Exhibit 3.1
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | |
Section 1.1 | Definitions | 1 |
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Section 1.2 | Construction | 32 |
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ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION | |
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Section 2.1 | Formation | 32 |
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Section 2.2 | Name | 32 |
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Section 2.3 | Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices | 32 |
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Section 2.4 | Purpose and Business | 33 |
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Section 2.5 | Powers | 33 |
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Section 2.6 | Power of Attorney | 33 |
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Section 2.7 | Term | 35 |
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Section 2.8 | Title to Partnership Assets | 35 |
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ARTICLE III RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS | |
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Section 3.1 | Limitation of Liability | 35 |
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Section 3.2 | Management of Business | 35 |
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Section 3.3 | Outside Activities of the Limited Partners | 36 |
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Section 3.4 | Rights of Limited Partners | 36 |
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ARTICLE IV CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | |
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Section 4.1 | Certificates | 37 |
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Section 4.2 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates | 38 |
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Section 4.3 | Record Holders | 38 |
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Section 4.4 | Transfer Generally | 39 |
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Section 4.5 | Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests | 39 |
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Section 4.6 | Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest | 41 |
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Section 4.7 | Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights | 41 |
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Section 4.8 | Restrictions on Transfers | 42 |
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Section 4.9 | Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees | 43 |
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Section 4.10 | Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees | 44 |
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Section 4.11 | Taxation Certificates and Related Matters | 45 |
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ARTICLE V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | |
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Section 5.1 | Organizational Contributions | 46 |
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Section 5.2 | Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates | 46 |
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Section 5.3 | Contributions by Initial Limited Partners | 47 |
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Section 5.4 | Interest | 47 |
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Section 5.5 | Capital Accounts | 47 |
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Section 5.6 | Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities | 52 |
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Section 5.7 | Conversion of Subordinated Units; Cancellation | 53 |
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Section 5.8 | Limited Preemptive Right | 55 |
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Section 5.9 | Splits and Combinations | 55 |
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Section 5.10 | Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests. | 56 |
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Section 5.11 | Distribution Reserve Account | 56 |
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Section 5.12 | Establishment of Class B Units. | 57 |
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ARTICLE VI ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS | |
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Section 6.1 | Allocations for Capital Account Purposes | 65 |
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Section 6.2 | Allocations for Tax Purposes | 74 |
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Section 6.3 | Requirement and Characterization of Cash Distributions; Cash Distributions to Record Holders | 76 |
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Section 6.4 | Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus | 77 |
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Section 6.5 | Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus | 79 |
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Section 6.6 | Adjustment of Initial Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels | 79 |
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Section 6.7 | Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units | 79 |
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Section 6.8 | Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights | 80 |
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Section 6.9 | Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Class B Units. | 81 |
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Section 6.10 | Entity-Level Taxation | 81 |
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ARTICLE VII MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS | |
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Section 7.1 | Management | 83 |
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Section 7.2 | Certificate of Limited Partnership | 85 |
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Section 7.3 | Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority | 85 |
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Section 7.4 | Reimbursement of the General Partner | 86 |
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Section 7.5 | Outside Activities | 87 |
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Section 7.6 | Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members | 88 |
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Section 7.7 | Indemnification | 89 |
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Section 7.8 | Liability of Indemnitees | 90 |
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Section 7.9 | Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties | 91 |
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Section 7.10 | Other Matters Concerning the General Partner | 93 |
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Section 7.11 | Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities | 94 |
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Section 7.12 | Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates | 94 |
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Section 7.13 | Reliance by Third Parties | 97 |
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ARTICLE VIII BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS | |
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Section 8.1 | Records and Accounting | 98 |
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Section 8.2 | Fiscal Year | 98 |
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Section 8.3 | Reports | 98 |
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ARTICLE IX TAX MATTERS | |
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Section 9.1 | Tax Returns and Information | 99 |
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Section 9.2 | Tax Elections | 99 |
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Section 9.3 | Tax Controversies | 99 |
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Section 9.4 | Withholding | 100 |
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ARTICLE X ADMISSION OF PARTNERS | |
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Section 10.1 | Admission of Initial Limited Partners | 100 |
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Section 10.2 | Admission of Substituted Limited Partners | 101 |
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Section 10.3 | Admission of Successor General Partner | 101 |
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Section 10.4 | Admission of Additional Limited Partners | 102 |
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Section 10.5 | Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership | 102 |
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ARTICLE XI WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS | |
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Section 11.1 | Withdrawal of the General Partner | 102 |
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Section 11.2 | Removal of the General Partner | 104 |
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Section 11.3 | Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner | 104 |
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Section 11.4 | Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages | 106 |
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Section 11.5 | Withdrawal of Limited Partners | 106 |
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ARTICLE XII DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION | |
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Section 12.1 | Dissolution | 107 |
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Section 12.2 | Continuation of the Business of the Partnership | 107 |
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Section 12.3 | Liquidator | 108 |
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Section 12.4 | Liquidation | 108 |
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Section 12.5 | Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership | 109 |
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Section 12.6 | Return of Contributions | 109 |
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Section 12.7 | Waiver of Partition | 109 |
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Section 12.8 | Capital Account Restoration | 109 |
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Section 12.9 | Class B Conversion Rights. | 110 |
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ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE | |
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Section 13.1 | Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner | 110 |
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Section 13.2 | Amendment Procedures | 111 |
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Section 13.3 | Amendment Requirements | 112 |
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Section 13.4 | Special Meetings | 112 |
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Section 13.5 | Notice of a Meeting | 113 |
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Section 13.6 | Record Date | 113 |
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Section 13.7 | Adjournment | 113 |
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Section 13.8 | Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes | 113 |
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Section 13.9 | Quorum and Voting | 114 |
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Section 13.10 | Conduct of a Meeting | 114 |
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Section 13.11 | Action Without a Meeting | 115 |
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Section 13.12 | Right to Vote and Related Matters | 115 |
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ARTICLE XIV MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION | |
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Section 14.1 | Authority | 116 |
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Section 14.2 | Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 116 |
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Section 14.3 | Approval by Limited Partners of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 118 |
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Section 14.4 | Certificate of Merger; Certificate of Conversion | 119 |
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Section 14.5 | Amendment of Partnership Agreement | 119 |
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Section 14.6 | Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 119 |
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Section 14.7 | Business Combination Limitations | 120 |
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ARTICLE XV RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS | |
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Section 15.1 | Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests | 120 |
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ARTICLE XVI GENERAL PROVISIONS | |
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Section 16.1 | Addresses and Notices | 122 |
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Section 16.2 | Further Action | 122 |
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Section 16.3 | Binding Effect | 123 |
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Section 16.4 | Integration | 123 |
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Section 16.5 | Creditors | 123 |
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Section 16.6 | Waiver | 123 |
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Section 16.7 | Counterparts | 123 |
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Section 16.8 | Applicable Law | 123 |
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Section 16.9 | Invalidity of Provisions | 123 |
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Section 16.10 | Consent of Partners | 123 |
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Section 16.11 | Facsimile Signatures | 124 |
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Section 16.12 | Third Party Beneficiaries | 124 |
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FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF
CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
THIS FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P., dated as of February 14, 2017 is entered into by and between Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), and the Limited Partners as provided herein. In consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions.
The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
“2011 EPC Contract” means that certain Lump Sum Turnkey Agreement for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction of the Sabine Pass LNG Liquefaction Facility, dated November 11, 2011, between Sabine Pass Liquefaction and Bechtel Oil, Gas & Chemicals, Inc. as in effect on the original date of the Unit Purchase 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 asset base of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction.
“Actual Conversion Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(vi)(C).
“Additional Book Basis” means the portion of any remaining Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property that is attributable to positive adjustments made to such Carrying Value as a result of Book-Up Events. For purposes of determining the extent that Carrying Value constitutes Additional Book Basis:
(a) Any negative adjustment made to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property as a result of either a Book-Down Event or a Book-Up Event shall first be deemed to offset or decrease that portion of the Carrying Value of such Adjusted Property that is attributable to any prior positive adjustments made thereto pursuant to a Book-Up Event or Book-Down Event.
(b) If Carrying Value that constitutes Additional Book Basis is reduced as a result of a Book-Down Event and the Carrying Value of other property is increased as a result of such Book-Down Event, an allocable portion of any such increase in Carrying Value shall
be treated as Additional Book Basis; provided, however, that the amount treated as Additional Book Basis pursuant hereto as a result of such Book-Down Event shall not exceed the amount by which the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments after such Book-Down Event exceeds the remaining Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property after such Book-Down Event (determined without regard to the application of this clause (b) to such Book-Down Event).
“Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means any Book Basis Derivative Items that are computed with reference to Additional Book Basis. To the extent that the Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property as of the beginning of any taxable period exceeds the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the beginning of such period (the “Excess Additional Book Basis”), the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for such period shall be reduced by the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items determined without regard to this sentence as the Excess Additional Book Basis bears to the Additional Book Basis as of the beginning of such period.
“Additional Limited Partner” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.4 and who is shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership.
“Adjusted Capital Account” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end of each 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 Section 6.1(d)(i) or Section 6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a Class B Unit, a Subordinated Unit, an Incentive Distribution Right or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Class B Unit, Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Class B Unit, Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest was first issued.
“Adjusted Operating Surplus” means, with respect to any period, Operating Surplus generated with respect to such period (a) less (i) any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings with respect to such period and (ii) any net decrease in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period not relating to an Operating Expenditure made with respect to such period, and (b) plus (i) any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings with respect to such period,
and (ii) any net increase in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium. Adjusted Operating Surplus does not include that portion of Operating Surplus included in clause (a)(i) of the definition of Operating Surplus. Cash amounts held in the Distribution Reserve Account or amounts released therefrom shall not constitute Adjusted Operating Surplus.
“Adjusted Property” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or Section 5.5(d)(ii).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments” means, as of the end of any taxable period, the sum of the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of all the Partners.
“Agreed Allocation” means any allocation, other than a Required Allocation, of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1, including a Curative Allocation (if appropriate to the context in which the term “Agreed Allocation” is used).
“Agreed Value” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or other consideration at the time of contribution as determined by the General Partner. The General Partner shall use such method as it determines to be appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated transaction among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair market value of each Contributed Property.
“Agreement” means this Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Applicable Funding Date” means, (i) with respect to the CEI Class B Units, the CEI Class B Initial Funding Date, and (ii) with respect to the Purchaser Class B Units and the CTPL Class B Units, the Purchaser Class B Initial Funding Date.
“Assignee” means 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.
“Assignment Agreement” means the Assignment Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2007, between O&M Services, the General Partner and Sabine Pass LNG.
“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; and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.
“Available Cash” means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:
(a) the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand at the end of such Quarter, (ii) all additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter and (iii) the amount in the Distribution Reserve Account equal to the sum of the Initial Quarterly Distribution times the number of Outstanding Common Units and Outstanding General Partner Units on the Record Date for such Quarter (or, for the Quarter in which the closing of the Initial Public Offering occurs, such amount multiplied by a fraction, of which the numerator is the number of days in the period from the closing of the Initial Public Offering through the end of such Quarter and of which the denominator is the number of days in such Quarter) but only to the extent such amounts are necessary to make distributions pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i) and Section 6.4(a)(ii) for such Quarter, less
(b) the amount of any cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) established by the General Partner to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital expenditures, for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group and for refunds of collected rates reasonably likely to be refunded as a result of a settlement or hearing relating to FERC rate proceedings) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject or (iii) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.4 or Section 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters; provided, however, that the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to clause (iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute the Initial Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units, plus any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all Common Units, with respect to such Quarter; and, provided further, that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed, for purposes of determining Available Cash, to have been made, established, increased or reduced within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Available Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
“Basic Documents” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Unit Purchase Agreement.
“Board of Directors” means, with respect to the General Partner, its board of directors or managers, as applicable, if a corporation or limited liability company. If any successor General Partner is a limited partnership, and its general partner is a corporation or limited liability company, the “Board of Directors” shall mean the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of the General Partner.
“Book Basis Derivative Items” means any item of income, deduction, gain or loss included in the determination of Net Income or Net Loss that is computed with reference to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property (e.g., depreciation, depletion, or gain or loss with respect to an Adjusted Property).
“Book-Down Event” means an event that triggers a negative adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Book-Tax Disparity” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.
“Book-Up Event” means an event that triggers a positive adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the States of New York or Texas shall not be regarded as a Business Day.
“Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5. The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a Class B Unit, a Subordinated Unit, an Incentive Distribution Right or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Class B Unit, Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Class B Unit, Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest was first issued.
“Capital Contribution” means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property (which, in the case of a Capital Contribution by the General Partner pursuant
to Section 5.2(b) may include Units (other than General Partner Units and Subordinated Units) owned by the General Partner) that a Partner contributes to the Partnership.
“Capital Improvement” means any (a) addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any Group Member, (b) acquisition of existing, or the construction of new, capital assets (including pipelines, gathering lines, liquefaction facilities, regasification facilities, processing plants, LNG carriers, docks, terminals, truck racks, pipeline compression facilities, tankage and other storage, gathering and distribution facilities and related or similar assets) or (c) capital contribution by a Group Member to a Person that is not a Subsidiary in which a Group Member has an equity interest, to fund the Group Member’s pro rata share of the cost of the acquisition of existing, or the construction of new, capital assets (including pipelines, gathering lines, liquefaction facilities, regasification facilities, processing plants, LNG carriers, docks, terminals, truck racks, pipeline compression facilities, tankage and other storage, gathering and distribution facilities and related or similar assets), in each case if such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction is made to increase the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), or such Person, in the case of clause (c), from the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group or such Person, as the case may be, immediately prior to such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction; provided, however, that to the extent any such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction is made solely for investment purposes it shall not constitute a Capital Improvement under this Agreement.
“Capital Surplus” has the meaning assigned 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 Section 5.5(d)(i) and Section 5.5(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 General Partner.
“Cause” means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the General Partner liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership.
“CEI” means Cheniere Energy, Inc.
“CEI Class B Final Funding Date” means July 31, 2012, upon which the issuance of the CEI Remaining Units resulted in the full satisfaction of the CEI Holder’s obligations to purchase Class B Units under the CEI Unit Purchase Agreement.
“CEI Class B Initial Funding Date” means June 11, 2012.
“CEI Class B Units” means the CEI Initial Class B Units and the CEI Remaining Units.
“CEI Holder” means the General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates.
“CEI Initial Class B Units” means 11,111,111 Class B Units issued to the CEI Holder on the CEI Class B Initial Funding Date pursuant to the CEI Unit Purchase Agreement.
“CEI Remaining Units” means 22,222,223 Class B Units issued to the CEI Holder on July 31, 2012, as if such Class B Units were issued and Outstanding on the CEI Class B Initial Funding Date and as such Class B Units are adjusted over time ending on the CEI Class B Final Funding Date pursuant to Sections 5.12(b)(ii) and 5.12(b)(ix). The purchase price for each CEI Class B Unit shall be the Class B Issue Price regardless of the number of Class B Units actually issued.
“CEI Subscription Agreement” means that certain subscription agreement, dated as of May 14, 2012, by and between the Partnership and Cheniere LNG Terminals, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“CEI Unit Purchase Agreement” means that certain unit purchase agreement, dated as of May 14, 2012, by and between the Partnership and Cheniere LNG Terminals, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Certificate” means (a) 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 General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units; or (b) a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership Securities.
“Certificate of Limited Partnership” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 7.2, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Cheniere LNG Holdings” means Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Cheniere LNG Terminals” means Cheniere LNG Terminals, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“Cheniere Marketing” means Cheniere Marketing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Citizenship Certification” means a properly completed certificate in such form as may be specified by the General Partner by which an Assignee or a Limited Partner certifies that such Assignee or Limited Partner (and if such Assignee or Limited Partner is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of such Assignee’s or Limited Partner’s knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Citizen.
“Claim” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(d).
“Class B Accrual Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(A).
“Class B Accrual Rate” means an amount equal to 3.5%.
“Class B Allocation Deficit Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B).
“Class B Conversion Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(vi)(C).
“Class B Conversion Notice Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(vi)(C).
“Class B Conversion Price” means an amount equal to $15.00 per Class B Unit (as adjusted for splits and combinations).
“Class B Conversion Value” means, with respect to each Class B Unit as of the date of such determination, an amount equal to the Class B Issue Price, as increased or adjusted pursuant to Section 5.12.
“Class B Debt Lower Adjustment Factor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ix).
“Class B Debt Upper Adjustment Factor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ix).
“Class B Dilutive Issuance” means the issuance after the Purchaser Class B Initial Funding Date of any Equity Securities in one or more transactions in connection with CTPL or the completion of Train 1, Train 2, Train 3 or Train 4 to the extent exceeding 25,500,000 Common Unit Equivalents and associated General Partner Units in the aggregate; provided, however, that the following shall be excluded from the foregoing determination: (a) the issuance of Common Units upon the conversion of the Class B Units; (b) adjustments pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ix); (c) the issuance of (1) Units pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement, (2) the CEI Class B Units and (3) the CTPL Class B Units; (d) any issuances from the Partnership’s equity incentive plans in effect from time to time for the benefit of the members of the Board of Directors and (e) any issuances of Equity Securities the proceeds of which are used to solely fund the Partnership’s acquisition of CTPL (including acquisition of the equity interests of the entities that own CTPL) and actual CTPL expenditures, in each case, that are specifically authorized by the Board of Directors.
“Class B Issue Price” means $15.00 per Class B Unit (as adjusted for splits and combinations).
“Class B Non-Converted Liquidation Accrual” means an amount per Class B Unit equal to the Class B Issue Price multiplied annually by 8.5% during the period commencing on the Applicable Funding Date and ending on the Liquidation Date, adjusted in a manner consistent with Section 5.12(b)(ix).
“Class B Quarterly Accrual” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ii).
“Class B Units” means the series of Units designated as senior subordinated Units pursuant to Section 5.12.
“Closing Date” means the first date on which Common Units were issued and sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement.
“Closing Price” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the last sale price on such day, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the respective Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the last quoted price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the primary reporting system then in use in relation to such Limited Partner Interests of such class, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General Partner.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific Section or Sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.
