e424b3
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-169437
Dear Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.
Unitholders:
On September 3, 2010, Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
(the Partnership), Enterprise Products GP, LLC (the
Partnership GP), which is the general partner of the
Partnership, Enterprise ETE LLC (MergerCo), which is
a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, Enterprise GP
Holdings L.P. (Holdings), and EPE Holdings, LLC
(Holdings GP), which is the general partner of
Holdings, entered into a merger agreement (the merger
agreement). Pursuant to the merger agreement, Holdings
will merge with and into MergerCo (the merger), a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, and will cease to
exist, the outstanding limited partner interests in Holdings
(Holdings units) will be cancelled in exchange for
common units representing limited partner interests in the
Partnership (Partnership common units) and Holdings
GP will become the general partner of the Partnership. The
Partnership GP is owned by Holdings, and Holdings GP is owned by
Dan Duncan LLC (DDLLC), an affiliate of Enterprise
Products Company (EPCO), a private company formerly
named EPCO, Inc. EPCO and DDLLC together beneficially own
approximately 76% of the outstanding Holdings units. EPCO and
DDLLC are each controlled by three voting trustees pursuant to
separate voting trusts. In connection with the merger and in
accordance with an amended and restated agreement of limited
partnership of the Partnership to be effective upon the
consummation of the merger (the Sixth Partnership
Agreement), the incentive distribution rights of the
Partnership (IDRs) currently held by the Partnership
GP will be cancelled and the 2.0% economic general partner
interest of the Partnership will be converted into a
non-economic general partner interest. The merger agreement is
attached as Annex A to this proxy statement/prospectus and
is incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by
reference. The form of the Sixth Partnership Agreement is
attached as Annex B to this proxy statement/prospectus and
is incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by
reference.
In the merger, Holdings unitholders will receive 1.50
Partnership common units for each Holdings unit owned.
Consequently, the Partnership expects to issue, in the
aggregate, 208,813,477 Partnership common units in the merger.
The 21,563,177 Partnership common units currently owned by
Holdings will be cancelled by the Partnership immediately after
the merger. A privately held affiliate of EPCO will agree to
designate and waive its rights to quarterly distributions with
respect to a specified number of Partnership common units over a
five-year period after the merger closing date as set forth in a
distribution waiver agreement, the form of which is attached as
Annex C to this proxy statement/prospectus and is
incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference.
The merger agreement and the merger must receive the affirmative
vote of the Holdings unitholders holding at least a majority of
the outstanding Holdings units. Affiliates of EPCO have agreed
to vote approximately 105.7 million Holdings units,
representing approximately 76% of the outstanding Holdings
units, in favor of the merger agreement and the merger, subject
to the terms and conditions of a support agreement, a copy of
which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as
Annex D and is incorporated into this proxy
statement/prospectus by reference. Holdings has scheduled a
special meeting of its unitholders to vote on the merger
agreement and the merger on November 22, 2010 at 8:00 a.m.,
local time, at 1100 Louisiana Street, 10th Floor, Houston, Texas
77002. Voting instructions are set forth inside this proxy
statement/prospectus.
The members of the Audit, Conflicts and Governance Committee
of the board of directors of Holdings GP (the Holdings
Board) who participated in the merger evaluation and
negotiation process (the Holdings ACG Committee)
have unanimously determined that the merger agreement and the
merger are fair and reasonable, advisable to and in the best
interests of Holdings and the Holdings unaffiliated unitholders.
Holdings unaffiliated unitholders means Holdings
unitholders other than those, including EPCO and its affiliates,
controlling, controlled by or under common control with Holdings
GP. Accordingly, the Holdings ACG Committee has recommended that
the Holdings Board approve the merger agreement and the merger.
Based on the Holdings ACG Committees determination and
recommendation, the Holdings Board has unanimously approved and
declared the advisability of the merger agreement and the merger
and, together with the Holdings ACG Committee, recommends that
the Holdings unaffiliated unitholders vote in favor of the
merger proposal.
This proxy statement/prospectus provides you with detailed
information about the proposed merger and related matters.
Holdings encourages you to read the entire document carefully.
In particular, please read Risk Factors beginning
on page 26 of this proxy statement/prospectus for a
discussion of risks relevant to the merger and the
Partnerships business following the merger.
The Partnerships common units are listed on the New York
Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol
EPD, and Holdings units are listed on the NYSE
under the symbol EPE. The last reported sale price
of the Partnerships common units on the NYSE on
October 13, 2010 was $41.55. The last reported sale price
of the Holdings units on the NYSE on October 13, 2010 was
$61.65.
Dr. Ralph S. Cunningham
President and Chief Executive
Officer
EPE Holdings, LLC
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of the
securities to be issued under this proxy statement/prospectus or
has determined if this document is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
All information in this document concerning the Partnership has
been furnished by the Partnership. All information in this
document concerning Holdings has been furnished by Holdings. The
Partnership has represented to Holdings, and Holdings has
represented to the Partnership, that the information furnished
by and concerning it is true and correct in all material
respects.
This proxy statement/prospectus is dated October 18, 2010
and is being first mailed to Holdings unitholders on or about
October 22, 2010.
Houston,
Texas
October 18, 2010
Notice of
Special Meeting of Unitholders
To the Unitholders of Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.:
A special meeting of unitholders of Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.
(Holdings) will be held on November 22, 2010 at
8:00 a.m., local time, at 1100 Louisiana Street, 10th Floor,
Houston, Texas 77002, for the following purposes:
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To consider and vote upon the approval of the Agreement and Plan
of Merger dated as of September 3, 2010, by and among
Enterprise Products Partners L.P., Enterprise Products GP, LLC,
Enterprise ETE LLC, Holdings and EPE Holdings, LLC
(Holdings GP), as it may be amended from time to
time (the merger agreement) and the merger
contemplated by the merger agreement (the
merger); and
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To transact other business as may properly be presented at the
meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.
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Pursuant to the Holdings partnership agreement, approval of the
merger agreement and the merger requires the affirmative vote of
the Holdings unitholders owning at least a majority of
Holdings outstanding units. Affiliates (the Holdings
supporting unitholders) of Enterprise Products Company
(EPCO), which collectively beneficially own
approximately 76% of the outstanding Holdings units, have agreed
to vote all of their Holdings units in favor of the merger
agreement and the merger, subject to the terms and conditions of
a support agreement described in the attached proxy
statement/prospectus. The Holdings supporting unitholders have a
sufficient number of Holdings units to approve the merger
agreement and the merger without the affirmative vote of any
other Holdings unitholder. As a result of the support agreement,
the approval of the merger proposal at the special meeting is
assured unless the conditions of the support agreement are not
met and the support agreement is terminated. Failures to vote,
abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a
vote against the merger proposal for purposes of the majority
vote required under the Holdings partnership agreement.
The members of the Audit, Conflicts and Governance Committee
of the board of directors of Holdings GP (the Holdings
Board) who participated in the merger evaluation and
negotiation process (the Holdings ACG Committee)
have unanimously determined that the merger agreement and the
merger are fair and reasonable, advisable to and in the best
interests of Holdings and the Holdings unaffiliated unitholders.
Holdings unaffiliated unitholders means Holdings
unitholders other than those, including EPCO and its affiliates,
controlling, controlled by or under common control with Holdings
GP. Accordingly, the Holdings ACG Committee has recommended that
the Holdings Board approve the merger agreement and the merger.
Based on the Holdings ACG Committees determination and
recommendation, the Holdings Board has unanimously approved and
declared the advisability of the merger agreement and the merger
and, together with the Holdings ACG Committee, recommends that
the Holdings unaffiliated unitholders vote in favor of the
merger proposal.
Only unitholders of record at the opening of business on
October 13, 2010 are entitled to notice of and to vote at
the meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the
meeting. A list of unitholders entitled to vote at the meeting
will be available for inspection at Holdings offices in
Houston, Texas for any purpose relevant to the meeting during
normal business hours for a period of 10 days before the
meeting and at the meeting.
We urge you to carefully consider the information contained in
the attached proxy statement/prospectus. You may vote by
signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card.
By order of the Board of Directors of EPE Holdings, LLC, as the
general partner of Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.
Stephanie C. Hildebrandt
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
EPE Holdings, LLC
PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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iv
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v
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vi
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F-1
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ANNEX A Agreement and Plan
of Merger dated as of September 3, 2010
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ANNEX B Form of Sixth
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
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ANNEX C Form of Distribution
Waiver Agreement
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ANNEX D Support Agreement
dated as of September 3, 2010
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ANNEX E Opinion of Holdings
ACG Committees Financial Advisor
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iii
IMPORTANT
NOTE ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
This proxy statement/prospectus, which forms part of a
registration statement on
Form S-4
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is
referred to as the SEC or the
Commission, constitutes a proxy statement of
Holdings under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, which is referred to as the Exchange
Act, with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the
special meeting of Holdings unitholders to, among other things,
approve the merger agreement and the merger. This proxy
statement/prospectus is also a prospectus of the Partnership
under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
which is referred to as the Securities Act, for
Partnership common units that will be issued to Holdings
unitholders in the merger pursuant to the merger agreement.
As permitted under the rules of the SEC, this proxy
statement/prospectus incorporates by reference important
business and financial information about the Partnership and
Holdings from other documents filed with the SEC that are not
included in or delivered with this proxy statement/prospectus.
Please read Where You Can Find More Information
beginning on page 155. You can obtain any of the documents
incorporated by reference into this document from the
Partnership or Holdings, as the case may be, or from the
SECs website at
http://www.sec.gov.
This information is also available to you without charge
upon your request in writing or by telephone from the
Partnership or Holdings at the following addresses and telephone
numbers:
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Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
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Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.
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1100 Louisiana Street, 10th Floor
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1100 Louisiana Street, 10th Floor
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Attention: Investor Relations
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Attention: Investor Relations
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Houston, Texas 77002
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Houston, Texas 77002
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Telephone:
(713) 381-6500
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Telephone: (713) 381-6500
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Please note that copies of the documents provided to you will
not include exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into the documents or this proxy
statement/prospectus.
You may obtain certain of these documents at the
Partnerships website, www.epplp.com, by selecting
Investor Relations and then selecting SEC
Filings, and at Holdings website,
www.enterprisegp.com, by selecting Investor
Resources and then selecting SEC Filings.
Information contained on Holdings and the
Partnerships websites is expressly not incorporated by
reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.
In order to receive timely delivery of the documents in
advance of the Holdings special meeting of unitholders, your
request should be received no later than November 12, 2010.
If you request any documents, the Partnership or Holdings will
mail them to you by first class mail, or another equally prompt
means, within one business day after receipt of your request.
The Partnership and Holdings have not authorized anyone to give
any information or make any representation about the merger, the
Partnership
and/or
Holdings that is different from, or in addition to, that
contained in this proxy statement/prospectus or in any of the
materials that have been incorporated by reference into this
proxy statement/prospectus. Therefore, if anyone distributes
this type of information, you should not rely on it. If you are
in a jurisdiction where offers to exchange or sell, or
solicitations of offers to exchange or purchase, the securities
offered by this proxy statement/prospectus or the solicitation
of proxies is unlawful, or you are a person to whom it is
unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer
presented in this proxy statement/prospectus does not extend to
you. The information contained in this proxy
statement/prospectus speaks only as of the date of this proxy
statement/prospectus, or in the case of information in a
document incorporated by reference, as of the date of such
document, unless the information specifically indicates that
another date applies. All information in this document
concerning the Partnership has been furnished by the
Partnership. All information in this document concerning
Holdings has been furnished by Holdings. The Partnership has
represented to Holdings, and Holdings has represented to the
Partnership, that the information furnished by and concerning it
is true and correct in all material respects.
iv
DEFINITIONS
The following terms have the meanings set forth below for
purposes of this proxy statement/prospectus, unless the context
otherwise indicates:
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DDLLC means Dan Duncan LLC, a private affiliate of
EPCO. The membership interests of DDLLC are owned of record by a
voting trust formed on April 26, 2006, pursuant to the Dan
Duncan LLC Voting Trust Agreement dated April 26, 2006
(the DDLLC Voting Trust Agreement), among DDLLC
and Dan L. Duncan (as the record owner of all of the membership
interests of DDLLC immediately prior to the entering into of the
DDLLC Voting Trust Agreement and as the initial sole voting
trustee);
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DDLLC voting trustees means the three voting
trustees under the DDLLC Voting Trust Agreement. The DDLLC
voting trustees collectively are the record owners of all of the
DDLLC membership interests. The current DDLLC voting trustees
are Randa Duncan Williams, Ralph S. Cunningham and Richard H.
Bachmann;
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EPCO means Enterprise Products Company, a private
company formerly named EPCO, Inc. A majority of the outstanding
voting capital stock of EPCO is owned of record by a voting
trust formed on April 26, 2006, pursuant to the EPCO Inc.
Voting Trust Agreement (the EPCO Voting Trust
Agreement), among EPCO and Dan L. Duncan (as the
record owner of a majority of the outstanding voting capital
stock of EPCO immediately prior to the entering into of the EPCO
Voting Trust Agreement and as the initial sole voting
trustee);
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EPCO voting trustees means the three voting trustees
under the EPCO Voting Trust Agreement. The EPCO voting trustees
collectively are the record owners of a majority of the
outstanding voting capital stock of EPCO. The current EPCO
voting trustees are Randa Duncan Williams, Ralph S. Cunningham
and Richard H. Bachmann;
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Holdings means Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.;
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Holdings GP means EPE Holdings, LLC, the general
partner of Holdings;
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Holdings supporting unitholders means certain
affiliates of EPCO that have entered into a support agreement to
vote their Holdings units in favor of the merger and related
transactions;
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Holdings unaffiliated unitholders means the Holdings
unitholders other than those controlling, controlled by or under
common control with Holdings GP, including EPCO and its
affiliates;
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Partnership means Enterprise Products
Partners L.P.;
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Partnership GP means Enterprise Products GP, LLC,
the general partner of the Partnership;
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Partnerships partnership agreement means
either the Partnerships existing partnership agreement or
the Sixth Partnership Agreement, or both, as the context
requires;
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Sixth Partnership Agreement means the Sixth Amended
and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership
to be entered into in connection with and at the time of the
merger; and
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Special Approval under the Holdings partnership
agreement means the approval of a majority of the members of the
Holdings ACG Committee.
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v
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGER AND THE SPECIAL MEETING
Important Information and Risks. The
following are brief answers to some questions that you may have
regarding the proposed merger and the proposals being considered
at the special meeting of Holdings unitholders. You should read
and consider carefully the remainder of this proxy
statement/prospectus, including the Risk Factors beginning on
page 26 and the attached Annexes, because the information
in this section does not provide all of the information that
might be important to you. Additional important information and
descriptions of risk factors are also contained in the documents
incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Please read Where You Can Find More Information
beginning on page 155.
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Why am I receiving these materials? |
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The Partnership and Holdings have agreed to combine by merging
Holdings with a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership. The
merger cannot be completed without the approval of the holders
of a majority of the outstanding units of Holdings. The Holdings
supporting unitholders, which collectively directly own
approximately 76% of the outstanding Holdings units, have agreed
to vote all of their Holdings units in favor of the merger
agreement and the merger, subject to the terms and conditions of
the support agreement described in this proxy
statement/prospectus. Accordingly, the approval of the merger
agreement and the merger is assured without the vote of any
other Holdings unitholder unless the conditions of the support
agreement are not met and the support agreement is terminated.
For additional information regarding the support agreement,
please read The Merger Transactions Related to
the Merger Support Agreement. |
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Who is soliciting my proxy? |
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Holdings GP is sending you this proxy statement/prospectus in
connection with its solicitation of proxies for use at
Holdings special meeting of unitholders. Certain directors
and officers of Holdings GP and certain employees of EPCO and
its affiliates who provide services to Holdings, and BNY Mellon
Shareowner Services (a proxy solicitor), may also solicit
proxies on Holdings behalf by mail, telephone, fax or
other electronic means, or in person. |
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What are the proposed transactions? |
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The Partnership and Holdings have agreed to combine by merging
Holdings with and into MergerCo, a Delaware limited liability
company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, under
the terms of a merger agreement that is described in this proxy
statement/prospectus and attached as Annex A to this proxy
statement/prospectus. Pursuant to the merger agreement,
(i) immediately prior to the effective time of the merger,
Holdings existing partnership agreement will be amended to
provide for the transformation of the approximate 0.01% economic
interest of the general partner in Holdings owned by Holdings GP
into 13,921 Holdings units representing an approximate 0.01%
limited partner interest in Holdings and a non-economic general
partner interest in Holdings; (ii) immediately following
this transformation, the Partnership GP (currently a wholly
owned subsidiary of Holdings) will merge with and into Holdings,
with Holdings surviving such merger (the GP merger),
thus succeeding the Partnership GP as an interim general partner
of the Partnership; and (iii) immediately following the
effective time of the GP merger, at the effective time of the
merger, Holdings will merge into MergerCo, with MergerCo
surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership. As a
result of the merger, Holdings GP will succeed Holdings as the
non-economic general partner of the Partnership and each
outstanding Holdings unit (other than Holdings units held by
Holdings, the Partnership or their respective subsidiaries) will
be converted into the right to receive 1.50 Partnership common
units. The 21,563,177 Partnership common units currently owned
by Holdings will be cancelled by the Partnership immediately
after the merger. |
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In addition, pursuant to the merger agreement and the Sixth
Partnership Agreement, the form of which is attached as
Annex B to this proxy statement/prospectus, to be executed
at the closing of the merger, the current 2% economic general
partner interest in the Partnership and the IDRs in the
Partnership held by Holdings GP will be cancelled, and the
non-economic general partner interest in Holdings held by
Holdings GP will be cancelled and converted into the right to
receive the non-economic general partner interest in the
Partnership. |
vi
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The merger will become effective on the date and at the time
that the certificate of merger is filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware, or a later date and time if set
forth in the certificate of merger. Throughout this proxy
statement/prospectus, this is referred to as the effective
time of the merger. |
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In connection with the merger, a privately held affiliate of
EPCO will also agree to designate and waive its rights to
quarterly distributions with respect to a specified number of
Partnership common units over a five-year period after the
merger closing date as set forth in a distribution waiver
agreement, a copy of which is attached as Annex C to this
proxy statement/prospectus and is incorporated into this proxy
statement/prospectus by reference. For additional information on
the distribution waiver agreement, please read The
Merger Transactions Related to the
Merger Distribution Waiver Agreement. |
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Q: |
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Why are the Partnership and Holdings proposing the merger? |
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A: |
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The Partnership and Holdings believe that the merger will
benefit both the Partnership common unitholders and the Holdings
unitholders by combining into a single partnership that is
better positioned to compete in the marketplace. |
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Please read The Merger Recommendation of the
Holdings ACG Committee and the Holdings Board and Reasons for
the Merger and The Merger The
Partnerships Reasons for the Merger. |
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Q: |
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What will happen to Holdings as a result of the merger? |
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A: |
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As a result of the merger, Holdings will merge with and into a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, and Holdings will
cease to exist. |
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Q: |
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What will Holdings unitholders receive in the merger? |
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A: |
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If the merger is completed, Holdings unitholders will be
entitled to receive 1.50 Partnership common units in exchange
for each Holdings unit that the unitholders own. This exchange
ratio is fixed and will not be adjusted, regardless of any
change in price of either the Partnership common units or the
Holdings units prior to completion of the merger. If the
exchange ratio would result in a Holdings unitholder being
entitled to receive a fraction of a Partnership common unit,
that unitholder will receive cash from the Partnership in lieu
of such fractional interest in an amount equal to such
fractional interest multiplied by the average of the closing
price of Partnership common units for the ten consecutive full
NYSE trading days ending on the full NYSE trading day
immediately preceding the day the merger closes. For additional
information regarding exchange procedures, please read The
Merger Agreement Exchange of Certificates;
Fractional Units. |
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Q: |
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Where will my units trade after the merger? |
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A: |
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Partnership common units will continue to trade on the NYSE
under the symbol EPD. Holdings units will no longer
be publicly traded. |
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Q: |
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What will Partnership common unitholders receive in the
merger? |
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A: |
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Partnership common unitholders will simply retain Partnership
common units they currently own. They will not receive any
additional Partnership common units in the merger. |
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Q: |
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What happens to my future distributions? |
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A: |
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Once the merger is completed and Holdings units are exchanged
for Partnership common units, when distributions are approved
and declared by the general partner of the Partnership and paid
by the Partnership, former Holdings unitholders will receive
distributions on the Partnership common units they receive in
the merger in accordance with the Partnerships partnership
agreement. Based on an expectation that the merger will close
during the fourth quarter of 2010, Holdings unitholders will
receive distributions on their Holdings units for the quarter
ended September 30, 2010, and will receive distributions on
the Partnership common units they receive in the merger for the
quarter ended December 31, 2010 to be declared and paid
during 2011. Holdings unitholders will not receive distributions
from both Holdings and the Partnership for the same quarter. For
additional information, please read Market Prices and
Distribution Information. |
vii
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Current Partnership common unitholders will continue to receive
distributions on their common units in accordance with the
Partnerships partnership agreement. Distributions are made
in accordance with the Partnerships partnership agreement
and at the discretion of the Partnership Board. For a
description of the distribution provisions of the
Partnerships partnership agreement, please read
Comparison of the Rights of Partnership and Holdings
Unitholders. |
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The current annualized distribution rate per Holdings unit is
$2.30 (based on the quarterly distribution rate of $0.5750 per
Holdings unit declared with respect to the third quarter of
2010). Based on the exchange ratio, the annualized distribution
rate for each Holdings unit exchanged for 1.50 Partnership
common units would be approximately $3.50 (based on the
quarterly distribution rate of $0.5825 per Partnership common
unit declared with respect to the third quarter of 2010).
Accordingly, based on current distribution rates and the 1.50
exchange ratio, a Holdings unitholder would initially receive
approximately 52% more in quarterly cash distributions on an
annualized basis after giving effect to the merger. For
additional information, please read Comparative Per Unit
Information and Market Prices and Distribution
Information. |
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Management of the Partnership GP currently intends to recommend
that the Partnership Board increase the Partnerships
quarterly cash distribution to $0.590 per Partnership common
unit, or $2.36 per unit on an annualized basis, with respect to
the fourth quarter 2010 distribution that would be paid in
February 2011. |
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Q: |
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If I am a holder of Holdings units represented by a unit
certificate, should I send in my certificates representing
Holdings units now? |
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A: |
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No. After the merger is completed, Holdings unitholders who
hold their units in certificated form will receive written
instructions for exchanging their certificates representing
Holdings units. Please do not send in your certificates
representing Holdings units with your proxy card. If you own
Holdings units in street name, the merger
consideration should be credited by your broker to your account
within a few days following the closing date of the merger. |
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Q: |
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What constitutes a quorum? |
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A: |
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A majority of Holdings outstanding units on the record
date present in person or by proxy at the special meeting will
constitute a quorum and will permit Holdings to conduct the
proposed business at the special meeting. Your units will be
counted as present at the special meeting if you: |
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are present and vote in person at the
meeting; or
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have submitted a properly executed proxy card.
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Proxies received but marked as abstentions will be counted as
units that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum. If an executed proxy is
returned by a broker or other nominee holding units in
street name indicating that the broker does not have
discretionary authority as to certain units to vote on the
proposals (a broker non-vote), such units will be
considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining
the presence of a quorum but cannot be included in the vote;
therefore, broker non-votes have the same effect as a vote
against the merger. |
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Pursuant to a support agreement, the Holdings supporting
unitholders, which collectively own approximately 76% of
Holdings outstanding units, have agreed to ensure that
their units are counted as present at the special meeting for
purposes of determining a quorum. For additional information,
please read The Merger Transactions Related to
the Merger Support Agreement. |
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Q: |
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What is the vote required of Holdings unitholders to approve
the merger agreement and the merger? |
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A: |
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Under Holdings partnership agreement, the affirmative vote
of the holders of at least a majority of Holdings
outstanding units is required to approve the merger proposal.
Failures to vote, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the
same effect as a vote against the merger proposal for purposes
of the majority vote required under the Holdings partnership
agreement. |
viii
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The Holdings supporting unitholders have agreed with the
Partnership pursuant to a support agreement to vote an aggregate
of 105,739,220 Holdings units, representing approximately 76% of
Holdings outstanding units, in favor of the merger
proposal, which is sufficient to approve the merger proposal
without the affirmative vote of any other Holdings unitholder. |
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Q: |
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When do you expect the merger to be completed? |
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A: |
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A number of conditions must be satisfied before the Partnership
and Holdings can complete the merger, including approval of the
merger agreement and the merger by the unitholders of Holdings.
Although the Partnership and Holdings cannot be sure when all of
the conditions to the merger will be satisfied, the Partnership
and Holdings expect to complete the merger as soon as
practicable following the Holdings unitholder meeting (assuming
the merger proposal is approved by the unitholders). For
additional information, please read The Merger
Agreement Conditions to the Merger. |
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Q: |
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What is the recommendation of the Holdings ACG Committee and
the Holdings Board? |
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A: |
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The Holdings ACG Committee and the Holdings Board recommend that
you vote FOR the merger proposal. |
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On September 3, 2010, the Holdings ACG Committee
unanimously determined that the merger agreement and the merger
are fair and reasonable, advisable to and in the best interests
of Holdings and the Holdings unaffiliated unitholders and
recommended that the merger agreement and the merger be approved
by the Holdings Board and the Holdings unaffiliated unitholders. |
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Based on the Holdings ACG Committees determination and
recommendation, the Holdings Board unanimously approved the
merger agreement and the merger and recommended that the
Holdings unaffiliated unitholders vote in favor of the merger
proposal. |
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Q: |
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What are the expected U.S. federal income tax consequences to
a Holdings unitholder as a result of the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement? |
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A: |
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Under current law, it is anticipated that for U.S. federal
income tax purposes no income or gain should be recognized by a
Holdings unitholder solely as a result of the merger, other than
an amount of income or gain, which Holdings expects to be
relatively small on a per unit basis, due to (i) any
decrease in a Holdings unitholders share of partnership
liabilities pursuant to Section 752 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code)
or (ii) any cash received in lieu of any fractional
Partnership common unit in the merger. |
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Please read Risk Factors Tax Risks Related to
the Merger and Material U.S. Federal Income Tax
Consequences of the Merger Tax Consequences of the
Merger to Holdings and Its Unitholders. |
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Q: |
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Under what circumstances could the merger result in a
Holdings unitholder recognizing taxable income or gain? |
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A: |
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As a result of the merger, Holdings unitholders who receive
Partnership common units will become limited partners of the
Partnership and will be allocated a share of the
Partnerships nonrecourse liabilities. Each Holdings
unitholder will be treated as receiving a deemed cash
distribution equal to the excess, if any, of such
unitholders share of nonrecourse liabilities of Holdings
immediately before the merger over such unitholders share
of nonrecourse liabilities of the Partnership immediately
following the merger. If the amount of the deemed cash
distribution received by a Holdings unitholder exceeds the
unitholders basis in his Holdings units, such unitholder
will recognize gain in an amount equal to such excess. The
Partnership and Holdings do not expect any Holdings unitholders
to recognize gain in this manner. For additional information,
please read Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
of the Merger. |
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To the extent a holder of Holdings units receives cash in lieu
of fractional Partnership common units in the merger, such
unitholder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference
between the cash received and the unitholders adjusted tax
basis allocated to such fractional Partnership common units. |
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The Partnership will be deemed for U.S. federal income tax
purposes to have assumed the liabilities of Holdings and its
subsidiaries in the merger. A Holdings unitholder would
recognize gain or loss to the extent any portion of the
liabilities of Holdings or its subsidiaries assumed by the
Partnership was deemed |
ix
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to be the proceeds of a disguised sale of assets to
the Partnership. The Partnership and Holdings believe that all
of the liabilities of Holdings will qualify for one or more
exceptions to the disguised sale rules and that no
gain or loss will be recognized by Holdings or its unitholders
under the disguised sale rules. |
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Although it is not anticipated, circumstances may exist under
which a Holdings unitholders share of Holdings basis
(including basis resulting from Section 743 adjustments) in
the distributed Partnership common units exceeds the
unitholders basis in its Holdings units, in which case the
merger may result in recognition of gain by such unitholder
equal to that excess under
Section 731(c)
of the Internal Revenue Code. |
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Q: |
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What are the expected U.S. federal income tax consequences
for a Holdings unitholder of the ownership of Partnership common
units after the merger is completed? |
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A: |
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Each Holdings unitholder who becomes a Partnership unitholder as
a result of the merger will, as is the case for existing
Partnership unitholders, be required to report on its U.S.
federal income tax return such unitholders distributive
share of the Partnerships income, gains, losses,
deductions and credits. In addition to U.S. federal income
taxes, such a holder will be subject to other taxes, including
state and local income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, and
estate, inheritance or intangibles taxes that may be imposed by
the various jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts
business or owns property or in which the unitholder is
resident. Please read U.S. Federal Income Taxation of
Ownership of Partnership Common Units. |
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Q: |
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Are Holdings unitholders entitled to appraisal rights? |
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A: |
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No. Holdings unitholders do not have appraisal rights under
applicable law or contractual appraisal rights under the
Holdings partnership agreement or the merger agreement. |
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Q: |
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How do I vote my units if I hold my units in my own name? |
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A: |
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After you have read this proxy statement/prospectus carefully,
please respond by completing, signing and dating your proxy card
and returning it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope as soon
as possible in accordance with the instructions provided under
The Special Unitholder Meeting Voting
Procedures Voting by Holdings Unitholders
beginning on page 34. |
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Q: |
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If my Holdings units are held in street name by
my broker or other nominee, will my broker or other nominee vote
my units for me? |
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A: |
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No. Your broker cannot vote your Holdings units held in
street name for or against the merger proposal
unless you tell the broker or other nominee how you wish to
vote. To tell your broker or other nominee how to vote, you
should follow the directions that your broker or other nominee
provides to you. Please note that you may not vote your Holdings
units held in street name by returning a proxy card
directly to Holdings or by voting in person at the special
meeting of Holdings unitholders unless you provide a legal
proxy, which you must obtain from your broker or other
nominee. If you do not instruct your broker or other nominee on
how to vote your Holdings units, your broker or other nominee
may not vote your Holdings units, which will have the same
effect as a vote against the merger for purposes of the vote
required under the Holdings partnership agreement. You should
therefore provide your broker or other nominee with instructions
as to how to vote your Holdings units. |
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Q: |
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What if I do not vote? |
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A: |
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If you do not return your proxy card or if you abstain from
voting, or a broker non-vote is made, it will have the same
effect as a vote against the merger proposal for purposes of the
vote required under the Holdings partnership agreement. If you
sign and return your proxy card but do not indicate how you want
to vote, your proxy will be counted as a vote in favor of the
merger proposal. |
x
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Q: |
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Who can attend and vote at the special meeting of Holdings
unitholders? |
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A: |
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All Holdings unitholders of record as of the opening of business
on October 13, 2010, the record date for the special
meeting of Holdings unitholders, are entitled to receive notice
of and vote at the special meeting of Holdings unitholders. |
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Q: |
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When and where is the special meeting? |
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A: |
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The special meeting will be held on November 22, 2010, at
8:00 a.m., local time, at 1100 Louisiana Street, 10th Floor,
Houston, Texas 77002. |
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Q: |
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If I am planning on attending the special meeting in person,
should I still vote by proxy? |
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A: |
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Yes. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, you
should vote by proxy. Your units will not be voted if you do not
return your proxy card or if you do not vote in person at the
scheduled special meeting of the unitholders of Holdings to be
held on November 22, 2010. This would have the same effect
as a vote against the merger proposal for purposes of the vote
required under the Holdings partnership agreement. |
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Q: |
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Can I change my vote after I have voted by proxy? |
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A: |
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Yes. If you own your units in your own name, you may revoke your
proxy at any time prior to its exercise by: |
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giving written notice of revocation to the Secretary of Holdings
GP at or before the special meeting;
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appearing and voting in person at the special meeting; or
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properly completing and executing a later dated proxy and
delivering it to the Secretary of Holdings GP at or before the
special meeting.
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Your presence without voting at the meeting will not
automatically revoke your proxy, and any revocation during the
meeting will not affect votes previously taken.
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Q: |
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What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting
materials for the special meeting of Holdings unitholders? |
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A: |
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You may receive more than one set of voting materials for the
special meeting of Holdings unitholders and the materials may
include multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards. For
example, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for
each brokerage account in which you hold units. If you are a
holder of record registered in more than one name, you will
receive more than one proxy card. Please complete, sign, date
and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you
receive according to the instructions on it. |
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Q: |
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Whom do I call if I have further questions about voting, the
meeting or the merger? |
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A: |
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Holdings unitholders may call Holdings Investor Relations
department at (866)
230-0745 for
additional copies, without charge, of this proxy
statement/prospectus or for questions about the merger,
including the procedures for voting Holdings units. BNY Mellon
Shareowner Services (a proxy solicitor) may also solicit proxies
on Holdings behalf by mail, telephone, fax or other
electronic means, or in person. |
xi
SUMMARY
This summary highlights some of the information in this proxy
statement/prospectus. It may not contain all of the information
that is important to you. To understand the merger fully and for
a more complete description of the terms of the merger, you
should read carefully this document, the documents incorporated
by reference, and the Annexes to this document, including the
full text of the merger agreement and the form of the Sixth
Partnership Agreement included as Annex A and Annex B,
respectively. Please also read Where You Can Find More
Information.
The
Merger Parties Businesses (page 98)
Enterprise
Products Partners L.P.
The Partnership is a publicly traded Delaware limited
partnership, the common units of which are listed on the NYSE
under the ticker symbol EPD. The Partnership was
formed in April 1998 to own and operate certain natural gas
liquids (NGLs) related businesses of EPCO. The
Partnership is a leading North American provider of midstream
energy services to producers and consumers of natural gas, NGLs,
crude oil, refined products and certain petrochemicals. The
Partnerships energy asset network links producers of
natural gas, NGLs and crude oil from some of the largest supply
basins in the United States, Canada and the Gulf of Mexico with
domestic consumers and international markets. The
Partnerships assets include: 49,100 miles of onshore
and offshore pipelines; approximately 200 million barrels
of storage capacity for NGLs, refined products and crude oil;
and 27 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage capacity.
The Partnerships midstream energy operations include:
natural gas transportation, gathering, processing and storage;
NGL transportation, fractionation, storage, and import and
export terminaling; crude oil and refined products
transportation, storage and terminaling; offshore production
platforms; petrochemical transportation and storage; and a
marine transportation business that operates primarily on the
United States Inland and Intracoastal Waterway systems and in
the Gulf of Mexico.
The Partnerships principal executive offices are located
at 1100 Louisiana Street, 10th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002,
and its telephone number is
(713) 381-6500.
Enterprise
GP Holdings L.P.
Holdings is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership, the
limited partnership interests of which are listed on the NYSE
under the ticker symbol EPE. The business of
Holdings consists of the ownership of general and limited
partner interests of publicly traded partnerships engaged in the
midstream energy industry and related businesses.
Holdings owns the following direct and indirect interests in the
Partnership:
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the indirect ownership of all of the outstanding IDRs in the
Partnership, through its ownership of all of the outstanding
limited liability company interests in Partnership GP;
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the indirect ownership of the general partner interest in the
Partnership (representing a 2.0% economic interest in the
Partnership), through its ownership of all of the outstanding
limited liability company interests in Partnership GP; and
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21,563,177 Partnership common units, representing an approximate
3.4% limited partner interest in the Partnership.
|
Holdings also owns (i) 38,976,090 common units of Energy
Transfer Equity, L.P. (Energy Transfer Equity)
representing approximately 17.5% of Energy Transfer
Equitys outstanding common units and (ii) a
non-controlling member interest in its general partner, LE GP,
LLC (LE GP).
Holdings is owned 99.99% by its limited partners and 0.01% by
Holdings GP. Holdings GP is a wholly owned subsidiary of DDLLC,
a privately held affiliate of EPCO, the membership interests of
which are currently owned of record collectively by three
trustees (the DDLLC voting trustees) under the Dan
Duncan
1
LLC Voting Trust Agreement (the DDLLC Voting
Trust Agreement). Holdings has no operations apart
from its investing activities and indirectly overseeing the
management of the entities it controls.
The following table summarizes the cash distributions Holdings
received for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and
2009 and the six months ended June 30, 2010 (dollars in
millions):
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For the Six
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Months
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Ended
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For the Year Ended December 31,
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June 30,
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2007
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2008
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2009
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2010
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Cash distributions to Holdings:
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Investment in the Partnership and Partnership GP:
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From IDRs
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$
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104.7
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$
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123.9
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$
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161.3
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$
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110.8
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From Partnership common units
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25.8
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27.5
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33.5
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24.1
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From 2% economic general partner interest in the Partnership
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16.9
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18.2
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21.8
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14.4
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Investment in Energy Transfer Equity and LE GP(1)
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29.9
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76.5
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82.7
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42.5
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Investment in TEPPCO and TEPPCO GP(2)
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60.3
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67.4
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56.1
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Total cash distributions received by Holdings
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$
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237.6
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$
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313.5
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$
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355.4
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$
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191.8
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(1) |
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Includes 38,976,090 common units of Energy Transfer Equity and a
member interest in LE GP. |
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(2) |
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Included 4,400,000 common units of TEPPCO Partners L.P.
(TEPPCO) and the 2% general partner interest and
IDRs in TEPPCO. On October 26, 2009, the TEPPCO merger was
completed and TEPPCO and Texas Eastern Products Pipeline
Company, LLC (TEPPCO GP) became wholly owned
subsidiaries of the Partnership. As a result, Holdings
ownership interest in the TEPPCO units was converted into
5,456,000 Partnership common units. In addition, Holdings
membership interests in TEPPCO GP were exchanged for
(i) 1,331,681 Partnership common units and (ii) an
increase in the capital account of Partnership GP in the
Partnership to maintain its 2% economic general partner interest
in the Partnership. The issuance of Partnership common units in
the TEPPCO merger also resulted in Holdings benefiting from
increased distributions with respect to the IDRs in the
Partnership. |
Holdings principal executive offices are located at 1100
Louisiana Street, 10th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, and its
phone number is
(713) 381-6500.
Relationship
of the Partnership and Holdings (page 101)
The Partnership and Holdings are closely related. Holdings
currently owns 100% of the limited liability company interests
in the Partnership GP and 21,563,177 Partnership common units.
The Partnership GP currently directly owns a 2% economic general
partner interest in the Partnership and all of the
Partnerships IDRs. Through its indirect ownership
interests of the Partnership GPs 2% economic general
partner interest in the Partnership and the Partnerships
IDRs, Holdings is entitled to receive: (i) approximately
2.0% of all distributions made by the Partnership (on account of
the general partner interest) and (ii) increasing
percentages, up to the current maximum of 23%, of the amount of
incremental cash distributed by the Partnership above certain
target distribution levels in excess of the minimum quarterly
distribution of $0.225 per Partnership common unit in any
quarter (on account of the IDRs). As a result, Holdings is
currently entitled to receive distributions attributable to the
general partner interest and IDRs of approximately 25% of the
aggregate amount of distributions to the Partnerships
partners in excess of $0.3085 per common unit. In addition, as
the owner of 21,563,177 Partnership common units, Holdings is
entitled to receive approximately 3.4% of the total limited
partner distributions paid by the Partnership. Since
Holdings initial public offering in August 2005,
distributions by the Partnership have increased from $0.430 per
Partnership common unit for the quarter ended September 30,
2005 to $0.5825 per Partnership common unit for the quarter
ended September 30, 2010; and as a result, distributions
from the Partnership to Holdings (including through the
Partnership GP) have increased.
2
Certain executive officers of Holdings GP are also officers of
the Partnership GP. Richard H. Bachmann, W. Randall Fowler,
William Ordemann, Bryan F. Bulawa and Michael J. Knesek are all
executive officers of both the Partnership GP and
Holdings GP. For information about the common executive
officers of the Partnership GP and Holdings GP and these
executive officers relationships with EPCO and its
affiliates and the resulting interests of Holdings GP directors
and officers in the merger, please read Certain
Relationships; Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger.
Structure
of the Merger (page 64)
Pursuant to the merger agreement, at the effective time of the
merger, Holdings will merge with and into a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Partnership, and each outstanding unit of
Holdings will be converted into the right to receive 1.50
Partnership common units. This merger consideration represented
a 16% premium to the closing price of Holdings units based on
the closing price of Holdings units as compared to Partnership
common units on September 3, 2010, the last trading day
before the public announcement of the proposed merger.
If the exchange ratio would result in a Holdings unitholder
being entitled to receive a fraction of a Partnership common
unit, that unitholder will receive cash from the Partnership in
lieu of such fractional interest in an amount equal to such
fractional interest multiplied by the average of the closing
price of Partnership common units for the ten consecutive full
NYSE trading days ending on the full NYSE trading day
immediately preceding the day the merger closes.
Once the merger is completed and Holdings units are exchanged
for Partnership common units (and cash in lieu of fractional
units, if applicable), when distributions are declared by the
general partner of the Partnership and paid by the Partnership,
former Holdings unitholders will receive distributions on their
Partnership common units in accordance with the
Partnerships partnership agreement. For a description of
the distribution provisions of the Partnerships
partnership agreement, please read Comparison of the
Rights of Partnership and Holdings Unitholders.
Transactions
Related to the Merger (page 62)
Support
Agreement
In connection with the merger agreement, the Partnership entered
into a support agreement, dated as of September 3, 2010
(the support agreement), by and among the
Partnership, on one hand, and DD Securities LLC, DFI GP
Holdings, L.P., EPCO Holdings, Inc., Duncan Family Interests,
Inc., DDLLC and DFI Delaware Holdings L.P. (DFIDH)
(collectively referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as
the Holdings supporting unitholders), all privately
held affiliates of EPCO, on the other hand. Pursuant to the
support agreement, the Holdings supporting unitholders, who
directly own 105,739,220 Holdings units (representing
approximately 76% of the outstanding Holdings units and a
sufficient vote for approval of the merger agreement if voted in
favor therefor), agreed to vote their Holdings units (i) in
favor of the adoption of the merger agreement, any transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement and any other action
reasonably requested by the Partnership in furtherance thereof,
submitted for the vote or written consent of Holdings
unitholders, (ii) against any action or agreement that
would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or
warranty or any other obligation or agreement of Holdings or
Holdings GP or any of their subsidiaries contained in the merger
agreement, and (iii) against any action, agreement or
transaction that would impede, interfere with, delay, postpone,
discourage, frustrate the purposes of or adversely affect the
merger or the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.
The support agreement will terminate automatically on
December 31, 2010 or upon any earlier termination of the
merger agreement. In addition, the Holdings supporting
unitholders may terminate their obligations under the support
agreement, including their obligations to execute and deliver
the distribution waiver agreement, (i) after any change in
recommendation by the Holdings ACG Committee permitted under the
merger agreement, (ii) after any change in, or a failure to
maintain, the Holdings ACG Committees Special
Approval in accordance with the Holdings partnership
agreement and (iii) after the occurrence of
3
certain specified changes in U.S. federal income tax law if
such changes occur prior to the closing of the merger.
The foregoing description of the support agreement is qualified
in its entirety by reference to the full text of the support
agreement, a copy of which is attached as Annex D to this
proxy statement/prospectus and is incorporated into this proxy
statement/prospectus by reference.
Fourth
Amendment to the Holdings Partnership Agreement
Pursuant to the merger agreement and immediately prior to the
effective time of the merger, Holdings existing
partnership agreement will be amended to provide for the
transformation of the approximate 0.01% economic interest of the
general partner in Holdings owned by Holdings GP into 13,921
Holdings units representing an approximate 0.01% limited partner
interest in Holdings and a non-economic general partner interest
in Holdings, in accordance with a Fourth Amendment to the First
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Holdings, the form of which is attached as Annex A to the
merger agreement.
GP
Merger
Immediately following the transformation of the general partner
interest in Holdings and pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of September 3, 2010, by and among the
Partnership GP, Holdings and Holdings GP (the GP merger
agreement), the Partnership GP (currently a wholly owned
subsidiary of Holdings) will merge with and into Holdings, with
Holdings surviving the GP merger. In accordance with an
amendment to the Partnerships existing partnership
agreement to be executed in connection with the merger, Holdings
will succeed the Partnership GP as an interim general partner of
the Partnership immediately prior to the effective time of the
merger.
Sixth
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the
Partnership
Immediately following the effective time of the GP merger, at
the effective time of the merger, Holdings will merge into
MergerCo, with MergerCo surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Partnership. As a result of the merger and in accordance
with the Sixth Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, the
form of which is attached as Annex B to this proxy
statement/prospectus and which will be executed in connection
with the merger, the IDRs in the Partnership will be cancelled,
the current 2% economic general partner interest in the
Partnership will be converted to a non-economic general partner
interest in the Partnership and Holdings GP will succeed
Holdings as the new general partner of the Partnership.
Distribution
Waiver Agreement
In connection with the merger, DFIDH, an affiliate of EPCO, will
agree to designate and waive its rights to quarterly
distributions with respect to the specified number of
Partnership common units listed below over a five-year period
after the merger closing date as set forth in a distribution
waiver agreement, the form of which is attached as Annex C
to this proxy statement/prospectus (the distribution
waiver agreement), which agreement will be executed in
connection with the merger. The number of Partnership common
units on which distributions are waived is initially 30,610,000
Partnership common units, which number of units decreases
annually for a five-year period after the merger closing date as
follows:
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Number of Partnership
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Common Units on Which
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Period
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Distributions Are Waived
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First four-quarter period following closing
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30,610,000
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Second four-quarter period following closing
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26,130,000
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Third four-quarter period following closing
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23,700,000
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Fourth four-quarter period following closing
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22,560,000
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Fifth four-quarter period following closing
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17,690,000
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4
Based on the quarterly distribution rate for Partnership common
units of $0.5825 declared with respect to the third quarter of
2010, the distributions waived would aggregate approximately
$281 million during these distribution periods.
DFIDH will have no obligation to execute and deliver the
distribution waiver agreement in the event of a termination of
the support agreement as described above under
Support Agreement.
The foregoing description of the distribution waiver agreement
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of
the distribution waiver agreement, which is attached as
Annex C to this proxy statement/prospectus and is
incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference.
Directors
and Officers of the Partnership GP and Holdings GP
(page 110)
DDLLC, the sole member of Holdings GP, has the power to appoint
and remove all of the directors of Holdings GP. DDLLC is
controlled by the DDLLC voting trustees under the DDLLC Voting
Trust Agreement. The DDLLC voting trustees have not yet
determined which directors of the Partnership GP and Holdings GP
will continue as directors of Holdings GP as the successor
general partner of the Partnership following the merger. In the
absence of any changes, the current directors of Holdings GP
will continue as directors of the successor general partner of
the Partnership following the merger.
The following individuals are currently executive officers of
the Partnership GP and those persons signified with an asterisk
(*) also currently serve as executive officers of
Holdings GP. The individuals below are expected to be the
executive officers of Holdings GP as the successor general
partner of the Partnership following the merger.
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Michael A. Creel
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W. Randall Fowler*
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Richard H. Bachmann*
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A. James Teague
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William Ordemann*
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Lynn L. Bourdon, III
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Bryan F. Bulawa*
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James M. Collingsworth
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Mark Hurley
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Michael J. Knesek*
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Christopher Skoog
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Thomas M. Zulim
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Market
Prices of Partnership Common Units and Holdings Units Prior to
Announcing the Proposed Merger (page 25)
The Partnerships common units are traded on the NYSE under
the ticker symbol EPD. Holdings units are
traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol EPE. The
following table shows the closing prices of Partnership common
units and Holdings units on September 3, 2010 (the last
full trading day before the Partnership and Holdings announced
the proposed merger) and the average closing price of
Partnership common units and Holdings units during the
20-day
trading period prior to and including September 3, 2010.
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Partnership
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Holdings
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Date/Period
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Common Units
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Units
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September 3, 2010
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$
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38.45
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$
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49.90
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20-day
Average
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$
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37.17
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$
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48.79
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5
The
Special Unitholder Meeting (page 34)
Where and when: The Holdings special
unitholder meeting will take place at 1100 Louisiana Street,
10th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002 on November 22, 2010 at
8:00 a.m., local time.
What you are being asked to vote on: At the
Holdings meeting, Holdings unitholders will vote on the approval
of the merger agreement and the merger. Holdings unitholders
also may be asked to consider other matters as may properly come
before the meeting. At this time, Holdings knows of no other
matters that will be presented for the consideration of its
unitholders at the meeting.
Who may vote: You may vote at the Holdings
meeting if you owned Holdings units at the opening of business
on the record date, October 13, 2010. On that date, there
were 139,195,064 Holdings units outstanding. You may cast one
vote for each outstanding Holdings unit that you owned on the
record date.
What vote is needed: Under Holdings
partnership agreement, the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least a majority of Holdings outstanding units is required
to approve the merger agreement and merger. Holdings supporting
unitholders, which collectively directly own approximately 76%
of the outstanding Holdings units, have agreed to vote all of
their Holdings units in favor of the merger agreement and the
merger. Accordingly, the Holdings supporting unitholders own a
sufficient number of Holdings units to approve the merger
without the affirmative vote of any other Holdings unitholder.
The Holdings supporting unitholders are not required to vote in
favor of the merger in certain circumstances, including if there
is a change in recommendation by the Holdings Board, or the
merger has not been completed on or prior to December 31,
2010.
Recommendation
to Holdings Unitholders (page 45)
The members of the Holdings ACG Committee who participated in
the merger review and negotiation process considered the
benefits of the merger and the related transactions as well as
the associated risks and unanimously determined that the merger
agreement and the merger are fair and reasonable, advisable to
and in the best interests of Holdings and the Holdings
unaffiliated unitholders and recommended that the merger
agreement and the merger be approved by the Holdings Board and
the Holdings unaffiliated unitholders. Based on the Holdings ACG
Committees determination and recommendation, the Holdings
Board has also unanimously approved and declared the
advisability of the merger agreement and the merger and,
together with the Holdings ACG Committee, recommends that the
Holdings unaffiliated unitholders vote to approve the merger
agreement and the merger.
Holdings unitholders are urged to carefully review the
background and reasons for the merger described under The
Merger and the risks associated with the merger described
under Risk Factors.
Holdings
Reasons for the Merger (page 45)
The Holdings ACG Committee considered many factors in
determining that the merger agreement and the merger are fair
and reasonable, advisable to and in the best interests of
Holdings and the Holdings unaffiliated unitholders. The Holdings
ACG Committee viewed the following factors, among others
described in greater detail under The Merger
Recommendation of the Holdings ACG Committee and the Holdings
Board and Reasons for the Merger, as being generally
positive or favorable in coming to this determination and its
related recommendations:
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The pro forma increase of approximately 54% in quarterly cash
distributions expected to be received by Holdings unitholders,
based upon the 1.50 exchange ratio and quarterly cash
distribution rates paid by Holdings and the Partnership in
August 2010, together with the expectation that the merger will
be accretive to cash distributions received by Holdings
unitholders in each year through 2015 (the period for which
projections were provided).
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In the merger, Holdings unitholders will receive common units
representing limited partner interests in the Partnership, which
Partnership common units have substantially more liquidity than
Holdings units because of the Partnership common units
larger average daily trading volume, as well as the
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Partnership being a significantly larger entity with a broader
investor base and a larger public float, along with less
volatility in the trading market for the Partnership common
units.
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The exchange ratio in the merger, which based upon the closing
prices of Holdings units and Partnership common units on
September 3, 2010, the last trading date before the
Holdings ACG Committee and Holdings Board approved the merger
agreement, represented a premium of:
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approximately 16% above the closing price of Holdings units of
$49.90 on September 3, 2010; and
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approximately 40% above the average closing price of Holdings
units of $41.32 during the one-year period ended on
September 3, 2010.
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The opinion of the Holdings ACG Committees financial
advisor, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
(Morgan Stanley), rendered to the Holdings ACG
Committee on September 3, 2010 to the effect that, as of
such date and based upon and subject to the various assumptions,
considerations, qualifications and limitations set forth in its
written opinion, the exchange ratio under the merger agreement
was fair, from a financial point of view, to the Holdings
unitholders (other than the Holdings supporting unitholders).
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That the merger provides Holdings unitholders with an
opportunity to benefit from price appreciation and increased
distributions through ownership of Partnership common units,
which should benefit from the lower long-term cost of capital
associated with the permanent cancellation of the IDRs and the
Partnerships enhanced ability to compete for future
acquisitions and finance organic growth projects.
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The stronger credit profile of the Partnership relative to that
of Holdings.
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That Holdings unitholders, generally, should not recognize any
income or gain, for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
solely as a result of the receipt of the Partnership common
units pursuant to the merger.
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The Holdings ACG Committee considered the following factors,
among others described in greater detail under The
Merger Recommendation of the Holdings ACG Committee
and the Holdings Board and Reasons for the Merger, to be
generally negative or unfavorable in making its determination
and recommendations:
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The risk that the merger might not be completed in a timely
manner, or that the merger might not be consummated as a result
of a failure to satisfy the conditions contained in the merger
agreement, including any failure to close by December 31,
2010, which would result in the termination of the obligations
of (i) the Holdings supporting unitholders under the
support agreement and (ii) DFIDH to execute the
distribution waiver agreement, and that any failure to complete
the merger could negatively impact the trading price of Holdings
units.
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That the exchange ratio is fixed, and the possibility that the
Partnership common unit price could decline relative to the
Holdings unit price prior to closing, reducing the premium
available to Holdings unitholders.
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The possibility that Holdings unitholders could be foregoing
appreciation principally associated with the IDRs, which might
be realized either in the form of increased distributions or
appreciation in unit value if the business of the Partnership
performs materially better than anticipated and the Partnership
increases its distributions to levels substantially higher than
anticipated.
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The possibility that the proposed carried interest
federal tax legislation could be enacted with an effective date,
or a retroactive effective date, before consummation of the
merger, and the potential material tax liabilities that could be
incurred by Holdings unitholders as a consequence thereof.
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The limitations on Holdings considering unsolicited offers from
third parties not affiliated with Holdings GP.
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Overall, the Holdings ACG Committee believed that the advantages
of the merger outweighed the negative factors.
7
Opinion
of Holdings ACG Committees Financial Advisor
(page 51)
In connection with the merger, the Holdings ACG Committee
retained Morgan Stanley as its financial advisor. On
September 3, 2010, Morgan Stanley rendered to the Holdings
ACG Committee its written opinion to the effect that, as of such
date and based upon and subject to the various assumptions,
considerations, qualifications and limitations set forth in the
written opinion, the exchange ratio under to the merger
agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to the
holders of Holdings units (other than the Holdings supporting
unitholders). The full text of Morgan Stanleys written
opinion, which sets forth, among other things, the assumptions
made, specified work performed, procedures followed, matters
considered and qualifications and limitations on the scope of
the review undertaken by Morgan Stanley in rendering its
opinion, is attached as Annex E to this proxy
statement/prospectus. The opinion was directed to the Holdings
ACG Committee and addresses only the fairness from a financial
point of view of the exchange ratio pursuant to the merger
agreement to the holders of Holdings units (other than the
Holdings supporting unitholders) on the date of the opinion. The
opinion does not address any other aspect of the merger or
related transactions and does not constitute a recommendation to
any Holdings unitholder as to how to vote or act on any matter
with respect to the merger or related transactions.
Certain
Relationships; Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger
(page 101)
The Partnership and Holdings have extensive and ongoing
relationships with EPCO and its affiliates, which include both
the Partnership GP and Holdings GP, as well as DDLLC.
Holdings GP is a wholly owned subsidiary of DDLLC, which is
controlled by the DDLLC voting trustees pursuant to the DDLLC
Voting Trust Agreement. EPCO is also controlled by three
voting trustees (the EPCO voting trustees) under the
EPCO Voting Trust Agreement. The EPCO voting trustees and the
DDLLC voting trustees are the same three individuals: Randa
Duncan Williams, Richard H. Bachmann and Ralph S. Cunningham.
As of October 13, 2010, the DDLLC voting trustees and the
EPCO voting trustees, in their capacities as such trustees, as
executors and individually, collectively owned or controlled
approximately 29% of the Partnerships outstanding common
units, approximately 77% of the limited partner interests in
Holdings and 100% of the limited liability company interests in
Holdings GP. The Holdings supporting unitholders, who have
agreed to vote in favor of the merger and the merger agreement,
directly own approximately 76% of Holdings outstanding
units. The directors, executive officers and other affiliates of
Holdings collectively owned or controlled an additional 1.4% of
Holdings outstanding units.
The officers of Holdings are employees of EPCO. A number of EPCO
employees who provide services to Holdings also provide services
to the Partnership, often serving in the same positions.
Holdings has an extensive and ongoing relationship with the
Partnership, EPCO and other entities controlled by the DDLLC
voting trustees and the EPCO voting trustees.
Further, Holdings GPs directors and executive officers
have interests in the merger that may be different from, or in
addition to, your interests as a unitholder of Holdings,
including:
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The non-management directors of Holdings GP hold equity-based
awards under Holdings benefit plans that will generally be
converted into equity awards with respect to Partnership common
units, adjusted for the exchange ratio.
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All of the directors and executive officers of Holdings GP will
receive continued indemnification for their actions as directors
and executive officers.
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Most of the directors of Holdings GP directly or beneficially
own Partnership common units, including Ms. Williams,
Dr. Cunningham, Mr. Bachmann, Thurmon M. Andress, O.S.
Andras and Edwin E. Smith.
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In addition to serving as a director and Executive Vice
President of Holdings GP, Mr. Bachmann also serves as the
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of
the Partnership GP, and has certain duties to the limited
partners of the Partnership.
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8
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Three of the directors of Holdings GP, Ms. Williams,
Mr. Bachmann and Dr. Cunningham (who is also CEO of
Holdings GP), also serve as both the DDLLC voting trustees and
the EPCO voting trustees. These three individuals also serve as
independent executors of the estate of Dan L. Duncan.
Through these positions, these persons effectively own or
control approximately 76% of the outstanding Holdings units and
approximately 28% of the outstanding Partnership common units
and Class B units, collectively, which securities
represented an aggregate fair market value of approximately
$5.3 billion and $7.0 billion, respectively, based on
the closing prices of the Holdings units and Partnership common
units on September 3, 2010, the last trading day before
announcement of the merger. In their capacities as trustees of
those voting trusts or as a majority of the directors of certain
affiliated entities, Ms. Williams, Mr. Bachmann and
Dr. Cunningham have authorized or caused the Holdings
supporting unitholders to enter into the support agreement,
pursuant to which the Holdings supporting unitholders have
agreed to vote approximately 76% of the outstanding Holdings
units in favor of the merger agreement and the merger.
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Each of the executive officers of the Partnership GP is
currently expected to be elected to serve as an executive
officer of Holdings GP as the new general partner of the
Partnership. The persons who will be elected as directors of
Holdings GP following the merger have not yet been determined.
The
Merger Agreement (page 64)
The merger agreement is attached to this proxy
statement/prospectus as Annex A and is incorporated by
reference into this document. You are encouraged to read the
merger agreement because it is the legal document that governs
the merger.
What
Needs to be Done to Complete the Merger
The Partnership and Holdings will complete the merger only if
the conditions set forth in the merger agreement are satisfied
or, in some cases, waived. The obligations of the Partnership
and Holdings to complete the merger are subject to, among other
things, the following conditions:
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the approval of the merger agreement and the merger by the
requisite vote of the Holdings unitholders, which approval is
contractually assured by the Holdings supporting
unitholders agreement to vote in favor of the merger and
the merger agreement unless the support agreement is terminated
upon, among other things, a termination of the merger agreement
or a change in recommendation by the Holdings ACG Committee;
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the making of all required filings and the receipt of all
required governmental consents, approvals, permits and
authorizations from any applicable governmental authorities
prior to the merger effective time, except where the failure to
obtain such consent, approval, permit or authorization would not
be reasonably likely to result in a material adverse effect on
Holdings or the Partnership;
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the absence of any decree, order, injunction or law that
enjoins, prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of any of
the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, and any
action, proceeding or investigation by any governmental
authority seeking to restrain, enjoin, prohibit or delay such
consummation;
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the continued effectiveness of the registration statement of
which this proxy statement/prospectus is a part;
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the approval for listing on the NYSE of the Partnership common
units to be issued in the merger, subject to official notice of
issuance;
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the consummation of the GP merger;
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the execution of the Sixth Partnership Agreement of the
Partnership, the form of which is attached as Annex B to
this proxy statement/prospectus, and the admittance of Holdings
GP as the new general partner of the Partnership; and
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the execution and delivery by certain affiliates of EPCO of the
distribution waiver agreement.
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9
Please read Transactions Related to the
Merger above for information about the GP merger, the
Sixth Partnership Agreement and the distribution waiver
agreement.
The Partnerships obligation to complete the merger is
further subject to the following conditions:
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the representations and warranties of each of Holdings and
Holdings GP set forth in the merger agreement being true and
correct in all material respects, and Holdings and Holdings GP
having performed all of their obligations under the merger
agreement in all material respects;
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The Partnership having received an opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP,
counsel to the Partnership (Andrews Kurth), as to
the treatment of the merger for U.S. federal income tax
purposes and as to certain other tax matters; and
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No material adverse effect (as defined under the merger
agreement) having occurred with respect to Holdings.
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Holdings obligation to complete the merger is further
subject to the following conditions:
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the representations and warranties of each of the Partnership
and Partnership GP set forth in the merger agreement being true
and correct in all material respects, and the Partnership and
Partnership GP having performed all of their obligations under
the merger agreement in all material respects;
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Holdings having received an opinion of Vinson & Elkins
L.L.P., counsel to Holdings (Vinson & Elkins),
as to the treatment of the merger for U.S. federal income
tax purposes and as to certain other tax matters; and
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No material adverse effect (as defined under the merger
agreement) having occurred with respect to the Partnership.
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Each of the Partnership and Holdings may choose to complete the
merger even though any condition to its obligation has not been
satisfied if the necessary unitholder approval has been obtained
and the law allows it to do so.
No
Solicitation
Holdings GP and Holdings have agreed that they will not, and
they will use their commercially reasonable best efforts to
cause their representatives not to, directly or indirectly,
initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage or facilitate any
inquiries or the making or submission of any proposal that
constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, an
acquisition proposal, or participate in any discussions or
negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any non-public
information with respect to, any acquisition proposal, unless
the Holdings ACG Committee, after consultation with its outside
legal counsel and financial advisors, determines in good faith
that such acquisition proposal constitutes or is likely to
result in a superior proposal and the failure to do so would be
inconsistent with its duties under the Holdings partnership
agreement and applicable law. Please read The Merger
Agreement Covenants Acquisition
Proposals; Change in Recommendation for more information
about what constitutes an acquisition proposal and a superior
proposal.
Change
in Recommendation
The Holdings ACG Committee is permitted to withdraw, modify or
qualify in any manner adverse to the Partnership its
recommendation of the merger or publicly approve or recommend,
or publicly propose to approve or recommend, any acquisition
proposal, referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as a
change in recommendation in certain circumstances.
Specifically, if, prior to receipt of Holdings unitholder
approval, the Holdings ACG Committee concludes in good faith,
after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial
advisors, that a failure to change its recommendation would be
inconsistent with its duties under the Holdings partnership
agreement and applicable law, the Holdings ACG Committee may
determine to make a change in recommendation.
10
Termination
of the Merger Agreement
The Partnership and Holdings can agree to terminate the merger
agreement by mutual written consent at any time without
completing the merger, even after the Holdings unitholders have
approved the merger agreement and the merger. In addition,
either party may terminate the merger agreement on its own upon
written notice to the other without completing the merger if:
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the merger is not completed on or before December 31, 2010;
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any legal prohibition to completing the merger has become final
and non-appealable, provided that the terminating party is not
in breach of its covenant to use commercially reasonable best
efforts to complete the merger promptly; or
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|
any condition to the closing of the merger cannot be satisfied.
|
The Partnership may terminate the merger agreement at any time
if the Holdings ACG Committee, upon written notice to the
Partnership, determines to make a change in recommendation in
accordance with the merger agreement.
Holdings may terminate the merger agreement if (i) the
Holdings ACG Committee determines, in accordance with the merger
agreement, to make a change in recommendation and subsequently
determines not to hold the Holdings special meeting or
(ii) the necessary unitholder approval is not obtained at
the Holdings special meeting.
Holdings may terminate the merger agreement upon written notice
to the Partnership, at any time prior to the Holdings special
meeting, if Holdings receives an acquisition proposal from a
third party, the Holdings ACG Committee concludes in good faith
that such acquisition proposal constitutes a superior proposal,
the Holdings ACG Committee has made a change in recommendation
pursuant to the merger agreement with respect to such superior
proposal, Holdings has not knowingly and intentionally breached
the no solicitation covenants contained in the merger agreement,
and the Holdings ACG Committee concurrently approves, and
Holdings concurrently enters into, a definitive agreement with
respect to such superior proposal. Notwithstanding anything in
the merger agreement to the contrary, without the prior written
consent of the Audit, Conflicts and Governance Committee of the
Partnership Board (the Partnership ACG Committee),
no acquisition proposal will constitute a superior proposal if
such acquisition proposal is conditioned on completion of an
acquisition of the Partnership that would require approval by
the Partnership ACG Committee under the Partnerships
partnership agreement.
Finally, either party may terminate the merger agreement upon
30 days written notice to the other if, as a result of a
change in U.S. federal income tax law, the completion of
the merger or the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement (taking into account any available elections) could
reasonably be expected to materially increase the amount of
U.S. federal income tax due from any holder of Holdings
units or Partnership common units, as the case may be, as a
result of owning or disposing of Partnership common units,
whether acquired pursuant to or owned prior to such
transactions, as compared to the amount of U.S. federal
income tax due from such holder as a result of owning or
disposing of any Holdings units or Partnership common units, as
the case may be, in the event the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement did not occur; provided that no termination
of the merger agreement will be effective in the event that,
within 30 days after receipt of such notice, the
non-terminating party has provided to the terminating party the
opinion of nationally recognized tax counsel, reasonably
acceptable to the terminating party, to the effect that such
holder of Holdings units or Partnership common units, as the
case may be, should not be liable for such increased tax as a
result of owning or disposing of Partnership common units.
