Transfer of the Managing General Partner’s General Partner Interest      31  
Section 4.7   Restrictions on Transfers      31  
Section 4.8   Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees      33  
Section 4.9   Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees      34  
ARTICLE V

 

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Section 5.1   GP Buy-in Transaction      35  
Section 5.2   Interest and Withdrawal      35  
Section 5.3   Capital Accounts      35  
Section 5.4   Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities      38  
Section 5.5   Splits and Combinations      39  

 

i


Section 5.6

  Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests      40  

Section 5.7

  [Reserved]      40  

Section 5.8

  Establishment of Preferred Units      40  
ARTICLE VI

 

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 6.1

  Allocations for Capital Account Purposes      50  

Section 6.2

  Allocations for Tax Purposes      57  

Section 6.3

  Requirement and Characterization of Distributions      59  

Section 6.4

  Distributions to Record Holders      60  

Section 6.5

  [Reserved]      60  

Section 6.6

  [Reserved]      60  

Section 6.7

  [Reserved]      60  

Section 6.8

  [Reserved]      60  

Section 6.9

  Special Provisions Relating to the Preferred Holders      60  
ARTICLE VII

 

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

 

Section 7.1

  Management      61  

Section 7.2

  Certificate of Limited Partnership      62  

Section 7.3

  Restrictions on Managing General Partner’s Authority      63  

Section 7.4

  Reimbursement of the Managing General Partner      63  

Section 7.5

  Outside Activities      64  

Section 7.6

  Loans from the Managing General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership; Contracts with Affiliates; Certain Restrictions on the Managing General Partner      66  

Section 7.7

  Indemnification      67  

Section 7.8

  Liability of Indemnitees      69  

Section 7.9

  Resolution of Conflicts of Interest      69  

Section 7.10

  Other Matters Concerning the Managing General Partner      71  

Section 7.11

  Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities      71  

Section 7.12

  Registration Rights of the Managing General Partner and its Affiliates      72  

Section 7.13

  Reliance by Third Parties      74  
ARTICLE VIII

 

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

 

Section 8.1

  Records and Accounting      74  

Section 8.2

  Fiscal Year      74  

Section 8.3

  Reports      75  
ARTICLE IX

 

TAX MATTERS

 

Section 9.1

  Tax Returns and Information      75  

Section 9.2

  Tax Elections      75  

Section 9.3

  Tax Controversies      76  

Section 9.4

  Withholding; Other Tax Payments by the Partnership      77  

 

ii


ARTICLE X

 

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

 

Section 10.1

  Admission of Substituted Limited Partner      78  

Section 10.2

  Admission of Successor Managing General Partners      78  

Section 10.3

  Admission of Additional Limited Partners      79  

Section 10.4

  Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership      79  
ARTICLE XI

 

WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

 

Section 11.1

  Withdrawal of the Managing General Partner      79  

Section 11.2

  Removal of the Managing General Partner      81  

Section 11.3

  Interest of Departing Partner and Successor Managing General Partners      81  

Section 11.4

  Withdrawal of Limited Partners      83  
ARTICLE XII

 

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

Section 12.1

  Dissolution      83  

Section 12.2

  Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution      83  

Section 12.3

  Liquidator      84  

Section 12.4

  Liquidation      85  

Section 12.5

  Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership      85  

Section 12.6

  Return of Contributions      86  

Section 12.7

  Waiver of Partition      86  

Section 12.8

  Capital Account Restoration      86  
ARTICLE XIII

 

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

 

Section 13.1

  Amendment to be Adopted Solely by the Managing General Partner      86  

Section 13.2

  Amendment Procedures      87  

Section 13.3

  Amendment Requirements      88  

Section 13.4

  Meetings      89  

Section 13.5

  Notice of a Meeting      95  

Section 13.6

  Record Date      96  

Section 13.7

  Adjournment      96  

Section 13.8

  Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes      96  

Section 13.9

  Quorum      96  

Section 13.10

  Conduct of a Meeting      97  

Section 13.11

  Action Without a Meeting      97  

Section 13.12

  Voting and Other Rights      98  
ARTICLE XIV

 

MERGER

 

Section 14.1

  Authority      98  

Section 14.2

  Procedure for Merger or Consolidation      98  

Section 14.3

  Approval by Limited Partners of Merger or Consolidation      99  

 

iii


Section 14.4

  Certificate of Merger      100  

Section 14.5

  Effect of Merger      100  
ARTICLE XV

 

RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

 

Section 15.1

  Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests      101  
ARTICLE XVI

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 16.1

  Addresses and Notices      103  

Section 16.2

  Further Action      103  

Section 16.3

  Binding Effect      103  

Section 16.4

  Integration      103  

Section 16.5

  Creditors      104  

Section 16.6

  Waiver      104  

Section 16.7

  Counterparts      104  

Section 16.8

  Applicable Law      104  

Section 16.9

  Invalidity of Provisions      104  

Section 16.10

  Consent of Partners      104  

 

 

iv


SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF

CRESTWOOD EQUITY PARTNERS LP

THIS SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF CRESTWOOD EQUITY PARTNERS LP dated as of August 20, 2021 (the “Partnership Agreement”), is entered into effective as of August 20, 2021, by and among Crestwood Equity GP LLC (f/k/a Inergy GP, LLC,) a Delaware limited liability company, as the Managing General Partner (as hereinafter defined), together with any other Persons who are or become Partners in the Partnership (as hereinafter defined) or parties hereto as provided herein.

BACKGROUND

On January 1, 2013, the Managing General Partner, entered into that Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as further amended by each of the First Amendment to the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Partnership of Crestwood Equity Partners LP, dated as of September 30, 2015, Second Amendment to the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Partnership of Crestwood Equity Partners LP, dated as of November 8, 2017, Third Amendment to Amendment to the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Partnership of Crestwood Equity Partners LP, dated as of May 30, 2018 and Fourth Amendment to Amendment to the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Partnership of Crestwood Equity Partners LP, dated as of June 28, 2019 (as so amended, the “Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement”).

On March 25, 2021, Crestwood Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“CH”), the Partnership and the Managing General Partner entered into that certain Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2021 (the “Purchase Agreement”), providing for, among other things, the acquisition from CH by the Partnership of all of the outstanding limited liability company interests of each of (i) Crestwood Marcellus Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (ii) Crestwood Gas Services Holdings, LLC, (“Gas Services”) a Delaware limited liability company, which directly owns each of the following: (a) 3,985,462 Common Units (after giving to the sale by Gas Services of 6,000,000 Common Units to certain institutional investors in private sales); (b) 438,789 Subordinated Units (as hereinafter defined); and (c) 1% of the outstanding limited partner interests of Crestwood Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“CHLP”), (3) 99% of the outstanding limited partner interests and all of the outstanding general partner interests of CHLP, which directly owns all of the outstanding limited liability company interests of the Managing General Partner, which in turn directly owns the non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership and (4) 7,484,449 Common Units (as hereinafter defined) (jointly, the “GP Buy-In Transaction”).

After the closings of the acquisitions by the Partnership referred to above, the Partnership canceled the 11,469,911 Common Units and 438,789 Subordinated Units that were acquired in such acquisitions, as a result of which the Partnership no longer has outstanding any Subordinated Units.

 

1


As a result of the consummation of the transactions effected by the Partnership pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Partnership is currently the indirect owner of the Managing General Partner, and the Board of Directors of the Managing General Partner has determined it is in the best interests of the Partnership and its Limited Partners to amend and restate the Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement to, among other things, provide for annual meetings at which the Directors (as defined herein) of the Class of Directors (as defined herein) then up for election will be subject to election and to provide the procedures and policies that will apply to such annual meetings, to eliminate references to Subordinated Units, and to reflect prior amendments.

Section 7.3(a) of the Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement provides, in pertinent part, that the Managing General Partner without written approval of the specific act by holders of all of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or by other written instrument executed and delivered by holders of all of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests subsequent to the date of such agreement, take any action in contravention of such agreement, including, except as otherwise provided in such agreement, amending such agreement in any matter; or transferring its interest as general partner of the Partnership.

Section 13.1(d) of the Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement provides, in pertinent part, that the Managing General Partner, without the approval of any Partner or Assignee, may amend any provision of such agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect a change that, in the discretion of the Managing General Partner, does not adversely affect the Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect.

The Managing General Partner has determined that the amendments to the Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement contemplated hereby would not adversely affect the Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect.

Section 5.2(d)(ii)(A) of the Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement provides, in pertinent part, that the affirmative vote of the then-applicable Voting Threshold of the Outstanding Preferred Units, voting separately as a class with one vote per Preferred Unit, shall be necessary to amend such agreement in any manner that alters or changes the rights, powers, privileges or preferences or duties and obligations of the Preferred Units in any material respect.

The Managing General Partner has determined that the amendments to the Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement contemplated hereby would not alter or change the rights, powers, privileges or preferences or duties and obligations of the Preferred Units in any material respect.

On May 6, 2021 the Partnership filed a preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A with the Commission, and on May 17, 2021, the Partnership filed a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A with the Commission (the “Solicitation Statement”), in each instance requesting Preferred Holders’ consent (the “Consent Solicitation”) to the proposal described in greater detail in the Solicitation Statement (the “Proposal”) that provided for certain amendments to the definition of Change of Control in the Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement (the “Proposed Amendment”).

 

2


Pursuant to the Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, the adoption of the Proposal and the Proposed Amendment required the consents (the “Requisite Consents”) of Preferred Holders holding at least two-thirds of the issued and outstanding Preferred Units as of May 14, 2021, the record date (the “Consent Solicitation Record Date”) for determining those Preferred Holders entitled to submit consents with respect to the Proposal and the Proposed Amendment.

In response to the Consent Solicitation, Preferred Holders holding 75.1% of the issued and outstanding Preferred Units as of the Consent Solicitation Record Date submitted consents (that were accepted by the Partnership) in favor of the Proposal and the Proposed Amendment. Accordingly, the Proposal and the Proposed Amendment were approved pursuant to the Requisite Consents.

The Conflicts Committee (as hereinafter defined) has determined that the GP Buy-In Transaction is in the best interests of the Partnership Group (as hereinafter defined) and has approved the transaction documents associated therewith (the “Transaction Documents”) and the matters contemplated thereby, which approval by the Conflicts Committee constitutes Special Approval.

The Board of Directors has determined that the GP Buy-In Transaction and the Transaction Documents and the matters contemplated thereby are in the best interests of the Partnership Group and has approved the Transaction Documents and the matters contemplated thereby.

This Agreement amends and restates the Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement in its entirety to, among other things, give effect to the GP Buy-In Transaction, reflect the Proposed Amendment and incorporate prior amendments.

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 operating capacity or revenues of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or revenues of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction.

Additional Limited Partner” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.3 and who is shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

3


Adjusted Capital Account” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end of each fiscal year 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 fiscal year, are reasonably expected to be allocated to such Partner in subsequent years 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 fiscal year, are reasonably expected to be made to such Partner in subsequent years 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 year in which such distributions are reasonably expected to be made (other than increases as a result of a minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(i) or 6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a Common Unit, a Class A Unit or any other specified interest in the Partnership shall be the amount which such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such Common Unit, Class A Unit or other interest in the Partnership were the only interest in the Partnership held by a Partner from and after the date on which such Common Unit, Class A Unit or other interest was first issued.

Adjusted Conversion Amount” means a number of Common Units to be issued upon conversion of each Preferred Unit pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(iii) equal to the greater of (i) the Conversion Ratio and (ii) the quotient of (A) 150% multiplied by the Preferred Unit Price divided by (B) the Adjustment Ratio multiplied by the lower of (x) the closing price of a Common Unit on the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading on the last trading day prior to exercise of the Partnership’s conversion right pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(iii) and (y) the VWAP Price calculated over the 10 consecutive trading days ending immediately prior to the date of exercise of the Partnership’s conversion right pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(iii).

Adjusted Property” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.3(b)(i).

Adjustment Ratio” means 0.96, provided, however, that the Adjustment Ratio shall be 1.00 at any time that the VWAP Price for the 10 consecutive trading days ending immediately prior to the date of exercise of the Partnership’s conversion right pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(iii) exceeds the quotient of (A) 125% of the Preferred Unit Price, divided by (B) the then-applicable Conversion Ratio.

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. For avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement (i) any fund or account managed, advised or sub-advised, directly or indirectly, by GSO Capital Partners LP or its Affiliates shall be considered an Affiliate of GSO Capital Partners LP; and (ii) any fund or account managed, advised or sub-advised, directly or indirectly, by Magnetar Financial LLC or its Affiliates, shall be considered an Affiliate of Magnetar Financial LLC.

 

4


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, without limitation, 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 as determined by the Managing General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt. The Managing General Partner shall, in its discretion, use such method as it deems reasonable and appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated transaction among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair market value of each Contributed Property.

Agreement” means this Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Crestwood Equity Partners LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Assignee” means a Non-citizen Assignee or a Person to whom one or more Limited Partner Interests have been transferred in a manner permitted under this Agreement and who has executed and delivered a Transfer Application as required by this Agreement, but who has not been admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner.

Associate” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer or partner 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; or (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 on hand at the end of such Quarter, and (ii) all additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (excluding IPCH Acquisition Corp. and Crestwood Partners, LLC ((f/k/a Inergy Partners, LLC)) on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter, less

(b) the amount of any cash reserves that is necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the Managing General Partner to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject or (iii) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.4 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters; provided, however, 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 Managing General Partner so determines.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Available Cash” shall not include any IPCH/Crestwood Partners Available Cash. “Available Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.

Beneficially Owns” shall have the meaning given such term in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Managing General Partner (or comparable governing body of any successor to the Managing General Partner or, if established by the Board of Directors, the board of directors of the Partnership).

Book-Down Event” means an event which triggers a negative adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.3(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 5.3 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 which triggers a positive adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.3(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 states of New York or Missouri shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.3. The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a Common Unit, a Class A Unit or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount which such Capital Account would be if such Common Unit, a Class A Unit or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by a Partner from and after the date on which such Common Unit, a Class A Unit or other Partnership Interest was first issued.

Capital Contribution” means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement or the Contribution and Conveyance Agreement.

 

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Capital Improvement” means any (a) addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any Group Member or (b) acquisition of existing, or the construction of new capital assets (including, without limitation, retail distribution centers, propane tanks, pipeline systems, storage facilities and related assets), in each case made to increase the operating capacity or revenues of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or revenues of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction.

Capital Surplus” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.3(a).

Carrying Value” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ and Assignees’ Capital Accounts in respect of such Contributed 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 Sections 5.3(d)(i) and 5.3(d)(ii) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the Managing General Partner.

Cash COC Conversion Premium” means 101%.

Cash COC Event” means any transaction pursuant to which (i) the Managing General Partner or any Affiliate of the Managing General Partner exercises its rights to purchase all of the Outstanding Common Units pursuant to Section 15.1 of this Agreement or (ii) any Person or group of Persons acquires in one or more series of related transactions all of the Outstanding Common Units, in each case where the consideration received by the holders of Common Units is comprised of at least 90% cash.

Cause” means (a) with respect to the Managing General Partner, a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the Managing General Partner liable for actual fraud, gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership and (b) with respect to a Director, such Director has (i) been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any crime or offense constituting a felony or any other crime involving (A) an act of theft, embezzlement, fraud or dishonesty or (B) a violation of the federal securities laws of the United States; (ii) materially breached the terms of this Agreement; (iii) materially violated a written policy or procedure established by the Partnership; (iv) willfully engaged in misconduct that is materially injurious to the Partnership or its subsidiaries, monetarily or otherwise; or (v) committed an action which constitutes intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law if such action in either event results both in an improper substantial personal benefit and a material injury to the Partnership or its subsidiaries.

Certificate” means a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement, (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 Managing General Partner in its discretion, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the Managing General Partner in its discretion, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership Securities.

 

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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 2.7, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

CH” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Background to this Agreement.

CHLP” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Background to this Agreement.

 

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Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the Common Units are no longer listed or admitted for trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another National Securities Exchange; (ii) a Cash COC Event; (iii) any direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Partnership to any Person; or (iv) any dissolution or liquidation of the Partnership (other than in connection with a bankruptcy proceeding or a statutory winding up).

Citizenship Certification” means a properly completed certificate in such form as may be specified by the Managing General Partner by which an Assignee or a Limited Partner certifies that he (and if he is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Citizen.

Claim” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.12(c).

Class A Unit” means a Partnership Security representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees (but does not include Common Units), and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Class A Units in this Agreement, which shall be identical to the rights and obligations of the Common Units except the Class A Units (i) will not have the right to vote on, approve or disapprove, or otherwise consent or not consent with respect to any matter (including mergers, share exchanges and similar statutory authorizations) except as otherwise required by any non-waivable provision of law, and (ii) will not share in any IPCH/Crestwood Partners Items or any IPCH/Crestwood Partners Available Cash.

Closing Price” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).

COC Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(b)(i).

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 successor law.

Combined Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(a).

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Unit” means a Partnership Interest representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and assignees, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the Common Units in this Agreement, but does not include Class A Units or Preferred Units (prior to their conversion into Common Units pursuant to the terms hereof).

Common Unit Trading Price” means the current trading price of the Common Units as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Managing General Partner.

 

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Conflicts Committee” means a committee of the Board of Directors composed entirely of two or more directors who are not (a) security holders, officers or employees of the Managing General Partner, (b) officers, directors or employees of any Affiliate of the Managing General Partner or (c) holders of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other than Common Units and who also meet the independence standards required to serve on an audit committee of a board of directors by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed for trading.

Consent Solicitation Record Date” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Background to this Agreement.

Consent Solicitation” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Background to this Agreement.

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 5.3(d), such property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.

Contribution and Conveyance Agreement” means that certain Contribution, Conveyance, Assumption and Assignment Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Managing General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Company and certain other parties, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder.

Conversion Date” means, with respect to each Preferred Unit, the date on which the Partnership has completed the conversion of such Preferred Unit pursuant to Section 5.8(b).

Conversion Ratio” means 1.00, as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Sections 5.8(b)(iv) and (xi).

Crestwood Indentures” means (i) that certain Indenture dated as of March 23, 2015 by and among Midstream, Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., the other guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, (ii) that certain Indenture dated as of March 14, 2017 by and among Midstream, Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., the other guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee., as trustee, (iii) that certain Indenture dated as of April 15, 2019 by and among Midstream, Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., the other guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and (iv) that certain indenture dated as of January 21, 2021, by and among Midstream, Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., the other guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.

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

Current Market Price” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).

Deficiency Rate” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.8(c)(i)(B).

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

 

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

Depositary” means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted assigns.

Director” means a member of the Board of Directors.

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

Effective Time” means the effective time of the merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

Eligible Citizen” means a Person qualified to own interests in real property in jurisdictions in which any Group Member does business or proposes to do business from time to time, and whose status as a Limited Partner or Assignee does not or would not subject such Group Member to a significant risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its properties or any interest therein.

Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.7.

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

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

Excess Distribution” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.1(d)(iii).

Excess Distribution Unit” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.1(d)(iii).

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

Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Background to this Agreement.

Gas Services” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Background to this Agreement.

General Partner Interest” means the management interest of the Managing General Partner in the Partnership in its capacity as a managing general partner of the Partnership. The General Partner Interest does not have any rights to economic ownership or any rights to receive distribution from operations or the liquidation of the Partnership.

 

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GP Buy-In Transaction” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Background to 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 agreement, arrangement or understanding 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) or disposing of any Partnership Securities with any other Person that Beneficially Owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Securities.

Group Member” means a member of the Partnership Group.

Holder” as used in Section 7.12, has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(a).

include” or “includes” or “including” have the meaning ascribed to such terms in Section 1.2.

Incremental Income Taxes” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.7.

Indemnified Persons” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.12(c).

Indemnitee” means (a) each Managing General Partner, (b) any Departing Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of a Managing General Partner or any Departing Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a member, partner, officer, director (including a Director), employee, agent or trustee of any Group Member, a Managing General Partner or any Departing Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, a Managing General Partner or any Departing Partner, and (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of a Managing General Partner or any Departing Partner or any Affiliate of a Managing General Partner or any Departing Partner as an officer, director, employee, member, partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided, that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services.

Initial Distribution Period” means the period beginning with the first Quarter ending after the Effective Time through and including the Quarter ending September 30, 2017.

Initial Offering” means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as described in the Registration Statement.

Interim Capital Transactions” means the following transactions if they occur prior to the Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness and sales of debt securities (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; (b) sales of equity interests of any Group Member and (c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other than (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal retirements or replacements.

 

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IPCH/Crestwood Partners Available Cash” means all cash and cash equivalents on hand derived from or attributable to the Partnership’s ownership of, or sale or other disposition of, the shares of common stock of IPCH Acquisition Corp. and the membership interests of Crestwood Partners, LLC.

IPCH/Crestwood Partners Items” means the income, gains, losses, deductions and credits which are attributable to the Partnership’s ownership of, or sale or other disposition of, the shares of common stock of IPCH Acquisition Corp. and the membership interests of Crestwood Partners, LLC.

Junior Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests of cash or property and distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership (taking into account the intended effects of the allocation of gains and losses as provided in this Agreement), ranks junior to the Preferred Units, including but not limited to Common Units, Class A Units and General Partner Interests.

Limited Partner” means, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) a holder of Common Units, Class A Units or Preferred Units, except as otherwise provided herein, each Substituted Limited Partner and each Additional Limited Partner, or (b) solely for purposes of Articles V, VI, VII, and IX, each Assignee; provided, however, that when the term “Limited Partner” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including without limitation Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of Class A Units except as may otherwise be required by any non-waivable provision of law.

Limited Partner Group” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.4(b)(vi)(A)(1).

Limited Partner Interest” means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner or Assignee in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Class A Units, Preferred Units or other Partnership Securities or a combination thereof or interest therein, and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner or Assignee is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner or Assignee 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 without limitation Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of Class A Units except as may otherwise be required by any non-waivable provision of 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 reconstitute the Partnership and continue its business 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.

 

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Liquidation Preference” means, with respect to each Preferred Unit, the sum of the Preferred Unit Price plus all accrued and unpaid distributions on such Preferred Unit to the Liquidation Date.

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

LPG Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.4(b)(vi)(A)(2).

Managing General Partner” means Crestwood Equity GP LLC and its successors and permitted assigns as managing general partner of the Partnership.

Managing General Partner Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.9(a).

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

Midstream” means Crestwood Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

Midstream GP” means Crestwood Midstream GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of Midstream.

Minimum Conversion Amount” means (i) a number of Preferred Units having an aggregate value of $20.0 million, which value is calculated by multiplying the number of Preferred Units to be converted by the Preferred Unit Price or (ii) if the value of the Preferred Units (calculated in accordance with clause (i) above) to be converted by the Preferred Holder requesting conversion does not equal or exceed $20.0 million, then all of the Preferred Units held by such Preferred Holder.

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

Net Agreed Value” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced by any liabilities 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 or Assignee by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.3(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by such Partner or Assignee upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution, in either case, as determined under Section 752 of the Code.

Net Income” means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable year over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.3(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Sections 6.1(c) or (d).

 

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Net Loss” means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable year over the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.3(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Sections 6.1(c) or (d).