“Combined Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(a).
“Commences Commercial Service” means the date upon which a Capital Improvement is first put into commercial service following construction and testing.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Commodity Hedge Contract” means any commodity exchange, swap, forward, cap, floor, collar or other similar agreement or arrangement entered into for the purpose of reducing the exposure of the Partnership Group to fluctuations in the price of hydrocarbons (including liquefied natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas) in their operations and not for speculative purposes.
“Common Minimum Allocation” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(iv)(E).
“Common Unit” means a Unit representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement. The term “Common Unit” does not include a Class B Unit or a Subordinated Unit prior to its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.
“Common Unit Arrearage” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, as to any Quarter within the Subordination Period, the excess, if any, of (a) the Initial Quarterly
Distribution with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter over (b) the sum of all Available Cash distributed with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i).
“Common Unit Equivalent” means any of (x) a Common Unit, (y) in the case of an issuance of an Equity Security exercisable, exchangeable, or convertible into a Common Unit, the equivalent number of Common Units for which such other issuance of Equity Securities is exercisable, exchangeable or convertible into, on an accreted and Fully Diluted Basis and (z) in the case of any Equity Securities other than those contemplated by the preceding clauses (x) and (y), the number of Common Units with the same value as such Equity Securities, as such value is determined by the Board of Directors in good faith at the time of issuance of such Equity Securities. If the Common Unit Equivalent has a paid-in-kind or accreting conversion feature, then the number of Common Unit Equivalents shall be increased to take into account the number of Common Units (or other Equity Securities) that could be issued, exchanged for or converted into such Common Unit Equivalent based upon the forecast presented to the Board of Directors in connection with approving the issuance of such Common Unit Equivalents.
“Conflicts Committee” means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner composed entirely of two or more directors, each of whom (a) is not a security holder, officer or employee of the General Partner, (b) is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the General Partner, (c) is not a holder of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other than Common Units or any other class of Limited Partner Units then listed for trading on any National Securities Exchange and (d) meets the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by any National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading.
“Contracted Adjusted Operating Surplus” shall mean the amount of Adjusted Operating Surplus derived solely from LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements and terminal use agreements, in each case, with a minimum term of three years with counterparties who are not Affiliates of CEI. The calculation excludes revenues and expenses attributable to the portion of payments made under the LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements related to the final settlement price for the New York Mercantile Exchange’s Henry Hub natural gas futures contract for the month in which the relevant cargo’s delivery window is scheduled.
“Contributed Property” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d), such property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.
“Contribution Agreement” means that certain Contribution and Conveyance Agreement dated as of the Closing Date, among the Partnership, the General Partner and certain other parties, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Converted Class B Unit” means a Common Unit resulting from the conversion of a Class B Unit pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi).
“Crest Royalty Agreement” means the assumption, assignment and indemnity agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Partnership, the General Partner, Cheniere LNG Holdings and Cheniere Energy, Inc.
“CTPL” means that certain natural gas pipeline owned by Cheniere Creole Trail Pipeline, L.P., which interconnects with the Sabine Pass LNG terminal to points of interconnection with existing interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines in southwest Louisiana.
“CTPL Class B Units” means the Class B Units to be issued by the Partnership to the CEI Holder pursuant to the CEI Subscription Agreement, as if such Class B Units were issued and Outstanding on the Purchaser Class B Initial Funding Date and as such Class B Units are adjusted over time pursuant to Sections 5.12(b)(ii) and 5.12(b)(ix). The purchase price for each CTPL Class B Unit shall be the Class B Issue Price regardless of the number of Class B Units actually issued.
“CTPL Expenditures” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the acquisition, addition or improvement to CTPL) if such expenditures are made to acquire, own, operate, or maintain, including over the long term, the operating capacity of CTPL prior to the Date of First Commercial Delivery, including, but not limited to, taxes, payments to the General Partner in reimbursement of expenses incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership Group, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings, debt service payments and interest payments.
“Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, and as of the end of any Quarter, the excess, if any, of (a) the sum resulting from adding together the Common Unit Arrearage as to an Initial Common Unit for each of the Quarters within the Subordination Period ending on or before the last day of such Quarter over (b) the sum of any distributions theretofore made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(ii) and the second sentence of Section 6.5 with respect to an Initial Common Unit (including any distributions to be made in respect of the last of such Quarters).
“Curative Allocation” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xii).
“Current Market Price” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the average of the daily Closing Prices per Limited Partner Interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date.
“Date of First Commercial Delivery” has the meaning set forth in the LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated November 21, 2011, between Sabine Pass Liquefaction and Gas Natural Aprovisionamientos SDG S.A.
“Delaware Act” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del C. Section 17-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.“Departing General Partner” means a former General Partner from and after the effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2.
“Depositary” means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted assigns.
“DGCL” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.7 of this Agreement.
“Distribution Reserve Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(a).
“Distribution Reserve Period Termination Date” means the date of distribution of Available Cash for the Quarter ending June 30, 2009.
“Economic Risk of Loss” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
“Electing Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(b)(vii)(B) of this 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 the General Partner determines 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.
“Eligible Investments” means
(1) United States dollars;
(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or instrumentality of the United States government (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities);
(3) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;
(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;
(5) commercial paper or tax exempt obligations having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P and, in each case, maturing within one year after the date of acquisition; and
(6) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute cash equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition or a money market fund or a qualified investment fund given one of the two highest long-term ratings available from S&P or Moody’s.
“Employee Benefit Plans” means any qualified or non-qualified plan of deferred compensation or other arrangement (whether or not covered by ERISA), plan or agreement providing
compensation or incentives to current, future or retired officers, directors, employees or consultants for the performance of services.
“EPC Notice to Proceed” shall mean the “Notice to Proceed” issued under the 2011 EPC Contract.
“Equity Securities Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(vii)(C).
“Equity Security” means any security or other instrument that has an option, right, warrant or appreciation right (including any phantom equity or any other instrument or obligation of the Partnership) which is based upon the value or performance of the Partnership. Equity Security includes any Unit and any interest junior, pari passu or senior to any such Unit. Whether any type of interest constitutes an Equity Security shall be determined in the good faith determination of the Board of Directors.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, or any successor law, and all rules, regulations, rulings and interpretations adopted by the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Labor thereunder.
“Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.10.
“Event of Withdrawal” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(a).
“Expansion Capital Expenditures” means cash expenditures for Acquisitions or Capital Improvements. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall not include Maintenance Capital Expenditures or Investment Capital Expenditures. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions on equity issued, in each case, to finance the construction or development of a Capital Improvement and paid during the period beginning on the date that the Partnership enters into a binding commitment to commence construction or development of a Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement Commences Commercial Service and the date that such Capital Improvement is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred or equity issued to fund such construction period interest payments or such construction period distributions on equity paid during such period, shall also be deemed to be debt or equity, as the case may be, issued to finance the construction or development of a Capital Improvement.
“FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
“Final Subordinated Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(xi).
“First Liquidation Target Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(D).
“First Target Distribution” means $0.489 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurred, it means the product of $0.489 multiplied by a fraction, of which the
numerator is the number of days in such period, and of which the denominator is the number of days in such Quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with the definition of Initial Quarterly Distribution and Section 6.6 and Section 6.10.
“Fully Diluted Basis” means, when calculating the number of Outstanding Units for any period, a basis that includes, in addition to the Outstanding Units, all Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership (a) that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Units that are senior to or pari passu with the Subordinated Units, (b) whose conversion, exercise or exchange price is less than the Current Market Price on the date of such calculation, (c) that may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units prior to or during the Quarter immediately following the end of the period for which the calculation is being made without the satisfaction of any contingency beyond the control of the holder other than the payment of consideration and the compliance with administrative mechanics applicable to such conversion, exercise or exchange and (d) that were not converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units during the period for which the calculation is being made; provided, however, that for purposes of determining the number of Outstanding Units on a Fully Diluted Basis when calculating whether the Subordination Period has ended or the Subordinated Units are entitled to convert into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7, such Partnership Securities, options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights shall be deemed to have been Outstanding Units only for the four Quarters that comprise the last four Quarters of the measurement period; provided, further, that if consideration will be paid to any Group Member in connection with such conversion, exercise or exchange, the number of Units to be included in such calculation shall be that number equal to the excess, if positive, of (i) the number of Units issuable upon such conversion, exercise or exchange over (ii) the number of Units that such consideration would purchase at the Current Market Price.
“General Partner” means Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).
“General Partner Interest” means the ownership interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it), which is evidenced by General Partner Units, and includes any and all benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
“General Partner Preemptive Share” is an amount of Partnership Securities to which the CEI Holder is entitled pursuant to Section 5.8; provided, however, that if the purchase price for the Partnership Securities is less than $10.00 per Common Unit (or below such amount for the Common Unit Equivalent) (as adjusted for splits and combinations), then the Outstanding Subordinated Units shall not be included in such calculation.
“General Partner Unit” means a fractional part of the General Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the General Partner Interest. A General Partner Unit is not a Unit.
“Governmental Authority” has the meaning set forth in the Unit Purchase Agreement.
“Group” means a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising investment power or disposing of any Partnership Interests with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Interests.
“Group Member” means a member of the Partnership Group.
“Group Member Agreement” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or similar organizational documents of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint venture and the governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Holder” as used in Section 7.12, has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(a).
“Incentive Distribution Right” means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest issued to the General Partner in connection with the transactions contemplated pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, which Limited Partner Interest will confer upon the holder thereof only the rights and obligations specifically provided in this Agreement with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights (and no other rights otherwise available to or other obligations of a holder of a Partnership Interest). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Right on any Partnership matter except as may otherwise be required by law.
“Incentive Distributions” means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(v), Section 6.4(a)(vi) and Section 6.4(a)(vii), Section 6.4(b)(iii), Section 6.4(b)(iv) and Section 6.4(b)(v).
“Incremental Income Taxes” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.10.
“Indemnified Persons” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(d).
“Indemnitee” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a member, manager, partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member (other than any Person who is or was a Limited Partner of the Partnership in such Person’s capacity as such), the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner as an officer, director, member, manager,
partner, 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, and (f) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement.
“Ineligible Holder” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.11.
“Initial Common Unit” means a Common Unit sold in the Initial Public Offering.
“Initial Limited Partners” means Cheniere LNG Holdings, the General Partner (with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights received by it pursuant to Section 5.2(a)), and the Underwriters upon issuance by the Partnership of Common Units as described in Section 5.3 in connection with the Initial Public Offering.
“Initial Public Offering” means the initial public offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as described in the Registration Statement.
“Initial Quarterly Distribution” means $0.425 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurred, it means the product of $0.425 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is the number of days in such Quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 6.6 and Section 6.10.
“Initial Unit Price” means (a) with respect to the Common Units and the Subordinated Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters offered the Common Units for sale to the public as set forth on the cover page of the prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement and first issued at or after the time the Registration Statement first became effective; or (b) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit at which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the Partnership, as determined by the General Partner, in each case adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.
“Interim Capital Transactions” means the following transactions if they occur prior to the Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than Working Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account in the ordinary course of business) by any Group Member and sales of debt securities of any Group Member; (b) sales of equity interests of any Group Member (excluding any such sales to the extent the proceeds thereof are placed in the Distribution Reserve Account); (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; (d) the termination of Commodity Hedge Contracts or interest rate swap agreements prior to the termination date otherwise specified therein; (e) capital contributions received; and (f) corporate reorganizations or restructurings.
“Investment Capital Expenditures” means capital expenditures other than Maintenance Capital Expenditures and Expansion Capital Expenditures.
“Investor” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Investors’ and Registration Rights Agreement.
“Investor Approval Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Investors’ and Registration Rights Agreement.
“Investors’ and Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Investors’ and Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2012, among CEI, the General Partner, the Partnership, Cheniere LNG Terminals or an Affiliate thereof, Purchaser and the other Investors named therein, as amended from time to time.
“Issue Price” means the price at which a Unit is purchased from the Partnership, after taking into account any sales commission or underwriting discount charged to the Partnership and after taking into account any other form of discount with respect to the price at which a Unit is purchased from the Partnership; provided, however, that in the case of the Class B Units, the Issue Price shall be the Class B Issue Price.
“Letter Agreement” means that certain letter agreement, dated as of November 9, 2006, among Sabine Pass LNG, Cheniere Marketing and Cheniere LNG, Inc. regarding the J&S Cheniere S.A. Option Agreement.
“Limited Partner” means, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) the Organizational Limited Partner prior to its withdrawal from the Partnership, each Initial Limited Partner, each Substituted Limited Partner, each Additional Limited Partner and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3(b), in each case, in such Person’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership or (b) solely for purposes of Articles Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article IX and Article XII, each Assignee; provided, however, that when the term “Limited Partner” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles Article XIII and Article XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of an Incentive Distribution Right (solely with respect to its Incentive Distribution Rights and not with respect to any other Limited Partner Interest held by such Person) except as may otherwise be required by law.
“Limited Partner Interest” means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner or Assignee in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Class B Units, Subordinated Units, Incentive Distribution Rights 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 Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any Incentive Distribution Right except as may be required by law.
“Limited Partner Unit” means each of the Common Units, Class B Units, Subordinated Units and other Units representing fractional parts of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees (but shall not include the Incentive Distribution Rights).
“Liquefaction Project” means the liquefaction facilities developed or to be developed, owned and operated by Sabine Pass Liquefaction at a site adjacent to the liquefied natural gas terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, including Train 1, Train 2, Train 3 and Train 4 (as applicable), and the related facilities, equipment and activities incidental thereto.
“Liquidation Date” means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first sentence of Section 12.2, the date on which the applicable time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election being made, and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.
“Liquidator” means one or more Persons selected by the General Partner, pursuant to Section 12.3, to perform the functions described in Section 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware Act.
“LNG” means liquefied natural gas.
“LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements” means agreements under which customers have committed to purchase quantities of LNG.
“Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the addition or improvement to the asset base owned by any Group Member or for the acquisition of existing, or the construction or development of new, capital assets) if such expenditures are made to maintain, including over the long term, the operating capacity or asset base of the Partnership Group. Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall not include (a) Expansion Capital Expenditures or (b) Investment Capital Expenditures. Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions on equity issued, in each case, to finance the construction or development of a replacement asset and paid during the period beginning on the date that the Partnership enters into a binding obligation to commence constructing or developing a replacement asset and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such replacement asset Commences Commercial Service and the date that such replacement asset is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred to pay or equity issued to fund construction or development period interest payments, or such construction or development period distributions on equity, shall also be deemed to be debt incurred or equity, as the case may be, issued to finance the construction or development of a replacement asset.
“Management Services Agreements” means, collectively, the Management Services Agreement, dated February 25, 2006, between Sabine Pass LNG and Sabine Pass LNG-GP, Inc. and the Management Services Agreement, dated September 1, 2006, between Sabine Pass LNG-GP, Inc. and Cheniere LNG Terminals.
“Mandatory Conversion Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(vi)(A).
“Measurement Date” means October 1, 2014.
“Merger Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.
“MMBtu” means million British thermal units.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Services, Inc.
“National Securities Exchange” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, and any successor to such statute.
“Net Agreed Value” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced by any 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 5.5(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 (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 5.12(b)(iv) or Section 6.1(d) or; provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made as if Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.
“Net Loss” means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year over the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made as if Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.
“Net Positive Adjustments” means, with respect to any Partner, the excess, if any, of the total positive adjustments over the total negative adjustments made to the Capital Account of such Partner pursuant to Book-Up Events and Book-Down Events.“Net Termination Gain” means, for any taxable year, the sum, if positive, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership (i) after the Liquidation Date and (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership in a single transaction or a series of related transactions. The items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
“Net Termination Loss” means, for any taxable year, the sum, if negative, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership (i) after the Liquidation Date and
(ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership in a single transaction or a series of related transactions. The items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
“Non-citizen Assignee” means a Person whom the General Partner has determined does not constitute an Eligible Citizen and as to whose Partnership Interest the General Partner has become the Substituted Limited Partner, pursuant to Section 4.9.
“Nonrecourse Built-in Gain” means with respect to any Contributed Properties or Adjusted Properties that are subject to a mortgage or pledge securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of any taxable gain that would be allocated to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.2(b)(i)(A), Section 6.2(b)(ii)(A) and Section 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 expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.
“Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).
“Notice of Election to Purchase” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(b).
“O&M Agreement” means the Operation and Maintenance Agreement, dated February 25, 2005, between O&M Services and Sabine Pass LNG.
“O&M Services” means Cheniere LNG O&M Services, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
“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, payments to the General Partner in reimbursement of expenses incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership Group, non-Pro Rata repurchases of Units, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings, debt service payments, interest payments, payments made in the ordinary course of business under Commodity Hedge Contracts (excluding payments made in connection with any termination of a Commodity Hedge Contract prior to its stated expiration or termination date), provided that with respect to amounts paid in connection with the initial purchase or placing of a Commodity Hedge Contract, such amount(s) shall be amortized over the expected term of the applicable Commodity Hedge Contract and, if earlier, upon its termination, and Maintenance Capital Expenditures, subject to the following:
(a) repayment of Working Capital Borrowings deducted from Operating Surplus pursuant to clause (b)(iii) of the definition of Operating Surplus shall not constitute Operating Expenditures when actually repaid;
(b) payments (including prepayments) of principal of and premium on indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings shall not constitute Operating Expenditures; and
(c) Operating Expenditures shall not include (i) Expansion Capital Expenditures, (ii) Investment Capital Expenditures, (iii) payment of transaction expenses (including taxes) relating to Interim Capital Transactions, (iv) distributions to Partners, (v) non-Pro Rata repurchases of Units of any class made with the proceeds of an Interim Capital Transaction or (vi) CTPL Expenditures. Where capital expenditures are made in part for Expansion Capital Expenditures and in part for other purposes, the General Partner, with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee, shall determine the allocation between the amounts paid for each.