Material
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger
(page 132)
Tax matters associated with the merger are complicated. The
U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger to a
Holdings unitholder will depend on such unitholders own
situation. The tax discussions in this proxy
statement/prospectus focus on the U.S. federal income tax
consequences generally applicable to individuals who are
residents or citizens of the United States that hold their
Holdings units as capital assets,
11
and these discussions have only limited application to other
unitholders, including those subject to special tax treatment.
Holdings unitholders are urged to consult their tax advisors for
a full understanding of the U.S. federal, state, local and
foreign tax consequences of the merger that will be applicable
to them.
Holdings expects to receive an opinion from Vinson &
Elkins to the effect that no gain or loss should be recognized
by the holders of Holdings units to the extent Partnership
common units are received in exchange therefor as a result of
the merger, other than gain resulting from either (i) any
decrease in partnership liabilities pursuant to Section 752
of the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) any cash received in
lieu of any fractional Partnership common units. The Partnership
expects to receive an opinion from Andrews Kurth to the effect
that no gain or loss should be recognized by Partnership
unaffiliated unitholders as a result of the merger (other than
gain resulting from any decrease in Partnership liabilities
pursuant to Section 752 of the Internal Revenue Code).
Partnership unaffiliated unitholders means
Partnership unitholders other than those controlling, controlled
by or under common control with the Partnership GP and Holdings.
Opinions of counsel, however, are subject to certain limitations
and are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service, or
IRS, and no assurance can be given that the IRS
would not successfully assert a contrary position regarding the
merger and the opinions of counsel.
The U.S. federal income tax consequences described above
may not apply to some holders of Partnership common units and
Holdings units. Please read Material U.S. Federal
Income Tax Consequences of the Merger beginning on
page 132 for a more complete discussion of the
U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger.
Other
Information Related to the Merger
No
Appraisal Rights (page 61)
Holdings unitholders do not have appraisal rights under
applicable law or contractual appraisal rights under the
Holdings partnership agreement or the merger agreement.
Antitrust
and Regulatory Matters (page 61)
The merger is subject to both state and federal antitrust laws.
Under the rules applicable to partnerships, no filing is
required under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the HSR Act).
However, the Partnership or Holdings may receive requests for
information concerning the proposed merger and related
transactions from the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, the
Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, or DOJ, or
individual states.
Listing
of Common Units to be Issued in the Merger
(page 61)
The Partnership expects to obtain approval to list on the NYSE
the Partnership common units to be issued pursuant to the merger
agreement, which approval is a condition to the merger.
Accounting
Treatment (page 61)
The merger will be accounted for in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification
810, Consolidations Overall Changes
in Parents Ownership Interest in a Subsidiary, which
is referred to as FASB ASC 810. Holdings is considered as
the surviving consolidated entity for accounting purposes rather
than the Partnership, which is the surviving consolidated entity
for legal and reporting purposes. Therefore, the changes in
Holdings ownership interest will be accounted for as an
equity transaction and no gain or loss will be recognized as a
result of the merger.
Comparison
of the Rights of Partnership and Holdings Unitholders
(page 116)
Holdings unitholders will own Partnership common units following
the completion of the merger, and their rights associated with
Partnership common units will be governed by, in addition to
Delaware law, the Sixth Partnership Agreement, which differs in
a number of respects from Holdings partnership agreement.
12
Pending
Litigation (page 61)
On September 9, 2010 Sanjay Israni, a purported Holdings
unitholder, filed a complaint in the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware (the Court), as a putative class
action on behalf of Holdings unitholders, captioned Sanjay
Israni v. EPE Holdings LLC, Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.,
Enterprise Products Company, Enterprise Products Partners L.P.,
Oscar S. Andras, Ralph S. Cunningham, Richard H. Bachmann, Randa
Duncan Williams, Thurmon M. Andress, Charles E. McMahen, Edwin
E. Smith and B.W. Waycaster (the Israni
Complaint). The Israni Complaint alleges, among other
things, that the named directors, EPCO and the Partnership have
breached fiduciary duties in connection with the proposed merger
and that Holdings aided and abetted in these alleged breaches of
fiduciary duties.
On September 24, 2010 Richard Fouke, another purported
Holdings unitholder, filed a complaint in the Court, as a
putative class action on behalf of Holdings unitholders,
captioned Richard Fouke v. EPE Holdings LLC, Enterprise
GP Holdings L.P., Enterprise Products Company, Enterprise
Products Partners L.P., Enterprise Products GP, LLC, Oscar S.
Andras, Ralph S. Cunningham, Richard H. Bachmann, Randa Duncan
Williams, Thurmon M. Andress, Charles E. McMahen, Edwin E. Smith
and B.W. Waycaster (the Fouke Complaint). The
Fouke Complaint alleges, among other things, that the named
directors, Holdings GP, the Partnership, the Partnership GP and
EPCO breached the implied contractual covenant of good faith and
fair dealing in connection with the proposed merger and that
Holdings and other defendants aided and abetted in the alleged
breach.
Additionally, on September 28, 2010, Eugene
Lonergan, Sr., a third purported Holdings unitholder, filed
a complaint in the Court, as a putative class action on behalf
of Holdings unitholders, captioned Eugene
Lonergan, Sr. v. EPE Holdings LLC, Enterprise GP
Holdings L.P., Oscar S. Andras, Ralph S. Cunningham,
Richard H. Bachmann, Randa Duncan Williams, Thurmon M. Andress,
Charles E. McMahen, Edwin E. Smith and B.W. Waycaster (the
Lonergan Complaint). The Lonergan Complaint alleges
that the named directors and Holdings GP breached the implied
contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing, including
failing to make adequate disclosures, in connection with the
proposed merger. On October 8, 2010, the Court held a
hearing on a motion by the plaintiff to expedite the
proceedings. On October 11, 2010, the Court denied the
motion.
Finally, on October 11, 2010, John Psomas, a purported
Partnership unitholder, filed a complaint in the Court, as a
putative class action on behalf of Partnership unitholders,
captioned John Psomas v. Enterprise Products Partners
L.P., Enterprise Products GP, LLC, Michael A. Creel, W. Randall
Fowler, A. James Teague, Michael J. Knesek, E. William Barnett,
Charles M. Rampacek and Rex C. Ross (the Psomas
Complaint). The Psomas Complaint alleges that the
Partnership and the Partnership GP breached the
Partnerships partnership agreement by failing to submit
the merger agreement to a Partnership unitholder vote and that
the named directors breached their fiduciary duties of candor
and full disclosure.
Each of these complaints seeks to enjoin the proposed merger
transaction and, in the event the merger is consummated, the
Psomas Complaint seeks a Partnership unitholder vote to ratify
approval of the merger and damages resulting from the
directors alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. The
Partnership and Holdings cannot predict the outcome of these or
any other lawsuits that might be filed subsequent to the date of
the filing of this proxy statement/prospectus, nor can the
Partnership and Holdings predict the amount of time and expense
that will be required to resolve these lawsuits. The Partnership
and Holdings intend to vigorously defend against these and any
other actions.
Summary
of Risk Factors (page 26)
You should consider carefully all the risk factors together with
all of the other information included in this proxy
statement/prospectus before deciding how to vote. The risks
related to the merger and the related transactions, the
Partnerships business, the Partnership common units and
risks resulting from the
13
Partnerships organizational structure are described under
the caption Risk Factors beginning on page 26
of this proxy statement/prospectus. Some of these risks include,
but are not limited to, those described below:
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|
Holdings partnership agreement limits the fiduciary duties
of Holdings GP to unitholders and restricts the remedies
available to unitholders for actions taken by Holdings GP that
might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.
|
|
|
|
The directors and executive officers of Holdings GP may have
interests relating to the merger that differ in certain respects
from the interests of the Holdings unaffiliated unitholders.
|
|
|
|
The exchange ratio is fixed and the market value of the merger
consideration to Holdings unitholders will be equal to 1.50
times the price of Partnership common units at the closing of
the merger, which market value will decrease if the market value
of the Partnerships common units decreases.
|
|
|
|
The transactions contemplated by the merger agreement may not be
consummated even if Holdings unitholders approve the merger
agreement and the merger.
|
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|
|
Financial projections by the Partnership and Holdings may not
prove accurate.
|
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|
The merger agreement may be terminated and the support agreement
will automatically terminate on December 31, 2010 if the
merger has not been completed, and the failure to complete the
merger for any reason could negatively impact the price of
Holdings units and Partnership common units.
|
|
|
|
The number of outstanding Partnership common units will increase
as a result of the merger, which could make it more difficult to
maintain the Partnerships current positive distribution
coverage ratio or increase the level of future quarterly
distributions.
|
|
|
|
While the merger agreement is in effect, Holdings may lose
opportunities to enter into different business combination
transactions with other parties on more favorable terms, and
both the Partnership and Holdings may be limited in their
ability to pursue other attractive business opportunities.
|
|
|
|
No ruling has been requested with respect to the U.S. federal
income tax consequences of the merger.
|
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|
The intended U.S. federal income tax consequences of the
merger are dependent upon each of the Partnership and Holdings
being treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes.
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|
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of the merger is
subject to potential legislative change and differing judicial
or administrative interpretations.
|
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|
Holdings unitholders could recognize taxable income or gain for
U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the merger.
|
14
Organizational
Chart
Before
the Merger
The following diagram depicts the organizational structure of
the Partnership and Holdings as of October 13, 2010 before
the consummation of the merger and the other transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement.
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes Holdings units beneficially owned by the estate of Dan
L. Duncan, Randa Duncan Williams, and certain trusts and
privately held affiliates. |
|
|
|
(2) |
|
EPCO and its private affiliates beneficially own an approximate
27.0% limited partner interest in the Partnership. |
15
After
the Merger
The following diagram depicts the organizational structure of
the Partnership and Holdings immediately after giving effect to
the merger, the other transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement and a planned contribution by the Partnership of
MergerCo to EPO immediately thereafter.
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|
Partnership
|
Beneficial Owners of Limited
Partner Units (as of
October 13, 2010)
|
|
Partnership
|
|
Holdings
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
EPCO and privately held affiliates(1)
|
|
|
27.5
|
%
|
|
|
76.6
|
%
|
|
|
40.6
|
%
|
Holdings
|
|
|
3.4
|
%
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Public unitholders
|
|
|
69.1
|
%
|
|
|
23.4
|
%
|
|
|
59.4
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Partnership percentage includes 4,520,431 Class B units of
the Partnership owned by a privately held affiliate of EPCO.
Holdings percentage includes 13,921 Holdings units to be issued
in connection with the GP merger immediately prior to the merger
as part of a transformation of the current 0.01% general partner
interest in Holdings. Partnership Pro Forma percentage also
includes 30,610,000 Partnership common units designated
initially under a distribution waiver agreement. Please read
The Merger Transactions Related to the
Merger Distribution Waiver Agreement. |
16
SUMMARY
HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION OF
THE PARTNERSHIP AND HOLDINGS
The following tables set forth, for the periods and at the dates
indicated, summary historical financial and operating
information for the Partnership and Holdings and summary
unaudited pro forma financial information for the Partnership
after giving effect to the proposed merger with Holdings. The
summary historical financial data as of and for each of the
years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009 are derived
from and should be read in conjunction with the audited
financial statements and accompanying footnotes of the
Partnership and Holdings, respectively. The summary historical
financial data as of and for the six-month periods ended
June 30, 2009 and 2010 are derived from and should be read
in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and
accompanying footnotes of the Partnership and Holdings,
respectively. The Partnerships and Holdings
consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2008 and
2009 and as of June 30, 2010, and the related statements of
consolidated operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and
equity for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2009 and the six months ended June 30,
2010 and 2009 are incorporated by reference into this proxy
statement/prospectus from the Partnerships and
Holdings respective annual reports on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009, and the quarterly
reports on
Form 10-Q
for the period ended June 30, 2010.
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial
statements of the Partnership show the pro forma effect of the
Partnerships proposed merger with Holdings. Holdings will
be treated as the surviving consolidated entity for accounting
purposes, even though the Partnership will be the surviving
consolidated entity for legal and reporting purposes. For
accounting purposes, Holdings is considered the accounting
acquiror of the Partnerships noncontrolling interests. For
a complete discussion of the pro forma adjustments underlying
the amounts in the table on the following page, please read
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements beginning on page F-2 of this document.
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial
statements have been prepared to assist in the analysis of
financial effects of the proposed merger between the Partnership
and Holdings. The unaudited pro forma condensed statements of
consolidated operations for the six months ended June 30,
2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009 assume the
merger-related transactions occurred on January 1, 2009.
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet
shows the financial effects of the merger-related transactions
as if they had occurred on June 30, 2010. The unaudited pro
forma condensed consolidated financial statements are based upon
assumptions that the Partnership believes are reasonable under
the circumstances, and are intended for informational purposes
only. They are not necessarily indicative of the financial
results that would have occurred if the transactions described
herein had taken place on the dates indicated, nor are they
indicative of the future consolidated results of the combined
entity.
The Partnerships non-generally accepted accounting
principles, or non-GAAP, financial measures of gross operating
margin and Adjusted EBITDA are presented in the summary
historical and pro forma financial information. Please read
Non-GAAP Financial Measures, which
provides the necessary explanations and reconciliations for
these non-GAAP financial measures.
For information regarding the effect of the merger on pro forma
distributions to Holdings unitholders, please read
Comparative Per Unit Information.
17
Summary
Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Information of
the Partnership
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
Partnership Consolidated Historical
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Six Months
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Six Months
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
(In millions, except per unit amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
Income statement data:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
26,713.8
|
|
|
$
|
35,469.6
|
|
|
$
|
25,510.9
|
|
|
$
|
10,321.2
|
|
|
$
|
16,087.9
|
|
|
$
|
25,510.9
|
|
|
$
|
16,087.9
|
|
Costs and expenses
|
|
|
25,529.3
|
|
|
|
33,756.1
|
|
|
|
23,738.1
|
|
|
|
9,482.1
|
|
|
|
15,021.6
|
|
|
|
23,748.6
|
|
|
|
15,026.9
|
|
Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates
|
|
|
10.5
|
|
|
|
34.9
|
|
|
|
51.2
|
|
|
|
17.0
|
|
|
|
32.7
|
|
|
|
92.3
|
|
|
|
37.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
1,195.0
|
|
|
|
1,748.4
|
|
|
|
1,824.0
|
|
|
|
856.1
|
|
|
|
1,099.0
|
|
|
|
1,854.6
|
|
|
|
1,098.6
|
|
Other income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(413.0
|
)
|
|
|
(540.7
|
)
|
|
|
(641.8
|
)
|
|
|
(311.0
|
)
|
|
|
(317.2
|
)
|
|
|
(687.3
|
)
|
|
|
(337.1
|
)
|
Other, net
|
|
|
71.7
|
|
|
|
12.2
|
|
|
|
(1.8
|
)
|
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
0.5
|
|
|
|
(1.7
|
)
|
|
|
0.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other expense, net
|
|
|
(341.3
|
)
|
|
|
(528.5
|
)
|
|
|
(643.6
|
)
|
|
|
(309.0
|
)
|
|
|
(316.7
|
)
|
|
|
(689.0
|
)
|
|
|
(336.6
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before provision for income taxes
|
|
|
853.7
|
|
|
|
1,219.9
|
|
|
|
1,180.4
|
|
|
|
547.1
|
|
|
|
782.3
|
|
|
|
1,165.6
|
|
|
|
762.0
|
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(15.7
|
)
|
|
|
(31.0
|
)
|
|
|
(25.3
|
)
|
|
|
(19.1
|
)
|
|
|
(15.2
|
)
|
|
|
(25.3
|
)
|
|
|
(15.2
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
838.0
|
|
|
|
1,188.9
|
|
|
|
1,155.1
|
|
|
|
528.0
|
|
|
|
767.1
|
|
|
|
1,140.3
|
|
|
|
746.8
|
|
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
|
|
|
(304.4
|
)
|
|
|
(234.9
|
)
|
|
|
(124.2
|
)
|
|
|
(116.1
|
)
|
|
|
(32.1
|
)
|
|
|
(110.7
|
)
|
|
|
(32.1
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income attributable to the Partnership
|
|
$
|
533.6
|
|
|
$
|
954.0
|
|
|
$
|
1,030.9
|
|
|
$
|
411.9
|
|
|
$
|
735.0
|
|
|
$
|
1,029.6
|
|
|
$
|
714.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per unit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per unit
|
|
$
|
0.95
|
|
|
$
|
1.84
|
|
|
$
|
1.73
|
|
|
$
|
0.73
|
|
|
$
|
0.97
|
|
|
$
|
1.60
|
|
|
$
|
0.91
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per unit
|
|
$
|
0.95
|
|
|
$
|
1.84
|
|
|
$
|
1.73
|
|
|
$
|
0.73
|
|
|
$
|
0.96
|
|
|
$
|
1.53
|
|
|
$
|
0.87
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to limited partners:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per common unit (declared with respect to period)
|
|
$
|
1.9475
|
|
|
$
|
2.0750
|
|
|
$
|
2.1950
|
|
|
$
|
1.0825
|
|
|
$
|
1.1425
|
|
|
$
|
2.1950
|
|
|
$
|
1.1425
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance sheet data (at period end):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
22,515.5
|
|
|
$
|
24,211.6
|
|
|
$
|
26,151.6
|
|
|
$
|
25,545.4
|
|
|
$
|
28,289.5
|
|
|
|
n/a
|
|
|
$
|
29,740.1
|
|
Total long-term debt, including current maturities
|
|
|
8,771.1
|
|
|
|
11,637.9
|
|
|
|
11,346.4
|
|
|
|
12,139.5
|
|
|
|
12,671.5
|
|
|
|
n/a
|
|
|
|
13,766.3
|
|
Total equity
|
|
|
9,016.5
|
|
|
|
9,295.9
|
|
|
|
10,042.3
|
|
|
|
9,516.8
|
|
|
|
10,925.4
|
|
|
|
n/a
|
|
|
|
11,276.9
|
|
Other financial data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash flows provided by operating activities
|
|
$
|
1,953.6
|
|
|
$
|
1,567.1
|
|
|
$
|
2,377.2
|
|
|
$
|
635.0
|
|
|
$
|
900.3
|
|
|
|
n/a
|
|
|
|
n/a
|
|
Cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
2,871.8
|
|
|
|
3,246.9
|
|
|
|
1,546.9
|
|
|
|
887.3
|
|
|
|
1,891.8
|
|
|
|
n/a
|
|
|
|
n/a
|
|
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
946.3
|
|
|
|
1,690.7
|
|
|
|
(837.1
|
)
|
|
|
261.5
|
|
|
|
1,431.2
|
|
|
|
n/a
|
|
|
|
n/a
|
|
Distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates
|
|
|
87.0
|
|
|
|
80.8
|
|
|
|
86.6
|
|
|
|
33.5
|
|
|
|
58.8
|
|
|
$
|
169.3
|
|
|
$
|
101.3
|
|
Total gross operating margin(1)
|
|
|
1,964.4
|
|
|
|
2,609.0
|
|
|
|
2,839.8
|
|
|
|
1,336.2
|
|
|
|
1,610.1
|
|
|
|
2,880.9
|
|
|
|
1,615.0
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA(1)
|
|
|
2,004.6
|
|
|
|
2,546.1
|
|
|
|
2,686.1
|
|
|
|
1,279.8
|
|
|
|
1,577.2
|
|
|
|
2,760.0
|
|
|
|
1,615.6
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Unaudited. Please read Non-GAAP Financial
Measures below beginning on page 21 for a
reconciliation of non-GAAP total gross operating margin and
Adjusted EBITDA to their most closely-related GAAP measures. |
18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership Consolidated Historical
|
|
|
|
|
For the Six Months
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31,
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
|
2007
|
|
2008
|
|
2009
|
|
2009
|
|
2010
|
|
Selected volumetric operating data by segment:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NGL Pipelines & Services, net:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NGL transportation volumes (MBPD)
|
|
|
1,877
|
|
|
|
2,021
|
|
|
|
2,196
|
|
|
|
2,057
|
|
|
|
2,217
|
|
NGL fractionation volumes (MBPD)
|
|
|
405
|
|
|
|
441
|
|
|
|
461
|
|
|
|
450
|
|
|
|
468
|
|
Equity NGL production (MBPD)
|
|
|
88
|
|
|
|
108
|
|
|
|
117
|
|
|
|
116
|
|
|
|
124
|
|
Fee-based natural gas processing
(MMcf/d)
|
|
|
2,565
|
|
|
|
2,524
|
|
|
|
2,650
|
|
|
|
2,908
|
|
|
|
2,833
|
|
Onshore Natural Gas Pipelines & Services, net:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas transportation volumes (BBtus/d)
|
|
|
8,465
|
|
|
|
9,612
|
|
|
|
10,435
|
|
|
|
10,506
|
|
|
|
11,300
|
|
Onshore Crude Oil Pipelines & Services, net:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crude oil transportation volumes (BBtus/d)
|
|
|
652
|
|
|
|
696
|
|
|
|
680
|
|
|
|
698
|
|
|
|
675
|
|
Offshore Pipelines & Services, net:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas transportation volumes (BBtus/d)
|
|
|
1,641
|
|
|
|
1,408
|
|
|
|
1,420
|
|
|
|
1,501
|
|
|
|
1,359
|
|
Crude oil transportation volumes (MBPD)
|
|
|
163
|
|
|
|
169
|
|
|
|
308
|
|
|
|
219
|
|
|
|
338
|
|
Platform natural gas processing
(MMcf/d)
|
|
|
494
|
|
|
|
632
|
|
|
|
700
|
|
|
|
765
|
|
|
|
600
|
|
Platform crude oil processing (MBPD)
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
18
|
|
Petrochemical Services, net:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Butane isomerization volumes (MBPD)
|
|
|
90
|
|
|
|
86
|
|
|
|
97
|
|
|
|
95
|
|
|
|
86
|
|
Propylene fractionation volumes (MBPD)
|
|
|
68
|
|
|
|
58
|
|
|
|
68
|
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
|
79
|
|
Octane additive production volumes (MBPD)
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
Transportation volumes, primarily refined products and
petrochemicals (MBPD)
|
|
|
882
|
|
|
|
818
|
|
|
|
806
|
|
|
|
814
|
|
|
|
795
|
|
/d = per day
BBtus = billion British thermal units
MBPD = thousand barrels per day
MMcf = million cubic feet
19
Summary
Historical Financial Information of Holdings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holdings Consolidated Historical
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Six Months
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
(In millions, except per unit amounts)
|
|
|
Income statement data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
26,713.8
|
|
|
$
|
35,469.6
|
|
|
$
|
25,510.9
|
|
|
$
|
10,321.2
|
|
|
$
|
16,087.9
|
|
Costs and expenses
|
|
|
25,534.0
|
|
|
|
33,763.7
|
|
|
|
23,748.6
|
|
|
|
9,488.8
|
|
|
|
15,026.9
|
|
Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates
|
|
|
13.6
|
|
|
|
66.2
|
|
|
|
92.3
|
|
|
|
43.6
|
|
|
|
37.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
1,193.4
|
|
|
|
1,772.1
|
|
|
|
1,854.6
|
|
|
|
876.0
|
|
|
|
1,098.6
|
|
Other income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(487.4
|
)
|
|
|
(608.3
|
)
|
|
|
(687.3
|
)
|
|
|
(337.3
|
)
|
|
|
(337.1
|
)
|
Other, net
|
|
|
71.8
|
|
|
|
12.3
|
|
|
|
(1.7
|
)
|
|
|
2.1
|
|
|
|
0.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other expense, net
|
|
|
(415.6
|
)
|
|
|
(596.0
|
)
|
|
|
(689.0
|
)
|
|
|
(335.2
|
)
|
|
|
(336.6
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before provision for income taxes
|
|
|
777.8
|
|
|
|
1,176.1
|
|
|
|
1,165.6
|
|
|
|
540.8
|
|
|
|
762.0
|
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(15.8
|
)
|
|
|
(31.0
|
)
|
|
|
(25.3
|
)
|
|
|
(19.1
|
)
|
|
|
(15.2
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
762.0
|
|
|
|
1,145.1
|
|
|
|
1,140.3
|
|
|
|
521.7
|
|
|
|
746.8
|
|
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
|
|
|
(653.0
|
)
|
|
|
(981.1
|
)
|
|
|
(936.2
|
)
|
|
|
(419.7
|
)
|
|
|
(622.8
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income attributable to Holdings
|
|
$
|
109.0
|
|
|
$
|
164.0
|
|
|
$
|
204.1
|
|
|
$
|
102.0
|
|
|
$
|
124.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per unit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per unit
|
|
$
|
0.97
|
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
|
$
|
1.48
|
|
|
$
|
0.75
|
|
|
$
|
0.89
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per unit
|
|
$
|
0.97
|
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
|
$
|
1.48
|
|
|
$
|
0.75
|
|
|
$
|
0.89
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to limited partners:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per unit (declared with respect to period)
|
|
$
|
1.550
|
|
|
$
|
1.790
|
|
|
$
|
2.030
|
|
|
$
|
0.985
|
|
|
$
|
1.105
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance sheet data (at period end):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
24,084.4
|
|
|
$
|
25,780.4
|
|
|
$
|
27,686.3
|
|
|
$
|
27,109.2
|
|
|
$
|
29,786.8
|
|
Total long-term debt, including current maturities
|
|
|
9,861.2
|
|
|
|
12,714.9
|
|
|
|
12,427.9
|
|
|
|
13,208.0
|
|
|
|
13,766.3
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
9,530.0
|
|
|
|
9,759.4
|
|
|
|
10,473.1
|
|
|
|
9,984.3
|
|
|
|
11,300.9
|
|
Other financial data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash flows provided by operating activities
|
|
$
|
1,936.8
|
|
|
$
|
1,566.4
|
|
|
$
|
2,410.3
|
|
|
$
|
650.6
|
|
|
$
|
920.4
|
|
Cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
4,541.1
|
|
|
|
3,246.9
|
|
|
|
1,547.7
|
|
|
|
888.1
|
|
|
|
1,891.8
|
|
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
2,622.5
|
|
|
|
1,695.9
|
|
|
|
(863.9
|
)
|
|
|
253.0
|
|
|
|
1,412.5
|
|
Total cash distributions received
|
|
|
116.9
|
|
|
|
157.2
|
|
|
|
169.3
|
|
|
|
74.2
|
|
|
|
101.3
|
|
Total gross operating margin(1)
|
|
|
1,967.5
|
|
|
|
2,640.3
|
|
|
|
2,880.9
|
|
|
|
1,362.8
|
|
|
|
1,615.0
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Unaudited. Please read Non-GAAP Financial
Measures below beginning on page 21 for a
reconciliation of non-GAAP total gross operating margin to its
most closely-related GAAP measures. |
20
Non-GAAP Financial
Measures
This section provides reconciliations of the Partnerships
and Holdings non-GAAP financial measures included in this
proxy statement/prospectus to their most directly comparable
financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with
GAAP. The Partnership and Holdings both present the non-GAAP
financial measure of gross operating margin. The Partnership
also utilizes the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA.
These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as an
alternative to GAAP measures such as net income, operating
income, net cash flows provided by operating activities or any
other measure of liquidity or financial performance calculated
and presented in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial
measures may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of
other companies because they may not calculate such measures in
the same manner as the Partnership or Holdings does.
Gross
Operating Margin
The Partnership and Holdings evaluate segment performance based
on the non-GAAP financial measure of gross operating margin.
Gross operating margin (either in total or by individual
segment) is an important performance measure of the core
profitability of both the Partnerships and Holdings
operations. This measure forms the basis of the
Partnerships and Holdings internal financial
reporting and is used by management in deciding how to allocate
capital resources among business segments. The Partnership and
Holdings believe that investors benefit from having access to
the same financial measures that management uses in evaluating
segment results. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to
total segment gross operating margin is operating income. The
non-GAAP financial measure of total segment gross operating
margin should not be considered an alternative to GAAP operating
income.
The Partnership and Holdings define total segment gross
operating margin as operating income before:
(i) depreciation, amortization and accretion expense;
(ii) asset impairment charges; (iii) operating lease
expenses for which the Partnership and Holdings do not have the
payment obligation; (iv) gains and losses from asset sales
and related transactions; and (v) general and
administrative costs. Gross operating margin by segment is
calculated by subtracting segment operating costs and expenses
(net of the adjustments noted above) from segment revenues, with
both segment totals before the elimination of intercompany
transactions. In accordance with GAAP, intercompany accounts and
transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Gross operating
margin is presented on a 100% basis before the allocation of
earnings to noncontrolling interests.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the
Partnerships non-GAAP financial measure of total gross
operating margin to the GAAP financial measure of operating
income, on a historical and pro forma basis, as applicable for
each of the periods indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
|
Partnership Consolidated Historical
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
Six Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Six Months
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
|
Total segment gross operating margin
|
|
$
|
1,964.4
|
|
|
$
|
2,609.0
|
|
|
$
|
2,839.8
|
|
|
$
|
1,336.2
|
|
|
$
|
1,610.1
|
|
|
$
|
2,880.9
|
|
|
$
|
1,615.0
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile total segment gross operating margin to
operating income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation, amortization and accretion in operating costs and
expenses
|
|
|
(647.9
|
)
|
|
|
(725.4
|
)
|
|
|
(809.3
|
)
|
|
|
(396.9
|
)
|
|
|
(439.4
|
)
|
|
|
(809.3
|
)
|
|
|
(439.4
|
)
|
Non-cash asset impairment charges in operating costs and expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(33.5
|
)
|
|
|
(2.3
|
)
|
|
|
(1.5
|
)
|
|
|
(33.5
|
)
|
|
|
(1.5
|
)
|
Operating lease expenses paid by EPCO
|
|
|
(2.1
|
)
|
|
|
(2.0
|
)
|
|
|
(0.7
|
)
|
|
|
(0.3
|
)
|
|
|
(0.3
|
)
|
|
|
(0.7
|
)
|
|
|
(0.3
|
)
|
Gains from asset sales and related transactions in operating
costs and expenses
|
|
|
7.8
|
|
|
|
4.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.4
|
|
|
|
5.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.6
|
|
General and administrative costs
|
|
|
(127.2
|
)
|
|
|
(137.2
|
)
|
|
|
(172.3
|
)
|
|
|
(81.0
|
)
|
|
|
(75.5
|
)
|
|
|
(182.8
|
)
|
|
|
(80.8
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
1,195.0
|
|
|
|
1,748.4
|
|
|
|
1,824.0
|
|
|
|
856.1
|
|
|
|
1,099.0
|
|
|
|
1,854.6
|
|
|
|
1,098.6
|
|
Other expense, net
|
|
|
(341.3
|
)
|
|
|
(528.5
|
)
|
|
|
(643.6
|
)
|
|
|
(309.0
|
)
|
|
|
(316.7
|
)
|
|
|
(689.0
|
)
|
|
|
(336.6
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before provision of income taxes
|
|
$
|
853.7
|
|
|
$
|
1,219.9
|
|
|
$
|
1,180.4
|
|
|
$
|
547.1
|
|
|
$
|
782.3
|
|
|
$
|
1,165.6
|
|
|
$
|
762.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21
The following table presents a reconciliation of Holdings
non-GAAP financial measure of total gross operating margin to
the GAAP financial measure of operating income, on a historical
basis, for each of the periods indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holdings Consolidated Historical
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Six Months
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
Total segment gross operating margin
|
|
$
|
1,967.5
|
|
|
$
|
2,640.3
|
|
|
$
|
2,880.9
|
|
|
$
|
1,362.8
|
|
|
$
|
1,615.0
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile total segment gross operating margin to
operating income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation, amortization and accretion in operating costs and
expenses
|
|
|
(647.9
|
)
|
|
|
(725.4
|
)
|
|
|
(809.3
|
)
|
|
|
(396.9
|
)
|
|
|
(439.4
|
)
|
Non-cash asset impairment charges in operating costs and expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(33.5
|
)
|
|
|
(2.3
|
)
|
|
|
(1.5
|
)
|
Operating lease expenses paid by EPCO
|
|
|
(2.1
|
)
|
|
|
(2.0
|
)
|
|
|
(0.7
|
)
|
|
|
(0.3
|
)
|
|
|
(0.3
|
)
|
Gains from asset sales and related transactions in operating
costs and expenses
|
|
|
7.8
|
|
|
|
4.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.4
|
|
|
|
5.6
|
|
General and administrative costs
|
|
|
(131.9
|
)
|
|
|
(144.8
|
)
|
|
|
(182.8
|
)
|
|
|
(87.7
|
)
|
|
|
(80.8
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
1,193.4
|
|
|
|
1,772.1
|
|
|
|
1,854.6
|
|
|
|
876.0
|
|
|
|
1,098.6
|
|
Other expense, net
|
|
|
(415.6
|
)
|
|
|
(596.0
|
)
|
|
|
(689.0
|
)
|
|
|
(335.2
|
)
|
|
|
(336.6
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before provision of income taxes
|
|
$
|
777.8
|
|
|
$
|
1,176.1
|
|
|
$
|
1,165.6
|
|
|
$
|
540.8
|
|
|
$
|
762.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted
EBITDA of the Partnership
The Partnership defines Adjusted EBITDA as income from
continuing operations less equity in income from unconsolidated
affiliates; plus distributions received from unconsolidated
affiliates, interest expense, provision for income taxes and
depreciation, amortization and accretion expense. The GAAP
measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA is net cash
flows provided by operating activities. Adjusted EBITDA is
commonly used as a supplemental financial measure by management
and by external users of the Partnerships financial
statements, such as investors, commercial banks, research
analysts and rating agencies, to assess:
|
|
|
|
|
the financial performance of the Partnerships assets
without regard to financing methods, capital structures or
historical cost basis;
|
|
|
|
the ability of the Partnerships assets to generate cash
sufficient to pay interest cost and support our
indebtedness; and
|
|
|
|
the viability of projects and the overall rates of return on
alternative investment opportunities.
|
22
The following table presents the Partnerships calculation
of Adjusted EBITDA on a historical and pro forma basis and also
a reconciliation of the Partnerships non-GAAP financial
measure of Adjusted EBITDA to the GAAP financial measure of net
cash flows provided by operating activities on a historical
basis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
|
Partnership Consolidated Historical
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
Six Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Six Months
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
838.0
|
|
|
$
|
1,188.9
|
|
|
$
|
1,155.1
|
|
|
$
|
528.0
|
|
|
$
|
767.1
|
|
|
$
|
1,140.3
|
|
|
$
|
746.8
|
|
Adjustments to GAAP net income to derive
non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates
|
|
|
(10.5
|
)
|
|
|
(34.9
|
)
|
|
|
(51.2
|
)
|
|
|
(17.0
|
)
|
|
|
(32.7
|
)
|
|
|
(92.3
|
)
|
|
|
(37.6
|
)
|
Distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates
|
|
|
87.0
|
|
|
|
80.8
|
|
|
|
86.6
|
|
|
|
33.5
|
|
|
|
58.8
|
|
|
|
169.3
|
|
|
|
101.3
|
|
Interest expense (including related amortization)
|
|
|
413.0
|
|
|
|
540.7
|
|
|
|
641.8
|
|
|
|
311.0
|
|
|
|
317.2
|
|
|
|
687.3
|
|
|
|
337.1
|
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
15.7
|
|
|
|
31.0
|
|
|
|
25.3
|
|
|
|
19.1
|
|
|
|
15.2
|
|
|
|
25.3
|
|
|
|
15.2
|
|
Depreciation, amortization and accretion in costs and expenses
|
|
|
661.4
|
|
|
|
739.6
|
|
|
|
828.5
|
|
|
|
405.2
|
|
|
|
451.6
|
|
|
|
830.1
|
|
|
|
452.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
|
$
|
2,004.6
|
|
|
$
|
2,546.1
|
|
|
$
|
2,686.1
|
|
|
$
|
1,279.8
|
|
|
$
|
1,577.2
|
|
|
$
|
2,760.0
|
|
|
$
|
1,615.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustments to non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA to derive GAAP
net cash flows provided by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(413.0
|
)
|
|
|
(540.7
|
)
|
|
|
(641.8
|
)
|
|
|
(311.0
|
)
|
|
|
(317.2
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(15.7
|
)
|
|
|
(31.0
|
)
|
|
|
(25.3
|
)
|
|
|
(19.1
|
)
|
|
|
(15.2
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating lease expenses paid by EPCO
|
|
|
2.1
|
|
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
0.7
|
|
|
|
0.3
|
|
|
|
0.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain from asset sales and related transactions
|
|
|
(67.4
|
)
|
|
|
(4.0
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.4
|
)
|
|
|
(5.7
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss on forfeiture of Texas Offshore Port System
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
68.4
|
|
|
|
68.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miscellaneous non-cash and other amounts to reconcile Adjusted
EBITDA and net cash flows provided by operating activities
|
|
|
8.1
|
|
|
|
5.8
|
|
|
|
43.2
|
|
|
|
(5.5
|
)
|
|
|
(2.6
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net effect of changes in operating accounts
|
|
|
434.9
|
|
|
|
(411.1
|
)
|
|
|
245.9
|
|
|
|
(377.5
|
)
|
|
|
(336.5
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash flows provided by operating activities
|
|
$
|
1,953.6
|
|
|
$
|
1,567.1
|
|
|
$
|
2,377.2
|
|
|
$
|
635.0
|
|
|
$
|
900.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
23
COMPARATIVE
PER UNIT INFORMATION
The following table sets forth (i) historical per unit
information of the Partnership, (ii) the unaudited pro
forma combined per unit information of the Partnership after
giving pro forma effect to the proposed merger and the
transactions contemplated thereby, including the
Partnerships issuance of 1.50 Partnership common units for
each outstanding Holdings unit, and (iii) the historical
and equivalent pro forma per unit information for Holdings.
You should read this information in conjunction with
(i) the summary historical financial information included
elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, (ii) the
historical consolidated financial statements of Holdings and the
Partnership and related notes that are incorporated by reference
in this proxy statement/prospectus and (iii) the
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements and related notes included elsewhere in this
proxy statement/prospectus. The unaudited pro forma combined per
unit information does not purport to represent what the actual
results of operations of Holdings and the Partnership would have
been had the partnerships been combined or to project
Holdings and the Partnerships results of operations
that may be achieved once the proposed merger is completed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, 2009
|
|
|
Partnership
|
|
Holdings
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership
|
|
|
|
Equivalent
|
|
|
Historical
|
|
Pro Forma(1)
|
|
Historical
|
|
Pro Forma(2)
|
|
Net income per limited partner unit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
1.73
|
|
|
$
|
1.60
|
|
|
$
|
1.48
|
|
|
$
|
2.40
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
1.73
|
|
|
$
|
1.53
|
|
|
$
|
1.48
|
|
|
$
|
2.30
|
|
Cash distributions declared per unit(3)
|
|
$
|
2.1950
|
|
|
$
|
2.1950
|
|
|
$
|
2.0300
|
|
|
$
|
3.2925
|
|
Book value per common unit
|
|
$
|
15.28
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
$
|
14.17
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010
|
|
|
Partnership
|
|
Holdings
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership
|
|
|
|
Equivalent
|
|
|
Historical
|
|
Pro Forma(1)
|
|
Historical
|
|
Pro Forma(2)
|
|
Net income per limited partner unit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.97
|
|
|
$
|
0.91
|
|
|
$
|
0.89
|
|
|
$
|
1.37
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.96
|
|
|
$
|
0.87
|
|
|
$
|
0.89
|
|
|
$
|
1.31
|
|
Cash distributions declared per unit(3)
|
|
$
|
1.1425
|
|
|
$
|
1.1425
|
|
|
$
|
1.1050
|
|
|
$
|
1.7138
|
|
Book value per common unit
|
|
$
|
15.94
|
|
|
$
|
12.97
|
|
|
$
|
13.99
|
|
|
$
|
19.46
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The Partnerships pro forma information includes the effect
of the merger on the basis described in the notes to the
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements included elsewhere in this proxy
statement/prospectus. |
|
(2) |
|
Holdings equivalent pro forma earnings, book value and
cash distribution amounts have been calculated by multiplying
the Partnerships related Partnership pro forma per unit
amounts by the 1.50 exchange ratio. |
|
(3) |
|
Represents cash distributions per common unit declared and paid
with respect to the period. |
24
MARKET
PRICES AND DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION
The Partnership common units are traded on the NYSE under the
ticker symbol EPD, and the Holdings units are traded
on the NYSE under the ticker symbol EPE. The
following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the range
of high and low sales prices per unit for Partnership common
units and Holdings units, on the NYSE composite tape, as well as
information concerning quarterly cash distributions declared and
paid on those units. The sales prices are as reported in
published financial sources.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership Common Units
|
|
Holdings Units
|
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
Distributions(1)
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
Distributions(1)
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
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|
$
|
32.63
|
|
|
$
|
26.75
|
|
|
$
|
0.5075
|
|
|
$
|
36.86
|
|
|
$
|
27.86
|
|
|
|
$0.425
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$
|
32.64
|
|
|
$
|
29.04
|
|
|
$
|
0.5150
|
|
|
$
|
33.76
|
|
|
$
|
29.51
|
|
|
|
$0.440
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$
|
30.07
|
|
|
$
|
22.58
|
|
|
$
|
0.5225
|
|
|
$
|
30.64
|
|
|
$
|
21.16
|
|
|
|
$0.455
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$
|
26.30
|
|
|
$
|
16.00
|
|
|
$
|
0.5300
|
|
|
$
|
24.20
|
|
|
$
|
14.50
|
|
|
|
$0.470
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$
|
24.20
|
|
|
$
|
17.71
|
|
|
$
|
0.5375
|
|
|
$
|
23.94
|
|
|
$
|
17.67
|
|
|
|
$0.485
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$
|
26.55
|
|
|
$
|
21.10
|
|
|
$
|
0.5450
|
|
|
$
|
29.60
|
|
|
$
|
22.04
|
|
|
|
$0.500
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$
|
29.45
|
|
|
$
|
24.50
|
|
|
$
|
0.5525
|
|
|
$
|
31.27
|
|
|
$
|
24.21
|
|
|
|
$0.515
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$
|
32.24
|
|
|
$
|
27.25
|
|
|
$
|
0.5600
|
|
|
$
|
39.51
|
|
|
$
|
29.16
|
|
|
|
$0.530
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$
|
34.69
|
|
|
$
|
29.44
|
|
|
$
|
0.5675
|
|
|
$
|
45.19
|
|
|
$
|
36.20
|
|
|
|
$0.545
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$
|
36.73
|
|
|
$
|
29.05
|
|
|
$
|
0.5750
|
|
|
$
|
49.62
|
|
|
$
|
38.70
|
|
|
|
$0.560
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$
|
39.69
|
|
|
$
|
34.21
|
|
|
$
|
0.5825
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
58.72
|
|
|
$
|
45.90
|
|
|
|
$0.575
|
(2)
|
Fourth Quarter (through October 13, 2010)
|
|
$
|
41.93
|
|
|
$
|
39.69
|
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
$
|
61.94
|
|
|
$
|
58.75
|
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Represents cash distributions per Partnership common unit or
Holdings unit declared with respect to the quarter presented and
paid in the following quarter. |
|
|
|
(2) |
|
Cash distributions with respect to the third quarter of 2010
have been declared but not paid. Cash distributions with respect
to the fourth quarter of 2010 have not been declared or paid.
The merger will not be consummated until after the record date
for the third quarter 2010 distributions. |
The last reported sale price of Holdings units on the NYSE on
September 3, 2010, the last trading day before the public
announcement of the proposed merger, was $49.90. The last
reported sale price of Partnership common units on the NYSE on
September 3, 2010, the last trading day before the public
announcement of the proposed merger, was $38.45. The last
reported sale price of Holdings units on the NYSE on
October 13, 2010, the last trading day before the filing of
the registration statement of which this proxy
statement/prospectus is a part, was $61.65. The last reported
sale price of Partnership common units on the NYSE on
October 13, 2010, the last trading day before the filing of
the registration statement of which this proxy
statement/prospectus is a part, was $41.55.
As of October 13, 2010, the Partnership had 639,280,225
common units and 4,520,431 Class B units outstanding held
by approximately 1,853 holders of record. The Partnerships
partnership agreement requires it to distribute all of its
available cash, as defined in its partnership
agreement, within 45 days after the end of each quarter.
The payment of quarterly cash distributions by the Partnership
in the future, therefore, will depend on the amount of
available cash at the end of each quarter.
As of the record date for the special meeting, Holdings had
139,195,064 outstanding units held by approximately 103 holders
of record. Holdings partnership agreement requires it to
distribute all of its available cash, as defined in
its partnership agreement, within 50 days after the end of
each quarter. If the merger is not completed, the payment of
quarterly cash distributions by Holdings in the future will
depend on the amount of available cash at the end of
each quarter.
25
RISK
FACTORS
You should consider carefully the following risk factors,
together with all of the other information included in, or
incorporated by reference into, this proxy statement/prospectus
before deciding how to vote. In particular, please read
Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in the
Annual Reports on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 for each of the
Partnership and Holdings and Part II, Item 1A,
Risk Factors, in the Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2010 and
June 30, 2010 for each of the Partnership and Holdings, in
each case incorporated by reference herein. This document also
contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Please read Information Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements.
Risks
Related to the Merger
Holdings
partnership agreement limits the fiduciary duties of Holdings GP
to unitholders and restricts the remedies available to
unitholders for actions taken by Holdings GP that might
otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.
In light of conflicts of interest in connection with the merger
between the Partnership, Holdings GP and its controlling
affiliates, on the one hand, and Holdings and the Holdings
unaffiliated unitholders, on the other hand, the Holdings Board
referred the merger and related matters to the Holdings ACG
Committee to obtain approval of a majority of its members, which
is referred to as Special Approval in Holdings
partnership agreement. Under the Holdings partnership agreement:
|
|
|
|
|
any conflict of interest and any resolution thereof is permitted
and deemed approved by all parties and will not constitute a
breach of the partnership agreement of Holdings if approved by
Special Approval; and
|
|
|
|
the actions taken by the Holdings ACG Committee in granting
Special Approval are conclusive and binding on all
persons (including all partners) and do not constitute a breach
of the partnership agreement or any standard of care or duty
imposed by law.
|
The
directors and executive officers of Holdings GP may have
interests relating to the merger that differ in certain respects
from the interests of the Holdings unaffiliated
unitholders.
In considering the recommendations of the Holdings ACG Committee
and the Holdings Board to approve the merger agreement and the
merger, you should consider that some of the directors and
executive officers of Holdings GP may have interests that differ
from, or are in addition to, interests of Holdings unitholders
generally, including:
|
|
|
|
|
The non-management directors of Holdings GP hold equity-based
awards under Holdings benefit plans that will generally be
converted into equity awards with respect to Partnership common
units, adjusted for the exchange ratio.
|
|
|
|
All of the directors and executive officers of Holdings GP will
receive continued indemnification for their actions as directors
and executive officers.
|
|
|
|
Most of the directors of Holdings GP directly or
beneficially own Partnership common units, including
Ms. Williams, Dr. Cunningham, Mr. Bachmann,
Mr. Andress, Mr. Andras and Mr. Smith.
|
|
|
|
In addition to serving as a director and Executive Vice
President of Holdings GP, Mr. Bachmann also serves as the
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of
the Partnership GP, and has certain duties to the limited
partners of the Partnership.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three of the directors of Holdings GP, Ms. Williams,
Mr. Bachmann and Dr. Cunningham (who is also CEO of
Holdings GP), also serve as both the DDLLC voting trustees and
the EPCO voting trustees. These three individuals also serve as
independent executors of the estate of Dan L. Duncan. Through
these positions, these persons effectively own or control
approximately 76% of the outstanding Holdings units and
approximately 28% of the outstanding Partnership common units
and Class B units,
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
collectively, which securities represented an aggregate fair
market value of approximately $5.3 billion and
$7.0 billion, respectively, based on the closing prices of
the Holdings units and Partnership common units on
September 3, 2010, the last trading day before announcement
of the merger. In their capacities as trustees of those voting
trusts or as a majority of the directors of certain affiliated
entities, Ms. Williams, Mr. Bachmann and
Dr. Cunningham have authorized or caused the Holdings
supporting unitholders to enter into the support agreement,
pursuant to which the Holdings supporting unitholders have
agreed to vote approximately 76% of the outstanding Holdings
units in favor of the merger agreement and the merger.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members of senior management who prepared projections with
respect to the Partnerships and Holdings future
financial and operating performance on a stand-alone basis and
on a combined basis (i) are officers of each of Holdings GP
and the Partnership GP, (ii) hold the same positions in
each entity, and (iii) own both Holdings units and
Partnership common units.
|
The
exchange ratio is fixed and the market value of the merger
consideration to Holdings unitholders will be equal to 1.50
times the price of Partnership common units at the closing of
the merger, which market value will decrease if the market value
of the Partnerships common units decreases.
The market value of the consideration that Holdings unitholders
will receive in the merger will depend on the trading price of
the Partnerships common units at the closing of the
merger. The 1.50x exchange ratio that determines the number of
Partnership common units that Holdings unitholders will receive
in the merger is fixed. This means that there is no price
protection mechanism contained in the merger agreement
that would adjust the number of Partnership common units that
Holdings unitholders will receive based on any decreases in the
trading price of Partnership common units. If the
Partnerships common unit price at the closing of the
merger is less than the Partnerships common unit price on
the date that the merger agreement was signed, then the market
value of the consideration received by Holdings unitholders will
be less than contemplated at the time the merger agreement was
signed.
Partnership common unit price changes may result from a variety
of factors, including general market and economic conditions,
changes in the Partnerships business, operations and
prospects, and regulatory considerations. Many of these factors
are beyond the Partnerships and Holdings control.
For historical and current market prices of Partnership common
units and Holdings units, please read the Market Prices
and Distribution Information section of this proxy
statement/prospectus.
The
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement may not be
consummated even if Holdings unitholders approve the merger
agreement and the merger.
The merger agreement contains conditions that, if not satisfied
or waived, would result in the merger not occurring, even though
Holdings unitholders may have voted in favor of the merger
agreement. In addition, Holdings and the Partnership can agree
not to consummate the merger even if Holdings unitholders
approve the merger agreement and the merger and the conditions
to the closing of the merger are otherwise satisfied.
Financial
projections by the Partnership and Holdings may not prove
accurate.
In performing its financial analyses and rendering its opinion
regarding the fairness from a financial point of view of the
exchange ratio, the financial advisor to the Holdings ACG
Committee reviewed and relied on, among other things, internal
financial analyses and forecasts for Holdings and the
Partnership prepared by their respective managements and by the
Partnerships financial advisor in conjunction with
management of the Partnership GP and Holdings GP. These
financial projections include assumptions regarding future
operating cash flows, expenditures, growth and distributable
income of the Partnership and Holdings. These financial
projections were not provided with a view to public disclosure,
are subject to significant economic, competitive, industry and
other uncertainties and may not be achieved in full, at all or
within projected timeframes. The failure of the
Partnerships or Holdings businesses to achieve
projected results, including projected cash flows or
distributable cash flows, could have a material adverse effect
on the Partnerships common unit price, financial position
and ability to maintain or increase its distributions following
the merger.
27
The
merger agreement may be terminated, and the support agreement
will automatically terminate, on December 31, 2010 if the
merger has not been completed, and the failure to complete the
merger for any reason could negatively impact the price of
Holdings units and Partnership common units.
The merger agreement can be terminated by either the Partnership
or Holdings if the merger has not been consummated on or before
December 31, 2010. In addition, the support agreement will
terminate at 11:59 pm (Eastern time) on December 31, 2010,
and the obligations of the EPCO affiliates who will be party to
the distribution waiver agreement to execute and deliver such
agreement will also terminate if the merger has not been
consummated on or before December 31, 2010. The failure to
complete the merger for these or any other reasons could
negatively impact the price of Holdings units
and/or
Partnership common units.
The
number of outstanding Partnership common units will increase as
a result of the merger, which could make it more difficult to
maintain the Partnerships current positive distribution
coverage ratio or increase the level of future quarterly
distributions.
As of October 13, 2010, there were 639,280,225 Partnership
common units and 4,520,431 Class B units of the Partnership
outstanding. The Partnership will issue 208,813,477 Partnership
common units in the merger. Even after taking into account both
the waiver by DFIDH of regular quarterly distributions with
respect to certain Partnership common units for a five-year
period after the merger closing date pursuant to the
distribution waiver agreement, and distributions no longer being
payable to the Partnerships general partner with respect
to its general partner interest and IDRs, incremental funds will
be required to pay the current per unit quarterly distributions
on all outstanding Partnership common units, which will increase
the potential that the Partnership would have diminishing excess
distributable cash flow. In that event, it will be more
difficult for the Partnership to maintain its current positive
distribution coverage ratio or increase future levels of
quarterly distributions to all Partnership unitholders.
While
the merger agreement is in effect, Holdings may lose
opportunities to enter into different business combination
transactions with other parties on more favorable terms, and
both the Partnership and Holdings may be limited in their
ability to pursue other attractive business
opportunities.
While the merger agreement is in effect, Holdings is prohibited
from initiating, soliciting, knowingly encouraging or
facilitating any inquiries or the making or submission of any
proposal that constitutes or may reasonably be expected to lead
to a proposal to acquire Holdings, or offering to enter into
certain transactions such as a merger, sale of assets or other
business combination, with any other person, subject to limited
exceptions. As a result of these provisions in the merger
agreement, Holdings may lose opportunities to enter into more
favorable transactions.
Both the Partnership and Holdings have also agreed to refrain
from taking certain actions with respect to their businesses and
financial affairs pending completion of the merger or
termination of the merger agreement. These restrictions and the
non-solicitation provisions (described in more detail below in
The Merger Agreement) could be in effect for an
extended period of time if completion of the merger is delayed
and the parties agree to extend the December 31, 2010
outside termination date.
In addition to the economic costs associated with pursuing a
merger, each of the Partnership GPs and Holdings GPs
management is devoting substantial time and other resources to
the proposed transaction and related matters, which could limit
the Partnerships and Holdings ability to pursue
other attractive business opportunities, including potential
joint ventures, stand-alone projects and other transactions. If
either the Partnership or Holdings is unable to pursue such
other attractive business opportunities, then its growth
prospects and the long-term strategic position of its business
and the combined business could be adversely affected.
Tax Risks
Related to the Merger
In addition to reading the following risk factors, you are urged
to read Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
of the Merger beginning on page 132 and
U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Ownership of
Partnership Common Units beginning on page 137 for a
more complete discussion of the expected material
28
U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger and
owning and disposing of Partnership common units received in the
merger.
No
ruling has been obtained with respect to the U.S. federal income
tax consequences of the merger.
No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS with
respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the
merger. Instead, the Partnership and Holdings are relying on the
opinions of their respective counsel as to the U.S. federal
income tax consequences of the merger, and counsels
conclusions may not be sustained if challenged by the IRS.
The
intended U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger are
dependent upon each of the Partnership and Holdings being
treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes.
The treatment of the merger as nontaxable to the Partnership
unitholders and Holdings unitholders is dependent upon each of
the Partnership and Holdings being treated as a partnership for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. If either the Partnership
or Holdings were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, the consequences of the merger would be
materially different and the merger would likely be a fully
taxable transaction to a Holdings unitholder.
The
U.S. federal income tax treatment of the merger is subject to
potential legislative change and differing judicial or
administrative interpretations.
The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger
depend in some instances on determinations of fact and
interpretations of complex provisions of U.S. federal
income tax law. The U.S. federal income tax rules are
constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative
process, the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department,
frequently resulting in revised interpretations of established
concepts, statutory changes, revisions to U.S. Treasury
regulations (the Treasury Regulations) and other
modifications and interpretations. Any modification to the
U.S. federal income tax laws or interpretations thereof may
or may not be applied retroactively and could change the
U.S. federal income tax treatment of the merger to
Partnership unitholders and Holdings unitholders. For example,
the U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation
relating to the taxation of carried interests that
may treat transactions, such as the merger, occurring on or
after an effective date of January 1, 2011, as a taxable
exchange to a unitholder of a partnership such as Holdings. The
U.S. Senate is considering legislation that may have a
similar effect. We are unable to predict whether this proposed
legislation or any other proposals will ultimately be enacted,
and if so, whether any such proposed legislation would be
applied retroactively.
Holdings
unitholders could recognize taxable income or gain for U.S.
federal income tax purposes as a result of the
merger.
As a result of the merger, Holdings unitholders who receive
Partnership common units will become limited partners of the
Partnership and will be allocated a share of the
Partnerships nonrecourse liabilities. Each Holdings
unitholder will be treated as receiving a deemed cash
distribution equal to the excess, if any, of such
unitholders share of nonrecourse liabilities of Holdings
immediately before the merger over such unitholders share
of nonrecourse liabilities of the Partnership immediately
following the merger. If the amount of any deemed cash
distribution received by a Holdings unitholder exceeds the
unitholders basis in his Partnership common units, such
unitholder will recognize gain in an amount equal to such
excess. The Partnership and Holdings do not expect any Holdings
unitholders to recognize gain in this manner.
To the extent a Holdings unitholder receives cash in lieu of
fractional Partnership common units in the merger, such
unitholder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference
between the cash received and the unitholders adjusted tax
basis allocated to such fractional Partnership common units.
The Partnership will be deemed for U.S. federal income tax
purposes to have assumed the liabilities of Holdings and its
subsidiaries in the merger. A Holdings unitholder would
recognize gain or loss to the extent any portion of the
liabilities of Holdings assumed by the Partnership was deemed to
be the proceeds of a
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disguised sale of assets to the Partnership. See
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the
Merger for a more complete discussion of these and other
tax matters.
Although it is not anticipated, circumstances may exist under
which a Holdings unitholders share of Holdings basis
(including basis resulting from Section 743 adjustments) in
the distributed Partnership common units exceeds the
unitholders basis in its Holdings units, in which case the
merger may result in recognition of gain by such unitholder
equal to that excess under Section 731(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
Risks
Related to the Partnerships Business After the
Merger
The
Partnerships cash distributions may vary based on its
operating performance and level of cash reserves.
Distributions will be dependent on the amount of cash the
Partnership generates and may fluctuate based on its
performance. Neither the Partnership nor Holdings can guarantee
that after giving effect to the merger the Partnership will
continue to pay distributions at the current level each quarter
or make any increases in the amount of distributions in the
future. The actual amount of cash that is available to be
distributed each quarter will depend upon numerous factors, some
of which will be beyond the Partnerships control and the
control of its general partner. These factors include but are
not limited to the following:
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the volume of products that the Partnership handles and the
prices it receives for its products and services;
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the level of the Partnerships operating costs;
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the level of competition from third parties;
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prevailing economic conditions, including the price of and
demand for NGLs, crude oil, natural gas and other products the
Partnership will process, transport, store and market;
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the level of capital expenditures the Partnership will make and
the availability of, and timing of completion of, organic growth
projects;
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the restrictions contained in the Partnerships debt
agreements and debt service requirements;
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fluctuations in the Partnerships working capital needs;
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the weather in the Partnerships operating areas;
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the availability and cost of acquisitions, if any;
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regulatory changes; and
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the amount, if any, of cash reserves established by the
Partnership GP (or Holdings GP after giving effect to the
merger) in its discretion.
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In addition, the Partnerships ability to pay the minimum
quarterly distribution each quarter will depend primarily on its
cash flow, including cash flow from financial reserves and
working capital borrowings, and not solely on profitability,
which is affected by non-cash items. As a result, the
Partnership may make cash distributions during periods when it
records losses, and the Partnership may not make distributions
during periods when it records net income.
The
Partnership will have substantial debt after the merger, which
could have a material adverse effect on its financial health and
limit its future operations.
Following the completion of the merger, the Partnership expects
to incur an additional $1.1 billion of consolidated debt as
part of its refinancing of Holdings revolving credit
facility and term loans. On a pro forma basis, the
Partnerships consolidated long-term debt as of
June 30, 2010 would have been approximately
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$13.8 billion. The amount of the Partnerships future
debt could have significant effects on its operations,
including, among other things:
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the Partnerships ability to obtain additional financing,
if necessary, to refinance existing debt for working capital,
capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes may be
impaired or such financing may not be available on favorable
terms;
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credit rating agencies may view the Partnerships debt
level negatively;
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covenants contained in the Partnerships credit and certain
other debt agreements will require the Partnership to continue
to meet financial tests that may adversely affect its
flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in its
business, including possible acquisition opportunities;
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the Partnership may be at a competitive disadvantage relative to
similar companies that have less debt; and
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the Partnership may be more vulnerable to adverse economic and
industry conditions as a result of the Partnerships
significant debt level.
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The Partnerships public debt indentures currently do not
limit the amount of future indebtedness that it can create,
incur, assume or guarantee. Although the Multi-Year Revolving
Credit Facility of Enterprise Products Operating LLC
(EPO) restricts the Partnerships ability to
incur additional debt above certain levels, any debt the
Partnership may incur in compliance with these restrictions
could be substantial.
EPOs Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility and each of its
indentures for public debt contain customary financial covenants
and other restrictions. As a result, the Partnership could be
prohibited from making distributions to its partners if such
distributions would cause an event of default or otherwise
violate a covenant under such agreements. In addition, under the
terms of EPOs junior subordinated notes, generally, if the
Partnership elects to defer interest payments thereon, the
Partnership would be restricted from making distributions with
respect to its equity securities. A breach of any of these
restrictions by the Partnership could permit the
Partnerships lenders or noteholders, as applicable, to
declare all amounts outstanding under these debt agreements to
be immediately due and payable and, in the case of EPOs
Multi-Year Revolving Credit Facility, to terminate all
commitments to extend further credit.
The Partnerships ability to access capital on favorable
terms could be affected by the Partnerships debt level,
the timing of its debt maturities, and by prevailing market
conditions. Moreover, if the rating agencies were to downgrade
the Partnerships credit ratings, then the Partnership
could experience an increase in its borrowing costs, difficulty
accessing capital markets or a reduction in the market price of
its common units. Such a development could adversely affect the
Partnerships ability to obtain financing for working
capital, capital expenditures or acquisitions or to refinance
existing indebtedness. If the Partnership is unable to access
the capital markets on favorable terms in the future, it might
be forced to seek extensions for some of its short-term
securities or to refinance some of the Partnerships debt
obligations through bank credit, as opposed to long-term public
debt securities or equity securities. The price and terms upon
which the Partnership might receive such extensions or
additional bank credit, if at all, could be more onerous than
those contained in existing debt agreements. Any such
arrangements could, in turn, increase the risk that the
Partnerships leverage may adversely affect its future
financial and operating flexibility and thereby impact the
Partnerships ability to pay cash distributions at expected
levels.
The
Partnerships and Holdings variable rate debt and
future maturities of fixed-rate, long-term debt make the
Partnership vulnerable to increases in interest rates. Increases
in interest rates could materially adversely affect the
Partnerships business, financial position, results of
operations and cash flows.
On a pro forma basis, the Partnership would have had outstanding
$13.8 billion of consolidated debt (excluding the value of
interest rate swaps and currency swaps) as of June 30,
2010. Of this amount, approximately $1.5 billion, or 11%,
was subject to variable interest rates, either as short-term or
long-term variable rate debt obligations or as long-term
fixed-rate debt converted to variable rates through the use of
interest rate swaps. Should interest rates increase, the
Partnerships refinancing cost would increase and the
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amount of cash required to service the Partnerships debt
would increase. As a result, the Partnerships financial
position, results of operations and cash flows, could be
materially adversely affected.
An increase in interest rates may also cause a corresponding
decline in demand for equity investments, in general, and in
particular, for yield-based equity investments such as the
Partnerships common units. Any such reduction in demand
for the Partnerships common units resulting from other
more attractive investment opportunities may cause the trading
price of the Partnerships common units to decline.
Risks
Related to the Partnerships Common Units and Risks
Resulting from its Partnership Structure
The
general partner of the Partnership and its affiliates have
limited fiduciary responsibilities to, and have conflicts of
interest with respect to, the Partnership, which may permit the
general partner of the Partnership to favor its own interests to
your detriment.
The directors and officers of the general partner of the
Partnership and its affiliates have duties to manage the general
partner of the Partnership in a manner that is beneficial to its
member. At the same time, the general partner of the Partnership
has duties to manage the Partnership in a manner that is
beneficial to the Partnership. Therefore, the duties of the
general partner to the Partnership may conflict with the duties
of its officers and directors to its member. Such conflicts may
include, among others, the following:
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neither the Partnerships partnership agreement nor any
other agreement requires the general partner of the Partnership
or EPCO to pursue a business strategy that favors the
Partnership;
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decisions of the general partner of the Partnership regarding
the amount and timing of asset purchases and sales, cash
expenditures, borrowings, issuances of additional units and
reserves in any quarter may affect the level of cash available
to pay quarterly distributions to unitholders and the general
partner of the Partnership;
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under the Partnerships partnership agreement, the general
partner of the Partnership determines which costs incurred by it
and its affiliates are reimbursable by the Partnership;
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the general partner of the Partnership is allowed to resolve any
conflicts of interest involving the Partnership and the general
partner of the Partnership and its affiliates;
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the general partner of the Partnership is allowed to take into
account the interests of parties other than the Partnership,
such as EPCO, in resolving conflicts of interest, which has the
effect of limiting its fiduciary duty to the Partnerships
unitholders;
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any resolution of a conflict of interest by the general partner
of the Partnership not made in bad faith and that is fair and
reasonable to the Partnership shall be binding on the partners
and shall not be a breach of the Partnerships partnership
agreement;
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affiliates of the general partner of the Partnership may compete
with the Partnership in certain circumstances;
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the general partner of the Partnership has limited its liability
and reduced its fiduciary duties and has also restricted the
remedies available to the Partnerships unitholders for
actions that might, without the limitations, constitute breaches
of fiduciary duty. As a result of acquiring Partnership common
units, you are deemed to consent to some actions and conflicts
of interest that might otherwise constitute a breach of
fiduciary or other duties under applicable law;
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the Partnership does not have any employees and relies solely on
employees of EPCO and its affiliates; in some instances, the
general partner of the Partnership may cause the Partnership to
borrow funds in order to permit the payment of distributions;
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the Partnerships partnership agreement does not restrict
the general partner of the Partnership from causing the
Partnership to pay it or its affiliates for any services
rendered to the Partnership or entering into additional
contractual arrangements with any of these entities on the
Partnerships behalf;
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the general partner of the Partnership intends to limit its
liability regarding the Partnerships contractual and other
obligations and, in some circumstances, may be entitled to be
indemnified by the Partnership;
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the general partner of the Partnership controls the enforcement
of obligations it owes to the Partnership and other affiliates
of EPCO;
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the general partner of the Partnership decides whether to retain
separate counsel, accountants or others to perform services for
the Partnership; and
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the Partnership has significant business relationships with
entities controlled by the DDLLC voting trustees and the EPCO
voting trustees, including EPCO. For detailed information on
these relationships and related transactions with these
entities, please see Item 13 (Certain Relationships
and Related Transactions, and Director Independence) of
the Partnerships Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 and Note 13
(Related Party Transactions) to the Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in
Item 1 of the Partnerships Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010.