Net Termination Gain” means, for any taxable period, (a) the sum, if positive, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.3) that are recognized (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) the excess, if any, of the aggregate amount of Unrealized Gain over the aggregate amount of Unrealized Loss deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.3(d); provided, however, the items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

Net Termination Loss” means, for any taxable period, (a) the sum, if negative, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.3) that are recognized (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) the excess, if any, of the aggregate amount of Unrealized Loss over the aggregate amount of Unrealized Gain deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.3(d); provided, however, the items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

Non-citizen Assignee” means a Person whom the Managing General Partner has determined in its discretion does not constitute an Eligible Citizen and as to whose Partnership Interest the Managing General Partner has become the Substituted Limited Partner, pursuant to Section 4.9.

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

Nonrecourse Built-in Gain” means with respect to any Contributed Properties or Adjusted Properties that are subject to a mortgage or pledge securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of any taxable gain that would be allocated to the Partners pursuant to Sections 6.2(b)(i)(A), 6.2(b)(ii)(A) and 6.2(b)(iii) 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 expenditures (including, without limitation, any expenditures described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.

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

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

 

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Operating Company” means Crestwood Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Operating Company Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Company, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Operating Expenditures” means all Partnership Group expenditures (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned), including, but not limited to, taxes, reimbursements of the Managing General Partner, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings, debt service payments, and capital expenditures, subject to the following:

(a) Payments (including prepayments) of principal of and premium on indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings shall not constitute Operating Expenditures.

(b) Operating Expenditures shall not include (i) capital expenditures made for Acquisitions or for Capital Improvements, (ii) payment of transaction expenses relating to Interim Capital Transactions or (iii) distributions to Partners. Where capital expenditures are made in part for Acquisitions or for Capital Improvements and in part for other purposes, the Managing General Partner’s good faith allocation between the amounts paid for each shall be conclusive.

Operating Surplus” means, with respect to any period ending prior to the Liquidation Date, on a cumulative basis and without duplication, (a) the sum of (i) $50 million, (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending with the last day of such period, other than cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions, and (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, less (b) the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending with the last day of such period and (ii) the amount of cash reserves that is necessary or advisable in the reasonable discretion of the Managing General Partner to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures; 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 Managing General Partner so determines, (c) plus, without duplication of the amounts included in the calculation of (a) and (b) above, an amount equal to the “Operating Surplus” (as defined in, and determined in accordance with the terms of, the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Inergy Midstream, L.P., as amended, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time) determined as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

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Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Partnership or the Managing General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the Managing General Partner in its reasonable discretion.

Outstanding” means, with respect to Partnership Securities, all Partnership Securities 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 Managing General Partner or its Affiliates) Beneficially Owns 20% or more of any Partnership Securities of any class that would be considered then Outstanding (pursuant to the provisions of this definition preceding this proviso), all Partnership Securities 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 any non-waivable provision of law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement; provided, further, that the limitations of the immediately preceding proviso with respect to Partnership Securities held by such Person or Group shall not apply to such Partnership Securities (so long as held by such Person or Group), if the exception from such limitations with respect to such Partnership Securities (so long as held by such Person or Group) has been approved by the Managing General Partner pursuant to authorization and direction by the Board of Directors (acting with the approval of a majority of the members thereof who meet the independence standards required to serve on the audit committee of such Board of Directors by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed for trading).

Parity Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Securities that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Securities of cash or property and distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership (taking into account the intend effects of the allocation of gains and losses as provided in this Agreement), ranks pari passu with the Preferred Units.

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, without limitation, 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 Managing General Partner and the Limited Partners.

Partnership” means Crestwood Equity Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

Partnership Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Background to this Agreement.

 

17


Partnership Group” means the Partnership, the Managing General Partner, the Operating Company and any Subsidiary of any such entity, treated as a single consolidated entity.

Partnership Interest” means an interest in the Partnership, which shall include the Limited Partner Interests.

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

Partnership Security” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership), including without limitation, Common Units, Class A Units or Preferred Units.

Percentage Interest” means as of the date of such determination, (a) as to any Partner or Assignee holding Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) (A) 100% less (B) the percentage applicable to clause (b) times (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Outstanding Units held by such Partner or Assignee by (B) the total number of all Outstanding Units; and (b) as to the holders of additional Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.4, the percentage established as a part of such issuance.

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

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 Managing General Partner or any Affiliate of the Managing General Partner who holds Units.

PIK Unit” means a Preferred Unit issued pursuant to a Preferred Unit Distribution in accordance with Section 5.8(c).

Preferred Holder” means a holder of a Preferred Unit.

Preferred Investor” means a Preferred Holder, together with all Affiliates of such Preferred Holder that hold Preferred Units.

Preferred Pro Rata Distribution” means, in respect of any Parity Security, the distribution permitted to be made on such Parity Security in the event that the Partnership fails to pay, after the Initial Distribution Period, in full in cash any distribution (or portion thereof) which any Preferred Holder accrues and is entitled to receive, which is equal to the distribution payable in respect of such Parity Security as of such date, multiplied by a fraction (i) the numerator of which is the most recent distribution paid in cash in respect of each Preferred Unit and (ii) the denominator of which is the distribution accumulated and payable on each Preferred Unit immediately prior to the payment of the most recent such distribution.

Preferred Unit” means a Partnership Interest representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and assignees, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to a Preferred Unit in the Partnership Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, including PIK Units, provided that such PIK Units shall be subject to such restrictions as are set forth herein. A Preferred Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs.

 

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Preferred Unit Distribution” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.8(c)(i)(A).

Preferred Unit Distribution Amount” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.8(c)(i)(A).

Preferred Unit Price” means $9.1273 per Preferred Unit.

Proposal” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Background to this Agreement.

Proposed Amendment” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Background to this Agreement.

Pro Rata” means (a) when modifying Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests and (b) when modifying Partners and Assignees, apportioned among all Partners and Assignees in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests.

Purchase Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Background to this Agreement.

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

Quarter” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership.

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

Record Date” means the date established by the Managing General Partner for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of Partnership action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Limited Partners or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.

Record Holder” means the Person in whose name a Common Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day, or with respect to other Partnership Securities, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Security is registered on the books which the Managing General Partner has caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such Business Day.

 

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Redeemable Interests” means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.9.

Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-56976) as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Offering.

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

Residual Gain” or “Residual Loss” means any item of gain or loss, as the case may be, of the Partnership recognized for federal income tax purposes resulting from a sale, exchange or other disposition of a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, to the extent such item of gain or loss is not allocated pursuant to Sections 6.2(b)(i)(A) or 6.2(b)(ii)(A), respectively, to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.

Restrictions” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.8(d)(ii)(A).

Revaluation Event” means an event that results in an adjustment of the Carrying Value of each Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.3(d).

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

Senior Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Securities that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Securities of cash or property and distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership (taking into account the intended effects of the allocation of gains and losses as provided in this Agreement), ranks senior to the Preferred Units.

Solicitation Statement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Background to this Agreement.

Special Approval” means approval of the Conflicts Committee.

Subordinated Unit” means a Partnership Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term “Subordinated Unit” does not refer to or include a Common Unit. A Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no longer any Subordinated Units issued or Outstanding.

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

 

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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.

Substantially Equivalent Unit” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(e)(ii)(B).

Substituted Limited Partner” means a Person who is admitted as a Limited Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.1 in place of and with all the rights of a Limited Partner and who is shown as a Limited Partner on the books and records of the Partnership.

Super-Majority Interest” means at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Outstanding Preferred Units.

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

Trading Day” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 15.1(a).

Transaction Documents” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Background to this Agreement.

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

Transfer Agent” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the Managing General Partner or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the Partnership to act as registrar and transfer agent for the Common Units; provided, however, that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for any other Partnership Securities, the Managing General Partner shall act in such capacity.

Transfer Application” means an application and agreement for transfer of Units in the form set forth on the back of a Certificate or in a form substantially to the same effect in a separate instrument.

Unit” means a Partnership Security that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units, Class A Units and Preferred Units, but shall not include a General Partner Interest; provided, however, that when the term “Unit” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including without limitation Article XIII and Article XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of Class A Units except as otherwise required by any non-waivable provision of law.

Unitholders” means the holders of Units.

Unit Majority” means, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and, for so long as any of the Preferred Units remain Outstanding, the Outstanding Preferred Units voting on an as converted basis in accordance with Section 5.8(d)(i), voting together as a single class.

 

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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 5.3(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.3(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 5.3(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.3(d)).

Unrecovered Initial Unit Price” means the Common Unit Trading Price at the close of business on June 19, 2013. For the avoidance of doubt, such price shall reflect the value of the Common Units excluding any value attributable to the distribution of common units of Crestwood Midstream Partners LP (f/k/a Inergy Midstream, L.P.)

U.S. GAAP” means United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles consistently applied.

Voting Threshold” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.8(d)(i).

VWAP Price” as of a particular date means the volume-weighted average trading price, as adjusted for splits, combinations and other similar transactions, of a Common Unit on the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are then listed or admitted to trading.

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

Working Capital Borrowings” means borrowings exclusively for working capital purposes made pursuant to a credit facility or other arrangement requiring all such borrowings thereunder to be reduced to a relatively small amount each year (or for the year in which the Initial Offering is consummated, the 12-month period beginning on the Closing Date) for an economically meaningful period of time.

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; and (c) the term “include” or “includes” means includes, without limitation, and “including” means including, without limitation.

 

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ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION

Section 2.1 Continuation

The parties hereto, pursuant to the authority contained in Article XIII of the Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, do hereby amend and restate the Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement in its entirety, effective immediately, to continue the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act and to set forth the rights and obligations of the Partners and certain matters related thereto. 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 and a Partner has no interest in specific Partnership property.

Section 2.2 Name

The name of the Partnership shall be “Crestwood Equity Partners LP”. The Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names deemed necessary or appropriate by the Managing General Partner in its sole discretion, including the name of the Managing General Partner. The words “Limited Partnership,” “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 Managing General Partner in its discretion may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.

Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices

Unless and until changed by the Managing General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 811 Main Street, Suite 3400, Houston, Texas 77002 or such other place as the Managing 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 Managing General Partner deems necessary or appropriate. The address of the Managing General Partner shall be 811 Main Street, Suite 3400, Houston, Texas 77002 or such other place as the Managing 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) serve as a member of the Operating Company and, in connection therewith, to exercise all the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership as a member of the Operating Company pursuant to the Operating Company Agreement or otherwise, (b) engage directly in, or enter into or form any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that the Operating Company is permitted to engage in by the Operating Company Agreement 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, (c) engage directly in, or enter into or form any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity or arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that the Managing General Partner approves and which lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to

 

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exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity; provided, however, that the Managing General Partner reasonably determines, as of the date of the acquisition or commencement of such activity, that such activity (i) generates “qualifying income” (as such term is defined pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code) or a Subsidiary, or a Partnership activity that generates qualifying income, or (ii) enhances the operations of an activity of the Operating Company and (d) do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member. The Managing General Partner has no obligation or duty to the Partnership, the Limited Partners or the Assignees to propose or approve, and in its discretion may decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business.

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 Power of Attorney

(a) Each Limited Partner and each Assignee hereby constitutes and appoints the Managing General Partner and, if a Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power of substitution, as his true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his name, place and stead, to:

(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the Managing General Partner or the Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct business or own property; (B) all certificates, documents and other instruments that the Managing General Partner or the Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement; (C) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the Managing General Partner or the Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (D) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described in, Article IV, Article X, Article XI and Article XII; (E) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Partnership Securities issued pursuant to Section 5.4; and (F) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger) relating to a merger or consolidation of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and

 

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(ii) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments necessary or appropriate, in the discretion of the Managing General Partner or the Liquidator, to make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or is necessary or appropriate, in the discretion of the Managing General Partner or the Liquidator, to effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided, that when required by Section 13.3 or any other provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of any class or series required to take any action, the Managing General Partner and the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in this Section 2.6(a)(ii) only after the necessary vote, consent or approval of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of such class or series, as applicable.

Nothing contained in this Section 2.6(a) shall be construed as authorizing the Managing General Partner to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article XIII or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.

(b) The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, not be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Limited Partner or Assignee and the transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s Partnership Interest and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the Managing General Partner or the Liquidator acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and each such Limited Partner or Assignee, to the maximum extent permitted by law, hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the Managing General Partner or the Liquidator taken in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner or Assignee shall execute and deliver to the Managing General Partner or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the Managing General Partner or the Liquidator deems necessary to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.

Section 2.7 Term

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

 

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Section 2.8 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 or Assignee, 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 Managing General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the Managing General Partner may determine. The Managing General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the Managing General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held by the Managing 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 Managing General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the Managing 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 Managing General Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the Managing 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 the Managing 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 and the Assignees shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.

Section 3.2 Management of Business

No Limited Partner or Assignee, 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. Any action taken by any Affiliate of the Managing General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the Managing 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 participation 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 or Assignees under this Agreement.

 

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Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.5, any Limited Partner or Assignee 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 or Assignees shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner or Assignee.

Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners

(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable law, and except as limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a limited partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:

(i) to obtain true and full information regarding the status of the business and financial condition of the Partnership;

(ii) promptly after becoming available, to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns for each year;

(iii) to have furnished to him a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner;

(iv) to have furnished to him a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto, together with a copy 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;

(v) to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other Capital Contribution by each Partner and which each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a Partner; and

(vi) to obtain such other information regarding the affairs of the Partnership as is just and reasonable.

(b) The Managing General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners and Assignees, for such period of time as the Managing General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the Managing General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the Managing General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group 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).

 

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ARTICLE IV

CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS;

REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 4.1 Certificates

Upon the Partnership’s issuance of Common Units to any Person, the Partnership shall issue one or more Certificates in the name of such Person, or create a book-entry notation in the register maintained on behalf of the Partnership by the Managing General Partner, or, if the General Partner so determines, by the Transfer Agent as part of the Transfer Agent’s books and transfer records, evidencing the number of such Units being so issued. Upon the request of any Person owning Class A Units or any other Partnership Securities other than Common Units, the Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more certificates evidencing such Class A Units or Partnership Securities other than Common Units. Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, President or any Vice President and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Managing General Partner. No Common Unit Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided, however, the Common Units may be certificated or uncertificated as provided in the Delaware Act; provided, further, that if the Managing General Partner elects to issue Common Units in global form, the Common Unit Certificates shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Common Units have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership. With respect to any Partnership Interests that are represented by physical certificates, the Managing General Partner may determine that such Partnership Interests will no longer be represented by physical certificates and may, upon written notice to the holders of such Partnership Interests and subject to applicable law, take whatever actions it deems necessary or appropriate to cause such Partnership Interests to be registered in book-entry or global form and may cause such physical certificates to be cancelled or deemed cancelled.

Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates

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

(b) The appropriate officers of the Managing General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued if the Record Holder of the Certificate:

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

(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the Managing 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;

 

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(iii) if requested by the Managing General Partner, delivers to the Managing General Partner a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the Managing General Partner, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the Managing General Partner may reasonably direct, in its sole discretion, to indemnify the Managing General Partner, the Partners, the Managing 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 Partnership.

If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to notify the Managing General Partner within a reasonable 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 Managing General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Limited Partner or Assignee shall be precluded from making any claim against the Partnership, the Managing General Partner or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new Certificate.

(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.2, the Managing 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 or Assignee 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 for 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 (a) shall be the Partner or Assignee (as the case may be) of record and beneficially, (b) must execute and deliver a Transfer Application and (c) shall be bound by this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Partner or Assignee (as the case may be) hereunder and as, and to the extent, provided for herein.

Section 4.4 Transfer Generally

(a) The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction by which a Managing General Partner assigns its General Partner Interest to another Person who becomes a Managing General Partner, by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Limited Partner or an Assignee, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise.

 

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

(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any member of the Managing General Partner of any or all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of the Managing General Partner.

Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests

(a) The Partnership 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. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registering Common Units and transfers of such Common Units as herein provided. The Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests unless such transfers are effected in the manner described in this Section 4.5. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the appropriate officers of the Managing General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Common Units, 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.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.8, the Partnership shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer and such Certificates are accompanied by a Transfer Application duly executed by the transferee (or the transferee’s attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing). No charge shall be imposed by the Partnership for such transfer; provided, that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.5, the Partnership may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.

(c) Limited Partner Interests may be transferred only in the manner described in this Section 4.5. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.

(d) Until admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.1, the Record Holder of a Limited Partner Interest shall be an Assignee in respect of such Limited Partner Interest. Limited Partners may include custodians, nominees or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity.

(e) A transferee of a Limited Partner Interest who has completed and delivered a Transfer Application shall be deemed to have (i) requested admission as a Substituted Limited Partner, (ii) agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed this Agreement, (iii) represented and warranted that such transferee has the right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity to enter into this Agreement, (iv) granted the powers of attorney set forth in this Agreement and (v) given the consents and approvals and made the waivers contained in this Agreement.

 

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

Section 4.6 Transfer of the Managing General Partners General Partner Interest

(a) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to June 30, 2011, the Managing General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the holders of at least a Unit Majority (excluding the vote in respect of Common Units held by the Managing 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 Managing General Partner (other than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the merger or consolidation of the Managing General Partner with or into another Person (other than an individual) or the transfer by such Managing General Partner of all or substantially all of its assets to another Person (other than an individual).

(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after June 30, 2011, the Managing 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 Managing 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 such Managing 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 or of any member of the Operating Company or cause the Partnership or the Operating Company 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), (iii) in the case of the Managing General Partner’s General Partner Interest, such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest of the Managing General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.2, be admitted to the Partnership as a Managing General Partner immediately prior to the transfer of the Partnership Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.

Section 4.7 Restrictions on Transfers

(a) Except as provided in Section 4.7(d) below, but notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, no transfer of any Partnership Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership or Operating Company under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, or (iii) cause the Partnership or Operating Company 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).

 

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(b) The Managing General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if a subsequent Opinion of Counsel determines that such restrictions are necessary to avoid a significant risk of the Partnership or Operating Company becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes. The restrictions may be imposed by making such amendments to this Agreement as the Managing General Partner may determine to be necessary or appropriate to impose such restrictions; provided, however, that any amendment that the Managing General Partner believes, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, could 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 traded 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) [Reserved]

(d) Nothing contained in this Article IV, or elsewhere in this Agreement, shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed for trading.

(e) Transfer Restrictions on Preferred Units.

(i) [Reserved]

(ii) Each Preferred Holder may transfer any Preferred Units held by it to any other Person or Persons other than to any Person or group (as defined by Section 13D of the Exchange Act) that after giving effect to such transfer would own more than 15% of the Outstanding Common Units, including the number of Common Units into which such Preferred Units are then convertible, except as provided in Section 4.7(e)(iv), provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to any transfer of Preferred Units to any investment bank or similar institution that assists in the brokering or marketing of the Preferred Units on behalf of any Preferred Holder.

(iii) [Reserved]

(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Preferred Holder shall at all times from and after the Effective Time be permitted to transfer any Preferred Units held by such Preferred Holder to an Affiliate of such Preferred Holder.

(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no Preferred Holder shall transfer any Preferred Units to any person or entity that (a) is an operating company (and not a financial institution) and (b) engages in the midstream energy business or otherwise provides similar services or engages in similar business as the Partnership at any time during the twelve months preceding the proposed transfer.

 

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Section 4.8 Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees

(a) If any Group Member is or becomes subject to any federal, state or local law or regulation that, in the reasonable determination of the Managing General Partner, creates 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 Limited Partner or Assignee, the Managing General Partner may request any Limited Partner or Assignee to furnish to the Managing General Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request, an executed Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning his nationality, citizenship or other related status (or, if the Limited Partner or Assignee is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such Person) as the Managing General Partner may request. If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish to the Managing General Partner within the aforementioned 30-day period such Citizenship Certification or other requested information or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other requested information the Managing General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Citizen, the Partnership Interests owned by such Limited Partner or Assignee shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.9. In addition, the Managing General Partner may require that the status of any such Partner or Assignee be changed to that of a Non-citizen Assignee and, thereupon, the Managing General Partner shall be substituted for such Non-citizen Assignee as the Limited Partner in respect of his Limited Partner Interests.

(b) The Managing General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Non-citizen Assignees, distribute the votes in the same ratios as the votes of Partners (including without limitation the Managing General Partner) in respect of Limited Partner Interests other than those of Non-citizen Assignees are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.

(c) Upon dissolution of the Partnership, a Non-citizen Assignee 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 Non-citizen Assignee’s share of the distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated for Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the Non-citizen Assignee of his Limited Partner Interest (representing his right to receive his share of such distribution in kind).

(d) At any time after he can and does certify that he has become an Eligible Citizen, a Non-citizen Assignee may, upon application to the Managing General Partner, request admission as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Non-citizen Assignee not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.9, and upon his admission pursuant to Section 10.1, the Managing General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests.

 

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Section 4.9 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees

(a) If at any time a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish a Citizenship Certification or other information requested within the 30-day period specified in Section 4.8(a), or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other information the Managing General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Citizen, the Partnership may, unless the Limited Partner or Assignee establishes to the satisfaction of the Managing General Partner that such Limited Partner or Assignee is an Eligible Citizen or has transferred his Partnership Interests to a Person who is an Eligible Citizen and who furnishes a Citizenship Certification to the Managing General Partner prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Partnership Interest of such Limited Partner or Assignee as follows:

(i) The Managing General Partner shall, not later than the 30th day before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to the Limited Partner or Assignee, 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 surrender of the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no further allocations or distributions to which the Limited Partner or Assignee would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests will accrue or be made.

(ii) The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Limited Partner Interests of each such class included among the Redeemable Interests. The redemption price shall be paid, in the discretion of the Managing 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 10% annually and payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.

(iii) Upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner or Assignee, at the place specified in the notice of redemption, of the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by an assignment duly executed in blank, the Limited Partner or Assignee or his duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment therefor.

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

(b) The provisions of this Section 4.9 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner Interests held by a Limited Partner or Assignee as nominee of a Person determined to be other than an Eligible Citizen.

(c) Nothing in this Section 4.9 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the Managing General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the Managing General Partner in a Citizenship Certification delivered in connection with the Transfer Application that he is an Eligible Citizen. If the transferee fails to make such certification, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.

 

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ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

Section 5.1 GP Buy-in Transaction

(a) Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, prior to the execution of this Agreement the (i) Partnership consummated the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, resulting in, among other things, the Managing General Partner becoming a subsidiary of the Partnership, and (ii) the Partnership canceled the Subordinated Units and Common Units acquired indirectly by the Partnership pursuant to the consummation of such transactions.

(b) Upon execution of this Agreement, the Managing General Partner shall continue as the sole general partner of the Partnership and the owner of the General Partner Interest.

Section 5.2 Interest and Withdrawal

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

Section 5.3 Capital Accounts

(a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Limited 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 Managing General Partner in its sole discretion) 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 pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including, without limitation, income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 5.3(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 distributions of cash or property (other than PIK Units) made with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to this Agreement and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.3(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1. In connection with the foregoing, the Partnership shall adopt the methodology set forth in the noncompensatory option regulations under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1 and 1.721-2 with respect to the issuance and conversion of Preferred Units, unless otherwise required by applicable law.