“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) $30 million, (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, but excluding cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions, (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, (iv) all cash distributions from the Distribution Reserve Account, including cash in the Distribution Reserve Account released in accordance with Section 5.11(d) and Section 5.11(e), and (v) the amount of distributions paid on equity issued in connection with the construction or development of a Capital Improvement or replacement assets and paid during the period beginning on the date that the Partnership enters into a binding commitment to commence construction or development of such Capital Improvement or replacement asset and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement or replacement asset Commences Commercial Service and the date that it is abandoned or disposed of (equity issued to fund the construction period interest payments on debt incurred (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements), or construction period distributions on equity issued, to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement or replacement asset shall also be deemed to be equity issued to finance the construction or development of a Capital Improvement or replacement asset for purposes of this clause (v)), less
(b) the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, (ii) subject to Section 5.11(b), the amount of cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) established by the General Partner to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures and (iii) all Working Capital Borrowings not repaid within twelve months after having been incurred or repaid within such twelve-month period with the proceeds of additional Working Capital Borrowings;
provided, however, that disbursements made (including contributions to a Group Member or disbursements on behalf of a Group Member) or cash reserves established, increased or reduced
after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such period shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within such period if the General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Operating Surplus” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner.
“Optional Conversion Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(vi)(B).
“Organizational Limited Partner” means Cheniere LNG Holdings in its capacity as the organizational limited partner of the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.
“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 General Partner and its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding, 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 law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Units so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Units shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Securities for purposes of this Agreement); provided, further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates, (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, or (iii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership with the prior approval of the Board of Directors (which includes any Class B Units issued hereunder and the underlying Common Units issued upon conversion thereof pursuant to Section 5.12).
“Over-Allotment Option” means the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters by the Selling Unitholder pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
“Partner” means a General Partner or a Limited Partner and Assignees thereof, if applicable.
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
“Partner Nonrecourse Deductions” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt.
“Partnership” means Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
“Partnership Group” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single entity.
“Partnership Interest” means an interest in the Partnership, which shall include the General Partner Interest and 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 Common Units, Class B Units, Subordinated Units, General Partner Units and Incentive Distribution Rights.
“Per Unit Capital Amount” means, as of any date of determination, the Capital Account, stated on a per Unit basis, underlying any Unit held by a Person other than the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner who holds Units.
“Percentage Interest” means as of any date of determination (a) as to the General Partner with respect to General Partner Units and as to any Unitholder or Assignee with respect to Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of General Partner Units held by the General Partner or the number of Units held by such Unitholder or Assignee, as the case may be, by (B) the total number of all Outstanding Units as of such date of determination and all General Partner Units, and (b) as to the holders of additional Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.6, the percentage for each Partnership Security as determined by the General Partner as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right shall at all times be zero. Solely for purposes of Sections 5.8 and 5.12(b)(vii), and the determination of the General Partner Preemptive Share and Purchaser Preemptive Share, prior to the conversion of all Class B Units, the Percentage Interest of the General Partner and it Affiliates shall be calculated and determined based on (i) Outstanding Units (including the total Outstanding and owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) with the number of Class B Units determined on an as-converted basis, and (ii) the Outstanding General Partner Units being deemed to include any General Partner Units issuable in accordance with Sections 5.12(b)(iii) and 5.12(b)(vi)(E) upon such issuance of Class B Units or conversion of Class B Units at such applicable time.
“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.
“Plan of Conversion” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.1 of this Agreement.
“Preemptive Share” means (x) with respect to the Purchaser, the Purchaser Preemptive Share and (y) with respect to the General Partner, the General Partner Preemptive Share.
“Pro Rata” means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (b) when used with respect to Partners and Assignees or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners and Assignees or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests and (c) when used with respect to holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned equally among all holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held by each such holder.
“Purchase Date” means the date determined by the General Partner as the date for purchase of all Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of a certain class (other than Limited Partner Interests owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV.
“Purchaser” means Blackstone CQP Holdco LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and any Person to whom the Purchaser is permitted to assign its rights as “Purchaser” pursuant to the Investors’ and Registration Rights Agreement.
“Purchaser Class B Final Funding Date” means the date on which the issuance of Class B Units results in the full satisfaction of the Purchaser’s obligations to purchase Class B Units under the Unit Purchase Agreement.
“Purchaser Class B Initial Funding Date” means August 9, 2012.
“Purchaser Class B Units” means the Purchaser Initial Class B Units and the Remaining Units.
“Purchaser Class B Weighted Average Funding Period” means (X) the sum of the products of (A) the number of days that passed between the Purchaser Class B Initial Funding Date and the date of any subsequent funding by the Purchaser with respect to the Remaining Units pursuant to the terms of the Unit Purchase Agreement and (B) the dollars funded by the Purchaser in any such subsequent funding, divided by (Y) $1,000,000,000.
“Purchaser Directors” means the three members appointed to the Board of Directors by the Purchaser on the Purchaser Class B Initial Funding Date, as such Persons may be replaced from time to time.
“Purchaser Initial Class B Units” means the 33,333,334 Class B Units issued to the Purchaser on the Purchaser Class B Initial Funding Date pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement.
“Purchaser Preemptive Share” means an amount of Equity Securities equal to the product of (A) the total number of Equity Securities contemplated by an Equity Securities Notice multiplied by (B) the quotient of (a) the sum of (1) all Outstanding Units held by the Purchaser and its Affiliates at the applicable time (calculated as if all convertible Equity Securities were converted at the applicable time and based upon the Common Unit Equivalent of any other Equity Securities) plus (2) all Remaining Units that are not Outstanding (in each case, calculated as if all convertible Equity Securities to be issued were converted at the applicable time and based upon the Common Unit
Equivalent of any other Equity Securities) divided by (b) the sum of (1) the total Outstanding Units of the Partnership at the applicable time plus (2) all Remaining Units that are not Outstanding (calculated as if all convertible Equity Securities to be issued were converted at the applicable time and based upon the Common Unit Equivalent of any other Equity Securities); provided, however, that if the purchase price for the Equity Securities is less than $10.00 per Common Unit (or below such amount for the Common Unit Equivalent)(as adjusted for splits and combinations), then the Outstanding Subordinated Units shall not be included in such calculation.
“Quarter” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership, or, with respect to the fiscal quarter of the Partnership including the Closing Date, the portion of such fiscal quarter after the Closing Date.
“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 any date established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of Partnership action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Limited Partners or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.
“Record Holder” means the Person in whose name a 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 Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered on the books that the General Partner has caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such Business Day.
“Redeemable Interests” means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.10.
“Registration Statement” means the Registration Statements on Form S-1 (File Nos. 333-139572 and 333-141456), as they have been or as they may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Public Offering.
“Remaining Net Positive Adjustments” means as of the end of any taxable period, (i) with respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Class B Units or Subordinated Units, the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders holding Common Units, Class B Units or Subordinated Units as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of those Partners’ Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for each prior taxable period, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Units), the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the General Partner as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of the General Partner’s Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to the General Partner Units for each prior taxable period, and (iii) with respect to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, the excess of
(a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of the Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights for each prior taxable period.
“Remaining Units” means the 66,666,666 Class B Units as referenced in the Unit Purchase Agreement, as if such Class B Units were issued and Outstanding on the Purchaser Class B Initial Funding Date and as such Class B Units are adjusted over time ending on the Purchaser Class B Final Funding Date pursuant to Sections 5.12(b)(ii) and 5.12(b)(ix). The purchase price for each Purchaser Class B Unit shall be the Class B Issue Price regardless of the number of Class B Units actually issued.
“Required Allocations” means (a) any limitation imposed on any allocation of Net Losses or Net Termination Losses under Section 6.1(b) or Section 6.1(c)(ii) and (b) any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i), Section 6.1(d)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(iv), Section 6.1(d)(viii) or Section 6.1(d)(x).
“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 Section 6.2(b)(i)(A) or Section 6.2(b)(ii)(A), respectively, to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.
“Retained Converted Subordinated Unit” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.5(c)(ii).
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
“Sabine Pass Liquefaction” means Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and assigns.
“Sabine Pass LNG” means Sabine Pass LNG, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and its successors and assigns.
“Second Liquidation Target Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(E).
“Second Target Distribution” means $0.531 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurred, it means the product of $0.531 multiplied by a fraction, of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is the number of days in such Quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with the definition of Initial Quarterly Distribution and Section 6.6 and Section 6.10.
“Secondment Agreement” means the Services and Secondment Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2007, between O&M Services and the General Partner.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.
“Securities Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.
“Selling Unitholder” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Underwriting Agreement.
“Services Agreement” means the Services Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, between the Partnership and Cheniere LNG Terminals.
“Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means in connection with any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period, (i) with respect to the Unitholders holding Limited Partner Units, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Unitholders’ Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Units), the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the General Partner’s Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment as of that time, and (iii) with respect to the Partners holding Incentive Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of the Partners holding the Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time.
“Significant Event” means any merger, consolidation or other combination of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries with another Person (other than to the extent permitted under Section 14.3(d) or a Subsidiary of the Partnership merging, consolidating or combining with or into another wholly owned Subsidiary of the Partnership), or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership in each case prior to the Actual Conversion Date with respect to the last Outstanding Class B Unit (whether such sale is a single transaction or multiple transactions intended to dispose of substantially all of the Partnership’s assets).
“Special Approval” means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee acting in good faith.
“Subordinated Unit” means a Unit representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term “Subordinated Unit” does not include a Common Unit or a Class B Unit. A Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs.
“Subordination Period” means the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the first to occur of the following dates:
(a) the first date on which there are no longer any Outstanding Subordinated Units due to the automatic conversion of the Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7; and
(b) the date on which the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership upon the requisite vote by holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist and no Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are voted in favor of such removal.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.
“Substituted Limited Partner” means a Person who is admitted as a Limited Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2 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.
“Surviving Business Entity” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.2(b).
“Tax Certificate” means the certificate described in Section 4.11.
“Tax Sharing Agreement” means the Tax Sharing Agreement, dated as of November 9, 2006, between Sabine Pass LNG and Cheniere Energy, Inc.
“Third Liquidation Target Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(F).
“Third Target Distribution” means $0.638 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the Quarter in which the Closing Date occurred, it means the product of $0.638 multiplied by a fraction, of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is the number of days in such Quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with the definition of Initial Quarterly Distribution and Section 6.6 and Section 6.10.
“Trading Day” means, for the purpose of determining the Current Market Price of any class of Limited Partner Interests, a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests are listed is open for the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.
“Train” means an LNG production train located at the Liquefaction Project.
“Train 1” means the first Train that is commercially operable, as notified by Sabine Pass Liquefaction to the relevant customer of Sabine Pass Liquefaction, or expected by Sabine Pass Liquefaction to be commercially operable, with a nominal production capacity of at least 182.5 MMBtu per annum of LNG.
“Train 2” means the second Train that is commercially operable after Train 1, as notified by Sabine Pass Liquefaction to the relevant customer of Sabine Pass Liquefaction, or expected by Sabine Pass Liquefaction to be commercially operable after Train 1, with a nominal production capacity of at least 219.0 MMBtu per annum of LNG.
“Train 3” means the third Train that is commercially operable after Train 2, as notified by Sabine Pass Liquefaction to the relevant customer of Sabine Pass Liquefaction, or expected by Sabine Pass Liquefaction to be commercially operable after Train 2, with a nominal production capacity of at least 216.5 MMBtu per annum of LNG.
“Train 3 Condition” shall mean each of the following with regard to solely Train 3: (i) the Board of Directors shall have approved the issuance of the notice to proceed under the engineering, procurement and construction agreement for Train 3 and (ii) the debt and equity financing commitments are bona fide as determined by the Board of Directors and are sufficient to construct Train 3 in order to satisfy the relevant LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements for Train 3 or any replacement LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements on economic terms no less favorable to the Partnership Group and with a counterparty with an equal or superior credit rating.
“Train 3 Notice to Proceed” means the notice to proceed as set forth in an engineering, procurement and construction agreement for Train 3.
“Train 3 Substantial Completion Date” means the date of substantial completion as set forth in an engineering, procurement and construction agreement for Train 3.
“Train 4” means the fourth Train that is commercially operable after Train 3, as notified by Sabine Pass Liquefaction to the relevant customer of Sabine Pass Liquefaction, or expected by Sabine Pass Liquefaction to be commercially operable after Train 3, with a nominal production capacity of at least 216.0 MMBtu per annum of LNG.
“Train 4 Condition” shall mean each of the following with regard to solely Train 4: (i) the Board of Directors shall have approved the issuance of the notice to proceed under the engineering, procurement and construction agreement for Train 4 and (ii) the debt and equity financing commitments are bona fide as determined by the Board of Directors and are sufficient to construct Train 4 in order to satisfy the relevant LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements for Train 4 or any replacement LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements on economic terms no less favorable to the Partnership Group and with a counterparty with an equal or superior credit rating.
“Train 4 Substantial Completion Date” means the date of substantial completion as set forth in an engineering, procurement and construction agreement for Train 4.
“Transfer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a).
“Transfer Agent” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner or one of its Affiliates) and as shall be appointed from time to time by the General Partner to act as registrar and transfer agent for the Common Units; provided, that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for any other Partnership Securities, the 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.
“Treasury Securities” means securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or instrumentality of the United States government (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities).
“Underwriter” means each Person named as an underwriter in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.
“Underwriting Agreement” means that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of March 20, 2007 among the Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner and the other parties thereto, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters.
“Unit” means a Partnership Security that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units, Class B Units and Subordinated Units but shall not include (i) General Partner Units (or the General Partner Interest represented thereby) or (ii) Incentive Distribution Rights.
“Unit Majority” means (a) during the Subordination Period, at least (i) a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Class B Units (excluding Outstanding Common Units and CEI Class B Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates (other than the Purchaser)) voting as a class as set forth in Section 5.12(b)(v) and at least (ii) a majority of the Outstanding Subordinated Units voting as a single class, and (b) after the end of the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Class B Units voting as a single class.
“Unit Purchase Agreement” means that certain Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 14, 2012, by and among the Partnership, CEI and the Purchaser.
“Unitholders” means the holders of Units.
“Unpaid IQD” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(B).
“Unrealized Gain” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date).
“Unrealized Loss” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)).
“Unrecovered Initial Unit Price” means at any time, with respect to a Unit, the Initial Unit Price less the sum of all distributions constituting Capital Surplus theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit, and any distributions of cash (or the Net Agreed Value of any distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit, adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of such Units.
“U.S. GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.
“Weighted Average Interest Rate of Debt” means an amount equal to (X) the sum of the product of (A) the dollar amount of any debt commitment and (B) the interest rate of such debt commitment (and if floating, the interest rate to be used will consider the swap equivalent to convert the floating rate to fixed rate) divided by (Y) the aggregate dollar amount of all debt commitments for Train 1, Train 2, Train 3 and Train 4, as applicable.
“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(b).
“Working Capital Borrowings” means borrowings used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to Partners, made pursuant to a credit facility, commercial paper facility or similar financing arrangement; provided that when incurred it is the intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within 12 months from other than additional Working Capital Borrowings.
Section 1.2 Construction.
Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include”, “includes”, “including” and words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (d) the terms “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 Formation.
The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner have previously formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act and previously entered into that certain First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., dated as of March 26, 2007, Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., dated as of June 11, 2012 and Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., dated as of August 9, 2012. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes.
Section 2.2 Name.
The name of the Partnership shall be “Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.” The Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner. The words “Limited Partnership,” “L.P.,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.
Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices.
Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808-1645, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be Corporation Service Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 700 Milam Street, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77002, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners, by any reasonable means (including posting on the Partnership’s website). The Partnership may
maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner shall determine necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 700 Milam Street, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77002, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice, by any reasonable means (including posting on the Partnership’s website).
Section 2.4 Purpose and Business.
The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be (a) to engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner and in any event that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act, and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and (b) to do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however, that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law and notwithstanding any obligation existing at law or in equity: the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve, and the General Partner may decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business free of any fiduciary or other duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee; and, in declining to so propose or approve the General Partner, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.
Section 2.5 Powers.
The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary or appropriate 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 General Partner and, if a Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the Liquidator, severally (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 General Partner or the Liquidator determines to
be 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 General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be 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 General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be 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 or 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 5.6; and (F) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger or conversion) relating to a merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and
(ii) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to (A) 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 (B) 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 vote on, consent to or approve the taking of any action, the 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 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 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 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 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 General Partner or the Liquidator may request in order 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.
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 General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the General Partner determines that the expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to the 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 General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be 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.
Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.5, which shall continue to be applicable to the Persons referred to therein, but otherwise notwithstanding any duty existing at law or in equity, 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 stating the purpose of such 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 (provided that the requirements of this Section 3.4(a)(i) shall be satisfied by furnishing to a Limited Partner upon its demand pursuant to this Section 3.4(a)(i) the Partnership’s most recent filings with the Commission on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings on Form 10-Q and 8-K);
(ii) promptly after its becoming available, to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns for each year;
(iii) to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner;
(iv) to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto, together with copies of all executed 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 that 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 General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners and Assignees, for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.4).
ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS;
TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS;
REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 4.1 Certificates.
Upon the Partnership’s issuance of Common Units, Class B Units or Subordinated Units to any Person, the Partnership shall issue, upon the request of such Person, one or more Certificates in the name of such Person (or, if issued in global form, in the name of the Depositary or its nominee) evidencing the number of such Units being so issued. In addition, (a) upon the General Partner’s request, the Partnership shall issue to it one or more Certificates in the name of the General Partner evidencing its General Partner Units and (b) upon the request of any Person owning Incentive Distribution Rights or any other Partnership Securities other than Common Units, Class B Units or Subordinated Units, the Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more certificates evidencing such Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Securities other than Common Units, Class B Units or Subordinated Units. Certificates shall be executed by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership by the President or any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Vice President or the Chief Financial Officer and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General Partner. No Common Unit Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided, however, that if the General Partner elects to issue certificates for 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. Subject to the requirements of Section 6.7 and Section 6.9, the Partners holding Certificates evidencing Subordinated Units or Class B Units may exchange such Certificates for Certificates evidencing Common Units on or after the date on which such Subordinated Units or Class B Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to the terms of Section 5.7 or Section 5.12(b)(vi), as applicable.
Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
(a) If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and type of Partnership Securities as the Certificate so surrendered.
(b) The appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued if the Record Holder of the Certificate:
(i) makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;
(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the General Partner has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;
(iii) if requested by the General Partner, delivers to the General Partner a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the General Partner may direct to indemnify the Partnership, the Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and
(iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the General Partner.
If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period of time after he has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Limited Partner or Assignee shall be precluded from making any claim against the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new Certificate.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.2, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.
Section 4.3 Record Holders.
The 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 or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other
representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such representative Person (a) shall be the Partner or Assignee (as the case may be) of record and beneficially, and (b) 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 (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General Partner Units to another Person or by which a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights assigns its Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest (other than an Incentive Distribution Right) assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Limited Partner or an Assignee, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, excluding a pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage but including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.
(b) No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.
(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any stockholder, member, partner or other owner of the General Partner of any or all of the shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in the General Partner.
Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.
(a) The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests. 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 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) The General Partner 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, properly completed and duly executed by the transferee (or the transferee’s attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing). No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided, that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.5, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto. No changes in distributions or allocations will be made in respect of the Limited Partner Interests until a properly completed Transfer Application has been delivered with respect to such Limited Partner Interests.
(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 10.2, 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.
(f) Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section 4.3, (iii) Section 4.8, (iv) with respect to any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the other provisions of this Agreement, including any statement of designations or amendment to this Agreement, establishing or otherwise relating to such class or series, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vi) provisions of applicable law, including the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, Limited Partner Interests (other than the Incentive Distribution Rights, the transfer of which is subject to Section 4.7) shall be freely transferable.
(g) The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Subordinated Units, Class B Units and Common Units (whether issued upon conversion of the Subordinated Units, the Class B Units or otherwise) to one or more Persons.
Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest.
(a) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to March 31, 2017, the General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its General Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the merger or consolidation of the General Partner with or into such other Person or the transfer by the General Partner of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person.
(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after March 31, 2017, the General Partner may transfer all or any of its General Partner Interest without the approval of the holder(s) of any class or series of Units.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability under Delaware law of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership or limited liability company interest of the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.3, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner immediately prior to the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.
Section 4.7 Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights.
Prior to March 31, 2017, a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of the Incentive Distribution Rights held by such holder without any consent of the Unitholders to (a) an Affiliate of such holder (other than an individual) or (b) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with (i) the merger or consolidation of such holder of Incentive Distribution Rights with or into such other Person, (ii) the transfer by such holder of Incentive Distribution Rights of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person or (iii) the sale of all the ownership interests in such holder of Incentive Distribution Rights, provided that, in the case of a transfer pursuant to this clause (iii) the initial holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights continues to remain as the General Partner following such sale. Any other transfer of the Incentive Distribution Rights prior to March 31, 2017 shall require the prior approval of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). On or after March 31, 2017, the General Partner or any other holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of its Incentive Distribution Rights without Unitholder
approval. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person shall be permitted unless the transferee agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement. The General Partner and any transferee or transferees of the Incentive Distribution Rights may agree in a separate instrument as to the General Partner’s exercise of its rights with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights under Section 11.3 hereof.
Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers.
(a) Except as provided in Section 4.8(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 under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, or (iii) cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).
(b) The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if (i) it receives an Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary to avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes or (ii) the holding of Units by a Person (A) not subject to United States federal income taxation on the income generated by the Partnership or (B) in the case of entities that are pass-through entities for United States federal income tax purposes all of whose beneficial owners are not subject to United States federal income taxation on the income generated by the Partnership, would have a material adverse effect on the economic interests of the Partnership. The General Partner may impose such restrictions by amending this Agreement; provided, however, that any amendment that would result in the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then listed or admitted to trading must be approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of such class.
(c) The transfer of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7. The transfer of a Class B Unit or a Converted Class B Unit shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.9.
(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 or admitted to trading.
(e) Each certificate evidencing Partnership Interests shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the following form:
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. THAT THIS
SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P., MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
Section 4.9 Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees.
(a) If any Group Member is or becomes subject to any federal, state or local law or regulation that the General Partner determines would create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Group Member has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or other related status of a Limited Partner or Assignee, the General Partner may request any Limited Partner or Assignee to furnish to the General Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request, an executed Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s 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 General Partner may request. If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish to the 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 General Partner determines that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Citizen, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner or Assignee shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10. In addition, the General Partner may require that the status of any such Limited Partner or Assignee be changed to that of a Non-citizen Assignee and, thereupon, such Non-citizen Assignee shall cease to be a Partner and shall have no voting rights, whether arising hereunder, under the
Delaware Act, at law, in equity or otherwise, in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests. The General Partner shall be substituted for such Non-citizen Assignee as the Limited Partner or Assignee in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests and shall vote such Limited Partner Interests in accordance with Section 4.9(b).
(b) The 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 the 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 any 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 such Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interest (representing such Non-citizen Assignee’s right to receive such Non-citizen Assignee’s share of such distribution in kind).
(d) At any time after a Non-citizen Assignee can and does certify that such Non-citizen Assignee has become an Eligible Citizen, a Non-citizen Assignee may, upon application to the 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 4.10, and upon such Non-citizen Assignee’s admission pursuant to Section 10.2, the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests.
Section 4.10 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 4.9(a), or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other information the 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 General Partner that such Limited Partner or Assignee is an Eligible Citizen or has transferred such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s Partnership Interests to a Person who is an Eligible Citizen and who furnishes a Citizenship Certification to the General Partner prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner or Assignee as follows:
(i) The General Partner shall, not later than the 30th day before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to the Limited Partner or Assignee, at such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s last address designated on the records of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the
redemption price will be made upon 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, as determined by the General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 5% annually and payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.
(iii) 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 such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s 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 4.10 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 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring such recipient’s 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 General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner in a Citizenship Certification delivered in connection with the Transfer Application that such transferee 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.
Section 4.11 Taxation Certificates and Related Matters.
If at any time the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that the Partnership’s status as an entity not taxable as a corporation and not otherwise subject to an entity-level tax for federal, state or local income tax purposes, coupled with the tax status (or lack of proof of the federal income tax status) of one or more Limited Partners, has or will have a material adverse effect on the economic interests of the Partnership, then the General Partner may adopt such amendments to this Agreement, without the approval of any class or classes of Limited Partners, as it determines to be necessary or advisable to (i) obtain such proof of the federal income tax status of the Limited Partners and, to the extent relevant, their beneficial owners and thereby determine
those Limited Partners whose federal income tax status has or will reasonably likely in the future have such a material adverse effect (such Limited Partners, together with any Limited Partner who fails to comply with the procedures instituted by the General Partner, an “Ineligible Holder”) and (ii) permit the General Partner to redeem Units held by any Ineligible Holder, at the Current Market Price. Such amendments may include provisions requiring all Limited Partners to certify as to their federal income tax status upon demand and on a regular basis, as determined by the General Partner, and may require transferees of Units to so certify prior to being admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND
ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1 Organizational Contributions.
In connection with the formation of the Partnership under the Delaware Act, the General Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $20.00, for a General Partner Interest in the Partnership equivalent to a 2% Percentage Interest and has been admitted as the General Partner of the Partnership, and the Organizational Limited Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $980.00 for a Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership equivalent to a 98% Percentage Interest and has been admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership. As of the Closing Date, the interest of the Organizational Limited Partner shall be redeemed as provided in the Contribution Agreement; and the initial Capital Contribution of the Organizational Limited Partner shall thereupon be refunded. Ninety-eight percent of any interest or other profit that may have resulted from the investment or other use of such initial Capital Contributions prior to the Closing Date shall be allocated and distributed to the Organizational Limited Partner, and the balance thereof shall be allocated and distributed to the General Partner.
Section 5.2 Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement: (i) the General Partner contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in Cheniere Energy Investments, LLC in exchange for (A) 3,302,045 General Partner Units representing a continuation of its 2% Percentage Interest, subject to all of the rights, privileges and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement, and (B) the Incentive Distribution Rights, and (ii) Cheniere LNG Holdings contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in Cheniere Energy Investments, LLC in exchange for (A) 21,362,193 Common Units, (B) 135,383,831 Subordinated Units, (C) the right to receive distributions in certain circumstances from the Distribution Reserve Account pursuant to the terms of Section 5.11 and (D) the obligation to make contributions in certain circumstances to the Distribution Reserve Account pursuant to the terms of the Contribution Agreement.
(b) Upon the issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests, except as provided in Section 5.12(b)(iii)(B) or Section 5.12(b)(vi)(E), by the Partnership (other than the Common Units issued in the Initial Offering), the General Partner may, in exchange for a
proportionate number of General Partner Units, make additional Capital Contributions in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (I) the quotient determined by dividing (A) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (B) 100% minus the General Partner’s Percentage Interest immediately prior to the issuance of such additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership times (II) the amount contributed to the Partnership by the Limited Partners in exchange for such additional Limited Partner Interests. Except as set forth in Article XII, the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership.
Section 5.3 Contributions by Initial Limited Partners.
(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter contributed to the Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit, multiplied by the number of Common Units specified in the Underwriting Agreement to be purchased by such Underwriter on the Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital Contributions by the Underwriter, the Partnership issued Common Units to each Underwriter on whose behalf such Capital Contribution was made in an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the cash contribution to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Underwriter by (ii) the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit.
(b) No Limited Partner Interests were issued or issuable as of or at March 26, 2007 other than (i) Common Units issuable pursuant to subparagraph (a) hereof in an aggregate number equal to 5,054,164, (ii) the 135,383,831 Subordinated Units issuable pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof, (iii) the 21,362,193 Common Units issuable pursuant to Section 5.2 and (iv) the Incentive Distribution Rights.
Section 5.4 Interest.
No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. 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 dissolution 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 5.5 Capital Accounts.
(a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and the related Treasury Regulation Sections regarding noncompensatory options. Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such
Partnership Interest and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and Section 5.5(d) and allocated to such Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 5.5(d), Section 5.12(b)(iv) and Section 6.1, as applicable, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made to such Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and Section 5.5(d) and allocated to such Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 5.5(d), Section 5.12(b)(iv) and Section 6.1, as applicable. For all taxable periods ending prior to January 1, 2016, the Partnership shall follow the principles set forth in the noncompensatory option regulations contained in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1, 1.721-2 and 1.761-3 at all times, including when the assets of the Partnership are revalued or any Class B Units are converted pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi). For the avoidance of doubt, each Class B Unit will be treated as convertible equity as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.721-2(e)(3), and, therefore, each Record Holder of a Class B Unit will be treated as a partner in the Partnership for federal income tax purposes. The initial Capital Account balance in respect of each Class B Unit issued on the Applicable Funding Date shall be the Issue Price for such Class B Unit. The Capital Account balance of each holder of Class B Units in respect of its Class B Units shall not be increased or decreased except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and reflected in the Partners’ Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:
(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 5.5, the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement) of all property owned by any other Group Member 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 that may be made by the Partnership and, as to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for 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 to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.
(iv) Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to the Partnership’s Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.
(v) In accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Contributed Property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property on the date it was acquired by the Partnership were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an adjustment pursuant to Section 5.5(d) to the Carrying Value of any Partnership property subject to depreciation, cost recovery or amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall be determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d)(2) as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment.
(vi) 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 year of such restoration in the same manner to the Partners to whom such deemed deduction was allocated.
(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) Subject to Section 6.7(c), immediately prior to the transfer of a Subordinated Unit or of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 by a holder thereof (other than a transfer to an Affiliate unless the General Partner elects to have this subparagraph Section 5.5(c)(ii) apply), the Capital Account maintained for such Person with respect to its Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units will (A) first, be allocated to the Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units to be transferred in an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of such Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units to be transferred and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit, and (B) second, any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the transferor, regardless of whether it has retained any Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units (“Retained Converted Subordinated Units”). Following any such allocation, the transferor’s Capital Account,
if any, maintained with respect to the retained Subordinated Units or Retained Converted Subordinated Units, if any, will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (B) hereinabove, and the transferee’s Capital Account established with respect to the transferred Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (A) hereinabove.
(d)
(i) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s), on (A) an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property (including any deemed contribution by Unitholders holding Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(A)), the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services or the conversion of the General Partner’s Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), or (B) the conversion of a Class B Unit and any related issuance of additional General Partner Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi)(E), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property shall, immediately prior to an event described in clause (A) above or immediately after a conversion described in clause (B) above, as applicable, be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property for an amount equal to its fair market value at such time. Any such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss (or items thereof) shall (1) in the case of an event described in clause (A) above: (aa) with respect to the deemed contribution occurring on January 1, 2016 in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(ii)(A), be allocated to the Unitholders pursuant to clause (2) below as if the Partners holding Class B Units converted their Class B Units on such date (including any increased right to Converted Class B Units attributable to an increase in the Class B Conversion Value occurring on January 1, 2016) or (bb) be allocated among the Unitholders, including each Unitholder holding Class B Units as if it held Converted Class B Units on such date (other than with respect to such Unitholder’s increased right, if any, to Converted Class B Units attributable to an increase in the Class B Conversion Value that triggered the event described in clause (A) above), pursuant to Section 6.1(c) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated; and (2) in the case of a conversion described in clause (B) above, (aa) first be allocated to the Partners holding Converted Class B Units until the Capital Account of each holder of Converted Class B Units with respect to each Converted Class B Unit is equal to the Per Unit Capital Amount of a Common Unit, provided that such allocation shall be made after giving effect to any allocation of gross income or gain made for the taxable period during which the Actual Conversion Date occurs pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B), (bb) second be allocated to the General Partner in respect of any newly issued additional General Partner Units an amount equal to the product of (I) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner by (y) a percentage equal to 100% less such Percentage Interest and (II) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (aa) above, and (cc) any remaining Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(c) in the same manner as any
item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated. If the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss allocated as a result of the conversion of a Class B Unit is not sufficient to cause the Capital Account of each holder with respect to each Converted Class B Unit to equal the Per Unit Capital Amount of a Common Unit, then in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(3), Capital Account balances shall be reallocated between the Partners holding Converted Class B Units and Common Units (other than Converted Class B Units) so as to cause the Capital Account of each holder of Converted Class B Units with respect to such Units to equal, on a per unit basis, the Per Unit Capital Amount of a Common Unit after taking into account the impact of such a reallocation of Capital Account balances on the Per Unit Capital Amount of a Common Unit. If Capital Account balances are reallocated pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the Partnership shall make corrective allocations so as to take into account the reallocation of Capital Account balances, as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).
(ii) In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the event described in clause (i)(A) above, or immediately after the conversion described in clause (i)(B) above, shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt; provided, however, in accordance with the principles set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2), the General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time, and must reduce the fair market value of the Partnership’s assets by the excess, if any, of the fair market value of all Outstanding Class B Units that have not yet been converted in a conversion described in clause (i)(B) above over the aggregate Issue Price of such Class B Units. The General Partner shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines) to arrive at a fair market value for individual properties; and provided, further, that this Section 5.5(d)(ii) shall not apply after January 1, 2016.
(iii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any distribution to a Partner (other than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the General Partner may cause any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to each Partnership property to be recognized and allocated in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.5(d)(i) as if there had been a sale of such property immediately prior to such distribution, in which event the Carrying Value of each Partnership property shall be adjusted as of the beginning of the next taxable period to an amount equal to the fair market value thereof; provided that the General Partner shall cause Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss to be recognized and Carrying Values to be adjusted if doing so would permit corrective allocations to be made pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xiii) and provided further, in accordance with the principles set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2), the General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time, and must
reduce the fair market value of the Partnership’s assets by the excess, if any, of the fair market value of all Outstanding Class B Units that have not yet been converted in a conversion described in clause (i)(B) above over the aggregate Issue Price of such Class B Units. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of a distribution that is not made pursuant to Section 12.4 be determined and allocated in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.5(d)(i) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined and allocated by the Liquidator using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt; and provided, further, that this Section 5.5(d)(iii) shall not apply after January 1, 2016.
Section 5.6 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 the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners; provided, however, that during the Subordination Period the Partnership must obtain Special Approval prior to issuing any additional Common Units or Units with designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties senior to or pari passu with the Common Units.
(b) Each additional Partnership Security authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.6(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which, subject to the provision contained in Section 5.6(a), may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Securities), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Security (including sinking fund provisions); (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; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Security; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Security to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Security.
(c) The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be 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 5.6, (ii) the conversion of the General Partner Interest or any Incentive Distribution Rights into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the admission of Additional Limited Partners and (iv) all additional issuances of Partnership Securities. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Securities being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary
to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Securities or in connection with the conversion of the General Partner Interest or any Incentive Distribution Rights 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 or admitted to trading.
Section 5.7 Conversion of Subordinated Units; Cancellation.
(a) All of the Subordinated Units will convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.4(a) in respect of the earlier of any Quarter in respect of which:
(i) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus under Section 6.4(a) on each of the Outstanding Common Units (assuming conversion of the Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi)), Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units with respect to each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Initial Quarterly Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common Units (assuming conversion of the Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi)), Subordinated Units, General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units; and
(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date (which three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods commence on or after the Closing Date) equaled or exceeded the sum of the Initial Quarterly Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common Units (assuming conversion of the Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi)), Subordinated Units, General Partner Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis; and
(iii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 5.7(a), all of the Outstanding Subordinated Units will convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.4 in respect of any Quarter in respect of which:
(i) in connection with distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus under Section 6.4(a), the amount of such distributions constituting Contracted Adjusted Operating Surplus on each of the Outstanding Common Units (assuming conversion of the Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi)), Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units with respect to each of the four consecutive Quarters immediately preceding such
date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Third Target Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common Units (assuming conversion of the Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi)), Subordinated Units, General Partner Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units; and
(ii) the Contracted Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the four consecutive Quarters immediately preceding such date (which four consecutive Quarter period commences after the Closing Date) equaled or exceeded the sum of the Third Target Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common Units (assuming conversion of the Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi)), Subordinated Units, General Partner Units, any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and any other Equity Securities that are junior to the Subordinated Units that the Board of Directors deems to be appropriate for the calculation after consultation and the recommendation of management of the General Partner that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis with respect to such Quarter; and
(iii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, all the Subordinated Units will automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis as set forth in, and pursuant to the terms of, Section 11.4.