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The
general partner of the Partnership has a limited call right that
may require common unitholders to sell their common units at an
undesirable time or price.
If at any time the general partner of the Partnership and its
affiliates own 85% or more of the Partnership common units then
outstanding, the general partner of the Partnership will have
the right, but not the obligation, which it may assign to any of
its affiliates or to the Partnership, to acquire all, but not
less than all, of the remaining Partnership common units held by
unaffiliated persons at a price not less than then current
market price. As a result, common unitholders may be required to
sell their Partnership common units at an undesirable time or
price and may therefore not receive any return on their
investment. They may also incur a tax liability upon a sale of
their units.
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THE
SPECIAL UNITHOLDER MEETING
Time, Place and Date. The special meeting of
Holdings unitholders will be held on November 22, 2010
at 8:00 a.m., local time at 1100 Louisiana Street, 10th
Floor, Houston, Texas 77002. The meeting may be adjourned or
postponed by Holdings GP to another date or place for proper
purposes, including for the purpose of soliciting additional
proxies.
Purposes. The purposes of the special meeting
are:
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to consider and vote on the approval of the merger agreement and
the merger; and
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to transact other business as may properly be presented at the
meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.
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At the present time, Holdings knows of no other matters that
will be presented for consideration at the meeting.
Quorum. A quorum requires the presence, in
person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of the outstanding
Holdings units. Holdings units will be counted as present at the
special meeting if the holder is present and votes in person at
the meeting or has submitted a properly executed proxy card.
Proxies received but marked as abstentions will be counted as
units that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum. If an executed proxy is
returned by a broker or other nominee holding units in
street name indicating that the broker does not have
discretionary authority as to certain units to vote on the
proposals, such units will be considered present at the meeting
for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but will
not be considered entitled to vote.
Record Date. The Holdings unitholder record
date for the special meeting is the opening of business on
October 13, 2010.
Units Entitled to Vote. Holdings unitholders
may vote at the special meeting if they owned Holdings units at
the opening of business on the record date. Holdings unitholders
may cast one vote for each Holdings unit owned on the record
date.
Votes Required. Under Holdings
partnership agreement, the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least a majority of Holdings outstanding units is required
to approve the merger agreement and merger. Failures to vote,
abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a
vote against the approval of the merger agreement and the merger
for purposes of the majority vote required under the Holdings
partnership agreement.
Pursuant to a support agreement, the Holdings supporting
unitholders have agreed to vote their Holdings units in favor of
the proposal to approve the merger agreement and the merger. As
a result of their ownership of approximately 76% of the
outstanding Holdings units, the Holdings supporting unitholders
have a sufficient number of Holdings units to constitute a
quorum and to approve the merger agreement and the merger
without the affirmative vote of any other holder of Holdings
units. As a result of the support agreement, the approval of
such proposal at the special meeting is assured unless the
conditions of the support agreement are not met and the support
agreement is terminated. As of the record date, directors and
executive officers of Holdings GP and their affiliates
(including the Holdings supporting unitholders) collectively had
the right to vote 108,421,600 Holdings units, or approximately
77% of Holdings outstanding units.
Units Outstanding. As of the record date,
there were 139,195,064 Holdings units outstanding.
Voting
Procedures
Voting by Holdings Unitholders. Holdings
unitholders may vote using any of the following methods:
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complete, sign and mail your proxy card in the postage-paid
envelope; or
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attend the meeting and vote in person.
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If you have timely and properly submitted your proxy, clearly
indicated your vote and have not revoked your proxy, your units
will be voted as indicated. If you have timely and properly
submitted your proxy but
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have not clearly indicated your vote, your units will be voted
FOR approval of the merger agreement and the merger.
If any other matters are properly presented for consideration at
the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the
persons named in your proxy will have the discretion to vote on
these matters. Holdings partnership agreement provides
that, in the absence of a quorum, any meeting of Holdings
limited partners may be adjourned from time to time by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding Holdings units
represented either in person or by proxy.
Revocation. You may revoke your proxy at any
time prior to its exercise by:
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giving written notice of revocation to the Secretary of Holdings
GP at or before the special meeting;
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appearing and voting in person at the special meeting; or
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properly completing and executing a later dated proxy and
delivering it to the Secretary of Holdings GP at or before the
special meeting.
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Your presence without voting at the meeting will not
automatically revoke your proxy, and any revocation during the
meeting will not affect votes previously taken.
Validity. The inspectors of election will
determine all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility
(including time of receipt) and acceptance of proxies. Their
determination will be final and binding. The Holdings Board has
the right to waive any irregularities or conditions as to the
manner of voting. Holdings may accept your proxy by any form of
communication permitted by Delaware law so long as Holdings is
reasonably assured that the communication is authorized by you.
Solicitation of Proxies. The accompanying
proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Holdings Board. The
expenses of preparing, printing and mailing the proxy and
materials used in the solicitation will be borne by Holdings.
BNY Mellon Shareowner Services has been retained by Holdings to
aid in the solicitation of proxies for an initial fee of $7,000
and the reimbursement of
out-of-pocket
expenses. In addition to the mailing of this proxy
statement/prospectus,
proxies may also be solicited from Holdings unitholders by
personal interview, telephone, fax or other electronic means by
directors and officers of Holdings GP and employees of EPCO and
its affiliates who provide services to Holdings, who will not
receive additional compensation for performing that service.
Arrangements also will be made with brokerage houses and other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for the forwarding of proxy
materials to the beneficial owners of Holdings units held by
those persons, and Holdings will reimburse them for any
reasonable expenses that they incur.
Units Held in Street Name. If you hold
Holdings units in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee,
you should follow the instructions provided by your bank, broker
or nominee when voting your Holdings units or when granting or
revoking a proxy.
Absent specific instructions from you, your broker is not
empowered to vote your units with respect to the approval of the
merger agreement and the merger. The units not voted because
brokers lack power to vote them without instructions are also
known as broker non-votes.
Failures to vote, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the
same effect as a vote against approval of the merger proposal
for purposes of the majority vote required under the partnership
agreement.
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THE
MERGER
Background
of the Merger
Executive officers of the Partnership GP, along with the
Holdings Board and the Partnership Board, have regularly
considered strategic transactions, whether with third parties or
related parties, and evaluated ways to enhance long-term value
to unitholders of both Holdings and the Partnership. For many
years, the partnerships and their affiliates have also focused
particularly on improving the competitive position of the
Partnership and its subsidiaries by reducing the
Partnerships cost of capital and enhancing its long-term
growth prospects. In December 2002, EPCO and its affiliates
reduced the highest level of distributions on the IDRs that the
Partnership GP is entitled to receive (together with its
general partner interest) from 50% to 25%, which has
significantly enhanced the Partnerships competitive
position and historic growth since that time. These
considerations have also included the potential simplification
of the public partnership structures of Holdings and its
subsidiaries (including the Partnership and its subsidiaries).
In 2009, the Partnership acquired TEPPCO, a publicly traded
partnership formerly controlled by Holdings, which furthered the
objective of simplification.
The Partnership GP currently holds IDRs that entitle the
Partnership GP to increasing percentages of cash distributed by
the Partnership above certain distribution levels per
Partnership common unit, as well as distributions on additional
common units issued by the Partnership. Based on Partnership
distributions made on August 5, 2010 with respect to the
second quarter of 2010, the Partnership GP received
approximately 15.3% of all cash distributed, and the Partnership
GP would be entitled to 25% of any incremental increase in
Partnership distributions in the future. In addition, at the
current Partnership common unit quarterly distribution level of
$0.5825 per Partnership common unit, the Partnership GP would
receive an additional $0.10629 per quarter for each
additional common unit issued by the Partnership.
Unitholders of the Partnership and the investment community have
focused on the Partnerships cost of capital after other
midstream publicly traded partnerships, including Sunoco
Logistics Partners L.P., NuStar Energy L.P., Mark West Energy
Partners L.P., Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (2009), Buckeye
Partners, L.P. (June 2010, with transaction pending) and Inergy,
L.P. (August 2010, with transaction pending), acted to reduce
their long-term cost of capital by eliminating or reducing their
IDRs through merger or other actions. Senior management of the
Partnership GP believes that, by eliminating the
Partnerships IDRs, the Partnership will be more
competitive in pursuing acquisitions and may finance
acquisitions and organic growth projects at an overall lower
cost of capital, which would enhance the Partnerships
long-term ability to continue distribution growth to its
unitholders.
On June 24, 2010, Andrews Kurth, counsel to the
Partnership, met with Richard H. Bachmann and
Dr. Ralph S. Cunningham, in their capacities as EPCO
voting trustees and representatives of EPCO, and representatives
of the Partnership GP, including Michael A. Creel, the President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership GP, W. Randall
Fowler, the Chief Financial Officer of the Partnership GP, and
Bryan F. Bulawa, the Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the
Partnership GP, to discuss trends in simplification of publicly
traded partnerships, as well as proposed U.S. federal tax
legislation. Andrews Kurth and the Partnership GP officers and
EPCO representatives discussed the then-most recent
simplification transaction by Buckeye Partners, L.P. as
well as other similar transactions. Andrews Kurth also discussed
that the U.S. House of Representatives had passed proposed
legislation relating to the federal taxation of carried
interests that may treat a potential simplification
transaction (that would generally be non-taxable to unitholders
under current law) as a taxable exchange to a unitholder of a
partnership whose interest was acquired, such as a Holdings
unitholder in a potential simplification transaction, on or
after an effective date of January 1, 2011, in the absence
of an election that itself could have an adverse impact on a
such unitholder. Andrews Kurth also explained that the
U.S. Senate was considering legislation that may have a
similar effect. While the primary rationale for a simplification
transaction was not tax-based, the parties discussed that these
potential changes, if enacted, could make it more difficult to
complete a simplification transaction in the future, even if it
was otherwise favorable to the unitholders of Holdings and the
Partnership. Executive officers of the Partnership GP inquired
about the structuring and timing of a potential simplification
transaction. Based on these discussions, management of the
Partnership GP requested that Andrews Kurth continue to
analyze a potential simplification transaction and to discuss
partnership, tax and securities matters.
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During late June 2010, the Partnership GP contacted Barclays
Capital Inc. (Barclays Capital) to assist it with
modeling and analyzing a transaction. Also, during late June and
into early July 2010, Mr. Creel, Mr. Fowler and other
management of the Partnership GP and representatives of
Barclays Capital discussed Partnership GP management forecasts
for
2010-2012
and projections thereafter based on Barclays Capitals
analysis, and certain effects on the Partnership of a potential
merger with Holdings. Because there were no internal financial
projections of the Partnership or Holdings for any period
following fiscal year 2012, Barclays Capital, at the request of
and in conjunction with management of the Partnership GP,
prepared extensions to the financial projections of the
Partnership and Holdings for 2013 and subsequent years on the
basis of assumptions discussed with, and considered reasonable
for this purpose by, senior management of the Partnership GP.
Management of the Partnership GP reviewed the extensions to the
projections and agreed that the extended projections were a
reasonable estimate of the Partnerships and Holdings
future financial performance as of the date prepared.
Representatives of Barclays Capital, Andrews Kurth and Morris,
Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, special Delaware counsel
for the Partnership (Morris Nichols), also
considered and discussed with Partnership GP management
potential transaction structures and legal considerations.
On June 30, 2010, Mr. Creel notified the Partnership
ACG Committee that the Partnership was evaluating a potential
transaction between Holdings and the Partnership and of its
initial strategic rationale for a potential transaction, and
requested a meeting with the committee to discuss the same.
On July 6, 2010, Mr. Creel and other members of
management of the Partnership GP held a conference call with the
Partnership ACG Committee generally outlining a structure for a
potential transaction. Later that day, Mr. Creel notified
the standing Holdings ACG Committee, which is authorized under
the Holdings partnership agreement to review and approve or
disapprove conflict of interest transactions, of
Partnership GP managements conference with the
Partnership ACG Committee and requested a meeting with the
Holdings ACG Committee to discuss a potential transaction
between Holdings and the Partnership.
On July 7, 2010, the Holdings ACG Committee held a
conference call with members of Partnership GP management, at
which time the potential transaction structure outlined to the
Partnership ACG Committee was discussed. As discussed with
each of the committees, the potential transaction would be
structured so that Holdings would become a subsidiary of the
Partnership, the 2% economic general partner interest and IDRs
held by the general partner of the Partnership would be
cancelled, and the surviving general partner would hold a
non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership. No
specific financial terms were proposed or discussed with either
of the committees.
Later on July 7, 2010, the Holdings ACG Committee held a
conference call with Ms. Randa Duncan Williams,
Mr. Bachmann and Dr. Cunningham, in their capacities
as the EPCO voting trustees and EPCO directors and the DDLLC
voting trustees, to discuss their views on a potential
transaction between Holdings and the Partnership and whether
EPCO and DDLLC would consider a transaction with a third party.
The EPCO voting trustees and directors and DDLLC voting
trustees, who in such capacities control Holdings GP and
approximately 76% of the outstanding Holdings units, informed
the Holdings ACG Committee that they would be willing to listen
to an offer from the Partnership that the Holdings ACG Committee
approved and recommended as fair and reasonable to the Holdings
unaffiliated unitholders, even though they were not seeking a
sale of Holdings, and that they would not entertain a proposal
from any third party to acquire Holdings. On July 7, 2010,
the Holdings ACG Committee also engaged Baker & Hostetler
LLP (Baker Hostetler) as its independent legal
counsel.
On July 12, 2010, the Holdings ACG Committee met with Baker
Hostetler and with representatives of Morgan Stanley to discuss
the Holdings ACG Committees possible engagement of Morgan
Stanley as its independent financial advisor. The meeting
participants discussed the rationale for a transaction with the
Partnership, Holdings alternatives to such a transaction,
the transaction components presented by the Partnership
GPs management, and the potential conflicts of interest to
be considered in connection with any such transaction. The
Holdings ACG Committee authorized Baker Hostetler to engage
Richards Layton & Finger, P.A. (Richards
Layton) as special Delaware counsel on behalf of the
committee in connection with the Holdings ACG Committees
consideration of any proposed transaction. The Holdings ACG
Committee engaged Richards Layton on July 14, 2010.
37
On July 14, 2010, the Partnership ACG Committee engaged
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
(Skadden) as its independent legal counsel and
discussed the process for selecting an independent financial
advisor.
On July 19, 2010, the Partnership ACG Committee engaged
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (Credit Suisse)
as its independent financial advisor. Also, on July 19,
2010, after discussions with Holdings GP management on
July 12, 2010, Holdings engaged Vinson & Elkins
as Holdings counsel. On July 20, 2010, the Holdings
ACG Committee engaged Morgan Stanley as its independent
financial advisor.
On July 22, 2010, management of the Partnership GP
distributed to the Partnership ACG Committee and its independent
counsel an initial presentation by Barclays Capital, as well as
structuring memoranda and initial draft agreements for a
potential transaction based on the contemplated transaction
structure.
On July 26, 2010, Mr. Creel, Mr. Fowler and other
representatives of management of the Partnership GP, and
representatives of Barclays Capital and Andrews Kurth as
advisors for the Partnership, met with the Partnership ACG
Committee and representatives of Credit Suisse and Skadden as
its advisors to discuss a potential strategic combination
(structured as an acquisition by merger of Holdings by the
Partnership, but with the general partner of Holdings surviving
as the successor general partner of the Partnership) and
preliminary observations regarding the potential transaction.
These discussions included the strategic rationale for a merger,
certain status quo financial projections, current trading values
for Holdings units, Partnership common units and Energy Transfer
Equity common units, and implied values for the general partner
interest and IDRs in the Partnership held by Holdings. The
participants also discussed selected estimated pro forma
consequences of a potential transaction compared to status quo
estimates, including the expected pro forma accretion and
dilution per Partnership common unit that would result under
different exchange ratios. After these discussions, the
Partnership ACG Committee met separately with its independent
legal and financial advisors and requested that management and
Barclays Capital provide additional information and analysis of
the quantitative and qualitative benefits of a proposed merger
transaction to the Partnership and its common unitholders,
including the effects of growth capital expenditures at assumed
levels and different premiums to the implied value of the
Partnerships general partner interest and IDRs.
During late July 2010, the Holdings ACG Committee continued to
discuss with its advisors the components of a potential
transaction and related considerations that had been raised in
the committees July 12, 2010 meeting.
On July 29, 2010, the Partnership ACG Committee and its
advisors met with Partnership GP management and Barclays
Capital. At this meeting, Mr. Fowler, as a representative
of the Partnership, and Robert Pierce and other representatives
of Barclays Capital reviewed again with the Partnership ACG
Committee the rationale for the proposed transaction and an
analysis that illustrated the expected pro forma effect of the
proposed transaction on the Partnerships common
unitholders assuming various levels of future acquisitions and
capital expenditures intended to represent incremental growth
activities in periods beginning in 2012. Barclays Capital
reviewed and discussed with the Partnership ACG Committee the
pro forma effects of these analyses based on different merger
exchange ratios and the implied premiums for the Partnership
general partner interest and IDRs.
In late July 2010, the Holdings ACG Committee and one of its
members, Edwin E. Smith, determined that Mr. Smith
would recuse himself from all committee deliberations and
actions in connection with any proposal from the Partnership, in
light of the magnitude of Mr. Smiths ownership of
Partnership common units in relation to his ownership of
Holdings units. Charles McMahen, Chairman of the Holdings ACG
Committee, requested that Dr. Cunningham on behalf of
DDLLC, as the sole member of Holdings GP, which is solely
entitled to appoint members to the Holdings Board, propose a
candidate for the Holdings Board who would meet the requirements
of the Holdings partnership agreement for members of the
Holdings ACG Committee, as well as being independent for
purposes of reviewing any proposals from the Partnership. After
prior consultations with Mr. McMahen regarding multiple
candidates suggested by Dr. Cunningham, on August 2,
2010, the sole member of Holdings GP appointed B.W. Waycaster to
the Holdings Board, and the Holdings Board appointed
Mr. Waycaster to the Holdings ACG Committee, following the
Holdings Boards determination that Mr. Waycaster met
the requirements of the Holdings partnership agreement for
members of
38
the Holdings ACG Committee, and after consideration of
Mr. Waycasters independence for purposes of
evaluating any potential transaction between Holdings and the
Partnership. All references to the Holdings ACG Committee
relating to events occurring on or after August 2, 2010
mean only Mr. McMahen, Thurmon M. Andress and
Mr. Waycaster.
In light of potential conflicts of interest in a potential
transaction between the Partnership and Holdings, the Holdings
Board formally delegated to the Holdings ACG Committee the power
to consider, analyze, review, evaluate and accept or reject any
proposed merger and related arrangements, and to negotiate the
terms thereof, and delegated the authority to determine whether
to approve a merger and to make any recommendations to the
Holdings Board as to what action, if any, should be taken by the
Holdings Board with respect to a merger.
On August 3, 2010, representatives of management of the
Partnership GP and advisors for the Partnership met with the
Partnership ACG Committee and its advisors. At this meeting,
Barclays Capital reviewed a draft presentation and proposal that
Partnership GP management proposed to make to the Holdings ACG
Committee later that day. The Partnership ACG Committee endorsed
Partnership GP management making this proposal.
Later on August 3, 2010, Mr. Creel and other
management of the Partnership GP, the Partnership ACG Committee,
and representatives of Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse, Andrews
Kurth and Skadden, met with the Holdings ACG Committee and
representatives of Morgan Stanley, Baker Hostetler, Richards
Layton and Vinson & Elkins, as well as
Mr. Bachmann and Dr. Cunningham in their capacities as
EPCO representatives, to discuss an initial offer. At this
meeting, Messrs. Creel and Pierce discussed the proposed
transaction and the strategic rationale for the Partnership,
including, but not limited to: (i) elimination of the IDRs
to reduce the Partnerships long-term cost of capital,
thereby allowing the Partnership to be more competitive in the
mergers and acquisitions market and enhancing returns on organic
growth projects and acquisitions; and (ii) simplification
of the organizational structure by consolidating two publicly
traded entities into one. Mr. Pierce stated that the
proposal should be attractive to Holdings because it would
(a) provide Holdings unitholders a premium to the current
Holdings unit price and an immediate and substantial increase in
cash distributions; (b) provide enhanced market liquidity
in Partnership common units compared to the liquidity of
Holdings units; (c) address Holdings
$1.1 billion debt balance well ahead of its maturity; and
(d) be expected to be credit neutral to positive to the
credit ratings of the Partnership.
At this meeting, Mr. Pierce also discussed selected
precedent transactions and differences among those transactions
and the proposed transaction. Mr. Pierce noted a number of
reasons why the proposed premium differed from the premiums paid
in certain other recent precedent transactions, including:
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the significantly higher enterprise value of the Partnership as
compared to partnerships involved in the precedent transactions,
as a result of which a single acquisition or growth project for
the Partnership would not create the same accretion percentages
for the Partnership as compared to the partnerships involved in
the precedent transactions due to the Partnerships much
larger enterprise value;
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that the highest incremental sharing percentage under the IDRs
and general partner interest in the Partnership is approximately
25%, compared with the highest incremental sharing percentage of
50% in certain of the precedent transactions;
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that, as a percentage, the total current distributions being
paid in respect of the IDRs in the Partnership are substantially
lower than distributions being paid in respect of the IDRs in
the precedent transactions;
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that Holdings owns sizeable investments other than the 2%
general partner interest and IDRs in the Partnership, which
investments in other publicly traded securities should be
excluded for purposes of considering any premium;
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that Holdings has significantly more debt outstanding, and thus
greater future refinancing requirements, than did the general
partner in any of the precedent transactions; and
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that the proposed transaction would not result in a change of
control due to EPCOs and its affiliates continued
control of the general partner of the Partnership and a
significant percentage of the Partnership common units.
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Based on the foregoing, Mr. Creel, on behalf of the
Partnership, made an initial offer of 1.377 Partnership common
units for each outstanding Holdings unit (the Initial
Proposal), which represented a 2.6% premium over the
July 30, 2010 closing price of the Holdings units and an
estimated 41% increase in quarterly cash distributions to
Holdings unitholders based on distributions declared by the
respective partnerships for payment in August 2010.
Barclays Capital then discussed its analysis of the pro forma
consequences of the proposed transaction. This analysis was
based on the projections described under The
Merger Unaudited Financial Projections of the
Partnership and Holdings. The assumptions for 2013-2015
used in the analysis, which were discussed with, and considered
reasonable by, senior management of the Partnership GP for these
purposes, included the following: (i) the
Partnerships distributions would grow at the greater of 5%
or $0.12 per common unit per year; (ii) the
Partnerships EBITDA would grow based on the median of the
historical and forecast annual EBITDA growth rates from
2009-2012;
and (iii) the Partnerships maintenance capital
expenditures during each year, as a percentage of EBITDA for
such year, would equal the average percentage of historical and
forecast EBITDA over
2009-2012.
Based on these factors, the estimated distribution coverage
would remain above 1.1x for
2011-2015,
and the transaction would become accretive per Partnership
common unit on a distributable cash flow basis in 2015.
After this joint meeting, the Holdings ACG Committee met
separately to discuss the Initial Proposal. The committee
discussed, among other things, the Partnerships valuation
of the Partnership common units and Energy Transfer Equity units
owned by Holdings, the proposed exchange ratio in relation to
the current and historical relationship between the
Partnerships and Holdings unit trading values, and
various financial metrics in relation to those reflected in
recent similar transactions, all from the perspective of the
Holdings unaffiliated unitholders. At the conclusion of the
meeting, the Holdings ACG Committee directed Morgan Stanley to
analyze the Initial Proposal and to assist the committee in its
review and consideration of the Initial Proposal.
On August 9, 2010, Morgan Stanley held a diligence call
with Partnership GP management regarding the financial
projections and assumptions used in the forecasts provided to
Morgan Stanley. Also, on August 9, 2010, Andrews Kurth
distributed a draft merger agreement and support agreement to
counsel for the Holdings ACG Committee and to counsel for
Holdings for review in connection with the Holdings ACG
Committees consideration of the Initial Proposal.
On August 10, 2010, the Holdings ACG Committee met to
further discuss the Initial Proposal with its advisors. Morgan
Stanley reviewed with the Holdings ACG Committee, among other
things, the methodologies used in its analysis, underlying
historical and projected financial data, recent and historical
unit trading performance data, valuation metrics based on yield,
growth and the long-term cost of capital, and similarities and
differences between the proposed transaction and other recent
precedent transactions. The meeting participants discussed the
short-term and long-term implications of these considerations
from the perspective of the Holdings unaffiliated unitholders.
After its review, the Holdings ACG Committee determined that the
Initial Proposal was inadequate. Mr. McMahen then informed
Dr. Cunningham and Mr. Bachmann of the Holdings ACG
Committees determination. Subsequently, Mr. McMahen
advised Mr. Creel that the Holdings ACG Committee
considered the Initial Proposal inadequate. Mr. McMahen
further advised Mr. Creel that Holdings was not seeking a sale
transaction, but would consider an improved proposal from the
Partnership if the Partnership made one.
Later on August 10, 2010, following the response by the
Holdings ACG Committee, Partnership GP management held a call
with the Partnership ACG Committee, Barclays Capital, Credit
Suisse, Skadden and Andrews Kurth, to discuss the response and
further action. The Partnership ACG Committee and Partnership GP
management collectively requested Barclays Capital to conduct
further analysis that would include a revised exchange ratio for
the proposed transaction together with assumed support from EPCO
or its affiliates
40
in the form of a waiver of distributions on designated units in
order to reduce for a number of years the distributable cash
flow dilution per Partnership common unit created by a higher
exchange ratio.
On August 11, 2010, Partnership GP management met with
Barclays Capital and Andrews Kurth to discuss the preliminary
analysis regarding a revised proposal which would include EPCO
support. The analysis assumed the level of EPCO support required
to make the transaction cash flow neutral in terms of estimated
Partnership distributable cash flow per unit from 2011 through
2014.
Subsequently on August 11, 2010, Partnership GP management
met with the Partnership ACG Committee and representatives of
Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse, Andrews Kurth and Skadden and
reviewed a range of potential alternative proposals assuming
EPCO support. Based on these discussions and analysis, the
Partnership ACG Committee endorsed Partnership GP management
making a revised proposal to the Holdings ACG Committee
(i) with an exchange ratio of 1.40 Partnership common units
for each Holdings unit and (ii) assuming a waiver of
distributions by EPCO or its affiliates for a specified number
of units during the
2011-2014
period (the First Revised Proposal).
On August 12, 2010, Mr. Creel and other members of
Partnership GP management, representatives of Barclays Capital
and Andrews Kurth, the Partnership ACG Committee and
representatives of its advisors met with the Holdings ACG
Committee, representatives of its advisors, and
Mr. Bachmann and Dr. Cunningham, as EPCO
representatives, to make its First Revised Proposal, which
reflected a 6.8% premium to the closing price for Holdings units
on August 11, 2010 and a 44% increase in quarterly cash
distributions to the Holdings unaffiliated unitholders based on
the respective distributions paid by the partnerships in August
2010. Mr. Creel on behalf of the Partnership noted that the
First Revised Proposal was conditioned on the parties obtaining
EPCO support as proposed by the Partnership, and that the
Partnership desired that the Holdings ACG Committee discuss this
directly with EPCO. Mr. Pierce then presented Barclays
Capitals more detailed analysis of the First Revised
Proposal to the Holdings ACG Committee.
Later that day, the Holdings ACG Committee convened separately
to discuss the First Revised Proposal. At the committees
invitation, Dr. Cunningham and Mr. Bachmann, as EPCO
representatives, joined the meeting. The EPCO representatives
indicated their willingness to provide financial support for a
transaction so long as (i) EPCO would not be disadvantaged
relative to the position it would have been in under the Initial
Proposal, and (ii) the committee determined that the
transaction was fair and reasonable to Holdings
unaffiliated unitholders. The EPCO representatives then left the
meeting. The Holdings ACG Committee and its advisors then
discussed the First Revised Proposal in light of the
considerations reviewed in the Holdings ACG Committees
August 10, 2010 meeting.
Following these discussions, the Holdings ACG Committee
determined that the First Revised Proposal was inadequate and
that the committee was not prepared to make a counterproposal.
Mr. Bachmann and Dr. Cunningham, as EPCO
representatives, then rejoined the meeting. Mr. McMahen
informed the meeting invitees of the committees
determination, and Mr. Bachmann and Dr. Cunningham
concurred with the committees determination that the First
Revised Proposal was inadequate.
Thereafter, the Holdings ACG Committee reconvened the meeting
with Partnership GP management and the Partnership ACG
Committee, along with their respective advisors, and
Mr. Bachmann and Dr. Cunningham. Mr. McMahen
informed the meeting participants that the Holdings ACG
Committee had determined that the First Revised Proposal was
inadequate. The Holdings ACG Committee cited the premiums paid
in other simplification transactions. At this meeting,
Mr. Bachmann also noted, in his capacity as a
representative of EPCO, that he believed that the distribution
support requested from EPCO in the First Revised Proposal would
result in lower distributions to EPCO than in the Initial
Proposal, and thus that the distribution support requested from
EPCO in the First Revised Proposal was not acceptable to EPCO.
After this meeting, Partnership GP management and the
Partnership ACG Committee, along with their advisors, met to
discuss the Holdings ACG Committees response to the First
Revised Proposal. Following this separately convened meeting,
Partnership GP management and the Partnership ACG Committee,
along with their advisors, met again during the afternoon of
August 12, 2010 with the Holdings ACG Committee. At this
41
meeting, Mr. Creel stated that in the absence of a
counterproposal and in view of the current position of EPCO as
indicated by Mr. Bachmann as its representative, the
Partnership had no further proposals to make.
By letter dated August 12, 2010, Mr. McMahen as the
Holdings ACG Committee Chairman confirmed to the Partnership ACG
Committee the termination of discussions.
During the week of August 16, 2010, based on discussions
with Partnership GP management and the Partnership ACG Committee
on August 11, 2010, Barclays Capital continued to revise
analyses of alternative proposals and to meet with Partnership
GP management regarding the same. On August 17, 2010,
Partnership GP management and advisors for the Partnership met
with the Partnership ACG Committee and its legal advisors to
discuss a range of potential proposals regarding EPCO financial
support at various assumed exchange ratios.
On August 18, 2010, Messrs. Creel and Bulawa met with
the three EPCO voting trustees to review certain financial
analyses prepared by Barclays Capital and Partnership GP
management and potential levels of EPCO distribution waiver
support under various exchange ratios. The EPCO voting trustees
requested additional information regarding the assumptions
included in the analyses, including with respect to assumed
distribution growth on the Energy Transfer Equity common units
held by Holdings.
On August 19, 2010, Mr. Bachmann notified
Mr. McMahen that the Partnership was considering a new
proposal to the Holdings ACG Committee for its consideration,
and Mr. McMahen notified the Holdings ACG Committee and its
advisors of this potential further activity.
On August 22, 2010, Partnership GP management and advisors
for the Partnership met with the Partnership ACG Committee and
its advisors to discuss alternative proposals. Based on this
discussion, the Partnership ACG Committee endorsed Partnership
GP management making a revised proposal with (i) an
exchange ratio of 1.475 Partnership common units for each
Holdings unit and (ii) a waiver of distributions by EPCO or
its affiliates for a specified number of units during
2011-2015
(the Second Revised Proposal).
On August 23, 2010, the Holdings ACG Committee and its
advisors met with Mr. Bachmann and Dr. Cunningham, as
EPCO representatives, in anticipation of a meeting later that
day with representatives of the Partnership. The EPCO
representatives advised the Holdings ACG Committee of the limits
on the financial support for a transaction that EPCO was willing
to provide, and stated that they had similarly informed the
Partnership of those limits, and the EPCO representatives then
left the meeting. The Holdings ACG Committee then discussed
briefly the matters, in addition to financial analyses, that it
would consider in assessing any new proposal that might be made
by the Partnership.
Mr. Creel and other management of the Partnership GP, the
Partnership ACG Committee and the respective legal and financial
advisors for the Partnership and the Partnership ACG Committee
then met with the Holdings ACG Committee and the legal and
financial advisors for the Holdings ACG Committee and Holdings.
At this meeting, Mr. Creel along with Mr. Pierce
presented the Second Revised Proposal and related analyses. The
Second Revised Proposal represented a 13.2% premium to the
closing price for Holdings units on August 20, 2010 and a
51% increase in cash distributions to the Holdings unaffiliated
unitholders based on the respective distributions paid by the
partnerships in August 2010. The Second Revised Proposal was
conditioned on obtaining EPCO support as proposed by the
Partnership.
Following this joint meeting, the Holdings ACG Committee met
separately with its advisors to review numerous financial
considerations relating to the Second Revised Proposal. The
Holdings ACG Committee also discussed with its advisors the
implications of the proposed carried interest
federal tax legislation, and directed Baker Hostetler to prepare
further analysis of that subject to be presented to the
committee. After discussion, the Holdings ACG Committee informed
the Partnership and the Partnership ACG Committee that it would
consider the Second Revised Proposal after further analysis by
its legal and financial advisors.
Subsequent to that meeting, from August 23, 2010 through
August 29, 2010, management of the Partnership GP and the
respective legal and financial advisors for the Partnership and
the Partnership ACG Committee, and the Holdings ACG Committee
and the legal and financial advisors for Holdings and the
Holdings ACG Committee conducted further financial analysis and
due diligence. Based on these discussions,
42
the Partnership GP management and Barclays Capital changed
certain assumptions used for the financial analysis regarding
distribution growth with respect to Energy Transfer Equity
common units owned by Holdings. On August 26, 2010,
Mr. Bulawa advised Morgan Stanley of these revised
assumptions, and Mr. Creel advised the Holdings ACG
Committee, the Partnership ACG Committee and the EPCO voting
trustees of the same.
On August 25, 2010, the Holdings ACG Committee held a
lengthy meeting with its advisors to review in detail Morgan
Stanleys analysis of the Second Revised Proposal, and to
review pending and threatened derivative litigation on behalf of
Holdings with Morris Nichols as derivative litigation counsel to
Holdings. Derivative litigation counsel discussed the relevant
proceedings and threatened action and the status of each, and
then left the meeting. Baker Hostetler and Richards Layton then
advised the committee regarding its duties in assessing those
matters in the context of considering proposals from the
Partnership.
The Holdings ACG Committee and its advisors then considered in
detail Morgan Stanleys analysis of the Second Revised
Proposal, discussing, among other considerations, (i) the
EPCO financial support, (ii) relevant premiums to
Holdings current unit price and the effect of the premiums
on public unitholders cash flow, (iii) comparisons of
other financial metrics to those in recent precedent
transactions, (iv) the proposals financial
characteristics in relation to those implicit in other exchange
ratios, (v) the current and historical trading
relationships between Partnership common units and Holdings
units, (vi) anticipated yields and growth rates per
Holdings unit assuming acceptance of the proposal and also on a
stand-alone basis, (vii) the effect on Holdings of interest
rate fluctuations, (viii) near-term and longer-term
accretion and dilution considerations for Holdings unitholders
and Partnership common unitholders, (ix) the impact of
consummating the proposal on the Partnerships distribution
coverage ratio, (x) the impact of the proposal on the
Partnerships long-term cost of capital,
(xi) Holdings leverage to growth ratio and IDRs in
relation to those of entities in precedent transactions,
(xii) the relative trading liquidity of Holdings units and
Partnership common units, (xiii) the current state of the
capital markets and Holdings and the Partnerships
relative positions in the capital markets, and (xiv) the
effect on Holdings public unitholders of Holdings
alternatives to accepting a Partnership proposal, including
possible opportunities to diversify, the marketplace for public
general partners and maintaining Holdings as it currently exists.
Following additional consideration by the Holdings ACG Committee
of the matters referred to above, the committee determined to
make a counterproposal to the Partnership at an exchange ratio
of 1.535 Partnership common units for each Holdings unit (the
Holdings Counterproposal). The Holdings ACG
Committee directed Morgan Stanley to prepare analyses relating
to the Holdings Counterproposal for purposes of a presentation
to be made by the Holdings ACG Committee to the Partnership. The
Holdings ACG Committee and its advisors met on August 26,
2010 and on August 27, 2010 to review and make revisions to
the presentation supporting the Holdings Counterproposal and to
discuss further the considerations previously discussed relating
to Holdings derivative litigation and proposed carried
interest federal tax legislation.
On August 29, 2010, Partnership GP management and the
financial and legal advisors for the Partnership met with the
Partnership ACG Committee and its financial and legal advisors
to discuss a revised analysis by Barclays Capital, which took
into account: a revision to the number of EPCO distribution
waiver units based on the anticipated timing of the proposed
transaction; the recent dissolution of certain employee
partnerships that held Holdings units and Partnership common
units; changes in assumptions used for the financial analysis
with respect to distribution growth on the Energy Transfer
Equity common units owned by Holdings; and in connection with
analysis of the cash impact of the distribution waiver, the
impact of the Partnership distributions reflected on a cash
basis rather than on an accrual basis.
On August 30, 2010, Mr. McMahen and a representative
of the legal and financial advisors for the Holdings ACG
Committee met initially with the three EPCO voting trustees, in
anticipation of the meeting later that morning with
representatives of the Partnership, to inform them of the
Holdings Counterproposal to be made. Immediately thereafter, the
Holdings ACG Committee and its advisors met with Partnership GP
management and the advisors for the Partnership, the Partnership
ACG Committee and its advisors, and each of the three EPCO
voting trustees. At this meeting, Mr. McMahen and
representatives of Morgan Stanley presented the Holdings
Counterproposal. The Holdings ACG Committee and the Partnership
ACG Committee
43
and their respective advisors exchanged views regarding the
various financial and strategic considerations relevant to
arriving at a mutually acceptable exchange ratio for a
transaction.
Management of the Partnership GP and its advisors, and the
Partnership ACG and its advisors, then convened separately.
After deliberation, the Partnership ACG Committee endorsed a
counterproposal by Partnership GP management of an exchange
ratio of 1.50 Partnership common units per Holdings unit (the
Final Exchange Ratio Offer). The Final Exchange
Ratio Offer represented a premium of approximately 16% based on
the closing prices for Holdings units and Partnership common
units on August 27, 2010 and a 54% increase in cash
distributions to the Holdings unaffiliated unitholders based on
the 1.50 exchange ratio and respective distributions paid by the
partnerships in August 2010.
The Partnership and Holdings meeting participants then
reconvened, and Mr. Creel proposed the Final Exchange Ratio
Offer, presented as a final offer, to the Holdings ACG
Committee. Over the remainder of that day, each committee
convened separately and with the other committee or various
committee representatives in a series of meetings with respect
to (i) the exchange ratio, (ii) a December 31,
2010 deadline for completing the transaction if an exchange
ratio could be agreed upon, in light of the possibility of
retroactive federal tax legislation in 2011 that could affect
Holdings unitholders, and (iii) the consequences of not
completing the transaction by the deadline. At the conclusion of
these meetings, Mr. McMahen advised the Partnership that
the Holdings ACG Committee would agree to the Final Exchange
Ratio Offer, with a transaction completion deadline of
December 31, 2010 and an expense reimbursement to Holdings
of up to $5 million if the agreement for the transaction
were terminated for failure to meet the deadline, subject to the
parties negotiation of and mutual agreement on all other
terms of the requisite definitive agreements.
From August 30, 2010 until September 3, 2010, counsel
for each of the parties prepared drafts of agreements, exchanged
comments and negotiated transaction terms, including termination
rights, the absence of a Holdings termination fee if Holdings
determined not to proceed with the merger under certain
circumstances, the impact of potential adverse federal tax
legislation on the parties obligations to consummate the
transaction, Holdings ability to entertain third party
proposals, and the effect of various other material adverse
developments affecting either party.
On September 3, 2010, the Holdings Board and the Holdings
ACG Committee met with Baker Hostetler, Vinson &
Elkins and Richards Layton and representatives of Morgan
Stanley. Prior to the meeting, the Holdings Board was provided
drafts of the merger agreements and the support agreement as
well as summaries and other documents to assist the Holdings
Board in evaluating the proposed transaction. Representatives of
Morgan Stanley presented in detail its financial analysis of the
proposed transaction at an exchange ratio of 1.50 Partnership
common units for each Holdings unit, and indicated that Morgan
Stanley was prepared to render to the Holdings ACG Committee its
opinion that the exchange ratio pursuant to the merger agreement
was fair, from a financial point of view, to Holdings
unitholders (other than the Holdings supporting unitholders),
subject to customary assumptions, considerations, qualifications
and limitations. Baker Hostetler then reviewed with the Holdings
Board a summary of the material terms of the definitive merger
agreement and related documents for the transaction, and
reviewed resolutions that the Holdings Board would be asked to
adopt, including a resolution that the transaction be presented
to Holdings unitholders for their approval, if the Holdings ACG
Committee approved the transaction at its forthcoming meeting
and expressed its intent that its approval of the transaction
constitute Special Approval within the meaning of
Holdings partnership agreement. Morgan Stanley, Baker
Hostetler, Vinson & Elkins and Richards Layton
responded to various questions from the Holdings Board.
Immediately following the meeting of the Holdings Board, the
Holdings ACG Committee met with Baker Hostetler and Richards
Layton and representatives of Morgan Stanley to consider
approval of the transaction and a recommendation that it be
approved by the Holdings Board. The Morgan Stanley
representatives highlighted certain elements of the financial
analyses that it had reviewed with the Holdings Board, and
rendered its oral opinion to the effect that, as of
September 3, 2010 and based upon and subject to the various
assumptions, considerations, qualifications and limitations set
forth in its written opinion, the exchange ratio pursuant to the
merger agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to
the Holdings unitholders (other than the Holdings supporting
unitholders). At the committees request, Morgan Stanley
delivered its written
44
opinion to the Holdings ACG Committee and left the meeting.
Baker Hostetler then reviewed in detail proposed resolutions to
be adopted by the committee, including a resolution signifying
the committees intent that its approval of the transaction
constitute Special Approval of the transaction
within the meaning of Holdings partnership agreement. The
Holdings ACG Committee voted unanimously to adopt the
resolutions and reviewed specific elements of the transaction
that supported its actions, which elements are set forth under
the heading Recommendation of the Holdings ACG Committee
and the Holdings Board and Reasons for the Merger.
Following the meeting of the Holdings ACG Committee, after being
advised of the Holdings ACG Committees proceedings and
actions, the Holdings Board executed a unanimous written consent
approving the transaction and recommending that it be presented
to the Holdings unitholders for their approval.
On September 3, 2010, the Partnership Board met with
Barclays Capital, Andrews Kurth and Skadden. Credit Suisse was
also in attendance. Prior to the meeting, the Partnership Board
was provided drafts of the merger agreements and the support
agreement as well as materials to assist the Partnership Board
in evaluating the proposed transactions. At the meeting, the
Partnership Board reviewed and discussed the terms of the
proposed transaction with the assistance of Partnership GP
management and the Partnerships legal and financial
advisors. The meeting of the Partnership Board was then
temporarily recessed.
Immediately following the recess of the meeting of the
Partnership Board, the Partnership ACG Committee met separately
and, with the assistance of its legal and financial advisors,
reviewed and discussed the terms of the proposed transaction
and, among other things, considered whether to provide
special approval as permitted under the
Partnerships partnership agreement, for the proposed
merger and related transactions. After discussion and
deliberation, the Partnership ACG Committee voted unanimously to
adopt resolutions approving the merger agreement and the merger
and related transactions, including a resolution signifying the
committees intent that its approval of the transaction
constitute special approval for purposes of the
Partnerships partnership agreement.
Following the meeting of the Partnership ACG Committee, the
Partnership Board reconvened and received the notice of
special approval (as defined in the
Partnerships partnership agreement) by the Partnership ACG
Committee. After final discussion and deliberation, the
Partnership Board approved the merger agreements and the related
documents and the issuance of Partnership common units in
connection with the proposed merger.
Following the September 3, 2010 meetings of the Holdings
ACG Committee and the Holdings Board and the Partnership ACG
Committee and the Partnership Board, the parties executed and
delivered definitive merger agreements. The Partnership and the
Holdings supporting unitholders also executed and delivered the
support agreement.
On September 7, 2010, the Partnership and Holdings issued a
joint press release announcing the merger agreement and the
proposed merger.
Recommendation
of the Holdings ACG Committee and the Holdings Board and Reasons
for the Merger
On September 3, 2010, the Holdings ACG Committee
unanimously determined that the merger agreement and the merger
were fair and reasonable, advisable to and in the best interests
of Holdings and the Holdings unaffiliated unitholders.
Accordingly, the Holdings ACG Committee recommended that the
Holdings Board approve the merger agreement and the merger.
Based on the Holdings ACG Committees determination and
recommendation, on September 3, 2010, the Holdings Board
unanimously approved and declared the advisability of the merger
agreement and the merger. Both the Holdings ACG Committee and
the Holdings Board also recommended that the Holdings
unaffiliated unitholders vote in favor of the merger proposal.
The Holdings ACG Committee considered many factors in
determining the merger agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby to be fair and reasonable, advisable to and
in the best interests of Holdings and the Holdings unaffiliated
unitholders and recommending the approval of the merger
agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereby to the Holdings Board. In reaching its conclusions, the
45
Holdings ACG Committee consulted with its legal and financial
advisors and viewed the following factors as being generally
positive or favorable in coming to its determination and related
recommendations:
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The pro forma increase of approximately 54% in quarterly cash
distributions expected to be received by Holdings unitholders,
based upon the 1.50 exchange ratio and quarterly cash
distribution rates paid by Holdings and the Partnership in
August 2010, together with the expectation that the merger will
be accretive to cash distributions received by Holdings
unitholders in each year through 2015 (the period for which
projections were provided).
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In the merger, Holdings unitholders will receive common units
representing limited partner interests in the Partnership, which
Partnership common units have substantially more liquidity than
Holdings units because of the Partnership common units
larger average daily trading volume, as well as the Partnership
being a significantly larger entity with a broader investor base
and a larger public float, along with less volatility in the
trading market for the Partnership common units.
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The exchange ratio in the merger, which based upon the closing
prices of Holdings units and Partnership common units on
September 3, 2010, the last trading date before the
Holdings ACG Committee and Holdings Board approved the merger,
represented a premium of:
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approximately 16% above the closing price of Holdings units of
$49.90 on September 3, 2010; and
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approximately 40% above the average closing price of Holdings
units of $41.32 during the one-year period ended on
September 3, 2010.
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The opinion of Morgan Stanley rendered to the Holdings ACG
Committee on September 3, 2010 to the effect that, as of
such date and based upon and subject to the various assumptions,
considerations, qualifications and limitations set forth in its
written opinion, the exchange ratio pursuant to the merger
agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to the
Holdings unitholders (other than the Holdings supporting
unitholders).
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That the merger provides Holdings unitholders with an
opportunity to benefit from price appreciation and increased
distributions through ownership of Partnership common units,
which should benefit from the lower long-term cost of capital
associated with the permanent cancellation of the IDRs and the
Partnerships enhanced ability to compete for future
acquisitions and finance organic growth projects.
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The stronger credit profile of the Partnership relative to that
of Holdings.
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That Holdings unitholders, generally, should not recognize any
income or gain, for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
solely as a result of the receipt of the Partnership common
units pursuant to the merger.
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The current and prospective environment for Holdings in the
future if it continues as a stand-alone entity, including
potential unitholder value that might result from opportunities
available to Holdings in the future or from growth in its unit
price, as compared to the strengths of the combined entity.
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The terms of the merger agreement permit the Holdings ACG
Committee to change its recommendation of the merger if the
Holdings ACG Committee has concluded in good faith, after
consultation with its outside legal and financial advisors, that
the failure to make such a change in recommendation would be
inconsistent with its duties under the Holdings partnership
agreement and applicable law, and no termination fee is payable
by Holdings upon any such change of recommendation.
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The ability of Holdings to enter into discussions with another
party in response to an unsolicited written offer, if the
Holdings ACG Committee, after consultation with its outside
legal and financial advisors, determines in good faith
(a) that such unsolicited written offer constitutes or is
likely to result in a superior proposal and (b) that the
failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its
duties under the Holdings partnership agreement and applicable
law; notwithstanding that affiliates of EPCO informed the
Holdings ACG Committee that they would not entertain an
acquisition proposal from a third party, the Holdings ACG
Committee considered it possible that a subsequent offer could
affect the viewpoint of the affiliates of EPCO regarding the
merger or a third party transaction.
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46
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The Holdings ACG Committees familiarity with, and
understanding of, the businesses, assets, liabilities, results
of operations, financial conditions and competitive positions
and prospects of Holdings and the Partnership.
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The Holdings ACG Committees understanding of and
managements review of overall market conditions, and the
Holdings ACG Committees determination that, in light of
these factors, the timing of the potential transaction is
favorable to Holdings.
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The review by the Holdings ACG Committee with its legal and
financial advisors of the financial and other terms of the
merger agreement and related documents, including the conditions
to their respective obligations and the termination provisions.
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That the merger will eliminate potential conflicts of interest
between the unitholders of Holdings and the unitholders of the
Partnership.
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The Holdings ACG Committee considered the following factors to
be generally negative or unfavorable in making its determination
and recommendations:
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The risk that the merger might not be completed in a timely
manner, or that the merger might not be consummated as a result
of a failure to satisfy the conditions contained in the merger
agreement, including any failure to close by December 31,
2010, which would result in the termination of the obligations
of (i) the Holdings supporting unitholders under the
support agreement and (ii) DFIDH to execute the
distribution waiver agreement, and that a failure to complete
the merger could negatively impact the trading price of the
Holdings units.
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That the exchange ratio is fixed and the possibility that the
Partnership common unit price could decline relative to the
Holdings unit price prior to closing, reducing the premium
available to Holdings unitholders.
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The possibility that Holdings unitholders could be foregoing
appreciation principally associated with the IDRs which might be
realized either in the form of increased distributions or
appreciation in unit value if the business of the Partnership
performs materially better than anticipated and the Partnership
increases its distribution to levels substantially higher than
anticipated.
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The possibility that the proposed carried interest
federal tax legislation could be enacted with an effective date,
or a retroactive effective date, before consummation of the
merger, and the potential material tax liabilities that could be
incurred by Holdings unitholders as a consequence thereof.
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The limitations on Holdings considering unsolicited offers from
third parties not affiliated with Holdings GP.
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The risk that potential benefits sought in the merger might not
be fully realized.
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The elimination of certain control rights that Holdings
possesses with respect to the Partnership.
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That certain members of management of Holdings GP and the
Holdings Board may have interests that are different from those
of the holders of units in Holdings.
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The foregoing discussion of the information and factors
considered by the Holdings ACG Committee is not intended to be
exhaustive, but includes the material factors considered by the
Holdings ACG Committee. In view of the variety of factors
considered in connection with its evaluation of the merger, the
Holdings ACG Committee did not find it practicable to, and did
not, quantify or otherwise assign specific weights to the
factors considered in reaching its determination and
recommendation. In addition, each of the members of the Holdings
ACG Committee may have given differing weights to different
factors. Overall, the Holdings ACG Committee believed that the
advantages of the merger outweighed the negative factors it
considered.
47
The Holdings ACG Committee also reviewed a number of procedural
factors relating to the merger, including, without limitation,
the following:
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The terms and conditions of the proposed merger were determined
through arms-length negotiations between the Partnership
ACG Committee and the Holdings ACG Committee and their
respective representatives and advisors;
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The Holdings ACG Committee retained independent legal and
financial advisors with knowledge and experience with respect to
public company merger and acquisition transactions, the
Partnerships industry generally, and the Partnership and
Holdings particularly, as well as substantial experience
advising publicly traded limited partnerships and other
companies with respect to transactions similar to the proposed
transaction; and
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The Holdings ACG Committee received the written opinion of
Morgan Stanley on September 3, 2010 to the effect that, as
of such date and based upon and subject to the various
assumptions, considerations, qualifications and limitations set
forth in the written opinion, the exchange ratio pursuant to the
merger agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to
the Holdings unitholders (other than the Holdings supporting
unitholders).
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The
Partnerships Reasons for the Merger
The Partnership Board and the Partnership ACG Committee
consulted with management and their legal and financial advisors
and considered many factors in approving the merger, including
the following:
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a lower long-term cost of capital achieved through the permanent
elimination of the IDRs, which is expected to allow the
Partnership to maintain its competitive position for
acquisitions and to engage in additional organic growth projects
accretive to common unitholders;
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a simplified organizational structure expected to make the
Partnership more attractive to equity and debt investors, to
reduce certain general and administrative costs by approximately
$6 million per year primarily from eliminating public
company expenses and to eliminate potential conflicts of
interest between the Partnership and Holdings;
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increased liquidity with an increased public ownership of
Partnership common units;
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the relatively low execution risk in integrating businesses due
to existing shared services; and
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an expected neutral or favorable view by rating agencies due to
a more simplified organizational structure that eliminates
inherent conflicts of interest.
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Unaudited
Financial Projections of the Partnership and Holdings
Neither the Partnership nor Holdings routinely publishes
projections as to long-term future performance or earnings.
However, in connection with the proposed merger, management of
the Partnership GP prepared projections that included future
financial performance of the Partnership with respect to 2011
and 2012, and management of Holdings GP prepared projections
that included future financial performance of Holdings (relying
on Partnership GP projections with respect to the Partnership)
with respect to 2011 and 2012. These projections were based on
projections used for regular internal planning purposes. Because
there were no internal financial projections of the Partnership
or Holdings for any period following fiscal year 2012, Barclays
Capital, at the request of and in conjunction with the
management of the Partnership GP, prepared extensions to the
financial projections of the Partnership and Holdings for 2013
and subsequent years on the basis of assumptions discussed with,
and considered reasonable for this purpose by, senior management
of the Partnership GP. Management of the Partnership GP reviewed
the extensions to the projections and agreed that the extended
projections were a reasonable estimate of the Partnerships
and Holdings future financial performance as of the date
prepared. Projections were prepared for each of the Partnership
and Holdings. These non-public projections were provided to
Morgan Stanley for use and consideration in its financial
analysis and in preparation of its opinion to the Holdings ACG
Committee. The projections were also presented to members of the
Holdings ACG Committee and provided to other members of the
Holdings
48
Board. A summary of these projections is included below to give
Holdings unitholders access to certain non-public unaudited
projections that were made available to Morgan Stanley, the
Holdings ACG Committee and the Holdings Board in connection with
the proposed merger.
The
Partnership and Holdings caution you that uncertainties are
inherent in projections of any kind. None of the Partnership,
Holdings or any of their affiliates, advisors, officers,
directors or representatives has made or makes any
representation or can give any assurance to any Holdings
unitholder or any other person regarding the ultimate
performance of the Partnership or Holdings compared to the
summarized information set forth below or that any projected
results will be achieved.
The summary projections set forth below summarize the most
recent projections provided to Morgan Stanley, the Holdings ACG
Committee and members of the Holdings Board prior to the
execution of the merger agreement. The inclusion of the
following summary projections in this proxy statement/prospectus
should not be regarded as an indication that the Partnership,
Holdings or their representatives considered or consider the
projections to be a reliable or accurate prediction of future
performance or events, and the summary projections set forth
below should not be relied upon as such.
The accompanying projections were not prepared with a view
toward public disclosure or toward compliance with GAAP, the
published guidelines of the SEC, or the guidelines established
by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, but,
in the view of the management of the Partnership GP, were
prepared on a reasonable basis, reflect the best currently
available estimates and judgments, and present, to the best of
Partnership GP managements knowledge and belief, the
expected course of action and the expected future financial
performance of the Partnership.
Neither Deloitte & Touche LLP nor any other
independent registered public accounting firm has compiled,
examined or performed any procedures with respect to the
projections, nor has it expressed any opinion or any other form
of assurance on such information or its achievability, and
assumes no responsibility for, and disclaims any association
with, the projections. The Deloitte & Touche LLP
reports incorporated by reference into this proxy
statement/prospectus relate to historical financial information
of the Partnership and Holdings. Such reports do not extend to
the projections included below and should not be read to do so.
The respective boards of directors and the Audit, Conflicts and
Governance Committees of the Partnership GP and Holdings GP did
not prepare, and do not give any assurance regarding, the
summarized information.
In developing the projections, the management of Partnership GP
made numerous material assumptions with respect to the
Partnership and Holdings for the period 2011 to 2015, including:
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growth capital investments and the amounts and timing of related
costs and potential economic returns;
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outstanding debt during applicable periods, and the availability
and cost of capital;
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the cash flow from existing assets and business activities,
including distribution growth by Energy Transfer Equity, an
entity not controlled by either Holdings or the Partnership;
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the prices of, production level of, and demand for crude oil,
natural gas, NGLs and other hydrocarbon products; and
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other general business, market and financial assumptions.
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The assumptions used in the projections for 20132015 also
included the following:
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that the Partnerships distributions would grow at the
greater of 5% or $0.12 per Partnership common unit per year;
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that the Partnerships EBITDA would grow based on the
median of the historical and forecast annual EBITDA growth rates
from 20092012; and
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that the Partnerships maintenance capital expenditures
during each year, as a percentage of EBITDA for such year, would
equal the average percentage of historical and forecast EBITDA
over 20092012.
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49
Additional assumptions were made with respect to the size,
availability, timing and anticipated results of, and cash flows
from, growth capital investments. All of these assumptions
involve variables making them difficult to predict, and most are
beyond the control of the Partnership and Holdings. Although
management of the Partnership GP and Holdings believe that there
was a reasonable basis for their projections and underlying
assumptions, any assumptions for near-term projected cases
remain uncertain, and the risk of inaccuracy increases with the
length of the forecasted period.
The
Partnership
The following table sets forth projected financial information
for the Partnership for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
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2011E
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2012E
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2013E
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2014E
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2015E
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(Dollars in millions)
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Adjusted EBITDA(1)
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$
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3,252
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$
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3,622
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$
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3,929
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$
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4,263
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$
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4,625
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Distributable cash flow(2)
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$
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2,271
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$
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2,443
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$
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2,672
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$
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2,877
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$
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3,087
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Holdings
The following table sets forth projected financial information
for Holdings for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
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2011E
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2012E
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2013E
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2014E
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2015E
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(Dollars in millions)
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Adjusted EBITDA(3)
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$
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442
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$
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490
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$
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532
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$
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575
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$
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620
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Distributable cash flow(4)
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$
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410
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$
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447
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$
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483
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$
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523
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$
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565
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(1) |
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Adjusted EBITDA of the Partnership represents net income or loss
attributable to the Partnership less equity earnings from
unconsolidated affiliates, plus distributions received from
unconsolidated affiliates, interest expense, provision for
income taxes and depreciation, amortization and accretion
expense. |
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(2) |
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Distributable cash flow to the Partnership is defined as net
income or loss attributable to the Partnership adjusted for:
(i) the addition of depreciation, amortization and
accretion expense; (ii) the addition of operating lease
expenses for which the Partnership does not have the payment
obligation; (iii) the addition of cash distributions
received from unconsolidated affiliates less equity earnings
from unconsolidated affiliates; (iv) the subtraction of
sustaining capital expenditures and cash payments to settle
asset retirement obligations; (v) the addition of losses or
subtraction of gains from asset sales and related transactions;
(vi) the addition of cash proceeds from asset sales or
related transactions; (vii) the return of an investment in
an unconsolidated affiliate (if any); (viii) the addition
of losses or subtraction of gains on the monetization of
financial instruments recorded in accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss), if any, less related amortization
of such amounts to earnings; (ix) the addition of net income
attributable to the noncontrolling interest associated with the
public unitholders of Duncan Energy Partners L.P. (Duncan
Energy Partners), less related cash distributions to be
paid to such unitholders with respect to the period of
calculation; and (x) the addition or subtraction of other
miscellaneous non-cash amounts (as applicable) that affect net
income or loss for the period. |
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(3) |
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Adjusted EBITDA of Holdings represents cash distributions
received by Holdings less general and administrative expense. |
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(4) |
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Distributable cash flow to Holdings is defined as Adjusted
EBITDA of Holdings less interest expense. |
Adjusted EBITDA is not a financial measure prepared in
accordance with GAAP and should not be considered a substitute
for net income (loss) or cash flow data prepared in accordance
with GAAP.
Distributable cash flow is not a financial measure prepared in
accordance with GAAP and should not be considered a substitute
for net income (loss) or cash flow data prepared in accordance
with GAAP.
50
NEITHER THE PARTNERSHIP NOR HOLDINGS INTENDS TO UPDATE OR
OTHERWISE REVISE THE ABOVE PROJECTIONS TO REFLECT CIRCUMSTANCES
EXISTING AFTER THE DATE WHEN MADE OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE
OF FUTURE EVENTS, EVEN IN THE EVENT THAT ANY OR ALL OF THE
ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING SUCH PROJECTIONS ARE NO LONGER
APPROPRIATE.
Opinion
of the Holdings ACG Committees Financial Advisor
The Holdings ACG Committee retained Morgan Stanley to act as its
financial advisor in connection with the transaction on
July 20, 2010. The Holdings ACG Committee selected Morgan
Stanley to act as its financial advisor based on Morgan
Stanleys qualifications, expertise and reputation and its
knowledge of the business and affairs of Holdings as a result of
a prior engagement by the Holdings ACG Committee. At the meeting
of the Holdings ACG Committee on September 3, 2010, Morgan
Stanley rendered to the Holdings ACG Committee its oral opinion,
subsequently confirmed in writing, that, as of such date and
based upon and subject to the various assumptions,
considerations, qualifications and limitations set forth in the
written opinion, the exchange ratio pursuant to the merger
agreement was fair from a financial point of view to the holders
of the Holdings units (other than the Holdings supporting
unitholders).
The full text of the written opinion of Morgan Stanley, dated
September 3, 2010, is attached as Annex E to this
proxy statement/prospectus and is incorporated by reference in
its entirety into this proxy statement/prospectus. The opinion
sets forth, among other things, the assumptions made, specified
work performed, procedures followed, matters considered and
qualifications and limitations on the scope of the review
undertaken by Morgan Stanley in rendering its opinion. You
should read the opinion carefully and in its entirety. Morgan
Stanleys opinion is directed to the Holdings ACG Committee
and addresses only the fairness from a financial point of view
of the exchange ratio pursuant to the merger agreement to the
holders of the Holdings units (other than the Holdings
supporting unitholders) as of the date of the opinion. It does
not address any other aspect of the merger or related
transactions and does not constitute a recommendation to any
unitholder of Holdings as to how to vote or act on any matter
with respect to the merger or related transactions. In addition,
the opinion does not in any manner address the prices at which
the Holdings units or the Partnership common units will trade at
any time. The summary of the opinion of Morgan Stanley set forth
in this proxy statement/prospectus is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the full text of the opinion.
In arriving at its opinion, Morgan Stanley, among other things:
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reviewed certain publicly available financial statements and
other business and financial information of Holdings and the
Partnership, respectively;
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reviewed certain internal financial statements and other
financial and operating data concerning Holdings and the
Partnership, respectively;
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reviewed certain financial projections prepared by the
management of the Partnership GP with respect to the future
performance of the Partnership and with respect to the future
performance of Holdings;
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reviewed certain financial projections, provided by or on behalf
of the management of Holdings GP, with respect to the future
performance of Holdings;
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reviewed information relating to certain strategic, financial
and operational benefits anticipated from the merger, prepared
by the management of the Partnership GP;
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discussed the past and current operations and financial
condition and the prospects of the Partnership and Holdings,
including information relating to certain strategic, financial
and operational benefits anticipated from the merger, with
senior executives of the Partnership GP;
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discussed the past and current operations and financial
condition and the prospects of Holdings (including the
projections of such operations, financial condition and
prospects by the Partnership), with senior executives of
Holdings GP;
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51
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reviewed the pro forma impact of the merger on the
Partnerships cash flow, consolidated capitalization and
financial ratios;
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reviewed the reported prices and trading activity for the units
of Holdings and the common units of the Partnership;
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compared the financial performance of Holdings and the
Partnership and the prices and trading activity of the Holdings
units and the Partnership common units with that of certain
other publicly-traded master limited partnerships comparable to
Holdings and the Partnership, respectively, and their securities;
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reviewed the financial terms, to the extent publicly available,
of certain comparable acquisition transactions;
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participated in certain discussions and negotiations among
representatives of Holdings and the Partnership and certain
parties and their financial and legal advisors;
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reviewed the merger agreement, GP merger agreement, distribution
waiver agreement and certain related documents; and
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performed such other analyses, reviewed such other information
and considered such other factors as Morgan Stanley deemed
appropriate.
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In arriving at its opinion, Morgan Stanley assumed and relied
upon, without independent verification, the accuracy and
completeness of the information that was publicly available or
supplied or otherwise made available to it by Holdings and the
Partnership, and formed a substantial basis for its opinion.