 

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(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction which is to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and is to be reflected in the Partners’ Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes (including, without limitation, any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:

(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 5.3, the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the Managing General Partner based upon the provisions of the Operating Company Agreement) of all property owned by the Operating Company or any other Subsidiary that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

(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 which 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 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 5.3(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 (A) as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment and (B) using a rate of

 

36


depreciation, cost recovery or amortization derived from the same method and useful life (or, if applicable, the remaining useful life) as is applied for federal income tax purposes; provided, however, that, if the asset has a zero adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, depreciation, cost recovery or amortization deductions shall be determined using any reasonable method that the Managing General Partner may adopt.

(vi) If the Partnership’s adjusted basis in a depreciable or cost recovery property is reduced for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 48(q)(1) or 48(q)(3) of the Code, the amount of such reduction shall, solely for purposes hereof, be deemed to be an additional depreciation or cost recovery deduction in the year such property is placed in service and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1. Any restoration of such basis pursuant to Section 48(q)(2) of the Code shall, to the extent possible, be allocated in the same manner to the Partners to whom such deemed deduction was allocated.

(vii) In the event the Carrying Value of Partnership property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.3(d), any Unrealized Gain resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain and any Unrealized Loss resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of loss.

(viii) The Gross Liability Value of each liability of the Partnership described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i) shall be adjusted at such times as provided in this Agreement for an adjustment to 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.

(ii) [Reserved]

(d) (i) Consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance, exercise or conversion of a Noncompensatory Option (including the issuance or the conversion of the Preferred Units in accordance with Section 5.8(b)), 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 Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property; provided, however, that in the event of the issuance of a Partnership Interest pursuant to the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option where the right to share in Partnership capital represented by such Partnership Interest differs from the consideration paid to acquire and exercise such option, the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately after the issuance of such Partnership Interest shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s); provided further,

 

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however, that in the event of an issuance of Partnership Interests for a de minimis amount of cash or Contributed Property, in the event of an issuance of a Noncompensatory Option to acquire a de minimis Partnership Interest, or in the event of an issuance of a de minimis amount of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the Managing General Partner may determine that such adjustments are unnecessary for the proper administration of the Partnership. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests (or, in the case of a Revaluation Event resulting from the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option, immediately after the issuance of the Partnership Interest acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Noncompensatory Option) shall be determined by the Managing General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt. In making its determination of the fair market values of individual properties, the Managing General Partner may first determine an aggregate value for the assets of the Partnership that takes into account the current trading price of the Common Units, the fair market value of all other Partnership Interests at such time and the amount of Partnership liabilities. The Managing General Partner may allocate such aggregate value among the individual properties of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines appropriate). Absent a contrary determination by the Managing General Partner, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a Revaluation Event shall be the value that would result in the Capital Account attributable to each Common Unit that is Outstanding prior to such Revaluation Event being equal to the Event Issue Value.

(ii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any 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, in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized during such period would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of an actual distribution which is not made pursuant to Section 12.4 or in the case of a deemed contribution and/or distribution, be determined and allocated in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.3(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 reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.

Section 5.4 Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities

(a) The Partnership may issue additional Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Securities 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 shall be established by the Managing General Partner in its sole discretion, all without the approval of any Limited Partners.

 

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(b) Each additional Partnership Security authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.4(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Securities), as shall be fixed by the Managing General Partner in the exercise of its sole discretion, including (i) the right to share 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 redeem the Partnership Security; (v) whether such Partnership 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 Security will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; and (vii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Security to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of such Partnership Security.

(c) The Managing General Partner is hereby authorized and directed to take all actions that it deems necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 5.4, (ii) the admission of Additional Limited Partners and (iii) all additional issuances of Partnership Securities. The Managing General Partner is further authorized and directed to specify the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Securities being so issued. The Managing General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things it deems to be necessary or advisable in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Securities or in connection with the conversion of the Managing General Partner 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 Securities are listed for trading.

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

Section 5.5 Splits and Combinations

(a) Subject to Section 5.5(d) the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Securities to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted retroactive to the beginning of the Partnership.

(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities is declared, the Managing 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 Managing General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Securities to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The Managing General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.

 

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

(d) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of Section 5.4(d) and this Section 5.5(d), each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).

Section 5.6 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 Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act.

Section 5.7 [Reserved]

Section 5.8 Establishment of Preferred Units.

(a) General. The Managing General Partner hereby designates and creates a series of Units, including any PIK Units issued pursuant to Section 5.8(c), to be designated as “Preferred Units,” having the terms and conditions set forth herein.

(b) Conversion of Preferred Units

(i) One or more Preferred Holders may elect, each in its own discretion, (A) at any time, to convert all or any portion of the Preferred Units held by such electing Preferred Holder(s) in an aggregate amount equaling or exceeding the Minimum Conversion Amount into Common Units, at the then-applicable Conversion Ratio, subject to payment of any accrued but unpaid distributions to the date of conversion in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(iv), and (B) in the event of any voluntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership, to convert all or any portion of the Preferred Units held by such Preferred Holder(s), at the then-applicable Conversion Ratio, subject to payment of any accrued but unpaid distributions to the date of conversion in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(iv), in each case, by delivery of: (A) written notice to the Partnership, in the form set forth as Exhibit C hereto, setting forth the number of Preferred Units it holds and the number of Preferred Units it is electing to convert, and (B) if such Preferred Units are Certificated, a Preferred Unit Certificate to the Transfer Agent representing an amount of Preferred Units at least

 

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equal to the amount such Preferred Holder is electing to convert (or an instruction letter to the Transfer Agent if the Preferred Units are in book-entry form), together with such additional information as may be requested by the Transfer Agent, provided that with respect to any Change of Control, such delivery shall be made by the later of (x) 5 Business Days from receipt of notice from the Partnership of such Change of Control and (y) 20 Business Days prior to the anticipated closing date (which anticipated closing date shall be specified by the Partnership in such notice and shall be based on the Partnership’s reasonable best estimate of such anticipated closing date at the time of providing such notice) of such Change of Control (the “COC Election”). Such COC Election shall be irrevocable unless (a) any material terms related to the Change of Control consideration are changed or (b) the expected closing date of the Change of Control is pushed back by more than 20 Business Days; provided, that, any Preferred Holder that made a COC Election shall have until the later of (x) 5 Business Days from receipt of notice from the Partnership of the occurrence of any of the events in clause (a) or (b) or (y) 20 Business Days prior to the new anticipated closing date (which new anticipated closing date shall be specified by the Partnership in such notice and shall be based on the Partnership’s reasonable best estimate of such new anticipated closing date at the time of providing such notice) of any Change of Control to provide notice to the Partnership that such Preferred Holder is revoking its COC Election and if such notice is not provided within such period, the COC Election shall be irrevocable. Thereafter, the Partnership shall take all such actions as are necessary or appropriate to complete such conversion in accordance with this Section 5.8(b), provided that such conversion shall be consummated prior to the tenth Business Day following the date of receipt of notice by the Partnership (or, in the event of a Change of Control, prior to such Change of Control). In the case of any Certificate representing Preferred Units which are converted in part only, upon such conversion the Transfer Agent shall authenticate and deliver to the Preferred Holder thereof, at the expense of the Partnership, a new Certificate representing the number of Preferred Units not so converted.

(ii) At any time, and provided that the average daily trading volume of the Common Units on the National Securities Exchange upon which such Common Units are listed or admitted to trading was at least 1,168,750 Common Units (subject to appropriate adjustments in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(xi)) for 20-trading days over the 30-trading day period ending on the close of trading on the trading day immediately prior to the date of delivery of notice by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 5.8(b)(ii), if the VWAP Price for 20 trading days over the 30-trading day period ending on the close of trading on the trading day immediately prior to the date of delivery of notice by the Partnership to any Preferred Holder of exercise of its conversion right pursuant to this Section 5.8(b)(ii) is greater than (x) 150% of the Preferred Unit Price divided by (y) the then-applicable Conversion Ratio, the Managing General Partner, in its sole discretion, may convert all or a portion of the Outstanding Preferred Units into Common Units, at the then-applicable Conversion Ratio, subject to payment of any accrued but unpaid distributions to the date of conversion in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(iv); provided that if the Managing General Partner elects to convert less than all of the Outstanding Preferred Units, such conversion shall be effected on a Pro Rata basis among the Outstanding Preferred Units, including any Outstanding PIK Units. The Partnership shall deliver to each Preferred Holder a written notice at least 5 Business Days prior to the date of the expected conversion. Immediately

 

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as of the close of business on the date of conversion pursuant to this Section 5.8(b)(ii), which date shall be prior to the fifth Business Day following the date of delivery of notice by the Partnership, all or such portion of the Outstanding Preferred Units shall automatically convert into Common Units, at the then-applicable Conversion Ratio, subject to payment of any accrued but unpaid distributions to the date of conversion in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(iv).

(iii) At any time, provided that the average daily trading volume of the Common Units on the National Securities Exchange upon which such Common Units are listed or admitted to trading was at least 1,168,750 Common Units (subject to appropriate adjustment in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(xi)) for 20-trading days over the 30-trading day period ending on the close of trading on the trading day immediately prior to the date of delivery of notice by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 5.8(b)(iii), if the VWAP Price for 20 trading days over the 30-trading day period ending on the close of trading on the trading day immediately prior to the date of delivery of notice by the Partnership to any Preferred Holder of exercise of its conversion right pursuant to this Section 5.8(b)(iii) is greater than (x) the Preferred Unit Price divided by (y) the then-applicable Conversion Ratio, the Managing General Partner, in its sole discretion, may convert all, but not less than all, of the Outstanding Preferred Units into a number of Common Units equal to the Adjusted Conversion Amount. The Partnership shall deliver to each Preferred Holder a written notice at least 5 Business Days prior to the date of the expected conversion. Immediately as of the close of business on the date of conversion pursuant to this Section 5.8(b)(iii), which date shall be prior to the fifth Business Day following the date of delivery of notice by the Partnership, all Outstanding Preferred Units shall automatically convert into Common Units, subject to payment of any accrued but unpaid distributions to the date of conversion in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(iv).

(iv) The Partnership shall make a cash payment to any Preferred Holder with respect to any Preferred Units converted pursuant to this Section 5.8(b) to account for any accrued but unpaid distributions on such Preferred Units as of the date of such conversion; provided, however, that in satisfaction of the payment of any accrued but unpaid distributions payable in respect of the Initial Distribution Period, the Managing General Partner may elect to cause the Partnership to adjust the Conversion Ratio, with respect to such Preferred Units being converted, such that the number of Preferred Units converted pursuant to this Section 5.8(b) includes a number of additional Common Units equal to the quotient of (a) the aggregate dollar amount of any accrued but unpaid distributions as of the date of such conversion with respect to such Preferred Units for which the adjustment to the Conversion Ratio is to be made pursuant to this Section 5.8(b)(iv) divided by (b) the closing price of a Common Unit on the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading on the last trading day immediately prior to the date of conversion.

(v) Upon conversion, the rights of a holder of converted Preferred Units as a Preferred Holder shall cease with respect to such converted Preferred Units, including any rights under this Agreement with respect to Preferred Holders, and such Person shall continue to be a Limited Partner and have the rights of a holder of Common Units under this Agreement. Each Preferred Unit shall, upon its Conversion Date, be deemed to be

 

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transferred to, and cancelled by, the Partnership in exchange for the issuance of the Common Unit(s) into which such Preferred Unit converted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as the result of a conversion, a holder shall not lose or relinquish any claims or rights of action such holder may then or thereafter have as a result of such holder’s ownership of the converted Preferred Units.

(vi) The Partnership shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of Common Units upon conversion of the Preferred Units. However, the holder shall pay any tax or duty which may be payable relating to any transfer involving the issuance or delivery of Common Units in a name other than the holder’s name. The Transfer Agent may refuse to deliver the Certificate representing Common Units (or notation of book-entry) being issued in a name other than the holder’s name until the Transfer Agent receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax or duties due because the Units are to be issued in a name other than the holder’s name. Nothing herein shall preclude any tax withholding required by law or regulation.

(vii) The Partnership shall keep free from preemptive rights a sufficient number of Common Units to permit the conversion of all outstanding Preferred Units into Common Units to the extent provided in, and in accordance with, this Section 5.8(b).

(viii) All Common Units delivered upon conversion of the Preferred Units in accordance with this Section 5.8(b) shall be (1) newly issued, (2) duly authorized, validly issued fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Act, and shall be free from preemptive rights and free of any lien, claim, rights or encumbrances, other than those arising under the Delaware Act or the Partnership Agreement, as amended by this Amendment and (3) with respect to Common Units delivered upon a conversion in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(ii) or (iii), registered for public resale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to an effective registration statement that is then available for the resale of such Common Units.

(ix) The Partnership shall comply with all applicable securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of any Common Units upon conversion of Preferred Units and, if the Common Units are then listed or quoted on the New York Stock Exchange or any other National Securities Exchange or other market shall list or cause to have quoted and keep listed and quoted the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Units to the extent permitted or required by the rules of such exchange or market.

(x) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in connection with any conversion of Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.8(b)(i) or (ii), (A) each Preferred Unit must be converted together with all PIK Units issued as distributions thereon, and (B) each PIK Unit must be converted together with the Preferred Unit in connection with which such PIK Unit was distributed; provided, however, that in the event that compliance with this Section 5.8(b)(x) would result in the conversion of any fractional Preferred Unit or PIK Unit, the number of Preferred Units or PIK Units to be converted shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Preferred Unit or PIK Unit, as the case may be.

 

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(xi) If, after the Effective Time, the Partnership (A) makes a distribution on its Common Units in Common Units, (B) subdivides or splits its outstanding Common Units into a greater number of Common Units, (C) combines or reclassifies its Common Units into a smaller number of Common Units or (D) issues by reclassification of its Common Units any Partnership Interests (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person), then the Conversion Ratio in effect at the time of the Record Date for such distribution or of the effective date of such subdivision, split, combination, or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted so that the conversion of the Preferred Units after such time shall entitle the holder to receive the aggregate number of Common Units (or shares of any Partnership Interests into which such shares of Common Units would have been combined, consolidated, merged or reclassified pursuant to clauses (C) and (D) above) that such holder would have been entitled to receive if the Preferred Units had been converted into Common Units immediately prior to such Record Date or effective date, as the case may be, and in the case of a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person, the Partnership shall provide effective provisions to ensure that the provisions in this Section 5.8 relating to the Preferred Units shall not be abridged or amended and that the Preferred Units shall thereafter retain the same powers, preferences and relative participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereon, that the Preferred Units had immediately prior to such transaction or event. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 5.8(b)(xi) shall become effective immediately after the Record Date in the case of a distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination, reclassification (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person) or split. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any event described above shall occur.

(c) Distributions.

(i) Beginning with the first Quarter ending after the Effective Time, the Preferred Holders as of the applicable Record Date shall be entitled to receive distributions in accordance with the following provisions:

(A) The Partnership shall pay a cumulative distribution of $0.2111 per Quarter in respect of each Outstanding Preferred Unit, subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.8(c)(i) and (ii) (the “Preferred Unit Distribution Amount” and such distribution, a “Preferred Unit Distribution”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Preferred Unit Distribution Amount for the first Quarter ending after the Effective Time shall be calculated for a full Quarter, notwithstanding the fact that the Preferred Units may have been issued after the beginning of such Quarter as a result of the Effective Time occurring during such Quarter.

(B) Each Preferred Unit Distribution paid for any Quarter after the Initial Distribution Period shall be paid in cash at the Preferred Unit Distribution Amount unless (x) no distribution is made with respect to such Quarter pursuant to Section 6.3 or 6.4 with respect to the Parity Securities and Junior Securities

 

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(including the Common Units, the Class A Units or the General Partner Interest) and (y) the Partnership’s Available Cash is insufficient to pay the Preferred Unit Distribution; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 5.8(c)(i)(B), Available Cash shall not include any deduction to provide funds for distributions under Section 6.4 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters. If the Partnership fails to pay in full in cash any distribution (or portion thereof) which any Preferred Holder accrues and is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 5.8(c)(i)(B), then (x) the amount of such accrued and unpaid distributions will accumulate until paid in full in cash, (y) commencing as of the first day of the calendar Quarter that commences immediately following the Quarter with respect to which such distribution was payable, the Preferred Unit Distribution Amount shall be $0.2567 per Quarter, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.8(c)(ii) (the “Deficiency Rate”), until such time as all accrued and unpaid distributions are paid in full in cash and (z) the Partnership shall not be permitted to, and shall not, declare or make (i) any distributions in respect of any Junior Securities and (ii) any distributions in respect of any Parity Securities, other than Class A Preferred Pro Rata Distributions, unless and until all accrued and unpaid distributions on the Preferred Units have been paid in full in cash.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.8(c) to the contrary, with respect to Preferred Units that are converted into Common Units, the holder thereof shall not be entitled to a Preferred Unit Distribution and a Common Unit distribution with respect to the same period, but shall be entitled only to the distribution to be paid based upon the class of Units held as of the close of business on the applicable Record Date, together with all accrued but unpaid distributions on the converted Preferred Units.

Any accrued and unpaid distributions shall be increased at a rate of 2.8125% per Quarter. Accrued and unpaid distributions in respect of the Preferred Units will not constitute an obligation of the Partnership.

Subject to and without limiting the other provisions of this Section 5.8, each Preferred Unit shall have the right to share in any special distributions by the Partnership of cash, securities or other property (including in connection with any spin-off transaction) and in the form of such cash, securities or other property Pro Rata with the Common Units, as if the Preferred Units had converted into Common Units at the then-applicable Conversion Ratio; provided, however¸ that at any time there are accrued but unpaid distributions on the Preferred Units, no such special distributions shall be permitted. For the avoidance of doubt, special distributions shall not include regular Quarterly distributions paid in the normal course pursuant to Section 6.3 or 6.4, provided that any such regular Quarterly distribution is not paid at a rate that is in excess of 130% of the Quarterly distribution rate for the immediately preceding Quarter.

All distributions payable on the Preferred Units shall be paid Quarterly, in arrears, on the earlier of: (A) the date that distributions are made on the Common Units for such Quarter pursuant to Section 6.3(a), and (B) the date that is forty-five (45) days after the end of such Quarter.

For the avoidance of doubt, any Available Cash that is distributed pursuant to Section 6.3 or 6.4 shall be distributed in accordance with this Section 5.8(c).

 

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(d) Voting Rights.

(i) The Preferred Units will have such voting rights pursuant to this Agreement as such Preferred Units would have if they were converted into Common Units, at the then-applicable Conversion Ratio, and shall vote together with the Common Units as a single class, except that the Preferred Units shall be entitled to vote as a separate class on any matter on which Unitholders are entitled to vote that adversely affects the rights, powers, privileges or preferences of the Preferred Units in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests or as required by law. Except as otherwise provided herein, (i) if (A) the three (3) largest Preferred Holders collectively constitute a Super-Majority Interest and (B) GSO COF II Holdings Partners LP, Magnetar Financial LLC, and each of their respective Affiliates collectively own at least 35% of the Outstanding Preferred Units, the approval of a Super-Majority Interest of the Outstanding Preferred Units shall be required to approve any matter for which the Preferred Holders are entitled to vote as a separate class, and (ii) otherwise, the approval of a majority of the Outstanding Preferred Units shall be required to approve any matter for which the Preferred Holders are entitled to vote as a separate class (each, a “Voting Threshold”).

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in addition to all other requirements imposed by Delaware law, and all other voting rights granted under this Agreement:

(A) the affirmative vote of a Super-Majority Interest, voting separately as a class with one vote per Preferred Unit, shall be necessary to amend this Agreement in any manner that (1) alters or changes the rights, powers, privileges or preferences or duties and obligations of the Preferred Units in any material respect, (2) except as contemplated herein, increases or decreases the authorized number of Preferred Units (including without limitation any issuance of additional Preferred Units, other than PIK Units), or (3) otherwise adversely affects the Preferred Units, including without limitation the creation (by reclassification or otherwise) of any class of Senior Securities (or amending the provisions of any existing class of Partnership Interests to make such class of Partnership Interests a class of Senior Securities); provided, however, that the Partnership may, without the affirmative vote of a Super-Majority Interest (subject to the Restrictions set forth below), create (by reclassification or otherwise) and issue Junior Securities and Parity Securities (including by amending the provisions of any existing class of Partnership Interests to make such class of Partnership Interests a class of Junior Securities or Parity Securities) in an unlimited amount, with respect to Junior Securities, and, with respect to Parity Securities, in an amount not to exceed $300 million in aggregate face value and that shall not be convertible into more than 48,125,000 Common Units, subject to appropriate adjustment in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(xi), provided that such Junior Securities (other than Common Units) or Parity Securities will not (x) have a stated date of maturity or be redeemable for cash (other than in connection with a Cash COC Event) or (y) provide for payment of distributions in cash at any time when (i) the Preferred Unit Distributions are not paid in cash or (ii) there are accrued and unpaid distributions on the Preferred Units (collectively, the “Restrictions”);

 

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(B) to the extent that any proposed amendment to this Agreement having an effect described in clause (1), (2) or (3) of Section 5.8(d)(ii)(A) above would adversely affect any Preferred Holder in a disproportionate manner as compared to any other Preferred Holder, the consent of such Preferred Holder so adversely and disproportionately affected, in addition to the affirmative vote of a Super-Majority Interest pursuant to Section 5.8(d)(ii)(A), shall be necessary to effect such amendment;

(C) the affirmative vote of the then-applicable Voting Threshold of the Outstanding Preferred Units, voting separately as a class with one vote per Preferred Unit, shall be necessary prior to designating the Preferred Units, including the PIK Units, as Designated Preferred Stock (as defined in the Crestwood Indentures) under the Crestwood Indentures or, to the extent applicable, any future indenture of the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership; and

(D) the affirmative vote of a Super-Majority Interest, voting separately as a class with one vote per Preferred Unit, shall be necessary prior to the Partnership making an election to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal tax law purposes.

(e) Change of Control.