(d) A Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the provisions of Section 6.7.
(e) In the event that either the Train 3 Condition or the Train 4 Condition is not satisfied on or prior to the Measurement Date, solely for purposes of subsections (i) and (ii) below, the Partnership will estimate distributions for the first consecutive four-Quarter period following the commencement date of the LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement with the most recent “Date of First Commercial Delivery” (as set forth in the respective LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements) based solely upon a good faith estimate by the Board of Directors of Contracted Adjusted Operating Surplus.
(i) In the event that the Train 3 Condition is not satisfied on or prior to the Measurement Date, then a number of Outstanding Subordinated Units shall be canceled by an amount necessary to permit the Partnership to distribute Available Cash solely from Contracted Adjusted Operating Surplus equal to $0.50 per each Outstanding Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, and Class B Unit (assuming conversion thereof pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi)) and any other Outstanding Limited Partner Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units per Quarter for such consecutive four-Quarter period.
(ii) In the event that the Train 3 Condition is satisfied but the Train 4 Condition is not satisfied on or prior to the Measurement Date, then the following number of Outstanding Subordinated Units shall be canceled: (i) 67,500,000, plus (ii) the additional amount necessary, if any, to permit the Partnership to distribute Available Cash solely
from Contracted Adjusted Operating Surplus equal to $0.50 per each Outstanding Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, and Class B Unit (assuming conversion thereof pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi)) and any other Outstanding Limited Partner Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units per Quarter for such consecutive four-Quarter period.
Upon a cancellation of Subordinated Units Outstanding pursuant to this Section 5.7(e), the balance in the Capital Account maintained for each such holder of Subordinated Units in respect of its Subordinated Units that are Outstanding prior to such cancellation will be retained by such holder and will be allocated (A) equally among any of such holder’s Subordinated Units that are Outstanding after such cancellation or (B) to such holder’s remaining Partnership Interests if no such Subordinated Units are Outstanding after such cancellation.
Section 5.8 Limited Preemptive Right.
Except as provided in Section 5.2, this Section 5.8 and Section 5.12(b)(vii), no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Security, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. The General Partner shall have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Securities from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Securities to Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates (including in connection with any issuances subject to Section 5.12(b)(vii)), to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to any or all of those Percentage Interests that existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Securities.
Section 5.9 Splits and Combinations.
(a) Subject to Section 5.9(d), Section 6.6 and Section 6.9 (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership 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 (including any Common Unit Arrearage or Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage) or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.
(b) Whenever such a Pro Rata distribution or a subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities is declared, the General Partner shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice. The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Securities to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. In addition, with respect to any such a distribution, subdivision or combination of any class of Partnership Securities that is convertible into another class of Partnership Securities or into which any class of Partnership Securities is convertible or exchangeable, appropriate adjustment shall be made either to assure that the specified conversion or exchange ratio is maintained or, alternatively, is appropriately adjusted to give
effect to such Pro Rata distribution or subdivision or combination, as the case may be, as the General Partner determines to be appropriate. The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.
(c) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates 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 General Partner may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Partnership Securities Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of such new Certificate, 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 this Section 5.9(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 5.10 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests.
All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the other provisions of this Agreement.
Section 5.11 Distribution Reserve Account.
(a) Immediately prior to the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Partnership established an account with a financial institution organized under the laws of the United States of America, or any state thereof, and having total assets in excess of $500,000,000 and a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 (the “Distribution Reserve Account”).
(b) All amounts held in the Distribution Reserve Account, including interest and any other income on the investments in the Distribution Reserve Account, (i) shall be segregated from all other assets of the Partnership, (ii) shall not be used to pay Operating Expenditures, Expansion Capital Expenditures, Investment Capital Expenditures or transaction expenses related to an Interim Capital Transaction or to repurchase Units, (iii) shall not be set aside as reserves against Available Cash or Operating Surplus and (iv) subject to Section 5.11(e), shall be used by the Partnership only to make distributions of Available Cash to holders of Common Units and General Partner Units pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i) and Section 6.4(a)(ii). The Partnership will not enter into any agreement that restricts the ability of the Partnership to distribute funds from the Distribution Reserve Account.
(c) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, the Partnership deposited into the Distribution Reserve Account $98,442,481 in cash proceeds from the Initial Offering, which proceeds were used on the Closing Date to purchase Treasury Securities maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as the General Partner determined would be sufficient to pay the Initial Quarterly Distribution on the Initial Common Units and on the General Partner Units issued pursuant to Section 5.2(a) through the Quarter ending on June 30, 2009.
(d) Upon the issuance of any additional Common Units by the Partnership prior to the Record Date for distributions payable for the Quarter ending June 30, 2009, the Partnership deposited into the Distribution Reserve Account sufficient cash proceeds from such issuance to purchase Treasury Securities or Eligible Investments maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as equaled the amount necessary to pay the Initial Quarterly Distribution on the additional Common Units and additional General Partner Units, if any, so issued by the Partnership for each Quarter in the period commencing with the Quarter in which such additional Common Units and General Partner Units, if any, were so issued through the Quarter ending on June 30, 2009.
(e) In August 2009, the General Partner determined, with Special Approval, that there were more than sufficient funds in the Distribution Reserve Account to pay the Initial Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units and General Partner Units then Outstanding through the Distribution Reserve Period Termination Date, and therefore, the Partnership, at the request of Cheniere LNG Holdings, distributed such excess to Cheniere LNG Holdings.Section
5.12 Establishment of Class B Units.
(a) General. The General Partner hereby designates and creates a class of senior subordinated Units to be designated as “Class B Units”, consisting of (i) the CEI Class B Units, (ii) the Purchaser Class B Units, (iii) the CTPL Class B Units and (iv) any other Class B Units contemplated to be issued by the Basic Documents, and fixes the designations, preferences, participation, optional or other special rights, powers and duties of holders of the Class B Units as set forth in this Section 5.12. The Class B Units have the same rights and preferences, and are subject to the same duties and obligations as the Common Units, except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement.
(b) Rights of Class B Units. During the period commencing upon the Applicable Funding Date and ending on an Actual Conversion Date:
(i) Allocations.
(A) Except as otherwise provided in (1) Section 6.1(d)(v) (for taxable periods ending prior to January 1, 2016) and (2) the second sentence of Section 6.1 (for taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2016)), in no event shall a Unitholder holding Class B Units be allocated any Net Income or Net Losses pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or (b) in respect of their Class B Units.
(B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6.1(c), Unitholders holding Class B Units shall receive only those allocations set forth in Section 5.5(d), (iv) and Section 6.1(d)(v) except as otherwise provided in the second sentence of Section 6.1.
(ii) Quarterly Accruals.
(A) Commencing on the Applicable Funding Date with respect to a Class B Unit, the Class B Conversion Value of such Class B Unit shall increase and compound quarterly (each, a “Class B Quarterly Accrual”), in an amount equal to the Class B Accrual Rate. Accruals shall be made on the last day of each Quarter except as provided in Section 5.12(b)(vi)(B) (each such date, a “Class B Accrual Date”). For purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, each Class B Quarterly Accrual occurring on or after December 31, 2015, will be treated as a distribution of cash with respect to each Class B Unit in an amount equal to such Class B Quarterly Accrual and the Unitholder holding such Class B Unit shall be treated as having contributed an amount of cash equal to the Class B Quarterly Accrual to the Partnership in exchange for an increased Class B Conversion Value in an amount equal to such Class B Quarterly Accrual, provided that, with respect to the Class B Quarterly Accrual occurring on December 31, 2015, the deemed contribution by the Unitholder holding the Class B Unit shall be deemed to occur on January 1, 2016 for purposes of Section 5.5(d)(i).
(B) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.12(b)(ii) to the contrary, with respect to Class B Units that are converted into Common Units, the holder thereof shall not be entitled to both a Class B Quarterly Accrual and a Common Unit distribution with respect to such Unit for the same period, but shall be entitled only to the accrual or distribution to be paid based upon the class of Units held as of the close of business on the applicable Record Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Class B Conversion Notice Date occurs prior to the close of business on a Record Date for payment of a distribution on the Common Units, but after the respective Class B Accrual Date for such Quarter, the applicable holder of Class B Units shall not receive the Common Unit distribution with respect to such Units.
(iii) Issuance of Class B Units
(A) On the CEI Class B Initial Funding Date, the CEI Initial Class B Units were issued to the CEI Holder in accordance with the CEI Unit Purchase Agreement. The CEI Remaining Units were issued to the CEI Holder in accordance with the CEI Unit Purchase Agreement on the CEI Class B Final Funding Date. On the Purchaser Class B Initial Funding Date, the Purchaser Initial Class B Units were issued to the Purchaser in accordance with the Unit Purchase Agreement. The Remaining Units shall be issued to the Purchaser in accordance with the Unit Purchase Agreement. The CTPL Class B Units shall be issued to the CEI Holder in accordance with the CEI Subscription Agreement.
(B) Upon each issuance of Class B Units, the General Partner may, in exchange for a proportionate number of General Partner Units to maintain its Percentage Interest
as of such date, make an additional Capital Contribution in an amount equal to the product of (x) the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner immediately prior to such issuance, by (2) a percentage equal to 100%, less such Percentage Interest and (y) the amount contributed to the Partnership by the holders of Class B Units in exchange for such issuance of Class B Units.
(iv) Liquidation Value. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event of any liquidation and winding up of the Partnership under Section 12.4 or a Significant Event, the holders of the Class B Units shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the Partnership available for distribution to the Partners or any Assignees, equal in right to the holders of Common Units and prior and in preference to any distribution of any assets of the Partnership to the holders of Subordinated Units, the positive value in each such holder’s Capital Account in respect of such Class B Units, determined after allocating items of income, gain, loss and deduction for the current tax period (and if necessary, any prior period(s) with respect to which IRS Form 1065 are not yet due, excluding extensions, and not yet filed and for which Schedule K-1s have not been distributed to any Partners for such period(s)) so that, to the maximum extent possible, each such holder’s Capital Account is equal to the amount that would be distributed to such holder if the amounts were distributed as follows:
(A) First, to each Class B Unit, an amount equal to the Class B Non-Converted Liquidation Accrual through such date; and
(B) Second, to each Class B Unit and each Common Unit, pro rata, on a per unit basis (not taking into account the number of Common Units into which each Class B Unit could be converted) until the amount distributed to each such Unit equals the Class B Issue Price.
(C) Subject to Section 5.12(b)(iv)(D) and (E), no other allocation pursuant to this Agreement shall reverse the effect of the allocations set forth in Section 5.12(b)(iv)(A) through (B) such that the Capital Account in respect of any Class B Unit or Common Unit then Outstanding would be less than its Capital Account immediately after the application of Section 5.12(b)(iv)(A) through (B).
(D) Immediately after such allocations pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(iv)(A) through (B) have been made, Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss shall be allocated to the Partners and Assignees pursuant to Section 6.1(c). At the time of the dissolution of the Partnership, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act, the holders of the Class B Units shall become entitled to receive any distributions in the amount of their Capital Account balances and shall have the status of, and shall be entitled to all remedies available to, an unsecured creditor of the Partnership, and, except as provided in Section 5.12(b)(iv)(E), such entitlement of the holders of the Class B Units shall have priority over any entitlement of any other Partners or Assignees with respect to any distributions by the Partnership to such other Partners or Assignees; provided, however, that the General Partner, as such, will have no liability for any obligations with respect to such distributions to any holder or holders of Class B Units.
(E) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the allocations set forth in Section 5.12(b)(iv)(A) through (D) above would result in the holders of Common Units not being entitled to receive, in the aggregate, an amount equal to 3% of the assets of the Partnership available for distribution to the Partners upon any dissolution and winding up of the Partnership under Section 12.4 (the “Common Minimum Allocation”), items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be reallocated to cause the Capital Accounts of the Common Units to equal, in the aggregate, the Common Minimum Allocation.
(v) Voting Rights. Prior to the Actual Conversion Date, Class B Units shall have voting rights that are identical to the voting rights of the Common Units and shall vote with the Common Units as a single class, so that each holder of a Class B Unit will be entitled to one vote for each Common Unit into which such Class B Unit is convertible as of the Record Date for such vote with respect to which each holder of a Common Unit is entitled to vote. Each reference in this Agreement to a vote of holders of Common Units shall be deemed to be a reference to the holders of Common Units and Class B Units on an “as if” converted basis, except where the Common Units are entitled to vote as a separate class. The approval of holders of a majority of the Class B Units shall be required to approve any matter for which the holders of the Class B Units are entitled to vote as a separate class. Each holder of a Class B Unit will be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of Common Units into which a Class B Unit is convertible at the time of the Record Date for the vote or written consent on the matter.
(vi) Conversion.
(A) Mandatory. The Class B Units shall automatically convert into the number of Common Units (as adjusted for splits and combinations) as is determined by dividing the Class B Conversion Value by the Class B Conversion Price without any further action by the holders thereof and without the approval of any Partner effective as of the first Business Day following the Record Date with respect to the Partnership’s first distribution of Available Cash from Operating Surplus under Section 6.4(a) (the “Mandatory Conversion Date”), after the Train 3 Substantial Completion Date.
(B) At the Option of a Class B Unitholder. Subject to the terms of this Section 5.12, the holders of the Class B Units shall have the right to convert all or a portion of the Class B Units then Outstanding into the number of Common Units as determined in the manner set forth in Section 5.12(b)(vi)(A) at any of the following times: (1) at any time subsequent to the date that is 83 months after the issuance of the EPC Notice to Proceed, (2) prior to the Record Date for a Quarter in which the Partnership has generated sufficient Available Cash from Operating Surplus to distribute the Initial Quarterly Distribution on all Outstanding Common Units and a number of Common Units to be issued upon conversion, which number shall be set forth in a notice to be delivered by the Partnership to the holders of the Class B Units promptly after the declaration of the distribution by the Board of Directors, and the number of Common Units to be received upon conversion pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(vi)(B) shall not exceed the number of Common Units set forth in such notice, and if the holders of Class B Units elect to convert and receive such number of Common Units prior to the Record Date, the Class B Quarterly Accrual
shall be reversed and such Common Units shall receive the distribution of Available Cash from Operating Surplus for the Quarter, (3) at any time following thirty (30) days prior to the Mandatory Conversion Date or (4) at any time within the 30-day period prior to a Significant Event or a dissolution under Section 12.1 (“Optional Conversion Date”).
(C) The date(s) on which Class B Units actually convert into Common Units via mandatory or optional conversion is referred to herein as the “Actual Conversion Date”. To convert Class B Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi)(B), the holder of such Class B Units shall provide irrevocable written notice (a “Class B Conversion Notice”) to the Partnership in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto stating therein that such holder elects to so convert Class B Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi)(B), identifying the Actual Conversion Date(s) expected to occur during the seven (7) days following such Class B Conversion Notice, and with respect to each such Actual Conversion Date: (1) the number of Class B Units to be converted, (2) the name or names in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for Common Units to be issued, (3) the holder’s computation of the number of Common Units to be received by the holder (or designated recipients) on the Actual Conversion Date and (4) the Class B Conversion Price on the Class B Conversion Notice Date. The date of any Class B Conversion Notice shall hereinafter be referred to as a “Class B Conversion Notice Date.” The Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide written notification to each holder of Class B Units at least forty five (45) days prior to an event described in Section 5.12(b)(vi)(B)(3) or (4). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Mandatory Conversion Date shall not occur prior to the first Business Day following the Record Date with respect to the Partnership’s distribution of Available Cash from Operating Surplus under Section 6.4(a) with respect to the Quarter ended June 30, 2017.
(D) All Class B Units to be converted by a holder on the Actual Conversion Date shall be aggregated together in order to avoid multiple fractional Common Units. If such aggregate conversion results in the issuance of a fractional Common Unit but for the provisions of this Section 5.12(b)(vi)(D), at the discretion of the General Partner such fractional Common Unit shall be either be rounded to the next higher Unit or such equivalent amount paid in cash.
(E) Upon the issuance of Common Units upon a conversion pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi)(A) or (B) of Class B Units with respect to which the General Partner made a Capital Contribution pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(iii)(B) upon issuance, the General Partner shall be allocated Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss (or items thereof) as specified in Section 5.5(d) and the Partnership shall issue to the General Partner that number of additional General Partner Units equal to the product of (x) the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner immediately prior to such issuance, by (2) a percentage equal to 100% less such Percentage Interest and (y) the excess over (1) the number of Common Units issued upon such conversion and (2) the number of Class B Units subject to such
conversion. The General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership in exchange for such issuance.
(vii) Preemptive Rights.
(A) During the Investor Approval Period, other than upon (w) any issuances from the Partnership’s equity incentive plans in effect from time to time, (x) the conversion of the Class B Units, (y) adjustments pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ix) or (z) the issuance of (1) General Partner Units pursuant to Section 5.2(b), (2) Units pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement, (3) the CEI Class B Units and (4) the CTPL Class B Units, the Partnership shall not issue or transfer any Equity Securities other than in compliance with this Section 5.12(b)(vii), Section 5.8 and Section 5.12(b)(ix). If at any time the Partnership wishes to issue or transfer to any Person any Equity Securities, the Partnership shall (1) promptly, but not later than ten (10) days prior to the planned date of any such issuance or transfer, deliver a notice of such proposed issuance or transfer to the Purchaser (the “Equity Securities Notice”) and (2) promptly deliver a notice to the Purchaser of approval of such issuance or transfer by the Board of Directors. The Equity Securities Notice shall include (x) a description of the Equity Securities, (y) the identity of the proposed recipient(s) of the Equity Securities if such proposed recipient(s) have been identified and (z) a description of the consideration and material terms and conditions upon which the proposed issuance or transfer is being made (provided, that in no event shall such terms and conditions include matters that would violate the Purchaser’s rights pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(vii)), together with a copy of any written agreements relating thereto.