With respect to the financial projections, including information
relating to certain strategic, financial and operational
benefits anticipated from the merger, Morgan Stanley assumed
that they were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best
currently available estimates and judgments of the management of
the Partnership GP and of Holdings GP of the future financial
performance of the Partnership and Holdings, respectively.
Morgan Stanley understood from the management of Holdings GP
that the future financial performance of Holdings is
significantly contingent on the financial performance of the
Partnership, with a minority proportion of such future
performance related to the performance of other unrelated
investments held by Holdings, including an investment in Energy
Transfer Equity and its general partner. In addition, Morgan
Stanley assumed that the merger will be consummated in
accordance with the terms set forth in the merger agreement and
the GP merger agreement without any material waiver, amendment
or delay of any terms or conditions thereof and that the waiver
of distributions contemplated by the distribution waiver
agreement will occur in accordance with the distribution waiver
agreement without any material waiver, amendment or delay of any
terms or conditions thereof. Morgan Stanley assumed that in
connection with the receipt of all the necessary governmental,
regulatory or other approvals and consents required for the
proposed merger, no delays, limitations, conditions or
restrictions will be imposed that would have a material adverse
effect on the contemplated benefits expected to be derived in
the proposed merger.
In its opinion, Morgan Stanley noted that it is not a legal, tax
or regulatory advisor, that it is a financial advisor only and
relied upon, without independent verification, the assessments
of the Partnership and Holdings and their legal, tax or
regulatory advisors with respect to legal, tax or regulatory
matters. Morgan Stanley expressed no opinion with respect to the
fairness of the amount or nature of the compensation to any of
Holdings officers, directors or employees, or any class of
such persons, relative to the consideration to be received by
the holders of the Holdings units in the transaction. Morgan
Stanley did not make any independent valuation or appraisal of
the assets or liabilities of Holdings or the Partnership, nor
was it furnished with any such appraisals. Morgan Stanleys
opinion is necessarily based on financial, economic, market and
other conditions as in effect on, and the information made
available to it as of, the date of the opinion. Events occurring
after the date of the opinion may affect Morgan Stanleys
opinion and the assumptions used in preparing it, and Morgan
Stanley did not assume any obligation to update, revise or
reaffirm its opinion.
In arriving at its opinion, Morgan Stanley was not authorized to
solicit, and did not solicit, interest from any party with
respect to the acquisition, business combination or other
extraordinary transaction, involving
52
Holdings, nor did it negotiate with any party other than the
Partnership regarding the possible acquisition of Holdings or
certain of its constituent businesses. Morgan Stanleys
opinion did not address the relative merits of the merger as
compared to any other alternative business transaction, or other
alternatives, whether or not such alternatives could be achieved
or are available, nor did it address the underlying business
decision by Holdings and the Holdings ACG Committee to enter
into the merger. Morgan Stanley understood that certain of the
Holdings supporting unitholders specifically notified the
Holdings ACG Committee that they would not support any
alternative transaction at this time.
The following is a brief summary of the material analyses
performed by Morgan Stanley in connection with its oral opinion
and the preparation of its written opinion dated
September 3, 2010. In connection with arriving at its
opinion, Morgan Stanley considered all of its analyses as a
whole and did not attribute any particular weight to any
analysis described below. Considering any portion of such
analyses and factors considered, without considering all
analyses and factors, could create a misleading or incomplete
view of the process underlying Morgan Stanleys opinion.
This summary of financial analyses includes information
presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand the
financial analyses used by Morgan Stanley, the tables must be
read together with the accompanying text. The tables alone do
not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses.
Equity
Research Analyst Price Targets Analysis
Morgan Stanley reviewed and analyzed the public market trading
price targets for Holdings units prepared and published by
equity research analysts during the period from July 26,
2010 through August 24, 2010. These targets reflect each
analysts estimate of the future public trading price of
the Holdings units as of their respective dates. Morgan Stanley
noted that such analyst price targets for Holdings units ranged
from $47.00 to $56.00 per Holdings unit.
Morgan Stanley also reviewed and analyzed the public market
trading price targets for Partnership common units prepared and
published by equity research analysts during the period from
March 19, 2010 through August 24, 2010. These targets
reflect each analysts estimate of the future public
trading price of the Partnership common units as of their
respective dates. Morgan Stanley noted that such analyst price
targets for Partnership common units ranged from $39.00 to
$43.00 per Partnership common unit.
Morgan Stanley calculated the implied exchange ratios by
dividing the minimum and maximum of the public market trading
price targets of Holdings units by those of Partnership common
units. The following table lists the implied exchange ratios,
compared to an exchange ratio of 1.500x for the merger:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holdings Unit
|
|
Partnership
|
|
Implied
|
|
|
Price
|
|
Common Unit
|
|
Exchange
|
Analyst Price Targets
|
|
Target
|
|
Price Target
|
|
Ratio
|
|
Minimum
|
|
$
|
47.00
|
|
|
$
|
39.00
|
|
|
|
1.205
|
x
|
Maximum
|
|
|
56.00
|
|
|
|
43.00
|
|
|
|
1.302
|
x
|
The public market trading price targets published by equity
research analysts do not necessarily reflect current market
trading prices for Holdings units or Partnership common units
and these estimates are subject to uncertainties, including the
future financial performance of Holdings and the Partnership and
future financial market conditions.
Historical
Unit Price and Exchange Ratio Analyses
Morgan Stanley reviewed the unit price performance of each of
Holdings and the Partnership during various periods ending on
September 2, 2010.
Morgan Stanley noted that the range of low and high closing
prices of the Holdings units during the twelve-month period
ending on September 2, 2010 was $27.29 to $52.28 per
Holdings unit. Morgan Stanley then noted that the range of low
and high closing prices of the Holdings units during the
six-month period ending on September 2, 2010 was $40.42 to
$52.28 per Holdings unit.
53
Morgan Stanley noted that the range of low and high closing
prices of Partnership common units during the twelve-month
period ending on September 2, 2010 was $26.30 to $38.73 per
Partnership common unit. Morgan Stanley then noted that the
range of low and high closing prices of the Partnership common
units during the six-month period ending on September 2,
2010 was $31.68 to $38.73 per Partnership common unit.
Morgan Stanley calculated the historical exchange ratios implied
by dividing the low and high closing prices of Holdings units by
those of Partnership common units for the last twelve months and
six months, respectively. The following table lists the implied
exchange ratios for these periods, compared to an exchange ratio
of 1.500x for the merger:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Implied
|
|
|
Exchange
|
Time Period
|
|
Ratio Range
|
|
Last Twelve Months
|
|
|
1.038x - 1.350
|
x
|
Last Six Months
|
|
|
1.276x - 1.350
|
x
|
Comparable
Company Analysis
Morgan Stanley performed a comparable company analysis, which is
designed to provide an implied value of a company by comparing
it to similar companies. In performing this analysis, Morgan
Stanley reviewed and compared certain financial information of
Holdings and the Partnership, respectively, with publicly
available information for selected master limited partnerships
(MLPs) with publicly traded equity securities.
The selected companies were chosen because they are MLPs with
publicly traded equity securities and were deemed to be similar
to Holdings and the Partnership, respectively, in one or more
respects including the nature of their business, size,
diversification, financial performance and geographic
concentration. No specific numeric or other similar criteria
were used to choose the selected companies and all criteria were
evaluated in their entirety without application of definitive
qualifications or limitations to individual criteria. As a
result, a significantly larger or smaller company with
substantially similar lines of businesses and business focus may
have been included while a similarly sized company with less
similar lines of business and greater diversification may have
been excluded. Morgan Stanley identified a sufficient number of
companies for the purposes of its analysis but may not have
included all companies that might be deemed comparable to
Holdings and the Partnership, respectively.
The selected MLPs with publicly traded equity securities for the
comparable company analysis for Holdings were:
|
|
|
|
|
Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.
|
|
|
|
Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.
|
|
|
|
Buckeye GP Holdings L.P.
|
|
|
|
Crosstex Energy, Inc.
|
|
|
|
Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.
|
|
|
|
Inergy Holdings, L.P.
|
|
|
|
NuStar GP Holdings, LLC
|
The financial data for comparable companies were obtained from
FactSet.
The financial data reviewed for Holdings included:
|
|
|
|
|
the ratio of aggregate value, defined as market capitalization
plus total debt, preferred equity and noncontrolling interests
less cash and cash equivalents, to estimated earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
(EBITDA) for calendar years 2011 and 2012 (in each
case, based on Partnership GP management projections and
projections provided by or on behalf of the management of
Holdings GP); and
|
|
|
|
the current distributed cash flow yield.
|
54
The comparable company analysis for Holdings indicated the
following high, low, mean and median multiples for the selected
MLPs and for Holdings as of September 2, 2010:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yield and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiples for
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holdings Based
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
on Closing Price
|
Multiple Description
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
Mean
|
|
Median
|
|
on 9/2/2010
|
|
Current Distributed Cash Flow Yield
|
|
|
6.1
|
%
|
|
|
4.3
|
%
|
|
|
5.2
|
%
|
|
|
5.0
|
%
|
|
|
4.6
|
%
|
Aggregate Value to EBITDA for CY 2011E
|
|
|
20.8
|
x
|
|
|
15.0
|
x
|
|
|
17.0
|
x
|
|
|
16.3
|
x
|
|
|
17.9
|
x
|
Aggregate Value to EBITDA for CY 2012E
|
|
|
25.7
|
x
|
|
|
13.8
|
x
|
|
|
16.5
|
x
|
|
|
14.9
|
x
|
|
|
16.2
|
x
|
The selected MLPs with publicly traded equity securities for the
comparable company analysis for the Partnership were:
|
|
|
|
|
Duncan Energy Partners L.P.
|
|
|
|
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.
|
|
|
|
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
|
|
|
|
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
|
|
|
|
ONEOK Partners, L.P.
|
|
|
|
Regency Energy Partners LP
|
|
|
|
Williams Partners L.P.
|
The financial data for comparable companies were obtained from
FactSet.
The financial data reviewed for the Partnership included:
|
|
|
|
|
the ratio of aggregate value, adjusted for the percentage of
cash flow paid to the general partner, to EBITDA for calendar
years 2011 and 2012 (in each case, based on Partnership GP
management projections); and
|
|
|
|
the current distributed cash flow yield.
|
The comparable company analysis for the Partnership indicated
the following high, low, mean and median multiples for the
selected MLPs and for the Partnership as of September 2,
2010:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yield and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiples for the
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Based on Closing
|
|
Multiple Description
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Mean
|
|
|
Median
|
|
|
Price on 9/2/2010
|
|
|
Current Distributed Cash Flow Yield
|
|
|
7.6
|
%
|
|
|
6.0
|
%
|
|
|
6.7
|
%
|
|
|
6.4
|
%
|
|
|
6.0
|
%
|
Adj. Aggregate Value to EBITDA for CY 2011E(1)
|
|
|
16.8
|
x
|
|
|
10.6
|
x
|
|
|
12.8
|
x
|
|
|
12.2
|
x
|
|
|
12.8
|
x
|
Adj. Aggregate Value to EBITDA for CY 2012E(1)
|
|
|
13.6
|
x
|
|
|
10.5
|
x
|
|
|
11.6
|
x
|
|
|
11.2
|
x
|
|
|
11.5
|
x
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Aggregate value adjusted for percentage of cash flow paid to the
general partner. |
Morgan Stanley applied multiple ranges based on the comparable
company analysis to corresponding financial data for Holdings
and the Partnership, based on Partnership GP management
forecasts and forecasts provided by or on behalf of the
management of Holdings GP, respectively, to calculate an
implied exchange ratio reference range. The comparable company
analysis indicated an implied exchange ratio range of 1.054x to
1.369x for 2011 estimated EBITDA, 0.981x to 1.166x for 2012
estimated EBITDA and 1.217x to 1.299x for current distributed
cash flow yield, as compared to an exchange ratio of 1.500x for
the merger.
55
No company utilized in the comparable company analysis is
identical to either Holdings or the Partnership. In evaluating
the comparable companies, Morgan Stanley made judgments and
assumptions with regard to general business, economic, market
and financial conditions and other matters, which are beyond the
control of Holdings and the Partnership, such as the impact of
competition on the business of Holdings, the Partnership or the
industry generally, industry growth and the absence of any
adverse material change in the financial condition of Holdings,
the Partnership or the industry or in the financial markets in
general, which could affect the public trading value of the
companies. Mathematical analysis (such as determining the mean,
median, high or low) is not in itself a meaningful method of
using comparable company data.
Discounted
Equity Value Analysis
Morgan Stanley calculated a range of equity values per unit for
each of Holdings and the Partnership based on a discounted
equity value analysis, which is designed to provide insight into
the future price of a companys common equity as a function
of its current distributed cash flow yield and the
companys future distributions per unit based on
Partnership GP management estimates, and management estimates
provided by or on behalf of Holdings, for calendar years 2011
through 2015. Morgan Stanley also calculated a range of equity
values per unit for each of Holdings and the Partnership based
on the mean of equity research analyst estimates for calendar
years 2011 through 2014 (the final year for which detailed
equity research analyst estimates were available at the date of
the relevant analyses).
In arriving at the estimated equity values per Holdings unit,
Morgan Stanley applied a 4.5% to 6.0% yield range to 2011
through 2015 distributions per unit (such yield range was
applied to calendar years 2011 through 2015 for
Partnership GP management estimates, and management
estimates provided by or on behalf of Holdings, and to calendar
years 2011 through 2014 for equity research analyst estimates)
and discounted those values and the future distributions paid
each year using a range of cost of equity from 9.6% to 13.3%.
Based on Partnership GP management estimates, and
management estimates provided by or on behalf of
Holdings GP management, this analysis implied a range for
Holdings units of $42.86 to $57.30 per Holdings unit for 2011
and $44.97 to $64.56 per Holdings unit for 2015. Based on the
mean of equity research analyst estimates, this analysis implied
a range for Holdings units of $42.24 to $56.46 per Holdings unit
for 2011 and $44.69 to $63.11 per Holdings unit for 2014.
In arriving at the estimated equity values per Partnership
common unit, Morgan Stanley applied a 6.0% to 7.5% yield range
to 2011 through 2015 distributions per common unit (such yield
range was applied to calendar years 2011 through 2015 for
Partnership GP management estimates and to calendar years
2011 through 2014 for equity research analyst estimates), and
discounted those values and the future distributions paid each
year using a range of cost of equity from 9.1% to 11.5%. Based
on Partnership GP management estimates, this analysis
implied a range for Partnership common units of $32.98 to $41.09
per Partnership common unit for 2011 and $34.44 to $44.08 per
Partnership common unit for 2015. Based on the mean of equity
research analyst estimates, this analysis implied a range for
Partnership common units of $33.35 to $41.55 per Partnership
common unit for 2011 and $34.63 to $44.04 per Partnership common
unit for 2014.
Morgan Stanley noted that the discounted equity value analysis
of each of Holdings and the Partnership indicated the following
ranges of implied exchange ratios, compared to an exchange ratio
of 1.500x for the merger:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Implied
|
|
|
Exchange
|
Discounted Equity Value Method
|
|
Ratio Range
|
|
2011 Holdings GP and the Partnership GP Management
Estimates
|
|
|
1.300x - 1.394
|
x
|
2011 Mean of Equity Research Analyst Estimates
|
|
|
1.266x - 1.359
|
x
|
2015 Holdings GP and the Partnership GP Management Estimates
|
|
|
1.306x - 1.465
|
x
|
2014 Mean of Equity Research Analyst Estimates
|
|
|
1.291x - 1.433
|
x
|
56
Discounted
Cash Flow Analysis
Morgan Stanley performed a discounted cash flow analysis, which
is designed to provide an implied value of a company by
calculating the present value of the estimated future cash flows
and terminal value of the company. Morgan Stanley calculated
ranges of implied equity values per unit for each of Holdings
and the Partnership, based on Partnership GP management
estimates, and management estimates provided by or on behalf of
Holdings, of future distributions per unit for calendar years
2011 through 2015, and based on the mean of equity research
analyst estimates of future distributions per unit for calendar
years 2011 through 2014, respectively.
In arriving at the estimated equity values per Holdings unit,
Morgan Stanley noted the estimated distributions for each
projected calendar year and then calculated the terminal value
by applying a range of terminal yields in the terminal year
ranging from 4.5% to 6.0%. The distributions and the terminal
value were then discounted to present values using a range of
cost of equity from 9.6% to 13.3%. Based on the calculations set
forth above, this analysis implied a range for Holdings units of
$45.66 to $65.09 per Holdings unit based on Partnership GP
management estimates and estimates provided by or on behalf of
Holdings, and $45.25 to $63.53 per Holdings unit based on the
mean of equity research analyst estimates.
In arriving at the estimated equity values per Partnership
common unit, Morgan Stanley noted the estimated distributions
for each projected calendar year and then calculated the
terminal value by applying a range of terminal yields in the
terminal year ranging from 6.0% to 7.5%. The distributions and
the terminal value were then discounted to present values using
a range of cost of equity, from 9.1% to 11.5%. Based on the
calculations set forth above, this analysis implied a range for
Partnership common units of $34.99 to $44.54 per Partnership
common unit based on the Partnerships management estimates
and $35.09 to $44.42 per Partnership common unit based on the
mean of equity research analyst estimates.
Morgan Stanley noted that the discounted cash flow analysis of
each of Holdings and the Partnership indicated a range of
implied exchange ratios of 1.305x to 1.461x based on Holdings GP
and Partnership GP management estimates, and 1.289x to 1.430x
based on the mean of equity research analyst estimates, compared
to an exchange ratio of 1.500x for the merger.
Precedent
General Partner Buyouts Analysis
Morgan Stanley calculated various multiples of transaction value
to certain financial data based on the purchase prices paid in
selected publicly announced general partner buyout transactions
that it deemed relevant.
The selected transactions were chosen because the target
companies were the general partners of MLPs deemed to be similar
to Holdings in one or more respects including the nature of
their business, size, diversification, financial performance and
geographic concentration. No specific numeric or other similar
criteria were used to choose the selected transactions and all
criteria were evaluated in their entirety without application of
definitive qualifications or limitations to individual criteria.
As a result, a transaction involving the acquisition of a
significantly larger or smaller company with substantially
similar lines of businesses and business focus may have been
included while a transaction involving the acquisition of a
similarly sized company with less similar lines of business and
greater diversification may have been excluded. Morgan Stanley
identified a sufficient number of transactions for purposes of
its analysis, but may not have included all transactions that
might be deemed comparable to the proposed transaction. The
selected transactions were:
|
|
|
|
|
MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P./MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc.
|
|
|
|
Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P./Magellan Midstream Holdings,
L.P.
|
|
|
|
Buckeye Partners, L.P./Buckeye GP Holdings L.P.
|
|
|
|
Inergy, L.P./Inergy Holdings, L.P.
|
57
The calculated multiples included:
|
|
|
|
|
the ratio of aggregate value less the market value of the
limited partner units held by the general partner, to EBITDA
less the EBITDA derived from the limited partner units for FY +1
and FY +2; and
|
|
|
|
the ratio of the equity value less the market value of the
limited partner units held by the general partner to the total
distributable cash flow less the distributable cash flow derived
from the limited partner units for FY +1 and FY +2.
|
The selected transactions analysis indicated the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Implied
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiples for
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holdings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Based on
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Merger
|
|
Multiple Description
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Mean
|
|
|
Median
|
|
|
Consideration
|
|
|
Disaggregated Aggregate Value to EBITDA for FY +1
|
|
|
25.8
|
x
|
|
|
11.6
|
x
|
|
|
20.4
|
x
|
|
|
22.1
|
x
|
|
|
22.9
|
x
|
Disaggregated Aggregate Value to EBITDA for FY +2
|
|
|
20.9
|
x
|
|
|
9.8
|
x
|
|
|
17.4
|
x
|
|
|
19.5
|
x
|
|
|
20.2
|
x
|
Price to Disaggregated Distributable Cash Flow for FY +1
|
|
|
25.8
|
x
|
|
|
11.6
|
x
|
|
|
20.5
|
x
|
|
|
22.3
|
x
|
|
|
21.6
|
x
|
Price to Disaggregated Distributable Cash Flow for FY +2
|
|
|
20.9
|
x
|
|
|
9.8
|
x
|
|
|
17.4
|
x
|
|
|
19.4
|
x
|
|
|
19.4
|
x
|
Morgan Stanley applied multiple ranges based on the selected
transactions analysis to corresponding financial data for
Holdings based on Partnership GP management forecasts, and
forecasts provided by or on behalf of Holdings, to calculate an
implied exchange ratio reference range. The selected
transactions analyses indicated an implied exchange ratio range
of 0.830x to 1.703x, compared to an exchange ratio of 1.500x for
the merger.
Morgan Stanley also calculated the aggregated and disaggregated
price premiums paid in the selected transactions and for the
merger based on the price implied by the offered exchange ratio
for each respective transaction as compared to the average
market price per unit for the
one-day,
one-month, three-month,
six-month
and one-year periods prior to the announcement of the selected
transactions and prior to September 2, 2010 for the merger.
In addition, Morgan Stanley calculated the aggregated premium to
historical trading relationship in the selected transactions and
for the merger based on the offered exchange ratio for each
respective transaction and the historical average exchange ratio
for the general partner and limited partner units for the
one-day,
one-month, three-month, six-month and one-year periods prior to
the announcement of the selected transactions and prior to
September 2, 2010 with respect to the merger. The premiums
paid analysis indicated the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Implied
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Premium for
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holdings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Based on
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Merger
|
Aggregated Price Premiums
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
Mean
|
|
Median
|
|
Consideration
|
|
One Day Prior
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
5
|
%
|
|
|
21
|
%
|
|
|
24
|
%
|
|
|
17
|
%
|
One Month Average
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
14
|
%
|
|
|
21
|
%
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
|
|
16
|
%
|
Three Month Average
|
|
|
26
|
%
|
|
|
12
|
%
|
|
|
21
|
%
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
Six Month Average
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
5
|
%
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
|
22
|
%
|
|
|
22
|
%
|
One Year Average
|
|
|
57
|
%
|
|
|
(6
|
)%
|
|
|
31
|
%
|
|
|
36
|
%
|
|
|
39
|
%
|
58
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Implied
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Premium for
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holdings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Based on
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Merger
|
Disaggregated Price Premiums
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
Mean
|
|
Median
|
|
Consideration
|
|
One Day Prior
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
5
|
%
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
|
28
|
%
|
|
|
24
|
%
|
One Month Average
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
|
22
|
%
|
|
|
22
|
%
|
Three Month Average
|
|
|
28
|
%
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
|
24
|
%
|
Six Month Average
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
|
|
9
|
%
|
|
|
22
|
%
|
|
|
22
|
%
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
One Year Average
|
|
|
61
|
%
|
|
|
(6
|
)%
|
|
|
34
|
%
|
|
|
40
|
%
|
|
|
52
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Implied
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Premium for
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holdings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Based on
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Merger
|
Premium to Historical Average Trading Price Ratio
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
Mean
|
|
Median
|
|
Consideration
|
|
One Day Prior
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
5
|
%
|
|
|
21
|
%
|
|
|
24
|
%
|
|
|
17
|
%
|
One Month Average
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
9
|
%
|
|
|
24
|
%
|
|
|
26
|
%
|
|
|
13
|
%
|
Three Month Average
|
|
|
33
|
%
|
|
|
12
|
%
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
|
13
|
%
|
Six Month Average
|
|
|
29
|
%
|
|
|
14
|
%
|
|
|
21
|
%
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
|
14
|
%
|
One Year Average
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
|
25
|
%
|
|
|
25
|
%
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
No company or transaction utilized in the precedent general
partner buyouts analysis is identical to Holdings, the
Partnership, or the merger. In evaluating the precedent
transactions, Morgan Stanley made judgments and assumptions with
regard to general business, market and financial conditions and
other matters, which are beyond the control of Holdings and the
Partnership, such as the impact of competition on the business
of Holdings, the Partnership or the industry generally, industry
growth and the absence of any adverse material change in the
financial condition of Holdings, the Partnership or the industry
or in the financial markets in general, which could affect the
public trading value of the companies and the aggregate value of
the transactions to which they are being compared.
Pro
Forma Accretion/Dilution Analysis
Using financial projections provided by the management of the
Partnership GP, and projections provided by or on behalf of
management of Holdings GP, Morgan Stanley calculated the
accretion/dilution of the estimated distributable cash flow and
distributions to the existing unitholders of Holdings on a per
unit basis. For each of the years ended December 31, 2011
through December 31, 2015, Morgan Stanley compared the
distributable cash flow and distributions per unit of the pro
forma entity to the distributable cash flow and distributions
per unit of Holdings as a stand-alone entity. The analysis
indicated that the merger would be accretive to Holdings
distributable cash flow and distributions per unit for calendar
years 2011 through 2015 based on projections provided by the
management of the Partnership GP with respect to 2011 and 2012
and its financial advisor with respect to
2013-2015,
and projections provided by or on behalf of management of
Holdings GP. In addition, the merger would also be accretive to
Holdings distributable cash flow and distributions per
unit in each year based on Partnership distributions increasing
at 3%, 5% and 7% per year from 2011 through 2014, respectively.
General
In connection with the review of the merger by the Holdings ACG
Committee, Morgan Stanley performed a variety of financial and
comparative analyses and reviewed such underlying data as Morgan
Stanley deemed relevant for purposes of rendering its opinion.
The preparation of a financial opinion is a complex process and
is not necessarily susceptible to a partial analysis or summary
description. In arriving at its opinion, Morgan Stanley
considered the results of all of its analyses as a whole and did
not attribute any particular weight to any analysis or factor it
considered. Furthermore, Morgan Stanley believes that the
summary provided and the analyses described above must be
considered as a
59
whole and that selecting any portion of the analyses, without
considering all of the analyses as a whole, would create an
incomplete view of the process underlying Morgan Stanleys
analyses and opinion. In addition, Morgan Stanley may have given
various analyses and factors more or less weight than other
analyses and factors, and may have deemed various assumptions
more or less probable than other assumptions. As a result, the
ranges of valuations resulting from any particular analysis or
combination of analyses described above should not be taken to
be the view of Morgan Stanley with respect to the actual value
of Holdings or the Partnership. In performing its analyses,
Morgan Stanley made numerous assumptions with respect to
industry performance, general business, regulatory, economic,
market and financial conditions and other matters. Many of these
assumptions are beyond the control of Holdings and the
Partnership. Any estimates contained in Morgan Stanleys
analyses are not necessarily indicative of future results or
actual values, which may be significantly more or less favorable
than those suggested by such estimates.
Morgan Stanley conducted the analyses described above solely as
part of its analysis of the fairness of the exchange ratio
pursuant to the merger agreement from a financial point of view
to the holders of the Holdings units (other than the Holdings
supporting unitholders) and in connection with the delivery of
its opinion to the Holdings ACG Committee. These analyses do not
purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which the
Holdings units or the Partnership common units might actually
trade.
Morgan Stanleys opinion and its presentation to the
Holdings ACG Committee was one of many factors taken into
consideration by the Holdings ACG Committee in deciding to
approve and recommend that the Holdings Board authorize the
execution of the merger agreement, the GP merger agreement and
the related documents and the transactions contemplated thereby.
Consequently, the analyses as described above should not be
viewed as determinative of the opinion of the Holdings ACG
Committee with respect to the exchange ratio or of whether the
Holdings ACG Committee would have been willing to agree to a
different exchange ratio. The exchange ratio was determined
through arms-length negotiations between the Holdings ACG
Committee, and the Partnership and the Partnership ACG
Committee. Morgan Stanley provided advice to the Holdings ACG
Committee during these negotiations. Morgan Stanley did not,
however, recommend any specific exchange ratio to the Holdings
ACG Committee or that any specific exchange ratio constituted
the only appropriate exchange ratio for the merger.
Morgan Stanleys opinion was approved by a committee of
Morgan Stanley investment banking and other professionals in
accordance with its customary practice.
Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm engaged in
the securities, investment management and individual wealth
management businesses. Its securities business is engaged in
securities underwriting, trading and brokerage activities,
foreign exchange, commodities and derivatives trading, prime
brokerage, as well as providing investment banking, financing
and financial advisory services. Morgan Stanley, its affiliates,
directors and officers may at any time invest on a principal
basis or manage funds that invest, hold long or short positions,
finance positions, and may trade or otherwise structure and
effect transactions, for their own account or the accounts of
its customers, in debt or equity securities or loans of
Holdings, the Partnership, or any other company, or any currency
or commodity, that may be involved in this transaction, or any
related derivative instrument. During the two-year period prior
to the date of Morgan Stanleys opinion, Morgan Stanley
provided financial advisory and financing services unrelated to
the merger to each of Holdings and the Partnership, including
acting as a financial advisor to the Holdings ACG Committee in
connection with the merger of the Partnership and TEPPCO in
2009. For its financial advisory services rendered to the
Holdings ACG Committee in that engagement, Holdings paid Morgan
Stanley $3 million and reimbursed Morgan Stanley for its
expenses incurred in performing its services. Morgan Stanley may
also seek to provide such services to Holdings and the
Partnership in the future and expects to receive fees for the
rendering of these services.
Under the terms of its engagement letter with the Holdings ACG
Committee, Morgan Stanley provided the Holdings ACG Committee
with financial advisory services in connection with the merger
for which the Holdings ACG Committee has agreed to pay Morgan
Stanley a transaction fee of $8 million, which is
contingent upon, and will become payable upon, closing of the
merger. The Holdings ACG Committee may also determine, in its
sole discretion, whether to pay Morgan Stanley an additional
discretionary fee of up to
60
$2 million if their engagement extends for a protracted
period, also payable upon the closing of the merger. The
Holdings ACG Committee has also agreed to reimburse Morgan
Stanley for its expenses incurred in performing its services. In
addition, the Holdings ACG Committee has agreed to indemnify
Morgan Stanley and its affiliates, their respective directors,
officers, agents and employees and each person, if any,
controlling Morgan Stanley or any of its affiliates against
certain liabilities and expenses, including certain liabilities
under the federal securities laws, related to or arising out of
Morgan Stanleys engagement.
No
Appraisal Rights
Holdings unitholders do not have appraisal rights under
Holdings partnership agreement, the merger agreement or
applicable Delaware law.
Antitrust
and Regulatory Matters
Due to rules applicable to partnerships and the common control
of Holdings and the Partnership, no filing is required under the
HSR Act and the rules promulgated thereunder by the FTC.
However, at any time before or after completion of the merger,
the DOJ, the FTC, or any state could take such action under the
antitrust laws as it deems necessary or desirable in the public
interest, including seeking to enjoin the completion of the
merger, to rescind the merger or to seek divestiture of
particular assets of the Partnership or Holdings. Private
parties also may seek to take legal action under the antitrust
laws under certain circumstances. In addition,
non-U.S.
governmental and regulatory authorities may seek to take action
under applicable antitrust laws. A challenge to the merger on
antitrust grounds may be made and, if such a challenge is made,
it is possible that the Partnership and Holdings will not
prevail.
Listing
of Common Units to be Issued in the Merger
The Partnership expects to obtain approval to list on the NYSE
the Partnership common units to be issued pursuant to the merger
agreement, which approval is a condition to closing the merger.
Accounting
Treatment
The merger will be accounted for in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification
810, Consolidations Overall Changes
in Parents Ownership Interest in a Subsidiary, which
is referred to as FASB ASC 810. Holdings is considered as
the surviving consolidated entity for accounting purposes rather
than the Partnership, which is the surviving consolidated entity
for legal and reporting purposes. Therefore, the changes in
Holdings ownership interest will be accounted for as an
equity transaction and no gain or loss will be recognized as a
result of the merger.
Pending
Litigation
Litigation
Related to the Merger
On September 9, 2010 Sanjay Israni, a purported Holdings
unitholder, filed a complaint in the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware as a putative class action on behalf of
Holdings unitholders, captioned Sanjay Israni v. EPE
Holdings LLC, Enterprise GP Holdings L.P., Enterprise Products
Company, Enterprise Products Partners L.P., Oscar S. Andras,
Ralph S. Cunningham, Richard H. Bachmann, Randa Duncan Williams,
Thurmon M. Andress, Charles E. McMahen, Edwin E. Smith and B.W.
Waycaster. The Israni Complaint alleges, among other things,
that the named directors, EPCO and the Partnership have breached
fiduciary duties in connection with the proposed merger and that
Holdings aided and abetted in these alleged breaches of
fiduciary duties.
On September 24, 2010 Richard Fouke, another purported
Holdings unitholder, filed a complaint in the Court, as a
putative class action on behalf of Holdings unitholders,
captioned Richard Fouke v. EPE Holdings LLC, Enterprise
GP Holdings L.P., Enterprise Products Company, Enterprise
Products Partners L.P., Enterprise Products GP, LLC, Oscar S.
Andras, Ralph S. Cunningham, Richard H. Bachmann,
Randa Duncan Williams, Thurmon M. Andress, Charles E. McMahen,
Edwin E. Smith and B.W. Waycaster. The Fouke Complaint
alleges, among other things, that the named directors, Holdings
GP, the Partnership, the Partnership GP and EPCO breached the
implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing in
connection with the proposed merger and that Holdings and the
other defendants aided and abetted in the alleged breach.
Additionally, on September 28, 2010, Eugene
Lonergan, Sr., a third purported Holdings unitholder, filed
a complaint in the Court, as a putative class action on behalf
of Holdings unitholders, captioned
61
Eugene Lonergan, Sr. v. EPE Holdings LLC,
Enterprise GP Holdings L.P., Oscar S. Andras, Ralph S.
Cunningham, Richard H. Bachmann, Randa Duncan Williams, Thurmon
M. Andress, Charles E. McMahen, Edwin E. Smith and B.W.
Waycaster. The Lonergan Complaint alleges that the named
directors and Holdings GP breached the implied contractual
covenant of good faith and fair dealing, including failing to
make adequate disclosures, in connection with the proposed
merger. On October 8, 2010, the Court held a hearing on a
motion by the plaintiff to expedite the proceedings. On
October 11, 2010, the Court denied the motion.
Finally, on October 11, 2010, John Psomas, a purported
Partnership unitholder, filed a complaint in the Court, as a
putative class action on behalf of Partnership unitholders,
captioned John Psomas v. Enterprise Products Partners
L.P., Enterprise Products GP, LLC, Michael A. Creel, W. Randall
Fowler, A. James Teague, Michael J. Knesek, E. William
Barnett, Charles M. Rampacek and Rex C. Ross. The Psomas
Complaint alleges that the Partnership and the Partnership GP
breached the Partnerships partnership agreement by failing
to submit the merger agreement to a Partnership unitholder vote
and that the named directors breached their fiduciary duties of
candor and full disclosure.
Each of these complaints seeks to enjoin the proposed merger
transaction and, in the event the merger is consummated, the
Psomas Complaint seeks a Partnership unitholder vote to ratify
approval of the merger and damages resulting from the
directors alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. The
Partnership and Holdings cannot predict the outcome of these or
any other lawsuits that might be filed subsequent to the date of
the filing of this proxy statement/prospectus, nor can the
Partnership and Holdings predict the amount of time and expense
that will be required to resolve these lawsuits. The Partnership
and Holdings intend to vigorously defend against these and any
other actions.
Other
Litigation
In February 2008, Joel A. Gerber, a purported unitholder of
Holdings, filed a derivative complaint on behalf of Holdings in
the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. The amended
complaint names as defendants Holdings GP, the Holdings Board,
EPCO, and Dan L. Duncan and certain of his affiliates. Holdings
is also named as a nominal defendant. The complaint alleges that
the defendants, in breach of their fiduciary duties to Holdings
and its unitholders, caused Holdings to purchase in May 2007 the
membership interests in the general partner of TEPPCO and TEPPCO
units from Mr. Duncans affiliates at an unfair price.
The complaint also alleges that Charles E. McMahen, Edwin E.
Smith and Thurmon M. Andress, constituting the three members of
the Audit, Conflicts and Governance Committee of the Holdings
Board at the time of the challenged transaction, cannot be
considered independent because of their relationships with
Mr. Duncan. The complaint seeks relief (i) awarding
damages for profits allegedly obtained by the defendants as a
result of the alleged wrongdoings in the complaint and
(ii) awarding plaintiff costs of the action, including fees
and expenses of his attorneys and experts. Management believes
this lawsuit is without merit and intends to vigorously defend
against it.
Transactions
Related to the Merger
Support
Agreement
In connection with the merger agreement, the Partnership entered
into the support agreement with the Holdings supporting
unitholders pursuant to which the Holdings supporting
unitholders, who directly own 105,739,220 Holdings units
(representing approximately 76% of the outstanding Holdings
units and a sufficient vote for approval of the merger agreement
if voted in favor therefor), agreed to vote their Holdings units
(i) in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement, any
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement and any other
action reasonably requested by the Partnership in furtherance
thereof, submitted for the vote or written consent of Holdings
unitholders, (ii) against any action or agreement that
would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or
warranty or any other obligation or agreement of Holdings or
Holdings GP or any of their subsidiaries contained in the merger
agreement, and (iii) against any action, agreement or
transaction that would impede, interfere with, delay, postpone,
discourage, frustrate the purposes of or adversely affect the
merger or the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.
The support agreement will terminate automatically on
December 31, 2010 or upon any earlier termination of the
merger agreement. In addition, the Holdings supporting
unitholders may terminate their obligations under the support
agreement, including their obligations to execute and deliver
the distribution waiver agreement, (1) after any change in
recommendation by the Holdings ACG Committee permitted under the
merger agreement, (2) after
62
any change in, or a failure to maintain, the Holdings ACG
Committees Special Approval in accordance with
the Holdings partnership agreement and (3) after the
occurrence of certain specified changes in U.S. federal
income tax law if such changes occur prior to the closing of the
merger.
The foregoing description of the support agreement is qualified
in its entirety by reference to the full text of the support
agreement, a copy of which is attached as Annex D to this
proxy statement/prospectus and is incorporated into this proxy
statement/prospectus by reference.
Fourth
Amendment to the Holdings Partnership Agreement
Pursuant to the merger agreement and immediately prior to the
effective time of the merger, Holdings existing
partnership agreement will be amended to provide for the
transformation of the approximate 0.01% economic interest of the
general partner in Holdings owned by Holdings GP into 13,921
Holdings units representing an approximate 0.01% limited partner
interest in Holdings and a non-economic general partner interest
in Holdings, in accordance with a Fourth Amendment to the First
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Holdings, the form of which is attached as Annex A to the
merger agreement.
GP
Merger
Immediately following the transformation of the general partner
interest in Holdings and pursuant to the GP merger agreement,
the Partnership GP (currently a wholly owned subsidiary of
Holdings) will merge with and into Holdings, with Holdings
surviving the GP merger. In accordance with an amendment to the
Partnerships existing partnership agreement to be executed
in connection with the merger, Holdings will succeed the
Partnership GP as an interim general partner of the Partnership
immediately prior to the effective time of the merger.
Sixth
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the
Partnership
Immediately following the effective time of the GP merger, at
the effective time of the merger, Holdings will merge into
MergerCo, with MergerCo surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Partnership. As a result of the merger and in accordance
with the Sixth Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, the
form of which is attached as Annex B to this proxy
statement/prospectus and which will be executed in connection
with the merger, the IDRs in the Partnership will be cancelled,
the current 2% economic general partner interest in the
Partnership will be converted to a non-economic general partner
interest in the Partnership and Holdings GP will succeed
Holdings as the new general partner of the Partnership.
Distribution
Waiver Agreement
In connection with the merger, DFIDH, an affiliate of EPCO, will
agree to designate and waive its rights to quarterly
distributions with respect to the specified number of
Partnership common units listed below over a five-year period
after the merger closing date as set forth in the distribution
waiver agreement. The number of Partnership common units on
which distributions are waived is initially 30,610,000
Partnership common units, which number of units decreases
annually for a five-year period after the merger closing date as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Partnership
|
|
|
Common Units on Which
|
Period
|
|
Distributions are Waived
|
|
First four-quarter period following closing
|
|
|
30,610,000
|
|
Second four-quarter period following closing
|
|
|
26,130,000
|
|
Third four-quarter period following closing
|
|
|
23,700,000
|
|
Fourth four-quarter period following closing
|
|
|
22,560,000
|
|
Fifth four-quarter period following closing
|
|
|
17,690,000
|
|
Based on the quarterly distribution rate for Partnership common
units of $0.5825 declared with respect to the third quarter of
2010, the distributions waived would aggregate approximately
$281 million during these distribution periods.
DFIDH will have no obligation to execute and deliver the
distribution waiver agreement in the event of a termination of
the support agreement, as described above under
Support Agreement.
The foregoing description of the distribution waiver agreement
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of
the distribution waiver agreement, which is attached as
Annex C to this proxy statement/prospectus and is
incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference.
63
THE
MERGER AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of the material terms of the merger
agreement and the related transactions. The provisions of the
merger agreement are extensive and not easily summarized. This
summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the merger
agreement, a copy of which is attached to this proxy
statement/prospectus as Annex A and is incorporated into
this proxy statement/prospectus by reference. You should read
the merger agreement because it, and not this proxy
statement/prospectus, is the legal document that governs the
terms of the merger.
The merger agreement contains representations and warranties by
each of the parties to the merger agreement. The assertions
embodied in those representations and warranties are qualified
by information in confidential disclosure schedules that the
parties have exchanged in connection with signing the merger
agreement. The disclosure schedules contain information that
modifies, qualifies and creates exceptions to the
representations and warranties set forth in the attached merger
agreement. Accordingly, you should keep in mind that the
representations and warranties are modified in important part by
the underlying disclosure schedules. The disclosure schedules
contain information that has been included in Holdings and
the Partnerships general prior public disclosures, as well
as additional information, some of which is non-public.
Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the
representations and warranties may have changed since the date
of the merger agreement, and this information may or may not be
fully reflected in the companies public disclosures.
For the purposes of this summary of the merger agreement, any
reference to subsidiaries of Holdings and Holdings GP does not
include the Partnership GP or the Partnership and its
subsidiaries.
Structure
of the Merger and Related Transactions
Pursuant to the merger agreement and immediately prior to the
effective time of the merger, Holdings existing
partnership agreement will be amended to provide for the
transformation of the approximate 0.01% economic interest of the
general partner in Holdings owned by Holdings GP into 13,921
Holdings units representing an approximate 0.01% limited partner
interest in Holdings and a non-economic general partner interest
in Holdings, in accordance with a Fourth Amendment to the First
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Holdings, the form of which is attached as Annex A to the
merger agreement.
Immediately following the transformation of the general partner
interest in Holdings and pursuant to the GP merger agreement,
the Partnership GP (currently a wholly owned subsidiary of
Holdings) will merge with and into Holdings, with Holdings
surviving the GP merger. In accordance with an amendment to the
Partnerships existing partnership agreement to be executed
in connection with the merger, Holdings will succeed the
Partnership GP as an interim general partner of the Partnership
immediately prior to the effective time of the merger.
Immediately following the effective time of the GP merger, at
the effective time of the merger, Holdings will merge into
MergerCo, with MergerCo surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Partnership. As a result of the merger and in accordance
with the execution of the Sixth Partnership Agreement of the
Partnership, the form of which is attached as Annex B to
this proxy statement/prospectus, (i) each outstanding unit
of Holdings (other than Holdings units held by Holdings, the
Partnership or their respective subsidiaries) will be converted
into the right to receive 1.50 Partnership common units,
(ii) the IDRs in the Partnership will be cancelled,
(iii) the current 2% economic general partner interest in
the Partnership will be converted to a non-economic general
partner interest in the Partnership and (iv) Holdings GP
will succeed Holdings as the new general partner of the
Partnership. The 21,563,177 Partnership common units owned by
Holdings will be cancelled by the Partnership immediately
following the merger.
When the
Merger Becomes Effective
The closing of the merger will take place on either (i) the
business day after the date on which the last of the conditions
set forth in the merger agreement (other than those conditions
that by their nature cannot be satisfied until the closing date)
have been satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms of
the merger
64
agreement, or (ii) such other date to which the parties may
agree in writing. Please read Conditions to
the Merger beginning on page 71 for a more complete
description of the conditions that must be satisfied or waived
prior to closing. The date on which the closing occurs is
referred to as the closing date.
The merger will become effective at the effective time, which
will occur upon Holdings filing a certificate of merger with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such later
date and time as may be set forth in the certificate of merger.
The MergerCo certificate of formation and the MergerCo limited
liability company agreement will remain unchanged and will be
the certificate of formation and limited liability company
agreement, respectively, of the surviving entity, until duly
amended in accordance with their terms and applicable law.
Effect of
Merger on Outstanding Holdings Units and Other
Interests
At the effective time, by virtue of the merger and without any
further action on the part of any holder of Holdings units, the
following will occur:
|
|
|
|
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All of the limited liability company interests in MergerCo
outstanding immediately prior to the effective time will remain
outstanding as limited liability company interests in the
surviving entity, and the Partnership, as the holder of such
limited liability company interests, will continue as the sole
member of the surviving entity.
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The general partner interest in Holdings issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the effective time (in the non-economic
form effected by the amendment to the Holdings partnership
agreement) will be converted into the right to receive the
non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership as set
forth in the Sixth Partnership Agreement, and Holdings GP will
be admitted (immediately prior to the effective time in
accordance with the Partnerships partnership agreement) as
the sole general partner of the Partnership in accordance with
the Partnerships partnership agreement and the Sixth
Partnership Agreement.
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Each Holdings unit issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the effective time (other than Holdings units held by the
Partnership or its subsidiaries or Holdings or its subsidiaries)
will be converted into the right to receive 1.50 Partnership
common units.
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All Holdings units, when converted in connection with receiving
the merger consideration, will cease to be outstanding and will
automatically be cancelled and cease to exist. At the effective
time, each holder of a certificate representing Holdings units
and each holder of non-certificated Holdings units represented
by book-entry will cease to be a unitholder of Holdings and
cease to have any rights as a unitholder of Holdings, except the
right to receive (a) 1.50 Partnership common units for each
outstanding Holdings unit, and the right to be admitted as an
additional limited partner of the Partnership, (b) any cash
to be paid in lieu of any fractional new Partnership common unit
in accordance with the merger agreement and (c) any
distributions in accordance with the merger agreement, in each
case, to be issued or paid, without interest, in accordance with
the merger agreement. In addition, to the extent applicable,
holders of Holdings units as of the effective time will have
continued rights to any distribution, without interest, with
respect to such Holdings units with a record date occurring
prior to the effective time that may have been declared or made
by Holdings with respect to such Holdings units in accordance
with the terms of the merger agreement and which remains unpaid
as of the effective time. After the effective time, the unit
transfer books of Holdings will be closed immediately and there
will be no further registration of transfers on the unit
transfer books of Holdings with respect to Holdings units.
For a description of the Partnership common units, please read
Description of Partnership Common Units, and for a
description of the comparative rights of the holders of
Partnership common units and Holdings units, please read
Comparison of the Rights of Partnership and Holdings
Unitholders.
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Exchange
of Certificates; Fractional Units
Exchange
Agent
In connection with the merger, the Partnership has appointed BNY
Mellon Shareowner Services LLC to act as exchange
agent for the issuance of Partnership common units and for
cash payments for fractional units. Promptly after the effective
time, the Partnership will deposit or will cause to be deposited
with the exchange agent for the benefit of the holders of
Holdings units, for exchange through the exchange agent, new
Partnership common units and cash as required by the merger
agreement. The Partnership has agreed to make available to the
exchange agent, from time to time as needed, cash sufficient to
pay any distributions pursuant to the merger agreement and to
make payments in lieu of any fractional new Partnership common
units pursuant to the merger agreement, in each case without
interest. Any cash and new Partnership common units deposited
with the exchange agent (including as payment for any fractional
new Partnership common units and any distributions with respect
to such fractional new Partnership common units) are referred to
as the exchange fund. The exchange agent will
deliver the merger consideration contemplated to be paid for
Holdings units pursuant to the merger agreement out of the
exchange fund. Except as contemplated by the merger agreement,
the exchange fund will not be used for any other purpose.
Exchange
of Units
Promptly after the effective time of the merger, the exchange
agent will mail to each applicable holder of a Holdings unit a
letter of transmittal and instructions explaining how to
surrender Holdings units to the exchange agent. This letter will
contain instructions on how to surrender certificates or
book-entry units formerly representing Holdings units in
exchange for the merger consideration the holder is entitled to
receive under the merger agreement.
Holdings unit certificates should NOT be returned with the
enclosed proxy card. Holdings unitholders who
deliver a properly completed and signed letter of transmittal
and any other documents required by the instructions to the
transmittal letter, together with their Holdings unit
certificates, if any, will be entitled to receive:
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new Partnership common units representing, in the aggregate, the
whole number of new Partnership common units that the holder has
the right to receive pursuant to the terms of the merger
agreement and as described above under Effect
of Merger on Outstanding Holdings Units and Other
Interests, and
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a check in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of cash that
the holder has the right to receive pursuant to the merger
agreement, including cash payable in lieu of any fractional new
Partnership common units and distributions pursuant to the terms
of the merger agreement. No interest will be paid or accrued on
any merger consideration, any cash payment in lieu of fractional
new Partnership common units, or on any unpaid distributions
payable to holders of certificated or book-entry Holdings units.
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In the event of a transfer of ownership of Holdings units that
is not registered in the transfer records of Holdings, the
merger consideration payable in respect of those Holdings units
may be paid to a transferee, if the certificate representing
those Holdings units or evidence of ownership of the book-entry
Holdings units is presented to the exchange agent, and in the
case of both certificated and book-entry Holdings units,
accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect the
transfer and the person requesting the exchange will pay to the
exchange agent in advance any transfer or other taxes required
by reason of the delivery of the merger consideration in any
name other than that of the record holder of those Holdings
units, or will establish to the satisfaction of the exchange
agent that any transfer or other taxes have been paid or are not
payable. Until the required documentation has been delivered and
certificates, if any, have been surrendered, as contemplated by
the merger agreement, each certificate or book-entry Holdings
unit will be deemed at any time after the effective time to
represent only the right to receive, upon the delivery and
surrender of the Holdings units, the merger consideration
payable in respect of Holdings units and any cash or
distributions to which the holder is entitled pursuant to the
terms of the merger agreement.
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All new Partnership common units to be issued in the merger will
be issued in book-entry form, without physical certificates.
Upon the issuance of new Partnership common units to the holders
of Holdings units in accordance with the merger agreement and
the compliance by such holders with the requirements of
Section 10.4 of the Sixth Partnership Agreement, which
requirements may be satisfied by each holder of Holdings units
by the execution and delivery by such holder of a completed and
executed letter of transmittal, the general partner will be
deemed to have automatically consented to the admission of such
holders as limited partners of the Partnership and will reflect
such admission on the books and records of the Partnership.
The exchange agent will deliver to the Partnership any
Partnership common units to be issued in the merger, cash in
lieu of fractional units to be paid in connection with the
merger and any distributions paid on Partnership common units,
in each case without interest, to be issued in the merger that
are not claimed by former Holdings unitholders within
180 days after the effective time of the merger.
Thereafter, the Partnership will act as the exchange agent and
former Holdings unitholders may look only to the Partnership for
their new Partnership common units, cash in lieu of fractional
units and unpaid distributions, in each case without interest.
The merger consideration issued upon conversion of a Holdings
unit in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement is
deemed issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to
such unit.
Distributions
No distributions declared or made with respect to Partnership
common units with a record date after the effective time will be
paid to the holder of any Holdings units with respect to new
Partnership common units that such holder would be entitled to
receive in accordance with the merger agreement and no cash
payment in lieu of fractional new Partnership common units will
be paid to any Holdings unitholder until the holder has
delivered the required documentation and surrendered any
certificate as contemplated by the merger agreement. Subject to
applicable law, following compliance with the requirements of
the merger agreement, the following will be paid to a holder of
new Partnership common units, without interest,
(i) promptly after the time of the compliance with the
merger agreements procedures, the amount of any cash
payable in lieu of fractional new Partnership common units to
which the holder is entitled pursuant to the merger agreement
and the amount of distributions with a record date after the
effective time that had already been paid with respect to new
Partnership common units and payable with respect to such new
Partnership common units, and (ii) at the appropriate
payment date, the amount of distributions with a record date
after the effective time but prior to such delivery and
surrender and a payment date subsequent to such compliance
payable with respect to such new Partnership common units.
Fractional
Units
No fractional Partnership common units will be issued upon the
surrender of Holdings units. In lieu of any fractional
Partnership common unit, each Holdings unitholder who would
otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a new Partnership common
unit will be paid in cash (without interest rounded up to the
nearest whole cent) an amount equal to the product of
(i) the average closing price of Partnership common units
for the ten consecutive NYSE full trading days ending on the
NYSE full trading day immediately preceding the closing date and
(ii) the fraction of a new Partnership common unit that the
holder would otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to the
merger agreement. Any fractional Partnership common unit
interest will not entitle its owner to vote or to have any
rights as a Partnership unitholder with regard to such interest.
To the extent applicable, each holder of Holdings units is
deemed to have consented pursuant to the merger agreement for
U.S. federal income tax purposes to report the cash
received for fractional Partnership common units in the merger
as a sale of a portion of that holders Holdings units to
the Partnership.
No
Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, none of Holdings GP, the
Partnership, Holdings or the surviving entity will be liable to
any holder of Holdings units for any Partnership common units
(or distributions with respect thereto) or cash from the
exchange fund delivered to a public official pursuant to any
abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
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Lost,
Stolen or Destroyed Certificates
If any certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the
making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such
certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by
the Partnership, the posting by such person of a bond, in a
reasonable amount that the Partnership may require, as indemnity
against any claim that may be made against it with respect to
such certificate, the exchange agent will pay in exchange for
the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate the merger
consideration payable in respect of Holdings units represented
by the certificate and any distributions to which the holders
thereof are entitled pursuant to the terms of the merger
agreement.
Withholding
Rights
Each of the Partnership, the surviving entity and the exchange
agent will be entitled to deduct and withhold from the
consideration otherwise payable pursuant to the merger agreement
to any holder of Holdings units any amounts as the Partnership,
the surviving entity or the exchange agent is required to deduct
and withhold under any provision of federal, state, local, or
foreign tax law with respect to the making of such payment. The
Partnership, the surviving entity or the exchange agent, as the
case may be, will provide reasonable notice to the applicable
holders of Holdings units prior to withholding any amounts
pursuant to the merger agreement. To the extent that amounts are
deducted and withheld by the Partnership, the surviving entity
or the exchange agent as described in this paragraph, the
deducted and withheld amounts will be treated for all purposes
of the merger agreement as having been paid to the holder of
Holdings units in respect of whom such deduction and withholding
was made by the Partnership, the surviving entity or the
exchange agent, as the case may be.
Investment
of the Exchange Fund
The Partnership will cause the exchange agent to invest any cash
included in the exchange fund as directed by the Partnership on
a daily basis. The investment of the exchange fund will be
limited to direct short-term obligations of, or short-term
obligations fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by,
the U.S. government and no investment or loss thereon will
affect the amounts payable or the timing of the amounts payable
to Holdings unitholders pursuant to the merger agreement. Any
interest and other income resulting from the investments
described in this paragraph will be paid to the Partnership.
Anti-dilution
Provisions
In the event of any subdivisions, reclassifications,
recapitalizations, splits, unit distributions, combinations or
exchange of units with respect to, or rights in respect of,
Holdings units or Partnership common units (in each case, as
permitted pursuant to the merger agreement), the number of new
Partnership common units to be issued in the merger and the
average closing price of Partnership common units will be
correspondingly adjusted to provide to the holders of Holdings
units the same economic effect as contemplated by the merger
agreement prior to such event.
Treatment
of Holdings Equity-Based Awards; Unit Appreciation
Rights
At the effective time, each outstanding unit appreciation right
relating to the Holdings units (Holdings UAR),
including both those granted pursuant to the Enterprise Products
Company 2005 EPE Holdings Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended
and restated from time to time (the Holdings Unit
Plan), and outside the Holdings Unit Plan, will be assumed
by the Partnership and converted into a number of common unit
appreciation rights (CUARs) of the Partnership equal
to the product of the number of Holdings UARs to which such
grant was subject at the effective time multiplied by 1.50 (with
any resulting fraction of a CUAR being rounded down to the
nearest whole CUAR), with an exercise price per CUAR equal to
the per Holdings UAR exercise price divided by 1.50 (with any
resulting exercise price that contains a fraction of a cent
being increased to the next whole cent). This assumption and
conversion will occur automatically and without any action on
the part of the holder of any UAR (except for directors of DEP
Holdings, LLC, the general partner of Duncan Energy Partners
L.P. (DEP GP), whose consent will have been
obtained to the extent necessary).
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In the case of directors of the general partner of Duncan Energy
Partners whose consent has been obtained if necessary, such
persons outstanding Holdings UARs, whether or not
exercisable or vested, will at the effective time cease to
represent, as of the effective time, a Holdings UAR and will be
converted, in settlement and cancellation of such Holdings UARs,
into the right to receive, at the effective time, a lump sum
cash payment, without interest, equal to the Fair Market Value
of such Holdings unit on such date over the Grant Price per
Holdings unit (with the terms Fair Market Value and Grant Price
as defined under the Holdings Unit Plan). Each CUAR will be
subject to, and vest upon, the terms and conditions that are
equivalent to those applicable to the Holdings UARs. Promptly
after the effective time, the Partnership will provide each
holder of a Holdings UAR with a notice describing the assumption
and conversion of such awards. The assumption and conversion of
the Holdings UARs (and the cash-out of Holdings UARs held by
directors of DEP GP) pursuant to the merger agreement will be in
full satisfaction of the obligations in respect thereof.
Actions
Pending the Merger
Each of (i) the Partnership and the Partnership GP have
agreed that, without the prior written consent of the Holdings
ACG Committee, and (ii) Holdings and the Holdings GP have
agreed that, without the prior written consent of the
Partnership ACG Committee, which consents, in either case, will
not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, it will
not, and will cause its subsidiaries not to, during the period
from the date of the merger agreement until the effective time
of the merger or the date, if any, on which the merger agreement
is terminated, except as expressly contemplated or permitted by
the merger agreement or the GP merger agreement:
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conduct its business and the business of its subsidiaries other
than in the ordinary and usual course;
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fail to use commercially reasonable best efforts to preserve
intact its business organizations, goodwill and assets and
maintain its rights, franchises and existing relations with
customers, suppliers, employees or business associates;
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take any action that would have a material adverse effect;
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in the case of Holdings and its subsidiaries, other than the
conversion of the Holdings general partner interest and the
issuance of Holdings units in connection therewith required in
accordance with the merger agreement and related amendment to
the Holdings partnership agreement, (i) issue, sell or
otherwise permit to become outstanding, or authorize the
creation of, any additional equity or any additional rights or
enter into any agreement to do such things or (ii) permit
any additional equity interests to become subject to new grants
of employee unit options, unit appreciation rights or similar
equity-based employee rights; and in the case of the Partnership
and its subsidiaries take any action described in (i) and
(ii) above, which would materially adversely affect the
Partnerships or Holdings ability to consummate the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement;
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other than the conversion of the Holdings general partner
interest and the issuance of Holdings units in connection with
the conversion required in accordance with the merger agreement
and the amendment to the Holdings partnership agreement:
(a) split, combine or reclassify any of its equity
interests or issue or authorize or propose the issuance of any
other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution
for its equity interests; or (b) repurchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire, or permit any of its subsidiaries to
purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any partnership or other
equity interests or rights, except as required by the terms of
its securities outstanding on the date of the merger agreement
or as contemplated by any existing compensation and benefit plan
on the date of the merger agreement;
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in the case of Holdings and its subsidiaries, (i) sell,
lease, dispose of or discontinue all or any portion of its
assets, business or properties other than uses of cash in the
ordinary course of business, including distributions permitted
under the merger agreement, (ii) acquire, by merger or
otherwise, or lease any assets or all or any portion of the
business or property of any other entity other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,
(iii) merge, consolidate or enter into any other business
combination transaction with any person, or (iv) convert
from a limited partnership or limited liability company, as the
case may be, to any other business entity; and in the case of
the Partnership, (i) merge,
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consolidate or enter into any other business combination
transaction with any person or make any acquisition or
disposition that would be likely to have a material adverse
effect, or (ii) enter into a definitive agreement with
respect to a partners acquisition proposal (as defined in the
merger agreement and described under
Covenants Acquisition Proposals; Change in
Recommendation below);
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in the case of Holdings GP and Holdings, make or declare
dividends or distributions to the holders of Holdings units
other than regular quarterly distributions in an amount not to
exceed $0.015 plus the distribution amount per Holdings unit
paid with respect to the second quarter of 2010, and in the case
of the Partnership, make or declare dividends or distributions
to the holders of Partnership common units other than regular
quarterly distributions in an amount not to exceed $0.0075 plus
the distribution amount per Partnership common unit paid with
respect to the second quarter of 2010;
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in the case of Holdings GP and Holdings, amend the Partnership
GPs limited liability company agreement, the
Partnerships partnership agreement, Holdings
partnership agreement or Holdings GPs limited liability
company agreement other than in accordance with the merger
agreement; and in the case of the Partnership, amend the
Partnerships partnership agreement other than in
accordance with the merger agreement;
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in the case of Holdings and the Partnership, and each of their
respective subsidiaries, enter into any material contract or
modify, amend, terminate or assign, or waive or assign any
rights under any material contract in any material respect in a
manner which is adverse to the Partnership and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, or which could prevent or materially delay the
consummation of the merger or the other transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement past the December 31,
2010 or any extension of the termination date;
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in the case of Holdings and its subsidiaries, waive, release,
assign, settle or compromise any claim, action or proceeding;
and in the case of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, waive,
release, assign, settle or compromise any claim, action or
proceeding that would reasonably be expected to result in a
material adverse effect on the Partnership or on Holdings;
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implement or adopt any material change in its accounting
principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required
by law or U.S. GAAP;
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fail to use commercially reasonable best efforts to maintain
with financially responsible insurance companies, insurance in
such amounts and against such risks and losses as has been
customarily maintained by it in the past;
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change in any material respect any of its express or deemed
elections relating to taxes, including elections for any and all
joint ventures, partnerships, limited liability companies or
other investments where it has the capacity to make such binding
election;
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settle or compromise any material claim, action, suit,
litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or
controversy relating to taxes;
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change in any material respect any of its methods of reporting
income or deductions for U.S. federal income tax purposes from
those employed in the preparation of its U.S. federal income tax
return for the most recent taxable year for which a return has
been filed, except as may be required by applicable law;
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in the case of Holdings and its subsidiaries, (i) adopt,
enter into, amend or otherwise increase, or accelerate the
payment or vesting of the amounts, benefits or rights payable or
accrued or to become payable or accrued under, any compensation
and benefit plan, (ii) grant any severance or termination
pay to any officer or director of Holdings or any of its
subsidiaries or (iii) establish, adopt, enter into or amend
any plan, policy, program or arrangement for the benefit of any
current or former directors or officers of Holdings or any of
its subsidiaries or any of their beneficiaries;
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in the case of Holdings and its subsidiaries, (i) incur,
assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any
indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise), other than
borrowings under existing revolving
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credit facilities in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice, (ii) enter into any material lease
(whether operating or capital), (iii) create any lien on
its property or the property of its subsidiaries in connection
with any pre-existing indebtedness, new indebtedness or lease,
or (iv) make or commit to make any capital expenditures;
and in the case of the Partnership, take any action described in
clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above which would
materially adversely affect the Partnerships or
Holdings ability to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement;
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authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt
a plan of complete or partial dissolution or liquidation;
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except as permitted by the merger agreement, knowingly take any
action that is intended or is reasonably likely to result in
(i) any of its representations and warranties in the merger
agreement being or becoming untrue in any material respect at
the closing date, (ii) any of the conditions to closing not
being satisfied, (iii) any material delay or prevention of
the consummation of the merger or (iv) a material violation
of any provision of the merger agreement except, in each case,
as may be required by applicable law; or
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agree or commit to do any of the prohibited actions described
above.
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Conditions
to the Merger
Conditions
of Each Party
The respective obligations of the parties to effect the merger
are subject to the satisfaction or waiver, on or prior to the
closing date of the merger, of each of the following conditions:
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the merger agreement and the merger will have been approved and
adopted by the affirmative vote of holders (as of the record
date for the Holdings meeting) of a majority of the outstanding
Holdings units;
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all filings required to be made prior to the effective time
with, and all other consents, approvals, permits and
authorizations required to be obtained prior to the effective
time from, any governmental authority in connection with the
execution and delivery of the merger agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby by the
parties to the merger agreement or their affiliates will have
been made or obtained, except where the failure to obtain such
consents, approvals, permits and authorizations would not be
reasonably likely to result in a material adverse effect on the
Partnership or Holdings;
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no order, decree or injunction of any court or agency of
competent jurisdiction will be in effect, and no law will have
been enacted or adopted, that enjoins, prohibits or makes
illegal the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement, and no action, proceeding or
investigation by any governmental authority with respect to the
merger or the other transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement will be pending that seeks to restrain, enjoin,
prohibit or delay the consummation of the merger or such other
transaction or to impose any material restrictions or
requirements thereon or on the Partnership or Holdings with
respect thereto; provided, however, that prior to invoking this
condition, each party must have used its commercially reasonable
best efforts in good faith to consummate the merger as required
under the merger agreement;
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the registration statement of which this proxy
statement/prospectus is a part will have become effective under
the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the registration statement will have been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose will have been
initiated or threatened by the SEC;
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the new Partnership common units to be issued in the merger will
have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official
notice of issuance;
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the GP merger will have become effective and Holdings will have
been duly admitted as the new sole general partner of the
Partnership;
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Holdings GP as the new sole general partner of the Partnership
will have executed the Sixth Partnership Agreement and Holdings
GP will have been duly admitted as the general partner of the
Partnership in accordance with the Sixth Partnership
Agreement; and
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certain affiliates of EPCO will have executed and delivered the
distribution waiver agreement.