(i) In the event of a Cash COC Event, the Preferred Holders shall convert the Outstanding Preferred Units into Common Units immediately prior to the closing of the Cash COC Event at a conversion ratio equal to the greater of (A) the Conversion Ratio and (B) the quotient of (1) the product of (a) the Preferred Unit Price, multiplied by (b) the Cash COC Conversion Premium, divided by (2) the VWAP Price for the 10 consecutive trading days ending immediately prior to the date of closing of the Cash COC Event, subject to a $1.00 per unit floor on Common Units received, subject to payment of any accrued but unpaid distributions to the date of conversion in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(iv);

(ii) If a Change of Control (other than a Cash COC Event) occurs, then each Preferred Holder shall, at its sole election:

(A) convert all, but not less than all, Preferred Units held by such Preferred Holder into Common Units, at the then-applicable Conversion Rate, subject to payment of any accrued but unpaid distributions to the date of conversion in accordance with Section 5.8(b)(iv);

(B) if (1) either (x) the Partnership is not the surviving entity of such Change of Control or (y) the Partnership is the surviving entity of a Change of Control but the Common Units are no longer listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another National Securities Exchange and (2) the consideration per Common Unit received by the holders of Common Units in such Change of Control exceeds $1.00, then, at the election of such Preferred Holder, the Partnership shall use its best efforts to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the

 

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Preferred Holders, in exchange for their Preferred Units upon such Change of Control, a security in the surviving entity that has substantially similar terms, including with respect to economics and structural protections, as the Preferred Units (a “Substantially Equivalent Unit”); provided, however, that, if the Partnership is unable to deliver or cause to be delivered a Substantially Equivalent Unit to any such electing Preferred Holder in connection with such Change of Control, each such Preferred Holder shall be entitled to (x) take any action otherwise permitted by clause (A), (C) or (D) of this Section 5.8(e)(ii), or (y) convert the Preferred Units held by such Preferred Holder immediately prior to such Change of Control (other than (in the case of clauses (1) and (2) below) any PIK Units, which, solely with respect to a Change of Control contemplated by this Section 5.8(e)(ii)(B), shall be extinguished for no consideration upon the closing of such Change of Control) into a number of Common Units equal to: the quotient of (a) (i) 160% multiplied by the Preferred Unit Price plus (ii) accrued and unpaid distributions as of the effective date of the conversion with respect to the Preferred Units held by such electing Preferred Holder (including any distributions paid at the Deficiency Rate) less (iii) the sum of all cash distributions paid by the Partnership with respect to the Preferred Units held by such electing Preferred Holder during the Initial Distribution Period, prior to the Effective Time, held by such electing Preferred Holder or its predecessors in interest prior to the Initial Distribution Period, divided by (b) 0.97 multiplied by the VWAP Price for the 10 consecutive trading days ending immediately prior to the date of the closing of such Change of Control.

(C) if the Partnership is the surviving entity of such Change of Control and the consideration per Common Unit received by the holders of Common Units in such Change of Control exceeds $1.00, continue to hold Preferred Units; or

(D) require the Partnership to redeem the Preferred Units held by such Preferred Holder at a price per Preferred Unit equal to 101% of the Preferred Unit Price plus accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of such redemption with respect to each of the Preferred Units held by such electing Preferred Holder. Any redemption pursuant to this sub-clause D shall, in the sole discretion of the Managing General Partner, be paid in either cash or a number of Common Units equal to quotient of (1) the product of (a) 101% of the Preferred Unit Price, multiplied by (b) the number of Preferred Units owned by such Preferred Holder that the Partnership has elected to redeem “in kind,” divided by (2) the greater of (i) $1.00 and (ii) the product of (x) 0.92 multiplied by (y) the VWAP Price for the 10 consecutive trading days ending immediately prior to such redemption date. Notwithstanding the preceding, the Partnership shall have no obligation to redeem any such Preferred Units in cash unless such redemption complies with the restricted payments covenant in the Indentures.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.8(e), any Change of Control in which the consideration to be received by the holders of Common Units has a value of less than $1.00 per Common Unit shall require the affirmative vote of the then-applicable Voting Threshold of the Outstanding Preferred Units, voting separately as a class with one vote per Preferred Unit.

 

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All Common Units delivered upon any conversion or redemption of the Preferred Units in accordance with this Section 5.8(e) shall be (1) newly issued and (2) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Act, and shall be free from preemptive rights and free of any lien, claim, rights or encumbrances, other than those arising under the Delaware Act or the Partnership Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.

(f) Certificates.

(i) If requested by a Preferred Holder, the Preferred Units shall be evidenced by certificates in such form as the Board of Directors may approve and, subject to the satisfaction of any applicable legal, regulatory and contractual requirements, may be assigned or transferred in a manner identical to the assignment and transfer of other Units; unless and until the Board of Directors determines to assign the responsibility to another Person, the Managing General Partner will act as the Transfer Agent for the Preferred Units. The certificates evidencing Preferred Units shall be separately identified and shall not bear the same CUSIP number as the certificates evidencing Common Units.

(ii) The certificate(s) representing the Preferred Units may be imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT IN EFFECT WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER AND, IN THE CASE OF A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION, UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER SUCH ACT OR THE ISSUER HAS RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH TRANSACTION DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT. THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF THE PARTNERSHIP, AS AMENDED, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE PARTNERSHIP AT ITS PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES.”

In connection with a sale of Preferred Units pursuant to an effective registration statement or in reliance on Rule 144 of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, upon receipt by the Partnership of such information as the Partnership reasonably deems necessary to determine that the sale of the Preferred Units is made in compliance with Rule 144, the Partnership shall remove or cause to be removed the restrictive legend from the certificate(s) representing such Preferred Units (or the book-entry account maintained by the Transfer Agent), and the Partnership shall bear all costs associated therewith.

 

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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 5.3(b)) shall be allocated among the Partners in each taxable year (or portion thereof) as provided herein below.

(a) Net Income. Net Income for each taxable period (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable period) shall be allocated:

(i) First, to the Managing General Partner as necessary to eliminate any deficit balance in the Managing General Partner’s Capital Account;

(ii) Second, to the Preferred Holders holding Outstanding Preferred Units in proportion to the amounts to be allocated to each of them under this Section 6.1(a)(ii) until the Net Income allocated to the Preferred Holders pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(ii) for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the Net Loss allocated to the Preferred Holders pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) and (b)(iv) for all previous taxable periods; and

(iii) The balance, if any, to the Unitholders holding Outstanding Partnership Units other than Preferred Holders, Pro Rata.

(b) Net Loss. Net Loss for each taxable period (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Loss for such taxable period) shall be allocated:

(i) First, to the Unitholders holding Outstanding Partnership Units (other than Preferred Holders), Pro Rata; provided that Net Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation would cause any such Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable period (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account) as such Adjusted Capital Account would be determined without regard to any Preferred Units then held by such Unitholder;

(ii) Second, to the Unitholders holding Outstanding Partnership Units in accordance with the positive balances in their Adjusted Capital Accounts as such Adjusted Capital Accounts would be determined without regard to any Outstanding Preferred Units then held by such Unitholders;

 

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(iii) Third, to the Preferred Holders pro rata in accordance with the number of Outstanding Preferred Units held by them; provided that the Net Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(iii) to the extent that such allocation would cause any such Preferred Holder 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);

(iv) Fourth, to the Preferred Holders holding Outstanding Preferred Units in accordance with the positive balances in their Adjusted Capital Accounts; and

(v) The balance, if any, to the Unitholders holding Outstanding Partnership Units (other than Preferred Holders), Pro Rata, or, in the event the Managing General Partner becomes regarded as an entity separate from the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, 100% to the Managing General Partner.

(c) Net Termination Gains and Losses. 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 each 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 5.8, Section 6.3 and Section 6.4 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 shall be allocated:

(A) First, to the Managing General Partner as necessary to eliminate any deficit balance in the Managing General Partner’s Capital Account;

(B) Second, to the Preferred Holders holding Outstanding Preferred Units in proportion to the amounts to be allocated to each of them under this Section 6.1(c)(i)(B) until the Net Termination Gain allocated to such Preferred Holders pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(i)(B) for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the Net Loss allocated to the Preferred Holders pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(ii)(C) for all previous taxable periods;

(C) Third, to all Unitholders holding Outstanding Common Units and Outstanding Class A Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding (determined without regard to any Preferred Units then held by them) is equal to the sum of its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i)(A), Section 6.4(a)(ii)(A) or Section 6.4(b)(i) with respect to such Common Unit for such Quarter (the amount determined pursuant this clause (2) is hereinafter referred to as the “Unpaid MQD”; and

 

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(D) Thereafter, to all Unitholders, Pro Rata (determined without regard to any Preferred Units then held by them).

(ii) Except as provided in Section 6.1(c)(iii), Net Termination Loss shall be allocated:

(A) [Reserved]

(B) First, to the Unitholders holding Outstanding Common Units or Outstanding Class A Units, Pro Rata (determined without regard to any Preferred Units then held by them); until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit or Class A Unit then Outstanding (and determined without regard to any Preferred Units held by them) has been reduced to zero;

(C) Third, to the Preferred Holders, pro rata in accordance with the number of Outstanding Preferred Units held by them until the Capital Account in respect of each Preferred Unit has been reduced to zero; and

(D) The balance, if any, to the Unitholders holding Outstanding Partnership Units (other than Preferred Holders), Pro Rata, or, in the event the Managing General Partner becomes regarded as an entity separate from the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, 100% to the Managing General Partner.

(iii) Any Net Termination Loss deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.3(d) prior to the Liquidation Date shall be allocated:

(A) First, to the holders of Outstanding Common Units and Outstanding Class A Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding (determined without regard to any Preferred Units then held by them) equals the Event Issue Value; provided that Net Termination Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iii)(A) to any Unitholder to the extent such allocation would cause such Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable period (or increase any existing deficit in its Adjusted Capital Account and determined without regard to any Preferred Units held by them); and

(B) [Reserved]

(C) The balance, if any, if any, to the Unitholders holding Outstanding Partnership Units (other than Preferred Holders), Pro Rata, or, in the event the Managing General Partner becomes regarded as an entity separate from the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to the Managing General Partner.

(iv) If (A) a Net Termination Loss has been allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(iii) and (B) after tentatively making all allocations of such Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss provided for in Section 6.1(c)(i) or Section 6.1(c)(ii), as applicable, the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding does not equal the

 

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amount such Capital Account would have been if Section 6.1(c)(iii) had not been part of this Agreement and 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, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction included in such Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss, as applicable, shall be specially allocated to the Managing General Partner and all Unitholders in a manner that will, to the maximum extent possible, cause the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding to equal the amount such Capital Account would have been if all 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.

(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)(i), 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)(i) with respect to such taxable period (other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii)). This Section 6.1(d)(i) is intended to comply with the Partnership Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(ii) Chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(d)(i)), except as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, any Partner with a share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d)(ii), 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)(ii), other than Section 6.1(d)(i) and other than an allocation pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(vi) and 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. 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 for a taxable period exceeds the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed with respect to another Unit within the same taxable period, except

 

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for any discrepancy that arises as a result of the non-participation by the Class A Units in the distributions of IPCH/Crestwood Partners Available Cash (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 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) for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the amount of the Excess Distribution. Provided, however, this Section 6.1(d)(iii) shall not apply to any Excess Distribution in respect to or measured by a distribution to a Preferred Unit.

(iv) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Section 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 income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the deficit balance, if any, in its Adjusted Capital Account created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible unless such deficit balance is otherwise eliminated pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(i) or 6.1(d)(ii).

(v) Gross Income Allocations. In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any Partnership taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, however, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if 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 in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. If the Managing General Partner determines in its good faith discretion that the Partnership’s Nonrecourse Deductions must 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 Managing 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.

 

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(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 in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

(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(c) 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.

(x) 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 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. Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(x)(A) shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the Managing General Partner reasonably determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Partners. Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(x)(A)shall be deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) hereof to the extent the Managing General Partner reasonably determines that such allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent Required Allocations.

(B) The Managing General Partner shall have reasonable discretion, with respect to each taxable period, to (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(x)(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)(x)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.

 

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(xi) All IPCH/Crestwood Partners Items shall, to the maximum extent possible, be allocated to the holders of the Common Units, Pro Rata.

(xii) 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 in such a manner, as determined by the Managing 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) thereafter shall be allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof.

(xiii) Allocations with respect to Preferred Units.

(A) Items of Partnership gross income shall be allocated to the Preferred Holders in amounts equal to the amount of cash actually distributed in respect of each such holder’s Preferred Units, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated pursuant hereto for the current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the cumulative amount of all cash distributions made to the Preferred Holders pursuant to Section 5.8(c)(i) (and for the avoidance of doubt, without taking into account the cash distributions treated as made to Preferred Holders pursuant to Section 5.8(c)(v)). Unless otherwise required by applicable law, the Partnership agrees that it will not treat a distribution with respect to the Preferred Units as a guaranteed payment.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other than the Required Allocations), if (A) the Liquidation Date occurs prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Preferred Unit and (B) after having made all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, the Per Unit Capital Amount of each Preferred Unit does not equal or exceed the Liquidation Preference, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for such taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner determined appropriate by the Managing General Partner so as to cause, to the maximum extent possible, the Per Unit Capital Amount in respect of each Preferred Unit to equal the Liquidation Preference. For the avoidance of doubt, the reallocation of items set forth in the immediately preceding sentence provides that, to the extent necessary to achieve the Per Unit Capital Amount balances described above, items of income and gain that would otherwise be included in Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, shall be reallocated from the Unitholders holding Units other than Preferred Units to Unitholders holding Preferred Units. In the event that (i) the Liquidation Date occurs on or before the date (not including any extension of time) prescribed by law for the filing of the Partnership’s federal income tax return for the taxable period immediately prior to the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs and (ii) the reallocation of items for the taxable period in which the

 

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Liquidation Date occurs as set forth above in this Section 6.1(d)(xiii)(B) fails to achieve the Per Unit Capital Amounts described above, items of income, gain, loss and deduction that would otherwise be included in the Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for such prior taxable period shall be reallocated among all Partners in a manner that will, to the maximum extent possible and after taking into account all other allocations made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xiii)(B), cause the Per Unit Capital Amount in respect of each Preferred Unit to equal the Liquidation Preference.

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 as follows:

(i) In the case of a Contributed Property, such items attributable thereto (A) shall be allocated among the Partners in the manner provided under Section 704(c) of the Code that takes into account the variation between the Agreed Value of such property and its adjusted basis at the time of contribution; and (B) any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to a Contributed Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.

(ii) In the case of an Adjusted Property, such items shall (A) first, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code to take into account the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property and the allocations thereof pursuant to Sections 5.3(d)(i) or 5.3(d)(ii), (B) second, in the event such property was originally a Contributed Property, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with Section 6.2(b)(i)(A); and (C) third, any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to an Adjusted Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.

(iii) The Managing General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.

(c) 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 Managing General Partner shall have sole discretion to (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations for federal income tax purposes of income (including, without limitation, gross income) or deductions; and (iii) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to

 

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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 Managing General Partner may adopt such conventions, make such allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement as provided in this Section 6.2(c) 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.

(d) The Managing General Partner in its discretion 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 Partnership’s common basis of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6) or any successor regulations thereto. If the Managing General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the Managing 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 Managing General Partner chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the Managing General Partner may use any other reasonable depreciation and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests that would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.

(e) 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.

(f) 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 which may be made by the Partnership; provided, however, that such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted as necessary or appropriate to take into account those adjustments permitted or required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.

(g) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction, shall for federal income tax purposes, be determined on an annual basis and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on the first Business Day of each month; provided, however, that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership or any other extraordinary item of income or loss realized and recognized other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined by the Managing General Partner in its sole discretion, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on the first Business Day of the month in which such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The Managing General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation as it determines necessary or appropriate in its sole discretion, to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.

 

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(h) 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 acceptable to the Managing General Partner in its sole discretion.

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

Section 6.3 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions

(a) Subject to Section 7.5(e), within 45 days following the end of each Quarter, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Unitholders as of the Record Date selected by the Managing General Partner in its reasonable discretion. All amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date from any source shall be deemed to be Operating Surplus until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.4 equals the Operating Surplus from the Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on such date shall be deemed to be “Capital Surplus.” All distributions required to be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all receipts received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs, other than from borrowings described in (a)(ii) of the definition of Available Cash, shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.

(c) In the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all receipts received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.

(d) The Managing General Partner shall have the discretion to treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the Partners as if they had been distributed to the Partner on whose behalf the taxes were held or paid.

(e) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.

 

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Section 6.4 Distributions to Record Holders.

(a) [Reserved]

(b) Cash and cash equivalents distributed in respect of any Quarter shall be distributed as follows:

(i) First, IPCH/Crestwood Partners Available Cash to the holders of the Common Units, Pro Rata; and

(ii) Thereafter, Available Cash to all Unitholders, Pro Rata.

Section 6.5 [Reserved]

Section 6.6 [Reserved]

Section 6.7 [Reserved]

Section 6.8 [Reserved]

Section 6.9 Special Provisions Relating to the Preferred Holders.

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Preferred Holder shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder; provided, however, that immediately upon the conversion of any Preferred Unit into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.8(b), the Unitholder holding a Preferred Unit that is converted shall possess all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder, 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 converted Preferred Units shall remain subject to the provisions of Section 6.9(b).

(b) A Unitholder holding a Preferred Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.8(b) shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1 and shall not be permitted to transfer its converted Preferred Units to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the holder until such time as the Managing General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that upon transfer, each such converted Preferred Unit should have intrinsic economic and U.S. federal income tax characteristics to the transferee, in all material respects, that are the same as the intrinsic economic and U.S. federal income tax characteristics that a Common Unit (other than a converted Preferred Unit) would have to such transferee upon transfer, provided that in all events such determination shall be made within 5 Business Days of the date of conversion or receipt by the Partnership of the notice of transfer, as applicable. The Managing General Partner shall act in good faith and shall make the determinations set forth in this Section 6.9(b) as soon as practicable following a Conversion Date or as earlier provided herein.

(c) Upon receipt of a written request from a Preferred Holder, the Partnership shall provide such Preferred Holder with a good faith estimate (and reasonable supporting calculations) of whether there is sufficient Unrealized Gain attributable to the Partnership property such that, if any of such Preferred Holder’s Preferred Units were converted to Common Units and such

 

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Unrealized Gain was allocated to such Preferred Holder pursuant to Section 5.3(d)(i) of the Partnership Agreement (taking proper account of allocations of higher priority), such Preferred Holder’s Capital Account in respect of its Common Units would be equal to the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit. If at any time a Preferred Holder makes such a request and such Preferred Holder has already made two (2) such requests during a calendar year, then such Preferred Holder shall reimburse the Partnership for all documented third-party expenses reasonably associated with such request.

ARTICLE VII

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

Section 7.1 Management

(a) The Managing General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the Managing General Partner, and no Limited Partner or Assignee 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 which are granted to the Managing General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the Managing General Partner, subject to Section 7.3, shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it, in its sole discretion, may deem necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:

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

(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 the Operating Company); the repayment of obligations of the Partnership Group and the making of capital contributions to any member of the Partnership Group;

 

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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 Managing General Partner or its assets other than their interest in the Partnership, even if 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 and dismissal of employees (including employees having titles such as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer”) and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;

(viii) the maintenance of such insurance for the benefit of the Partnership Group and the Partners as it deems necessary or appropriate;

(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, limited liability companies, corporations or other relationships (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, the Operating Company 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 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 Securities, or the issuance of additional options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities; and

(xiv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s participation in the Operating Company as a member.

Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership

The Managing 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 and shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents as may be determined by the Managing General Partner in its sole discretion to be reasonable and necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or

 

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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 that such action is determined by the Managing General Partner in its sole discretion to be reasonable and necessary or appropriate, the Managing General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things necessary 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 Managing 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 Managing General Partners Authority

(a) The Managing General Partner may not, without written approval of the specific act by holders of all of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or by other written instrument executed and delivered by holders of all of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests subsequent to the date of this Agreement, take any action in contravention of this Agreement, including, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, (i) committing any act that would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of the Partnership; (ii) possessing Partnership property, or assigning any rights in specific Partnership property, for other than a Partnership purpose; (iii) admitting a Person as a Partner; (iv) amending this Agreement in any manner; or (v) transferring its interest as general partner of the Partnership.

(b) Except as provided in Articles XII and XIV, the Managing General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation or other combination) or approve on behalf of the Partnership the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Operating Company, without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the Managing General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or Operating Company and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or Operating Company pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance. Without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority, the Managing General Partner shall not, on behalf of the Partnership, (i) consent to any amendment to the Operating Company Agreement or, except as expressly permitted by Section 7.9(d), take any action permitted to be taken by a member of the Operating Company, in either case, that would adversely affect the Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to any other class of Partnership Interests) in any material respect or (ii) except as permitted under Sections 4.6, 11.1 and 11.2, elect or cause the Partnership to elect a successor general partner of the Partnership.

Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the Managing General Partner

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

 

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(b) The Managing General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other reasonable basis as the Managing General Partner may determine in its sole discretion, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person including Affiliates of the Managing General Partner to perform services for the Partnership or for the Managing General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership), and (ii) all other necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to the Partnership or otherwise reasonably incurred by the Managing General Partner in connection with operating the Partnership’s business (including expenses allocated to the Managing General Partner by its Affiliates). The Managing General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership in any reasonable manner determined by the Managing General Partner in its sole discretion. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the Managing General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7.

(c) Subject to Section 5.4, the Managing General Partner, in its sole discretion and without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Securities or options to purchase Partnership Securities), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Securities in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the Managing General Partner or any one of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of employees of the Managing General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate, or any of them, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the Managing General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Securities that the Managing General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the Managing General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the Managing General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Securities purchased by the Managing General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the Managing General Partner under any employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the Managing General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall constitute obligations of the Managing General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor Managing General Partner approved pursuant to Sections 11.1 to 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the Managing General Partner’s General Partner Interest.

Section 7.5 Outside Activities

(a) For so long as it is a Managing General Partner of the Partnership, the Managing General Partner (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing member of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership or the Operating Company 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 of one or more Group Members or as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement or (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt or equity securities in any Group Member.

 

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(b) Except as specifically restricted by Section 7.5(a), each Indemnitee (other than the Managing 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 express or implied by law to any Group Member or any Partner or Assignee. Neither any Group Member, any Limited Partner nor any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, the Operating Company Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby or thereby in any business ventures of any Indemnitee.

(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 Indemnitees (other than the Managing 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 the Managing General Partner’s fiduciary duties or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the Managing General Partner for the Indemnitees (other than the Managing General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership and (iii) the Managing General Partner and the Indemnities shall have no obligation to present business opportunities to the Partnership.

(d) The Managing General Partner and any of their Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Securities and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise all rights of a Managing General Partner or Limited Partner, as applicable, relating to such Units or Partnership Securities.

(e) The term “Affiliates” when used in Section 7.5(a) and Section 7.5(d) with respect to the Managing General Partner shall not include any Group Member or any Subsidiary of the Group Member.

(f) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, to the extent that provisions of Sections 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.10 or other Sections of this Agreement purport or are interpreted to have the effect of restricting the fiduciary duties that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other applicable law, be owed by the Managing General Partner to the Partnership and its Limited Partners, or to constitute a waiver or consent by the Limited Partners to any such restriction, such provisions shall be inapplicable and have no effect in determining whether the Managing General Partner has complied with their fiduciary duties in connection with determinations made by it under this Section 7.5.

 

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Section 7.6 Loans from the Managing General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership; Contracts with Affiliates; Certain Restrictions on the Managing General Partner

(a) The Managing General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Managing 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 Managing 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). 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. No Group Member may lend funds to a Managing General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another 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 established in the sole discretion of the Managing General Partner; provided, however, that the Partnership may not charge the Group Member interest at a rate less than the rate that would be charged to the Group Member (without reference to the Managing General Partner’s financial abilities or guarantees) by unrelated lenders on comparable loans. The foregoing authority shall be exercised by the Managing General Partner in its sole discretion and shall not create any right or benefit. in favor of any Group Member or any other Person.

(c) The Managing General Partner may, or may enter into an agreement with any of its Affiliates to, render services to a Group Member or to the Managing General Partner in the discharge of its duties as general partner of the Partnership. Any services rendered to a Group Member by the Managing General Partner or any of its Affiliates shall be on terms that are fair and reasonable to the Partnership; provided, however, that the requirements of this Section 7.6(c) shall be deemed satisfied as to (i) any transaction approved by Special Approval, (ii) any transaction, the terms of which are no less favorable to the Partnership Group than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iii) any transaction that, 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 Group), is equitable to the Partnership Group. The provisions of Section 7.4 shall apply to the rendering of services described in this Section 7.6(c).