(B) During the Investor Approval Period, the Purchaser and the General Partner (in connection with the exercise of any rights of the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.8 (each an “Electing Party”) shall have an option for a period of three (3) Business Days from the date that the Board of Directors approves the issuance of the Equity Securities, which shall be no sooner than 13 days from the Equity Securities Notice, to elect to purchase, at the same price and on the same material terms and conditions as described in the Equity Securities Notice, some or all of the offered Equity Securities in an amount up to the Electing Party’s Preemptive Share, by delivering to the Partnership irrevocable written notice within such period setting forth the number of Equity Securities which the Electing Party wishes to purchase and an undertaking to pay in full at closing the purchase price for such Equity Securities.
(C) If the General Partner does not exercise its right set forth in Section 5.8 and this Section 5.12(b)(vii) to purchase its Preemptive Share of the Equity Securities stated in the Equity Securities Notice, then the Purchaser shall have an option for a period of three (3) Business Days after the Purchaser’s receipt of notice that the General Partner has not exercised all or any portion of such right to elect to purchase an additional amount of such Equity Securities up to the aggregate amount of offered Equity Securities not committed to be purchased by the General Partner. The Purchaser desiring to exercise its option set forth in this Section 5.12(b)(vii)(C) shall deliver irrevocable written notice to the Partnership within such three (3) Business
Day period setting forth the number of Equity Securities which the Purchaser wishes to purchase and an undertaking to pay in full at closing the purchase price for such Equity Securities.
(D) The closing of the Equity Securities offered pursuant to the Equity Securities Notice shall occur concurrently with the closing of the offering contemplated in the Equity Securities Notice. The Purchaser shall pay the same amount per Equity Security that the Partnership would receive from the underwriters (to the extent the Equity Securities are contemplated being sold pursuant to an underwritten sale) in connection with any exercise of its preemptive rights pursuant to Section 5.8 and this Section 5.12(b)(vii).
(E) Any Equity Securities for which the Purchaser or the General Partner, as applicable, has not elected to purchase following the expiration of the applicable period(s) set forth in Section 5.12(b)(vii)(C) and Section 5.12(b)(vii)(D) may be sold or transferred to the proposed recipient(s) on substantially the same terms and conditions set forth in the Equity Securities Notice at any time during the period ending ninety (90) days after termination of the later of such applicable period. Any Equity Securities that the Partnership desires to issue or transfer following such ninety (90) day period or not on substantially the same terms and conditions set forth in the Equity Securities Notice must be offered to the Purchaser and the General Partner and its Affiliates with a new Equity Securities Notice pursuant to the terms of this Section 5.12(b)(vii).
(viii) Significant Event. In any transaction constituting a Significant Event involving the Transfer of Partnership Interests, the proceeds of such Significant Event shall be shared among the Partners as such proceeds would be distributed pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(iv) and Section 12.4 as if the Significant Event was a sale of the Partnership’s assets.
(ix) Adjustment of the Class B Conversion Value
(A) Class B Dilutive Issuance. If the Partnership shall make a Class B Dilutive Issuance prior to the Train 4 Substantial Completion Date, then the Class B Conversion Value for each Outstanding Class B Unit shall be increased at such time by an amount equal to the quotient of (A) the product of the number of Common Unit Equivalents issued in such Class B Dilutive Issuance (excluding the aggregate number of Common Unit Equivalents issued in connection with all prior Class B Dilutive Issuances for which an adjustment has been made pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(ix)(A)), multiplied by (y) 0.447 multiplied by (z) the Class B Issue Price divided by (B) 145,333,333.33 (as adjusted for splits and combinations).
(B) Train 1 - 4 Debt Adjustment. In the event the Weighted Average Interest Rate of Debt (including any indebtedness already incurred) for Trains 1, 2, 3 and 4 incurred prior to the Measurement Date exceeds the applicable Class B Debt Lower Adjustment Factor, then the Class B Conversion Value of each Class B Unit shall be increased on the Measurement Date as follows:
(i) to the extent the Weighted Average Interest Rate of Debt is less than or equal to the Class B Debt Upper Adjustment Factor, an amount equal to the Class B Issue Price multiplied by 205,000 for each basis point increase in Weighted Average Interest Rate of Debt above the Class B Debt Lower Adjustment Factor, divided by 145,333,333.33 (as adjusted for splits and combinations); plus
(ii) to the extent the Weighted Average Interest Rate of Debt exceeds the Class B Debt Upper Adjustment Factor, an amount equal to the Class B Issue Price multiplied by 610,000 for each basis point increase in Weighted Average Interest Rate of Debt above the Class B Debt Upper Adjustment Factor, divided by 145,333,333.33 (as adjusted for splits and combinations).
|
| | | | |
Purchaser Class B Weighted Average Funding Period | | Class B Debt Lower Adjustment Factor | | Class B Debt Upper Adjustment Factor |
Less than 270 days | | 6.25% | | 7.75% |
270 days or more but less than 360 days | | 6.50% | | 8.00% |
360 days or more but less than 450 days | | 6.75% | | 8.25% |
450 days or more but less than 540 days | | 7.00% | | 8.50% |
540 days or more | | 7.50% | | 9.00% |
(C) Train 1 and Train 2 Debt Adjustment. In the event that both the Train 3 Condition and the Train 4 Condition have not been satisfied prior to the Measurement Date, the adjustments set forth in Section 5.12(b)(ix)(B) shall apply solely to the Weighted Average Interest Rate of Debt for Train 1 and Train 2, and the Class B Conversion Value of each Class B Unit shall, if applicable, be increased on the Measurement Date accordingly.
(D) All adjustments to the Class B Conversion Value set forth in this Section 5.12(b)(ix) shall be applied regardless of whether the applicable Class B Units have then been issued, such that when issued, the Class B Conversion Value for such Class B Units shall have received such increases in their Class B Conversion Value as of the earlier applicable dates.
(x) Tax Information. Within ten (10) days after the date of receipt of any written request from any holder of Class B Units stating the number of Class B Units owned by such holder (which requests shall be made by each holder no more than four (4) times per calendar year), the Partnership shall provide such holder with a good faith estimate (and reasonable supporting calculations utilizing reasonable assumptions) of whether there is sufficient Unrealized Gain attributable to the Partnership property such that, if such holder converted its Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi) and such Unrealized Gain was allocated to such holder pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i), such holder’s Capital Account in respect of its Converted Class B Units would be equal, on a per unit basis, to the Per Unit Capital Amount of a Common Unit. The good faith estimate provided by the Partnership may be based on the calculations prepared by the Partnership and/or its outside tax advisors in connection with the tax returns most recently filed by
the Partnership (with adjustments to reflect any material changes in the trading price of the Partnership’s Common Units or fair market value of the Partnership’s Assets).
ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.12(b)(iv), for purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) shall be allocated among the Partners in each taxable year (or portion thereof) as provided herein below. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 6.1 to the contrary (other than Section 6.1(d)(iii)), for all taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2016 and prior to the Actual Conversion Date, Unitholders holding Class B Units shall be treated as if they held Converted Class B Units as determined consistent with the provisions of Section 5.5(d)(i).
(a) Net Income. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Income for each taxable year and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable year shall be allocated among the Partners (other than holders of Class B Units) as follows:
(i) First, 100% to the General Partner, in an amount equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) for all previous taxable years until the aggregate Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(i) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) for all previous taxable years;
(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the aggregate Net Income allocated to such Partners pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(ii) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to such Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable years; and
(iii) Third, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
(b) Net Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Losses for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Losses for such taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners (other than holders of Class B Units) as follows:
(i) First, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the aggregate Net Losses allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Income allocated to such Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(a)
(iii) for all previous taxable years, provided that the Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account);
(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests; provided, that Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(ii) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account); and
(iii) Third, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
(c) Net Termination Gains and Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated in the same manner as such Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss is allocated hereunder. All allocations under this Section 6.1(c) shall be made after Capital Account balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under this Section 6.1 and after all distributions of Available Cash provided under Section 6.4 and Section 6.5 have been made; provided, however, that solely for purposes of this Section 6.1(c), Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for distributions made pursuant to Section 12.4.
(i) If a Net Termination Gain is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d)), such Net Termination Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in the following manner (and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be increased by the amount so allocated in each of the following subclauses, in the order listed, before an allocation is made pursuant to the next succeeding subclause):
(A) First, to each Partner having a deficit balance in its Capital Account, in the proportion that such deficit balance bears to the total deficit balances in the Capital Accounts of all Partners, until each such Partner has been allocated Net Termination Gain equal to any such deficit balance in its Capital Account;
(B) Second, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Initial Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i) or (b)(i) with respect to such Common Unit for such Quarter (the amount determined pursuant to this clause (2) is hereinafter defined as the “Unpaid IQD”) and (3) any then existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage;
(C) Third, if such Net Termination Gain is recognized (or is deemed to be recognized) prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, (x) to
the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding equals the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, determined for the taxable year (or portion thereof) to which this allocation of gain relates, and (2) the Initial Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(iii) with respect to such Subordinated Unit for such Quarter;
(D) Fourth, 100% to the General Partner and all Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Unpaid IQD, (3) any then existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage, and (4) the excess of (aa) the First Target Distribution less the Initial Quarterly Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(iv) and Section 6.4(b)(ii) (the sum of (1), (2), (3) and (4) is hereinafter defined as the “First Liquidation Target Amount”);
(E) Fifth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (E), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the First Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Second Target Distribution less the First Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(v) and Section 6.4(b)(iii) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter defined as the “Second Liquidation Target Amount”);
(F) Sixth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (F), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the Second Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Third Target Distribution less the Second Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(vi) and Section 6.4(b)(iv) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter defined as the “Third Liquidation Target Amount”); and
(G) Finally, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (G).
(ii) If a Net Termination Loss is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d)), such Net Termination Loss shall be allocated among the Partners in the following manner:
(A) First, if such Net Termination Loss is recognized (or is deemed to be recognized) prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;
(B) Second, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; and
(C) Finally, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
(d) Special Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, the following special allocations shall be made for such taxable period:
(i) Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, each Partner shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6), 1.704-2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d) with respect to such taxable period (other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vii) and Section 6.1(d)(viii)). This Section 6.1(d)(i) is intended to comply with the Partnership Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(ii) Chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(d)(i)), except as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, any Partner with a share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d), other than Section 6.1(d)(i) and other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vii) and
Section 6.1(d)(viii), with respect to such taxable period. This Section 6.1(d)(ii) is intended to comply with the chargeback of items of income and gain requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(iii) Priority Allocations.
(A) Items of Partnership gross income or gain, if any, for any taxable period or portion thereof beginning on or after January 1, 2016 and ending on the Actual Conversion Date shall be allocated to each Unitholder holding Common Units in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of distributions made to such Unitholder on or after January 1, 2016 and prior to the Actual Conversion Date.
(B) After application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A), all or any portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain, if any, for any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning on or after January 1, 2016 and ending on the Actual Conversion Date shall be allocated to each Unitholder holding Class B Units in an aggregate amount equal to the product of (x) the additional number of Converted Class B Units such Unitholder would be entitled to receive as a result of the increase in the Class B Conversion Value on such Class B Accrual Date and (y) the Closing Price of the Common Units on such Class B Accrual Date for each Class B Accrual Date occurring during such taxable period or portion thereof; provided that items of gross income and gain shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B) to the extent such allocation would cause a Unitholder holding Class B Units to be allocated Partnership net taxable income for such taxable period in excess of zero (0). If an allocation of gross income or gain to a Unitholder holding Class B Units is subject to the limitation set forth in the proviso of the immediately preceding sentence (the amount so limited being a “Class B Allocation Deficit Amount”), then, for all taxable periods ending on or prior to December 31, 2017, in addition to any allocation of gross income or gain such Unitholder is entitled to receive pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B), such Unitholder shall be allocated gross income and gain in subsequent taxable periods in an amount equal to the Class B Allocation Deficit Amount (again subject to the limitation set forth in the proviso of the immediately preceding sentence with respect to such subsequent taxable period).
(C) At any time following the Distribution Reserve Period Termination Date, if the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property distributed (except cash or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4) to any Unitholder with respect to its Units (other than to holders of Class B Units with respect to the Class B Units) for a taxable year is greater (on a per Unit basis) than the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed to the other Unitholders (other than the class of Unitholders holding Class B Units) with respect to their Units (on a per Unit basis), then, after application of Sections 6.1(d)(iii)(A) and 6.1(d)(iii)(B), (1) each Unitholder receiving such greater cash or property distribution shall be allocated any remaining items of gross income in an amount equal to the product of (aa) the amount by which the distribution (on a per Unit basis) to such Unitholder exceeds the distribution (on a per Unit basis) to the Unitholders receiving the smallest distribution and (bb) the
number of Units owned by the Unitholder receiving the greater distribution; and (2) the General Partner shall be allocated any remaining items of gross income in an aggregate amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (aa) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time in which the greater cash or property distribution occurs by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time in which the greater cash or property distribution occurs times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.
(D) After the application of Sections 6.1(d)(iii)(A), 6.1(d)(iii)(B) and 6.1(d)(iii)(C), all or any portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for the taxable period, if any, shall be allocated (1) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to this paragraph Section 6.1(d)(iii)(D) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the cumulative amount of all Incentive Distributions made to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights from the Closing Date to a date 60 days after the end of the current taxable year; and (2) to the General Partner an amount equal to the product of (aa) an amount equal to the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.
(iv) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership 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 Section 6.1(d)(i) or Section 6.1(d)(ii).
(v) Capital Account Deficits. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.1(d)(v), the General Partner shall not be allocated its portion of any item of Net Losses to the extent that such allocation would cause or increase a deficit balance in the General Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account. Any item of Net Losses or portion thereof which, but for the limitation in the first sentence of this Section 6.1(d)(v), would be allocated to the General Partner, shall be allocated Pro Rata to each holder of Class B Units having a positive balance in its Adjusted Capital Account, to the extent of such positive balance, provided that if the Adjusted Capital Accounts of all holders of Class B Units have been reduced to zero, any remaining Net Loss shall be allocated to the General Partner. If Net Losses have been allocated to any holder of Class B Units pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) for any taxable year, then Net Income for each subsequent taxable year and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable year shall be allocated 100% to such holder of Class B Units and before any allocations of Net Income pursuant to Section 6.1(a), in an amount equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to such holder pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) for all previous taxable years until the aggregate Net Income allocated to such holder pursuant
to this Section 6.1(d)(v) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to such holder pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) for all previous taxable years.
(vi) 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, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(vi) 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)(vi) were not in this Agreement.
(vii) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. If the General Partner determines that the Partnership’s Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.
(viii) 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.
(ix) 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.
(x) Code Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury
Regulations.
(xi) Economic Uniformity. At the election of the General Partner with respect to any taxable period ending upon, or after, the termination of the Subordination Period, all or a portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income, gain, deduction or loss for such taxable period, after taking into account allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(iii), shall be allocated 100% to each Partner with respect to such Partner’s Subordinated Units that are Outstanding as of the termination of the Subordination Period (“Final Subordinated Units”) or Common Units, as the case may be, in the proportion that the respective number of Common Units or Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner bears to the total number of Common Units or Final Subordinated Units then Outstanding, until each such Partner has been allocated the amount of gross income, gain, deduction or loss with respect to such Partner’s Common Units or Final Subordinated Units that causes the Capital Account maintained with respect to such Final Subordinated Units to equal an amount equal to the product of (A) the number of Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit. The purpose of this allocation is to establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying Final Subordinated Units and the Capital Accounts underlying Common Units held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates immediately prior to the conversion of such Final Subordinated Units into Common Units after giving effect to any allocations to holders of Common Units pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi). This allocation method for establishing such economic uniformity will be available to the General Partner only if the method for allocating the Capital Account maintained with respect to the Subordinated Units between the transferred and retained Subordinated Units pursuant to Section 5.5(c)(ii) does not otherwise provide such economic uniformity to the Final Subordinated Units.
(xii) 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)(xii)(A) shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Partners. Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(A) shall be deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) hereof to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent
Required Allocations.(B) The General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xii)(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)(xii)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.
(xiii) Corrective Allocations. In the event of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items or any Book-Down Event or any recognition of a Net Termination Loss, the following rules shall apply:
(A) In the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d) hereof), the General Partner shall allocate additional items of gross income and gain away from the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights to the Unitholders and the General Partner, or additional items of deduction and loss away from the Unitholders and the General Partner to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, to the extent that the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items allocated to the Unitholders or the General Partner exceed their Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items. For this purpose, the Unitholders and the General Partner shall be treated as being allocated Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to the extent that such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items have reduced the amount of income that would otherwise have been allocated to the Unitholders or the General Partner under the Partnership Agreement (e.g., Additional Book Basis Derivative Items taken into account in computing cost of goods sold would reduce the amount of book income otherwise available for allocation among the Partners). Any allocation made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xiii)(A) shall be made after all of the other Agreed Allocations have been made as if this Section 6.1(d)(xiii)(A) were not in this Agreement and, to the extent necessary, shall require the reallocation of items that have been allocated pursuant to such other Agreed Allocations.
(B) In the case of any negative adjustments to the Capital Accounts of the Partners resulting from a Book-Down Event or from the recognition of a Net Termination Loss, such negative adjustment (1) shall first be allocated, to the extent of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments, in such a manner, as determined by the General Partner, that to the extent possible the aggregate Capital Accounts of the Partners will equal the amount that would have been the Capital Account balance of the Partners if no prior Book-Up Events had occurred, and (2) any negative adjustment in excess of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments shall be allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof.
(C) In making the allocations required under this Section 6.1(d)(xiii), the General Partner may apply whatever conventions or other methodology it determines will satisfy the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xiii).
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) (A) In the case of a Contributed Property, such items attributable thereto 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) (A) In the case of an Adjusted Property, such items shall (1) 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 Section 5.5(d)(i) or Section 5.5(d)(ii), and (2) 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 (B) 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 General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities, except as otherwise determined by the General Partner with respect to goodwill, if any.
(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 General Partner shall (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations for federal income tax purposes of income (including gross income) or deductions; and (iii) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may adopt such conventions, make such allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement as provided in this Section 6.2(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 General Partner may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the Partnership’s common basis of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6) or any successor regulations thereto. If the General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the Partnership’s property. If the General Partner chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other depreciation and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests, so long as such conventions would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.