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Additional
Conditions to the Obligations of Holdings
The obligations of Holdings to effect the merger are further
subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Holdings, on or prior
to the closing date of the merger, of each of the following
conditions:
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each of the representations and warranties contained in the
merger agreement of the Partnership and the Partnership GP are
true and correct in all material respects as of the date of the
merger agreement and on the closing date, except for any
representations and warranties made as of a specified date,
which are true and correct as of that date in all material
respects;
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each and all of the agreements and covenants of the Partnership,
the Partnership GP and MergerCo to be performed and complied
with pursuant to the merger agreement on or prior to the closing
date must have been duly performed and complied with in all
material respects;
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Holdings will have received a certificate signed by the chief
executive officer of the Partnership GP, dated the closing date,
to the effect that the conditions set forth in the first two
bullet points immediately above have been satisfied;
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Holdings will have received an opinion from Vinson &
Elkins, counsel to Holdings, to the effect that:
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no gain or loss should be recognized by Holdings unitholders to
the extent that Partnership common units are received in
exchange therefor as a result of the merger (other than gain
resulting from either (i) any decrease in partnership
liabilities pursuant to Section 752 of the Internal Revenue
Code or (ii) any cash received in lieu of any fractional
Partnership common units); and
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this registration statement accurately sets forth the material
U.S. federal income tax consequences to the Holdings
unitholders of the merger and the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement; and
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there has not occurred a material adverse effect with respect to
the Partnership between the date of the merger agreement and the
closing date.
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Additional
Conditions to the Obligations of the Partnership
The obligations of the Partnership to effect the merger are
further subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the
Partnership, on or prior to the closing date of the merger, of
each of the following conditions:
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each of the representations and warranties contained in the
merger agreement of Holdings and Holdings GP are true and
correct in all material respects as of the date of the merger
agreement and on the closing date, except for any
representations and warranties made as of a specified date,
which are true and correct as of such date in all material
respects;
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each and all of the agreements and covenants of Holdings and
Holdings GP to be performed and complied with pursuant to the
merger agreement on or prior to the closing date must have been
duly performed and complied with in all material respects;
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the Partnership will have received a certificate signed by the
chief executive officer of Holdings GP, dated the closing date,
to the effect that the conditions set forth in the first two
bullet points immediately above have been satisfied;
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the Partnership will have received an opinion from Andrews
Kurth, counsel to the Partnership, to the effect that:
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the adoption of the Sixth Partnership Agreement, the merger and
the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will not
result in the loss of limited liability of any Partnership
limited partner;
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the adoption of the Sixth Partnership Agreement, the merger and
the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will not
cause the Partnership or any Operating Partnership (as defined
in the Partnerships partnership agreement) to be treated
as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be
taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
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at least 90% of the current gross income of the Partnership
constitutes qualifying income within the meaning of
Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code;
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this registration statement accurately sets forth the material
U.S. federal income tax consequences to the Partnership
unaffiliated unitholders of the merger and the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement; and
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no gain or loss should be recognized by existing Partnership
unaffiliated unitholders as a result of the merger (other than
gain resulting from any decrease in partnership liabilities
pursuant to Section 752 of the Internal Revenue
Code); and
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there has not occurred a material adverse effect with respect to
Holdings between the date of the merger agreement and the
closing date.
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Representations
and Warranties
The merger agreement contains representations and warranties of
the parties to the merger agreement, many of which provide that
the representations and warranties do not extend to matters
where the failure of the representation and warranty to be
accurate would not result in a material adverse effect on the
party making the representation and warranty. These
representations and warranties concern, among other things:
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legal organization, existence, general authority and good
standing;
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capitalization;
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the absence of Holdings ownership of any equity interests
other than in its subsidiaries, in LE GP and in Energy Transfer
Equity, which interests it owns free and clear of any liens;
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power and authorization to enter into and carry out the
obligations of the merger agreement, and enforceability of the
merger agreement;
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required board and committee consents and approvals;
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the accuracy of financial statements and reports filed with the
SEC;
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the absence of certain undisclosed liabilities;
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compliance with laws;
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the absence of undisclosed material contracts and the validity
of existing material contracts;
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the absence of defaults, breaches and other conflicts caused by
entering into the merger agreement and completing the merger;
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the absence of brokers;
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tax matters;
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the absence of undisclosed compensation and employee benefit
plans;
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operations of MergerCo;
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fairness opinions; and
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the absence of any material adverse effects.
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For purposes of the merger agreement, material adverse
effect, when used with respect to Holdings or the
Partnership, means any effect that:
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is or could reasonably be expected to be material and adverse to
the financial position, results of operations, business, assets
or prospects of such party and its subsidiaries taken as a
whole, respectively; or
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materially impairs or could reasonably be expected to materially
impair the ability of such party to perform its obligations
under the merger agreement or otherwise materially threaten or
materially impede the consummation of the merger and the other
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.
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A material adverse effect does not include any of the following
or the impact thereof (so long as, in the case of the first
through fourth bullet points immediately below, the impact on
Holdings or the Partnership is not disproportionately adverse as
compared to others in the petroleum product transportation,
terminalling, storage and distribution industry generally):
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circumstances affecting the petroleum product transportation,
terminalling, storage and distribution industry generally
(including the price of petroleum products and the costs
associated with the transportation, terminalling, storage and
distribution thereof), or in any region in which the Partnership
operates;
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any general market, economic, financial or political conditions,
or outbreak or hostilities or war, in the United States of
America or elsewhere;
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changes in law;
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earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, or other natural disasters;
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any failure of the Partnership to meet any internal or external
projections, forecasts or estimates of revenue or earnings for
any period;
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changes in the market price or trading volume of Holdings units
or Partnership common units (but not any effect underlying any
decrease that would otherwise constitute a material adverse
effect); or
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the announcement or pendency of the merger agreement or the
matters contemplated by the merger agreement or the compliance
by either party with the provisions of the merger agreement.
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Covenants
Holdings and the Partnership made the covenants described below:
Best
Efforts
Subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement,
each of Holdings and the Partnership will use its commercially
reasonable best efforts in good faith to take, or cause to be
taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things
necessary, proper, desirable or advisable under applicable laws,
in order to permit consummation of the merger promptly and
otherwise enable consummation of the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement, including obtaining (and cooperating
with the other parties to obtain) any third-party approval that
is required to be obtained by Holdings or the Partnership or any
of their respective subsidiaries in connection with the merger
and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement,
using commercially reasonable best efforts to lift or rescind
any injunction or restraining order or other order adversely
affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, and using
commercially reasonable best efforts to defend any litigation
seeking to enjoin, prevent or delay the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement or seeking
material damages, and it will cooperate fully with the other
parties to the merger agreement to that end, and will furnish to
the other party copies of all correspondence, filings and
communications between it and its
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affiliates and any governmental authority with respect to the
transactions contemplated under the merger agreement.
Holdings
Unitholder Approval
Subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement,
Holdings will take, in accordance with applicable law,
applicable stock exchange rules and the Holdings partnership
agreement, all action necessary to call, hold and convene the
Holdings special meeting to consider and vote upon the approval
of the merger agreement and the merger, and any other matters
required to be approved by Holdings unitholders for consummation
of the merger and other transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement, promptly after the date of the merger agreement.
Subject to the provision of the merger agreement permitting a
change in recommendation, the Holdings ACG Committee and the
Holdings Board will recommend approval of the merger agreement
and the merger to the Holdings unitholders, and Holdings will
take all reasonable lawful action to solicit such approval by
the Holdings unitholders. In any event, however, if there occurs
a Holdings change in recommendation (as described under
Acquisition Proposals; Change in
Recommendation) in accordance with the merger agreement,
Holdings will not be required to call, hold or convene the
Holdings special meeting.
Registration
Statement
Each of the Partnership and Holdings agrees to cooperate in the
preparation of the registration statement (including this proxy
statement/prospectus which constitutes a part of the
registration statement and all related documents) to be filed by
the Partnership with the SEC in connection with the issuance of
new Partnership common units in the merger as contemplated by
the merger agreement. If Holdings has cooperated as required in
the preceding sentence, the Partnership agrees to file the
registration statement with the SEC as promptly as practicable.
Each of Holdings and the Partnership agrees to use all
commercially reasonable best efforts to cause the registration
statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as
promptly as practicable after filing of the registration
statement. The Partnership also agrees to use commercially
reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary state securities
law or Blue Sky permits and approvals required to
carry out the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.
Each of the Partnership and Holdings agrees to furnish to the
other party all information concerning the Partnership, the
Partnership GP and its subsidiaries or Holdings, Holdings GP and
its subsidiaries, as applicable, and the officers, directors and
unitholders of the Partnership and Holdings and any applicable
affiliates, as applicable, and to take such other action as may
be reasonably requested in connection with the foregoing.
Each of Holdings and the Partnership agrees, as to itself and
its subsidiaries, that (i) none of the information supplied
or to be supplied by it for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in this registration statement will, at the time this
registration statement and each amendment or supplement to this
registration statement, if any, becomes effective under the
Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated in this
registration statement or any amendment or supplement or
necessary to make the statements in this registration statement
or any amendment or supplement, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, and (ii) the
proxy statement/prospectus and any amendment or supplement to
this proxy statement/prospectus will, at the date of mailing to
the holders of Holdings units and at the time of the Holdings
special meeting, not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated in
this proxy statement/prospectus or any amendment or supplement
or necessary to make the statements in this proxy
statement/prospectus or any amendment or supplement, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Each of Holdings and the Partnership further agrees that if it
becomes aware prior to the closing date of any information that
would cause any of the statements in this registration statement
or any amendment or supplement to be false or misleading with
respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not false or
misleading, it will promptly inform the other party of such
information and take the necessary steps to correct such
information in an amendment or supplement to this registration
statement.
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The Partnership will advise Holdings, promptly after the
Partnership receives notice of any of the following, of
(i) the time when this registration statement has become
effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed,
(ii) the issuance of any stop order or the suspension of
the qualification of new Partnership common units for offering
or sale in any jurisdiction, (iii) the initiation or threat
of any proceeding for any such purpose, or (iv) any request
by the SEC for the amendment or supplement of this registration
statement or for additional information.
Holdings will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to
cause this proxy statement/prospectus to be mailed to its
unitholders as soon as practicable after the effective date of
this registration statement.
Press
Releases
Prior to any Holdings change in recommendation, if any, each of
Holdings and the Partnership will not, without the prior
approval of the Holdings Board in the case of Holdings and the
Partnership Board in the case of the Partnership, issue any
press release or written statement for general circulation
relating to the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement, except as otherwise required by applicable law or the
rules of the NYSE, in which case it will consult with the other
party before issuing any such press release or written statement.
Access;
Information
Upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable laws relating
to the exchange of information, each party will, and will cause
its subsidiaries to, afford the other parties and their
representatives, access, during normal business hours throughout
the period prior to the effective time, to all of its
properties, books, contracts, commitments and records, and to
its representatives, and, during such period, it and its
subsidiaries will furnish promptly to such person and its
representatives (i) a copy of each material report,
schedule and other document filed by it pursuant to the
requirements of federal or state securities law (other than
reports or documents that Holdings or the Partnership or their
respective subsidiaries, as the case may be, are not permitted
to disclose under applicable law) and (ii) all other
information concerning its business, properties and personnel as
the other parties may reasonably request. Neither Holdings nor
the Partnership nor any of their respective subsidiaries will be
required to provide access to or to disclose information where
such access or disclosure would jeopardize the attorney-client
privilege of the institution in possession or control of such
information or contravene any law, fiduciary duty or binding
agreement entered into prior to the date of the merger
agreement. The parties to the merger agreement will make
appropriate substitute disclosure arrangements under the
circumstances in which the restrictions described in the
immediately preceding sentence apply.
The Partnership and Holdings, respectively, will not use any
information obtained pursuant to the merger agreement (to which
it was not entitled under law or any agreement other than the
merger agreement) for any purpose unrelated to (i) the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement or (ii) the matters contemplated by the provision
of the merger agreement concerning acquisition proposals and a
Holdings change in recommendation in accordance with the terms
of the merger agreement, and will hold all information and
documents obtained pursuant to the merger agreement in
confidence. No investigation by either party of the business and
affairs of the other will affect or be deemed to modify or waive
any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in the
merger agreement, or the conditions to either partys
obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement.
Acquisition
Proposals; Change in Recommendation
Neither Holdings GP nor Holdings will, and they will use their
commercially reasonable best efforts to cause their
representatives not to, directly or indirectly,
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initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage or facilitate any
inquiries or the making or submission of any proposal that
constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, an
acquisition proposal; or
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participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or
furnish to any person any non-public information with respect
to, any acquisition proposal.
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As defined in the merger agreement, acquisition
proposal means any proposal or offer from or by any person
other than the Partnership, the Partnership GP, and MergerCo
relating to: (a) any direct or indirect acquisition of
(i) more than 20% of the assets of Holdings and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) more than 20% of the
outstanding equity securities of Holdings or (iii) a
business or businesses that constitute more than 20% of the cash
flow, net revenues, net income or assets of Holdings and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) any tender offer or
exchange offer, as defined under the Exchange Act, that, if
consummated, would result in any person beneficially owning more
than 20% of the outstanding equity securities of Holdings; or
(c) any merger, consolidation, business combination,
recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar
transaction involving Holdings, other than the merger and the GP
merger. As defined in the merger agreement, superior
proposal means any bona fide acquisition proposal (except
that references to 20% within the definition of
acquisition proposal will be replaced by
50%) made by a third party on terms that the
Holdings ACG Committee determines, in its good faith judgment
and after consulting with Holdings financial advisors and
outside legal counsel, and taking into account the financial,
legal, regulatory and other aspects of the acquisition proposal
(including any conditions to and the expected timing of
consummation and any risks of non-consummation), to be more
favorable to Holdings unitholders, from a financial point of
view than the merger (taking into account the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement and any revised proposal by
the Partnership ACG Committee on behalf of the Partnership to
amend the terms of the merger agreement).
Notwithstanding the prohibitions described above, but subject to
the limitations in the merger agreement, nothing contained in
the merger agreement will prohibit Holdings or any of its
representatives from furnishing any information to, including
information pertaining to the Partnership, or entering into or
participating in discussions or negotiations with, any person
that makes an unsolicited written acquisition proposal that did
not result from a knowing and intentional breach of the
provisions of the merger agreement summarized under this section
Acquisition Proposals; Change in
Recommendation (a Receiving Party), if
(i) the Holdings ACG Committee after consultation with its
outside legal counsel and financial advisors, determines in good
faith (A) that such acquisition proposal constitutes or is
likely to result in a superior proposal, and (B) that
failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its
duties under the Holdings partnership agreement and applicable
law and (ii) prior to furnishing any non-public information
to such Receiving Party, Holdings receives from such Receiving
Party an executed confidentiality agreement, provided, however,
that if Holdings receives an acquisition proposal that includes
an acquisition proposal for the Partnership, Holdings may, in
its discretion, respond to a Receiving Party to indicate that
Holdings cannot entertain an acquisition proposal that includes
an acquisition proposal for the Partnership.
In the event that Holdings is otherwise entitled to provide
information to a Receiving Party under the merger agreement,
Holdings may provide any Receiving Party with any non-public
information or data pertaining to the Partnership only if
Holdings has not knowingly and intentionally breached the
provisions of the merger agreement summarized under this section
Acquisition Proposals; Change in
Recommendation and then only if (i) the Holdings ACG
Committee determines in good faith, after consultation with its
outside legal counsel and financial advisors that the provision
of such Partnership non-public information to the Receiving
Party may reasonably be expected to lead to a Holdings change in
recommendation and (ii) Holdings has first
(A) required the Receiving Party to execute a
confidentiality agreement, (B) furnished a copy of such
confidentiality agreement to the Partnership and
(C) notified the Partnership of the identity of the
Receiving Party. Holdings will promptly provide or make
available to the Partnership any non-public information
concerning Holdings or any of its subsidiaries that is provided
or made available to any Receiving Party pursuant to the
provisions of the merger agreement summarized under this section
Acquisition Proposals; Change in
Recommendation which was not previously provided or made
available to the Partnership. The Partnership will provide to
Holdings and any Receiving Party that has executed a
confidentiality agreement any Partnership non-public information
that Holdings reasonably requests in exercising its rights under
the merger agreement. Holdings will not provide to any Receiving
Party, and the Partnership will not be required to provide to
any Receiving Party, in each case pursuant to the provisions of
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the merger agreement summarized under this section
Acquisition Proposals; Change in
Recommendation, any information pertaining to the
Partnership where Holdings knows that the provision of such
information would (x) jeopardize the attorney-client
privilege of the institution in possession or control of such
information or (y) contravene any law or binding agreement
entered into prior to the date of the merger agreement.
Except as otherwise provided in the merger agreement, neither
the Holdings ACG Committee nor the Holdings Board will:
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(A) withdraw, modify or qualify in any manner adverse to
the Partnership its recommendation of the merger agreement and
the merger or (B) publicly approve or recommend, or
publicly propose to approve or recommend, any acquisition
proposal (any action described in this clause being referred to
as a Holdings change in recommendation); or
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approve, adopt or recommend, or publicly propose to approve,
adopt or recommend, or allow Holdings or any of its subsidiaries
to execute or enter into, any letter of intent, memorandum of
understanding, agreement in principle, merger agreement,
acquisition agreement, option agreement, joint venture
agreement, partnership agreement, or other similar contract or
any tender or exchange offer providing for, with respect to, or
in connection with, any acquisition proposal.
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Notwithstanding the limitations described in the immediately
preceding paragraph, at any time prior to obtaining the Holdings
unitholder approval, the Holdings ACG Committee may make a
Holdings change in recommendation if it has concluded in good
faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and
financial advisors, that failure to make a Holdings change in
recommendation would be inconsistent with its duties under the
Holdings partnership agreement and applicable law; provided,
however, that (i) the Holdings ACG Committee will not be
entitled to exercise its right to make a Holdings change in
recommendation pursuant to this sentence unless Holdings and
Holdings GP have: (a) complied in all material respects
with the provisions of the merger agreement summarized under
this section Acquisition Proposals; Change in
Recommendation, (b) provided to the Partnership and
the Partnership ACG Committee two business days prior written
notice advising the Partnership that the Holdings ACG Committee
intends to make a Holdings change in recommendation and
specifying the reasons for the change in reasonable detail,
including, if applicable, the terms and conditions of any
superior proposal that is the basis of the proposed action and
the identity of the person making the proposal (it being
understood and agreed that any amendment to the terms of any
such superior proposal will require a new notice of the proposed
recommendation change and an additional two business day
period), and (c) if applicable, provided to the Partnership
all materials and information delivered or made available to the
person or group of persons making any superior proposal in
connection with such superior proposal (to the extent not
previously provided), and (ii) the Holdings ACG Committee
will not be entitled to make a Holdings change in recommendation
in response to an acquisition proposal unless such acquisition
proposal constitutes a superior proposal. Any Holdings change in
recommendation will not invalidate the approval of the merger
agreement or any other approval of the Holdings ACG Committee,
including in any respect that would have the effect of causing
any state (including Delaware) corporate takeover statute or
other similar statute to be applicable to the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement or any such law, including
the merger. Notwithstanding any provision in the merger
agreement to the contrary, the Partnership and the Partnership
GP will maintain, and cause their representatives to maintain,
the confidentiality of all information received from Holdings
pursuant to the provisions of the merger agreement summarized
under this section Acquisition Proposals;
Change in Recommendation, subject to the exceptions
contained in the confidentiality agreement. Notwithstanding
anything in the merger agreement to the contrary, for the
purposes of the provisions of the merger agreement summarized
under this section Acquisition Proposals;
Change in Recommendation, without the prior written
consent of the Partnership ACG Committee, no acquisition
proposal will constitute a superior proposal if such acquisition
proposal is conditioned on completion of a partners
acquisition proposal that would require special
approval as defined in and required under the
Partnerships partnership agreement. A partners
acquisition proposal is any proposal or offer by any
person (other than Holdings and it subsidiaries) relating to:
(i) any direct or indirect acquisition of (a) more
than 50% of the assets of the Partnership and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, (b) more than 50% of the outstanding
equity securities of the Partnership or (c) a business or
businesses that constitute more than 50% of the cash flow, net
revenues, net income or assets
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of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(ii) any tender or exchange offer, as defined pursuant to
the Exchange Act, that, if consummated, would result in any
person beneficially owning more than 50% of the outstanding
equity securities of the Partnership or (iii) any merger
consolidation, business combination, recapitalization,
liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving the
Partnership other than the merger or the GP merger
In addition to the obligations of Holdings set forth in the
provisions of the merger agreement summarized under this section
Acquisition Proposals; Change in
Recommendation, Holdings will as promptly as practicable
(and in any event within 24 hours after receipt) advise the
Partnership orally and in writing of any acquisition proposal or
any matter giving rise to a Holdings change in recommendation
and the material terms and conditions of any such acquisition
proposal or any matter giving rise to a Holdings change in
recommendation (including any changes thereto) and the identity
of the person making such acquisition proposal. Holdings will
keep the Partnership informed on a reasonably current basis of
material developments with respect to any such acquisition
proposal or any matter giving rise to a Holdings change in
recommendation.
Nothing contained in the merger agreement will prevent Holdings
or the Holdings ACG Committee from taking and disclosing to the
holders of Holdings units a position contemplated by
Rule 14d-9
and
Rule 14e-2(a)
promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any similar communication
to limited partners of Holdings) or from making any legally
required disclosure to holders of Holdings units. Any
stop-look-and-listen communication by Holdings or
the Holdings Board to the limited partners of Holdings pursuant
to
Rule 14d-9(f)
promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any similar communication
to the limited partners of Holdings) will not be considered a
failure to make, or a withdrawal, modification or change in any
manner adverse to the Partnership of, all or a portion of the
recommendation of the merger agreement and the merger by the
Holdings ACG Committee and the Holdings Board.
Affiliate
Arrangements
Not later than the 15th day after the mailing of this proxy
statement/prospectus, Holdings will deliver to the Partnership a
schedule listing each person that, to the best of its knowledge,
is or is reasonably likely to be, as of the date of the Holdings
special meeting, deemed to be an affiliate of
Holdings as that term is used in Rule 145 under the
Securities Act.
Holdings will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to
cause such affiliates not to sell any securities received under
the merger in violation of the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, including Rule 145 thereunder.
Takeover
Laws
Neither Holdings nor the Partnership will take any action that
would cause the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement to be subject to requirements imposed by any takeover
laws, and each of them will take all necessary steps within its
control to exempt (or ensure the continued exemption of) the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement from, or if
necessary challenge the validity or applicability of, any rights
plan adopted by such party or any applicable takeover law, as in
effect on the date of the merger agreement or thereafter,
including takeover laws of any state that purport to apply to
the merger agreement or the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement.
No
Rights Triggered
Each of Holdings and the Partnership will take all steps
necessary to ensure that the entering into of the merger
agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement and any other action or combination of
actions, or any other transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement, do not and will not result in the grant of any rights
to any person (i) in the case of Holdings, under the
Holdings partnership agreement, and, in the case of the
Partnership, under the Partnerships partnership agreement
or (ii) under any material agreement to which it or any of
its subsidiaries is a party.
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New
Common Units Listed
The Partnership will use its commercially reasonable best
efforts to list, prior to the closing, on the NYSE, upon
official notice of issuance, the new Partnership common units to
be issued as merger consideration in connection with the merger.
Third
Party Approvals
The Partnership and Holdings and their respective subsidiaries
will cooperate and use their respective commercially reasonable
best efforts to prepare all documentation, to effect all
filings, to obtain all permits, consents, approvals and
authorizations of all governmental authorities and third parties
necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement and to comply with the terms and conditions of
such permits, consents, approvals and authorizations and to
cause the merger to be consummated and the Sixth Partnership
Agreement to be effective as expeditiously as practicable. Each
of the Partnership and Holdings will have the right to review in
advance, and to the extent practicable each will consult with
the other, in each case subject to applicable laws relating to
the exchange of information, with respect to, all material
written information submitted to any third party or any
governmental authorities in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement. In exercising the
foregoing right, each of the parties to the merger agreement
agrees to act reasonably and promptly. Each party to the merger
agreement agrees that it will consult with the other parties
with respect to the obtaining of all material permits, consents,
approvals and authorizations of all third parties and
governmental authorities necessary or advisable to consummate
the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, and each
party will keep the other parties apprised of the status of
material matters relating to completion of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Each of the Partnership and Holdings agrees, upon request, to
furnish the other party with all information concerning itself,
its subsidiaries, directors, officers and unitholders and such
other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in
connection with the registration statement, this proxy
statement/prospectus or any filing, notice or application made
by or on behalf of such other party or any of such other
partys subsidiaries to any governmental authority in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement.
Credit
Agreements
The Partnership will, and will cause each of its subsidiaries
to, use its commercially reasonable efforts to, on or prior to
the closing date, (i) amend or refinance the Amended and
Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of
November 19, 2007, among EPO, the financial institutions
party thereto as lenders, Wachovia Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender,
Citibank, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Co-Syndication
Agents, and SunTrust Bank, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and The
Bank of Nova Scotia, as Co-Documentation Agents, as in effect on
the date of the merger agreement (the EPO Credit
Agreement) and the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated
January 5, 2007, among Duncan Energy Partners, the Lenders
Party Thereto and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as
Administrative Agent, as amended by the First Amendment to
Revolving Credit Agreement, dated June 30, 2007, among
Duncan Energy Partners, the Lenders Party Thereto and Wachovia
Bank, National Association, as in effect on the date of the
merger agreement and the Term Loan Agreement, dated
April 18, 2008, among Duncan Energy Partners, the Lenders
Party Thereto and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as
Administrative Agent, as amended by the First Amendment to Term
Loan Agreement, dated July 11, 2008, among Duncan Energy
Partners, the Lenders Party thereto and Wachovia Bank, National
Association, as in effect on the date of the merger agreement
(together the DEP Credit Agreements) in a form
reasonably satisfactory to the Partnership in order for the
merger and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement
not to constitute a default under the EPO Credit Agreement, the
DEP Credit Agreements or any of the other loan documents related
to such credit agreements and (ii) obtain financing
satisfactory to it in order to pay, and to pay, all amounts
outstanding under the Third Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, dated August 24, 2007, among Holdings, the
lenders party thereto, Citicorp North America, Inc., as
Administrative Agent, and Citibank, N.A., as Issuing Bank, as
amended by the First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement, dated November 8, 2007, among Holdings,
the Term Loan B lenders party thereto, Citicorp North
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America, Inc., as Administrative Agent, and Citigroup Global
Markets, Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc. as Co-Arrangers and Joint
Bookrunners, as in effect on the date of the merger agreement
(the Holdings Credit Agreement) unless otherwise
consented to by lenders under the Holdings Credit Agreement
Holdings will, and will cause each of its subsidiaries to, cause
the satisfaction on or prior to the closing date of (or secure
the lenders waiver of) all Holdings obligations required
under the Holdings Credit Agreement to be satisfied on or prior
to the closing date.
Indemnification;
Directors and Officers Insurance
Without limiting any additional rights that any director,
officer, trustee, employee, agent, or fiduciary may have under
any employment or indemnification agreement or under the
Holdings partnership agreement, the limited liability company
agreement of Holdings GP or the merger agreement or, if
applicable, similar organizational documents or agreements of
any of Holdings subsidiaries, from and after the effective
time, the Partnerships general partner, the Partnership
and the surviving entity, jointly and severally, will:
(i) indemnify and hold harmless each person who is at the
date of the merger agreement or during the period from the date
of the merger agreement through the date of the effective time
serving as a director or officer of Holdings GP or the
Partnership GP or of any of their respective subsidiaries or as
a trustee of (or in a similar capacity with) any compensation
and benefit plan of any thereof (collectively, the
Indemnified Parties) to the fullest extent
authorized or permitted by applicable law, as in effect at or
after the time of the merger agreement, in connection with any
claim and any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs,
indemnification expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and
amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments
and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in
respect of any thereof) resulting therefrom; and
(ii) promptly pay on behalf of or, within 10 days
after any request for advancement, advance to each of the
Indemnified Parties, any indemnification expenses incurred in
defending, serving as a witness with respect to or otherwise
participating with respect to any claim in advance of the final
disposition of such claim, including payment on behalf of or
advancement to the Indemnified Party of any indemnification
expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with
enforcing any rights with respect to such indemnification
and/or
advancement, in each case without the requirement of any bond or
other security. The indemnification and advancement obligations
of the Partnerships general partner, the Partnership and
the surviving entity pursuant to the merger agreement will
extend to acts or omissions occurring at or before the effective
time and any claim relating thereto (including with respect to
any acts or omissions occurring in connection with the approval
of the merger agreement and the consummation of the merger and
the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including
the consideration and approval thereof and the process
undertaken in connection therewith and any claim relating
thereto), and all rights to indemnification and advancement
conferred under the merger agreement will continue as to any
Indemnified Party who has ceased to be a director or officer of
Holdings GP or the Partnership GP after the date of the merger
agreement and will inure to the benefit of such persons
heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. Neither
the Partnerships general partner nor the Partnership or
MergerCo will settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment in any actual or threatened action in respect of which
indemnification has been or could be sought by such Indemnified
Party under the merger agreement unless the settlement,
compromise or judgment includes an unconditional release of that
Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of that action
without admission or finding of wrongdoing, or that Indemnified
Party otherwise consents to such settlement, compromise or
judgment.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Partnership and MergerCo
agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of
expenses and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions
occurring at or prior to the effective time existing as of the
time of the merger agreement in favor of the indemnitees as
provided in the Holdings partnership agreement (or, as
applicable, the charter, bylaws, partnership agreement, limited
liability company agreement, or other organizational documents
of any of Holdings subsidiaries) and indemnification
agreements of Holdings or any of its subsidiaries will be
assumed by the surviving entity, the Partnership and the new
Partnership GP in the merger, without further action, at the
effective time and will survive the merger and will continue in
full force and effect in accordance with their terms.
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For a period of six years from the effective time, the Sixth
Partnership Agreement will contain provisions no less favorable
with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses and
limitations on liability of directors and officers than are set
forth in the Holdings partnership agreement, which provisions
will not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period
of six years from the effective time in any manner that would
affect adversely the rights under the Sixth Partnership
Agreement of individuals who, at or prior to the effective time,
were Indemnified Parties, unless such modification is required
by law and then only to the minimum extent required by law.
For a period of six years from the effective time, the
Partnership will, or will cause EPCO to, maintain in effect the
current directors and officers liability insurance
policies covering the Indemnified Parties maintained by EPCO
(but may substitute therefor other policies of at least the same
coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions that are no
less advantageous to the Indemnified Parties so long as that
substitution does not result in gaps or lapses in coverage) with
respect to matters occurring on or before the effective time,
but neither the Partnership nor EPCO will be required to pay
annual premiums in excess of 300% of the last annual premiums
paid for the insurance policies prior to the date of the merger
agreement and will purchase as much coverage as is reasonably
practicable for that amount if the coverage described in this
the merger agreement would cost in excess of that amount.
If the Partnership, the Partnerships general partner, the
surviving entity or any of their respective successors or
assigns (i) consolidates with or merges with or into any
other person and will not be the continuing or surviving
corporation, partnership or other entity of such consolidation
or merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially
all of its properties and assets to any person, then, and in
each case, proper provision will be made so that the successors
and assigns of the Partnership, the Partnerships general
partner following the merger or the surviving entity assume the
obligations set forth in the provisions of the merger agreement
summarized under this section Indemnification;
Directors and Officers Insurance. The
Partnership and the Partnerships general partner following
the merger will cause the surviving entity to perform all of the
obligations of the surviving entity under these provisions of
the merger agreement. These provisions will survive the
consummation of the merger and are intended to be for the
benefit of, and will be enforceable by, the Indemnified Parties
and the indemnitees and their respective heirs and personal
representatives, and will be binding on the Partnership, the
Partnerships general partner following the merger, the
surviving entity and their respective successors and assigns.
Notification
of Certain Matters
Each of Holdings and the Partnership will give prompt notice to
the other of (i) any fact, event or circumstance known to
it that (a) is reasonably likely, individually or taken
together with all other facts, events and circumstances known to
it, to result in any material adverse effect with respect to it
or (b) would cause or constitute a material breach of any
of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements
contained in the merger agreement, and (ii) (a) any change
in its condition (financial or otherwise) or business or
(b) any litigation or governmental complaints,
investigations or hearings, in each case to the extent such
change, litigation, complaints, investigations, or hearings
results in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, a
material adverse effect.
Rule 16b-3
Prior to the effective time, Holdings will take any steps that
are reasonably requested by any party to the merger agreement to
cause dispositions of Holdings equity securities (including
derivative securities) pursuant to the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement by each individual who is a director or
officer of Holdings to be exempt under
Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with the
No-Action
Letter dated January 12, 1999 issued by the SEC regarding
such matters.
Amended
and Restated Partnership Agreement
Effective as of the effective time, the Partnerships
general partner will execute and make effective the Sixth
Partnership Agreement. Promptly after the effective time,
Holdings GP will execute and file an amended
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certificate of limited partnership evidencing its status as the
new general partner of the Partnership in accordance with the
Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the
Delaware Act) and the Sixth Partnership Agreement.
Holdings
Board Membership
The members of the Holdings Board immediately prior to the
effective time will continue to serve as members of the board of
directors of Holdings GP following the effective time unless
otherwise determined or removed effective at such time or
thereafter by the sole member of Holdings GP in accordance with
the limited liability company agreement of Holdings GP.
Immediately following the effective time, however, Holdings GP
will continue to maintain a Holdings ACG Committee consisting of
not less than three independent directors in accordance with the
Sixth Partnership Agreement.
Distributions
Each of Holdings GP and the Partnership GP will consult with the
other regarding the declaration and payment of distributions in
respect of the Holdings units and the Partnership common units
and the record and payment dates relating to any such
distributions, so that no Holdings unitholder will receive two
distributions, or fail to receive one distribution, for any
single calendar quarter with respect to its applicable Holdings
units or any Partnership common units any such Holdings
unitholder receives in exchange for his Holdings units pursuant
to the merger.
Fourth
Amendment to Holdings Partnership Agreement
Effective immediately prior to the GP merger and the effective
time, Holdings GP will execute and deliver the Fourth Amendment
to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Holdings, and, in connection with the Fourth
Amendment, Holdings will issue 13,921 Holdings units to Holdings
GP in exchange for the conversion of the economic general
partner interest in Holdings to a non-economic general partner
interest.
Holdings
GP Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company
Agreement
As of the effective time, the limited liability company
agreement of Holdings GP will be amended and restated in
substantially the form attached to the merger agreement as Annex
B thereto.
Termination
The merger agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the
effective time of the merger in any of the following ways:
by mutual written consent of Holdings and the Partnership;
by either Holdings or the Partnership upon written notice
to the other if:
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the merger is not completed on or before December 31, 2010;
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any governmental authority has issued a final and nonappealable
statute, rule, order, decree or regulation or taken any other
action that permanently restrains, enjoins or prohibits the
consummation of the merger, or makes the merger illegal and such
statute, rule, order, decree or regulation has become final and
nonappealable, so long as the terminating party is not then in
breach of its obligation to use commercially reasonable best
efforts to complete the merger promptly;
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Holdings (i) determines not to, or otherwise fails to, hold
the Holdings special meeting in accordance with the provisions
summarized under Covenants
Holdings Unitholder Approval or (ii) does not obtain
the Holdings unitholder approval at the Holdings special
meeting. Holdings right to terminate the merger agreement
as described in this bullet point will not, however, be
available to Holdings if the failure to obtain the Holdings
unitholder approval was caused by the action or failure
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to act of Holdings and such action or failure to act constitutes
a material breach by Holdings of the merger agreement;
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there has been a material breach of or any material inaccuracy
in any of the representations or warranties set forth in the
merger agreement on the part of any of the other parties
(treating the Partnership and the Partnership GP as one party,
and Holdings and Holdings GP as one party, for the purposes of
the provision summarized in this bullet point), which breach is
not cured within 30 days following receipt by the breaching
party of written notice of its breach from the terminating
party, or which breach, by its nature, cannot be cured prior to
December 31, 2010 (provided in any such case that the
terminating party is not then in material breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained
in the merger agreement). No party will have the right, however,
to terminate the merger agreement pursuant to the provision
summarized in this bullet point unless the breach of a
representation or warranty, together with all other such
breaches, would entitle the party receiving such representation
not to consummate the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement because the closing conditions described in the first
bullet point under Conditions to the
Merger Additional Conditions to the Obligations of
Holdings or Conditions to the
Merger Additional Conditions to the Obligations of
the Partnership, as applicable, have not been met; or
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there has been a material breach of any of the covenants or
agreements set forth in the merger agreement on the part of any
of the other parties to the merger agreement, and the breach has
not been cured within 30 days following receipt by the
breaching party of written notice of such breach from the
terminating party, or which breach, by its nature, cannot be
cured prior to the termination date (so long as the terminating
party itself is not then in material breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained
in the merger agreement). In no event, however, will any party
have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to the
provision summarized in this bullet point unless the breach of
covenants or agreements, together with all other such breaches,
would entitle the party receiving the benefit of such covenants
or agreements not to consummate the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement because the closing conditions described in
the first bullet point under Conditions to the
Merger Additional Conditions to the Obligations of
Holdings or Conditions to the
Merger Additional Conditions to the Obligations of
the Partnership, as applicable, have not been met.
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By the Partnership, upon written notice to Holdings, in the
event that a Holdings change in recommendation has occurred;
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By Holdings, upon written notice to the Partnership, in the
event that, at any time after the date of the merger agreement
and prior to obtaining the Holdings unitholder approval,
Holdings receives an acquisition proposal and the Holdings ACG
Committee has concluded in good faith that such acquisition
proposal constitutes a superior proposal, the Holdings ACG
Committee has made a Holdings change in recommendation pursuant
to the merger agreement with respect to such superior proposal,
Holdings has not knowingly and intentionally breached the
provisions of the merger agreement summarized above under
Covenants Acquisition Proposals;
Change in Recommendation, and the Holdings ACG Committee
concurrently approves, and Holdings concurrently enters into, a
definitive agreement with respect to such superior proposal.
Notwithstanding anything in the merger agreement to the
contrary, for purposes of this provision, without the prior
written consent of the Partnership ACG Committee, no acquisition
proposal will constitute a superior proposal if such acquisition
proposal is conditioned on completion of a partners acquisition
proposal that would require special approval under
the Partnerships partnership agreement;
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By Holdings, 30 days after written notice to the
Partnership, if as a result of a change in U.S. federal
income tax law, the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement (taking into account any
available elections) could reasonably be expected to materially
increase the amount of U.S. federal income tax due from any
holder of Holdings units as a result of owning or disposing of
Partnership common units acquired pursuant to such transactions,
as compared to U.S. federal income
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tax due from such holder as a result of owning or disposing of
any Holdings units in the event the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement did not occur. In no event will a
termination of the merger agreement pursuant to the provision
summarized in this bullet point be effective if, within
30 days after receipt of such notice, the Partnership has
provided to Holdings the opinion of nationally recognized tax
counsel, reasonably acceptable to Holdings, to the effect that
such holder of Holdings units should not be liable for such
increased tax as a result of owning or disposing of Partnership
common units; or
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By the Partnership, 30 days after written notice to
Holdings, if as a result of a change in U.S. federal income
tax law, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement (taking into account any available
elections) could reasonably be expected to materially increase
the amount of U.S. federal income tax due from any holder
of Partnership common units as a result of owning or disposing
of Partnership common units, as compared to U.S. federal
income tax due from such holder as a result of owning or
disposing of Partnership common units in the event the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement did not occur.
In no event will a termination of the merger agreement pursuant
to the provision summarized in this bullet point be effective
if, within 30 days after receipt of such notice, Holdings
has provided to the Partnership the opinion of nationally
recognized tax counsel, reasonably acceptable to the
Partnership, to the effect that such holder of Partnership
common units should not be liable for such increased tax as a
result of owning or disposing of Partnership common units.
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Effect
of Termination
In the event of the termination of the merger agreement, written
notice of the termination will be given by the terminating party
to the other parties specifying the provision of the merger
agreement pursuant to which the termination is made, and except
as provided in the provision summarized in this paragraph (other
than certain provisions with regard to payment of fees and
expenses, governing law, jurisdiction, remedies and other
matters) will become null and void after the expiration of any
applicable period following such notice. In the event of such
termination, there will be no liability on the part of any party
to the merger agreement, except as set forth in the provision of
the merger agreement concerning fees and expenses and except
with respect to the requirement to comply with the
confidentiality agreement. Nothing in the merger agreement,
however, will relieve any party from any liability or obligation
with respect to any fraud or intentional breach of the merger
agreement.
Fees and
Expenses
Whether or not the merger is consummated, all costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the merger agreement and the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will be paid
by the party incurring such costs and expenses, except in the
following circumstances:
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If the merger agreement is terminated by the Partnership because
of a material breach or inaccuracy in any of the
representations, warranties or covenants set forth in the merger
agreement as described under Termination
above, or by Holdings or the Partnership due to the failure of
Holdings to obtain the Holdings unitholder approval, then
Holdings will pay to the Partnership the expenses of the
Partnership.
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If this Agreement is terminated by Holdings because of a
material breach or inaccuracy in any of the representations,
warranties or covenants set forth in the merger agreement as
described under Termination above, then
the Partnership will pay to Holdings the expenses of Holdings.
If the merger agreement is terminated by Holdings because the
termination date has passed, then the Partnership will pay to
Holdings the expenses of Holdings, except that the Partnership
will not be required to pay such expenses if an acquisition
proposal with respect to Holdings has been proposed by any
person (meaning, for the purpose of the provision described in
this bullet point, a person other than the Partnership, the
Partnership GP and MergerCo) or any person has publicly
announced its intention (whether or not conditional) to make
such an acquisition proposal or such an acquisition proposal or
such intention has otherwise become publicly known to Holdings
unitholders generally.
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If the merger is consummated, (i) the Partnership will pay,
or cause to be paid, any and all property or transfer taxes
imposed on either party in connection with the merger,
(ii) expenses incurred in connection with filing, printing
and mailing this proxy statement/prospectus and the registration
statement will be paid by the Partnership and (iii) any
filing fees payable pursuant to regulatory laws and other filing
fees incurred in connection with the merger agreement will be
paid by the party incurring the fees.
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The amount of expenses payable by one party to another under the
merger agreement will not exceed $5.0 million.
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Holdings has no obligation to pay any fee or expense in
connection with the exercise of its right to enter into an
agreement with respect to a superior proposal, or if the merger
is not consummated because of Holdings failure to convene
a Holdings special meeting because of a Holdings change in
recommendation.
Waiver
and Amendment
Subject to compliance with applicable law, prior to the closing,
any provision of the merger agreement may be waived in writing
by the party benefited by the provision, or amended or modified
at any time, whether before or after the Holdings unitholder
approval, by an agreement in writing between the parties to the
merger agreement, as long as (i) after the Holdings
unitholder approval, no amendment will be made that requires
further Holdings unitholder approval without such approval and
(ii) in addition to any other approvals required by the
parties constituent documents, any of the waivers,
amendments or modifications as described above are approved by
the Partnership ACG Committee in the case of the Partnership and
by the Holdings ACG Committee in the case of Holdings.
Governing
Law
The merger agreement is governed by and interpreted under
Delaware law.
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SIXTH
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF THE
PARTNERSHIP
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the
amended and restated partnership agreement of the Partnership.
The form of the Sixth Partnership Agreement is attached hereto
as Annex B.
Immediately following the effective time of the GP merger, the
Partnerships existing partnership agreement will be
amended and restated in substantially the form of the Sixth
Partnership Agreement. The material differences between the
Partnerships partnership agreement and the Sixth
Partnership Agreement include: (i) the admittance of
Holdings GP as the non-economic general partner of the
Partnership; (ii) the current 2% economic general partner
interest and the IDRs in the Partnership being cancelled; and
(iii) certain other legacy provisions which are no longer
applicable to the Partnership being eliminated. In addition, the
form of the Sixth Partnership Agreement would permit the general
partner of the Partnership to elect, in its sole discretion, to
include in the Sixth Partnership Agreement a provision that
would clarify that any prior or existing member of the
Partnership ACG Committee is eligible to serve on the Audit and
Conflicts Committee of the general partner of the Partnership
following the merger.
The following provisions of the Sixth Partnership Agreement are
summarized elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus:
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with regard to distributions of Available Cash,
please read the description under The Partnership in
Comparison of the Rights of Partnership and Holdings
Unitholders Distributions of Available Cash on
page 116; and
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with regard to allocations of taxable income and taxable loss,
please read U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Ownership
of Partnership Common Units beginning on page 137.
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Organization
and Duration
The Partnership was organized in April 1998 and will continue in
existence until the close of Partnership business on
December 31, 2088 or until the earlier termination of the
Partnership in accordance with the Sixth Partnership Agreement.
Purpose
The purpose of the Partnership under the Sixth Partnership
Agreement is to serve as a member of EPO, the Partnerships
primary operating subsidiary, and to engage in any business
activities that may be engaged in by EPO or that are approved by
the general partner. The limited liability company agreement of
EPO provides that it may engage in any activity that was engaged
in by the Partnerships predecessors at the time of the
Partnerships initial public offering or reasonably related
thereto and any other activity approved by the general partner.
Power of
Attorney
Each limited partner in the Partnership, and each person who
acquires a unit from a unitholder and executes and delivers a
transfer application, grants to the general partner and, if
appointed, a liquidator, a power of attorney to, among other
things, execute and file documents required for the
Partnerships qualification, continuance or dissolution.
The power of attorney also grants the authority for the
amendment of, and to make consents and waivers under, the
Partnerships partnership agreement.
Limited
Liability
Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the
control of the Partnerships business within the meaning of
the Delaware Act and that it otherwise acts in conformity with
the provisions of the Sixth Partnership Agreement, the limited
partners liability under the Delaware Act will be limited,
subject to possible exceptions, to the amount of capital the
limited partner is obligated to contribute to the Partnership
for such partners Partnership common units plus the
partners share of any undistributed profits and assets and
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any funds wrongfully distributed to it, as described below. If
it were determined, however, that the right, or exercise of the
right, by the Partnerships limited partners as a group:
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to remove or replace the general partner of the Partnership
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to approve certain amendments to the Sixth Partnership
Agreement; or
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to take any other action under the Sixth Partnership Agreement
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constituted participation in the control of the
Partnerships business for the purposes of the Delaware
Act, then the limited partners could be held personally liable
for the Partnerships obligations under the laws of
Delaware, to the same extent as the general partner of the
Partnership. This liability would extend to persons who transact
business with the Partnership who reasonably believe that a
limited partner is a general partner based on the limited
partners conduct. Neither the Sixth Partnership Agreement
nor the Delaware Act specifically provides for legal recourse
against the general partner of the Partnership if a limited
partner were to lose limited liability through any fault of the
general partner of the Partnership. While this does not mean
that a limited partner could not seek legal recourse, the
Partnership knows of no precedent for this type of a claim in
Delaware case law.
Under the Delaware Act, a limited partnership may not make a
distribution to a partner if, after the distribution, all
liabilities of the limited partnership, other than liabilities
to partners on account of their partnership interests and
liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to
specific property of the limited partnership, would exceed the
fair value of the assets of the limited partnership. For the
purpose of determining the fair value of the assets of a limited
partnership, the Delaware Act provides that the fair value of
property subject to liability for which recourse of creditors is
limited will be included in the assets of the limited
partnership only to the extent that the fair value of that
property exceeds the nonrecourse liability. The Delaware Act
provides that a limited partner who receives a distribution and
knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution was
in violation of the Delaware Act will be liable to the limited
partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years
from the date of distribution. Under the Delaware Act, an
assignee who becomes a substituted limited partner of a limited
partnership is liable for the obligations of its assignor to
make contributions to the limited partnership, excluding any
obligations of the assignor with respect to wrongful
distributions, as described above, except the assignee is not
obligated for liabilities unknown to it at the time it became a
limited partner and that could not be ascertained from the
limited partnership agreement.
The Partnerships subsidiaries conduct business in multiple
states. Maintenance of the Partnerships limited liability
as a limited partner or member of the Partnerships
subsidiaries formed as limited partnerships or limited liability
companies may require compliance with legal requirements in the
jurisdictions in which such subsidiaries conduct business,
including qualifying the Partnerships subsidiaries to do
business there. Limitations on the liability of a limited
partner or member for the obligations of a limited partnership
or limited liability company have not been clearly established
in many jurisdictions.
If it were determined that the Partnership was, by virtue of the
Partnerships limited partner interest or limited liability
company interest in its subsidiaries or otherwise, conducting
business in any state without compliance with the applicable
limited partnership or limited liability company statute, or
that the right or exercise of the right by the limited partners
as a group to remove or replace the general partner of the
Partnership, to approve certain amendments to the Sixth
Partnership Agreement, or to take other action under the Sixth
Partnership Agreement constituted participation in the
control of the Partnerships business for purposes of
the statutes of any relevant jurisdiction, then the limited
partners could be held personally liable for the
Partnerships obligations under the law of that
jurisdiction to the same extent as the general partner of the
Partnership under the circumstances. The Partnership will
operate in a manner that the general partner of the Partnership
considers reasonable and necessary or appropriate to preserve
the limited liability of the limited partners.
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Voting
Rights
The following matters require the Partnership unitholder vote
specified below.
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Amendment of the Sixth Partnership Agreement
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Certain amendments may be made by the general partner of the
Partnership without the approval of Partnership common
unitholders. Certain other amendments require the approval of
the holders of a majority of outstanding Partnership common
units. Certain other amendments require the approval of the
holders of a super-majority of outstanding Partnership common
units, and certain amendments that would have a material adverse
effect on a class of Partnership interests require the approval
of a majority of the Partnership interests to be affected by
such amendment. Please read Amendment to the
Sixth Partnership Agreement beginning on page 90.
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Sale of all or substantially all of the Partnerships assets
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The holders of a majority of the outstanding Partnership common
units. Please read Merger, Sale or Other
Disposition of Assets on page 91.
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Dissolution of the Partnership
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The holders of a majority of the outstanding Partnership common
units. Please read Termination and
Dissolution beginning on page 92.
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Removal/Replacement of the general partner
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The holders of 60% of the outstanding Partnership common units.
Please read Withdrawal or Removal of the
General Partner on page 92.
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Class B
Units
Holders of Class B units are entitled to vote together with
the Partnership common unitholders as a single class on all
matters that Partnership common unitholders are entitled to vote
on. Holders of the Class B units are entitled to vote as a
separate class on any matter that adversely affects the rights
or preference of such class in relation to other classes of
partnership interests. The approval of the holders of a majority
of the Class B units is required to approve any matter for
which the Class B unitholders are entitled to vote as a
separate class.
Issuance
of Additional Securities
The Sixth Partnership Agreement authorizes the Partnership to
issue an unlimited number of additional limited partner
interests and other equity securities that are equal in rank
with or junior to Partnership common units on terms and
conditions established by the general partner in its sole
discretion without the approval of any limited partners.
It is possible that the Partnership will fund acquisitions
through the issuance of additional common units or other equity
securities. Holders of any additional common units the
Partnership issues will be entitled to share equally with the
then-existing holders of common units in the Partnerships
cash distributions. In addition, the issuance of additional
partnership interests may dilute the value of the interests of
the then-existing holders of common units in the Partnership net
assets.
In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of the Sixth
Partnership Agreement, the Partnership may also issue additional
partnership interests that, in the sole discretion of the
general partner, may have special voting rights to which
Partnership common units are not entitled.
The general partner has the right, which it may from time to
time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to
purchase common units or other equity securities whenever, and
on the same terms that, the Partnership issues those securities
to persons other than the general partner and its affiliates, to
the extent necessary to maintain their percentage interests in
the Partnership that existed immediately prior to the issuance.
The holders of common units will not have preemptive rights to
acquire additional common units or other partnership interests
in the Partnership.
89
On October 26, 2009, the Partnership entered into Amendment
No. 4 to its partnership agreement. This amendment
authorizes a series of Partnership limited partner interests
called Class B units. The Class B units will not be
entitled to regular quarterly cash distributions for the first
sixteen quarters following the closing of the TEPPCO merger
(which occurred on October 26, 2009). The Class B
units will convert automatically into the same number of
Partnership common units on the date immediately following the
payment date of the sixteenth quarterly distribution following
October 26, 2009, and holders of such converted units will
thereafter be entitled to receive distributions of available
cash.
Amendment
to the Sixth Partnership Agreement
Amendments to the Sixth Partnership Agreement may be proposed
only by the general partner. Any amendment that materially and
adversely affects the rights or preferences of any type or class
of limited partner interests in relation to other types or
classes of limited partner interests or the general partner
interest will require the approval of at least a majority of the
type or class of limited partner interests or general partner
interests so affected. However, in some circumstances, more
particularly described in the Sixth Partnership Agreement, the
general partner may make amendments to the Sixth Partnership
Agreement without the approval of the Partnerships limited
partners or assignees to reflect:
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a change in the Partnerships name, the location of its
principal place of business, its registered agent or its
registered office;
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the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of partners;
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a change to qualify or continue the Partnerships
qualification as a limited partnership or a partnership in which
its limited partners have limited liability under the laws of
any state or to ensure that neither the Partnership, EPO, nor
any of the Partnerships subsidiaries will be treated as an
association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an
entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
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a change that does not adversely affect the Partnerships
limited partners in any material respect;
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a change to (i) 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 or
(ii) facilitate the trading of the Partnerships
limited partner interests or comply with any rule, regulation,
guideline or requirement of any national securities exchange on
which the Partnerships limited partner interests are or
will be listed for trading;
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a change in the Partnerships fiscal year or taxable year
and any changes that are necessary or advisable as a result of a
change in its fiscal year or taxable year;
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an amendment that is necessary to prevent the Partnership, or
its general partner or the general partners directors,
officers, trustees or agents from being subjected to the
provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or plan
asset regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;
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an amendment that is necessary or advisable in connection with
the authorization or issuance of any class or series of the
Partnerships securities;
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any amendment expressly permitted in the Partnerships
partnership agreement to be made by its general partner acting
alone;
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an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger
agreement approved in accordance with the Sixth Partnership
Agreement;
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an amendment that is necessary or advisable to reflect, account
for and deal with appropriately the Partnerships formation
of, or investment in, any corporation, partnership, joint
venture, limited liability company or other entity other than
EPO, in connection with the Partnerships conduct of
activities permitted by the Sixth Partnership Agreement;
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a merger or conveyance to effect a change in the
Partnerships legal form; or
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any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.
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No Reduction of Voting Percentage Required to Take
Action. Any amendment to the Sixth Partnership
Agreement that would have the effect of reducing the voting
percentage required to take any action must be
90
approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of the
Partnerships limited partners constituting not less than
the voting requirement sought to be reduced.
No Enlargement of Obligations. No amendment to
the Sixth Partnership Agreement may (i) enlarge the
obligations of any limited partner without its consent, unless
such shall have occurred as a result of an amendment approved by
not less than a majority of the outstanding partnership
interests of the class affected, (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 of the Partnership or
any of its affiliates without its consent, which consent may be
given or withheld in its sole discretion, (iii) change the
provision of the Sixth Partnership Agreement that provides for
dissolution of the Partnership (A) at the expiration of its
term or (B) upon the election to dissolve the Partnership
by the general partner that is approved by the holders of a
majority of the outstanding Partnership common units and by
special approval (as such term is defined under the
Sixth Partnership Agreement), or (iv) change the term of
the Partnership or, except as set forth in the provision
described in clause (iii)(B) of this paragraph, give any
person the right to dissolve the Partnership.
No Material Adverse Effect on Rights and
Preferences. Except for certain amendments in
connection with the merger or consolidation of the Partnership
and except for those amendments that may be effected by the
general partner without the consent of limited partners as
described above, 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 so affected.
Opinion of Counsel and Partnership Unitholder
Approval. Except for those amendments that may be
effected by the general partner without the consent of limited
partners as described above or certain provisions in connection
with a merger or consolidation of the Partnership, no amendment
shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at
least 90% of the outstanding units unless the Partnership
obtains an opinion of counsel to the effect that such amendment
will not affect the limited liability of any limited partner
under applicable law.
Further Restrictions on Amendments. Except for
those amendments that may be effected by the general partner
without the consent of limited partners as described above, the
foregoing provisions described above relating to the amendment
of the Sixth Partnership Agreement may only be amended with the
approval of the holders of at least 90% of the outstanding units.
Merger,
Sale or Other Disposition of Assets
The Sixth Partnership Agreement generally prohibits the general
partner, without the prior approval of a majority of the
outstanding Partnership common units, from causing the
Partnership to, among other things, sell, exchange or otherwise
dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Partnership or EPO in a single transaction or a series of
related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation
or other combination). The general partner may, however,
mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in
all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or EPO
without the approval of a Unit Majority (as defined in the Sixth
Partnership Agreement). The Sixth Partnership Agreement
generally prohibits the general partner from causing the
Partnership to merge or consolidate with another entity without
the approval of a majority of the members of the Partnership ACG
Committee, at least one of which majority meets certain
independence requirements (such approval constituting
special approval under the Sixth Partnership
Agreement).
If certain conditions specified in the Sixth Partnership
Agreement are satisfied, the Partnerships general partner
may merge the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries into, or
convey some or all of the Partnerships assets to, a newly
formed entity if the sole purpose of that merger or conveyance
is to change the Partnerships legal form into another
limited liability entity.
91
Reimbursements
of the General Partner
The general partner does not receive any compensation for its
services as the general partner. It is, however, entitled to be
reimbursed for all of its costs incurred in managing and
operating the Partnerships business. The Sixth Partnership
Agreement provides that the general partner will determine the
expenses that are allocable to the Partnership in any reasonable
manner determined by the general partner in its sole discretion.
Withdrawal
or Removal of the General Partner
The general partner may withdraw as general partner without
first obtaining approval of any Partnership unitholder by giving
90 days written notice, and that withdrawal will not
constitute a violation of the Sixth Partnership Agreement. In
addition, the general partner may withdraw without unitholder
approval upon 90 days notice to Partnership limited
partners if at least 50% of the outstanding Partnership common
units are held or controlled by one person and its affiliates
other than the general partner and its affiliates.
Upon the voluntary withdrawal of the general partner, the
holders of a majority of the outstanding Partnership common
units, excluding the common units held by the withdrawing
general partner and its affiliates, may elect a successor to the
withdrawing general partner. If a successor is not elected, or
is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability
and tax matters cannot be obtained, the Partnership will be
dissolved, wound up and liquidated, unless within 90 days
after that withdrawal, the holders of a majority of the
outstanding Partnership units, excluding the common units held
by the withdrawing general partner and its affiliates, agree to
continue the Partnerships business and to appoint a
successor general partner.
The general partner may not be removed unless that removal is
approved by the vote of the holders of not less than 60% of the
outstanding Partnership common units, including common units
held by the general partner and its affiliates, and the
Partnership receives an opinion of counsel regarding limited
liability and tax matters. In addition, if the general partner
is removed as general partner under circumstances where cause,
as defined in the Sixth Partnership Agreement, does not exist
and units held by such general partner and its affiliates are
not voted in favor of such removal, the general partner will
have the right to convert its general partner interest into
common units or to receive cash in exchange for such interests.
Cause is narrowly defined to mean that a court of competent
jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment
finding the general partner liable for actual fraud, gross
negligence or willful or wanton misconduct in its capacity as
the general partner. Any removal of this kind is also subject to
the approval of a successor general partner by the vote of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding Partnership common
units, including those held by the general partner and its
affiliates.
Transfer
of the General Partner Interest
While the Sixth Partnership Agreement limits the ability of the
general partner to withdraw, it allows the general partner
interest to be transferred to an affiliate or to a third party
in conjunction with a merger or sale of all or substantially all
of the assets of the general partner. In addition, the Sixth
Partnership Agreement expressly permits the sale, in whole or in
part, of the ownership of the general partner. The general
partner may also transfer, in whole or in part, the common units
it owns.
At any time, the owners of the general partner may sell or
transfer all or part of their ownership in the general partner
without the approval of the unitholders.
Termination
and Dissolution
The Partnership will continue as a limited partnership until
terminated under the Sixth Partnership Agreement. The
Partnership will dissolve upon:
(1) the expiration of its term on December 31, 2088;
(2) the withdrawal, removal, bankruptcy or dissolution of
the general partner unless a successor is elected and an opinion
of counsel is received that such withdrawal (following the
selection of a successor
92
general partner) would not result in the loss of the limited
liability of any limited partner or of any member of EPO or
cause the Partnership or EPO to be treated as an association
taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity
for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not
previously treated as such) and such successor is admitted to
the Partnership as required by the Sixth Partnership Agreement;
(3) an election to dissolve the Partnership by the general
partner that receives special approval (as defined
in the Sixth Partnership Agreement) and is approved by a
majority of the holders of Partnership common units;
(4) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the
Partnership pursuant to the provisions of Delaware Act; or
(5) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets and
properties of the Partnership, EPO and their subsidiaries.
Upon (a) dissolution of the Partnership following the
withdrawal or removal of the general partner and the failure of
the partners to select a successor general partner, then within
90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution of the
Partnership upon the bankruptcy or dissolution of the general
partner, then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within
180 days thereafter, the holders of a majority of the
holders of Partnership common units may elect to reconstitute
the Partnership and continue its business on the same terms and
conditions set forth in the Sixth Partnership Agreement by
forming a new limited partnership on terms identical to those
set forth in the Sixth Partnership Agreement and having as the
successor general partner a person approved by the holders of a
majority of the holders of Partnership common units. Unless such
an election is made within the applicable time period as set
forth above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities
necessary to wind up its affairs.
Liquidation
and Distribution of Proceeds
Upon the Partnerships dissolution, unless it is
reconstituted and continued as a new limited partnership, the
person authorized to wind up the its affairs (the liquidator)
will, acting with all the powers of the general partner that the
liquidator deems necessary or desirable in its good faith
judgment, liquidate the Partnerships assets. The proceeds
of the liquidation will be applied as follows:
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first, towards the payment of all of the Partnerships
creditors and the creation of a reserve for contingent
liabilities; and
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then, to all partners in accordance with the positive balance in
the respective capital accounts.
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Under some circumstances and subject to some limitations, the
liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the
Partnerships assets for a reasonable period of time. If
the liquidator determines that a sale would be impractical or
would cause a loss to the Partnerships partners, the
general partner may distribute assets in kind to the
Partnerships partners.
Meetings;
Voting
For purposes of determining the limited partners entitled to
notice of or to vote at a meeting of limited partners or to give
approvals without a meeting, the general partner may set a
record date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than
60 days before (i) the date of the meeting (unless
such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline
or requirement of any national securities exchange on which the
limited partner interests are listed for trading, in which case
the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such exchange
shall govern) or (ii) 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 authorized by the general partner, any action that may be
taken at a meeting of the limited partners may be taken without
a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so
taken is signed by limited partners owning not less than the
minimum percentage of the outstanding limited partner interests
(including limited partner interests deemed owned by the general
partner) that would be necessary to authorize or take
93
such action at a meeting at which all the limited partners were
present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any
rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any national
securities exchange on which the limited partner interests are
listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation,
guideline or requirement of such exchange shall govern). Special
meetings of limited partners may be called by the general
partner or by limited partners owning 20% or more of the
outstanding limited partner interests of the class or classes
for which a meeting is proposed. The holders of a majority of
the outstanding limited partner interests of the class or
classes for which a meeting has been called (including limited
partner interests deemed owned by the general partner)
represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a
meeting of limited partners of such class or classes unless any
such action by the limited partners requires approval by holders
of a greater percentage of such limited partner interests, in
which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage.
Each holder of common units and Class B units is entitled
to one vote for each unit on all matters submitted to a vote of
the common unitholders. Holders of the Class B units are
entitled to vote as a separate class on any matter that
adversely affects the rights or preference of such class in
relation to other classes of partnership interests. The approval
of a majority of the Class B units is required to approve
any matter for which the Class B unitholders are entitled
to vote as a separate class. Partnership common units held in
nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or
other nominee in accordance with the instruction of the
beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial
owner and its nominee provides otherwise.
Limited
Call Right
If at any time the general partner and its affiliates own 85% or
more of the issued and outstanding limited partner interests of
any class, the general partner will have the right to purchase
all, but not less than all, of the outstanding limited partner
interests of that class that are held by non-affiliated persons.
The record date for determining ownership of the limited partner
interests would be selected by the general partner on at least
10 but not more than 60 days notice. The purchase
price in the event of a purchase under these provisions would be
the greater of (1) the current market price (as defined in
the Sixth Partnership Agreement) of the limited partner
interests of the class as of the date three days prior to the
date that notice is mailed to the limited partners as provided
in the Sixth Partnership Agreement and (2) the highest cash
price paid by the general partner or any of its affiliates for
any limited partner interest of the class purchased within the
90 days preceding the date the general partner mails notice
of its election to purchase the units.
Indemnification
Section 17-108
of the Delaware Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to
indemnify and hold harmless any partner or other person from and
against all claims and demands whatsoever. The Sixth Partnership
Agreement provides that the Partnership will indemnify
(i) the general partner, (ii) any departing general
partner, (iii) any person who is or was an affiliate of the
general partner or any departing general partner, (iv) any
person who is or was a member, partner, officer director,
employee, agent or trustee of the general partner or any
departing general partner or any affiliate of the general
partner or any departing general partner or (v) any person
who is or was serving at the request of the general partner or
any departing general partner or any affiliate of any such
person, any affiliate of the general partner or any fiduciary or
trustee of another person (each, a Partnership
Indemnitee), to the fullest extent permitted by law, from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(joint or several), expenses (including, without limitation,
legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest,
settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims,
demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, in which any Partnership
Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as
a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as a Partnership
Indemnitee; provided that in each case the Partnership
Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner that such
Partnership Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Partnership and, with
respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe its conduct was unlawful. The termination of any
proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a
plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not
create an assumption that the Partnership Indemnitee acted in a
manner contrary to that specified above. Any indemnification
under these
94
provisions will be only out of the assets of the Partnership,
and the general partner shall not be personally liable for, or
have any obligation to contribute or lend funds or assets to the
Partnership to enable it to effectuate, such indemnification.