(d) The Partnership Group may transfer assets to joint ventures, other partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies or other business entities in which it is or thereby becomes a participant upon such terms and subject to such conditions as are consistent with this Agreement and applicable law.

 

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(e) Neither the Managing General Partner nor any of their Affiliates shall sell, transfer or convey any property to, or purchase any property from, the Partnership, directly or indirectly, except pursuant to transactions that are fair and reasonable to the Partnership; provided, however, that the requirements of this Section 7.6(e) shall be deemed to be satisfied as to (i) any transaction approved by Special Approval, (ii) any transaction, the terms of which are no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties, or (iii) any transaction that, 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), is equitable to the Partnership. With respect to any contribution of assets to the Partnership in exchange for Partnership Securities, the Conflicts Committee, in determining whether the appropriate number of Partnership Securities are being issued, may take into account, among other things, the fair market value of the assets, the liquidated and contingent liabilities assumed, the tax basis in the assets, the extent to which tax-only allocations to the transferor will protect the existing partners of the Partnership against a low tax basis, and such other factors as the Conflicts Committee deems relevant under the circumstances.

(f) The Managing General Partner and its Affiliates will have no obligation to permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the Managing General Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use, nor shall there be any obligation on the part of the Managing General Partner or its Affiliates to enter into such contracts.

(g) Without limitation of Sections 7.6(a) through 7.6(f), and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners.

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 claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, 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; provided, that in each case the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner that such Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or (in the case of a Person other than the Managing General Partner) not opposed to, the best interests of the Partnership and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe its conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that the Indemnitee acted in a manner contrary to that specified above. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the Managing 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.

 

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(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in 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 or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity (including any capacity under the Underwriting Agreement), and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.

(d) The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the Managing General Partner or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the Managing General Partner, its Affiliates and such other Persons as the Managing 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 the Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is in, or not opposed to, 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, their heirs, successors, assigns 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.

 

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Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, the Assignees or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the Partnership Securities, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission if such Indemnitee acted in good faith.

(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as Managing General Partner set forth in Section 7.1(a), the Managing 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 Managing General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the Managing 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 Managing 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. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities of an Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Indemnitee.

(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 to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, the Managing General Partner, and the Partnership’s and the Managing General Partner’s directors, officers and employees 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

(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or the Operating Company Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the Partnership, the Managing General Partner or any or any member of the Partnership Group, on the one hand, and any other Person, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the Managing General Partner, the Partnership or any member of the Partnership Group 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 the Operating Company Agreement, or of the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Managing General Partner, dated on or about the date hereof (the “Managing General Partner Agreement”), of the governing documents of any member of the Partnership Group, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action is, or by operation of this

 

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Agreement is deemed to be, fair and reasonable to the Partnership. The Managing General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval of such resolution. Any conflict of interest and any resolution of such conflict of interest shall be conclusively deemed fair and reasonable to the Partnership, the Managing General Partner and any member of the Partnership Group, as applicable, if such conflict of interest or resolution is (i) approved by Special Approval (as long as the material facts known to the Managing General Partner or any of its Affiliates regarding any proposed transaction were disclosed to the Conflicts Committee at the time it gave its approval), (ii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iii) fair 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 Managing General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval. The Managing General Partner (including the Conflicts Committee in connection with any Special Approval) shall be authorized in connection with its determination of what is “fair and reasonable” to the Partnership and in connection with its resolution of any conflict of interest to consider (A) the relative interests of any party to such conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interest; (B) any customary or accepted industry practices and any customary or historical dealings with a particular Person; (C) any applicable generally accepted accounting practices or principles; and (D) such additional factors as the Managing General Partner (including the Conflicts Committee) determines in its sole discretion to be relevant, reasonable or appropriate under the circumstances. Nothing contained in this Agreement, however, is intended to nor shall it be construed to require the Managing General Partner (including the Conflicts Committee) to consider the interests of any Person other than the Partnership, the Managing General Partner and the Partnership Group. In the absence of bad faith by the Managing General Partner, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the Managing General Partner with respect to such matter shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or a breach of any standard of care or duty imposed herein or therein or, to the extent permitted by law, under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation.

(b) Whenever this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby provides that the Managing General Partner or any of its Affiliates is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion,” that it deems “necessary or appropriate” or “necessary or advisable” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, except as otherwise provided herein, the Managing General Partner or such Affiliate shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, the Partnership, the Operating Company, any Limited Partner or any Assignee, (ii) it may make such decision in its sole discretion (regardless of whether there is a reference to “sole discretion” or “discretion”) unless another express standard is provided for, or (iii) in “good faith” or under another express standard, the Managing General Partner or such Affiliate shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, the Operating Company Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation. In addition, any actions taken by the Managing General Partner or such Affiliate consistent with the standards of “reasonable discretion” set forth in the definition of Available Cash shall not constitute a breach of any duty of the Managing General Partner to the Partnership or the Limited Partners. The Managing General Partner shall have no duty, express or implied, to sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business.

 

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(c) Whenever a particular transaction, arrangement or resolution of a conflict of interest is required under this Agreement to be “fair and reasonable” to any Person, the fair and reasonable nature of such transaction, arrangement or resolution shall be considered in the context of all similar or related transactions.

(d) The Unitholders hereby authorize the Managing 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 Managing General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.9.

Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the Managing General Partner

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

(b) The Managing 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 opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that such Managing 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 opinion.

(c) The Managing 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.

(d) Any standard of care and duty imposed by this Agreement or under the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation shall be modified, waived or limited to the extent permitted by law, as required to permit the Managing General Partner to act under this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated by this Agreement and to make any decision pursuant to the authority prescribed in this Agreement, so long as such action is reasonably believed by the Managing General Partner to be in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Partnership.

Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities

The Managing General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Securities. As long as Partnership Securities are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Securities shall not be considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The Managing General Partner or any of its Affiliates may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Securities for their own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X.

 

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Section 7.12 Registration Rights of the Managing General Partner and its Affiliates

(a) If (i) the Managing General Partner or any Affiliate of the Managing General Partner (including for purposes of this Section 7.12, any Person that is an Affiliate of the Managing General Partner at the date of this Agreement notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an Affiliate of the Managing General Partner) holds Partnership Securities 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 Securities (not including any Group Member, the “Holder”) to dispose of the number of Partnership Securities it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then upon the request of such Managing General Partner or any of its Affiliates, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use all 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 Securities 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 Securities 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, that if the Conflicts Committee determines in its good faith judgment that a postponement of the requested registration for up to six months 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 promptly prepare and file (x) 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 (y) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Securities subject to such registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and do any and all other acts and things that may reasonably be necessary or advisable to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Securities 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 equity securities of the Partnership for cash (other than an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the Partnership shall use all reasonable efforts to include such number or amount of securities held by the Holder in such registration statement as the Holder shall request. If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.12(b) shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the event that the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in their opinion the inclusion of all or some of the Holder’s Partnership Securities would adversely and materially affect the success of the offering, the Partnership shall include in such offering only that number or amount, if any, of securities held by the Holder which, 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.

 

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(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”) against any losses, claims, demands, actions, causes of action, assessments, damages, liabilities (joint or several), costs and expenses (including interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements), resulting to, imposed upon, or incurred by the Indemnified Persons, directly or indirectly, 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 Securities 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 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 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 Sections 7.12(a) and 7.12(b) shall continue to be applicable with respect to the Managing General Partner (and any of the Managing General Partner’s Affiliates) after they cease to be Partners 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 Securities 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 statements covering the same Partnership Securities for which registration was demanded during such two-year period. The provisions of Section 7.12(c) shall continue in effect thereafter.

(e) Any request to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall (i) specify the Partnership Securities intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the request, (ii) express such Person’s present intent to offer such shares for distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Securities, 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 Securities.

 

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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 Managing General Partner and any officer of the Managing General Partner authorized by the Managing 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 Managing 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 any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the Managing General Partner or any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the Managing General Partner or any such officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of the Partnership Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the Managing 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 Managing 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.

ARTICLE VIII

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

Section 8.1 Records and Accounting

The Managing 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 and Assignees of Units or other Partnership Securities, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Section 8.2 Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.

 

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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 Managing General Partner shall cause to be mailed or furnished to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the Managing General Partner in its discretion, 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 Managing 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 Managing General Partner shall cause to be mailed or furnished to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the Managing General Partner in its discretion, 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 for trading, or as the Managing General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

ARTICLE IX

TAX MATTERS

Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information

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

Section 9.2 Tax Elections

(a) The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the Managing 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 Managing 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 traded during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(g) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.

(b) The Partnership shall elect to deduct expenses incurred in organizing the Partnership ratably over a sixty-month period as provided in Section 709 of the Code.

 

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

Section 9.3 Tax Controversies

(a) Subject to the provisions hereof, the Managing General Partner (or its designee) is designated as the Tax Matters Partner (as defined in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code as in effect prior to the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015), and the Partnership Representative (as defined in Section 6223 of the Code following the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 or under any applicable state or local law providing for an analogous capacity), and is authorized 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. In its capacity as Partnership Representative, the Managing General Partner shall exercise any and all authority of the Partnership Representative, including, without limitation, (i) binding the Partnership and its Partners with respect to tax matters and (ii) determining whether to make any available election under Section 6226 of the Code or an analogous election under state or local law, which election permits the Partnership to pass any partnership adjustment through to the Persons who were Partners of the Partnership in the year to which the adjustment relates and irrespective of whether such Persons are Partners of the Partnership at the time such election is made. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the Managing General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the Managing General Partner in its capacity as the Tax Matters Partner or Partnership Representative. For Partners that are not tax-exempt entities (as defined in Section 168(h)(2) of the Code) and subject to the Managing General Partner’s discretion to seek modifications of an imputed underpayment, this cooperation includes (i) filing amended federal, state or local tax returns, paying any additional tax (including interest, penalties and other additions to tax), and providing the Managing General Partner with an affidavit swearing to relevant facts (all within the requisite time periods), and (ii) providing any other information requested by the Managing General Partner in order to seek modifications of an imputed underpayment. For Partners that are tax-exempt entities (as defined in Section 168(h)(2) of the Code) and subject to the Managing General Partner’s discretion to seek modifications of an imputed underpayment, this cooperation includes providing the Managing General Partner with information necessary to establish any such Partner’s tax-exempt status. This agreement to cooperate applies irrespective of whether such Persons are Partners of the Partnership at the time of the requested cooperation.

(b) Each Partner agrees that notice of or updates regarding tax controversies shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made by the Managing General Partner if the Partnership has either (i) filed the information for which notice is required with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and such information is publicly available on such system or (ii) made the information for which notice is required available on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership, whether or not such Partner remains a Partner in the Partnership at the time such information is made publicly available. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this provision shall obligate the Partnership Representative to provide notice to the Partners other than as required by the Code.

 

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(c) The Managing General Partner may amend the provisions of this Agreement as it determines appropriate to satisfy any requirements, conditions, or guidelines set forth in any amendment to the provisions of Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of Subtitle F of the Code, any analogous provisions of the laws of any state or locality or the promulgation of regulations or publication of other administrative guidance thereunder.

Section 9.4 Withholding; Other Tax Payments by the Partnership

(a) The Managing General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of all or less than all of the Partners as a distribution of cash to such Partners, as a general expense of the Partnership, or as indemnifiable payments made by the Partnership on behalf of the Partners or former Partners (as provided in Section 9.4(c)), as determined appropriate under the circumstances by the Managing General Partner.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Managing General Partner is authorized to take any action that it determines in its discretion to be necessary or appropriate to cause the Partnership and the Operating Company to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including, without limitation, pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income or from a distribution to any Partner or Assignee (including, without limitation, by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the amount withheld may at the discretion of the Managing General Partner be treated by the Partnership as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.4 or Section 12.4(c) in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.

(c) If the Partnership pays an imputed underpayment under Section 6225 of the Code and/or any analogous provision of the laws of any state or locality, the Managing General Partner may require that some or all of the Partners of the Partnership in the year to which the underpayment relates indemnify the Partnership for their allocable share of that underpayment (including interest, penalties and other additions to tax). This indemnification obligation shall not apply to a Partner to the extent that (i) the Partnership received a modification of the imputed underpayment under Section 6225(c)(2) of the Code (or any analogous provision of state or local law) due to the Partner’s filing of amended tax returns and payment of any resulting tax (including interest, penalties and other additions to tax), (ii) the Partner is a tax-exempt entity (as defined in Section 168(h)(2) of the Code) and either the Partnership received a modification of the imputed underpayment under Section 6225(c)(3) of the Code (or any analogous provision of state or local law) because of such Partner’s status as a tax-exempt entity or the Partnership did not make a good faith effort to obtain a modification of the imputed underpayment due to such Partner’s status as a tax exempt entity, or (iii) the Partnership received a modification of the imputed underpayment under Section 6225(c)(4)-(6) of the Code (or any analogous provision of state or local law) as a result of other information that was either provided by the Partner or otherwise available to the Partnership with respect to the Partner. This indemnification obligation imposed on Partners, including former Partners, applies irrespective of whether such Persons are Partners of the Partnership at the time the Partnership pays the imputed underpayment.

 

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ARTICLE X

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

Section 10.1 Admission of Substituted Limited Partner

By transfer of a Limited Partner Interest in accordance with Article IV, the transferor shall be deemed to have given the transferee the right to seek admission as a Substituted Limited Partner subject to the conditions of, and in the manner permitted under, this Agreement. A transferor of a Certificate representing a Limited Partner Interest shall, however, only have the authority to convey to a purchaser or other transferee who does not execute and deliver a Transfer Application (a) the right to negotiate such Certificate to a purchaser or other transferee and (b) the right to transfer the right to request admission as a Substituted Limited Partner to such purchaser or other transferee in respect of the transferred Limited Partner Interests. Each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent acquiring such Limited Partner Interest for the account of another Person) who executes and delivers a Transfer Application shall, by virtue of such execution and delivery, be an Assignee and be deemed to have applied to become a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person. Such Assignee shall become a Substituted Limited Partner (x) at such time as the Managing General Partner consents thereto, which consent may be given or withheld in the Managing General Partner’s discretion, and (y) when any such admission is shown on the books and records of the Partnership. If such consent is withheld, such transferee shall be an Assignee. An Assignee shall have an interest in the Partnership equivalent to that of a Limited Partner with respect to allocations and distributions, including liquidating distributions, of the Partnership. With respect to voting rights attributable to Limited Partner Interests that are held by Assignees, the Managing General Partner shall be deemed to be the Limited Partner with respect thereto and shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Limited Partner Interests on any matter, vote such Limited Partner Interests at the written direction of the Assignee who is the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests. If no such written direction is received, such Limited Partner Interests will not be voted. An Assignee shall have no other rights of a Limited Partner.

Section 10.2 Admission of Successor Managing General Partners

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

 

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Section 10.3 Admission of Additional Limited Partners

(a) A Person (other than the Managing General Partner or a Substituted Limited Partner) who makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the Partnership as an Additional Limited Partner only upon furnishing to the Managing General Partner (i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the Managing General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the power of attorney granted in Section 2.6, and (ii) such other documents or instruments as may be required in the discretion of the Managing General Partner to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.3, no Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of the Managing General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld in the Managing General Partner’s discretion. The admission of any Person as an Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded as such in the books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of the Managing General Partner to such admission.

Section 10.4 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the Managing General Partner shall take all steps necessary and 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 Managing General Partner shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership, and the Managing General Partner may for this purpose, among others, exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.6.

ARTICLE XI

WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the Managing General Partner

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

(ii) The Managing General Partner transfers all of its rights as Managing General Partner pursuant to Section 4.6;

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

 

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(iv) The Managing General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the Managing 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 Managing 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 Managing General Partner; or

(vi) (A) in the event the Managing General Partner is a corporation, a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent is filed for the Managing General Partner, or 90 days expire after the date of notice to the Managing 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 Managing General Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the Managing General Partner; (C) in the event the Managing 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 Managing General Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of incompetency; and (E) otherwise in the event of the termination of the Managing General Partner.

If an Event of Withdrawal specified in Sections 11.1(a)(iv), 11.1(a)(v) or 11.1(a)(vi)(A), 11.1(a)(vi)(B), 11.1(a)(vi)(C) or 11.1(a)(vi)(E) occurs, the withdrawing Managing 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 Managing General Partner from the Partnership.

(b) Withdrawal of the Managing General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, Eastern Standard Time, on June 30, 2011, the Managing 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 Managing General Partner and its Affiliates) and the Managing General Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel”) that such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor Managing General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or of a member of the Operating Company or cause the Partnership or the Operating Company to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, Eastern Standard Time, on June 30, 2011, the Managing 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 Managing General Partner ceases to be the Managing 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 Managing General Partner

 

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voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the Managing General Partner and their Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the Managing General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the Managing General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the Managing General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor Managing General Partner. The Person so elected as successor Managing General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the Managing General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the Managing 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. Any successor Managing 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 Managing General Partner

The Managing General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the Managing General Partner and its Affiliates). Any such action by such holders for removal of the Managing General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor Managing General Partner by the Unitholders holding a Unit Majority (including Units held by the Managing General Partner and its Affiliates). Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor Managing General Partner pursuant to Section 10.2. The removal of the Managing General Partner shall also automatically constitute the removal of the Managing General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the Managing General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If a Person is elected as a successor Managing 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 Managing General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the Managing 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 Managing 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 Partner and Successor Managing General Partners

(a) In the event of (i) withdrawal of a Managing General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of a the Managing General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if a successor Managing General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Sections 11.1 or 11.2, the Departing Partner shall have the option exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing Partner to require its successor to purchase its general partner interest

 

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(or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members (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 departure. If the Managing General Partner is removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the Managing General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor Managing General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Sections 11.1 or 11.2, such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing Partner, to purchase the Combined Interest of the Departing Partner for such fair market value of such Combined Interest of the Departing Partner. In either event, the Departing Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing 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 Managing General Partner for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.

For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of a Departing Partner’s Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Departing Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing Partner’s departure, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Departing 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 departure, then the Departing Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing 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 of the Departing Partner. In making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider the then current trading price of Units on any National Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed, the value of the Partnership’s assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing Partner and other factors it may deem relevant.

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

 

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Section 11.4 Withdrawal of Limited Partners

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

ARTICLE XII

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

Section 12.1 Dissolution

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

(a) an Event of Withdrawal of the Managing General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and an Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Sections 11.1(b) or 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2;

(b) an election to dissolve the Partnership by the Managing 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) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of the Partnership Group.

Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution

Upon (a) dissolution of the Partnership following an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the Managing General Partner as provided in Sections 11.1(a)(i) or 11.1(a)(iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing Partner pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2, then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution of the Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Sections 11.1(a)(iv), 11.1(a)(v) or 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 reconstitute the Partnership and continue its business on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by forming a new limited partnership on terms identical to those set forth in this Agreement and having as the successor managing 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:

 

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(i) the reconstituted Partnership shall continue unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this Article XII;

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

(iii) all necessary steps shall be taken to cancel this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and to enter into and, as necessary, to file a new partnership agreement and certificate of limited partnership, and the successor managing general partner may for this purpose exercise the powers of attorney granted the Managing General Partner pursuant to Section 2.6; provided, that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor Managing General Partner and to reconstitute and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner and (y) neither the Partnership, the reconstituted limited partnership nor the Operating Company would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of such right to continue.

Section 12.3 Liquidator

Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the Partnership is continued under an election to reconstitute and continue the Partnership pursuant to Section 12.2, the Managing General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the Managing 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 Outstanding Preferred Units, voting on an as converted basis in accordance with Section 5.8(d)(i), voting as a single class. The Liquidator (if other than the Managing 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 Outstanding Preferred Units, voting on an as converted basis in accordance with Section 5.8(d)(i), 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 Outstanding Preferred Units, voting on an as converted basis in accordance with Section 5.8(d)(i), 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 Managing 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(b)) to the extent necessary or desirable in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during such period of time as shall be reasonably required in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.

 

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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 the Liquidator determines to be in the best interest of the Partners, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:

(a) Disposition of Assets. The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may, in its absolute discretion, 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, in its absolute discretion, 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) Discharge of Liabilities. Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3) and amounts to Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article VI. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.

(c) Liquidation Distributions. 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 year 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 year (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 Partnership shall be terminated and 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.

 

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Section 12.6 Return of Contributions

The Managing 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.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

Section 13.1 Amendment to be Adopted Solely by the Managing General Partner

Each Partner agrees that the Managing General Partner, without the approval of any Partner or Assignee, may amend any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:

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

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

(c) a change that, in the sole discretion of the Managing General Partner, is necessary or advisable 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 Partnership and the Operating Company will not be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes;

(d) a change that, in the discretion of the Managing General Partner, (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect, (ii) is necessary or advisable 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 Limited Partner Interests (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such

 

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classes of Limited Partner Interests) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Limited Partner Interests are or will be listed for trading, compliance with any of which the Managing General Partner determines in its discretion to be in the best interests of the Partnership and the Limited Partners, (iii) is necessary or advisable in connection with action taken by the Managing General Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 or (iv) is required to effect the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

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

(f) an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, or the Managing 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, in the discretion of the Managing General Partner, is necessary or advisable in connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.4;

(h) any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the Managing 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, in the discretion of the Managing General Partner, is necessary or advisable to reflect, account for and deal with appropriately 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;

(k) a merger or conveyance 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 Sections 13.1 and 13.3, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the following requirements. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of the Managing General Partner which consent may be given or withheld in its sole discretion. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval

 

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by the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement or by Delaware law. 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 Managing 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 Managing General Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any such proposed amendments.

Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the Managing General Partner) required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such voting 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.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c), (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the Managing General Partner or any of its Affiliates without the consent of the Managing General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld in its sole discretion, (iii) change Section 12.1(b), or (iv) change the term of the Partnership or, except as set forth in Section 12.1(b), give any Person the right to dissolve the Partnership.

(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3, and except as otherwise provided, and without limitation of the Managing General Partner’s authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any Partners or Assignees as contemplated in Section 13.1, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(b), no amendments shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units voting as a single class unless the Partnership obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any Limited Partner under applicable law.

(e) Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units.

 

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Section 13.4 Meetings

(a) 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 Managing General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the Managing 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 Managing 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 Managing General Partner on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the mailing of notice of the meeting. 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.

(b) Director Elections

(i) An annual meeting of the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Common Units and Outstanding Preferred Units voting on an as converted basis in accordance with Section 5.8(d)(i) as a single class for the election of Directors to the Board of Directors and such other matters as the Managing General Partner shall submit to a vote of the Limited Partners holding such Partnership Securities shall be held on such date and at such time as may be fixed from time to time by the Managing General Partner at such place within or without the State of Delaware as may be fixed from time to time by the Managing General Partner and all as stated in the notice of the meeting. Notice of the annual meeting shall be given in accordance with Section 13.5 not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date of such meeting; provided, however, that the first such annual meeting shall be held in the calendar year commencing on January 1, 2022.