(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 that may be made by the Partnership; provided, however, that such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted (in the manner determined by the General Partner) to take into account those adjustments permitted or required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.
(g) If Capital Account balances are reallocated between the Partners in accordance with Section 5.5(d)(i) hereof and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(4), beginning with the year of reallocation and continuing until the allocations required are fully taken into account, the Partnership shall make corrective allocations (allocations of items of gross income or gain or loss or deduction for federal income tax purposes that do not have a corresponding book allocation) to take into account the Capital Account reallocation, as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).
(h) 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 American Stock Exchange or such other National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units may then be listed or admitted for trading on the first Business Day of each month; provided, however, that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership or any other extraordinary item
of income or loss realized and recognized other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the American Stock Exchange or such other National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units may then be listed or admitted for trading on the first Business Day of the month in which such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.
(i) Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method determined by the General Partner.
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Section 6.3 | Requirement and Characterization of Cash Distributions; Cash Distributions to Record Holders. |
(a) Within 45 days following the end of each Quarter commencing with the Quarter ending on March 31, 2007, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall, subject to the Delaware Act, be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. All amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date from any source shall be deemed to be Operating Surplus until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.4 equals the Operating Surplus from the Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed on such date by the Partnership after giving effect to the two preceding sentences shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5, be deemed to be “Capital Surplus.” Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Partnership shall not make a distribution to any Partner on account of its interest in the Partnership if such distribution would violate the Delaware Act or any other applicable law.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all receipts received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs, other than from borrowings determined to be Available Cash in accordance with (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) The General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the Partners, as a distribution of Available Cash to such Partners.
(d) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s
liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.
Section 6.4 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus.
(a) During Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter within the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or Section 6.5 shall, subject to the Delaware Act, be distributed as follows, except as otherwise required by Section 5.6 in respect of other Partnership Securities issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Initial Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(ii) Second, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage existing with respect to such Quarter;
(iii) Third, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to the Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Initial Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv) Fourth, to the General Partner and all Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Initial Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(v) Fifth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to sub-clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (v) until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
(vi) Sixth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (B) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this subclause (vi), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(vii) Thereafter, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (vii);
provided, however, if the Initial Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(a)(vii).
(b) After Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter after the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or Section 6.5, subject to the Delaware Act, shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise required by Section 5.6(b) in respect of additional Partnership Securities issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Initial Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Initial Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iii) Third, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iii), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv) Fourth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iv), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(v) Thereafter, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (v);
provided, however, if the Initial Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the
second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(b)(v).
Section 6.5 Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus.
Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3(a) shall, subject to the Delaware Act, be distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.3 require otherwise, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until a hypothetical holder of a Common Unit acquired in the Initial Public Offering has received with respect to such Common Unit during the period since the Closing Date through such date, distributions of Available Cash that are deemed to be Capital Surplus in an aggregate amount equal to the Initial Unit Price of such Common Unit. Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus shall then be distributed (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (B) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage. Thereafter, all Available Cash shall be distributed as if it were Operating Surplus and shall be distributed in accordance with Section 6.4.
Section 6.6 Adjustment of Initial Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels.
(a) The Initial Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution, Third Target Distribution, Common Unit Arrearages and Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Securities in accordance with Section 5.9. In the event of a distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus, the then applicable Initial Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be adjusted proportionately downward to equal the product obtained by multiplying the otherwise applicable Initial Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, as the case may be, by a fraction of which the numerator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately after giving effect to such distribution and of which the denominator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately prior to giving effect to such distribution.
(b) The Initial Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 6.9.
Section 6.7 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units.
(a) Except with respect to the right to vote on or approve matters requiring the vote or approval of a percentage of the holders of Outstanding Common Units and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units, the holder of a Subordinated Unit shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder; provided, however, that
immediately upon the conversion of Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7, the Unitholder holding a Subordinated Unit shall possess all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder, 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 Subordinated Units shall remain subject to the provisions of Section 5.5(c)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(xi) and Section 6.7(c).
(b) A Unitholder shall not be permitted to transfer a Subordinated Unit or a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 (other than a transfer to an Affiliate) if the remaining balance in the transferring Unitholder’s Capital Account with respect to the retained Subordinated Units or Retained Converted Subordinated Units would be negative after giving effect to the allocation under Section 5.5(c)(ii)(B).
(c) A Unitholder holding a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1, and shall not be permitted to transfer its converted Subordinated Units to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the holder until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that a converted Subordinated Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.7(c), the General Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to the converted Subordinated Units in preparation for a transfer of such converted Subordinated Units, including the application of Section 5.5(c)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(xi) and Section 6.7(b), provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units represented by Common Unit Certificates (for this purpose the allocation of income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to Subordinated Units or Common Units will be deemed not to have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units).
Section 6.8 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights (a) shall (i) possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article III and Article VII and (ii) have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions related thereto and (b) shall not (i) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, (ii) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in Section 6.4(a)(v), Section 6.4(a)(vi) and Section 6.4(a)(vii), Section 6.4(b)(iii), (iv) and (v), and Section 12.4 or (iii) be allocated items of income, gain, loss or deduction other than as specified in this Article VI. In addition to the foregoing, if any distribution from Operating Surplus is made pursuant to Section 6.4 as a result of the refinancing of the Partnership’s indebtedness for borrowed money, the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights shall not be entitled to any distributions under Section 6.4 with respect thereto.
Section 6.9 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Class B Units.
(a) Subject to the transfer restrictions in Section 4.8, a Unitholder holding a Class B Unit shall be required to provide notice to the General Partner of the transfer of the Class B Unit at any time during the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days following such transfer and (ii) the last Business Day of the calendar year during which such transfer occurred, unless the transfer is to an Affiliate of the holder. Subject to the transfer restrictions in Section 4.8, a Unitholder holding a Converted Class B Unit shall be required to provide notice to the General Partner of the transfer of the Converted Class B Unit at any time during the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days following such transfer and (ii) the last Business Day of the calendar year during which such transfer occurred, unless (x) the transfer is to an Affiliate of the holder or (y) by virtue of the application of Section 5.5(d)(i), the General Partner has previously determined, based on advice of counsel, that the Converted Class B Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.9, the General Partner shall take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to the Converted Class B Unit in preparation for a transfer of such Units; provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units represented by Common Unit Certificates (for this purpose the allocations of income, gain, loss and deductions, and the making of any guaranteed payments or reallocation of Capital Account balances among the Partners in accordance with Section 5.5(d)(i) hereof and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(4) with respect to Class B Units or Common Units will be deemed not to have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units).
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Class B Units (i) shall (A) possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article III and Article VII and (B) in accordance with Section 5.5(a), Section 5.5(d)(i) and Section 5.12, have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions related thereto and (C) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units as provided in Section 5.12 and (ii) shall not (A) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in Section 5.12 or (B) be allocated items of income, gain, loss or deduction other than as specified in Sections 5.12 or 6.1(d)(v).
Section 6.10 Entity-Level Taxation.
If legislation is enacted or the interpretation of existing language is modified by a court of competent jurisdiction so that a Group Member is treated as an association taxable as a corporation or is otherwise subject to an entity-level tax for federal, state or local income tax purposes, then the General Partner may reduce the Initial Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution by the amount of income taxes that are payable by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation (the “Incremental Income Taxes”), or any portion thereof selected by the General Partner, in the manner provided in this Section 6.10. If the General Partner elects to reduce the Initial Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution for any Quarter with respect to all or a portion of any Incremental Income Taxes, the General Partner shall estimate for such Quarter
the Partnership Group’s aggregate liability (the “Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount”) for all (or the relevant portion of) such Incremental Income Taxes; provided that any difference between such estimate and the actual tax liability for Incremental Income Taxes (or the relevant portion thereof) for such Quarter may, to the extent determined by the General Partner, be taken into account in determining the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount with respect to each Quarter in which any such difference can be determined. For each such Quarter, the Initial Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be the product obtained by multiplying (a) the amounts therefor that are set out herein prior to the application of this Section 6.10 times (b) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) Available Cash with respect to such Quarter by (ii) the sum of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter and the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for such Quarter, as determined by the General Partner. For purposes of the foregoing, Available Cash with respect to a Quarter will be deemed reduced by the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for that Quarter.
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section 7.1 Management.
(a) The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the 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 that are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.3, shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:
(i) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible into 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 and Article XIV);
(iv) the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership Group; subject to Section 7.6(a), the lending of funds to other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment or guarantee of obligations of any Group Member; and the making of capital contributions to any Group Member;
(v) the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Partnership under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership, with the other party to the contract to have no recourse against the General Partner or its assets other than its interest in the Partnership, even if 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 insurance for the benefit of the Partnership Group, the Partners and Indemnitees;
(ix) the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other relationships (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, any Group Member from time to time) subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2.4;
(x) the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership, including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or mediation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation;
(xi) the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;
(xii) the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that trading be suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior approval that may be required under Section 4.8);
(xiii) the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Securities, or the issuance of options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities;
(xiv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s participation in any Group Member; and
(xv) the entering into of agreements with any of its Affiliates to render services to a Group Member or to itself in the discharge of its duties as General Partner of the Partnership.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and the Assignees and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement, the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member, and the Underwriting Agreement, Contribution Agreement, Letter Agreement, Management Services Agreements, Services Agreement, Secondment Agreement, O&M Agreement, Assignment Agreement, Crest Royalty Agreement, Tax Sharing Agreement and other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement to which the
Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries is a party as of the effective date of this Agreement; (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or through any officer of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the Assignees or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV) shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise.
Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership.
The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the General Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.
Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the 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.
(b) Except as provided in Article XII and Article XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation, other combination or sale of ownership interests of the Partnership’s Subsidiaries) without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the
assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance. Without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority, the General Partner shall not, on behalf of the Partnership, except as permitted under Section 4.6, Section 11.1 and Section 11.2, elect or cause the Partnership to elect a successor general partner of the Partnership.
Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner.
(a) Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or managing member of any Group Member.
(b) The General Partner or Cheniere LNG Terminals, without duplication, shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner, to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group and including overhead allocated to the Partnership by Affiliates of the General Partner consistent with then-applicable accounting and allocation methodologies generally permitted by FERC for rate-making purposes (or in the absence of then-applicable methodologies permitted by FERC, consistent with the most-recently applicable methodologies) and past business practices, and including the fees and expenses payable by the Partnership pursuant to the O&M Agreement and the Services Agreement), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred in connection with operating the Partnership Group’s business (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7. The allocation of overhead to the Partnership by Affiliates of the General Partner consistent with then-applicable accounting and allocation methodologies generally permitted by FERC for rate-making purposes (or in the absence of then-applicable methodologies permitted by FERC, consistent with the most-recently applicable methodologies) and past business practices shall be deemed to be fair and reasonable to the Partnership.
(c) The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership Employee Benefit Plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Securities or options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to 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 General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of employees of the General Partner or its Affiliates, or any Group Member or its Affiliates, 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 General Partner or any of its Affiliates
any Partnership Securities that the 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 General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Securities purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any Employee Benefit Plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6.
Section 7.5 Outside Activities.
(a) After the Closing Date, the General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake activities that are ancillary or related thereto (including being a limited partner in the Partnership) and (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities except in connection with or incidental to (A) its performance as general partner or managing member, if any, of one or more Group Members or as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement or (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt or equity securities in any Group Member.
(b) Subject to Section 7.5(c), each Indemnitee (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise to any Group Member or any Partner or Assignee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, but subject to Section 7.5(c) (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.5 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be breach of any duty including any fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner or of any Indemnitee for the Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to an Indemnitee (including the General Partner). No Indemnitee (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction,
agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Partnership shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Partnership, and it shall be deemed not to be breach of any duty including any fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner or of any Indemnitee for the Indemnitees (including the General Partner) to not communicate or offer such opportunity to the Partnership, and such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any Limited Partner or any other Person for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Partnership; provided, however, that the preceding terms of this Section 7.5(c) shall not apply to any business opportunity (i) of which any Person who is an employee of any member of the Partnership Group or an officer, director or employee of the General Partner acquires knowledge while acting in his capacity as such officer, director or employee and not acting in his capacity as an officer, director or employee of an entity that is not a member of the Partnership Group or (ii) taken by an Indemnitee who is an individual for such Indemnitee’s personal benefit.
(d) The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Securities in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units or other Partnership Securities acquired by them. The term “Affiliates” when used in this Section 7.5(d) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.
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Section 7.6 | Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members. |
(a) The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such amounts as the General Partner may determine; provided, however, that in any such case the lending party may not charge the borrowing party interest at a rate greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party or impose terms less favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an arm’s-length basis (without reference to the lending party’s financial abilities or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner. The borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional interest costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds. For purposes of this Section 7.6(a) and Section 7.6(b), the term “Group Member” shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.
(b) The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the General Partner. No Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another Group Member).
(c) No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any duty of the General Partner or its Affiliates to the Partnership or the Limited Partners existing hereunder, or existing at law, in equity or otherwise by reason of the fact that the purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to (i) enable distributions to the General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their capacities as Limited Partners) to exceed the General Partner’s Percentage Interest of the total amount distributed to all partners or (ii) hasten the expiration of the Subordination Period or the conversion of any Subordinated Units into Common Units.
Section 7.7 Indemnification.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all 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 the Indemnitee’s serving or having served, or taking or having taken any action or inaction in any capacity that causes or caused the Indemnitee to be, an Indemnitee; provided, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful; provided, further, no indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be available to the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than a Group Member) with respect to its or their obligations incurred pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement or the Contribution Agreement (other than obligations incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership). Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be 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 General Partner or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the General Partner, its Affiliates and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) For purposes of this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an Employee Benefit Plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an Employee Benefit Plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section 7.7(a); and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Partnership.
(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.
(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(h) The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, 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.
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 of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.
(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 7.1(a), the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.
(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.
(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the Indemnitees under this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
(e) In exercising its authority under this Agreement, the General Partner is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of any Partner individually (including, without limitation, the particular tax consequences to any Partner individually) in deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or to decline to take) any action, and the General Partner shall not be liable for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by Partners in connection with such decisions, provided that the General Partner has acted in good faith.
Section 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties.
(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever any actual or potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member, any Partner or any Assignee, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) fair and
reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval. If Special Approval is sought, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Conflicts Committee acted in good faith, and if Special Approval is not sought and the Board of Directors of the General Partner determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Board of Directors acted in good faith, and, in either case, in any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or Assignee or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or Assignee or any other Limited Partner or Assignee or the Partnership challenging such approval, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or of any other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise.
(b) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. In order for a determination or other action to be in “good faith” for purposes of this Agreement, the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action must believe that the determination or other action is in the best interests of the Partnership.
(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any fiduciary or other duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee; and the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, “at the option of the General Partner,” or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, but subject to Section 4.6 and
Section 4.7, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Units, General Partner Units or Incentive Distribution Rights, as appropriate, or refrains from voting or transferring its Units, General Partner Units or Incentive Distribution Rights, to the extent permitted under this Agreement, it shall be acting in its individual capacity. The General Partner’s organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or shall be determined by its members, if the General Partner is a limited liability company, stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or the members or stockholders of the General Partner’s general partner, if the General Partner is a limited partnership.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and its Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use. Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall be at its option.
(e) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or required by the Delaware Act, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or any Limited Partner or Assignee and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other Indemnitee.
(f) The Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve actions by the general partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.9.
Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner.
(a) The 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 General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. The General Partner shall be fully protected from liability to the Partnership, the Partners or other Persons bound to this Agreement for such reliance made in good faith.
(c) The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of the Partnership.
Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities.
The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Securities; provided that, except as may be required pursuant to Section 4.10, the General Partner may not cause any Group Member to purchase Subordinated Units during the Subordination Period. As long as Partnership Securities are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Securities shall not be considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Securities for its own account, subject to the provisions of Article IV and Article X.
Section 7.12 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(a) If, (i) the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including for purposes of this Section 7.12, any Person that is an Affiliate of the General Partner at the date hereof notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an Affiliate of the General Partner) 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 (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 at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership 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 five registrations pursuant to Section 7.12(a) and Section 7.12(b); and provided further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith that the requested registration would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such registration would (x) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to postpone such requested registration for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holder’s request, such right pursuant to this Section 7.12(a) and Section 7.12(b) not to be utilized more than once in any twelve-month period. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the Partnership shall be deemed not to have used all commercially reasonable efforts to keep the registration statement effective during the applicable period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Partnership Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Partnership Securities at any time during such period, unless such action is required by applicable law. In connection with any registration pursuant to the
immediately preceding sentence, the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request; provided, however, that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Securities subject to such registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii) do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Securities in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(d), 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, any Holder holds Partnership Securities that it desires to sell and 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 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 at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Securities covered by such shelf registration statement have been sold, a “shelf” registration statement covering the Partnership Securities specified by the Holder on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than five registrations pursuant to Section 7.12(a) and this Section 7.12(b); and provided further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith that any offering under, or the use of any prospectus forming a part of, the shelf registration statement would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such offering or use would (x) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to suspend such offering or use for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holder’s request, such right pursuant to Section 7.12(a) or this Section 7.12(b) not to be utilized more than once in any twelve-month period. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the Partnership shall be deemed not to have used all commercially reasonable efforts to keep the shelf registration statement effective during the applicable period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Partnership Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Partnership Securities at any time during such period, unless such action is required by applicable law. In connection with any shelf registration pursuant to this Section 7.12(b), the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to
such shelf 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 shelf registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Securities subject to such shelf registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii) do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Securities in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(d), all costs and expenses of any such shelf registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.
(c) 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 commercially reasonable efforts to include such number or amount of securities held by any Holder in such registration statement as the Holder shall request; provided, that the Partnership is not required to make any effort or take any action to so include the securities of the Holder once the registration statement becomes or is declared effective by the Commission, including any registration statement providing for the offering from time to time of securities pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act. If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.12(c) 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 that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not so adversely and materially affect the offering. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(d), 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.