The Partnership is authorized to purchase (or to reimburse the
general partner or its affiliates for the cost of) insurance
against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by
such persons in connection with the Partnerships
activities, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the
power to indemnify such person against such liabilities under
the provisions described above.
Section 18-108
of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act provides that,
subject to such standards and restrictions, if any, as are set
forth in its limited liability company agreement, a Delaware
limited liability company may, and shall have the power to,
indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other
person from and against any and all claims and demands
whatsoever. The limited liability company agreement of Holdings
GP, which will be admitted as the new sole general partner of
the Partnership as a result of the merger and in accordance with
the Sixth Partnership Agreement, provides for the
indemnification of (i) present or former members of the
board of directors of Holdings GP or any committee thereof,
(ii) present or former officers, employees, partners,
agents or trustees of Holdings GP or (iii) persons serving
at the request of Holdings GP in another entity in a similar
capacity as that referred to in the immediately preceding
clauses (i) or (ii) (each, a General Partner
Indemnitee) to the fullest extent permitted by law, from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
joint or several, expenses (including reasonable legal fees and
expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements
and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands,
actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, in which any such person may be
involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or
otherwise, by reason of such persons status as a General
Partner Indemnitee; provided, that in each case the
General Partner Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner
which such General Partner Indemnitee believed to be in, or not
opposed to, the best interests of Holdings GP and, with respect
to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
such General Partner Indemnitees conduct was unlawful. The
termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo
contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a
presumption that the General Partner Indemnitee acted in a
manner contrary to that specified above. Any indemnification
pursuant to these provisions shall be made only out of the
assets of Holdings GP. Holdings GP is authorized to purchase and
maintain insurance, on behalf of the members of its board of
directors, its officers and such other persons as the board of
directors may determine, against any liability that may be
asserted against or expense that may be incurred by such person
in connection with the activities of Holdings GP, regardless of
whether Holdings GP would have the power to indemnify such
person against such liability under the provisions of its
limited liability company agreement.
95
SELECTED
FINANCIAL DATA AND PRO FORMA INFORMATION OF
THE PARTNERSHIP AND HOLDINGS
The following tables set forth, for the periods and at the dates
indicated, selected historical and pro forma financial
information for the Partnership and selected historical
financial information for Holdings. The selected historical
financial data for the Partnership and Holdings as of and for
each of the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
and 2009 are derived from and should be read in conjunction with
the audited financial statements and accompanying footnotes for
such periods. The selected historical financial data as of and
for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2010 are
derived from and should be read in conjunction with the
unaudited financial statements and accompanying footnotes for
such periods. The Partnerships and Holdings
consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2008 and
2009 and as of June 30, 2010, and the related statements of
consolidated operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and
equity for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2009 and the six months ended June 30,
2010 and 2009 are incorporated by reference into this proxy
statement/prospectus from the Partnerships and
Holdings respective annual reports on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009, and quarterly reports
on
Form 10-Q
for the period ended June 30, 2010.
The selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated
financial statements of the Partnership show the pro forma
effect of the Partnerships proposed merger with Holdings.
Holdings will be treated as the surviving consolidated entity
for accounting purposes, even though the Partnership will be the
surviving consolidated entity for legal and reporting purposes.
For accounting purposes, Holdings is considered the accounting
acquiror of the Partnerships noncontrolling interests. For
a complete discussion of the pro forma adjustments underlying
the amounts in the table below, please read the section titled
Index to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements beginning on
page F-1
of this document.
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial
statements have been prepared to assist in the analysis of
financial effects of the proposed merger between the Partnership
and Holdings. The unaudited pro forma condensed statements of
consolidated operations for the six months ended June 30,
2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009 assume the
merger-related transactions occurred on January 1, 2009.
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet
shows the financial effects of the merger-related transactions
as if they had occurred on June 30, 2010.
For information regarding the effect of the merger on pro forma
distributions to Holdings unitholders, please read
Comparative Per Unit Information.
Selected
Historical and Pro Forma Financial Information of the
Partnership
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Partnership Consolidated Historical
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Partnership Pro Forma
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For the Year
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For the Six
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For the Six Months
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Ended
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Months
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For the Year Ended December 31,
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Ended June 30,
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December 31,
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Ended June 30,
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2005
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2006
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2007
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2008
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2009
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2009
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2010
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2009
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2010
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(Dollars in millions, except per unit amounts)
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Income statement data:
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Revenues
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$
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20,858.3
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$
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23,612.1
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$
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26,713.8
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$
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35,469.6
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$
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25,510.9
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$
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10,321.2
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$
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16,087.9
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$
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25,510.9
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$
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16,087.9
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Net income
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577.4
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787.6
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838.0
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1,188.9
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1,155.1
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528.0
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767.1
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1,140.3
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746.8
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Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
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(157.9
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)
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(186.5
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(304.4
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)
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(234.9
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(124.2
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)
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(116.1
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)
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(32.1
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)
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(110.7
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)
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(32.1
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|
|
Net income attributable to the Partnership
|
|
$
|
419.5
|
|
|
$
|
601.1
|
|
|
$
|
533.6
|
|
|
$
|
954.0
|
|
|
$
|
1,030.9
|
|
|
$
|
411.9
|
|
|
$
|
735.0
|
|
|
$
|
1,029.6
|
|
|
$
|
714.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per unit from continuing operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per unit
|
|
$
|
0.90
|
|
|
$
|
1.20
|
|
|
$
|
0.95
|
|
|
$
|
1.84
|
|
|
$
|
1.73
|
|
|
$
|
0.73
|
|
|
$
|
0.97
|
|
|
$
|
1.60
|
|
|
$
|
0.91
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per unit
|
|
$
|
0.90
|
|
|
$
|
1.20
|
|
|
$
|
0.95
|
|
|
$
|
1.84
|
|
|
$
|
1.73
|
|
|
$
|
0.73
|
|
|
$
|
0.96
|
|
|
$
|
1.53
|
|
|
$
|
0.87
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to limited partners:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per common unit (declared with respect to period)
|
|
$
|
1.6975
|
|
|
$
|
1.8250
|
|
|
$
|
1.9475
|
|
|
$
|
2.0750
|
|
|
$
|
2.1950
|
|
|
$
|
1.0825
|
|
|
$
|
1.1425
|
|
|
$
|
2.1950
|
|
|
$
|
1.1425
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
96
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership Consolidated Historical
|
|
|
Partnership Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Year
|
|
|
For the Six
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Six Months
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Months
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
(Dollars in millions, except per unit amounts)
|
|
|
Balance sheet data (at period end):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
17,486.7
|
|
|
$
|
19,109.2
|
|
|
$
|
22,515.5
|
|
|
$
|
24,211.6
|
|
|
$
|
26,151.6
|
|
|
$
|
25,545.4
|
|
|
$
|
28,289.5
|
|
|
|
n/a
|
|
|
$
|
29,740.1
|
|
Total long-term debt, including current maturities
|
|
|
6,358.8
|
|
|
|
6,898.9
|
|
|
|
8,771.1
|
|
|
|
11,637.9
|
|
|
|
11,346.4
|
|
|
|
12,139.5
|
|
|
|
12,671.5
|
|
|
|
n/a
|
|
|
|
13,766.3
|
|
Total equity
|
|
|
8,203.8
|
|
|
|
9,124.9
|
|
|
|
9,016.5
|
|
|
|
9,295.9
|
|
|
|
10,042.3
|
|
|
|
9,516.8
|
|
|
|
10,925.4
|
|
|
|
n/a
|
|
|
|
11,276.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selected
Historical Consolidated Financial Information of
Holdings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holdings Consolidated Historical
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Six Months
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
(Dollars in millions, except per unit amounts)
|
|
|
Income statement data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
20,858.2
|
|
|
$
|
23,612.2
|
|
|
$
|
26,713.8
|
|
|
$
|
35,469.6
|
|
|
$
|
25,510.9
|
|
|
$
|
10,321.2
|
|
|
$
|
16,087.9
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
560.9
|
|
|
|
772.4
|
|
|
|
762.0
|
|
|
|
1,145.1
|
|
|
|
1,140.3
|
|
|
|
521.7
|
|
|
|
746.8
|
|
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
|
|
|
(478.7
|
)
|
|
|
(638.4
|
)
|
|
|
(653.0
|
)
|
|
|
(981.1
|
)
|
|
|
(936.2
|
)
|
|
|
(419.7
|
)
|
|
|
(622.8
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income attributable to Holdings
|
|
$
|
82.2
|
|
|
$
|
134.0
|
|
|
$
|
109.0
|
|
|
$
|
164.0
|
|
|
$
|
204.1
|
|
|
$
|
102.0
|
|
|
$
|
124.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per unit from continuing operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per unit
|
|
$
|
0.90
|
|
|
$
|
1.30
|
|
|
$
|
0.97
|
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
|
$
|
1.48
|
|
|
$
|
0.75
|
|
|
$
|
0.89
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per unit
|
|
$
|
0.90
|
|
|
$
|
1.30
|
|
|
$
|
0.97
|
|
|
$
|
1.33
|
|
|
$
|
1.48
|
|
|
$
|
0.75
|
|
|
$
|
0.89
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to limited partners:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per unit (declared with respect to period)
|
|
$
|
0.372
|
|
|
$
|
1.290
|
|
|
$
|
1.550
|
|
|
$
|
1.790
|
|
|
$
|
2.030
|
|
|
$
|
0.985
|
|
|
$
|
1.105
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance sheet data (at period end):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
17,483.9
|
|
|
$
|
19,120.1
|
|
|
$
|
24,084.4
|
|
|
$
|
25,780.4
|
|
|
$
|
27,686.3
|
|
|
$
|
27,109.2
|
|
|
$
|
29,786.8
|
|
Total long-term debt, including current maturities
|
|
|
6,493.3
|
|
|
|
7,053.9
|
|
|
|
9,861.2
|
|
|
|
12,714.9
|
|
|
|
12,427.9
|
|
|
|
13,208.0
|
|
|
|
13,766.3
|
|
Total equity
|
|
|
8,063.6
|
|
|
|
8,968.7
|
|
|
|
9,530.0
|
|
|
|
9,759.4
|
|
|
|
10,473.1
|
|
|
|
9,984.3
|
|
|
|
11,300.9
|
|
97
THE
MERGER PARTIES BUSINESSES
Holdings
Business
This section summarizes information from Holdings
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 and the other filings
incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference.
For a more detailed discussion of Holdings business,
please read the Business and Properties section
contained in Holdings 2009 Annual Report on
Form 10-K
and the other filings incorporated into this document by
reference.
General
Holdings is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership, the
limited partnership interests of which are listed on the NYSE
under the ticker symbol EPE. The business of
Holdings consists of the ownership of general and limited
partner interests of publicly traded partnerships engaged in the
midstream energy industry and related businesses.
Holdings owns the following direct and indirect interests in the
Partnership:
|
|
|
|
|
the indirect ownership of all of the outstanding IDRs in the
Partnership, through its ownership of all of the outstanding
limited liability company interests in Partnership GP;
|
|
|
|
the indirect ownership of the general partner interest in the
Partnership (representing a 2.0% economic interest in the
Partnership), through its ownership of all of the outstanding
limited liability company interests in Partnership GP; and
|
|
|
|
the direct ownership of 21,563,177 Partnership common units,
representing an approximately 3.4% limited partner interest in
the Partnership.
|
Holdings also owns (i) 38,976,090 common units of Energy
Transfer Equity representing approximately 17.5% of Energy
Transfer Equitys outstanding common units and (ii) a
non-controlling member interest in its general partner, LE GP.
Holdings is owned 99.99% by its limited partners and 0.01% by
Holdings GP. Holdings GP is a wholly owned subsidiary of DDLLC,
the membership interests of which are currently owned of record
collectively by the DDLLC voting trustees. Holdings has no
operations apart from its investing activities and indirectly
overseeing the management of the entities controlled by it.
The following table summarizes the cash distributions Holdings
received for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and
2009 and the six months ended June 30, 2010 (dollars in
millions):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Six
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
Cash distributions to Holdings:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment in the Partnership and Partnership GP:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From IDRs
|
|
$
|
104.7
|
|
|
$
|
123.9
|
|
|
$
|
161.3
|
|
|
$
|
110.8
|
|
From Partnership common units
|
|
|
25.8
|
|
|
|
27.5
|
|
|
|
33.5
|
|
|
|
24.1
|
|
From 2% economic general partner interest in the Partnership
|
|
|
16.9
|
|
|
|
18.2
|
|
|
|
21.8
|
|
|
|
14.4
|
|
Investment in Energy Transfer Equity and LE GP(1)
|
|
|
29.9
|
|
|
|
76.5
|
|
|
|
82.7
|
|
|
|
42.5
|
|
Investment in TEPPCO and TEPPCO GP(2)
|
|
|
60.3
|
|
|
|
67.4
|
|
|
|
56.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total cash distributions received by Holdings
|
|
$
|
237.6
|
|
|
$
|
313.5
|
|
|
$
|
355.4
|
|
|
$
|
191.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes 38,976,090 common units of Energy Transfer Equity and a
member interest in LE GP. |
98
|
|
|
(2) |
|
Included 4,400,000 common units of TEPPCO and the 2% general
partner interest and IDRs in TEPPCO. On October 26, 2009,
the TEPPCO merger was completed and TEPPCO and TEPPCO GP became
wholly owned subsidiaries of the Partnership. As a result,
Holdings ownership interest in the TEPPCO units was
converted into 5,456,000 Partnership common units. In addition,
Holdings membership interests in TEPPCO GP were exchanged
for (i) 1,331,681 Partnership common units and (ii) an
increase in the capital account of Partnership GP in the
Partnership to maintain its 2% economic general partner interest
in the Partnership. The issuance of Partnership common units in
the TEPPCO merger also resulted in Holdings benefiting from
increased distributions with respect to the IDRs in the
Partnership. |
Holdings principal executive offices are located at 1100
Louisiana Street, 10th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002,
Holdings telephone number is
(713) 381-6500
and Holdings website is www.enterprisegp.com.
Holdings
Business Segments
Holdings has six reportable business segments: (i) NGL
Pipelines & Services; (ii) Onshore Natural Gas
Pipelines & Services; (iii) Onshore Crude Oil
Pipelines & Services; (iv) Offshore
Pipelines & Services;
(v) Petrochemical & Refined Products Services;
and (vi) Other Investments. As discussed below, the first
five of these business segments consist of the same five
business segments as the Partnership, which is a consolidated
subsidiary of Holdings for financial reporting purposes.
NGL Pipelines &
Services. Holdings NGL
Pipelines & Services business segment includes its
(i) natural gas processing business and related NGL
marketing activities, (ii) NGL pipelines aggregating
approximately 16,300 miles, (iii) NGL and related
product storage and terminal facilities with 163.4 million
barrels, or MMBbls, of working storage capacity and
(iv) NGL fractionation facilities. This segment also
includes Holdings import and export terminal operations.
Onshore Natural Gas Pipelines &
Services. Holdings Onshore Natural Gas
Pipelines & Services business segment includes
approximately 19,600 miles of onshore natural gas pipeline
systems that provide for the gathering and transportation of
natural gas in Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, New
Mexico, Texas and Wyoming. Holdings owns two salt dome natural
gas storage facilities located in Mississippi and leases natural
gas storage facilities located in Texas and Louisiana. This
segment also includes Holdings related natural gas
marketing activities.
Onshore Crude Oil Pipelines &
Services. Holdings Onshore Crude Oil
Pipelines & Services business segment includes
approximately 4,400 miles of onshore crude oil pipelines
and 10.5 MMBbls of above-ground storage tank capacity. This
segment also includes Holdings crude oil marketing
activities.
Offshore Pipelines &
Services. Holdings Offshore
Pipelines & Services business segment serves some of
the most active drilling and development regions, including
deepwater production fields, in the northern Gulf of Mexico,
offshore Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. This segment
includes approximately 1,400 miles of offshore natural gas
pipelines, approximately 1,000 miles of offshore crude oil
pipelines and six offshore hub platforms.
Petrochemical & Refined Products
Services. Holdings
Petrochemical & Refined Services business segment
consists of (i) propylene fractionation plants and related
activities, (ii) butane isomerization facilities,
(iii) an octane enhancement facility, (iv) refined
products pipelines, including Holdings Products Pipeline
System and related activities and (v) marine transportation
and other services.
Other Investments. Holdings Other
Investments segment reflects its non-controlling ownership
interests in Energy Transfer Equity and its general partner, LE
GP.
The
Partnerships Business
This section summarizes information from the
Partnerships Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 and the other filings
incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference.
For a more detailed discussion of the Partnerships
business, please read the Business and Properties
99
section contained in its 2009 Annual Report on
Form 10-K
and the other filings incorporated into this proxy
statement/prospectus by reference.
General
The Partnership is a North American midstream energy company
providing a wide range of services to producers and consumers of
natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, refined products and certain
petrochemicals. The Partnerships midstream energy asset
network links producers of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil from
some of the largest supply basins in the United States, Canada
and the Gulf of Mexico with domestic consumers and international
markets. The Partnerships assets include 49,100 miles
of onshore and offshore pipelines; approximately
200 million barrels of storage capacity for NGLs, refined
products and crude oil; and 27 billion cubic feet of
natural gas storage capacity. The Partnerships midstream
energy operations include: natural gas transportation,
gathering, processing and storage; NGL transportation,
fractionation, storage, and import and export terminaling; crude
oil and refined transportation, storage, and terminaling;
offshore production platforms; petrochemical transportation and
storage; and a marine transportation business that operates
primarily on the United States inland and Intracoastal Waterway
systems and in the Gulf of Mexico. NGL products (ethane,
propane, normal butane, isobutane and natural gasoline) are used
as raw materials by the petrochemical industry, as feedstocks by
refiners in the production of motor gasoline and by industrial
and residential users as fuel.
The Partnership is a publicly traded Delaware limited
partnership formed in 1998 and the Partnerships common
units are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol
EPD. The Partnership is owned 98% by its limited
partners and 2% by the Partnership GP. The Partnership GP is
owned by Holdings.
The Partnerships principal executive offices are located
at 1100 Louisiana Street, 10th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, the
Partnerships telephone number is
(713) 381-6500
and the Partnerships website is www.epplp.com.
The
Partnerships Business Segments
The Partnership has five reportable business segments:
(i) NGL Pipelines & Services; (ii) Onshore
Natural Gas Pipelines & Services; (iii) Onshore
Crude Oil Pipelines & Services; (iv) Offshore
Pipelines & Services; and
(v) Petrochemical & Refined Products Services.
These reportable business segments are identical to the
reportable segments of Holdings other than Holdings
additional sixth segment, Other Investments, which relates to
Holdings investments in Energy Transfer Equity and its
general partner. The Partnership provides the services in these
segments directly and through its subsidiaries and
unconsolidated affiliates.
The
Partnerships Strategy
The Partnerships business strategies are to:
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capitalize on expected development in natural gas, NGL and crude
oil production resulting from development activities in the
Rocky Mountains, Northeast and U.S. Gulf Coast regions,
including the Barnett Shale, Haynesville Shale, Eagle Ford Shale
and Marcellus Shale producing regions;
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capitalize on expected demand growth for natural gas, NGLs,
crude oil and refined and petrochemical products;
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maintain a diversified portfolio of midstream energy assets and
expand this asset base through growth capital projects and
accretive acquisitions of complementary midstream energy assets;
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share capital costs and risks through joint ventures or
alliances with strategic partners, including those that will
provide the raw materials for these growth capital projects or
purchase the projects end products; and
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enhance the stability of the Partnerships cash flows by
investing in pipelines and other fee-based businesses.
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CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS; INTERESTS OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN THE
MERGER
Relationship
of the Partnership and Holdings
The Partnership and Holdings are closely related. Holdings
currently owns 100% of the limited liability company interests
in the Partnership GP and 21,563,177 Partnership common units.
The Partnership GP currently directly owns a 2% economic general
partner interest in the Partnership and all of the
Partnerships IDRs. Through its indirect ownership
interests of the Partnership GPs 2% economic general
partner interest in the Partnership and the Partnerships
IDRs, Holdings is entitled to receive: (i) approximately
2.0% of all distributions made by the Partnership (on account of
the general partner interest) and (ii) increasing
percentages, up to the current maximum of 23%, of the amount of
incremental cash distributed by the Partnership above certain
target distribution levels in excess of the minimum quarterly
distribution of $0.225 per Partnership common unit in any
quarter (on account of the IDRs). As a result, Holdings is
currently entitled to receive distributions attributable to the
general partner interest and IDRs in the Partnership of
approximately 25% of the aggregate amount of distributions to
the Partnerships partners in excess of $0.3085 per
Partnership common unit. In addition, as the owner of 21,563,177
Partnership common units, Holdings is entitled to receive
approximately 3.4% of the total limited partner distributions
paid by the Partnership. Since Holdings initial public
offering in August 2005, distributions by the Partnership have
increased from $0.430 per Partnership common unit for the
quarter ended September 30, 2005 to $0.5825 per Partnership
common unit for the quarter ended September 30, 2010; and
as a result, distributions from the Partnership to Holdings
(including through the Partnership GP) have increased.
Certain executive officers of Holdings GP are also officers of
the Partnership GP. Richard H. Bachmann, W. Randall Fowler,
William Ordemann, Bryan F. Bulawa and Michael J. Knesek are all
executive officers of both the Partnership GP and
Holdings GP, as more fully described below under
Interests of Directors and Executive Officers
in the Merger.
Relationship
of the Partnership and Holdings with EPCO and
Affiliates
The Partnership and Holdings have extensive and ongoing
relationships with EPCO and its affiliates, which include the
following significant entities:
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EPCO and its privately held affiliates, including DDLLC;
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the Partnership GP, the Partnerships sole general
partner; and
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Holdings GP, Holdings sole general partner.
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Holdings GP is a wholly owned subsidiary of DDLLC. The
membership interests of DDLLC are owned of record by a voting
trust formed on April 26, 2006, pursuant to the DDLLC
Voting Trust Agreement dated April 26, 2006, between
DDLLC and Dan L. Duncan (as the record owner of all of the
membership interests of DDLLC immediately prior to entering into
the DDLLC Voting Trust Agreement and as the sole voting
trustee).
Immediately upon Mr. Duncans death on March 29,
2010, voting and dispositive control of all the membership
interests of DDLLC was transferred pursuant to the DDLLC Voting
Trust Agreement to three voting trustees. The current DDLLC
voting trustees are: (i) Randa Duncan Williams,
Mr. Duncans oldest daughter, who is also a director
of Holdings GP; (ii) Dr. Ralph S. Cunningham, who is
currently the President and Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of Holdings GP; and (iii) Richard H.
Bachmann, who is currently an Executive Vice President and a
director of Holdings GP, an Executive Vice President, the Chief
Legal Officer and Secretary of the Partnership GP and one of
three managers of DDLLC. Dr. Cunningham and
Mr. Bachmann are also currently directors of Holdings GP.
EPCO beneficially owns approximately 55% of the outstanding
Holdings units. EPCO is owned of record by a voting trust formed
on April 26, 2006, pursuant to the EPCO Inc. Voting
Trust Agreement (the EPCO Voting
Trust Agreement), between EPCO and Mr. Duncan
(as the record owner of a majority of the outstanding voting
capital stock of EPCO immediately prior to the entering into of
the EPCO Voting Trust Agreement and as the initial sole
voting trustee). Immediately upon Mr. Duncans death,
voting and
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dispositive control of such majority of the outstanding voting
capital stock of EPCO was transferred pursuant to the EPCO
Voting Trust Agreement to three voting trustees. The
current EPCO voting trustees are Ms. Williams,
Dr. Cunningham and Mr. Bachmann, who are also the
DDLLC voting trustees and are each independent co-executors of
the Estate of Mr. Duncan.
As of October 13, 2010, the DDLLC voting trustees and the
EPCO voting trustees, in their capacities as such trustees, as
independent co-executors of the Estate of Dan L. Duncan and
individually, collectively owned or controlled 184,239,045
Partnership common units, representing approximately 29% of the
Partnerships outstanding common units, including 4,520,431
Class B units. In addition, as of October 13, 2010,
the DDLLC voting trustees and the EPCO voting trustees, in their
capacities as such trustees, as executors and individually,
beneficially owned approximately 77% of the limited partner
interests in Holdings and 100% of Holdings GP. The Holdings
supporting unitholders, who have agreed to vote in favor of the
merger and the merger agreement, directly own approximately 76%
of Holdings outstanding units. The directors, executive
officers and other affiliates of Holdings collectively owned or
controlled (including units owned directly by the estate of
Mr. Duncan) an additional 1.4% of Holdings
outstanding units.
The officers of Holdings GP are employees of EPCO. A number of
EPCO employees who provide services to Holdings also provide
services to the Partnership, often serving in the same
positions. Holdings has an extensive and ongoing relationship
with the Partnership, EPCO and other entities controlled by the
DDLLC voting trustees and the EPCO voting trustees.
Holdings (through the Partnership GP) received aggregate cash
distributions of $183.1 million and $125.2 million
from the Partnership during the year ended December 31,
2009 and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively,
including incentive distributions of $161.3 million and
$110.8 million, respectively. Holdings GP did not receive
material cash distributions from Holdings during the year ended
December 31, 2009 and six months ended June 30, 2010,
respectively.
EPCO and its privately held affiliates depend on the cash
distributions they receive from the Partnership, Holdings, and
other investments to fund their other operations and to meet
their debt obligations. EPCO and its privately held affiliates
received $519.7 million and $284.1 million in cash
distributions from the Partnership and Holdings during the year
ended December 31, 2009 and six months ended June 30,
2010, respectively. Also, the Partnership issued
$246.3 million and $119.5 million in Partnership
common units to EPCO and its affiliates under the
Partnerships distribution reinvestment program during the
year ended December 31, 2009 and the six months ended
June 30, 2010, respectively.
The ownership interests in the Partnership that are owned or
controlled by Holdings are pledged as security under its credit
facility. In addition, substantially all of the ownership
interests in the Partnership that are owned or controlled by
EPCO and its affiliates, other than those interests owned by
Holdings, DDLLC and certain trusts affiliated with EPCO, are
pledged as security under the credit facility of an affiliate of
EPCO. The limited partner interests in Holdings that are owned
or controlled by EPCO and certain of its affiliates, other than
those interests owned by DDLLC and certain trusts affiliated
with EPCO, are pledged as security under the credit facility of
an affiliate of EPCO. This credit facility contains customary
and other events of default relating to EPCO and certain
affiliates, including the Partnership and Holdings. The
Partnership intends to refinance the Holdings credit facility
and to repay all amounts thereunder in connection with the
closing of the merger.
An affiliate of EPCO provides trucking services to the
Partnership for the transportation of NGLs and other products.
The Partnership leases office space in various buildings from
affiliates of EPCO. The charges for trucking services
and rental rates in these lease agreements approximate
market rates.
EPCO Administrative Services Agreement. The
Partnership and Holdings have no employees. All of their
operating functions and general and administrative support
services are provided by employees of EPCO pursuant to an
administrative services agreement (ASA) or by other
service providers. EPCO, the
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Partnership, Holdings, Duncan Energy Partners, and their
respective general partners and certain affiliates are parties
to the ASA. The significant terms of the ASA are as follows:
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EPCO will provide selling, general and administrative services,
and management and operating services, as may be necessary to
manage and operate the businesses of the Partnership and
Holdings, and their respective properties and assets (all in
accordance with prudent industry practices). EPCO will employ or
otherwise retain the services of such personnel as may be
necessary to provide such services.
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The Partnership and Holdings are required to reimburse EPCO for
its services in an amount equal to the sum of all costs and
expenses incurred by EPCO which are directly or indirectly
related to the Partnerships and Holdings business or
activities (including expenses reasonably allocated to the
Partnership and Holdings by EPCO). In addition, the Partnership
and Holdings have agreed to pay all sales, use, excise, value
added or similar taxes, if any, that may be applicable from time
to time in respect of the services provided to the Partnership
and Holdings by EPCO.
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EPCO will allow the Partnership and Holdings to participate as a
named insured in its overall insurance program, with the
associated premiums and other costs being allocated to the
Partnership and Holdings.
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Under the ASA, EPCO subleases to the Partnership (for $1 per
year) certain equipment which it holds pursuant to operating
leases and has assigned to the Partnership its purchase option
under such leases (the retained leases). EPCO
remains liable for the actual cash lease payments associated
with these agreements. The Partnership records the full value of
these payments made by EPCO on its behalf as a non-cash related
party operating lease expense, with the offset to equity
accounted for as a general contribution to the Partnership.
The Partnerships and Holdings operating costs and
expenses for the year ended December 31, 2009 include
reimbursement payments to EPCO for the direct and indirect costs
incurred to operate their facilities, including compensation of
employees.
Likewise, the Partnerships and Holdings general and
administrative costs for the year ended December 31, 2009
include amounts the Partnership and Holdings reimburse to EPCO
for administrative services, including compensation of
employees. In general, the Partnerships and Holdings
reimbursement to EPCO for administrative services is either
(i) on an actual basis for direct expenses EPCO may incur
on their behalf (e.g., the purchase of office supplies) or
(ii) based on an allocation of such charges among the
various parties to the ASA based on the estimated use of such
services by the applicable party (e.g., the allocation of
general legal or accounting salaries based on estimates of time
spent on such entitys business and affairs).
Since the vast majority of such expenses are charged to the
Partnership and Holdings on an actual basis (i.e. no
mark-up or
subsidy is charged or received by EPCO), the Partnership and
Holdings believe that such expenses are representative of what
the amounts would have been on a stand-alone basis. With respect
to allocated costs, the Partnership and Holdings believe that
the proportional direct allocation method employed by EPCO is
reasonable and reflective of the estimated level of costs the
Partnership and Holdings would have incurred on a stand-alone
basis.
The ASA also addresses potential conflicts that may arise among
the Partnership (including the Partnership GP), Holdings
(including Holdings GP), Duncan Energy Partners (including its
general partner, DEP Holdings, LLC, which is owned by the
Partnership), and the EPCO Group. The EPCO Group includes EPCO
and its other affiliates, but excludes the Partnership,
Holdings, Duncan Energy Partners and their respective general
partners. With respect to potential conflicts, the ASA provides,
among other things, that:
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If a business opportunity to acquire equity
securities (as defined below) is presented to the EPCO
Group, the Partnership (including the Partnership GP), Holdings
(including Holdings GP) or Duncan Energy Partners (including DEP
GP), then Holdings will have the first right to pursue such
opportunity. The term equity securities is defined
to include:
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general partner interests (or securities which have
characteristics similar to general partner interests) or
interests in persons that own or control such
general partner or similar interests (collectively,
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103
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GP Interests) and securities convertible,
exercisable, exchangeable or otherwise representing ownership or
control of such GP Interests; and
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IDRs and limited partner interests (or securities which have
characteristics similar to IDRs or limited partner interests) in
publicly traded partnerships or interests in persons
that own or control such limited partner or similar interests
(collectively, non-GP Interests); provided
that such non-GP Interests are associated with GP Interests
and are owned by the owners of GP Interests or their respective
affiliates.
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Holdings will be presumed to want to acquire the equity
securities until such time as Holdings GP advises the EPCO
Group, the Partnership GP and DEP GP that it has abandoned the
pursuit of such business opportunity. In the event that the
purchase price of the equity securities is reasonably likely to
equal or exceed $100.0 million, the decision to decline the
acquisition will be made by the CEO of Holdings GP after
consultation with and subject to the approval of the Audit and
Conflicts Committee of Holdings GP. If the purchase price is
reasonably likely to be less than $100.0 million, the CEO
of Holdings GP may make the determination to decline the
acquisition without consulting the Audit and Conflicts Committee
of Holdings GP.
In the event that Holdings abandons the acquisition and so
notifies the EPCO Group, the Partnership GP and DEP GP, the
Partnership will have the second right to pursue such
acquisition. The Partnership will be presumed to want to acquire
the equity securities until such time as the Partnership GP
advises the EPCO Group and DEP GP that the Partnership has
abandoned the pursuit of such acquisition. In determining
whether or not to pursue the acquisition, the Partnership will
follow the same procedures applicable to Holdings, as described
above but utilizing the Partnership GPs CEO and Audit and
Conflicts Committee.
In its sole discretion, the Partnership may affirmatively direct
such acquisition opportunity to Duncan Energy Partners. In the
event this occurs, Duncan Energy Partners may pursue such
acquisition.
In the event the Partnership abandons the acquisition
opportunity for the equity securities and so notifies the EPCO
Group and DEP GP, the EPCO Group may pursue the acquisition or
offer the opportunity to Holdings (including Holdings GP) and
their controlled affiliates, in either case, without any further
obligation to any other party or offer such opportunity to other
affiliates.
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If any business opportunity not covered by the preceding bullet
point (i.e. not involving equity securities) is
presented to the EPCO Group, the Partnership (including the
Partnership GP), Holdings (including Holdings GP), or Duncan
Energy Partners (including DEP GP), the Partnership will have
the first right to pursue such opportunity either for itself or,
if desired by the Partnership in its sole discretion, for the
benefit of Duncan Energy Partners. It will be presumed that the
Partnership will pursue the business opportunity until such time
as its general partner advises the EPCO Group, Holdings GP and
DEP GP that it has abandoned the pursuit of such business
opportunity.
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In the event the purchase price or cost associated with the
business opportunity is reasonably likely to equal or exceed
$100.0 million, any decision to decline the business
opportunity will be made by the CEO of the Partnership GP after
consultation with and subject to the approval of the Audit and
Conflicts Committee of the Partnership GP. If the purchase price
or cost is reasonably likely to be less than
$100.0 million, the CEO of the Partnership GP may make the
determination to decline the business opportunity without
consulting the Partnership GPs Audit and Conflicts
Committee.
In its sole discretion, the Partnership may affirmatively direct
such acquisition opportunity to Duncan Energy Partners. In the
event this occurs, Duncan Energy Partners may pursue such
acquisition.
In the event that the Partnership abandons the business
opportunity for itself and Duncan Energy Partners and so
notifies the EPCO Group, Holdings GP and DEP GP, Holdings will
have the second right to pursue such business opportunity. It
will be presumed that Holdings will pursue such acquisition
until such time as its general partner declines such opportunity
(in accordance with the procedures described above for the
Partnership) and advises the EPCO Group that it has abandoned
104
the pursuit of such business opportunity. Should this occur, the
EPCO Group may either pursue the business opportunity or offer
the business opportunity to Holdings (including Holdings GP) and
their controlled affiliates without any further obligation to
any other party or offer such opportunity to other affiliates.
None of the Partnership, Holdings, Duncan Energy Partners or
their respective general partners or the EPCO Group have any
obligation to present business opportunities to Holdings
(including Holdings GP) or their controlled affiliates.
Likewise, Holdings (including Holdings GP) and their controlled
affiliates have no obligation to present business opportunities
to the Partnership, Holdings, Duncan Energy Partners or their
respective general partners or the EPCO Group.
The ASA was amended on January 30, 2009 to provide for the
cash reimbursement by the Partnership and Holdings to EPCO for
distributions of cash or securities, if any, made to certain
employee partners of an employee unit partnership that has been
dissolved. The ASA amendment also extended the term under which
EPCO provides services to the partnership entities party to the
ASA from December 2010 to December 2013 and made other updating
and conforming changes.
Interests
of Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger
General
In considering the recommendations of the Holdings ACG Committee
and the Holdings Board with respect to the merger, Holdings
unitholders should be aware that certain of the executive
officers and directors of Holdings GP have interests in the
transaction that differ from, or are in addition to, the
interests of Holdings unitholders generally, including:
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certain officers of Holdings GP are also officers of the
Partnership GP;
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equity-based awards under Holdings benefit plans will generally
be converted into equity awards with respect to Partnership
common units, adjusted for the exchange ratio;
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ownership of Partnership common units by existing Holdings GP
officers and directors;
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continued indemnification of Holdings GPs directors and
executive officers;
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certain directors of Holdings GP also serve as both the DDLLC
voting trustees and the EPCO voting trustees and, in their
capacities as trustees of the voting trusts, have authorized the
Holdings supporting unitholders to enter into the support
agreement; and
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senior management of the Partnership GP and Holdings GP prepared
projections with respect to the Partnerships and
Holdings future financial and operating performance, which
were provided to Morgan Stanley for use in connection with the
preparation of its fairness opinion.
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The Partnership GP currently expects each of the executive
officers of the Partnership GP to be elected to serve as
executive officers of Holdings GP when it becomes the new
general partner of the Partnership. The persons who will be
elected as directors of Holdings GP following the merger have
not yet been determined.
The members of the Holdings ACG Committee and the Holdings Board
were aware of these interests and the relationships described
below and considered them in making their determinations and
recommendations with respect to the merger agreement and the
merger. These interests and relationships, to the extent
material, are further described below. For more information,
please read The Merger Background of the
Merger, and The Merger Recommendation of
the Holdings ACG Committee and the Holdings Board and Reasons
for the Merger.
105
Employment
by EPCO
The officers of Holdings GP are employees of EPCO, which is
controlled by the EPCO voting trustees. EPCO also employs the
executive officers, who may also be directors, of the
Partnership GP and Holdings GP. For additional information
regarding employment by EPCO, please read
Relationship of the Partnership and Holdings
with EPCO and Affiliates.
Relationships
of Holdings Board Members
Ms. Williams, Mr. Bachmann and Dr. Cunningham, who are
directors of Holdings GP, are each employed by EPCO. The other
members of the Holdings Board are not employed by EPCO. Some of
the Holdings GP directors have interests or relationships that
relate to the merger:
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From April 1998 to February 2006, Mr. Andras served as a
director of the Partnership GP.
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From February 2006 to May 2010, Dr. Cunningham served as a
director of the Partnership GP, having previously served from
April 1998 to March 2005.
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Mr. Bachmann has been a member of the Holdings Board since
February 2006 and serves as a director and executive officer of
EPCO, an officer of the Partnership GP, of Holdings GP and of
certain other affiliates of the Partnership. From June 2000 to
January 2004 and from February 2006 to May 2010,
Mr. Bachmann served as a director of the Partnership GP.
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Most of the members of the Holdings Board own equity interests
in the Partnership and Holdings. For additional information
regarding director ownership of such interests, please read
Equity Interests of the Partnership GPs
and Holdings GPs Directors and Executive Officers in
Holdings and the Partnership.
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Relationships
of Holdings GP Management
All of Holdings GPs executive officers are employees of
EPCO. In addition, as EPCO employees, some of Holdings GPs
executive officers serve as officers of, or provide services to,
other affiliates of EPCO or the Partnership controlled by the
DDLLC voting trustees or the EPCO voting trustees, including:
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William Ordemann, Holdings GPs Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer, is also Executive Vice President of
the Partnership GP and Executive Vice President of DEP GP.
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W. Randall Fowler, Holdings GPs Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer, is also Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of the Partnership GP and
President and CEO of DEP GP.
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Richard H. Bachmann, Holdings GPs Executive Vice
President, is also Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer
and Secretary of the Partnership GP.
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Bryan F. Bulawa, Holdings GPs Senior Vice President and
Treasurer, is also the Senior Vice President and Treasurer of
the Partnership GP and the Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer of DEP GP.
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Michael J. Knesek, Holdings GPs Senior Vice President,
Controller and Principal Accounting Officer, is also the Senior
Vice President, Controller and Principal Accounting Officer of
each of the Partnership GP and DEP GP.
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In addition, most of the executive officers own equity interests
in both the Partnership and Holdings. For additional information
regarding executive officer ownership of such interests, please
read Equity Interests of the Partnership
GPs and Holdings GPs Directors and Executive
Officers in Holdings and the Partnership below.
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Treatment
of Equity Awards
Certain non-employee directors of Holdings GP and directors of
DEP GP own Holdings UARs. Each of Messrs. Andress,
McMahen and Smith holds 30,000 Holdings UARs.
In general, Holdings equity awards will continue to vest, but
will provide for the receipt of Partnership common units on
vesting or exercise, as adjusted to reflect the 1.50 exchange
ratio. Pursuant to the terms of the Holdings equity awards, no
accelerated vesting will occur in connection with the merger,
assuming the Holdings GP directors who hold these awards
continue as directors after the merger.
Upon consummation of the merger, outstanding equity awards held
by Holdings GPs directors and executive officers will be
subject to the following treatment:
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Each outstanding Holdings UAR granted prior to the date of the
merger agreement will be assumed by the Partnership and
converted into a number of Partnership CUARs equal to the
product of the number of Holdings UARs to which such grant was
subject at the time of such assumption, multiplied by 1.50
(rounded down to the nearest whole CUAR of the Partnership),
with an exercise price per Partnership CUAR equal to the per
Holdings UAR exercise price divided by 1.50 (rounded up to the
next nearest whole cent). Each CUAR of the Partnership will be
subject to, and vest upon, terms and conditions that are
equivalent to the applicable Holdings UAR. In the case of
directors of DEP GP whose consent has been obtained if
necessary, such persons outstanding Holdings UARs, whether
or not then exercisable or vested, will cease to represent, as
of the effective time of the merger, a Holdings UAR and will be
converted, in settlement and cancellation thereof, into the
right to receive, at the effective time, a lump sum cash
payment, without interest, equal to the Fair Market Value of
such Holdings unit on such date over the Grant Price per
Holdings unit (with the terms Fair Market Value and Grant Price
as defined under the Holdings Unit Plan). Each CUAR of the
Partnership will be subject to, and vest upon, the terms and
conditions that are equivalent to those applicable to the
Holdings UARs. Promptly after the effective time, the
Partnership will provide each holder of a Holdings UAR with a
notice describing the assumption and conversion of such awards.
The assumption and conversion of the Holdings UARs (and the
cash-out of Holdings UARs held by directors of DEP GP)
pursuant to the merger agreement will be in full satisfaction of
the obligations in respect thereof.
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Equity
Interests of the Partnership GPs and Holdings GPs
Directors and Executive Officers in Holdings and the
Partnership
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the
directors and executive officers of the Partnership GP and
Holdings GP in the equity of (i) Holdings, (ii) the
Partnership prior to the merger and (iii) the Partnership
after giving effect to the merger, each as of October 13,
2010:
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Partnership
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Partnership
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Common
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Common
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Holdings
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Units Prior
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Units After
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Units
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to the Merger(9)
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the Merger(9)
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Directors of the Partnership GP
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Michael A. Creel(1)
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277,271
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403,310
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819,216
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A. James Teague(1)(2)
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187,510
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407,804
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689,069
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E. William Barnett
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|
9,000
|
|
|
|
4,474
|
|
|
|
17,974
|
|
Charles M. Rampacek
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,935
|
|
|
|
11,935
|
|
Rex C. Ross(3)
|
|
|
6,048
|
|
|
|
50,945
|
|
|
|
60,017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors of Holdings GP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Randa Duncan Williams(4)(5)
|
|
|
106,648,357
|
|
|
|
198,630,738
|
|
|
|
337,060,978
|
|
Dr. Ralph S. Cunningham(1)
|
|
|
149,351
|
|
|
|
219,186
|
|
|
|
443,212
|
|
Richard H. Bachmann(1)
|
|
|
232,066
|
|
|
|
345,654
|
|
|
|
693,752
|
|
Thurmon M. Andress(6)
|
|
|
10,397
|
|
|
|
7,400
|
|
|
|
22,995
|
|
Charles E. McMahen
|
|
|
11,164
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,746
|
|
Edwin E. Smith
|
|
|
21,797
|
|
|
|
118,204
|
|
|
|
150,899
|
|
107
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partnership
|
|
|
Partnership
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
|
Holdings
|
|
|
Units Prior
|
|
|
Units After
|
|
|
|
Units
|
|
|
to the Merger(9)
|
|
|
the Merger(9)
|
|
|
O.S. Andras
|
|
|
178,571
|
|
|
|
1,700,000
|
|
|
|
1,967,856
|
|
B.W. Waycaster
|
|
|
433
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
649
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Officers(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Randall Fowler, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of each of the Partnership GP and Holdings GP
|
|
|
182,116
|
|
|
|
268,789
|
|
|
|
541,963
|
|
William Ordemann, Executive Vice President of the Partnership GP
and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of
Holdings GP
|
|
|
115,841
|
|
|
|
181,130
|
|
|
|
354,891
|
|
Lynn L. Bourdon, III, Senior Vice President of the Partnership
GP(7)
|
|
|
68,288
|
|
|
|
97,375
|
|
|
|
199,807
|
|
Bryan F. Bulawa, Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the
Partnership GP and Holdings GP
|
|
|
4,499
|
|
|
|
35,980
|
|
|
|
42,728
|
|
James M. Collingsworth, Senior Vice President of the Partnership
GP
|
|
|
117,291
|
|
|
|
103,480
|
|
|
|
279,416
|
|
Mark Hurley, Senior Vice President of the Partnership GP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
Michael J. Knesek, Senior Vice President, Controller and
Principal Accounting Officer of each of the Partnership GP and
Holdings GP(8)
|
|
|
86,868
|
|
|
|
83,071
|
|
|
|
213,373
|
|
Christopher Skoog, Senior Vice President of the Partnership GP
|
|
|
11,316
|
|
|
|
74,867
|
|
|
|
91,841
|
|
Thomas M. Zulim, Senior Vice President of the Partnership GP
|
|
|
114,580
|
|
|
|
90,350
|
|
|
|
262,220
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Information regarding the beneficial ownership of certain
executive officers who are also directors of either the
Partnership GP or Holdings GP, consisting of Mr. Creel,
Mr. Teague, Mr. Bachmann and Dr. Cunningham, is
included with their information set forth on page 111.
Mr. Creel is President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Partnership GP. Mr. Teague is the Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer of the Partnership GP.
Dr. Cunningham is the President and Chief Executive Officer
of Holdings GP. Mr. Bachmann is the Executive Vice
President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of the Partnership
GP, and an Executive Vice President of Holdings GP. |
|
|
|
(2) |
|
The Partnership common units presented for Mr. Teague
include 1,000 Partnership common units owned of record by a
trust and 160 Partnership common units owned of record by
Mr. Teagues spouse. |
|
(3) |
|
The Partnership common units presented for Mr. Ross include
6,250 Partnership common units owned of record by a trust
of which Mr. Ross spouse is the trustee and a
beneficiary. |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
The Holdings units presented for Ms. Williams are held of
record by EPCO Holdings, Inc., Duncan Family Interests, Inc.,
DFI GP Holdings L.P., the Duncan Family 2000 Trust, the estate
of Dan L. Duncan and Alkek and Williams, Ltd, an affiliate of
Ms. Williams. The Partnership common units presented for
Ms. Williams are held of record by EPCO, DFIDH, EPCO
Holdings, Inc., Holdings (prior to the merger), Duncan Family
Interests, Inc., DFI GP Holdings L.P., certain family trusts for
which Ms. Williams serves as a trustee, and Holdings GP
(after the merger). Ms. Williams disclaims beneficial
ownership of the Holdings units and the Partnership common units
held indirectly other than to the extent of her pecuniary
interest for Section 16 purposes. |
|
|
|
(5) |
|
Partnership common units include 4,520,431 Class B Units
held of record by an affiliate of EPCO. |
|
(6) |
|
The Holdings units presented for Mr. Andress include
6,200 Holdings units owned of record by a limited liability
partnership of which Mr. Andress owns 55%. |
|
(7) |
|
The Partnership common units presented for Mr. Bourdon
include 600 Partnership common units owned of record by his
children. |
108
|
|
|
(8) |
|
The units presented for Mr. Knesek include 1,615 Holdings
units and 776 Partnership common units owned of record by
Mr. Kneseks spouse. |
|
(9) |
|
The Partnership common units noted above do not include any
options to acquire Partnership common units owned by the
directors and executive officers, as none of the options are
exercisable within 60 days after the date of this proxy
statement/prospectus. The following executive officers hold
options exercisable into the following numbers of Partnership
common units: Mr. Creel 405,000;
Mr. Teague 300,000;
Mr. Cunningham 300,000;
Mr. Bachmann 300,000;
Mr. Fowler 277,500;
Mr. Ordemann 255,000;
Mr. Bourdon 150,000;
Mr. Bulawa 20,000;
Mr. Collingsworth 150,000;
Mr. Hurley 30,000; Mr. Knesek
150,000; Mr. Skoog 180,000; and
Mr. Zulim 150,000. For additional information
regarding options owned by the named executive officers, please
see the annual reports on
Form 10-K
filed by Holdings and the Partnership for the year ended
December 31, 2010 and other reports incorporated by
reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. |
Director
and Officer Insurance; Indemnification
The merger agreement requires the Partnership to maintain, or to
cause EPCO to maintain, for six years after the effective time
of the merger, officers and directors liability insurance
for the benefit of persons who are or were at any time before
the effective time of the mergers covered by the existing
directors and officers liability insurance policies
applicable to Holdings, Holdings GP or any of their subsidiaries
(including the Partnership GP and the Partnership), as described
more fully under The Merger Agreement
Covenants Indemnification; Directors and
Officers Insurance.
The merger agreement also provides for indemnification and
advancement of expenses by the successor general partner of the
Partnership after the merger, the Partnership and MergerCo,
jointly and severally, of directors and officers of Holdings GP
and the Partnership GP to the fullest extent authorized or
permitted by applicable law, in addition to existing rights, as
described more fully under The Merger
Agreement Covenants Indemnification;
Directors and Officers Insurance.
Support
Agreement
Three of the directors of Holdings GP, Ms. Williams, Mr.
Bachmann and Dr. Cunningham (who is also CEO of Holdings
GP), also serve as both the DDLLC voting trustees and the EPCO
voting trustees. These three individuals also serve as
independent co-executors of the estate of Dan L. Duncan. Through
these positions, these persons effectively own or control
approximately 76% of the outstanding Holdings units and
approximately 28% of the outstanding Partnership common units
and Class B units, collectively, which securities
represented an aggregate fair market value of approximately
$5.3 billion and $7.0 billion, respectively, based on
the closing prices of the Holdings units and Partnership common
units on September 3, 2010, the last trading day before
announcement of the merger. In their capacities as trustees of
those voting trusts or as a majority of the directors of certain
affiliated entities, Ms. Williams, Mr. Bachmann and
Dr. Cunningham have authorized or caused the Holdings
supporting unitholders to enter into the support agreement,
pursuant to which the Holdings supporting unitholders have
agreed to vote approximately 76% of the outstanding Holdings
units in favor of the merger agreement and the merger.
For additional information about the support agreement, please
read The Merger Transactions Related to the
Merger Support Agreement.
Projections
Senior management of the Partnership GP and Holdings GP prepared
projections with respect to the Partnerships and
Holdings future financial and operating performance on a
stand-alone basis and on a combined basis. These projections
were provided to Morgan Stanley for use in connection with the
preparation of its opinion to the Holdings ACG Committee and
related financial advisory services. The projections were also
provided to the Partnership Board, the Holdings Board, the
Partnership ACG Committee, the Holdings ACG Committee and their
respective financial advisors.
For additional information about the projections, please read
The Merger Unaudited Financial Projections of
the Partnership and Holdings.
109
DIRECTORS
AND OFFICERS OF THE PARTNERSHIP GP AND HOLDINGS GP
The following persons currently serve as directors and executive
officers of Holdings GP and the Partnership GP. Each of the
executive officers of the Partnership GP is expected to be
elected to serve as an executive officer of Holdings GP as the
successor general partner of the Partnership. The persons who
will continue to serve and be elected as the directors of
Holdings GP following the merger have not yet been determined.
In the absence of any changes, the directors of Holdings GP will
continue as directors of the successor general partner of the
Partnership following the merger.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position with the Partnership GP
|
|
Positions with Holdings GP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Randa Duncan Williams
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Ralph S. Cunningham(1)
|
|
|
70
|
|
|
|
|
Director, President and CEO
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard H. Bachmann(1)
|
|
|
57
|
|
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
|
|
Director and Executive Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thurmon M. Andress(2)
|
|
|
76
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles E. McMahen(2,3)
|
|
|
71
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edwin E. Smith(2)
|
|
|
79
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. S. Andras
|
|
|
75
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. W. Waycaster(2)
|
|
|
71
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael A. Creel(1)
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
Director, President and CEO
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. James Teague(1)
|
|
|
65
|
|
|
Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. William Barnett(2,3)
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles M. Rampacek(2)
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rex C. Ross(2)
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Randall Fowler(1)
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William Ordemann(1)
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
Executive Vice President
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lynn L. Bourdon, III(1)
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
Senior Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bryan F. Bulawa(1)
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
Senior Vice President and Treasurer
|
|
Senior Vice President and Treasurer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James M. Collingsworth(1)
|
|
|
55
|
|
|
Senior Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark A. Hurley(1)
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
Senior Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael J. Knesek(1)
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
Senior Vice President, Controller and Principal Accounting
Officer
|
|
Senior Vice President, Controller and Principal Accounting
Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher Skoog(1)
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
Senior Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas M. Zulim(1)
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
Senior Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Executive officer |
|
(2) |
|
Member of applicable ACG Committee |
|
(3) |
|
Chairman of applicable ACG Committee |
Randa Duncan Williams. Ms. Williams was
elected a director of Holdings GP in May 2007. She was elected
Chairman of EPCO in May 2010, having previously served as Group
Co-Chairman since 1994. Ms. Williams has served as a
director of EPCO since February 1991. Prior to joining EPCO in
1994, Ms. Williams practiced law with the firms
Butler & Binion and Brown, Sims, Wise &
White. She currently
110
serves on the boards of directors of Encore Bancshares and
Encore Bank and also serves on the board of trustees for
numerous charitable organizations.
Dr. Ralph S.
Cunningham. Dr. Cunningham was elected a
director, the President and CEO of Holdings GP in August 2007.
He served as a director of the Partnership GP from February 2006
to May 2010, having previously served as a director of the
Partnership GP from April 1998 until March 2005. In addition to
these duties, Dr. Cunningham served as Group Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Partnership GP from
December 2005 to August 2007 and Interim President and Interim
CEO from June 2007 to August 2007. Dr. Cunningham served as
a director of DEP GP from August 2007 to May 2010. He served as
Chairman and a director of TEPPCO GP from March 2005 until
November 2005.
Dr. Cunningham was elected Vice Chairman of EPCO in May
2010 and a director in March 2006, having previously served as
Group Vice Chairman of EPCO from December 2007 to May 2010 and
as a director of EPCO from 1987 to 1997. He serves as a director
of Tetra Technologies, Inc., LE GP (the general partner of
Energy Transfer Equity) and Agrium, Inc. In addition,
Dr. Cunningham serves as a director and the Chairman of the
Safety, Health and Responsibility Committee of Cenovus Energy
Inc. Dr. Cunningham retired in 1997 from CITGO Petroleum
Corporation, where he served as President and CEO since 1995.
Richard H. Bachmann. Mr. Bachmann was
elected Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the
Partnership GP in February 1999 and was elected Secretary of the
Partnership GP in November 1999. He previously served as a
director of the Partnership GP from June 2000 to January 2004
and from February 2006 to May 2010. Mr. Bachmann
has served as Executive Vice President of Holdings GP since
April 2005, as a director of Holdings GP since
February 2006, and previously served as Chief Legal Officer
and Secretary of Holdings GP from April 2005 to
May 2010.
Mr. Bachmann was elected President and CEO of EPCO in
May 2010 and has served as a director since
January 1999 and as Chief Legal Officer since May 1999. He
previously served as Secretary of EPCO from May 1999 to May
2010 and as a Group Vice Chairman of EPCO from December 2007 to
May 2010. Mr. Bachmann served as a director of DEP GP
from October 2006 to May 2010 and as President and Chief
Executive Officer of DEP GP from October 2006 to
April 2010. In November 2006, Mr. Bachmann was
appointed as an independent manager of Constellation Energy
Partners LLC. Mr. Bachmann also serves as a member of the
Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees of
Constellation Energy Partners LLC and as the Chairman of its
Conflicts Committee.
Thurmon M. Andress. Mr. Andress was
elected a director of Holdings GP in November 2006 and is a
member of its Audit, Conflicts and Governance Committee.
Mr. Andress serves as the Managing Director
Houston for Breitburn Energy Company L.P. and is a former member
of its Board of Directors. In 1990, he founded Andress
Oil & Gas Company, serving as its President and CEO
until it merged with Breitburn Energy Company L.P. in 1998. In
1982, he founded Bayou Resources, Inc. a publicly traded energy
company that was sold in 1987. From 2002 through December 2009,
Mr. Andress served as a member of the Board of Directors of
Edge Petroleum Corp. (including its Governance and Compensation
Committees). In October 2009, Edge Petroleum Corp. filed a
voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the
U.S. Bankruptcy Code and, on December 31, 2009,
completed the sale of substantially all of its assets to Mariner
Energy, Inc. Mr. Andress is currently a member of the
National Petroleum Council (including its Board) and serves on
the Board of Governors of Houston for the Independent Petroleum
Association of America. In 1993, Mr. Andress was inducted
into All American Wildcatters, a 100-member organization
dedicated to American oil and gas explorationists and producers.
Charles E. McMahen. Mr. McMahen was
elected a director of Holdings GP in August 2005 and serves as
Chairman of its Audit, Conflicts and Governance Committee.
Mr. McMahen served as Vice Chairman of Compass Bank from
March 1999 until December 2003 and served as Vice Chairman of
Compass Bancshares from April 2001 until his retirement in
December 2003. Mr. McMahen also served as Chairman and CEO
of Compass Banks of Texas from March 1990 until March 1999.
Mr. McMahen has served as a director of Compass Bancshares,
and its successor, BBVA Compass Bank, since 2001. He also served
as chairman of the Board of Regents of the University of Houston
from September 1998 to August 2000.
111
Edwin E. Smith. Mr. Smith was elected a
director of Holdings GP in August 2005 and is a member of its
Audit, Conflicts and Governance Committee. Mr. Smith has
been a private investor since he retired from Allied Bank of
Texas in 1989 after a
31-year
career in banking. Mr. Smith serves as a director of Encore
Bank and previously served as a director of EPCO from 1987 until
1997.
O. S. Andras. Mr. Andras was elected
a director of Holdings GP in February 2007, having served as a
director of the Partnership GP from April 1998 to February 2006.
Mr. Andras served as the Vice Chairman of the Partnership
GP from September 2004 to July 2005, as the CEO of the
Partnership GP from April 1998 to February 2005, and as
President of the Partnership GP from April 1998 until September
2004. He served as President and CEO of EPCO from 1996 to
February 2001.
B.W. Waycaster. Mr. Waycaster was elected as a
director of Holdings GP in August 2010 and is a member of its
Audit, Conflicts and Governance Committee. Mr. Waycaster
has served as a principal manager of family investments since
his retirement in 2003. Prior to retiring, Mr. Waycaster
served as President and CEO of Texas Petrochemicals LP from 1992
to April of 2003, following a
27-year
career with The Dow Chemical Company (Dow). Texas
Petrochemicals LP and its affiliates filed voluntary petitions
under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in July
2003. At Dow, Mr. Waycaster held numerous executive and
managerial positions, including vice president of Business and
Asset Management, where he oversaw a $5-billion operation that
included basic petrochemicals, energy and feedstock supply,
sales and marketing, product storage and distribution, supply
chain management, and strategic planning. Mr. Waycaster has
more than 40 years of experience in the hydrocarbon
processing industry and is a past board member of numerous
professional and industry organizations. Mr. Waycaster
contributes much of his time and energy in support of various
charitable causes in the Houston area.
Michael A Creel. Mr. Creel was elected a
director of the Partnership GP in February 2006 and
President and CEO of the Partnership GP in August 2007.
Mr. Creel served as Chief Financial Officer of the
Partnership GP from June 2000 to August 2007, and as
an Executive Vice President of the Partnership GP from January
2001 to August 2007. Mr. Creel, a Certified Public
Accountant, also served as a Senior Vice President of the
Partnership GP from November 1999 to January 2001.
In May 2010, Mr. Creel was elected Vice Chairman of
EPCO, having previously served as Group Vice Chairman and Chief
Financial Officer of EPCO since December 2007. Prior to
these elections, Mr. Creel served as EPCOs Chief
Operating Officer from April 2005 to December 2007 and as
its Chief Financial Officer from June 2000 to April 2005. He has
served as a Director of EPCO since December 2007.
Mr. Creel served as a director of Holdings GP from
October 2009 to May 2010 and as a director of DEP GP
from October 2006 to May 2010. He served as President, CEO and a
director of Holdings GP from August 2005 through
August 2007. From October 2006 to August 2007, he
served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of DEP GP. From October 2005 through December 2009,
Mr. Creel served as a director of Edge Petroleum
Corporation, a publicly traded oil and natural gas exploration
and production company, which filed a voluntary petition under
Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in October 2009
and, on December 31, 2009, completed the sale of
substantially all of its assets to Mariner Energy, Inc.
A. James Teague. Mr. Teague was
elected Executive Vice President of the Partnership GP in
November 1999 and additionally as a director in July 2008 and as
Chief Operating Officer in September 2010. In addition, he
served as the Partnership GPs Chief Commercial Officer
from July 2008 until September 2010. He has served as
Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of DEP GP
since July 2008. He previously served as a director of DEP
GP from July 2008 to May 2010 and as a director of
Holdings GP from October 2009 to May 2010. Mr. Teague
joined the Partnership in connection with its purchase of
certain midstream energy assets from affiliates of Shell Oil
Company in 1999. From 1998 to 1999, Mr. Teague served as
President of Tejas Natural Gas Liquids, LLC, then an affiliate
of Shell. From 1997 to 1998, he was President of Marketing and
Trading for Mapco Inc.
E. William Barnett. Mr. Barnett was
elected a director of the Partnership GP in March 2005.
Mr. Barnett is a member of its Audit, Conflicts and
Governance Committee and serves as its Chairman.
Mr. Barnett practiced law with Baker Botts L.L.P. from 1958
until his retirement in 2004. In 1984, he became Managing
Partner of Baker Botts L.L.P. and continued in that role for
14 years until 1998. He was Senior
112
Counsel to the firm from 1998 until June 2004, when he retired
from the firm. Mr. Barnett served as Chairman of the Board
of Trustees of Rice University from 1996 to July 2005.
Mr. Barnett is a Life Trustee of The University of Texas
Law School Foundation; a director of
St. Lukes Episcopal Hospital; and a director
Emeritus and former Chairman of the Houston Zoo, Inc. (the
operating arm of the Houston Zoo). He is a director of RRI
Energy, Inc. (a publicly traded electric services company) and
Westlake Chemical Corporation (a publicly traded chemical
company). Mr. Barnett is Chairman of the Advisory Board of
the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University and a
director Emeritus and former Chairman of the Greater Houston
Partnership. Mr. Barnett served as a Trustee of the Baylor
College of Medicine from 1993 until 2004.
Charles M. Rampacek. Mr. Rampacek was
elected a director of the Partnership GP in October 2006 and is
a member of its Audit, Conflicts and Governance Committee.
Mr. Rampacek is currently a business and management
consultant in the energy industry. Mr. Rampacek served as
Chairman, CEO and President of Probex Corporation
(Probex), an energy technology company that
developed a proprietary used oil recovery process, from 2000
until his retirement in 2003. Prior to joining Probex,
Mr. Rampacek was President and CEO of Lyondell-Citgo
Refining L.P., a manufacturer of petroleum products, from 1996
through 2000. From 1982 to 1995, he held various executive
positions with Tenneco Inc. and its energy-related subsidiaries,
including President of Tenneco Gas Transportation Company,
Executive Vice President of Tenneco Gas Operations and Senior
Vice President of Refining and Supply. Mr. Rampacek also
spent 16 years with Exxon Company USA, where he held
various supervisory and management positions. Mr. Rampacek
has been a director of Flowserve Corporation since 1998 and is a
member of its Audit Committee and its Organization and
Compensation Committee. Mr. Rampacek also serves as a
director of Cenovus Energy Inc. (a Canadian publicly traded oil
company).
In 2005, two complaints requesting recovery of certain costs
were filed against former officers and directors of Probex as a
result of the bankruptcy of Probex in 2003. These complaints
were defended under Probexs director and officer insurance
with American International Group, Inc. (AIG) and
settlement was reached and paid by AIG with bankruptcy court
approval in the first half of 2006. An additional complaint was
filed in 2005 against noteholders of certain Probex debt of
which Mr. Rampacek was one. A settlement of $2,000 was
reached and approved by the bankruptcy court in the first half
of 2006.
Rex C. Ross. Mr. Ross was elected a
director of the Partnership GP in October 2006 and is a member
of its Audit, Conflicts and Governance Committee. Until July
2009, Mr. Ross served as a director of Schlumberger
Technology Corporation, the holding company for all Schlumberger
Limited assets and entities in the United States. Prior to his
executive retirement from Schlumberger Limited in May 2004,
Mr. Ross held a number of executive management positions
during his
11-year
career with the company, including President of Schlumberger
Oilfield Services North America; President, Schlumberger
GeoQuest; and President of SchlumbergerSema North &
South America. Mr. Ross also serves on the Board of
Directors of Gulfmark Offshore, Inc. (a publicly traded offshore
marine services company) and is a member of its Governance
Committee.
W. Randall Fowler. Mr. Fowler was
elected Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Partnership GP and Holdings GP in August 2007. He was also
elected President and CEO of DEP GP in April 2010, having
previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of DEP GP since August 2007. He has served as
a director of DEP GP since September 2006. Mr. Fowler
served as Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the Partnership
GP from February 2005 to August 2007 and of DEP GP from October
2006 to August 2007. Mr. Fowler also served as a director
of the Partnership GP and of Holdings GP from February 2006
to May 2010. Mr. Fowler also served as Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of Holdings GP from August
2005 to August 2007.