(ii) The Limited Partners holding Outstanding Common Units and Outstanding Preferred Units voting on an as converted basis in accordance with Section 5.8(d)(i) shall vote together as a single class for the election of Directors to the Board of Directors. The Limited Partners described in the immediately preceding sentence shall elect by a plurality of the votes cast at such meeting persons to serve as Directors who are nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.4(b). The exercise by a Limited Partner of the right to elect the Directors and any other rights afforded to such Limited Partner under this Section 13.4(b) shall be in such Limited Partner’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership and shall not cause a Limited Partner to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize such Limited Partner’s limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.

 

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(iii) A Director need not be a member of the Managing General Partner or a Limited Partner; however, a majority of the Directors comprising the Board of Directors must meet the independence standards required of directors who serve on a board of directors established by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading (or if no such National Securities Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange).

(iv) The number of Directors that shall constitute the whole Board of Directors of the Managing General Partner shall be not less than five and not more than eleven as shall be established from time to time by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Directors then in office. The Directors shall be divided into three classes by a majority of the Directors then in office: Class I, Class II and Class III. The President or Chief Executive Officer of the Managing General Partner shall initially be a member of Class III (or shall initially be a member of such other class as determined by a majority of Directors then in office), and after the expiration of the initial term of the President or Chief Executive Officer of the Managing General Partner in his capacity as a Director, the President or Chief Executive Officer, in his capacity as a Director, shall be subject to election pursuant to this Section 13.4(b)). The number of Directors in each class shall be the whole number contained in the quotient arrived at by dividing the authorized number of Directors by three, and if a fraction is also contained in such quotient, then if such fraction is one-third, the extra Director shall be a member of Class I and if the fraction is two-thirds, one of the extra Directors shall be a member of Class I and the other shall be a member of Class II, except as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 13.4(b)(iv). Each Director shall serve for a term ending as provided herein; provided, however, that the Directors designated in Section 4.1(a)(ii) of the Managing General Partner Agreement, to Class I shall serve for an initial term that expires at the annual meeting of the Limited Partners held in 2022, the Directors designated in the Managing General Partner Agreement to Class II shall serve for an initial term that expires at the annual meeting of Limited Partners held in 2023, and the Directors designated in the Managing General Partner Agreement to Class III shall serve for an initial term that expires at the annual meeting of Limited Partners held in 2024. At each succeeding annual meeting of Limited Partners beginning with the annual meeting held in 2022, successors to the Directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term. Prior to the annual meeting of the Limited Partners held in 2022, a majority of the Directors then serving may nominate and elect two additional persons as Directors to be designated in the Managing General Partner Agreement to Class III, each of whom shall serve for an initial term that expires at the annual meeting of Limited Partners held in 2024.

(v) Each Director shall hold office for the term for which such Director is elected and thereafter until such Director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such Director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. If the number of Directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes by a majority of the Directors then in office so as to maintain the number of Directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional Director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case will a decrease in the number

 

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of Directors shorten the term of any incumbent Director. A majority of the remaining Directors may nominate and elect a person to fill any vacancy on the Board of Directors (including, without limitation, any vacancy caused by an increase in the number of Directors on the Board of Directors). Any Director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of Directors shall have the same remaining term as that of his predecessor. Notwithstanding Section 13.11 of this Agreement, a Director may only be removed for Cause and by one of the following means:

(A) at a meeting of the Limited Partners upon the affirmative vote of the Limited Partners holding a Unit Majority; provided, however, a Director may only be removed in such manner if, at the same meeting, Limited Partners holding a Unit Majority nominate a replacement Director (and any such nomination shall not be subject to the nomination procedures otherwise set forth in this Section 13.4), and Limited Partners holding a Unit Majority also vote to elect a replacement Director; or

(B) upon a vote of the majority of the Directors then in office (exclusive of the Director subject to the potential removal action).

(vi) Director Nominations

(A) Annual Director Nominations

(1) Nominations of persons for election of Directors to the Board of Directors may be made at an annual meeting of the Limited Partners only pursuant to the Managing General Partner’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) (a) by or at the direction of a majority of the Directors then in office or (b) by a Limited Partner, or a group of Limited Partners, that holds or Beneficially Owns, and has continuously held or beneficially owned without interruption for the prior two years, at least 10% of the Outstanding Common Units, Preferred Units that on an as converted basis represent at least 10% of the Outstanding Common Units or any combination of the foregoing (in either case, a “Limited Partner Group”) if each member of the Limited Partner Group was a Record Holder at the time the notice provided for in this Section 13.4(b)(vi) is delivered to the Managing General Partner, and if the Limited Partner Group complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 13.4(b)(vi); provided that any such Limited Partner, or Limited Partner Group (as applicable), who is entitled to nominate as provided in clause (b) immediately preceding shall only be entitled to nominate a single person for election as a Director.

(2) For any nominations brought before an annual meeting by a Limited Partner Group pursuant to clause (b) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Section 13.4(b)(vi), the Limited Partner Group must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Managing General Partner. To be timely, a Limited Partner Group’s notice (each, an “LPG Notice”) shall be delivered to the Managing General Partner not later than the close of

 

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business on the 90th day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 70 days after such anniversary date, notice by the Limited Partner Group must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Partnership or the Managing General Partner). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of the first annual meeting, the Board of Directors shall determine, and make a public announcement of, the time period within which an LPG Notice must be delivered to the Managing General Partner in order to comply with this Section 13.4(b)(vi). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of an LPG Notice as described above. Such LPG Notice shall set forth: (a) as to each person to whom the Limited Partner Group proposes to nominate for election as a Director (i) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) such proposed nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected; and (b) as to each member of the Limited Partner Group giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made (i) the name and address of such Limited Partner(s), as its appears on the Partnership’s books and records, and of such beneficial owners, (ii) the class or series and number of Partnership Interests which are owned beneficially and of record by such Limited Partner(s) and such beneficial owners, (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination between or among any or all members of such Limited Partner Group and/or such beneficial owners, any of their respective Affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, including each nominee, (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, equity appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned Partnership Interests) that has been entered into as of the date of the LPG Notice by, or on behalf of, any members of such Limited Partner Group and such beneficial owners, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Limited Partners and such beneficial owner, with respect to Partnership Interests, (v) a representation that each member of the Limited Partner Group is a Limited Partner entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination, (vi) a representation

 

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whether any member of the Limited Partner Group or the beneficial owners, if any, intend or are part of a group which intends (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Outstanding Partnership Securities required to elect the nominee and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies from Limited Partners in support of such nomination, and (viii) any other information relating to any member of such Limited Partner Group and beneficial owners, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Managing General Partner may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a Director.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 13.4(b)(vi) to the contrary, in the event that the number of Directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 13.4(b)(vi) and there is no public announcement made by the Partnership or the Managing General Partner naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (or, in the case of the first annual meeting, at least 10 days following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Partnership or the Managing General Partner), an LPG Notice required by this Section 13.4(b)(vi) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Managing General Partner not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the increase in the number of Directors is first made by the Partnership or the Managing General Partner.

(B) Nominations of persons for election as a Director may be made at a special meeting of the Limited Partners at which Directors are to be elected pursuant to the Managing General Partner’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of a majority of the Directors then in office or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that Directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any Limited Partner Group pursuant to Section 13.4(a) hereof, if each member of such Limited Partner Group is a Limited Partner at the time the applicable LPG Notice provided for in this Section 13.4(b)(vi) is delivered to the Managing General Partner and if the Limited Partner Group complies with the LPG Notice procedures set forth in this Section 13.4(b)(vi). In the event the Managing General Partner calls a special meeting of Limited Partners for the purpose of electing one or more Directors to the Board of Directors, any such Limited Partner Group may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Managing General Partner’s notice of meeting, if the LPG Notice required

 

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by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 13.4(b)(vi) shall be delivered to the Managing General Partner not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominee(s) proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of an LPG Notice as described above.

(C) Director Nomination Procedures

(1) Only such Persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 13.4(b) shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of Limited Partners to serve as Directors. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the chairman designated by the Managing General Partner pursuant to Section 13.10 shall have the power and duty (a) to determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 13.4(b) (including whether the members of the Limited Partner Group or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made or solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such Limited Partner Group’s nominee in compliance with such Limited Partner Group’s representation as required by clause (A)(2)(b)(vi) of this Section 13.4(b)(vi)) and (b) if any proposed nomination was not made in compliance with this Section 13.4(b), to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.4(b), unless otherwise required by applicable law, if each member of the Limited Partner Group (or a qualified representative of each member of the Limited Partner Group) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of Limited Partners to present a nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Managing General Partner or the Partnership. For purposes of this Section 13.4(b), to be considered a qualified representative of a member of the Limited Partner Group, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Limited Partner or must be authorized by a writing executed by such Limited Partner or an electronic transmission delivered by such Limited Partner to act for such Limited Partner as proxy at the meeting of Limited Partners and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission at the meeting of Limited Partners.

(2) For purposes of this Section 13.4(b)(vi), “public announcement” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or other national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Partnership or the Managing General Partner with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.4(b)(vi), a Limited Partner shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 13.4(b)(vi); provided, however, that any references in this Agreement to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to, and shall, not limit any requirements applicable to nominations pursuant to this Section 13.4(b)(vi) (including paragraphs (A)(1)(b) and (B)(2) hereof), and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, compliance with paragraphs (A)(1)(b) and (B)(2) hereof shall be the exclusive means for a Limited Partner or Limited Partner Group to make nominations.

(vii) This Section 13.4(b) shall not be deemed in any way to limit or impair the ability of the Board of Directors to adopt a “poison pill” or unitholder or other similar rights plan with respect to the Partnership, whether such pill or plan contains “dead hand” provisions, “no hand” provisions or other provisions relating to the redemption of the poison pill or plan, in each case as such terms are used under Delaware common law.

(viii) The Partnership and the Managing General Partner shall use their commercially reasonable best efforts to take such action as shall be necessary or appropriate to give effect to and implement the provisions of this Section 13.4(b), including, without limitation, amending the organizational documents of the Managing General Partner such that at all times the organizational documents of the Managing General Partner shall provide (i) that the Directors shall be elected in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (ii) terms consistent with this Section 13.4(b).

(ix) If the Managing General Partner delegates to any Person the management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership provided to the Managing General Partner herein, the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.4(b) shall be applicable with respect to the Board of Directors or other governing body of such person.

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 Limited Partner Interests 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.

 

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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 Managing 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 rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Limited Partner Interests are listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such exchange 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 Managing General Partner to give such approvals.

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 which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII.

Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; 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, and if, either before or after the meeting, Limited Partners representing such quorum who were present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote, sign a written waiver of notice or an approval of the holding of the meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof. All waivers and approvals shall be filed with the Partnership records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner does not approve, at the beginning of the meeting, of 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

The holders of a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Limited Partner Interests deemed owned by the Managing General Partner) represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes unless any such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of such Limited Partner Interests, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Partnership Securities that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Securities entitled to vote and be present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited 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 Limited Partners holding Outstanding Partnership Securities that in the aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage shall be required. The Limited

 

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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 Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of Outstanding Partnership Securities specified in this Agreement (including Outstanding Partnership Securities deemed owned by the Managing General Partner). In the absence of a quorum any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Securities entitled to vote at such meeting (including Outstanding Partnership Securities deemed owned by the Managing 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 Managing 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 Managing 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 Managing General Partner. The Managing 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 Managing General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests (including Limited Partner Interests deemed owned by the Managing General Partner) that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Limited Partner Interests are listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such 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 Managing General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the Managing General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Limited Partner Interests held by the Limited Partners the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Limited Partner Interests 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 Managing General Partner, the written

 

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approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the Managing General Partner, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are deposited with the Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the Managing 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) are otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.

Section 13.12 Voting and Other Rights

(a) Only those Record Holders of the Limited Partner Interests on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the definition of “Outstanding”) shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests 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 Limited Partner Interests shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Limited Partner Interests.

(b) With respect to Limited Partner Interests 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 Limited Partner Interests are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Limited Partner Interests on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Limited Partner Interests 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

Section 14.1 Authority

The Partnership may merge or consolidate with one or more corporations, limited liability companies, business trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a general partnership or limited partnership, formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America, pursuant to a written agreement of merger or consolidation (“Merger Agreement”) in accordance with this Article XIV.

Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger or Consolidation

Merger or consolidation of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the prior approval of the Managing General Partner. If the Managing General Partner shall determine, in the exercise of its discretion, to consent to the merger or consolidation, the Managing General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:

 

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(a) The names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;

(b) 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”);

(c) The terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;

(d) The manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of any limited partnership, corporation, trust or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such general or limited partner interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their general or limited partner interests, securities or rights, and (ii) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;

(e) A statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, operating agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;

(e) The effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of the certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed no later than the time of the filing of the certificate of merger and stated therein); and

(f) Such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Managing General Partner.

Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners of Merger or Consolidation

(a) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), the Managing General Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement, shall direct that the Merger Agreement 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 shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.

 

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(b) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), the Merger Agreement shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority unless the Merger Agreement contains any provision that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement or the Delaware Act would require for its approval the vote or consent of a greater percentage of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests 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.

(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), after such approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger or consolidation may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement.

(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the Managing General Partner is permitted, in its discretion, without Limited Partner approval, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity which shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such Merger other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the Managing General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or any member in the Operating Company or cause the Partnership or the Operating Company to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the Managing General Partner with the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger

Upon the required approval by the Managing General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement, a certificate of merger 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 14.5 Effect of Merger

(a) At the effective time of the certificate of 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;

 

100


(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) A merger or consolidation effected pursuant to this Article shall not be deemed to result in a transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity to another.

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 not more than 20% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding, other than the Class A Units, is held by Persons other than the Managing General Partner and its Affiliates, the Managing 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 Managing 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 Managing 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 is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by a Managing 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. As used in this Agreement, (i) “Current Market Price” as of any date of any class of Limited Partner Interests means the average of the daily Closing Prices (as hereinafter defined) per limited partner interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days (as hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; (ii) “Closing Price” for any day means the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the 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 for trading on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests of such class are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the 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 Nasdaq Stock Market or any other system then in use, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and 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 Managing 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 reasonably and in good faith by the Managing General Partner; and (iii) “Trading Day” means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests of any class are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.

 

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(b) If the Managing General Partner, any Affiliate of the Managing General Partner or the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the Managing 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 (as of a Record Date selected by the Managing 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 Manhattan, New York. 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 Managing 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 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 Managing 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 (including any rights pursuant to Articles IV, V, VI and XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the Managing 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 Managing General Partner or any Affiliate of the Managing 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 (including all rights as owner of such Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Articles IV, V, VI and XII).

(c) 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.

 

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ARTICLE XVI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices

Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee 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 or Assignee at the address described below. Any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Securities 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 Securities by reason of any assignment or otherwise. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the Managing General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing on the books and records of the Transfer Agent or the Partnership is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) if they are available for the Partner or Assignee 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 and Assignees. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by the Managing General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The Managing General Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner, Assignee or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.

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 Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Unit, upon accepting the certificate evidencing such Unit or executing and delivering a Transfer Application as herein described, independently of the signature of any other party.

Section 16.8 Applicable Law

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.

Section 16.9 Invalidity of Provisions

If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

Section 16.10 Consent of Partners

Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Partners and each Partner shall be bound by the results of such action.

[Rest of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

MANAGING GENERAL PARTNER:
CRESTWOOD EQUITY GP LLC

/s/ Robert G. Phillips

Name:   Robert G. Phillips
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
LIMITED PARTNERS:
All Limited Partners now and hereafter admitted as Limited Partners of the Partnership, pursuant to powers of attorney now and hereafter executed in favor of, and granted and delivered to the Managing General Partner.
By:   Crestwood Equity GP LLC
Managing General Partner, as attorney-in-fact for the Limited Partners pursuant to the Powers of Attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.6.
By:  

/s/ Robert G. Phillips

Name:   Robert G. Phillips
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

 

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EXHIBIT A

to the Sixth Amended and

Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of

Crestwood Equity Partners LP

Certificate Evidencing Common Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests in

Crestwood Equity Partners LP.

 

No.                                           Common Units

In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Crestwood Equity Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “Partnership Agreement”), Crestwood Equity 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 and accompanied by a properly executed application for transfer of the Common Units represented by this Certificate. 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 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 2060, Houston, Texas 77002. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.

This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

 

Dated:   

 

      Crestwood Equity Partners LP
Countersigned and Registered by:       By:    Crestwood Equity GP LLC, its Managing General Partner
         By:   

 

as Transfer Agent and Registrar       Name:   

 

By:   

 

      By:   

 

   Authorized Signature          Secretary

 

A-1


[Reverse of Certificate]

ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate, shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM — as tenants in common

 

TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties

 

JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

  

UNIF GIFT TRANSFERS MIN ACT

 

Custodian

 

(Cust) (Minor)

 

under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors Act (State)

Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.

ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS

in

CRESTWOOD EQUITY PARTNERS LP

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING INVESTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

DUE TO TAX SHELTER STATUS OF CRESTWOOD EQUITY PARTNERS LP

You have acquired an interest in Crestwood Equity Partners LP, 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 2060, Houston, Texas 77002, whose taxpayer identification number is 43-1918951. The Internal Revenue Service has issued Crestwood Equity Partners LP the following tax shelter registration number:

YOU MUST REPORT THIS REGISTRATION NUMBER TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE IF YOU CLAIM ANY DEDUCTION, LOSS, CREDIT OR OTHER TAX BENEFIT OR REPORT ANY INCOME BY REASON OF YOUR INVESTMENT IN CRESTWOOD EQUITY PARTNERS LP.

You must report the registration number as well as the name and taxpayer identification number of Crestwood Equity Partners LP on Form 8271. FORM 8271 MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE RETURN ON WHICH YOU CLAIM THE DEDUCTION, LOSS, CREDIT OR OTHER TAX BENEFIT OR REPORT ANY INCOME BY REASON OF YOUR INVESTMENT IN CRESTWOOD EQUITY PARTNERS LP.

If you transfer your interest in Crestwood Equity Partners LP to another person, you are required by the Internal Revenue Service to keep a list containing (a) that person’s name, address and taxpayer identification number, (b) the date on which you transferred the interest and (c) the name, address and tax shelter registration number of Crestwood Equity Partners LP If you do not want to keep such a list, you must (1) send the information specified above to the Partnership, which will keep the list for this tax shelter, and (2) give a copy of this notice to the person to whom you transfer your interest. Your failure to comply with any of the above-described responsibilities could result in the imposition of a penalty under Section 6707(b) or 6708(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, unless such failure is shown to be due to reasonable cause.

 

A-2


ISSUANCE OF A REGISTRATION NUMBER DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THIS INVESTMENT OR THE CLAIMED TAX BENEFITS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED, EXAMINED OR APPROVED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.

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 Crestwood Equity Partners LP.

Date: _______________________________

   NOTE: The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or change.
SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A MEMBER FIRM OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC. OR BY A COMMERCIAL BANK OR TRUST COMPANY SIGNATURE(S) GUARANTEED   

 

  

(Signature)

 

  

 

(Signature)

No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer and an Application for Transfer of Common Units has been executed by a transferee either (a) on the form set forth below or (b) on a separate application that the Partnership will furnish on request without charge. A transferor of the Common Units shall have no duty to the transferee with respect to execution of the transfer application in order for such transferee to obtain registration of the transfer of the Common Units.

 

A-3


APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF COMMON UNITS

The undersigned (“Assignee”) hereby applies for transfer to the name of the Assignee of the Common Units evidenced hereby.

The Assignee (a) requests admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and agrees to comply with and be bound by, and hereby executes, the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Crestwood Equity Partners LP (the “Partnership”), as amended, supplemented or restated to the date hereof (the “Partnership Agreement”), (b) represents and warrants that the Assignee has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement, (c) appoints the Managing General Partner of the Partnership and, if a Liquidator shall be appointed, the Liquidator of the Partnership as the Assignee’s attorney-in-fact to execute, swear to, acknowledge and file any document, including, without limitation, the Partnership Agreement and any amendment thereto and the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership and any amendment thereto, necessary or appropriate for the Assignee’s admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and as a party to the Partnership Agreement, (d) gives the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement, and (e) makes the waivers and gives the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Partnership Agreement.

Date: __________

 

 

Social Security or other identifying number

  

 

Signature of Assignee

 

Purchase Price including commissions, if any

  

 

Name and Address of Assignee

Type of Entity (check one):

 

   Individual     Partnership      Corporation

   Trust     Other (specify)     

Nationality (check one):

 

   U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity      

   Foreign Corporation       Non-resident Alien

If the U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity box is checked, the following certification must be completed.

Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Partnership must withhold tax with respect to certain transfers of property if a holder of an interest in the Partnership is a foreign person. To inform the Partnership that no withholding is required with respect to the undersigned interestholder’s interest in it, the undersigned hereby certifies the following (or, if applicable, certifies the following on behalf of the interestholder).

 

A-4


Complete Either A or B:

 

A.

Individual Interestholder

 

  1.

I am not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation.

 

  2.

My U.S. taxpayer identification number (Social Security Number) is .

 

  3.

My home address is .

 

B.

Partnership, Corporation or Other Interestholder

 

  1.

is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust (Name of Interestholder) or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and Treasury Regulations).

 

  2.

The interestholder’s U.S. employer identification number is .

 

  3.

The interestholder’s office address and place of incorporation (if applicable) is .

The interestholder agrees to notify the Partnership within sixty (60) days of the date the interestholder becomes a foreign person.

The interestholder understands that this certificate may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service by the Partnership and that any false statement contained herein could be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete and, if applicable, I further declare that I have authority to sign this document on behalf of:

 

 

Name of Interestholder

 

 

Signature and Date

 

 

Title (if applicable)

Note: If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is holding for the account of any other person, this application should be completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or dealer, by a registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or, in the case of any other nominee holder, a person performing a similar function. If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or an agent of any of the foregoing, the above certification as to any person for whom the Assignee will hold the Common Units shall be made to the best of the Assignee’s knowledge.

 

A-5

EX-3.2

Exhibit 3.2

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

CRESTWOOD EQUITY GP, LLC


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS

     1  

1.1

  

Terms Defined Herein

     1  

ARTICLE II - BUSINESS PURPOSES AND OFFICES

     3  

2.1

  

Name; Business Purpose

     3  

2.2

  

Powers

     3  

2.3

  

Principal Office

     3  

2.4

  

Liability of the Member

     3  

2.5

  

Registered Office and Registered Agent

     3  

2.6

  

Amendment of the Certificate

     3  

2.7

  

Effective Date

     3  

ARTICLE III - OWNERSHIP INTEREST

     3  

3.1

  

Interest

     3  

3.2

  

Voting

     4  

3.3

  

Distribution

     4  

ARTICLE IV - MANAGEMENT

     4  

4.1

  

Management and Board of Directors

     4  

4.2

  

Action by the Member

     10  

ARTICLE V - INDEMNIFICATION

     10  

5.1

  

Limitation of Liability; Indemnification

     10  

5.2

  

Definitions

     10  

5.3

  

Limitation of Liability

     11  

5.4

  

Right to Indemnification

     11  

5.5

  

Enforcement of Indemnification

     12  

5.6

  

Advancement of Expenses

     12  

5.7

  

Non-Exclusivity

     12  

5.8

  

Insurance

     13  

5.9

  

Amendment and Vesting of Rights

     13  

5.10

  

Severability

     13  

5.11

  

Contracts with Member or their Affiliates

     14  

5.12

  

Other Business Ventures

     14  

ARTICLE VI - ACCOUNTING MATTERS

     14  

6.1

  

Fiscal Year

     14  

6.2

  

Books and Records

     14  

ARTICLE VII - DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION

     14  

7.1

  

Events Causing Dissolution

     14  

7.2

  

Effect of Dissolution

     14  

7.3

  

Application of Proceeds

     15  

 

i


ARTICLE VIII - MISCELLANEOUS

     15  

8.1

  

Notices

     15  

8.2

  

No Third Party Rights

     15  

8.3

  

Entire Agreement

     15  

8.4

  

Amendments to this Agreement

     15  

8.5

  

Severability

     16  

8.6

  

Headings

     16  

8.7

  

Governing Law

     16  

 

ii


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

CRESTWOOD EQUITY GP, LLC

THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made as of the 20th day of August 2021, by Crestwood Equity GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Crestwood Equity Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Member”).