(d) If underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this Section 7.12, the Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations, covenants, opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters. Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership’s obligation under Section 7.7, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, “Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.12(d) 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.
(e) The provisions of Section 7.12(a), Section 7.12(b) and Section 7.12(c) shall continue to be applicable with respect to the General Partner (and any of the General Partner’s Affiliates) after it ceases to be a general partner of the Partnership, during a period of two years subsequent to the effective date of such cessation and for so long thereafter as is required for the Holder to sell all of the Partnership 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(d) shall continue in effect thereafter.
(f) The rights to cause the Partnership to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12 may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or assignee of such Partnership Securities, provided (i) the Partnership is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the Partnership Securities with respect to which such registration rights are being assigned; and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms set forth in this Section 7.12.
(g) 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 Partnership Securities 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.
Section 7.13 Reliance by Third Parties.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner and any officer of the General Partner
authorized by the General Partner to act on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner or any such officer as if it were the Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner or any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.
ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section 8.1 Records and Accounting.
The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.4(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record Holders 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.
Section 8.3 Reports.
(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on the Partnership’s website), to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in
accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner.
(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on the Partnership’s website), to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the General Partner, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS
Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information.
The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable year or years that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined in good faith by the General Partner. 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 General Partner’s determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the General Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited Partner Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(h) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall determine whether the Partnership should make any other elections permitted by the Code.
Section 9.3 Tax Controversies.
Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the Tax Matters Partner (as defined in 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) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. In its capacity as “partnership representative,” the General Partner shall exercise any and all authority of the “partnership representative” under the Code, 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. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such proceedings. Each Partner agrees that notice of or updates regarding tax controversies shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made by the General Partner if the Partnership has either (a) 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 (b) 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. The General Partner may amend the provisions of this Agreement as determined appropriate in order to minimize the potential U.S. federal and state or local income tax consequences to current and former Limited Partners, and for the proper administration of the Partnership, upon any amendment to the provisions of Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of Subtitle A of the Code, as enacted by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, or the promulgation of regulations or publication of other administrative guidance thereunder.
Section 9.4 Withholding.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner or Assignee (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.
ARTICLE X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
Section 10.1 Admission of Initial Limited Partners.
Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights to the General Partner, and the Underwriters as described in Section 5.2 and Section 5.3 in connection with the Initial Offering, the General Partner shall admit such parties to the Partnership as Initial Limited Partners in respect of the Common Units, Subordinated Units or Incentive Distribution Rights issued to them.
Section 10.2 Admission of Substituted Limited Partners.
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. No transferor of a Limited Partner Interest or other Person shall have any obligation or responsibility to provide a Transfer Application or Tax Certificate to a transferee or assist or participate in any way with respect to the completion or delivery thereof. 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 properly completed Transfer Application shall, by virtue of such execution and delivery, be an Assignee. Such Assignee shall automatically be admitted to the Partnership as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person at such time as such transfer is recorded in the books and records of the Partnership, and until so recorded, such transferee shall be an Assignee. The General Partner shall periodically, but no less frequently than on the first Business Day of each Quarter, cause any unrecorded transfers of Limited Partner Interests with respect to which a properly completed, duly executed Transfer Application has been received to be recorded in the books and records of the Partnership. 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 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 10.3 Admission of Successor General Partner.
A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately prior to the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner, pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transfer of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6, provided, however, that no such successor shall be admitted to the Partnership until compliance with the terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such successor has executed and delivered such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect such admission. Any such successor shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.
Section 10.4 Admission of Additional Limited Partners.
(a) A Person (other than the General Partner, an Initial Limited 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 General Partner:
(i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the 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 by the General Partner to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.4, no Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of the General Partner. 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 General Partner to such admission.
Section 10.5 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership.
To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary or appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the records of the Partnership to reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and, if required by law, the General Partner shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership, and the 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 General Partner.
(a) The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred to as an “Event of Withdrawal”);
(i) The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written notice to the other Partners;
(ii) The General Partner transfers all of its General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6;
(iii) The General Partner is removed pursuant to Section 11.2;
(iv) The General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a
liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A)-(C) of this Section 11.1(a)(iv); or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee (but not a debtor-in-possession), receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or of all or any substantial part of its properties;
(v) A final and non-appealable order of relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code is entered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction pursuant to a voluntary or involuntary petition by or against the General Partner; or
(vi) (A) in the event the General Partner is a corporation, a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent is filed for the General Partner, or 90 days expire after the date of notice to the General Partner of revocation of its charter without a reinstatement of its charter, under the laws of its state of incorporation; (B) in the event the General Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General Partner; (C) in the event the General Partner is acting in such capacity by virtue of being a trustee of a trust, the termination of the trust; (D) in the event the General Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of incompetency; and (E) otherwise in the event of the termination of the General Partner.
If an Event of Withdrawal specified in Section 11.1(a)(iv), Section 11.1(a)(v) or Section 11.1(a)(vi)(A), (B), (C) or (E) occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the Limited Partners within 30 days after such occurrence. The Partners hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section 11.1 shall result in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.
(b) Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, Central Time, on March 31, 2017, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided, that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel”) that such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or any Group Member or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, Central Time, on March 31, 2017, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; (iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2; or (iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its
Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members (to the extent permitted or required by their governing documents) of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member, and is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the Partnership and, to the extent applicable, the other Group Members, without dissolution. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal, 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 General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.3.
Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner.
The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least 66 2/3%, of the Outstanding Limited Partner Units (including Limited Partner Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a single class. Any such action by such holders for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the Unitholders holding a majority of the Outstanding Common Units voting as a class and a majority of the Outstanding Subordinated Units voting as a class (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 10.3. The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically constitute the removal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If a Person is elected as a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2, such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to Section 10.3, automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members (to the extent permitted or required by their governing documents) of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member, and is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the Partnership and, to the extent applicable, the other Group Members, without dissolution. The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an opinion opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.3.
Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner.
(a) In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the
successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner Interest and its general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members and all of the Incentive Distribution Rights (collectively, the “Combined Interest”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its departure. If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner), such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner. In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.4, including any employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.
For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of the Departing General Partner’s Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partner’s departure, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45 days after the effective date of such departure, then the Departing General Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing General Partner’s successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest of the Departing General 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 or admitted to trading, the value of the Partnership’s assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing General 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 General Partner (or its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and its Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3
(a), without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.
(c) If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the option described in Section 11.3(a) is not exercised by the party entitled to do so, the successor General Partner shall, at the effective date of its admission to the Partnership, contribute to the Partnership cash in the amount equal to the product of (x) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner by (B) a percentage equal to 100% less the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner and (y) the Net Agreed Value of the Partnership’s assets on such date. In such event, such successor General Partner shall, subject to the following sentence, be entitled to its Percentage Interest of all Partnership allocations and distributions to which the Departing General Partner was entitled in respect of its General Partner Interest. In addition, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner’s admission, the successor General Partner’s interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage Interest.
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Section 11.4 | Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages. |
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership under circumstances where Cause does not exist and no Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are voted in favor of such removal, (i) the Subordination Period will end and all Outstanding Subordinated Units will immediately and automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis (provided, however, that such converted Subordinated Units shall remain subject to the provisions of Section 5.5(c)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(xi) and Section 6.7(c)), (ii) all Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on the Common Units will be extinguished and (iii) the General Partner that is so removed will have the right to convert its General Partner Interest and its Incentive Distribution Rights into Common Units or to receive cash in exchange therefor, as provided in Section 11.3.
Section 11.5 Withdrawal of Limited Partners.
No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however, that when a transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.
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 General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the removal or other event of withdrawal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to Section 11.1, Section 11.2 or Section 12.2, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the Partnership. Subject to Section 12.2, the Partnership shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:
(a) an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and an Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Section 11.1(b) or Section 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement;(b) an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner that is approved by the holders of a Unit Majority;
(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act; or
(d) at any time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without dissolution in accordance with the Delaware Act.
Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership.
Upon (a) an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or Section 11.1(a)(iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv), Section 11.1(a)(v) or Section 11.1(a)(vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership without dissolution on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing as a successor General Partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall dissolve and conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:
(i) the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless dissolved in accordance with this Article XII;
(ii) if the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the interest of the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section 11.3; and
(iii) the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this
Agreement; provided, that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner and (y) neither the Partnership nor any Group Member would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of such right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).
Section 12.3 Liquidator.
Upon dissolution of the Partnership, the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units, and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units, and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.3) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.
Section 12.4 Liquidation.
The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:
(a) The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership’s assets for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidator may distribute the Partnership’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.
(b) Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3) and amounts to Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article VI. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment.
(c) All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with, and to the extent of, the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c)) for the taxable 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 Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.
Section 12.6 Return of Contributions.
The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.
Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.
Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration.
No Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Partnership. The General Partner shall be obligated to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of its interest in the Partnership by the end of the taxable year of the Partnership during which such liquidation occurs, or, if later, within 90 days after the date of such liquidation.
Section 12.9 Class B Conversion Rights.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Class B Units shall have the rights set forth in Section 5.12(b)(iv) upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XII.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT;
MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner.
Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner 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) the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;
(c) a change that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group Members will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for federal income tax purposes;
(d) a change that the General Partner determines, (i) does not adversely affect in any material respect the Limited Partners considered as a whole or any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Units (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.9 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;
(e) a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership including, if the General Partner shall
so determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;
(f) an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, or the General Partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under ERISA, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;
(g) an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation or authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.6;
(h) any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the General Partner acting alone;
(i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in accordance with Section 14.3 including any amendment permitted by Section 14.5;
(j) an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Section 2.4;
(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 Section 13.1 and Section 13.3, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the following requirements. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner; provided, however, that, to the full extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee and, in declining to propose an amendment, to the fullest extent permitted by law shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement or by Delaware law. The 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 Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that requires the vote, consent or approval of holders of a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the 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 Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c) or (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at its option.
(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3, and without limitation of the General Partner’s authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any Partners 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 Limited Partner 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 Limited Partner Units.
Section 13.4 Special Meetings.
All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Limited Partner Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the General Partner one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the general or specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called. Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting, the General Partner
shall send a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners either directly or indirectly through the Transfer Agent. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the General Partner on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the 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.
Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting.
Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with Section 16.1 at least 10 days in advance of such meeting. The notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication.
Section 13.6 Record Date.
For purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 13.11 the General Partner may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals. If the General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, and (b) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a meeting shall be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner in accordance with Section 13.11.
Section 13.7 Adjournment.
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business 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. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends
the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.
Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting.
The holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units of such class or classes deemed owned by the General Partner, and calculating the Class B Units on an as-converted basis) 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 Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote 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 Units that in the aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage shall be required. The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the 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 Units specified in this Agreement (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the 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 Units entitled to vote at such meeting (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section 13.7.
Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting.
The General Partner shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4, the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The General Partner shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by the General Partner. The General Partner may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.
Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting.
If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without prior notice if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the 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 Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Units held by the Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner, (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 General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.
Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters.
(a) Only those Record Holders of the Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the definition of “Outstanding”) shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Units have the right to vote or to act. All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Units shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Units.
(b) With respect to Units that are held for a Person’s account by another Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Units are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this Section 13.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3.
ARTICLE XIV
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION
Section 14.1 Authority.
The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership or a limited liability limited partnership)) or convert into any such entity, 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”) or plan of conversion (“Plan of Conversion”) in accordance with this Article XIV.
Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) Merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the prior consent of the General Partner; provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may decline to do so free of any duty (including fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee and, in declining to consent to a merger, consolidation or conversion, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.
(b) If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the merger or consolidation, the General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:
(i) the names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;
(ii) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the “Surviving Business Entity”);
(iii) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;
(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any 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 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 general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of, their interests, securities or rights,
and (ii) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;
(v) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;
(vi) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and stated therein); and
(vii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(c) If the General Partner shall determine to consent to conversion of the Partnership, the General Partner shall approve the Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:
(i) the name of the converting entity and the converted entity;
(ii) a statement that the Partnership is continuing its existence in the organizational form of the converted entity;
(iii) a statement as to the type of entity that the converted entity is to be and the state or country under the laws of which the converted entity is to be incorporated, formed or organized;
(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of the converting entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the converted entity;
(v) in an attachment or exhibit, the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other similar charter or governing documents of the converted entity;
(vi) the effective time of the conversion, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of conversion pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Plan of Conversion (provided, that if the effective time of the conversion is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of
conversion, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of conversion and stated therein); and
(vii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed conversion that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(d) In addition to any other consent required pursuant to this Article XIV, for so long as at least 25% of the Purchaser Class B Units remain Outstanding as Class B Units, any Significant Event during the Investor Approval Period requires the prior consent of a majority of the Purchaser Directors.
Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), the General Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion and the merger, consolidation or conversion contemplated thereby, as the case may be, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion and the merger, consolidation or conversion contemplated thereby, as the case may be, be submitted to a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by written consent, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XIII. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.
(b) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, and the merger, consolidation or conversion contemplated thereby, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority.
(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), after such approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger or certificate of conversion pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger, consolidation or conversion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.
(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity which shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing instruments of the
new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General Partner with substantially the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.
(e) Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another entity if (A) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (B) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to the Partnership Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1, (C) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (D) each Unit Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (E) the number of Partnership Securities to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation do not exceed 20% of the Partnership Securities Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.
Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger; Certificate of Conversion.
Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, and the merger, consolidation or conversion contemplated thereby, a certificate of merger or certificate of conversion 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 Amendment of Partnership Agreement.
Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.5 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.
Section 14.6 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(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;
(iii) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any of those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and
(iv) all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.
(b) At the effective time of the certificate of conversion, the nature and characteristics of the converted entity will be determined by the Plan of Conversion, applicable laws of the State of Delaware and the laws of the jurisdiction to which the Partnership is converted.
(c) A merger, consolidation or conversion 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.
Section 14.7 Business Combination Limitations.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, with respect to any “Business Combination” (as such term is defined in Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, 8 Del. C. Section 101, et seq. (the “DGCL”), the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL shall be applied with respect to the Partnership as though (i) the Partnership is a Delaware corporation subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, (ii) the General Partner is the board of directors of such corporation, and (iii) the holders of Limited Partner Interests are stockholders of such corporation and the Limited Partner Interests are shares of stock and voting stock in such corporation.
(b) Amendments to, or actions to repeal or adopt provisions inconsistent with, Section 14.7(a) shall require the approval of the Unitholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Limited Partner Units (including Limited Partner Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates).
(c) Neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall be considered an “interested stockholder” under Section 203 of the DGCL for purposes of this Section 14.7.
ARTICLE XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time the General Partner and its Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General
Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed.
(b) If the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the General Partner shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the “Notice of Election to Purchase”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class or classes (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the English language and published in the Borough of 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 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. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in accordance with this Section 15.1. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (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 General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the record books of the Transfer Agent and the Partnership, and the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the owner of such Limited Partner Interests
(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.
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 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 General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner, 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.
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.
Section 16.11 Facsimile Signatures.
The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent and registrar of the Partnership on certificates representing Common Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.
Section 16.12 Third Party Beneficiaries.
Each Partner agrees that any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Indemnitee.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
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GENERAL PARTNER: |
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CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC |
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By: | | /s/ Michael J. Wortley |
| | Name: | | Michael J. Wortley |
| | Title: | | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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LIMITED PARTNERS: |
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All Limited Partners now and hereafter admitted as Limited Partners of the Partnership, pursuant to powers of attorney now and hereafter executed in favor of, and granted and delivered to the General Partner. |
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CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC |
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By: | | /s/ Michael J. Wortley |
| | Name: | | Michael J. Wortley |
| | Title: | | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
EXHIBIT A
to the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.
Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.
In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “Partnership Agreement”), Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., 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 Milam Street, Suite 800, 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.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P., MAY IMPOSE
ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.
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Dated: | | | CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. |
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Countersigned and Registered by: | | | By: | | Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, its General Partner |
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as Transfer Agent and Registrar | | | | | |
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By: | | | By: | | |
Authorized Signature | | | | | Secretary |
[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:
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TEN COM - | as tenants in common | | | | UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT | |
TEN ENT - | as tenants by the entireties | | | | | | Custodian | | |
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JT TEN - | as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common | | | | under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors Act (State) | | |
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FOR VALUE RECEIVED, | | hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto |
Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
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(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 Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.
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Date: | | NOTE: | The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or change. |
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE | | | | |
GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15
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(Signature)
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No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer and an Application for Transfer of Common Units has been properly completed and 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 Application for Transfer of Common Units in order for such transferee to obtain registration of the transfer of the Common Units.
APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF COMMON UNITS
Transferees of Common Units must execute and deliver this application to Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., c/o Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC, 700 Milam Street, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77002; Attn: CFO, to be admitted as limited partners to Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.
The Assignee (a) requests admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and agrees to comply with and be bound by, and hereby executes, the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., 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 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 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:
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Social Security or other identifying number | | | Signature of Assignee |
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Purchase Price including commissions, if any | | | Name and Address of Assignee |
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:
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Name of Interestholder |
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Signature and Date |
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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.
EXHIBIT B
Class B [Mandatory] Conversion Notice
(To be executed by the [Registered Holder] [Partnership] in order to convert
Class B Units)
[Date]
The undersigned hereby elects to convert the number of Class B Units (“Class B Units”) of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), indicated below into common units (“Common Units”) of the Partnership, according to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below. If Common Units are to be issued in the name of a person other than the holder of such Class B Units, such holder will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto and will deliver such certificates and opinions as may be required by the Partnership or its transfer agent. No fee will be charged to the holders for any conversion, except for any such transfer taxes.
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Conversion Calculations: |
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Date to Effect Conversion: |
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Number of Class B Units Owned: |
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Total Amount of Accrued, Accumulated and Unpaid Distributions on the Class B Units: |
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Applicable Class B Conversion Value: |
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Number of Common Units to be Issued: |
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Name in which Certificate for Common Units to be Issued: |
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Address for Delivery: |
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[HOLDER] [CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.] |
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[By: CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC, |
its General Partner] |
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By: |
Name: |
Title: |