Mr. Fowler was elected Vice Chairman and Chief Financial
Officer of EPCO in May 2010 and has served as a director since
December 2007. He previously served as President and CEO of
EPCO from December 2007 to May 2010 and as Chief Financial
Officer from April 2005 to December 2007. Mr. Fowler, a
Certified Public Accountant (inactive), joined the Partnership
as Director of Investor Relations in January 1999.
Mr. Fowler also serves as Chairman of the Board of the
National Association of Publicly Traded Partnerships.
113
William Ordemann. Mr. Ordemann was
elected Executive Vice President of the Partnership GP and
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Holdings
GP in August 2007. He also served as the Partnership GPs
Chief Operating Officer from August 2007 until
September 2010. He was also elected an Executive Vice
President of DEP GP in August 2007. He previously served as a
Senior Vice President of the Partnership GP from September 2001
to August 2007 and was a Vice President of the Partnership GP
from October 1999 to September 2001. Mr. Ordemann joined
the Partnership in connection with its purchase of certain
midstream energy assets from affiliates of Shell Oil Company in
1999. Prior to joining the Partnership, he was a Vice President
of Shell Midstream Enterprises, LLC from January 1997 to
February 1998, and Vice President of Tejas Natural Gas Liquids,
LLC from February 1998 to September 1999.
Lynn L. Bourdon, III. Mr. Bourdon
was elected as Senior Vice President, Supply &
Marketing of the Partnership GP in 2004 after serving as Senior
Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer with Orion Refining
Corporation and as a Partner in En*Vantage, Inc. Prior to that
time, Mr. Bourdon was Senior Vice President of Commercial
Operations for PG&E Gas Transmission and Vice President,
NGL Marketing & Development at the predecessor
company, Valero. Earlier in his career, Mr. Bourdon served
12 years with Dow Chemical Company in the engineering,
business and commercial areas.
Bryan F. Bulawa. Mr. Bulawa was elected
Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the Partnership GP and
Holdings GP in October 2009 and Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer of DEP GP in April 2010. He
previously served as Senior Vice President and Treasurer of DEP
GP from October 2009 to April 2010, and as Vice President and
Treasurer of the Partnership GP from July 2007 to
October 2009. He has also served as Senior Vice President
and Treasurer of EPCO since May 2010. Prior to joining the
Partnership, Mr. Bulawa spent 13 years at Scotia
Capital, where he served as director of the firms
U.S. Energy Corporate Finance and Distribution group.
James M. Collingsworth. Mr. Collingsworth
was elected Vice President of the Partnership GP in November
2001 and Senior Vice President in November 2002. Previously, he
served as a board member of Texaco Canada Petroleum Inc. from
July 1998 to October 2001 and was employed by Texaco from 1991
to 2001 in various management positions, including Senior Vice
President of NGL Assets and Business Services from July 1998 to
October 2001. Prior to joining Texaco, Mr. Collingsworth
was director of feedstocks for Rexene Petrochemical Company from
1988 to 1991 and served in the MAPCO, Inc. organization from
1973 to 1988 in various capacities including customer service
and business development manager of the
Mid-America
and Seminole pipelines.
Mark A. Hurley. Mr. Hurley joined the
Partnership on March 1, 2010 as Senior Vice President,
Crude Oil & Offshore. Prior to joining the
Partnership, Mr. Hurley was a Shell employee and recently
served as President of Shell Pipeline Company, a crude oil,
refined products and natural gas energy storage and
transportation company. Mr. Hurley began his career with
Shell in process engineering positions at refineries in
Louisiana and California. During his tenure with Shell, he held
key leadership roles in refinery and lubricant plant operations,
marketing, sales, product supply planning and trading, with both
U.S. and global responsibilities. As President of Shell
Pipeline Company for five years, Mr. Hurley had ultimate
responsibility for profitability, operations, strategy, business
development and capital project development.
Michael J. Knesek. Mr. Knesek, a
Certified Public Accountant, was elected a Senior Vice President
of the Partnership GP in February 2005, having served as a Vice
President of the Partnership GP since August 2000.
Mr. Knesek has been the Principal Accounting Officer and
Controller of the Partnership GP since August 2000, of Holdings
GP since August 2005 and of DEP GP since September 2006. He has
served as Senior Vice President of Holdings GP since August 2005
and of DEP GP since September 2006. Mr. Knesek has been the
Controller of EPCO since 1990 and currently serves as one of its
Senior Vice Presidents.
Christopher R. Skoog. Mr. Skoog joined
the Partnership in July 2007 as Senior Vice President of the
Partnership GP to develop and lead the Partnerships
Natural Gas Services and Marketing group. In July 2008, he also
assumed responsibility for the Partnerships non-regulated
and intrastate natural gas pipeline and storage businesses. From
1995 to July 2007, he served in various executive positions at
ONEOK, Inc. and
114
ONEOK Partners L.P. He led ONEOK Energy Services from 1995 to
2005, and held senior executive positions at ONEOK from 2005 to
2007.
Thomas M. Zulim. Since July 2008,
Mr. Zulim has served as a Senior Vice President of the
Partnership GP and EPCO, with responsibility for the
Partnerships unregulated NGL business. From March 2006 to
July 2008, Mr. Zulim served as Senior Vice President, Human
Resources, for both the Partnership GP and EPCO, and served as
Vice President, Human Resources, for both the Partnership GP and
EPCO from December 2004 to March 2006. He joined EPCO in 1999 as
Director of Business Management for the NGL Fractionation
business. Mr. Zulim came to EPCO from Shell Oil Company
where, as an attorney, he practiced labor and employment law
nationally for several years before joining Shell Midstream
Enterprises in 1996 as Director of Business Development for its
natural gas processing and NGL fractionation businesses.
Mr. Zulim resumed practicing law with EPCOs legal
group in January 2002 until December 2004.
115
COMPARISON
OF THE RIGHTS OF PARTNERSHIP
AND HOLDINGS UNITHOLDERS
The following describes the material differences between the
rights of the Partnership common unitholders, after giving
effect to the transactions contemplated by the merger, and the
current rights of Holdings unitholders. It is not a complete
summary of the provisions affecting, and the differences
between, the rights of the Partnership common unitholders and
Holdings unitholders. The rights of the Partnership common
unitholders will be governed by the Sixth Partnership Agreement.
The rights of Holdings unitholders are governed by the First
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Holdings, as amended, and you should refer to each document for
a complete description of the rights of the Partnership and
Holdings unitholders, respectively. If the merger is
consummated, Holdings unitholders will become Partnership common
unitholders, and their rights as Partnership common unitholders
will be governed by Delaware law and the Sixth Partnership
Agreement. Please refer to Annex B attached hereto for the
full text of the Sixth Partnership Agreement. For Holdings
partnership agreement and the amendments thereto, please refer
to Holdings Current Reports on
Form 8-K
filed with the Commission on May 10, 2007 and
January 3, 2008 and Holdings Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
filed with the Commission on November 4, 2005 and
November 6, 2008. This summary is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the Delaware Act, the Sixth Partnership
Agreement and the Holdings partnership agreement, as amended.
Purpose
and Term of Existence
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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The Partnerships stated purposes under the Sixth
Partnership Agreement are to serve as a security holder in its
operating company and subsidiary partnerships and to engage in
any business activities that may be engaged in by its operating
company or that are approved by its general partner and which
lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership under
Delaware law.
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Holdings stated purposes under its partnership agreement
are to serve as a security holder in the Partnership and the
Partnership GP and, if approved by a majority of the independent
directors on the general partners board of directors, to
engage in any other business activities that lawfully may be
conducted by a limited partnership under Delaware law.
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The Partnerships existence will continue until
December 31, 2088, unless sooner dissolved pursuant to the
terms of the Sixth Partnership Agreement.
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Holdings partnership existence will continue until
dissolved pursuant to the terms of Holdings partnership
agreement.
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Distributions
of Available Cash
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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Within approximately 45 days after the end of each
quarter, the Partnership will distribute all of its available
cash to common unitholders.
Available cash is defined in the Sixth Partnership Agreement and
generally means, with respect to any calendar quarter, all cash
on hand at the end of such quarter:
less the amount of cash reserves that
is necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the
general partner to:
provide for the proper conduct of the
Partnerships business (including reserves for future
capital expenditures and for the Partnerships future
credit needs);
comply with applicable law or any loan
agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or
other agreement; plus
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Within approximately 50 days after the end of each
quarter, Holdings will distribute its available cash to
unitholders.
Available cash is defined in Holdings partnership
agreement and generally means all cash on hand at the end of
each quarter:
less the amount of cash reserves
established by the general partner to:
satisfy general, administrative and
other expenses and debt service agreements;
permit the Partnership GP to make
capital contributions to the Partnership if Holdings chooses to
maintain its approximately 2% general partner interest upon the
issuance of additional partnership securities by the
Partnership;
comply with applicable law or any loan
agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt
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116
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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all cash on hand on the date of
determination of available cash for the quarter resulting from
working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter or
certain interim capital transactions after the end of such
quarter designated by the Partnership GP as operating
surplus.
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instrument or other agreement; or
otherwise to provide for the proper
conduct of Holdings business.
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The Class B units issued in connection with the TEPPCO
merger are not entitled to regular quarterly cash distributions
for the first sixteen quarters following the closing of the
TEPPCO merger, which closed on October 26, 2009. The
Class B units will convert automatically into the same
number of Partnership common units on the date immediately
following the payment date of the sixteenth quarterly
distribution following the closing of the TEPPCO merger and
holders of such converted units will thereafter be entitled to
receive distributions of available cash.
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In connection with the merger, certain Partnership common units
owned by DFIDH will be designated pursuant to a distribution
waiver agreement, pursuant to which DFIDH will waive its rights
to regular quarterly distributions with respect to designated
units for a five-year period after the merger closing date. For
further discussion, see The Merger
Transactions Related to the Merger Distribution
Waiver Agreement.
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Distributions
of Cash Upon Liquidation
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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If the Partnership dissolves in accordance with the Sixth
Partnership Agreement, it will sell or otherwise dispose of its
assets in a process called a liquidation. The Partnership will
first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of its
creditors in the order of priority provided in the Sixth
Partnership Agreement and by law and, thereafter, it will
distribute any remaining proceeds to its common unitholders in
accordance with their respective capital account balances. The
general rules for determining the capital account balances of
the unitholders are set forth in the Sixth Partnership Agreement.
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If Holdings dissolves in accordance with its partnership
agreement, it will sell or otherwise dispose of its assets in a
process called a liquidation. Holdings will first apply the
proceeds of liquidation to the payment of its creditors in the
order of priority provided in the partnership agreement and by
law and, thereafter, it will distribute any remaining proceeds
to its unitholders and its general partner in accordance with
their respective capital account balances. The general rules for
determining the capital account balances of the unitholders and
the general partner are set forth in Holdings partnership
agreement.
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Merger
and Consolidation
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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Merger or consolidation of the Partnership requires, in most
instances, the prior approval of the general partner and
approval of a majority of the members of the Audit and Conflicts
Committee. The general partner must also approve the merger
agreement which must include certain information as set forth in
the Sixth Partnership Agreement. Once approved by the general
partner, the merger agreement must be submitted to a vote of the
Partnerships limited partners, and the merger agreement
will be approved upon receipt of the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the Partnerships outstanding
common units (including the Class B units issued in the
TEPPCO merger, with respect to matters arising after their
issuance) (unless the affirmative vote of the holders of a
greater percentage of common units is required under Delaware
law).
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Merger or consolidation of Holdings requires, in most instances,
the prior consent of Holdings GP and approval of a majority of
the members of the Audit and Conflicts Committee of the general
partner, each of whom must meet certain independence
requirements set forth in the Holdings partnership agreement.
The Holdings GP must also approve the merger agreement which
must include certain information as set forth in Holdings
partnership agreement. Once approved by the general partner, the
merger agreement must be submitted to a vote of Holdings
limited partners, and the merger agreement will be approved upon
receipt of the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
Holdings limited partner units.
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Disposal
of Assets
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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The general partner generally may not sell, exchange or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the
Partnerships assets in a single transaction or a series of
related transactions or approve on behalf of the Partnership,
the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially
all the assets of the Partnership (including by way of merger,
consolidation, or other combination) without the approval of the
holders of a majority of the Partnerships outstanding
common units (including the Class B units issued in the
TEPPCO merger) and approval from the majority of the members of
the Audit and Conflicts Committee. However, the
Partnerships general partner may mortgage, pledge,
hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially
all of the Partnerships assets. In addition, the general
partner may sell any or all of the Partnerships assets in
a forced sale pursuant to the foreclosure or other realization
of any encumbrance without the approval of the
Partnerships common or Class B unitholders and
approval by the Audit and Conflicts Committee.
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The general partner generally may not sell, exchange or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of Holdings
assets in a single transaction or a series of related
transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation, or
other combination or sale of ownership interest) or approve on
behalf of Holdings, the sale, exchange or other disposition of
all or substantially all the assets of Holdings without the
approval of the holders of at least a majority of Holdings
limited partner units and approval from the majority of the
members of general partners Audit and Conflicts Committee.
However, the general partner may mortgage, pledge, hypothecate
or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of
Holdings assets. In addition, the general partner may sell
any or all of Holdings assets in a forced sale pursuant to
the foreclosure or other realization of any encumbrance without
the approval of Holdings unitholders and approval by the Audit
and Conflicts Committee of the general partners board of
directors.
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Transfer
of General Partner Interest
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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The general partner may transfer all or any of its general
partner interest without unitholder approval. However, no
transfer by the general partner of all or any part of its
interest will be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees
to assume the rights and duties of the general partner and be
bound by the provisions of the Sixth Partnership Agreement,
(ii) the Partnership receives an opinion of counsel as to
limited liability and tax matters, (iii) such transferee
agrees to
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The general partner may transfer all or any portion of its
general partner interest to a single transferee before June 30,
2015 if such transfer has been approved by the prior written
consent or vote of the holders of a majority of Holdings
outstanding limited partner units (excluding units held by the
general partner and its affiliates). Holdings partnership
agreement also allows the general partner interest to be
transferred prior to June 30, 2015 without approval
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118
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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purchase all of the partnership interest of the general partner
or managing member of each of the Partnership, its operating
partnership or any of their subsidiaries and (iv) for so
long as any affiliate of EPCO controls the general partner, the
organizational documents of the owner of the general partner
interest provide for the establishment of an Audit and
Conflicts Committee, with independent (as defined therein)
members to approve specified matters.
The general partner may also transfer, in whole or in part, the
common units it owns.
In addition, the Sixth Partnership Agreement does not prohibit
or require unitholder approval for any transfer, in whole or in
part, of the ownership of the general partner.
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of the limited partners to an affiliate or to a third party in
conjunction with a merger of the general partner into, or sale
of all or substantially all of the assets of the general partner
to, a third party, if an opinion of counsel regarding limited
liability and tax matters is obtained subject to the
requirements below. After June 30, 2015, the general partner may
transfer all or any portion of its general partner interest
without unitholder approval. In the case of all transfers,
however, no transfer of the general partner interest will be
permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights
and duties of the general partner and be bound by the provisions
of Holdings partnership agreement, (ii) Holdings receives
an opinion of counsel as to limited liability and tax matters
with respect to Holdings, the Partnership and the Partnership GP
and (iii) for so long as any affiliate of EPCO controls the
general partner, the organizational documents of the owner of
the general partner interest provide for the establishment of an
Audit and Conflicts Committee with independent (as
defined therein) members to approve specified matters.
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The
general partner may also transfer, in whole or in part, the
limited partner units it owns.
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In
addition, Holdings partnership agreement does not prohibit
or require unitholder approval for any transfer, in whole or in
part, of the ownership of the general partner.
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Withdrawal
of General Partner
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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The general partner may voluntarily withdraw as its general
partner at any time by receiving approval from a majority of
members of the Audit and Conflicts Committee and by giving
90 days notice to the holders of common units
(including the Class B units). The Sixth Partnership
Agreement provides for other events of withdrawal, including
specified bankruptcy events, and withdrawal by the general
partner upon the occurrence of such events will not constitute a
violation of the Sixth Partnership Agreement.
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The general partner may voluntarily withdraw as its general
partner at any time by receiving approval from a majority of
members of the general partners Audit and Conflicts
Committee and by giving 30 days notice of its
intention to withdraw. After June 30, 2015, the general partner
will no longer be required to receive the approval of the
limited partners or the Audit and Conflicts Committee to
withdraw. Holdings partnership agreement provides for
other events of withdrawal, including specified bankruptcy
events, and withdrawal by the general partner upon the
occurrence of such events will not constitute a violation of the
Holdings partnership agreement.
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Upon the voluntary withdrawal of the general partner, the
holders of a majority of the Partnerships outstanding
common units (including the Class B units) may elect a
successor to the withdrawing general partner. If a successor is
not elected, or is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding
limited liability and tax matters cannot be obtained, the
Partnership will be dissolved, unless within 90 days after
such withdrawal, the holders of a majority of the
Partnerships outstanding units, excluding the
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Upon
the voluntary withdrawal of the general partner, the holders of
a majority of Holdings outstanding limited partner units
may elect a successor to the withdrawing general partner. If a
successor is not elected, or is elected but an opinion of
counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters cannot be
obtained, Holdings will be dissolved, unless within
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119
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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common units held by the withdrawing general partner and its
affiliates, agree to continue the Partnerships business
and to appoint a successor general partner.
If the general partner withdraws under circumstances that do not
violate the Sixth Partnership Agreement, the general partner
will have the right to convert its general partner interest into
limited partner units or to receive cash in exchange for such
interests. If the general partner withdraws under circumstances
where such withdrawal violates the Sixth Partnership Agreement,
its successor will have the option to purchase the general
partners interest.
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90 days after such withdrawal, the holders of a majority
of Holdings outstanding units, excluding the units held by
the withdrawing general partner and its affiliates, agree to
continue Holdings business and to appoint a successor
general partner.
If
general partner withdraws under circumstances that do not
violate the Holdings partnership agreement, the general partner
will have the right to convert its general partner interest into
limited partner units or to receive cash in exchange for such
interests. If the general partner withdraws under circumstances
where such withdrawal violates Holdings partnership
agreement or the organizational agreements of its operating
companies, its successor will have the option to purchase the
general partners interest.
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Removal
of General Partner
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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The general partner may not be removed unless that removal is approved by the vote of the holders of not less than 60% of the Partnerships outstanding units, including units held by the general partner and its affiliates, and the Partnership receives an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. Action for removal must also provide for the election of a successor general partner by a vote of a majority of the outstanding common units.
In addition, if the general partner is removed as the general partner under circumstances where cause does not exist, the general partner will have the right to convert its general partner interest into common units or to receive cash in exchange for such interests. Cause is defined to mean that a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the general partner liable for actual fraud, gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct in its capacity as the general partner. If the general partner is removed by the limited partners under circumstances where cause exists, its successor will have the option to purchase the general partners interest.
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The general partner may be removed if such removal is approved by a vote of at least 662/3% of the outstanding limited partner units voting as a single class, including units held by the general partner and its affiliates, such removal obtains Special Approval as such term is defined under Holdings partnership agreement, and Holdings receives an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. Action for removal must also provide for the election of a successor general partner by a vote of a majority of the outstanding limited partner units.
In addition, if the general partner is removed as the general partner under circumstances where cause does not exist and units held by the general partner and its affiliates are not voted in favor of such removal, the general partner will have the right to convert its general partner interest into limited partner units or to receive cash in exchange for such interests. Cause is defined to mean that 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 the general partner. If the general partner is removed by the limited partners under circumstances where cause exists, its successor will have the option to purchase the general partners interest.
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Limited
Call Rights
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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If at any time the general partner and its affiliates own 85% or
more of the issued and outstanding limited partner interests of
any class, the general partner will have the assignable right to
purchase all, but not less than all, of the outstanding limited
partner interests of that class that are held by non-
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If at any time the general partner and its affiliates own 90% or
more of the issued and outstanding limited partner interests,
the general partner will have the assignable right to purchase
all, but not less than all, of the outstanding limited partner
interests that are held by non-affiliated persons. The record
date for
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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affiliated persons. The record date for determining ownership
of the limited partner interests will be selected by the general
partner on at least 10, but not more than 60, days notice.
The purchase price in the event of a purchase under these
provisions would be the greater of (i) the current market
price (as defined in the Sixth Partnership Agreement) of the
limited partner interests and (ii) the highest price paid
by the general partner or any of its affiliates for any limited
partner interest of the class purchased within the 90 days
preceding the date the general partner mails notice of its
election to purchase the units.
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determining ownership of the limited partner interests will be
selected by the general partner on at least 10, but not more
than 60, days notice. The purchase price in the event of a
purchase under these provisions would be the greater of (i) the
highest price paid by the general partner or any of its
affiliates for any limited partner interest of the class
purchased within the 90 days preceding the date the general
partner mails notice of its election to purchase the units and
(ii) the current market price of limited partner interests
of the class as of the date three days prior to the date that
notice is mailed.
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Limited
Preemptive Rights
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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The general partner has the right, which it may from time to
time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to
purchase common units or other equity securities whenever, and
on the same terms that, the Partnership issues those securities
to persons other than its general partner and its affiliates, to
the extent necessary to maintain their percentage interests in
the Partnership that existed immediately prior to the issuance.
The holders of common units (including the Class B units)
have no preemptive rights to acquire additional units or other
partnership interests in the Partnership.
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Upon the issuance of additional partnership securities, the general partner maintains its 0.01% general partner interest without having to make additional capital contributions. The holders of Holdings limited partner units have no preemptive rights to acquire additional limited partner units or other partnership interests in Holdings.
The general partner has the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to purchase units or other equity securities whenever, and on the same terms that, Holdings issues those securities to persons other than its general partner and its affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain their percentage interests in Holdings (other than the general partner interest) that existed immediately prior to the issuance. The holders of units have no preemptive rights to acquire additional units or other partnership interests in Holdings.
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General
Partners Authority to Take Action Not Contemplated by the
Agreement
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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The general partner may not, without written approval of all
outstanding common unitholders, take any action in contravention
with the Sixth Partnership Agreement including
(i) committing any act that would make it impossible to
carry on the ordinary business of the Partnership,
(ii) possessing Partnership property, or assigning any
rights in specific Partnership property, for other than a
Partnership purpose and (iii) other actions listed in the
Sixth Partnership Agreement.
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The Holdings partnership agreement does not contemplate
the general partners authority to take actions not
contemplated by Holdings partnership agreement.
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Amendment
of Partnership Agreement
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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Amendments to the Sixth Partnership Agreement may be proposed
only by its general partner. Except in certain circumstances
where the Sixth Partnership Agreement is amended in connection
with a merger,
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Amendments to Holdings partnership agreement may be
proposed only by its general partner. Except in certain
circumstances where the Holdings partnership agreement is
amended in connection with a merger,
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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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 requires the
approval of at least a majority of the class of limited partner
interests so affected. However, in some circumstances, more
particularly described in the Sixth Partnership Agreement, the
general partner may make amendments to the Sixth Partnership
Agreement without the approval of the Partnerships limited
partners to reflect:
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any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the
rights or preferences of any class of limited partner interests
requires the approval of a majority of the outstanding limited
partner interests of such class. However, in some circumstances
more particularly described in Holdings partnership
agreement, Holdings GP may make amendments to Holdings
partnership agreement without the approval of Holdings
limited partners to reflect:
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a change in the Partnerships
name, the location of its principal place of business, its
registered agent or its registered office;
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a change in Holdings name, the
location of its principal place of business, its registered
agent or its registered office;
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the admission, substitution,
withdrawal or removal of partners;
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the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal
of partners;
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a change that, in the sole discretion
of the general partner, is necessary or advisable to qualify or
continue the Partnerships qualification as a limited
partnership or a partnership in which its limited partners have
limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that
neither the Partnership, its operating partnership, nor any of
its subsidiaries will be treated as an association taxable as a
corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for U.S. federal
income tax purposes;
a change that, in the discretion of the
general partner, does not adversely affect the
Partnerships limited partners in any material respect;
a change that, in the discretion of the
general partner, is necessary or advisable (i) to 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, (ii) to facilitate the trading of
the Partnerships limited partner interests or to comply
with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any
national securities exchange on which its limited partner
interests are or will be listed for trading or (iii) in
connection with a distribution, subdivision or combination of
securities of the Partnership in accordance with the Sixth
Partnership Agreement;
a change that, in the discretion of the
general partner is required to effect the intent of the Sixth
Partnership Agreement or contemplated by the Sixth Partnership
Agreement;
a change in the Partnerships
fiscal year or taxable year and any changes that are necessary
or advisable as a result of a change in the Partnerships
fiscal year or taxable year;
an amendment that is necessary in the
opinion of
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a change that the general partner determines to be
necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue Holdings
qualification as a limited partnership or a partnership in which
its limited partners have limited liability under the laws of
any state or to ensure that neither Holdings nor its general
partner will be treated as an association taxable as a
corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for U.S. federal
income tax purposes;
a change that the general partner
determines does not adversely affect Holdings limited
partners in any material respect;
a change that the general partner
determines to be necessary or appropriate (i) to 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, (ii) to facilitate the trading of
Holdings limited partner interests or to comply with any
rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any national
securities exchange on which its limited partner interests are
or will be listed or admitted for trading or (iii) in
connection with a distribution, subdivision or combination of
securities of the Partnership in accordance with the
Holdings partnership agreement;
a change that the general partner
determines is required to effect the intent of the Holdings
partnership agreement or contemplated by the Holdings
partnership agreement;
a change in Holdings fiscal year
or taxable year and any changes that are necessary or advisable
as a result of a change in Holdings fiscal year or taxable
year;
an amendment that is necessary in the
opinion of counsel to prevent Holdings, or its general partner
or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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counsel to prevent the Partnership, or its general partner or
its directors, officers, trustees or agents from being subjected
to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or
plan asset regulations adopted under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;
an amendment that is necessary or
advisable in connection with the authorization or issuance of
any class or series of the Partnerships securities;
any amendment expressly permitted in the
Sixth Partnership Agreement to be made by its general partner
acting alone;
an amendment effected, necessitated or
contemplated by a merger agreement approved in accordance with
the Sixth Partnership Agreement;
an amendment that, in the discretion of
the general partner, is necessary or advisable to reflect,
account for and deal with appropriately the formation of, or
investment in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company or other entity other than the
Partnerships operating partnership, in connection with its
conduct of activities permitted by the Sixth Partnership
Agreement;
a merger or conveyance to effect a
change in the Partnerships legal form; or
any other amendments substantially
similar to the foregoing.
Proposed amendments (other than those described above) must be
approved by holders of at least a majority of the outstanding
common units, except as otherwise provided in the Sixth
Partnership Agreement or under Delaware law. No provision of the
Sixth Partnership Agreement that establishes a percentage of
outstanding units required to take any action may be amended,
altered, changed, repealed, or rescinded to reduce such voting
requirement without the approval of the holders of those
outstanding units whose aggregate outstanding units constitute
not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced. In
addition, the Sixth Partnership Agreement requires approval of a
majority of the Audit and Conflicts Committee with respect to
amendments to provisions relating to it or requiring its
approval.
No amendments to the Sixth Partnership Agreement (other than
those that may be made by the general partner without the
approval of the Partnerships limited partners or in
certain circumstances in connection with the amendment of the
Sixth Partnership Agreement in connection with a merger)
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being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended, or plan asset regulations adopted under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;
an amendment that the general partner
determines is necessary or appropriate in connection with the
authorization or issuance of any class or series of
Holdings securities;
any amendment expressly permitted in
Holdings partnership agreement to be made by its general
partner acting alone;
an amendment effected, necessitated or
contemplated by a merger agreement approved in accordance with
Holdings partnership agreement;
an amendment that the general partner
determines is necessary or appropriate to reflect, account for
the formation of, or investment in, any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other
entity, in connection with its conduct of activities permitted
by Holdings partnership agreement;
a merger or conveyance to effect a
change in Holdings legal form; or
any other amendments substantially
similar to the foregoing.
Proposed amendments (other than those described above) must be
approved by holders of at least a majority of the outstanding
limited partner units, except as otherwise provided in
Holdings partnership agreement or under Delaware law. No
provision of Holdings partnership agreement that
establishes a percentage of outstanding units required to take
any action may be amended, altered, changed, repealed, or
rescinded to reduce such voting requirement without the approval
of the holders of those outstanding units whose aggregate
outstanding units constitute not less than the voting
requirement sought to be reduced. In addition, the Holdings
partnership agreement requires approval of a majority of the
Audit and Conflicts Committee with respect to amendments to
provisions relating to it or requiring its approval.
No
amendments to Holdings partnership agreement (other than
those that may be made by the general partner without the
approval of Holdings limited partners) will become
effective without the approval of at least 90% of the limited
partner interests unless Holdings obtains an opinion of counsel
to the effect that such amendment will not affect the limited
liability of any limited partner under applicable law.
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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will become effective without the approval of at least 90% of
the outstanding common units or Class B units unless the
Partnership obtains an opinion of counsel to the effect that
such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any
limited partner under applicable law.
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The Holdings partnership agreement contains other restrictions
on amendments, including a prohibition on amendments enlarging
the obligations of any limited partner, to the term of the
partnership and certain provisions relating to dissolution.
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The Sixth Partnership Agreement contains other restrictions on
amendments, including a prohibition on amendments enlarging the
obligations of any limited partner (subject to specified
exceptions), to the term of the partnership and certain
provisions relating to dissolution.
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Dissolution
of the Partnership
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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The Partnership will be dissolved, and its affairs wound up,
upon the occurrence of any of the following:
the expiration of its term as provided
in the Sixth Partnership Agreement;
withdrawal of the general partner
pursuant to the Sixth Partnership Agreement, unless a successor
is elected and admitted and an opinion of counsel is received
regarding limited liability on tax matters related to the
withdrawal;
The general partners election to
dissolve the Partnership, if approved by a majority of the
members of the Audit and Conflicts Committee and the holders of
a majority of the Partnerships outstanding common
units;
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Holdings will be dissolved, and its affairs wound up, upon the
occurrence of any of the following:
withdrawal or removal of the general
partner pursuant to Holdings partnership agreement, unless
a successor is elected and admitted and an opinion of counsel
regarding limited liability on tax matters related to the
withdrawal is received;
The general partners election to
dissolve Holdings, if approved by a majority of the members of
the general partners Audit and Conflicts Committee and the
holders of a majority of Holdings outstanding units;
the entry of a decree of judicial
dissolution of the Holdings pursuant to the provisions of the
Delaware Act; or
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the entry of a decree of judicial
dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the
Delaware Act; or
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at any time there are no limited
partners, unless Holdings is continued without dissolution in
accordance with Delaware law.
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the sale of all or substantially all
of the assets and properties of the Partnership and its
subsidiaries.
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Liquidation
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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Upon the Partnerships dissolution, unless it is
reconstituted and continued as a new limited partnership, the
person selected by the general partner to wind up the
Partnerships affairs (the liquidator) will, acting with
all the powers of the general partner that the liquidator deems
necessary or desirable in its good faith judgment, liquidate the
Partnerships assets. The proceeds of the liquidation will
be applied as follows:
first, towards the payment of all of
the Partnerships creditors and the creation of a reserve
for contingent liabilities; and
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Upon Holdings dissolution, unless it is continued as a new
limited partnership, the person selected by the general partner
to wind up Holdings affairs (the liquidator) will, acting
with all the powers of the general partner that the liquidator
deems necessary or appropriate, liquidate Holdings assets.
The proceeds of the liquidation will be applied as follows:
first, towards the payment of
Holdings creditors, including the liquidator as
compensation for serving in such capacity, in order of priority
provided by law, and the creation of a reserve for contingent
liabilities; and
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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then, to all partners in accordance
with the positive balance in their respective capital accounts.
Under some circumstances and subject to some limitations, the
liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the
Partnerships assets for a reasonable period of time. If
the liquidator determines that a sale would be impractical or
would cause undue loss to the Partnerships partners, the
general partner may distribute assets in kind to the
Partnerships partners.
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then, to all partners in accordance
with the positive balances in their respective capital accounts.
Under some circumstances and subject to some limitations, the
liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of
Holdings assets for a reasonable period of time. If the
liquidator determines that a sale would be impractical or would
cause undue loss to Holdings partners, the liquidator may
distribute assets in kind to Holdings partners.
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Management
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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The general partner conducts, directs and manages all of the
Partnerships activities. Except as specifically granted in
the Sixth Partnership Agreement, all management powers over the
business and affairs of the Partnership are exclusively vested
in the general partner, and no limited partner or assignee has
any management power over the business and affairs of the
Partnership. Subject to certain restrictions contained in the
Sixth Partnership Agreement, the general partner has full power
and authority to do all things and on such terms as it, in its
sole discretion, may deem necessary or appropriate to conduct
the business of the Partnership.
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The general partner conducts, directs and manages all of
Holdings activities. Except as specifically granted in
Holdings partnership agreement, all management powers over
the business and affairs of Holdings are exclusively vested in
the general partner, and no limited partner or assignee has any
management power over the business and affairs of Holdings.
Subject to certain restrictions contained in the Holdings
partnership agreement, the general partner has full power and
authority to do all things and on such terms as it, in its sole
discretion, may deem necessary or appropriate to conduct the
business of Holdings.
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Indemnification
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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The Sixth Partnership Agreement provides for indemnification, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by the Partnership of its general partner, any departing partner and any person who is or was an affiliate of the general partner or any departing partner and individuals serving as a member, director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of the general partner or any departing partner or any affiliate of the general partner or any departing partner, but only if the indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner that such indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Partnership and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe its conduct was unlawful.
Any indemnification under these provisions will be only out of the assets of the Partnership, and the general partner will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan funds or assets to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate any indemnification.
The Partnership is authorized to purchase (or to reimburse its general partner or its affiliates for the cost of) insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with the Partnerships activities, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities.
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The Holdings partnership agreement provides for indemnification, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by Holdings of its general partner, any departing general partner and any person who is or was an affiliate of the general partner or any departing general partner, individuals serving as a member, officer, director, fiduciary or trustee of Holdings and designees of the general partner, unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that 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 indemnitees conduct was unlawful.
Any indemnification under these provisions will be only out of the assets of Holdings, and the general partner will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or lend funds or assets to Holdings to enable it to effectuate indemnification.
Holdings is authorized to purchase (or to reimburse its general partner or its affiliates for the cost of) insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with Holdings activities, regardless of whether Holdings would have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities.
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Meetings;
Voting
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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The Partnerships common unitholders are entitled to vote
on the following matters:
merger or consolidation involving the
Partnership upon the approval of the general partner and the
Audit and Conflicts Committee;
the sale, exchange or other disposition
of all or substantially all of the Partnerships assets;
the election of a successor general
partner upon the current general partners withdrawal;
the removal of the general partner;
an election by the general partner
(approved by the Audit and Conflicts Committee) to dissolve the
Partnership;
The Partnerships continuation upon
specified events of dissolution;
approval of specified actions of the
general partner (not including the transfer by the general
partner of its general partner interest); and
certain amendments to the Sixth
Partnership Agreement.
Special meetings of the Partnership common unitholders may be
called by the general partner or by unitholders owning 20% or
more of the Partnerships outstanding limited partner units
in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Sixth
Partnership Agreement. Subject to certain exceptions, such as
the acquisition of units in a transaction with affiliates of the
general partner or a transaction approved by the general
partners board, if any person or group acquires 20% or
more of the outstanding Partnership common units, such units
will not be considered outstanding for purposes of voting at or
calling a special meeting. Additionally, upon authorization from
the general partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting
of common unitholders may be taken without a meeting by
obtaining approval in writing of the necessary percentage of
common unitholders that would be required to authorize or take
the action at a meeting of common unitholders. The general
partner will provide notice of any meetings (or of a vote to
approve an action without a meeting) to all unitholders of
record as of a record date which may not be less than 10 or more
than 60 days prior to the date of the meeting (or, where
approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which common
unitholders must submit approvals).
Only
record holders of Partnership common units on the record date
are entitled to notice of, and to vote
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Holdings unitholders are entitled to vote on the following
matters:
merger or consolidation involving
Holdings, upon approval of the general partner and its Audit and
Conflicts Committee;
the sale, exchange or other disposition
of all or substantially all of Holdings assets;
the election of a successor general
partner upon the current general partners withdrawal;
the removal of the general partner;
an election by the general partner
(approved by its Audit and Conflicts Committee) to dissolve
Holdings;
Holdings continuation upon
specified events of dissolution;
approval of specified actions of the
general partner (including transfer by the general partner of
its general partner interest under certain circumstances);
and
certain amendments to Holdings
partnership agreement.
Special meetings of Holdings unitholders may be called by the
general partner or by unitholders owning 20% or more of
Holdings outstanding limited partner units in accordance
with the procedures set forth in Holdings partnership
agreement. Subject to certain exceptions, such as the
acquisition of units in a transaction with affiliates of the
general partner or a transaction approved by the general
partners board, if any person or group acquires 20% or
more of the outstanding units of Holdings, such units will not
be considered outstanding for purposes of voting at or calling a
special meeting. Additionally, upon authorization from the
general partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of
unitholders may be taken without a meeting by obtaining approval
in writing of the necessary percentage of unitholders that would
be required to authorize or take the action at a meeting of
unitholders. The general partner will provide notice of any
meetings (or of a vote to approve an action without a meeting)
to all unitholders of record as of a record date which may not
be less than 10 or more than 60 days prior to the date of
the meeting (or, where approvals are sought without a meeting,
the date by which unitholders must submit approvals).
Only
record holders of Holdings limited partner units on the
record date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting
of Holdings unitholders (or of a
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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at, a meeting of the Partnership common unitholders (or of a
unitholder vote to be taken without a meeting). Each holder of
Partnership common units is entitled to one vote for each common
unit on all matters submitted to a vote of the unitholders.
Subject to applicable law, limited partner interests held for a
persons account by a broker or other nominee party will be
voted by the broker (or other nominee) pursuant to the
instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement
between the beneficial owner and his nominee provides otherwise.
Representation in person or by proxy of a majority of the
outstanding limited partner interests of the class for which a
meeting has been called will constitute a quorum at a meeting of
limited partners of such class or classes (unless a particular
action by the limited partners requires approval by a greater
percentage of limited partner interests, in which case the
quorum shall be such greater percentage). Except for a proposal
where approval by a different percentage of the holders of the
Partnership limited partner interests is required under the
Sixth Partnership Agreement (in which case the act of the
limited partners representing such different percentage shall be
required), any action taken by the holders of the Partnership
limited partner interests representing a majority of the
Partnerships outstanding limited partner interests present
and entitled to vote at a meeting of the Partnership limited
partners where a quorum is present will be considered to be the
act of all the Partnership limited partners.
The Partnership common unitholders have no right to elect the
general partner or any of its directors on an annual or other
continuing basis.
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unitholder vote to be taken without a meeting). Each holder of
Holdings limited partner units is entitled to one vote for each
unit on all matters submitted to a vote of the unitholders.
Subject to applicable law, limited partner interests held for a
persons account by a broker or other nominee party will be
voted by the broker (or other nominee) pursuant to the
instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement
between the beneficial owner and his nominee provides otherwise.
Representation in person or by proxy of a majority of the
outstanding limited partner interests of the class for which a
meeting has been called will constitute a quorum at a meeting of
limited partners of such class or classes (unless a particular
action by the limited partners requires approval by a greater
percentage of limited partner interests, in which case the
quorum shall be such greater percentage). Except for a proposal
where approval by a different percentage of the holders of
Holdings limited partner interests is required under the
Holdings partnership agreement (in which case the act of the
limited partners representing such different percentage shall be
required), any action taken by the holders of Holdings limited
partner interests representing at least a majority of
Holdings outstanding limited partner interests present and
entitled to vote at a meeting of Holdings limited partners where
a quorum is present will be considered to be the act of all
Holdings limited partners.
Holdings unitholders have no right to elect the general partner
or any of its directors on an annual or other continuing basis.
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Prior to the payment date of the sixteenth quarterly
distribution following the closing of the proposed merger
transactions, the Class B units will be entitled to vote
with the Partnership common unitholders as a single class on all
partnership matters described above. Holders of the Class B
units shall be entitled to vote as a separate class on any
matter that adversely affects the rights or preference of such
class in relation to other classes of partnership interests. The
approval of a majority of the Class B units will be
required to approve any matter for which the Class B
unitholders are entitled to vote as a separate class.
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Transfer
of Units; Status as a Limited Partner or Assignee
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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Each purchaser of Partnership common units must execute a
transfer application whereby the purchaser requests admission as
a substituted limited partner and makes representations and
agrees to provisions stated in the transfer application.
Purchasers may hold
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Each transfer of Holdings limited partner interests will not be
recognized by the partnership unless certificate(s) representing
those limited partnership interests (or proper transfer
instructions from the
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The Partnership
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Holdings
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common units in nominee accounts.
Each transfer of the Partnership limited partner interests will
not be recognized by the partnership unless certificate(s)
representing those limited partnership interests (or other
evidence of the issuance of uncertificated units) are
surrendered and such interests are accompanied by a duly
executed transfer application. Once such transferee has executed
and delivered a transfer application in accordance with the
Sixth Partnership Agreement, the transferee of common units is
an assignee. Such assignee makes representations and agrees to
be bound by the terms and conditions of the Sixth Partnership
Agreement and gives the consents and approvals and makes the
waivers contained in the Sixth Partnership Agreement. An
assignee will become a limited partner in respect of the
transferred common units upon the consent of the general partner
and the recordation of the name of the assignee on the
Partnerships books and records. Such consent may be
withheld in the sole discretion of the general partner.
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registered owner of uncertificated units are given) are
surrendered.
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An assignee, pending its admission as a substituted limited
partner, is entitled to an interest in the Partnership
equivalent to that of a limited partner with respect to the
right to share in allocations and distributions, including
liquidating distributions. The general partner will vote and
exercise other powers attributable to common units owned by an
assignee who has not become a substituted limited partner at the
written direction of the assignee. If no such direction is
received, such units will not be voted. Transferees who do not
execute and deliver transfer applications will be treated
neither as assignees nor as record holders of common units and
will not receive distributions, U.S. federal income tax
allocations or reports furnished to record holders of common
units. The only right the transferees will have is the right to
admission as a substituted limited partner in respect of the
transferred common units upon execution of a transfer
application in respect of the common units. A nominee or broker
who has executed a transfer application with respect to common
units held in street name or nominee accounts will receive
distributions and reports pertaining to such common units.
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A unitholder holding a Class B unit that has converted into
a Partnership common unit will not be permitted to transfer such
common unit until the general partner determines, based on
advice of counsel, that the converted unit should have economic
and U.S. federal income tax characteristics of an the
Partnership common unit. The general partner is obligated to
take steps to provide for such uniformity, except as would have
a material adverse effect on holders of common units.
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129
DESCRIPTION
OF PARTNERSHIP COMMON UNITS
Generally, the Partnership common units represent limited
partner interests that entitle the holders to participate in its
cash distributions and to exercise the rights and privileges
available to limited partners under its partnership agreement.
The Partnerships outstanding common units are listed on
the NYSE under the ticker symbol EPD. Any additional
Partnership common units the Partnership issues will also be
listed on the NYSE. The transfer agent and registrar for the
Partnership common units is BNY Mellon Shareowner Services.
The Partnership also has issued and outstanding Class B
units, which are entitled to the rights and privileges as noted
below. The Class B units are held by a privately held
affiliate of EPCO. The Class B units generally have the
same rights and privileges as the Partnership common units,
except that they are not entitled to regular quarterly cash
distributions for the first sixteen quarters following
October 26, 2009, which was the closing date of the
Partnerships merger with TEPPCO. The Class B units
will automatically convert into the same number of Partnership
common units on the date immediately following the payment date
for the sixteenth quarterly distribution following the closing
of the TEPPCO merger.
Meetings;
Voting
Each holder of Partnership common units and Class B units
is entitled to one vote for each unit on all matters submitted
to a vote of the Partnership common unitholders. Holders of the
Class B units are entitled to vote as a separate class on
any matter that adversely affects the rights or preference of
such class in relation to other classes of partnership
interests. The approval of a majority of the Class B units
is required to approve any matter for which the Class B
unitholders are entitled to vote as a separate class.
Status as
Limited Partner or Assignee
Except as described below under Limited
Liability, the Partnership common units will be fully
paid, and Partnership common unitholders will not be required to
make additional capital contributions to the Partnership.
Each purchaser of Partnership common units must execute a
transfer application whereby the purchaser requests admission as
a substituted limited partner and makes representations and
agrees to provisions stated in the transfer application. If this
action is not taken, a purchaser will not be registered as a
record holder of Partnership common units on the books of the
Partnerships transfer agent or issued a Partnership common
unit certificate or other evidence of the issuance of
uncertificated units. Purchasers may hold Partnership common
units in nominee accounts.
An assignee, pending its admission as a substituted limited
partner, is entitled to an interest in the Partnership
equivalent to that of a limited partner with respect to the
right to share in allocations and distributions, including
liquidating distributions. The general partner of the
Partnership will vote and exercise other powers attributable to
Partnership common units owned by an assignee who has not become
a substituted limited partner at the written direction of the
assignee. Transferees who do not execute and deliver transfer
applications will be treated neither as assignees nor as record
holders of Partnership common units and will not receive
distributions, U.S. federal income tax allocations or
reports furnished to record holders of Partnership common units.
The only right the transferees will have is the right to
admission as a substituted limited partner in respect of the
transferred Partnership common units upon execution of a
transfer application in respect of the Partnership common units.
A nominee or broker who has executed a transfer application with
respect to Partnership common units held in street name or
nominee accounts will receive distributions and reports
pertaining to its Partnership common units.
Limited
Liability
Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the
control of the Partnerships business within the meaning of
the Delaware Act and that he otherwise acts in conformity with
the provisions of the Partnerships partnership agreement,
his liability under the Delaware Act will be limited, subject to
some possible exceptions, generally to the amount of capital he
is obligated to contribute to the Partnership in respect of his
units in the Partnership plus his share of any undistributed
profits and assets.
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Under the Delaware Act, a limited partnership may not make a
distribution to a partner to the extent that at the time of the
distribution, after giving effect to the distribution, all
liabilities of the partnership, other than liabilities to
partners on account of their partnership interests and
liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to
specific property of the partnership, exceed the fair value of
the assets of the limited partnership.
For the purposes of determining the fair value of the assets of
a limited partnership, the Delaware Act provides that the fair
value of the property subject to liability of which recourse of
creditors is limited shall be included in the assets of the
limited partnership only to the extent that the fair value of
that property exceeds the nonrecourse liability. The Delaware
Act provides that a limited partner who receives a distribution
and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution
was in violation of the Delaware Act is liable to the limited
partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years
from the date of the distribution.
Reports
and Records
As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days
after the close of each fiscal year, the general partner of the
Partnership will mail or furnish to each Partnership unitholder
of record (as of a record date selected by the
Partnerships general partner) an annual report containing
the Partnerships audited financial statements for the past
fiscal year. These financial statements will be prepared in
accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, no later than
90 days after the close of each quarter (except the fourth
quarter), the general partner of the Partnership will mail or
furnish to each Partnership unitholder of record (as of a record
date selected by the Partnerships general partner) a
report containing the Partnerships unaudited financial
statements and any other information required by law.
The general partner of the Partnership will use all reasonable
efforts to furnish each Partnership unitholder of record
information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes
within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year. The
general partners ability to furnish this summary tax
information will depend on the cooperation of Partnership
unitholders in supplying information to the general partner of
the Partnership. Each Partnership unitholder will receive
information to assist him in determining his U.S. federal
and state tax liability and filing his U.S. federal and
state and income tax returns.
A Partnership limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably
related to such limited partners interest as a Partnership
limited partner, upon reasonable demand and at his own expense,
have furnished to him:
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a current list of the name and last known address of each
partner;
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a copy of the Partnerships tax returns;
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information as to the amount of cash and a description and
statement of the agreed value of any other property or services
contributed or to be contributed by each Partnership partner and
the date on which each became a Partnership partner;
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copies of the Partnerships partnership agreement,
certificate of limited partnership, amendments to either of them
and powers of attorney which have been executed under the
Partnerships partnership agreement;
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information regarding the status of the Partnerships
business and financial condition; and
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any other information regarding the Partnerships affairs
as is just and reasonable.
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The general partner of the Partnership may, and intends to, keep
confidential from the limited partners trade secrets and other
information the disclosure of which the general partner of the
Partnership believes in good faith is not in the
Partnerships best interest or which the Partnership is
required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep
confidential.
Please read Comparison of the Rights of the Partnership
and Holdings Unitholders for a further discussion of the
Partnerships Sixth Partnership Agreement and a comparison
of the agreement to Holdings partnership agreement.
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MATERIAL
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER
The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal
income tax consequences of the merger that may be relevant to
Holdings unitholders and Partnership common unitholders. Unless
otherwise noted, the description of the law and the legal
conclusions set forth in the discussion relating to the
consequences of the merger to Holdings and its unitholders are
the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel to
Holdings, as to the material U.S. federal income tax
consequences relating to those matters. Unless otherwise noted
below, the description of the law and the legal conclusions set
forth in the discussion relating to the consequences of the
merger to the Partnership and its unitholders are the opinion of
Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel to the Partnership, as to the
material U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to those
matters. This discussion is based upon current provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code, existing and proposed regulations and
current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which
are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes
in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary
substantially from the consequences described below. Neither the
Partnership nor Holdings has sought a ruling from the IRS with
respect to any of the tax consequences discussed below, and the
IRS would not be precluded from taking positions contrary to
those described herein. As a result, no assurance can be given
that the IRS will agree with all of the tax characterizations
and the tax consequences described below.
This discussion does not purport to be a complete discussion of
all U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger.
Moreover, the discussion focuses on Holdings unitholders and
Partnership common unitholders who are individual citizens or
residents of the United States (for U.S. federal income tax
purposes) and has only limited application to corporations,
estates, trusts, nonresident aliens, other unitholders subject
to specialized tax treatment, such as tax-exempt institutions,
foreign persons, individual retirement accounts, or IRAs, real
estate investment trusts, or REITs, or mutual funds, traders in
securities that elect to
mark-to-market,
affiliates of each of Holdings and the Partnerships
general partners, or persons who hold Holdings units or
Partnership common units as part of a hedge, straddle or
conversion transaction. Also, the discussion assumes that the
Holdings units and Partnership common units are held as capital
assets at the time of the merger. Accordingly, Holdings and
the Partnership strongly urge each Holdings unitholder and
Partnership common unitholder to consult with, and depend upon,
his own tax advisor in analyzing the U.S. federal, state, local
and foreign tax consequences particular to him of the merger.
Tax
Opinions Required As a Condition to Closing
No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS with
respect to the tax consequences of the merger. Instead, the
Partnership and Holdings will rely on the opinions of their
respective counsel regarding the tax consequences of the merger.
It is a condition of the Partnerships obligation to
complete the merger that the Partnership receive an opinion of
its counsel, Andrews Kurth LLP, to the effect that for
U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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the adoption of the Sixth Partnership Agreement, the merger and
the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will not
cause the Partnership or any of the Partnerships operating
partnerships to be treated as an association taxable as a
corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for
U.S. federal income tax purposes;
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at least 90% of the current gross income of the Partnership
constitutes qualifying income within the meaning of
Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code;
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the registration statement accurately sets forth the material
U.S. federal income tax consequences to the Partnership
unaffiliated unitholders of the merger and the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement; and
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no gain or loss should be recognized by existing Partnership
unaffiliated unitholders as a result of the merger (other than
gain resulting from any decrease in partnership liabilities
pursuant to Section 752 of the Internal Revenue Code).
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It is a condition of Holdings obligation to complete the
merger that Holdings receive an opinion of its counsel,
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., to the effect that for
U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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no gain or loss should be recognized by Holdings unitholders to
the extent Partnership common units are received in exchange for
Holdings units as a result of the merger (other than gain
resulting from either (i) any decrease in partnership
liabilities pursuant to Section 752 of the Internal Revenue
Code or (ii) any cash received in lieu of any fractional
Partnership common units); and
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the registration statement accurately sets forth the material
U.S. federal income tax consequences to Holdings
unitholders of the merger and the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement.
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The opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. will be subject to
certain limitations and will not apply to situations in which a
Holdings unitholders basis in its Holdings units is less
than its share of partnership basis in the distributed
Partnership common units. Please read
Potential Application of Section 731(c)
of the Internal Revenue Code.
The opinions of counsel will assume that the merger will be
consummated in the manner contemplated by, and in accordance
with, the terms set forth in the merger agreement and described
in this proxy statement/prospectus.
In addition, the tax opinions delivered to the Partnership and
Holdings at closing will be based on certain factual
representations made by the Partnership, Holdings and their
respective general partners. If either the Partnership or
Holdings waives the receipt of the requisite tax opinion as a
condition to closing and the changes to the tax consequences
would be material, then this proxy statement/prospectus will be
amended and recirculated and unitholder approval will be
resolicited.
Further, if a change in U.S. federal income tax law occurs and a
termination notice is provided by one party to the other party
pursuant to the merger agreement, it is a condition to the
obligation of the party providing the terminating notice to
complete the merger that the terminating party receive from the
non-terminating party an opinion of nationally recognized tax
counsel, reasonably acceptable to the terminating party, to the
effect that a unitholder should not be liable for an increase in
U.S. federal income tax as a result of owning or disposing
of Partnership common units.
Unlike a ruling, an opinion of counsel represents only that
counsels best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or
the courts. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the
above-described opinions and the opinions and statements made
hereafter in this proxy statement/prospectus will be sustained
by a court if contested by the IRS.
Tax
Consequences of the Merger General
Under the merger agreement, Holdings will merge with and into
MergerCo, all Holdings units will be converted into Partnership
common units, the IDRs and the 2% economic general partner
interest in the Partnership will be cancelled and the
non-economic general partner interest in Holdings held by the
Holdings GP will be converted to a non-economic general partner
interest in the Partnership. For U.S. federal income tax
purposes, the Partnership and Holdings intend to take the
position that the merger will be treated as an assets
over merger of Holdings into the Partnership, whereby
Holdings is deemed to contribute all of its assets and
liabilities to the Partnership in exchange for newly issued
Partnership common units and the non-economic general partner
interest in the Partnership and liquidate immediately
thereafter, distributing all of the Partnership common units to
the Holdings unitholders and the non-economic general partner
interest to the Holdings GP. The remainder of this discussion,
except as otherwise noted, assumes that the merger and the
transactions contemplated thereby will be treated for
U.S. federal income tax purposes in the manner described
above.
Tax
Consequences of the Merger to Holdings and Its
Unitholders
Except as discussed below, no gain or loss should be recognized
by the holders of Holdings units solely as a result of the
merger, other than gain resulting from (i) any decrease in
partnership liabilities pursuant to
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Section 752 of the Internal Revenue Code and (ii) any
cash received in lieu of any fractional Partnership common
units. To the extent applicable, each holder of Holdings units
is deemed to have consented pursuant to the merger agreement for
U.S. federal income tax purposes to report the cash
received for fractional Partnership common units in the merger
as a sale of a portion of such holders Holdings units to
the Partnership. To the extent a holder of Holdings units
receives cash in lieu of the distribution of fractional
Partnership common units, such unitholder will recognize gain or
loss equal to the difference between the cash received and the
unitholders adjusted tax basis allocable to such
fractional Partnership common units.
Classification
of the Partnership and Holdings for U.S. Federal Income Tax
Purposes
If the Partnership were treated as a corporation for
U.S. federal income tax purposes at the time of the merger,
the merger would be a fully taxable transaction to a Holdings
unitholder. The discussion below assumes that the Partnership
will be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income
tax purposes at the time of the merger. Please read the
discussion of the opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP that the
Partnership is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal
income tax purposes under U.S. Federal Income
Taxation of Ownership of Partnership Common Units
Partnership Status below.
The discussion below also assumes that Holdings will be
classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes at the time of the merger. Following the merger, a
Holdings unitholder that receives Partnership common units will
be treated as a partner in the Partnership regardless of the
U.S. federal income tax classification of Holdings.
Possible
Taxable Gain to Certain Holdings Unitholders from Reallocation
of Nonrecourse Liabilities
As a partner in Holdings, a Holdings unitholder is entitled to
include the nonrecourse liabilities of Holdings attributable to
his Holdings units in the tax basis of his Holdings units. As a
partner in the Partnership after the merger, a former Holdings
unitholder will be entitled to include the nonrecourse
liabilities of the Partnership attributable to the Partnership
common units received in the merger in the tax basis of such
units received. For this purpose, all liabilities of Holdings
and the Partnership are considered nonrecourse liabilities. The
nonrecourse liabilities of the Partnership will include the
nonrecourse liabilities of Holdings after the merger. The amount
of nonrecourse liabilities attributable to a Holdings unit or a
Partnership common unit is determined under complex regulations
under Section 752 of the Internal Revenue Code.
If the nonrecourse liabilities attributable to the Partnership
common units received by a Holdings unitholder in the merger
exceed the nonrecourse liabilities attributable to the Holdings
units surrendered by the unitholder in the merger, the former
Holdings unitholders tax basis in the Partnership common
units received will be correspondingly higher than the
unitholders tax basis in the Holdings units surrendered.
If the nonrecourse liabilities attributable to the Partnership
common units received by a Holdings unitholder in the merger are
less than the nonrecourse liabilities attributable to the
Holdings units surrendered by the Holdings unitholder in the
merger, the former Holdings unitholders tax basis in the
Partnership common units received will be correspondingly lower
than the unitholders tax basis in the Holdings units
surrendered. Please read Tax Basis in the
Partnership Common Units Received below.
If any resulting reduction in a unitholders share of
nonrecourse liabilities exceeds such unitholders tax basis
in the Holdings units surrendered, such unitholder will
recognize taxable gain in an amount equal to such excess. The
Partnership and Holdings do not expect any Holdings unitholders
to recognize gain in this manner.
Potential
Application of Section 731(c) of the Internal Revenue
Code
Pursuant to Section 731(c) of the Internal Revenue Code,
subject to specific exceptions, the distribution of
marketable securities by a partnership will be
treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a distribution
of cash. A partner will recognize gain to the extent an actual
or deemed distribution of cash exceeds the partners basis
in its partnership interest. For this purpose, Partnership
common units distributed to a Holdings unitholder in the merger
will be treated as marketable securities. Applicable exceptions
to Section 731(c) will cause the amount of Partnership
common units received by a Holdings unitholder in the
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merger that are treated as cash to be limited to such
unitholders share of Holdings basis (including basis
resulting from Section 743 adjustments) in the distributed
Partnership common units. It is anticipated that a Holdings
unitholders basis in such unitholders interest in
Holdings will be equal to that unitholders share of
Holdings basis (including basis resulting from
Section 743 adjustments) in the distributed Partnership
common units, and accordingly, the deemed cash distribution
resulting from the distribution of Partnership common units in
the merger will not exceed a unitholders basis in that
unitholders Holdings units. In that case, a Holdings
unitholder would not recognize gain as a result of the
application of Section 731(c) of the Internal Revenue Code
to the merger. Although it is not anticipated, circumstances may
exist under which a Holdings unitholders share of
Holdings basis (including basis resulting from
Section 743 adjustments) in the distributed Partnership
common units exceeds the unitholders basis in that
unitholders Holdings units, in which case the merger may
result in recognition of gain by such unitholder equal to that
excess.
Gain
or Loss from a Disguised Sale of Holdings Assets to
the Partnership
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the merger will be
treated as a contribution by Holdings of all of its assets to
the Partnership in exchange for the deemed assumption by the
Partnership of the Holdings liabilities and the issuance to
Holdings of Partnership common units, followed by a liquidation
of Holdings in which Partnership common units are distributed to
the Holdings unitholders in exchange for their Holdings units.
Except to the extent an applicable exception applies, the
Holdings liabilities deemed assumed by the Partnership would be
treated as the taxable proceeds of a disguised sale
by Holdings of a portion of its assets to the Partnership. Any
gain or loss recognized by Holdings from such a disguised
sale would be allocated among, and any such gain would be
taxable to, Holdings unitholders.
All liabilities of Holdings should qualify for an exception to
the disguised sale rules. Holdings believes that all
liabilities of Holdings were either incurred in the ordinary
course of business or qualify under one or more other exceptions
to the disguised sale rules. Accordingly, the
Partnership and Holdings intend to take the position that
neither Holdings nor its unitholders will recognize
disguised sale gain in the merger.
Tax
Basis of the Partnership Common Units Received
A Holdings unitholders initial tax basis in his Holdings
units consisted of the amount the unitholder paid for the
Holdings units plus the unitholders share of
Holdings nonrecourse liabilities. That basis has been and
will be increased by the unitholders share of income and
by any increases in the unitholders share of nonrecourse
liabilities. That basis has been and will be decreased, but not
below zero, by distributions, by the unitholders share of
losses, by any decreases in the unitholders share of
nonrecourse liabilities and by the unitholders share of
expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income
and are not required to be capitalized.
A Holdings unitholders initial aggregate tax basis in
Partnership common units the unitholder will receive in the
merger will be equal to the unitholders adjusted tax basis
in the Holdings units exchanged therefor, decreased by
(i) any basis attributable to the unitholders share
of Holdings nonrecourse liabilities and (ii) any
basis allocable to fractional Partnership common units if such
holder receives cash in lieu of the distribution of fractional
Partnership common units in the merger, and increased by the
unitholders share of the Partnerships nonrecourse
liabilities immediately after the merger. In addition, a
Holdings unitholders tax basis in the Partnership common
units received will be increased by the amount of any income or
gain recognized by the unitholder pursuant to the transactions
contemplated by the merger (other than gain recognized with
respect to cash received by such unitholder in lieu of
fractional Partnership common units).
Holding
Period of Partnership Common Units Received
Because the merger will be treated as a contribution by Holdings
of all of its assets to the Partnership in exchange for
Partnership common units followed by a liquidation of Holdings
in which Partnership common units are distributed to the
Holdings unitholders, a Holdings unitholders holding
period for Partnership common units received in the merger will
not be determined by reference to the holding period of the
unitholders Holdings units. Instead, a Holdings
unitholders holding period for Partnership common units
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received in the merger that are attributable to Holdings
capital assets or assets used in its business as defined in
Section 1231 of the Internal Revenue Code will include
Holdings holding period in those assets. The holding
period for Partnership common units received by Holdings
unitholders attributable to other assets of Holdings, such as
inventory and receivables, or to Partnership common units deemed
received in a taxable transfer will begin on the day following
the merger.
Effect
of Termination of Holdings Tax Year at Closing of
Merger
Holdings uses the year ending December 31 as its taxable year
and the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. As a result of the merger, Holdings
taxable year will end as of the date of the merger and Holdings
will be required to file a final U.S. federal income tax
return for the taxable year ending upon the date the merger is
effected. Each Holdings unitholder will be required to include
in income his share of income, gain, loss and deduction for this
period. In addition, a Holdings unitholder who has a taxable
year ending on a date other than December 31 and after the date
the merger is effected must include his share of income, gain,
loss and deduction in income for his taxable year, with the
result that he will be required to include in income for his
taxable year his share of more than one year of income, gain,
loss and deduction from Holdings.
Anticipated
Ratio of Taxable Income to Cash Distributions for Holdings
Unitholders
Holdings estimates that each Holdings unaffiliated unitholder
that purchased its Holdings units subsequent to the initial
public offering of Holdings units who receives Partnership
common units in the merger and owns those units for the period
from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013, will be
allocated an aggregate amount of federal taxable income for that
period that will be 20% or less of the cash distributed with
respect to that period. Holdings expects the ratio of taxable
income to cash distributions with respect to each Holdings
unaffiliated unitholder for that period to be lower than it
would have been if the merger had not occurred and the
unitholder had continued to own its current Holdings units
during that period. This analysis does not consider the ability
of any particular Holdings unitholder to utilize suspended
passive losses.
The amount and effect of the increase or decrease in net income,
or increase or decrease in net loss, allocated to a former
Holdings unitholder resulting from the merger and related
transactions will depend upon the unitholders particular
situation, including when the unitholder purchased Holdings
units (and the basis adjustment to such unitholders share
of Holdings units under Section 743(b) of the Internal
Revenue Code) and the ability of the unitholder to utilize any
suspended passive losses.
The estimates above are based upon many assumptions, including
(i) that the merger is completed on or prior to
December 31, 2010, (ii) that approximately
208.8 million Partnership common units will be issued to
the Holdings unitholders in completion of the merger,
(iii) that cash flow (and underlying gross income) from
operations will be approximately equal to the amount required to
maintain the distribution amount at the time of the merger on
all Partnership common units, (iv) that the merger is
respected as an asset-over merger with a deemed liquidation of
Holdings (see Tax Consequences of the
Merger General above) and (v) other
assumptions with regard to income, valuations, capital
expenditures, cash flow, net working capital and anticipated
cash distributions.
Tax
Consequences of the Merger to the Partnership and Its
Unitholders
Neither the Partnership nor its unitholders should recognize any
income or gain for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a
result of the merger other than any gain recognized as a result
of decreases in Partnership liabilities pursuant to
Section 752 of the Internal Revenue Code. Each Partnership
unitholders share of nonrecourse liabilities will be
recalculated following the merger. Any resulting increase or
decrease in a Partnership unitholders nonrecourse
liabilities will result in a corresponding increase or decrease
in such unitholders adjusted tax basis in his Partnership
common units. A reduction in a unitholders share of
nonrecourse liabilities may, under certain circumstances, result
in the recognition of taxable gain by a Partnership unitholder.
The Partnership and Holdings do not expect any Partnership
unitholders to recognize gain in this manner.
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U.S.
FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION OF
OWNERSHIP OF PARTNERSHIP COMMON UNITS
This section is a summary of the material U.S. federal,
state and local tax consequences that may be relevant to owning
Partnership common units received in the merger and, unless
otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of
Andrews Kurth LLP insofar as it describes legal conclusions with
respect to matters of U.S. federal income tax law. Such
statements are based on the accuracy of the representations made
by the Partnership and the general partner of the Partnership to
Andrews Kurth LLP, and statements of fact do not represent
opinions of Andrews Kurth LLP. To the extent this section
discusses U.S. federal income taxes, that discussion is
based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code,
Treasury Regulations, and current administrative rulings and
court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Changes in
these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary
substantially from the consequences described below.