RECITAL:

The Member has caused the Company to be formed as a limited liability company under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and the Member desires to adopt this Agreement as the limited liability company agreement of the Company.

AGREEMENT:

In consideration of the premises and the agreements contained herein, the undersigned declare and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS

1.1 Terms Defined Herein. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise requires:

Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time.

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

Agreement” means the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company as amended from time to time.

Board of Directors” or “Board” means the board of directors of the Company established under Section 4.1 hereof.

Board Majority” means a majority of all of the Directors then constituting the Board of Directors.

Capital Contribution” means, with respect to the Member, the amount of money and the net agreed value of any property (other than money) contributed to the Company by such Member. Any reference in this Agreement to the Capital Contribution of the Member shall include any Capital Contribution of its predecessors in interest.


Certificate” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company filed with the Delaware Secretary of State, as amended from time to time.

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Unit” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

Company” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Preamble.

Director” means a member of the Board of Directors.

Group Member” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

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

Interest” refers to all of the Member’s rights and interests in the Company in the Member’s capacity as a Member, all as provided in the Certificate, this Agreement and the Act, including, without limitation, the Member’s interest in the capital, income, gain, deductions, losses, and credits of the Company.

Limited Partner” and “Limited Partners” are defined the Partnership Agreement.

Member” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Preamble.

Officers” shall have the meaning established under Section 4.1 hereof.

Partnership Agreement” means the Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Crestwood Equity Partners LP.

Person” means any individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, cooperative, trust or other entity.

Preferred Unit” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

2


ARTICLE II– BUSINESS PURPOSES AND OFFICES

2.1 Name; Business Purpose.

(a) The name of the Company is “Crestwood Equity GP LLC.” Subject to applicable law, the Company’s business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the Board. The words “Limited Liability Company” or the abbreviation “L.L.C.” or the designation “LLC” shall be included in the Company’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The Board may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Member of such change in the next regular communication to the Member.

(b) The business purpose of the Company is to act as the general partner of Crestwood Equity Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and to do any and all things necessary, appropriate or incidental thereto. The Company is formed only for such business purpose and shall not be deemed to create any declaration or agreement by the Company or the Member with respect to any other activities whatsoever other than the activities within such business purpose.

2.2 Powers. In addition to the powers and privileges conferred upon the Company by law and those incidental thereto, the Company shall have the same powers as a natural person to do all things necessary or convenient to carry out its business and affairs.

2.3 Principal Office. The principal office of the Company shall be located at 811 Main Street Louisiana Street, Suite 3400, Houston, TX 77002, or such other place as the Board may from time to time designate by notice to the Members. The Company may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board determines to be necessary or appropriate.

2.4 Liability of the Member. The Member, solely by reason of being the Member, shall not be liable, under a judgment, decree or order of a court, or in any other manner, for a debt, obligation or liability of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise. The failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business or affairs under this Agreement or the Act shall not be grounds for imposing liability on the Member for liabilities of the Company. The Company is not intended to be a partnership.

2.5 Registered Office and Registered Agent. Unless and until changed by the Board, the location of the registered office and the name of the registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, DE 19808. In the event the Company is authorized to do business in additional states, the Company shall appoint Corporation Service Company as its registered agent.

2.6 Amendment of the Certificate. The Company shall amend the Certificate at such time or times and in such manner as may be required by the Act and this Agreement.

2.7 Effective Date. This Agreement shall be effective on the date of this Agreement.

ARTICLE III - OWNERSHIP INTEREST

3.1 Interest. The Member or its predecessor in interest has previously made Capital Contributions to the Company in respect of 100% of the Interest.

 

3


3.2 Voting. Unless otherwise granted to the Board of Directors in the Certificate or in this Agreement, the Member shall possess the entire voting interest on all matters relating to the Company, including, without limitation, matters relating to the amendment of this Agreement, any merger, consolidation or conversion of the Company, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the termination, dissolution and liquidation of the Company.

3.3 Distribution. Distributions by the Company of cash or other property shall be made to the Member at such time as the Board of Directors determines to be appropriate.

ARTICLE IV - MANAGEMENT

4.1 Management and Board of Directors.

(a) Directors

(i) General Powers.

(a) All management powers over the business and affairs of the Company shall be (i) exclusively vested in a board of directors of the Company (the “Board” or “Board of Directors”) and (ii), subject to the oversight and review of the Board, the officers of the Company (the “Officers”), which members of the Board (each, a “Director”) and Officers shall collectively constitute “managers” of the Company within the meaning of the Act. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board, and the day-to-day activities of the Company shall be conducted on the Company’s behalf by the Officers who shall be agents of the Company.

(b) In addition to the powers and authorities expressly conferred on the Board by this Agreement, the Board may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such acts and things as are not restricted by the Act or non-waivable provisions of applicable law.

(ii) Adoption of Section 13.4(b) of the Partnership Agreement.

(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the Board consists of the seven persons listed on Exhibit A attached hereto, but the number of Directors constituting the Board may be changed by the Board in the manner specified in Section 13.4(b) of the Partnership Agreement. The Member and the Company hereby adopt as part of the terms of this Agreement, and agree to be bound by, Section 13.4(b) of the Partnership Agreement as if such section were set forth in full herein in haec verba and hereby delegate to the Limited Partners holding Common Units and Preferred Units voting on an as converted basis in accordance with Section 5.8(d)(i) of the Partnership Agreement the right to elect the number of Directors constituting the Board in accordance with Section 13.4(b) of the Partnership Agreement. Such delegation shall not cause any Member to

 

4


cease to be a member of the Company and shall not constitute a delegation of any other rights, powers, privileges or duties of the Member with respect to the Company. A Director need not be a Member or a Limited Partner; however, with the exception of the then-serving President or Chief Executive Officer, a majority of the Directors comprising the Board of Directors must meet the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Units are listed for trading.

(b) The Limited Partners, in their capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be Members (as defined herein) or holders of a limited liability company interest in the Company or to be “members,” “managers,” or holders of “limited liability company interests” as such terms are defined in the Act. The exercise by a Limited Partner of the right to elect Directors and any other rights afforded to such Limited Partner hereunder and under Section 13.4(b) of the Partnership Agreement shall be in such Limited Partner’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership, and no Limited Partner shall be liable for any debts, obligations or liabilities of the Company by reason of the foregoing.

(iii) The Member, the Directors and the Company shall use their commercially reasonable best efforts to take such action as shall be necessary or appropriate to give effect to and implement the provisions of Section 13.4(b) of the Partnership Agreement as adopted as a part of this Agreement in this Section 4.1(a)(ii).

(iv) Regular Meetings. The Board of Directors shall provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of regular meetings of the Board without other notice than such resolution.

(v) Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chief Executive Officer or any two Directors. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them.

(vi) Notice. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given not less than three (3) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior thereto. Such notice shall be given in the manner provided in Section 8.1. Any Director may waive notice of any meeting. The attendance of a Director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a Director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business presented because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

 

5


(vii) Quorum and Manner of Acting. In order to have a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, a Board Majority shall be present. The act of the Board Majority present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

(viii) Attendance by Communications Equipment. Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee of the Board of Directors may participate in and act at any meeting of such Board or committee through the use of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in such a meeting shall constitute attendance and presence in person at the meeting of the person or persons so participating.

(ix) Vacancies. In case any vacancy shall occur on the Board because of the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal of any of the Directors, an increase in the authorized number of Directors or any other cause, such vacancy may be filled as provided in Section 13.4(b) of the Partnership Agreement.

(x) Presumption of Assent. A Director of the Company who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any Company matter is taken shall be conclusively presumed to have assented to the action taken unless such Director’s dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless such Director shall file a written dissent to such action with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the secretary of the Company immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favor of such action.

(xi) Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution or resolutions adopted by a Board Majority, designate two or more Directors of the Company to constitute one or more committees. The Board shall approve a charter for each of these committees. Each such committee, to the extent provided in such resolution or resolutions, shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the Board in the management of the Company; provided, however, that the designation of each such committee and the delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the Board, or any member thereof, of any responsibility imposed upon it or such member by law. Each such committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings, which minutes shall be recorded in the minute book of the Company. The secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company may act as secretary for each such committee if the committee so requests.

 

6


(a) The Board shall have an audit committee (the “Audit Committee”) comprised of a minimum of three Directors, each of whom must be financially literate and at least one of whom must have accounting or related financial management expertise. All Directors on the Audit Committee must meet the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Units are listed. The Audit Committee shall assist the Board in overseeing the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the independent auditor’s qualifications, independence and performance, the performance of the internal audit function and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Each member of the Audit Committee shall satisfy the rules and regulations of the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Units are listed from time to time, in each case as amended from time to time, pertaining to qualification for service on an audit committee.

(b) The Board may have a finance committee (the “Finance Committee”), which shall be comprised of at least one Director who satisfies the independence standards established by the rules and regulations of the Commission and by the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Units are listed. The Finance Committee shall assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities across the principal areas of corporate finance and risk management. The Finance Committee shall also perform such other functions and exercise such other powers as may be specified in the written charter for the Finance Committee adopted by the Board.

(c) The Board may have a compensation committee (the “Compensation Committee”), which shall be composed entirely of Directors who meet the independence standards established by the rules and regulations of the Commission and by the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Units are listed. The Compensation Committee shall be responsible for making recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and other Officers, administering the equity-based compensation plans and reviewing the compensation related disclosures in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K. The Compensation Committee shall perform such other functions as the Board may assign from time to time or as may be specified in the written charter for the Compensation Committee adopted by the Board.

 

7


(d) The Board may have a sustainability committee (the “Sustainability Committee”). The Sustainability Committee shall provide oversight of the Company’s sustainability initiatives and ensure that environmental, social and governance risks are incorporated into the Company’s long-term business strategy. The Sustainability Committee will also oversee the development of the Company’s sustainability strategy, as well as review and ultimately approve the annual sustainability report. The Sustainability Committee shall perform such other functions as the Board may assign from time to time or as may be specified in the written charter for the Sustainability Committee adopted by the Board.

(e) The Board may, from time to time, establish a conflicts committee (the “Conflicts Committee”). The Conflicts Committee shall function in the manner described in the Partnership Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement or any duty (including any fiduciary duty) otherwise existing at law or in equity, any matter approved by the Conflicts Committee in accordance with the provisions, and subject to the limitations, of the Partnership Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a breach of any duty owed by the Board or any Director to the Company or the Members.

(f) The Board may have a nominating and corporate governance committee (the “NCG Committee”). The NCG Committee shall identify individuals qualified to become Board members consistent with criteria approved by the Board, select or recommend that the Board select Director nominees, oversee the set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Company, and oversee the evaluation of the Board and Officers. The NCG Committee shall perform such other functions as the Board may assign from time to time or as may be specified in the written charter for the NCG Committee adopted by the Board.

(xii) Informal Action. Any action required to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company, or any other action which may be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the actions so taken, shall be signed by a Board Majority.

(b) Officers.

(i) Designations. The Officers of the Company shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a secretary and such other Officers, agents and employees as the Board of Directors may deem proper. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of Chief Executive Officer and secretary.

(ii) Election and Term of Office. The Officers of the Company shall be elected by the Board of Directors. Each Officer shall hold office until a successor shall have been elected and qualified or until such Officer’s death, resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Election or appointment of an Officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights.

 

8


(iii) Removal. Any Officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors.

(iv) Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may elect an individual who is a Director to serve as Chairman of the Board. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors

(v) Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors shall elect an individual to serve as Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Company and shall be responsible for the management and business affairs of the Company and shall have full authority to execute all documents and take all actions that the Company may legally take. The Chief Executive Officer shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

(vi) President. The Board of Directors shall elect an individual to serve as President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer. The President may sign, with the secretary, an assistant secretary or any other proper Officer of the Company thereunto duly authorized by the Board of Directors, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments which the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by this Agreement to some other Officer or agent of the Company or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed. In general, the President shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

(vii) Vice Presidents. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may elect one or more vice presidents. In the absence of the President or in the event of the President’s inability or refusal to act, the vice president (or in the event there be more than one vice president, the vice presidents in the order designated, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the President, and the vice president, when so acting, shall have all of the powers and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. Each vice president shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or the Board of Directors.

(viii) Secretary. The secretary shall: (a) keep records of Company action, including the records of action taken by the Member and minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or as required by law; and (c) in general, perform all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

9


(ix) Assistant Secretaries. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may elect one or more assistant secretaries. The assistant secretaries in general shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer, or the Board of Directors.

(x) Compensation. The compensation of the Officers other than the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer and no Officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that such Officer is also a Director of the Company. The compensation of the Chief Executive Officer shall be fixed by the Board of Directors or a committee with such authority delegated thereto in accordance with Section 4.1(a)(xi).

(c) Authorization of Persons to Act. At any time and from time to time, the Board of Directors may designate any Person to carry out the decisions of the Board of Directors, including, but not limited to, the execution of any instruments on behalf of the Company.

4.2 Action by the Member. The Member may take such action as may be appropriate for the Member of a limited liability company under the Act by a written consent signed by the Member.

ARTICLE V - INDEMNIFICATION

5.1 Limitation of Liability; Indemnification. None of the Directors, Chief Executive Officer or any other officer of the Company shall be liable to the Member or to the Company for (a) any action or inaction except to the extent such person acted in bad faith or engaged in willful misconduct in the performance of such person’s duties to the Company or the Member, (b) any action or inaction arising from reliance upon the opinion or advice as to legal matters of legal counsel or as to accounting matters of accountants selected by any of them in good faith or (c) any action or inaction of any agent, contractor or consultant selected by any of them in good faith.

5.2 Definitions. For purposes of Sections 5.2 through 5.12 hereof, inclusive, reference to:

(a) The “Company” shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving limited liability company, any constituent limited liability company (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger so that any Person who is or was a manager, director, or officer of such constituent limited liability company, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent limited liability company as a director, officer or in any other comparable position of any Other Enterprise shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article V with respect to the resulting or surviving limited liability company as such Person would if such Person had served the resulting or surviving limited liability company in the same capacity.

(b) “Other Enterprises” or “Other Enterprise” shall include, without limitation, any other limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or employee benefit plan, in which a Person is serving at the request of the Company;

 

10


(c) “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed against a person with respect to an employee benefit plan;

(d) “defense” shall include investigations of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding as well as appeals thereof and shall also include any defensive assertion of a cross-claim or counterclaim;

(e) “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, representative or in any other comparable position that imposes duties on, or involves services by, a Person with respect to any Other Enterprise; and a Person who acted in good faith and in a manner such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the interest of any Other Enterprise shall be deemed to have acted “in the best interest of the Company” as referred to in this Article V; and “Officer” shall include any “Authorized Person” who is authorized to act on behalf of the Company pursuant to the terms hereof, whether or not such person has been designated an officer of the Company; and

(f) “officer” shall include an “authorized person” who is authorized to act on behalf of the Company pursuant to the terms hereof, whether or not such person has been designated an officer of the Company.

5.3 Limitation of Liability. No Person shall be liable to the Company or its Member for any loss, damage, liability or expense suffered by the Company or its Member on account of any action taken or omitted to be taken by such Person as a director or an officer of the Company or as a representative or by such Person while serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or in any other comparable position of any Other Enterprise, if such Person discharges such Person’s duties in good faith, and in a manner such Person reasonably believes to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. The liability of a director or an officer or Representative hereunder shall be limited only for those actions taken or omitted to be taken by such Person in the discharge of such Person’s obligations in connection with the management of the business and affairs of the Company or any Other Enterprise. The foregoing limitation of liability shall apply to all directors, officers and to all Persons who serve as a representative at any time.

5.4 Right to Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify each Person who has been or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or appellate (regardless of whether such action, suit or proceeding is by or in the right of the Company or by third parties) by reason of the fact that such Person is or was a Member of the Company, a director or an officer of the Company, a representative or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or in any other comparable position of any Other Enterprise, against all liabilities and expenses, including, without limitation, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, attorneys’ fees, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, fines and other expenses, actually and reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding

 

11


(including, without limitation, the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of such action, suit or proceeding); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to indemnify or advance expenses to any Person on account of such Person’s conduct that was finally adjudged to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct; provided, further, that the Company shall not be required to indemnify or advance expenses to any Person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding initiated by such Person unless the initiation of such action, suit or proceeding was authorized in advance by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that a director or an officer or representative shall be indemnified hereunder only for those actions taken or omitted to be taken by such Person in the discharge of such Person’s obligations in connection with the management of the business and affairs of the Company or any Other Enterprise. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or under a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that such Person’s conduct was finally adjudged to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct. The foregoing right to indemnification shall apply to all Persons serving as directors or officers and to all Persons who serve as a representative at any time or who serve at any time at the request of the Company as a director, officer or in any other comparable position of any Other Enterprise. Nothing herein prevents the Member from indemnifying its representatives or directors or officers under such Member’s organizational documents or other agreements. If any Person is entitled to indemnification both from the Company and from a Member, then indemnification would come first from the Company and thereafter from the Member.

5.5 Enforcement of Indemnification. In the event the Company refuses to indemnify any Person who may be entitled to be indemnified or to have expenses advanced under this Article V, such Person shall have the right to maintain an action in any court of competent jurisdiction against the Company to determine whether or not such Person is entitled to such indemnification or advancement of expenses hereunder. If such court action is successful and the Person is determined to be entitled to such indemnification or advancement of expenses, such Person shall be reimbursed by the Company for all fees and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any such action (including, without limitation, the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of such action).

5.6 Advancement of Expenses. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred in defending an action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or appellate, shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Person subject thereto to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Person is not entitled to indemnification by the Company. In no event shall any advance be made in instances where the Member or legal counsel for the Company reasonably determines that such Person would not be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

5.7 Non-Exclusivity. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any statute, or any agreement, vote of the Board of Directors or Member, policy of insurance or otherwise, both as to action in their official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding their respective offices, and shall not limit in any way any right that the Company may have to make additional indemnifications with

 

12


respect to the same or different Persons or classes of Persons. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article V shall continue as to a Person who has ceased to be a director or an officer of the Company, a representative or a Person eligible for designation as a representative and as to a Person who has ceased serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or in any other comparable position of any Other Enterprise and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such Person.

5.8 Insurance. The Board of Directors may cause the Company to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person who is or was a director or an officer, agent or employee of the Company or a representative or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or in any other comparable position of any Other Enterprise, against any liability asserted against such Person and incurred by such Person in any such capacity, or arising out of such Person’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power, or the obligation, to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Article V.

5.9 Amendment and Vesting of Rights. The rights granted or created hereby shall be vested in each Person entitled to indemnification hereunder as a bargained-for, contractual condition of such Person’s serving or having served as a director or an officer of the Company or a representative or serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or in any other comparable position of any Other Enterprise and, while this Article V may be amended or repealed, no such amendment or repeal shall release, terminate or adversely affect the rights of such Person under this Article V with respect to any (a) act taken or the failure to take any act by such Person prior to such amendment or repeal, or (b) any action, suit or proceeding concerning such act or failure to act filed after such amendment or repeal.

5.10 Severability. If any provision of this Article V or the application of any such provision to any Person or circumstance is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, the remaining provisions of this Article V and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and, to the fullest extent possible, the court finding such provision invalid, illegal or unenforceable shall modify and construe the provision so as to render it valid and enforceable as against all Persons and to give the maximum possible protection to Persons subject to indemnification hereby within the bounds of validity, legality and enforceability. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any director or officer of the Company, any representative or any Person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or in any other comparable position of any Other Enterprise is entitled under any provision of this Article V to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the judgments, amounts paid in settlement, attorneys’ fees, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, fines or other expenses actually and reasonably incurred by any such Person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (including, without limitation, the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of such action, suit or proceeding), whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or appellate, but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify such Person for the portion thereof to which such Person is entitled.

 

13


5.11 Contracts with Member or their Affiliates. All contracts or transactions between the Company and its Member, one of its directors, or officers or between the Company and another limited liability company, corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which the Member has a financial interest or with which such Member is affiliated are permissible if such contract or transaction, and such Member’s or officer’s interest therein, are fully disclosed to the Board of Directors and approved by the Board of Directors.

5.12 Other Business Ventures. Any Member may engage in, or possess an interest in, other business ventures of every nature and description, independently or with others, whether or not similar or identical to the business of the Company, and neither the Company nor any other Member shall have any right by virtue of this Agreement in or to such other business ventures or to the income or profits derived therefrom. The Member and representatives shall not be required to devote all of their time or business efforts to the affairs of the Company, but shall devote so much of their time and attention to the Company as is reasonably necessary and advisable to manage the affairs of the Company to the best advantage of the Company. The foregoing shall not supersede any employment, confidentiality, noncompete or other specific agreement that may exist between the Company (or an Affiliate of the Company) and any Member (or an Affiliate of any Member).

ARTICLE VI - ACCOUNTING MATTERS

6.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year and taxable year of the Company shall end on December 31 of each year, unless a different year is required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or otherwise established by the Board of Directors.

6.2 Books and Records. At all times during the existence of the Company, the Company shall cause to be maintained full and accurate books of account, which shall reflect all Company transactions and be appropriate and adequate for the Company’s business.

ARTICLE VII - DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION

7.1 Events Causing Dissolution. The Company shall be of perpetual duration; however, the Company may be dissolved upon:

(a) The unanimous consent of the Board to dissolve the Company;

(b) A decree of dissolution being entered with respect to the Company by a court of competent jurisdiction; or

(c) A merger or consolidation under the Act where the Company is not the surviving entity in such merger or consolidation.

7.2 Effect of Dissolution. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, upon the dissolution of the Company, the Member shall take such actions as may be required pursuant to the Act and shall proceed to wind up, liquidate and terminate the business and affairs of the Company. In connection with such winding up, the Member shall have the authority to liquidate and reduce to cash (to the extent necessary or appropriate) the assets of the Company as promptly as is consistent with obtaining fair value therefor, to apply and distribute the proceeds of such liquidation and any remaining assets in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.3, and to do any and all acts and things authorized by, and in accordance with, the Act and other applicable laws for the purpose of winding up and liquidation.

 

14


7.3 Application of Proceeds. Upon dissolution and liquidation of the Company, the assets of the Company shall be applied and distributed in the following order of priority:

(a) To the payment of debts and liabilities of the Company (including to the Member to the extent otherwise permitted by law) and the expenses of liquidation.

(b) Next, to the setting up of such reserves as the Person required or authorized by law to wind up the Company’s affairs may reasonably deem necessary or appropriate for any disputed, contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Company, provided that any such reserves shall be paid over by such Person to an escrow agent appointed by the Board of Directors, to be held by such agent or its successor for such period as such Person shall deem advisable for the purpose of applying such reserves to the payment of such liabilities or obligations and, at the expiration of such period, the balance of such reserves, if any, shall be distributed as hereinafter provided.

(c) The remainder to the Member.

ARTICLE VIII - MISCELLANEOUS

8.1 Notices. Any notice, demand, request or other communication (a “Notice”) required or permitted to be given by this Agreement or the Act to the Company, the Member, a Director, or any other Person shall be sufficient if in writing and if hand delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail to the Company at its principal office or to the Member or any other Person at the address of the Member or such other Person as it appears on the records of the Company or sent by facsimile transmission to the telephone number, if any, of the recipient’s facsimile machine as such telephone number appears on the records of the Company or by electronic transmission. All Notices that are mailed shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid. All Notices that are hand delivered shall be deemed to be given upon delivery. All Notices that are given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be given upon receipt, it being agreed that the burden of proving receipt shall be on the sender of such Notice and such burden shall not be satisfied by a transmission report generated by the sender’s facsimile machine. All Notices that are given by electronic transmission shall be deemed given when directed to an electronic mail address at which the recipient has consented.

8.2 No Third Party Rights. None of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any third parties, including, but not limited to, creditors of the Company; provided, however, the Company may enforce any rights granted to the Company under the Act, the Certificate, or this Agreement.

8.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Certificate, constitutes the entire agreement, relative to the formation, operation and continuation of the Company.

8.4 Amendments to this Agreement. This Agreement shall not be modified or amended in any manner other than with the written approval of a Board Majority.

 

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8.5 Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect and shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.

8.6 Headings. The headings of the Sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered in construing or interpreting any of the terms or provisions hereof.

8.7 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware.

[Rest of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

16


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the sole Member of the Company has duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

CRESTWOOD EQUITY PARTNERS LP
By:   CRESTWOOD EQUITY GP, LLC, its general partner
  By:  

/s/ Robert G. Phillips

    Robert G. Phillips

 

17


Exhibit A

 

Name

  

Class or Title

Warren H. Gfeller    Class I
Janeen S. Judah    Class I
John J. Sherman    Class I
Alvin Bledsoe    Class II
David Lumpkins    Class II
Frances M. Vallejo    Class II
Robert G. Phillips    Class III

 

18

EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

FIRST AMENDMENT

TO THE

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

CRESTWOOD NIOBRARA LLC

This First Amendment (this “Amendment”) to the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Crestwood Niobrara LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), dated as of April 9, 2019 (the “LLC Agreement”), is entered into effective as of August 20, 2021 by and between CN Jackalope Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Holdings Member”) and Crestwood Midstream Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Crestwood Member”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Holdings Member and Crestwood Member desire to amend the LLC Agreement as set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 11.04 of the LLC Agreement, the LLC Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by written instrument executed by each of the Holdings Member and Crestwood Member.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Holdings Member and Crestwood Member hereby agree as follows:

A.    Amendments.

 

  1.

Section 1.01 of the LLC Agreement is hereby amended so that the definitions of “Company Change of Control”, “Crestwood Change of Control”, and “Permitted Utilization Agreement” in Section 1.01 of the LLC Agreement are amended and restated and replaced in their entirety with the following:

““Company Change of Control” means any event or transaction, or series of related events or transactions, the result of which is that neither Crestwood Midstream Partners LP nor the Holdings Member (or any investor therein) is, or directly or indirectly Controls, the Managing Member; provided, that any event or transaction, or series of related events or transactions, that constitute a Crestwood Change of Control shall not be considered a Company Change of Control.

Crestwood Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (a) any circumstance after which (I) any of the general partnership interests in CEQP are not directly or indirectly owned by CEQP or a Person who, disregarding the ownership of any general partnership interests in CEQP, is an Affiliate of CEQP, (II) Control of the general partner of CEQP is not held by CEQP or, disregarding such Control of the general partner, a Person who is an Affiliate of CEQP, or (III) any Person acquires, directly or indirectly, either (A) 50% or more of the outstanding equity interests in CEQP or (B) the ability to appoint a majority of the board of directors (or similar managing body) of CEQP or its general partner, (b) any circumstance pursuant to which the CEQP Units are no longer listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange, (c) any direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of CEQP to a Person other than any of its Affiliates, or (d) any dissolution or liquidation of CEQP (other than in connection with a bankruptcy proceeding or a statutory winding up).


Permitted Utilization Agreement” means an arrangement related to a Midstream Project Opportunity that utilizes assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries that (i) will not prevent the Company or its Subsidiaries from satisfying their obligations to any other Person, and (ii) is on arms-length terms and conditions.”

 

  2.

Section 4.06(b) of the LLC Agreement is hereby amended and restated and replaced in its entirety with the following:

“(b) Crestwood Change of Control. In the event of a Crestwood Change of Control, the Crestwood Member shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Holdings Member with no less than 30 days advance written notice of such Crestwood Change of Control, and from the earlier of (I) the date of a public announcement of an agreement being entered into that the Holdings Member reasonably expects would result in a Crestwood Change of Control or (II) the date of a Crestwood Change of Control, if any, until, in the case of either clause (I) or (II) the later of (x) the sixth Business Day following such Crestwood Change of Control or (y) the day that is 30 days from the date the Holdings Member is provided written notice of such Crestwood Change of Control, the Holdings Member may elect by written notice to the Crestwood Member (the “Change of Control Redemption Notice”) to require the Company to redeem from the Holdings Member all then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units. Within five Business Days following delivery of the Change of Control Redemption Notice, the Crestwood Member shall deliver written notice to the Holdings Member (the “Consideration Election Notice”) indicating whether (i) the Company has elected to redeem the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units for cash, (ii) in lieu of such redemption, the Crestwood Member will acquire from the Holdings Member the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units through the issuance to the Holdings Member or its designee as consideration a number of CEQP Units, valued at the CEQP Unit Price calculated as of the date of such Crestwood Change of Control, or (iii) it elects to effect a combination of the actions described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any case, in an amount per Series A Preferred Unit equal to the Change of Control Redemption Price and an amount per Series B Preferred Unit equal to the Change of Control Redemption Price; provided, however, that (A) the options set forth in the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii) shall not be available at any time at which an RRA Suspension Right would be, or would reasonably likely to be, exercisable by CEQP pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement if the Holdings Member were to exercise a demand registration right pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Registration Rights Agreement immediately following the issuance of CEQP Units to the Holdings Member, (B) the number of CEQP Units issued pursuant to this Section 4.06(b) shall not exceed the Maximum Redemption Units (it being acknowledged and agreed that the issuance of the Maximum Redemption Units, if applicable, shall redeem in full all of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units and no further cash or other consideration shall be required to be paid in connection therewith) and (C) CEQP shall comply with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to such CEQP Units so issued. The closing of any redemption or acquisition pursuant to this Section 4.06(b) shall occur (X) if the Change of Control Redemption Notice was delivered prior to the date of such Crestwood Change of Control, no later than the day that is the later of (i) simultaneously with the closing of such Crestwood Change of Control or (ii) the tenth day following the delivery of the Change of Control Redemption Notice, and (Y) otherwise, no later than the tenth Business Day following the delivery of the Change of Control Redemption Notice; provided, however, that in the event that the Crestwood Member fails to deliver a Consideration Election Notice prior to the fifth Business Day following the delivery of the Change of Control Redemption Notice, the Company shall be deemed to have elected to redeem the then-

 

2


outstanding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 4.06(b) in cash and the closing for such redemption shall occur no later than the tenth Business Day following the delivery of the Change of Control Redemption Notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.06(b), if a Crestwood Change of Control Notice is delivered, or deemed delivered pursuant to a public announcement of an agreement being entered into that the Holdings Member reasonably expects would result in a Crestwood Change of Control, pursuant to this Section 4.06(b), prior to the consummation of a transaction that would constitute a Crestwood Change of Control, and such transaction is later terminated prior to its consummation and the redemption of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 4.06(b), then such Crestwood Change of Control Notice shall not be effective and such then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units shall not be required to be redeemed in connection with such terminated transaction under this Section 4.06(b).”

 

  3.

Section 4.06(c) of the LLC Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the phrase “within five Business Days following such Company Change of Control, if any” that occurs in the fourth line thereof and replacing it with “from the date of such Company Change of Control, if any, until the later of (x) the sixth Business Day following such Company Change of Control or (y) the day that is 30 days from the date the Holdings Member is provided written notice of such Company Change of Control”

 

  4.

Section 4.06(c)(A) of the LLC Agreement is hereby amended and restated and replaced in its entirety with the following:

“(A) the options set forth in the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii) and, unless the Asset Sale is of all or substantially all of the Interests or assets of the Company to any Person that is not an Affiliate of either of the Members, clause (iv) shall not be available if any of the CEQP Unit Issuance Limitations would be triggered in such proposed issuance”

 

  5.

Section 4.06(c)(B) of the LLC Agreement is hereby amended and restated and replaced in its entirety with the following:

“(B) the number of CEQP Units issued pursuant to this Section 4.06(c) shall not exceed the Maximum Redemption Units (it being acknowledged and agreed that, with respect to an Asset Sale of all or substantially all of the Interests or assets of the Company to any Person that is not an Affiliate of either of the Members, where the proceeds of such Asset Sale are less than the Change of Control Redemption Price payable to Holdings Member, the issuance of up to the Maximum Redemption Units, if applicable, in accordance with clause (iv), shall together with the proceeds of such Asset Sale redeem in full all of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units and no further cash or other consideration shall be required to be paid in connection therewith), and”

 

  6.

Section 4.06(d)(A) of the LLC Agreement is hereby amended and restated and replaced in its entirety with the following:

“(A) the option set forth in the foregoing clause (2) or, if the Asset Sale is not of all or substantially all of the Interests or assets of the Company to any Person that is not an Affiliate of either of the Members, clause (3) shall not be available if any of the CEQP Unit Issuance Limitations would be triggered”

 

3


  7.

Section 4.06(d)(C) of the LLC Agreement is hereby amended and restated and replaced in its entirety with the following:

“(C) the number of CEQP Units issued pursuant to this Section 4.06(d) shall not exceed the Maximum Redemption Units (it being acknowledged and agreed that, with respect to an Asset Sale of all or substantially all of the Interests or assets of the Company to any Person that is not an Affiliate of either of the Members, where the proceeds of such Asset Sale are less than the Crestwood Full Redemption Price payable to Holdings Member, the issuance of up to the Maximum Redemption Units, if applicable, in accordance with clause (3)(B), shall together with the proceeds of such Asset Sale redeem in full all of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units and no further cash or other consideration shall be required to be paid in connection therewith).”

 

  8.

Section 4.06(e) of the LLC Agreement is hereby amended and restated and replaced in its entirety with the following:

“(e) Crestwood Option for Redemption – Partial Redemption. At any time following December 31, 2022, subject to Section 4.06(a) in respect of the redemption of Deficiency Preferred Units, by delivery of 45 days’ prior written notice (the “Crestwood Partial Redemption Notice”) to each of the Company and the Holdings Member, the Crestwood Member may elect to cause the Company to redeem all of the then-outstanding Series A-3 Preferred Units effective as of the 45th day following delivery of such Crestwood Partial Redemption Notice (the “Partial Redemption Effective Date”), for an amount per Series A-3 Preferred Unit equal to the product of (i) 1.10 and (ii) the Series A-3 Liquidation Amount, calculated as of close of business on the day prior to the Partial Redemption Effective Date; provided, that such aggregate amount payable may be satisfied by the Crestwood Member’s election of any one or a combination of the following actions: (1) causing the Company to redeem all of the then-outstanding Series A-3 Preferred Units in exchange for the Company’s paying the Holdings Member cash or (2) acquiring all of the then-outstanding Series A-3 Preferred Units by the issuance to the Holdings Member or its designee as consideration a number of CEQP Units, valued at the CEQP Unit Price calculated as of close of business on the day prior to the Partial Redemption Effective Date; provided, however, that (A) the option set forth in the foregoing clause (2) shall not be available if any of the CEQP Unit Issuance Limitations would be triggered, (B) CEQP shall comply with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to such CEQP Units so issued and (C) the number of CEQP Units issued pursuant to this Section 4.06(e) shall not exceed the Maximum Redemption Units (it being acknowledged and agreed that the issuance of up to the Maximum Redemption Units, if applicable, in accordance with this Section 4.06(e), shall redeem in full all of the then-outstanding Series A-3 Preferred Units and no further cash or other consideration shall be required to be paid in connection therewith). The Crestwood Partial Redemption Notice shall state which action or combination of actions described in clauses (1) through (2) above that the Crestwood Member has elected to take. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.06, if the Crestwood Member has delivered a Crestwood Partial Redemption Notice, then the Holdings Member may elect to convert all (and not less than all) of its Series A Preferred Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 4.07 by delivering written notice to the Crestwood Member at least 30 days after receipt of the Crestwood Partial Redemption Notice.”

 

4


  9.

Section 4.06(f) of the LLC Agreement is hereby amended and restated and replaced in its entirety with the following:

“(f) Holdings Member Option Period. During each of (I) the period from December 31, 2023 and until such time as there are no Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units outstanding or (II) any period from the earlier of (A) the date of a public announcement of an agreement being entered into that the Holdings Member reasonably expects would result in a Crestwood Change of Control or (B) the date of a Crestwood Change of Control, if any, until, in the case of either clause (A) or (B) the later of (x) the sixth Business Day following such Crestwood Change of Control or (y) the day that is 30 days from the date the Holdings Member is provided written notice of such Crestwood Change of Control (each period, the “Holdings Member Option Period”), subject to Section 4.06(a) in respect of the redemption of Deficiency Preferred Units, the Holdings Member may elect at any time when there are no Series C Preferred Units outstanding, by delivery of 30 days’ prior written notice (the “Holdings Member Redemption Notice”) to each of the Company and the Crestwood Member, to cause the Company to redeem (subject to the last sentence of this Section 4.06(f)) some or all of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units effective as of (x) the consummation of an Asset Sale involving the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Interests or assets of the Company to any Person that is not an Affiliate of either of the Members, if applicable, or otherwise (y) (X) if the Holdings Member Redemption Notice was delivered during a Holdings Member Option Period of the type set forth in Section 4.06(f)(II) prior to the date of such Crestwood Change of Control, no later than the day that is the later of (i) simultaneously with the closing of such Crestwood Change of Control or (ii) the tenth day following the delivery of the Change of Control Redemption Notice, or otherwise (Y) the 30th day following delivery of such Holdings Member Redemption Notice (the “Holdings Member Redemption Effective Date”), for an amount per Series A Preferred Unit equal to the Series A-2 Liquidation Amount or Series A-3 Liquidation Amount, as applicable, in each case, calculated as of close of business on the day prior to the Holdings Member Redemption Effective Date (the “Holdings Redemption Price”); provided, that such aggregate amount payable may be satisfied by the Crestwood Member’s election of any one or a combination of the following actions: (1) causing the Company to redeem some or all of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units in exchange for the Company’s paying the Holdings Member cash, (2) acquiring some or all of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units by the issuance to the Holdings Member or its designee as consideration a number of CEQP Units, valued at the CEQP Unit Price calculated as of close of business on the day prior to the Holdings Member Redemption Effective Date, or (3) redeeming all of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units using (A) the cash proceeds of an Asset Sale involving the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Interests or assets of the Company to any Person that is not an Affiliate of either of the Members; provided that in the event that such Asset Sale is taking place in connection with a redemption related to a Secondary Period A-2 Conversion or a Secondary Period A-3 Conversion, an amount equal to the product of the A-2 Conversion Ratio in the case of a Secondary Period A-2 Conversion, or the A-3 Conversion Ratio in the case of a Secondary Period A-3 Conversion, in each case multiplied by the cash proceeds of such Asset Sale shall first be applied to pay out in full the Series A Preferred Units subject to such Secondary Period Conversion and (B) to the extent the cash proceeds from such Asset Sale (after applying any proceeds as required in accordance with subsection (A)) are less than the Holdings Redemption Price payable to Holdings Member, the issuance to the Holdings Member or its designee as consideration a number of CEQP Units, valued at the CEQP Unit Price calculated as of close of business on the day prior to the Holdings Member Redemption Effective Date; provided that (A) the option set forth in the foregoing clause (2) or, if the Asset Sale is not of all or substantially all of the Interests or assets of the Company to any Person that is not an Affiliate of either of the Members, clause (3) shall not be available if any of the CEQP Unit Issuance Limitations would be triggered, (B) CEQP shall comply with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to such CEQP Units so issued, and (C) the number of CEQP Units issued pursuant to this Section 4.06(f) shall not exceed the Maximum Redemption Units (it being acknowledged and agreed that, with respect to an Asset Sale of all or substantially all of the Interests or assets of the Company to any Person that is not an Affiliate of either of the Members, where the proceeds of such Asset Sale are less than the Holdings Redemption Price payable to Holdings Member, the issuance of up to the Maximum Redemption Units, if applicable, in accordance with clause (3)(B), shall together with the proceeds

 

5


of such Asset Sale redeem in full all of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units and no further cash or other consideration shall be required to be paid in connection therewith). If the Crestwood Member does not make an affirmative election with respect to the source of funds for the Holdings Redemption Price in accordance with this Section 4.06(f) within 30 days of receiving the Holdings Member Redemption Notice, the Crestwood Member shall be deemed to have elected the payment option described above in clause (3). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.06(f), if a Holdings Member Redemption Notice is delivered in respect of any Series A Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 4.06(f) during any period described in clause (II)(A) of the first sentence of this Section 4.06(f) and prior to the consummation of a transaction that would constitute a Crestwood Change of Control, and such transaction is later terminated prior to its consummation and prior to the redemption of such Series A Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 4.06(f), then such Holdings Member Redemption Notice shall not be effective and such Series A Preferred Units shall not be required to be redeemed in connection with such terminated transaction under this Section 4.06(f).”

 

  10.

Section 4.06(h) of the LLC Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following after the last sentence of such section:

“Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if CEQP merges or otherwise combines with any other Person (including any publicly listed company) and the surviving entity of such merger or combination is not CEQP, such surviving entity shall be bound by the obligations of CEQP under this Agreement, including but not limited to all obligations pursuant to this Section 4.06(h) as though the term “CEQP” herein was replaced with the name of such surviving entity and the term “CEQP Units” herein was replaced with the equity interests of such surviving entity.”

B.    Agreement in Effect. Except as hereby amended, the LLC Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

C.    Applicable Law. This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

D.    Severability. Each provision of this Amendment shall be considered severable and if for any reason any provision or provisions herein are determined to be invalid, unenforceable, or illegal under any existing or future law, such invalidity, unenforceability, or illegality shall not impair the operation of or affect those portions of this Amendment that are valid, enforceable, and legal.

(Signature on following page)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been executed as of the date first written above.

 

CRESTWOOD MEMBER:
CRESTWOOD MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
By: Crestwood Midstream GP, LLC its general partner
By:  

/s/ Robert Halpin

Name: Robert Halpin
Title: EVP & CFO
HOLDINGS MEMBER:
CN JACKALOPE HOLDINGS LLC
By: GIP JACKALOPE ACQUISITION PARTNERS, L.P., its Administrative Agent
By: GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE GP CASCADE I, L.P., its general partner
By: GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTORS CASCADE, LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Gregg Myers

Name: Gregg Myers
Title: Chief Financial Officer
EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE

CRESTWOOD EQUITY PARTNERS LP

2018 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

WHEREAS, Crestwood Equity GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “General Partner”), the general partner of Crestwood Equity Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”) has previously adopted the Crestwood Equity Partners LP 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2021, by and among the Partnership, as the purchaser and Crestwood Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the seller (the “Transaction”), the Partnership (a) acquired on March 30, 2021 (the “Initial Closing Date”) certain related entities and equity interests in the Partnership and (b) will acquire (the “GP Acquisition”), on or before the 180th day after the Initial Closing Date, among other things, all of the outstanding limited liability company interests in the General Partner;

WHEREAS, the in connection with the GP Acquisition the General Partner desires to amend the Plan in certain respects;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan shall be amended as follows effective immediately prior to the closing of the GP Acquisition (the “Amendment Effective Date”):

1. Section 2(h) of the Plan shall be deleted and the following shall be substituted therefor:

“(h) “Change of Control,” means and shall be deemed to have occurred upon one or more of the following events:

(i) any direct or indirect sale, lease, exchange, liquidation, division or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership to any person or persons, other than to one or more Affiliates;

(ii) the consolidation, reorganization, merger, recapitalization, exchange, division or other similar transaction (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) (any such transaction or series of transactions referred to herein as a “Merger”) pursuant to which (a) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding equity interests in the General Partner or its successor entities cease to be owned, directly or indirectly, by the Partnership, (b) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding equity interests in the Partnership or its successor entities cease to be, directly or indirectly, owned immediately following the Merger by the owners of such interests immediately prior to the Merger, or (c) the General Partner or one or more other Affiliates of the Partnership cease to be general partner(s) of the Partnership or its successor;


(iii) a person or group other than the Partnership or its consolidated subsidiaries directly or indirectly becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of more than 35% of the voting power of the then outstanding common units of the Partnership or its successor; or

(iv) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board or of the board of directors or equivalent body of any successor parent of the Partnership or of the General Partner; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for election by the Partnership’s unitholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board in the ordinary course of business shall be considered as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board or otherwise outside the ordinary course of business.

A Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred as a result of a transaction or series of transactions undertaken solely for the purpose of converting the Partnership from a limited partnership to a c-corporation or limited liability company.”

2. The first sentence of Section 4(a) of the Plan shall be deleted and the following shall be substituted therefor:

“Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c) and Section 7, the number of Units that may be delivered on and after Amendment Effective Date, with respect to Awards under the Plan is 4.0 million (which number is exclusive of the Units underlying Awards previously granted under the Plan immediately prior to the Amendment Effective Date including Restricted Units (“Prior Awards”)). For purposes of clarity, the delivery of Units with respect to Prior Awards on and after the Amendment Effective Date will not reduce the Unit pool set forth in this Section 4(a).”

3. Section 9 of the Plan shall be deleted and the following shall be substituted therefor:

Section 9. Term of the Plan. The Plan, as amended, shall be effective on the Amendment Effective Date and shall continue until the earliest of (i) the date terminated by the Board or the Committee, (ii) the date that all Units available under the Plan have been delivered to Participants, or (iii) ten (10) years from the Amendment Effective Date. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted prior to such termination, and the authority of the Board or the Committee under the Plan or an Award Agreement to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award, shall extend beyond such termination date.”

 

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4. As amended hereby, the Plan is specifically ratified and reaffirmed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Amendment to be executed on the Amendment Effective Date, effective for all purposes as provided above.

 

CRESTWOOD EQUITY GP, LLC
By:  

/s/ Robert Phillips

Name:   Robert Phillips
Title:   Chairman, President and CEO

 

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