This section does not address all U.S. federal, state and
local tax matters that affect the Partnership or its
unitholders. To the extent that this section relates to taxation
by a state, local or other jurisdiction within the United
States, such discussion is intended to provide only general
information. Neither the Partnership nor Holdings has sought the
opinion of legal counsel regarding U.S. state, local or
other taxation and, thus, any portion of the following
discussion relating to such taxes does not represent the opinion
of Andrews Kurth LLP or any other legal counsel. Furthermore,
this section focuses on holders of Partnership common units who
are individual citizens or residents of the United States, whose
functional currency is the U.S. dollar and who hold units
as capital assets (generally, property that is held as an
investment). This section has no application to corporations,
partnerships (and entities treated as partnerships for
U.S. federal income tax purposes), estates, trusts,
non-resident aliens or other unitholders subject to specialized
tax treatment, such as tax-exempt institutions,
non-U.S. persons,
individual retirement accounts, employee benefit plans, real
estate investment trusts or mutual funds. Accordingly, the
Partnership encourages each unitholder to consult, and depend
on, such unitholders own tax advisor in analyzing the
U.S. federal, state, local and
non-U.S. tax
consequences particular to that unitholder resulting from their
ownership or disposition of its Partnership common units.
No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding
any matter affecting the Partnership following the merger or the
consequences of owning Partnership common units received in the
merger. Instead, the Partnership will rely on opinions and
advice of Andrews Kurth LLP with respect to such matters. Unlike
a ruling, an opinion of counsel represents only that
counsels best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or
the courts. Accordingly, the opinions and statements made below
may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. Any
contest of this sort with the IRS may materially and adversely
impact the market for Partnership common units and the prices at
which Partnership common units trade. In addition, the costs of
any contest with the IRS, principally legal, accounting and
related fees, will result in a reduction in cash available for
distribution to the Partnerships unitholders and thus will
be borne indirectly by the unitholders. Furthermore, the tax
treatment of the Partnership or of an investment in the
Partnership may be significantly modified by future legislative
or administrative changes or court decisions. Any modifications
may or may not be retroactively applied.
For the reasons described below, Andrews Kurth LLP has not
rendered an opinion with respect to the following specific
U.S. federal income tax issues:
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the treatment of a unitholder whose Partnership common units are
loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of Partnership
common units (please read Tax Consequences of
Partnership Common Unit Ownership Treatment of Short
Sales);
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whether the Partnerships monthly convention for allocating
taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury
Regulations (please read Disposition of
Partnership Common Units Allocations Between
Transferors and Transferees);
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whether the Partnerships method for depreciating
Section 743 adjustments is sustainable in certain cases
(please read Tax Consequences of Partnership
Common Unit Ownership Section 754
Election and Uniformity of Partnership
Common Units); and
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whether a Holdings unitholder will be able to utilize suspended
passive losses related to his Holdings units to offset income
from Partnership common units.
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Partnership
Status
A partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no
U.S. federal income tax liability. Instead, each partner of
a partnership is required to take into account his share of
items of income, gain, loss and deduction of the partnership in
computing his U.S. federal income tax liability, regardless
of whether cash distributions are made to him by the
partnership. Distributions by a partnership to a partner are
generally not taxable to the partner unless the amount of cash
distributed to him is in excess of the partners adjusted
basis in his partnership interest.
Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code provides that
publicly traded partnerships will, as a general rule, be taxed
as corporations. However, an exception, referred to as the
Qualifying Income Exception, exists with respect to
publicly traded partnerships of which 90% or more of the gross
income for every taxable year consists of qualifying
income. Qualifying income includes income and gains
derived from the exploration, development, mining or production,
processing, refining, transportation, storage and marketing of
any mineral or natural resource, including the
Partnerships allocable share of such income from Duncan
Energy Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Energy
Transfer Equity, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
MLP Entities). Other types of qualifying income
include interest (other than from a financial business),
dividends, gains from the sale of real property and gains from
the sale or other disposition of capital assets held for the
production of income that otherwise constitutes qualifying
income. The Partnership estimates that less than 5% of its
current gross income is not qualifying income; however, this
estimate could change from time to time. Based on and subject to
this estimate, the factual representations made by the
Partnership and the general partner of the Partnership and a
review of the applicable legal authorities, Andrews Kurth LLP is
of the opinion that at least 90% of the Partnerships
current gross income constitutes qualifying income. The portion
of its income that is qualifying income may change from time to
time.
No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS and the IRS
has made no determination as to the status of the Partnership or
Enterprise Products Operating LLC (EPO) as
partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Instead,
the Partnership will rely on the opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP on
such matters. It is the opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP that, based
upon the Internal Revenue Code, its regulations, published
revenue rulings and court decisions and the representations
described below, the Partnership and EPO will be classified as
partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
In rendering its opinion, Andrews Kurth LLP has relied on
factual representations made by the Partnership and the general
partner of the Partnership. The representations made by the
Partnership and the general partner of the Partnership upon
which Andrews Kurth LLP has relied include:
(a) None of the Partnership, the MLP Entities or EPO has
elected or will elect to be treated as a corporation; and
(b) For each taxable year, more than 90% of the
Partnerships gross income has been and will be income that
Andrews Kurth LLP has opined or will opine is qualifying
income within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the
Internal Revenue Code.
If the Partnership fails to meet the Qualifying Income
Exception, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to
be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after
discovery (in which case the IRS may also require the
Partnership to make adjustments with respect to the
Partnerships unitholders or pay other amounts), the
Partnership will be treated as if the Partnership had
transferred all of its assets, subject to liabilities, to a
newly formed corporation, on the first day of the year in which
the Partnership fails to meet the Qualifying Income Exception,
in return for stock in that corporation, and then distributed
that stock to the unitholders in liquidation of their interests
in it. This deemed contribution and liquidation should be
tax-free to unitholders and the Partnership except to the extent
that the Partnerships liabilities exceed the tax basis of
its assets at that time. Thereafter, the Partnership would be
treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax
purposes.
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If the Partnership were taxable as a corporation in any taxable
year, either as a result of a failure to meet the Qualifying
Income Exception or otherwise, its items of income, gain, loss
and deduction would be reflected only on its tax return rather
than being passed through to the unitholders, and its net income
would be taxed to the Partnership at corporate rates. Moreover,
if any MLP Entity were taxable as a corporation in any taxable
year, the Partnerships share of such entitys items
of income, gain, loss and deduction would not be passed through
to it and such entity would pay tax on its income at corporate
rates. If the Partnership or an MLP Entity were taxable as a
corporation, losses recognized by the MLP Entity would not flow
through to the Partnership or losses recognized by the
Partnership would not flow through to its unitholders, as the
case may be. In addition, any distribution made by the
Partnership to a unitholder (or by the MLP Entity to the
Partnership) would be treated as (i) taxable dividend
income, to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and
profits, then (ii) a nontaxable return of capital, to the
extent of the unitholders tax basis in his common units
(or the Partnerships tax basis in its interest in the MLP
Entity), and thereafter (iii) taxable capital gain from the
sale of such units (or from the sale of the Partnerships
interest in the MLP Entity). Accordingly, taxation of the
Partnership or any MLP Entity as a corporation would result in a
material reduction in a unitholders cash flow and
after-tax return and thus would likely result in a substantial
reduction of the value of the units.
The discussion below is based on Andrews Kurth LLPs
opinion that the Partnership will be classified as a partnership
for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Limited
Partner Status
Unitholders who have become limited partners of the Partnership
as a result of the merger will be treated as partners of the
Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Also,
assignees who have executed and delivered transfer applications,
and are awaiting admission as limited partners, and unitholders
whose common units are held in street name or by a nominee and
who have the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all
substantive rights attendant to the ownership of their common
units, will be treated as partners of the Partnership for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. As there is no direct
authority addressing assignees of common units who are entitled
to execute and deliver transfer applications and thereby become
entitled to direct the exercise of attendant rights, but who
fail to execute and deliver transfer applications, Andrews Kurth
LLPs opinion does not extend to these persons.
Furthermore, a purchaser or other transferee of common units who
does not execute and deliver a transfer application may not
receive some U.S. federal income tax information or reports
furnished to record holders of common units unless the common
units are held in a nominee or street name account and the
nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer
application for those common units.
A beneficial owner of common units whose units have been
transferred to a short seller to complete a short sale would
appear to lose his status as a partner with respect to those
units for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Please read
Tax Consequences of Partnership Common Unit
Ownership Treatment of Short Sales.
Items of the Partnerships income, gain, loss and deduction
would not appear to be reportable by a unitholder who is not a
partner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and any cash
distributions received by a unitholder who is not a partner for
U.S. federal income tax purposes would therefore appear to
be fully taxable as ordinary income. These unitholders are urged
to consult their own tax advisors with respect to their tax
consequences of holding units in the Partnership. The references
to unitholders in the discussion that follows are to
persons who are treated as partners in the Partnership for
U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Tax
Consequences of Partnership Common Unit Ownership
Flow-through of Taxable Income. The
Partnership does not pay any U.S. federal income tax.
Instead, each unitholder is required to report on his income tax
return his share of its income, gains, losses and deductions
without regard to whether corresponding cash distributions are
received by him. Consequently, the Partnership may allocate
income to a unitholder even if he has not received a cash
distribution. Each unitholder will be required to include in
income his allocable share of the Partnerships income,
gains, losses
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and deductions for its taxable year or years ending with or
within his taxable year. The Partnerships taxable year
ends on December 31.
Treatment of Distributions. Distributions by
the Partnership to a unitholder generally will not be taxable to
the unitholder for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except
to the extent the amount of any such cash distribution exceeds
his tax basis in his common units immediately before the
distribution. The Partnerships cash distributions in
excess of a unitholders tax basis in his common units
generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or
exchange of the common units, taxable in accordance with the
rules described under Disposition of
Partnership Common Units below. Any reduction in a
unitholders share of the Partnerships liabilities
for which no partner bears the economic risk of loss, known as
nonrecourse liabilities, will be treated as a
distribution of cash to that unitholder. To the extent the
Partnerships distributions cause a unitholders
at risk amount to be less than zero at the end of
any taxable year, the unitholder must recapture any losses
deducted in previous years. Please read
Limitations on Deductibility of Losses.
A decrease in a unitholders percentage interest in the
Partnership because of its issuance of additional common units
will decrease his share of its nonrecourse liabilities, and thus
will result in a corresponding deemed distribution of cash which
may constitute a non-pro rata distribution. A non-pro rata
distribution of money or property may result in ordinary income
to a unitholder, regardless of his tax basis in his common
units, if the distribution reduces the unitholders share
of the Partnerships unrealized receivables,
including depreciation recapture,
and/or
substantially appreciated inventory items, both as
defined in Section 751 of the Internal Revenue Code, and
collectively, Section 751 Assets. To that
extent, he will be treated as having been distributed his
proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and having
then exchanged those assets with the Partnership in return for
the non-pro rata portion of the actual distribution made to him.
This latter deemed exchange will generally result in the
unitholders realization of ordinary income, which will
equal the excess of the non-pro rata portion of that
distribution over the unitholders tax basis for the share
of Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.
Basis of Common Units. Please read
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the
Merger Tax Consequences of the Merger to Holdings
and its Unitholders Tax Basis of the Partnership
Common Units Received for a discussion of how to determine
the initial tax basis of Partnership common units received in
the merger. A unitholders initial tax basis in his
Partnership common units generally will be increased by his
share of the Partnerships income and gains and by any
increases in his share of its nonrecourse liabilities. That
basis generally will be decreased, but not below zero, by
distributions from the Partnership, by the unitholders
share of its losses and deductions, by any decreases in his
share of its nonrecourse liabilities and by his share of its
expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income
and are not required to be capitalized. A unitholder will have a
share of the Partnership nonrecourse liabilities generally based
on Book-Tax Disparity (as described in
Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and
Deductions) attributable to such unitholder, to the extent
of such amount, and thereafter, such unitholders share of
the Partnerships profits. Please read
Disposition of Partnership Common
Units Recognition of Gain or Loss.
Limitations on Deductibility of Losses. The
deduction by a unitholder of his share of the Partnerships
losses will be limited to the tax basis in his units and, in the
case of an individual unitholder or a corporate unitholder, if
more than 50% of the value of the corporate unitholders
stock is owned directly or indirectly by or for five or fewer
individuals or some tax-exempt organizations, to the amount for
which the unitholder is considered to be at risk
with respect to the Partnerships activities, if that
amount is less than his tax basis. A unitholder subject to these
limitations must recapture losses deducted in previous years to
the extent that distributions cause his at risk amount to be
less than zero at the end of any taxable year. Losses disallowed
to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of these limitations
will carry forward and will be allowable as a deduction in a
later year to the extent that his tax basis or at risk amount,
whichever is the limiting factor, is subsequently increased
provided that such losses are otherwise allowable. Upon the
taxable disposition of a unit, any gain recognized by a
unitholder can be offset by losses that were previously
suspended by the at risk limitation but may not be offset by
losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any excess loss above
that gain previously suspended by the at risk or basis
limitations is no longer utilizable.
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In general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the
tax basis of his units, excluding any portion of that basis
attributable to his share of the Partnerships nonrecourse
liabilities, reduced by (i) any portion of that basis
representing amounts other than those protected against loss
because of a guarantee, stop-loss agreement or other similar
arrangement and (ii) any amount of money he borrows to
acquire or hold his units, if the lender of those borrowed funds
owns an interest in the Partnership, is related to another
unitholder who has an interest in the Partnership, or can look
only to the units for repayment. A unitholders at risk
amount will increase or decrease as the tax basis of the
unitholders units increases or decreases, other than tax
basis increases or decreases attributable to increases or
decreases in his share of the Partnerships nonrecourse
liabilities.
In addition to the basis and at-risk limitations on the
deductibility of losses, the passive loss limitations generally
provide that individuals, estates, trusts and some closely-held
corporations and personal service corporations are permitted to
deduct losses from passive activities, which are generally trade
or business activities in which the taxpayer does not materially
participate, only to the extent of the taxpayers income
from those passive activities. The passive loss limitations are
applied separately with respect to each publicly traded
partnership. However, the application of the passive loss
limitations to tiered publicly traded partnerships is uncertain.
The Partnership will take the position that any passive losses
it generates that are reasonably allocable to its investment in
Duncan Energy Partners or Energy Transfer Equity, as applicable,
will only be available to offset its passive income generated in
the future that is reasonably allocable to its investment in
Duncan Energy Partners or Energy Transfer Equity, as applicable,
and will not be available to offset income from other passive
activities or investments, including other investments in
private businesses or investments the Partnership may make in
other publicly traded partnerships. Moreover, because the
passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect to
each publicly traded partnership, any passive losses the
Partnership generates will only be available to offset the
Partnerships passive income generated in the future and
will not be available to offset income from other passive
activities or investments, including its investments or
investments in other publicly traded partnerships, or a
unitholders salary or active business income. Further, a
unitholders share of the Partnerships net income may
be offset by any suspended passive losses from his investment in
it, but may not be offset by his current or carryover losses
from other passive activities, including those attributable to
other publicly traded partnerships. Passive losses that are not
deductible because they exceed a unitholders share of
income the Partnership generates may be deducted in full when
the unitholder disposes of his entire investment in it in a
fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The passive
activity loss limitations are applied after other applicable
limitations on deductions, including the at risk rules and the
basis limitation.
The IRS could take the position that for purposes of applying
the passive loss limitation rules to tiered publicly traded
partnerships, such as the MLP Entities and the Partnership, the
related entities are treated as one publicly traded partnership.
In that case, any passive losses the Partnership generates would
be available to offset income from a unitholders
investment in the MLP Entities, as applicable. However, passive
losses that are not deductible because they exceed a
unitholders share of income the Partnership generates
would not be deductible in full until a unitholder disposes of
his entire investment in the Partnership and each MLP Entity in
a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party.
A unitholders share of the Partnerships net income
may be offset by any of its suspended passive losses, but it may
not be offset by any other current or carryover losses from
other passive activities, including those attributable to other
publicly traded partnerships.
There is no guidance as to whether suspended passive activity
losses of Holdings units will be available to offset passive
activity income that is allocated to a former Holdings
unitholder from the Partnership after the merger. The IRS may
contend that the Partnership is not the same partnership as
Holdings and, accordingly, the passive loss limitation rules
would not allow use of such losses until such time as all of
such unitholders Partnership common units are sold. A
Partnership unitholder may take the position, however, that the
Partnership should be deemed a continuation of Holdings for this
purpose such that any suspended Holdings losses would be
available to offset Partnership taxable income allocated to such
unitholder. Because of the lack of guidance with respect to this
issue and the application of the passive loss limitation rules
to tiered publicly traded partnerships, Andrews Kurth LLP is
unable to opine as to whether suspended passive
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activity losses arising from Holdings activities will be
available to offset Partnership taxable income allocated to a
former Holdings unitholder following the merger. If a unitholder
has losses with respect to Holdings units, it is urged to
consult its own tax advisor.
Limitations on Interest Deductions. The
deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayers
investment interest expense is generally limited to
the amount of that taxpayers net investment
income. Investment interest expense includes:
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interest on indebtedness properly allocable to property held for
investment;
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the Partnerships interest expense attributed to portfolio
income; and
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the portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry an
interest in a passive activity to the extent attributable to
portfolio income.
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The computation of a unitholders investment interest
expense will take into account interest on any margin account
borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a unit.
Net investment income includes gross income from property held
for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income under the
passive loss rules, less deductible expenses, other than
interest, directly connected with the production of investment
income, but generally does not include gains attributable to the
disposition of property held for investment. The IRS has
indicated that net passive income earned by a publicly traded
partnership will be treated as investment income to its
unitholders for purposes of the investment interest deduction
limitation. In addition, the unitholders share of the
Partnerships portfolio income will be treated as
investment income.
Entity-Level Collections. If the
Partnership is required or elects under applicable law to pay
any federal, state, local or foreign income tax on behalf of any
unitholder or any former unitholder, it is authorized to pay
those taxes from the Partnerships funds. That payment, if
made, will be treated as a distribution of cash to the
unitholder on whose behalf the payment was made. If the payment
is made on behalf of a person whose identity cannot be
determined, the Partnership is authorized to treat the payment
as a distribution to all current unitholders. The Partnership is
authorized to amend its partnership agreement in the manner
necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax
characteristics of units and to adjust later distributions, so
that after giving effect to these distributions, the priority
and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under
its partnership agreement is maintained as nearly as is
practicable. Payments by the Partnership as described above
could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of an
individual unitholder in which event the unitholder would be
required to file a claim in order to obtain a credit or refund.
Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and
Deduction. In general, if the Partnership has a
net profit, its items of income, gain, loss and deduction will
be allocated among the unitholders in accordance with their
percentage interests in the Partnership. If the Partnership has
a net loss for the entire year, that loss will be allocated to
the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in
the Partnership. An allocation of items of the
Partnerships income, gain, loss or deduction (other than
an allocation required by Section 704(c) to eliminate the
difference between a partners book capital
account, credited with the fair market value of Contributed
Property, and the tax capital account, credited with
the tax basis of Contributed Property, referred to as
Book-Tax Disparity and further discussed below) will
generally be given effect for U.S. federal income tax
purposes in determining a partners share of an item of
income, gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation has
substantial economic effect. In any other case, a partners
share of an item will be determined on the basis of his interest
in the Partnership, which will be determined by taking into
account all the facts and circumstances, including:
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his relative contributions to the Partnership;
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the interests of all the partners in profits and losses;
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the interest of all the partners in cash flow and other
nonliquidating distributions; and
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the rights of all the partners to distributions of capital upon
liquidation.
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Andrews Kurth LLP is of the opinion that, with the exception of
the issues described in Tax Consequences of
Partnership Common Unit Ownership Section 754
Election, Uniformity of
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Partnership Common Units and Disposition
of Partnership Common Units Allocations Between
Transferors and Transferees, allocations under the
Partnerships partnership agreement will be given effect
for U.S. federal income tax purposes in determining a
partners share of an item of income, gain, loss or
deduction.
Allocations With Respect to Contributed
Property. Specified items of the
Partnerships income, gain, loss and deduction will be
allocated under Section 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code
to account for (i) any difference between the tax basis and
fair market value of the Partnerships assets at the time
of an offering, or (ii) any difference between the tax
basis and fair market value of any property contributed to the
Partnership at the time of such contribution, together referred
to in this discussion as Contributed Property. These
allocations are required to eliminate the Book-Tax Disparity
with respect to the Contributed Property. Holders of the
Partnership common units received by the Holdings unitholders
will receive the Section 704(c) allocations that otherwise
would have been allocated to Holdings pursuant to
Section 704(c). Under these rules for example, following
the merger in the event that the Partnership divests itself of
certain assets formerly owned by Holdings (including through a
distribution of such assets), all or a portion of any gain
recognized as a result of a divestiture of such assets may be
required to be allocated to the pre-merger Holdings unitholders.
In addition, former Holdings unitholders may also be required to
recognize their share of Holdings remaining built-in
gain upon certain distributions by the Partnership to that
unitholder of other Partnership property (other than money)
within seven years following the merger. No special
distributions will be made to the former Holdings unitholders
with respect to any tax liability from such allocations.
In the event the Partnership issues additional common units or
engages in certain other transactions in the future,
reverse Section 704(c) allocations, similar to
the Section 704(c) allocations described above, will be
made to all partners to account for the difference, at the time
of the future transaction, between the book basis
for purposes of maintaining capital accounts and the fair market
value of all property held by the Partnership at the time of the
future transaction. In addition, items of recapture income will
be allocated to the extent possible to the unitholder who was
allocated the deduction giving rise to the treatment of that
gain as recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of
ordinary income by other unitholders. Finally, although the
Partnership does not expect that its operations will result in
the creation of negative capital accounts, if negative capital
accounts nevertheless result, items of its income and gain will
be allocated in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the
negative balance as quickly as possible.
Treatment of Short Sales. A unitholder whose
units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short
sale of units may be considered as having disposed of those
units. If so, he would no longer be treated for tax purposes as
a partner with respect to those units during the period of the
loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a
result, during this period:
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any of the Partnerships income, gain, loss or deduction
with respect to those units would not be reportable by the
unitholder;
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any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those
units would be fully taxable; and
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all of these distributions would appear to be ordinary income.
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Andrews Kurth LLP has not rendered an opinion regarding the tax
treatment of a unitholder where common units are loaned to a
short seller to cover a short sale of common units. Therefore,
unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and
avoid the risk of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller
are urged to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements
to prohibit their brokers from borrowing and loaning their
units. The IRS has previously announced that it is studying
issues relating to the tax treatment of short sales of
partnership interests. Please also read
Disposition of Partnership Common
Units Recognition of Gain or Loss.
Alternative Minimum Tax. Each unitholder will
be required to take into account his distributive share of any
items of the Partnerships income, gain, loss or deduction
for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. The current minimum
tax rate for noncorporate taxpayers is 26% on the first $175,000
of alternative minimum taxable income in excess of the exemption
amount and 28% on any additional alternative minimum taxable
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income. Prospective unitholders are urged to consult with their
tax advisors as to the impact of an investment in units on their
liability for the alternative minimum tax.
Tax Rates. Under current law, the highest
marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to
ordinary income of individuals is 35% and the maximum
U.S. federal income tax rate for net capital gains of an
individual is 15% if the asset disposed of was a capital asset
held for more than 12 months at the time of disposition.
However, absent new legislation extending the current rates,
beginning January 1, 2011, the highest marginal
U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income
and long-term capital gains of individuals will increase to
39.6% and 20%, respectively. Moreover, these rates are subject
to change by new legislation at any time.
Recently enacted legislation will impose a 3.8% Medicare tax on
certain investment income earned by individuals, estates and
trusts for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012.
For these purposes, net investment income generally includes a
unitholders allocable share of the Partnerships
income and gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of common
units. In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on
the lesser of (i) the unitholders net investment
income or (ii) the amount by which the unitholders
modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the
unitholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse),
$125,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing separately) or
$200,000 (in any other case).
Section 754 Election. The Partnership has
made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Internal
Revenue Code. That election is irrevocable without the consent
of the IRS. The election generally permits the Partnership to
adjust a common unit purchasers tax basis in the
Partnerships assets (inside basis) under
Section 743(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to reflect his
purchase price. This election applies to a person who purchases
units from a selling unitholder but does not apply to a person
who purchases common units directly from the Partnership or
receives Partnership common units pursuant to the merger. The
Section 743(b) adjustment belongs to the purchaser and not
to other unitholders. For purposes of this discussion, a
unitholders inside basis in the Partnerships assets
will be considered to have two components: (i) his share of
its tax basis in its assets (common basis) and
(ii) his Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.
Treasury Regulations under Section 743 of the Internal
Revenue Code require, if the remedial allocation method is
adopted (which the Partnership has adopted), a portion of the
Section 743(b) adjustment that is attributable to recovery
property subject to depreciation under Section 168 of the
Internal Revenue Code to be depreciated over the remaining cost
recovery period for the propertys unamortized Book-Tax
Disparity. Under Treasury
Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6),
a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to property
subject to depreciation under Section 167 of the Internal
Revenue Code, rather than cost recovery deductions under
Section 168, is generally required to be depreciated using
either the straight-line method or the 150% declining balance
method. Under the Partnerships partnership agreement, the
general partner of the Partnership is authorized to take a
position to preserve the uniformity of units even if that
position is not consistent with these and any other Treasury
Regulations. Please read Uniformity of
Partnership Common Units.
Although Andrews Kurth LLP is unable to opine as to the validity
of this approach because there is no controlling authority on
this issue, the Partnership intends to depreciate the portion of
a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized
appreciation in the value of Contributed Property, to the extent
of any unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, using a rate of
depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or
amortization method and useful life applied to the unamortized
Book-Tax Disparity of the property, or treat that portion as
non-amortizable
to the extent attributable to property which is not amortizable.
This method is consistent with methods employed by other
publicly traded partnerships but is arguably inconsistent with
Treasury
Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6),
which is not expected to directly apply to a material portion of
the Partnerships assets. To the extent this Section 743(b)
adjustment is attributable to appreciation in value in excess of
the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, the Partnership will apply
the rules described in the Treasury Regulations and legislative
history. If the Partnership determines that this position cannot
reasonably be taken, it may take a depreciation or amortization
position under which all purchasers acquiring units in the same
month would receive depreciation or amortization, whether
attributable to common basis or a Section 743(b)
adjustment, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had
purchased a direct interest in the Partnerships
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assets. This kind of aggregate approach may result in lower
annual depreciation or amortization deductions than would
otherwise be allowable to some unitholders. Please read
Uniformity of Units. A unitholders
tax basis for his common units is reduced by his share of the
Partnerships deductions (whether or not such deductions
were claimed on an individuals income tax return) so that
any position the Partnership takes that understates deductions
will overstate the common unitholders basis in his common
units, which may cause the unitholder to understate gain or
overstate loss on any sale of such units. Please read
Disposition of Partnership Common
Units Recognition of Gain or Loss. The IRS may
challenge the Partnerships position with respect to
depreciating or amortizing the Section 743(b) adjustment
the Partnership takes to preserve the uniformity of the units.
If such a challenge were sustained, the gain from the sale of
units might be increased without the benefit of additional
deductions.
A Section 754 election is advantageous if the
transferees tax basis in his units is higher than the
units share of the aggregate tax basis of the
Partnerships assets immediately prior to the transfer. In
that case, as a result of the election, the transferee would
have, among other items, a greater amount of depreciation
deductions and his share of any gain or loss on a sale of the
Partnerships assets would be less. Conversely, a
Section 754 election is disadvantageous if the
transferees tax basis in his units is lower than those
units share of the aggregate tax basis of the
Partnerships assets immediately prior to the transfer.
Thus, the fair market value of the units may be affected either
favorably or unfavorably by the election. A basis adjustment is
required regardless of whether a Section 754 election is
made in the case of a transfer of an interest in the Partnership
if the Partnership has a substantial built-in loss immediately
after the transfer, or if the Partnership distributes property
and has a substantial basis reduction. Generally a basis
reduction or a built-in loss is substantial if it exceeds
$250,000.
The calculations involved in the Section 754 election are
complex and will be made on the basis of assumptions as to the
value of the Partnerships assets and other matters. For
example, the allocation of the Section 743(b) adjustment
among its assets must be made in accordance with the Internal
Revenue Code. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of
any Section 743(b) adjustment the Partnership allocated to
its tangible assets or the tangible assets owned by the MLP
Entities to goodwill instead. Goodwill, as an intangible asset,
is generally either
non-amortizable
or amortizable over a longer period of time or under a less
accelerated method than the Partnerships tangible assets.
The Partnership cannot assure you that the determinations it
makes will not be successfully challenged by the IRS and that
the deductions resulting from them will not be reduced or
disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different basis
adjustment to be made, and should, in the Partnerships
opinion, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the
election, the Partnership may seek permission from the IRS to
revoke the Partnerships Section 754 election. If
permission is granted, a subsequent purchaser of units may be
allocated more income than he would have been allocated had the
election not been revoked.
Tax
Treatment of Operations
Accounting Method and Taxable Year. The
Partnership uses the year ending December 31 as its taxable year
and the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be required to include
in income his share of the Partnerships income, gain, loss
and deduction for its taxable year or years ending within or
with his taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who has a
taxable year different than the Partnerships taxable year
and who disposes of all of his units following the close of its
taxable year but before the close of his taxable year must
include his share of its income, gain, loss and deduction in
income for his taxable year, with the result that he will be
required to include in income for his taxable year his share of
more than one year of its income, gain, loss and deduction.
Please read Disposition of Partnership Common
Units Allocations Between Transferors and
Transferees.
Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization. The
Partnership uses the tax basis of its and the MLP Entities
assets for purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery
deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of
these assets. The U.S. federal income tax burden associated
with the difference between the fair market value of the
Partnerships assets and their tax basis (a) at the
time of the merger will be borne by Partnership unitholders
immediately before the merger and as of such period, and
(b) at the time
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of any other offering will be borne by the Partnership
unitholders as of that time. Please read Tax
Consequences of Partnership Common Unit Ownership
Allocations With Respect to Contributed Property.
To the extent allowable, the Partnership may elect to use the
depreciation and cost recovery methods that will result in the
largest deductions being taken in the early years after assets
subject to these allowances are placed in service. Property the
Partnership subsequently acquires or constructs may be
depreciated using accelerated methods permitted by the Internal
Revenue Code.
If the Partnership or the MLP Entities dispose of depreciable
property by sale, foreclosure, or otherwise, all or a portion of
any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation
previously deducted and the nature of the property, may be
subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income
rather than capital gain. Similarly, a common unitholder who has
taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with respect to
property the Partnership or the MLP Entities own will likely be
required to recapture some, or all, of those deductions as
ordinary income upon a sale of his interest in it. Please read
Tax Consequences of Partnership Common Unit
Ownership Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and
Deduction, Tax Consequences of
Partnership Common Unit Ownership Allocations With
Respect to Contributed Property and
Disposition of Partnership Common
Units Recognition of Gain or Loss.
The costs incurred in selling the Partnerships units
(called syndication expenses) must be capitalized
and cannot be deducted currently, ratably or upon its
termination. There are uncertainties regarding the
classification of costs as organization expenses, which the
Partnership may amortize, and as syndication expenses, which the
Partnership may not be able to amortize. The underwriting
discounts and commissions the Partnership incurs will be treated
as syndication expenses.
Valuation and Tax Basis of the Partnerships
Properties. The U.S. federal income tax
consequences of the ownership and disposition of units will
depend in part on the Partnerships estimates of the
relative fair market values, and the tax bases, of the
Partnerships assets and the MLP Entities assets.
Although the Partnership may from time to time consult with
professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, it will
make many of the relative fair market value estimates itself.
These estimates and determinations of basis are subject to
challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If
the estimates of fair market value or basis are later found to
be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain,
loss or deductions previously reported by unitholders might
change, and unitholders might be required to adjust their tax
liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with
respect to those adjustments.
Disposition
of Partnership Common Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss. Gain or loss will
be recognized on a sale of units equal to the difference between
the unitholders amount realized and the unitholders
tax basis for the units sold. A unitholders amount
realized will be measured by the sum of the cash or the fair
market value of other property received by him plus his share of
the Partnerships nonrecourse liabilities attributable to
the common units sold. Because the amount realized includes a
unitholders share of the Partnerships nonrecourse
liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of units could
result in a tax liability in excess of any cash received from
the sale.
Prior distributions from the Partnership in excess of cumulative
net taxable income for a common unit that decreased a
unitholders tax basis in that common unit will, in effect,
become taxable income if the common unit is sold at a price
greater than the unitholders tax basis in that common
unit, even if the price received is less than his original cost.
Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder,
other than a dealer in units, on the sale or
exchange of a unit will generally be taxable as capital gain or
loss. Capital gain recognized by an individual on the sale of
units held more than 12 months will generally be taxed at a
maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 15% through
December 31, 2010 and 20% thereafter (absent legislation
extending or adjusting the current rate). However, a portion,
which will likely be substantial, of this gain or loss will be
separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under
Section 751 of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent
attributable to assets giving rise to depreciation recapture or
other unrealized receivables or to inventory
items the Partnership or the MLP Entities own. The term
unrealized receivables includes
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potential recapture items, including depreciation recapture.
Ordinary income attributable to unrealized receivables,
inventory items and depreciation recapture may exceed net
taxable gain realized on the sale of a unit and may be
recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the
sale of a unit. Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary
income and a capital loss upon a sale of units. Net capital
losses may offset capital gains and no more than $3,000 of
ordinary income each year in the case of individuals and may
only be used to offset capital gains in the case of corporations.
The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a
partnership in separate transactions must combine those
interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all those
interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of
those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated
to the interests sold using an equitable
apportionment method, which generally means that the tax
basis allocated to the interest sold equals an amount that bears
the same relation to the partners tax basis in his entire
interest in the partnership as the value of the interest sold
bears to the value of the partners entire interest in the
partnership. Treasury Regulations under Section 1223 of the
Internal Revenue Code allow a selling unitholder who can
identify common units transferred with an ascertainable holding
period to elect to use the actual holding period of the common
units transferred. Thus, according to the ruling discussed
above, a common unitholder will be unable to select high or low
basis common units to sell as would be the case with corporate
stock, but, according to the Treasury Regulations, may designate
specific common units sold for purposes of determining the
holding period of units transferred. A unitholder electing to
use the actual holding period of common units transferred must
consistently use that identification method for all subsequent
sales or exchanges of common units. A unitholder considering the
purchase of additional units or a sale of common units purchased
in separate transactions is urged to consult his tax advisor as
to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of
the Treasury Regulations.
Specific provisions of the Internal Revenue Code affect the
taxation of some financial products and securities, including
partnership interests, by treating a taxpayer as having sold an
appreciated partnership interest, one in which gain
would be recognized if it were sold, assigned or terminated at
its fair market value, if the taxpayer or related persons
enter(s) into:
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a short sale;
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an offsetting notional principal contract; or
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a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership
interest or substantially identical property.
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Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short
sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or
forward contract with respect to the partnership interest, the
taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the
taxpayer or a related person then acquires the partnership
interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of
the Treasury is also authorized to issue regulations that treat
a taxpayer that enters into transactions or positions that have
substantially the same effect as the preceding transactions as
having constructively sold the financial position.
Allocations Between Transferors and
Transferees. In general, the Partnerships
taxable income or loss will be determined annually, will be
prorated on a monthly basis and will be subsequently apportioned
among the unitholders in proportion to the number of units owned
by each of them as of the opening of the applicable exchange on
the first business day of the month, which the Partnership
refers to in this prospectus as the Allocation Date.
However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of
the Partnerships assets other than in the ordinary course
of business will be allocated among the unitholders on the
Allocation Date in the month in which that gain or loss is
recognized. As a result, a unitholder transferring units may be
allocated income, gain, loss and deduction realized after the
date of transfer.
Although simplifying conventions are contemplated by the
Internal Revenue Code and most publicly traded partnerships use
similar simplifying conventions, the use of this method may not
be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. Recently, the
Department of the Treasury and the IRS issued proposed Treasury
Regulations that provide a safe harbor pursuant to which a
publicly traded partnership may use a similar monthly
simplifying convention to allocate tax items among transferor
and transferee unitholders, although such tax items must be
prorated on a daily basis. Existing publicly traded partnerships
are entitled to rely on
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these proposed Treasury Regulations; however, they are not
binding on the IRS and are subject to change until final
Treasury Regulations are issued. Accordingly, Andrews Kurth LLP
is unable to opine on the validity of this method of allocating
income and deductions between transferor and transferee
unitholders. If this method is not allowed under the Treasury
Regulations, or only applies to transfers of less than all of
the unitholders interest, the Partnerships taxable
income or losses might be reallocated among the unitholders. The
Partnership is authorized to revise its method of allocation
between transferor and transferee unitholders, as well as
unitholders whose interests vary during a taxable year, to
conform to a method permitted under future Treasury Regulations.
A unitholder who owns units at any time during a quarter and who
disposes of them prior to the record date set for a cash
distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of the
Partnerships income, gain, loss and deductions
attributable to that quarter but will not be entitled to receive
that cash distribution.
Notification Requirements. A unitholder who
sells any of his units, other than through a broker, generally
is required to notify the Partnership in writing of that sale
within 30 days after the sale (or, if earlier, January 15
of the year following the sale). A purchaser of units who
purchases units from another unitholder is also generally
required to notify the Partnership in writing of that purchase
within 30 days after the purchase. Upon receiving such
notification, the Partnership is required to notify the IRS of
that transaction and to furnish specified information to the
transferor and transferee. Failure to notify the Partnership of
a transfer of units may, in some cases, lead to the imposition
of penalties. However, these reporting requirements do not apply
to a sale by an individual who is a citizen of the U.S. and
who effects the sale or exchange through a broker who will
satisfy such requirements.
Constructive Termination. The Partnership will
be considered to have been terminated for tax purposes if there
are sales or exchanges of interests in the Partnership which, in
the aggregate, constitute 50% or more of the total interests in
the Partnerships capital and profits within a
12-month
period. A constructive termination results in the closing of the
Partnerships taxable year for all unitholders. In the case
of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year different from its
taxable year, the closing of its taxable year may result in more
than 12 months of its taxable income or loss being
includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. A
constructive termination occurring on a date other than December
31 will result in the Partnership filing two tax returns (and
unitholders could receive two Schedules K-1) for one fiscal year
and the cost of the preparation of these returns will be borne
by all common unitholders. The Partnership would be required to
make new tax elections after a termination, including a new
election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code,
and a termination would result in a deferral of the
Partnerships deductions for depreciation. A termination
could also result in penalties if the Partnership was unable to
determine that the termination had occurred.
Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the application
of, or subject the Partnership to, any tax legislation enacted
before the termination. The IRS has recently announced a relief
procedure whereby if a publicly traded partnership that has
technically terminated requests and is granted relief from the
IRS, among other things, the partnership will only have to
provide one
Schedule K-1
to unitholders for the fiscal year notwithstanding that two
partnership tax years result from the termination.
Uniformity
of Partnership Common Units
Because the Partnership cannot match transferors and transferees
of units, it must maintain uniformity of the economic and tax
characteristics of the units to a purchaser of these units. In
the absence of uniformity, the Partnership may be unable to
completely comply with a number of U.S. federal income tax
requirements, both statutory and regulatory. A lack of
uniformity can result from a literal application of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6).
Any non-uniformity could have a negative impact on the value of
the units. Please read Tax Consequences of
Partnership Common Unit Ownership Section 754
Election.
The Partnership intends to depreciate the portion of a
Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized
appreciation in the value of Contributed Property, to the extent
of any unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, using a rate of
depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or
amortization method and useful life applied to the unamortized
Book-Tax Disparity of that property, or treat that portion as
nonamortizable, to the
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extent attributable to property which is not amortizable,
consistent with the Treasury Regulations under Section 743
of the Internal Revenue Code, even though that position may be
inconsistent with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6).
Please read Tax Consequences of Partnership
Common Unit Ownership Section 754
Election. To the extent that the Section 743(b)
adjustment is attributable to appreciation in value in excess of
the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, the Partnership will apply
the rules described in the Treasury Regulations and legislative
history. If the Partnership determines that this position cannot
reasonably be taken, it may adopt a depreciation and
amortization position under which all purchasers acquiring units
in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization
deductions, whether attributable to a common basis or
Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the same applicable
methods and lives as if they had purchased a direct interest in
the Partnerships property. If this position is adopted, it
may result in lower annual depreciation and amortization
deductions than would otherwise be allowable to some unitholders
and risk the loss of depreciation and amortization deductions
not taken in the year that these deductions are otherwise
allowable. This position will not be adopted if the Partnership
determines that the loss of depreciation and amortization
deductions will have a material adverse effect on the
unitholders. If the Partnership chooses not to utilize this
aggregate method, it may use any other reasonable depreciation
and amortization method to preserve the uniformity of the
intrinsic tax characteristics of any units that would not have a
material adverse effect on the unitholders. The
Partnerships counsel, Andrews Kurth LLP, is unable to
opine on the validity of any of these positions. The IRS may
challenge any method of depreciating the Section 743(b)
adjustment described in this paragraph. If this challenge were
sustained, the uniformity of units might be affected, and the
gain from the sale of units might be increased without the
benefit of additional deductions. The Partnership does not
believe these allocations will affect any material items of
income, gain, loss or deduction. Please read
Disposition of Partnership Common
Units Recognition of Gain or Loss.
Tax-Exempt
Organizations and Other Investors
Ownership of units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt
organizations, regulated investment companies, non-resident
aliens, foreign corporations, and other foreign persons raises
issues unique to those investors and, as described below, may
have substantially adverse tax consequences to them.
Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from
U.S. federal income tax, including individual retirement
accounts and other retirement plans, are subject to
U.S. federal income tax on unrelated business taxable
income. Virtually all of the Partnerships income allocated
to a unitholder that is a tax-exempt organization will be
unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them.
A regulated investment company or mutual fund is
required to derive 90% or more of its gross income from certain
permitted sources. The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004
generally treats net income from the ownership of publicly
traded partnerships as derived from such a permitted source. The
Partnership anticipates that all of its net income will be
treated as derived from such a permitted source.
Non-resident aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates
that own units will be considered to be engaged in business in
the United States because of the ownership of units. As a
consequence they will be required to file federal tax returns to
report their share of the Partnerships income, gain, loss
or deduction and pay U.S. federal income tax at regular
rates on their share of the Partnerships net income or
gain. Moreover, under rules applicable to publicly traded
partnerships, the Partnership will withhold tax at the highest
applicable effective tax rate from cash distributions made
quarterly to foreign unitholders. Each foreign unitholder must
obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit
that number to the Partnerships transfer agent on a
Form W-8
BEN or applicable substitute form in order to obtain credit for
these withholding taxes. A change in applicable law may require
the Partnership to change these procedures.
In addition, because a foreign corporation that owns units will
be treated as engaged in a United States trade or business, that
corporation may be subject to the United States branch profits
tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular U.S. federal
income tax, on its share of its income and gain, as adjusted for
changes in the foreign corporations U.S. net
equity, that is effectively connected with the conduct of
a United States trade or business. That tax may be reduced or
eliminated by an income tax treaty between the United States and
the
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country in which the foreign corporate unitholder is a
qualified resident. In addition, this type of
unitholder is subject to special information reporting
requirements under Section 6038C of the Internal Revenue
Code.
Under a ruling published by the IRS, a foreign unitholder who
sells or otherwise disposes of a unit will be subject to
U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on the sale or
disposition of that unit to the extent that this gain is
effectively connected with a United States trade or business of
the foreign unitholder. Because a foreign unitholder is
considered to be engaged in a trade or business in the United
States by virtue of the ownership of units, under this ruling, a
foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a unit
generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on
gain realized on the sale or other disposition of units. Apart
from the ruling, a foreign unitholder will not be taxed or
subject to withholding upon the sale or disposition of a unit if
he has owned less than 5% in value of the units during the
five-year period ending on the date of the disposition and if
the units are regularly traded on an established securities
market at the time of the sale or disposition.
Administrative
Matters
Information Returns and Audit Procedures. The
Partnership intends to furnish to each unitholder, within
90 days after the close of each taxable year, specific tax
information, including a
Schedule K-1,
which describes each unitholders share of the
Partnerships income, gain, loss and deduction for the
Partnerships preceding taxable year. In preparing this
information, which will not be reviewed by counsel, the
Partnership will take various accounting and reporting
positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to
determine each unitholders share of income, gain, loss and
deduction. The Partnership cannot assure you that those
positions will in all cases yield a result that conforms to the
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations
or administrative interpretations of the IRS.
Neither the Partnership nor Andrews Kurth LLP can assure
prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully
contend in court that those positions are impermissible. Any
challenge by the IRS could negatively affect the value of the
units.
The IRS may audit the Partnerships U.S. federal
income tax information returns. Adjustments resulting from an
IRS audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior
years tax liability, and possibly may result in an audit
of his own return. Any audit of a unitholders return could
result in adjustments not related to the Partnerships
returns as well as those related to its returns.
Partnerships generally are treated as separate entities for
purposes of U.S. federal income tax audits, judicial review
of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement
proceedings. The tax treatment of partnership items of income,
gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership
proceeding rather than in separate proceedings with the
partners. The Internal Revenue Code requires that one partner be
designated as the Tax Matters Partner for these
purposes. The Partnerships partnership agreement names the
general partner of the Partnership as the Partnerships Tax
Matters Partner.
The Tax Matters Partner has made and will make some elections on
the Partnerships behalf and on behalf of unitholders. In
addition, the Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of
limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against
unitholders for items in the Partnerships returns. The Tax
Matters Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1%
profits interest in the Partnership to a settlement with the IRS
unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the
IRS, not to give that authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The
Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the
unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative
adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek
judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder
having at least a 1% interest in profits or by any group of
unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5% interest in
profits. However, only one action for judicial review will go
forward, and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may
participate in that action.
A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the
treatment of any item on his U.S. federal income tax return
that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on the
Partnerships return. Intentional or negligent disregard of
this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to
substantial penalties.
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Nominee Reporting. Persons who hold an
interest in the Partnership as a nominee for another person are
required to furnish the following information to it:
(a) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of
the beneficial owner and the nominee;
(b) a statement regarding whether the beneficial owner is
(1) a person that is not a United States person,
(2) a foreign government, an international organization or
any wholly-owned agency or instrumentality of either of the
foregoing, or
(3) a tax-exempt entity;
(c) the amount and description of units held, acquired or
transferred for the beneficial owner; and
(d) specific information including the dates of
acquisitions and transfers, means of acquisitions and transfers,
and acquisition cost for purchases, as well as the amount of net
proceeds from sales.
Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish
additional information, including whether they are United States
persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or
transfer for their own account. A penalty of $50 per failure, up
to a maximum of $100,000 per calendar year, is imposed by the
Internal Revenue Code for failure to report that information to
the Partnership. The nominee is required to supply the
beneficial owner of the units with the information furnished to
the Partnership.
Accuracy-related Penalties. An additional tax
equal to 20% of the amount of any portion of an underpayment of
tax that is attributable to one or more specified causes,
including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations,
substantial understatements of income tax and substantial
valuation misstatements, is imposed by the Internal Revenue
Code. No penalty will be imposed, however, for any portion of an
underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause
for the underpayment of that portion and that the taxpayer acted
in good faith regarding the underpayment of that portion.
For individuals, a substantial understatement of income tax in
any taxable year exists if the amount of the understatement
exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax required to be shown on
the return for the taxable year or $5,000. The amount of any
understatement subject to penalty generally is reduced if any
portion is attributable to a position adopted on the return:
(1) for which there is, or was, substantial
authority, or
(2) as to which there is a reasonable basis if the
pertinent facts of that position are adequately disclosed on the
return.
If any item of income, gain, loss or deduction included in the
distributive shares of unitholders might result in that kind of
an understatement of income for which no
substantial authority exists, the Partnership must
disclose the pertinent facts on the Partnerships return.
In addition, the Partnership will make a reasonable effort to
furnish sufficient information for unitholders to make adequate
disclosure on their returns and to take other actions as may be
appropriate to permit unitholders to avoid liability for this
penalty. More stringent rules apply to tax shelters,
which the Partnership does not believe includes it.
A substantial valuation misstatement exists if (i) the
value of any property, or the adjusted basis of any property,
claimed on a tax return is 150% or more of the amount determined
to be the correct amount of the valuation or adjusted basis,
(ii) the price for any property or services (or for the use
of property) claimed on any such return with respect to any
transaction between persons described in Internal Revenue Code
Section 482 is 200% or more (or 50% or less) of the amount
determined under Section 482 to be the correct amount of
such price, or (iii) the net Internal Revenue Code
Section 482 transfer price adjustment for the taxable year
exceeds the lesser of $5 million or 10% of the
taxpayers gross receipts.
No penalty is imposed unless the portion of the underpayment
attributable to a substantial valuation misstatement exceeds
$5,000 ($10,000 for most corporations). If the valuation claimed
on a return is 200% or
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more than the correct valuation, the penalty imposed increases
to 40%. The Partnership does not anticipate making any valuation
misstatements.
Reportable Transactions. If the Partnership
was to engage in a reportable transaction, it (and
possibly you and others) would be required to make a detailed
disclosure of the transaction to the IRS. A transaction may be a
reportable transaction based upon any of several factors,
including the fact that it is a type of tax avoidance
transaction publicly identified by the IRS as a listed
transaction or a transaction of interest or
that it produces certain kinds of losses in excess of
$2 million in any single year, or $4 million in any
combination of six successive taxable years. The
Partnerships participation in a reportable transaction
could increase the likelihood that its U.S. federal income
tax information return (and possibly your tax return) would be
audited by the IRS. Please read Information
Returns and Audit Procedures above.
Moreover, if the Partnership were to participate in a reportable
transaction with a significant purpose to avoid or evade tax, or
in any listed transaction, you may be subject to the following
provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004:
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accuracy-related penalties with a broader scope, significantly
narrower exceptions, and potentially greater amounts than
described above at Accuracy-Related
Penalties,
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for those persons otherwise entitled to deduct interest on
federal tax deficiencies, nondeductibility of interest on any
resulting tax liability, and
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in the case of a listed transaction, an extended statute of
limitations.
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The Partnership does not expect to engage in any
reportable transactions.
Registration as a Tax Shelter. The Partnership
registered as a tax shelter under the law in effect
at the time of the Partnerships initial public offering
and was assigned a tax shelter registration number. Issuance of
a tax shelter registration number to the Partnership does not
indicate that investment in it or the claimed tax benefits have
been reviewed, examined or approved by the IRS. The American
Jobs Creation Act of 2004 repealed the tax shelter registration
rules and replaced them with the reporting regime described
above at Reportable Transactions. The
term tax shelter has a different meaning for this
purpose than under the penalty rules described above at
Accuracy-Related Penalties.
State,
Local, Foreign and Other Tax Considerations
In addition to U.S. federal income taxes, a unitholder
likely will be subject to other taxes, such as state, local and
foreign income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, and estate,
inheritance or intangible taxes that may be imposed by the
various jurisdictions in which, the Partnership does business or
owns property or in which a unitholder is a resident. Although
an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each
prospective unitholder should consider their potential impact on
his investment in the Partnership. The Partnership currently
owns property or does business in a substantial number of
states, virtually all of which impose a personal income tax and
many impose an income tax on corporations and other entities.
The Partnership may also own property or do business in other
states in the future. Although a unitholder may not be required
to file a return and pay taxes in some states because its income
from that state falls below the filing and payment requirement,
a unitholder will be required to file income tax returns and to
pay income taxes in some or all of the jurisdictions in which
the Partnership does business or owns property and may be
subject to penalties for failure to comply with those
requirements. In some jurisdictions, tax losses may not produce
a tax benefit in the year incurred and also may not be available
to offset income in subsequent taxable years. Some of the
jurisdictions may require the Partnership, or the Partnership
may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be
distributed to a unitholder who is not a resident of the
jurisdiction. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or
less than a particular unitholders income tax liability to
the jurisdiction, generally does not relieve a nonresident
unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return.
Amounts withheld will be treated as if distributed to
unitholders for purposes of determining the amounts distributed
by the Partnership. Please read Tax
Consequences of Partnership Common Unit Ownership
Entity-Level Collections. Based on current law and
the Partnerships estimate of future operations, any
amounts required to be withheld are not contemplated to be
material.
152
It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate
the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent
jurisdictions, of his investment in the Partnership.
Accordingly, each prospective unitholder is urged to consult,
and depend on, his own tax counsel or other advisor with regard
to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each
unitholder to file all state, local, and foreign as well as
United States federal tax returns, that may be required of him.
Andrews Kurth LLP has not rendered an opinion on the state,
local or foreign tax consequences of an investment in the
Partnership.
153
UNITHOLDER
PROPOSALS
Under applicable Delaware law and Holdings partnership
agreement, Holdings is not required to hold an annual meeting of
its unitholders (limited partners). Ownership of Holdings units
does not entitle Holdings unitholders to make proposals at the
special meeting. Under Holdings partnership agreement,
only its general partner can make a proposal at the meeting.
Holdings partnership agreement establishes a procedure for
calling meetings whereby limited partners owning 20% or more of
the outstanding units of the class for which a meeting is
proposed may call a meeting. In any case, limited partners are
not allowed to 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. Doing so
would jeopardize the limited partners limited liability
under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which
Holdings is qualified to do business.
LEGAL
MATTERS
The validity of Partnership common units to be issued in the
merger, certain tax matters relating to those common units and
certain tax matters relating to the merger will be passed upon
for the Partnership by Andrews Kurth LLP, Houston, Texas.
Andrews Kurth LLP has provided legal services to Holdings in the
past regarding matters unrelated to the merger. Certain tax
matters relating to the merger will be passed upon for Holdings
by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas.
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has also provided legal
services to the Partnership in the past regarding matters
unrelated to the merger.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Enterprise Products
Partners L.P. and subsidiaries incorporated in this proxy
statement/prospectus by reference to Enterprise Products
Partners L.P.s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 and the effectiveness
of Enterprise Products Partners L.P. and subsidiaries
internal control over financial reporting have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are
incorporated herein by reference, (which reports (i) express an
unqualified opinion on the financial statements and include an
explanatory paragraph concerning the retroactive effects of the
common control acquisition of TEPPCO Partners, L.P. and Texas
Eastern Products Pipeline Company, LLC by Enterprise Products
Partners L.P. on October 26, 2009 and the related change in
the composition of reportable segments as a result of these
acquisitions and (ii) express an unqualified opinion on the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting).
Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated
in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated balance sheet of Enterprise Products GP, LLC
and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009, incorporated in
this proxy statement/prospectus by reference to Enterprise
Products Partners L.P.s Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on March 8, 2010 has been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is
incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated balance
sheet has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of
such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting
and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Enterprise GP Holdings
L.P. and subsidiaries, except Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., an
investment of Enterprise GP Holdings L.P. which is accounted for
by the use of the equity method, incorporated in this proxy
statement/prospectus by reference from Enterprise GP Holdings
L.P.s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 and the effectiveness
of Enterprise GP Holdings L.P. and subsidiaries internal
control over financial reporting have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are
incorporated herein by reference (which reports (i) express
an unqualified opinion on the financial statements, refer to the
report of the other auditors as it relates to an equity method
investment in Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and include an
explanatory paragraph concerning the retroactive effects of the
common control acquisition of TEPPCO Partners, L.P. and Texas
Eastern Products Pipeline Company, LLC by Enterprise Products
Partners L.P. on October 26, 2009 and the related change in
the composition of reportable segments as a result of these
154
acquisitions and (ii) express an unqualified opinion on the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting). The
consolidated financial statements of Energy Transfer Equity,
L.P. have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, an independent
registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report,
which report is incorporated herein by reference from Enterprise
GP Holdings L.P.s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009. Such consolidated
financial statements are incorporated herein by reference, and
have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of
Deloitte & Touche LLP, and as it relates to Enterprise
GP Holdings L.P.s investment in Energy Transfer Equity,
L.P., the report of Grant Thornton LLP, in each case, given upon
their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated balance sheet of EPE Holdings, LLC and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009, incorporated in this
proxy statement/prospectus by reference to Enterprise GP
Holdings L.P.s Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on March 8, 2010 has been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is
incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated balance
sheet has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of
such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting
and auditing.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
The Partnership and Holdings file annual, quarterly and current
reports, and other information with the Commission under the
Exchange Act of 1934. You may read and copy any document filed
with the Commission at its public reference room at
100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the Commission at
1-800-732-0330
for further information regarding the public reference room. The
filings are also available to the public at the
Commissions website at
http://www.sec.gov.
In addition, documents filed by the Partnership and Holdings
can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
The Commission allows the Partnership and Holdings to
incorporate by reference information into this proxy
statement/prospectus, which means that the Partnership and
Holdings can disclose important information to you by referring
you to those documents. The information incorporated by
reference is considered to be part of this proxy
statement/prospectus, except for any information that is
superseded by information that is included directly in this
proxy statement/prospectus. Any later information filed with the
Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act up until the date of the special meeting
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this proxy
statement/prospectus and will automatically update and supersede
this information. Therefore, before you vote to approve the
merger agreement and the merger, you should always check for
reports the Partnership and Holdings may have filed with the
Commission after the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.
This proxy statement/prospectus incorporates by reference the
documents listed below that the Partnership and Holdings have
previously filed with the Commission, excluding any information
in a
Form 8-K
furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 (unless otherwise
indicated), which is not deemed filed under the Exchange Act.
The
Partnerships Filings (Commission File
No. 1-14323)
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009;
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Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and June 30,
2010;
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|
Current Reports on
Form 8-K
filed with the Commission on January 4, 2010,
January 8, 2010, February 26, 2010, March 8,
2010, March 29, 2010, April 1, 2010, April 15,
2010, May 17, 2010, May 20, 2010, May 21, 2010,
June 3, 2010, August 23, 2010, September 7, 2010,
September 28, 2010, October 1, 2010 and
October 14, 2010; and
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The description of the Partnerships common units in the
registration statement on Form 8A/A filed on May 15,
2007, and including any other amendments or reports field for
the purpose of updating such description.
|
155
You may request a copy of these filings at no cost by making
written or telephone requests for copies to: Enterprise Products
Partners L.P., 1100 Louisiana Street, 10th Floor, Houston, Texas
77002;
Telephone: (713) 381-6500.
The Partnership also makes available free of charge on its
internet website at
http://www.epplp.com
its annual reports on
Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q
and current reports on
Form 8-K,
and any amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably
practicable after it electronically files such material with, or
furnishes it to, the Commission. Information contained on the
Partnerships website is not part of this proxy
statement/prospectus.
Holdings
Filings (Commission File
No. 1-10403)
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009;
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Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and June 30,
2010; and
|
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K
filed with the Commission on January 4, 2010,
February 26, 2010, March 8, 2010, March 29, 2010,
April 1, 2010, May 21, 2010, August 4, 2010 and
September 7, 2010.
|
You may request a copy of these filings at no cost by making
written or telephone requests for copies to: Enterprise GP
Holdings L.P., 1100 Louisiana Street, 10th Floor 1000, Houston,
Texas 77002; Telephone:
(713) 381-6500.
Holdings also makes available free of charge on its internet
website at
http://www.enterprisegp.com
its annual reports on
Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q
and current reports on
Form 8-K,
and any amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably
practicable after it electronically files such material with, or
furnishes it to, the Commission. Information contained on
Holdings website is not part of this proxy
statement/prospectus.
INFORMATION
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This proxy/prospectus and some of the documents the Partnership
and Holdings have incorporated herein by reference contain
various forward-looking statements and information that are
based on the beliefs of the Partnership and Holdings and their
respective general partners, as well as assumptions made by and
information currently available to each of them. These
forward-looking statements are identified as any statement that
does not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When
used in this proxy/prospectus or the documents incorporated
herein by reference, words such as anticipate,
project, expect, plan,
seek, goal, estimate,
forecast, intend, could,
should, will, believe,
may, potential, and similar expressions
and statements regarding the Partnerships or
Holdings plans and objectives for future operations, are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the
Partnership and Holdings and their respective general partners
believe that such expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, neither the Partnership, Holdings,
nor either of their general partners can give assurances that
such expectations will prove to be correct. Such statements are
subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If
one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if
underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Partnerships
and Holdings actual results may vary materially from those
anticipated, estimated, projected or expected. Among the key
risk factors that may have a direct bearing on the
Partnerships or Holdings results of operations and
financial condition are:
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cash flow growth and accretion;
|
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future distribution increases and growth;
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internal growth projects;
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|
future issuances of debt and equity securities; and
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|
other objectives, expectations and intentions and other
statements that are not historical facts.
|
156
These statements are based on the current expectations and
estimates of the management of the Partnership GP and
Holdings GP and their respective general partners; actual
results may differ materially due to certain risks and
uncertainties. Although the Partnership, Holdings and their
respective general partners believe that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable,
they cannot give assurances that such expectations will prove to
be correct. For instance, although the Partnership and Holdings
have signed a merger agreement, there is no assurance that they
will complete the proposed merger. The merger agreement will
terminate if Holdings does not receive the necessary approval of
its unitholders, and also may be terminated if any conditions to
closing are not satisfied or if the merger is not completed by
December 31, 2010. Other risks and uncertainties that may
affect actual results include:
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the failure to realize a lower
long-term
cost of capital, anticipated cost savings and other benefits of
the proposed merger;
|
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|
|
declines in volumes transported on the Partnerships
pipelines or barges;
|
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|
reduction in demand for natural gas, various grades of crude
oil, refined products, NGLs and petrochemicals and resulting
changes in pricing conditions or pipeline throughput
requirements;
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|
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fluctuations in refinery capacity;
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|
|
the success of risk management activities;
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|
|
|
environmental liabilities or events that are not covered by an
indemnity, insurance or existing reserves;
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|
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the availability of, and the Partnerships ability to
consummate, acquisition or combination opportunities;
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|
the level of capital expenditures the Partnership will make and
availability of, and the timing of completion of, organic growth
projects;
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|
the Partnerships access to capital to fund additional
acquisitions and the Partnerships ability to obtain debt
or equity financing on satisfactory terms;
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maintenance of the Partnerships credit rating and ability
to receive open credit from its suppliers and trade
counterparties;
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|
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unanticipated changes in crude oil market structure and
volatility (or lack thereof);
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the impact of current and future laws, rulings and governmental
regulations;
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the effects of competition;
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|
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continued creditworthiness of, and performance by, the combined
companys counterparties;
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interruptions in service and fluctuations in rates of third
party pipelines that affect the combined companys assets;
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increased costs or lack of availability of insurance;
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fluctuations in crude oil, natural gas, NGL and related
hydrocarbon prices and production due to weather and other
natural and economic forces;
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|
shortages or cost increases of power supplies, materials or
labor;
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|
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weather interference with business operations or project
construction;
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|
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terrorist attacks aimed at the Partnerships facilities;
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general economic, market or business conditions; and
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other factors and uncertainties discussed in this proxy
statement/prospectus and the Partnerships and
Holdings respective filings with the SEC, including their
Annual Reports on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 and Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q
for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and June 30,
2010.
|
You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking
statements. When considering forward-looking statements, please
review carefully the risk factors described under Risk
Factors in this proxy statement/prospectus and
incorporated by reference into this document.
157
ENTERPRISE
PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
UNAUDITED
PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Introduction
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (the Partnership,
NYSE: EPD), Enterprise GP Holdings L.P. (Holdings,
NYSE: EPE), and their respective general partners have entered
into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of
September 3, 2010 (the merger agreement).
Pursuant to the merger agreement, all Holdings units (including
13,921 Holdings units to be issued in a transformation of the
0.01% economic general partner interest of Holdings immediately
prior to the merger), or 139,208,985 units, will be
converted into 208,813,477 common units representing limited
partner interests in the Partnership (Partnership common
units). The merger agreement and related documents also
provide for (i) the cancellation of the Partnerships
incentive distribution rights held indirectly by Holdings
through its ownership of the Partnerships general partner
(the Partnership GP), (ii) the conversion of
the Partnership GPs 2% economic interest in the
Partnership into a non-economic general partner interest in the
Partnership and (iii) the cancellation of 21,563,177
Partnership common units currently owned by Holdings.
The Partnership is a consolidated subsidiary of Holdings. If the
proposed merger and merger agreement as described in this proxy
statement/prospectus are approved by the unitholders of Holdings
and all other conditions set forth in the merger agreement are
met, Holdings will become a subsidiary of the Partnership, with
the Partnership as the sole limited partner of Holdings and the
general partner of Holdings continuing as a non-economic general
partner of the Partnership.
For accounting purposes, Holdings is considered the accounting
acquiror of the Partnerships noncontrolling interest. The
changes in Holdings ownership interest in the Partnership
GP will be accounted for as an equity transaction and no gain or
loss will be recognized as a result of the proposed merger.
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet
combines the historical balance sheets of the Partnership and
Holdings, after giving effect to the proposed merger as if it
had occurred on June 30, 2010. The unaudited pro forma
condensed consolidated statements of operations for the six
months ended June 30, 2010 and the year ended
December 31, 2009 give effect to the proposed merger as if
it had occurred on January 1, 2009. The historical
consolidated financial information has been adjusted to give
effect to pro forma events that are directly attributable to the
proposed merger and are factually supportable.
These unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial
statements should be read in conjunction with the historical
audited consolidated financial information and accompanying
notes of Holdings and the Partnership, which have been
incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial
statements are intended for informational purposes only and do
not reflect any cost savings or other synergies that may be
achieved as a result of the proposed merger and are based on
assumptions that the Partnership and Holdings believe are
reasonable under the circumstances. These statements do not
necessarily reflect the results of operations or financial
position of the Partnership that would have resulted had the
proposed merger actually been consummated as of the dates
indicated, and are not necessarily indicative of the future
results of operations or the future financial position of the
Partnership following completion of the proposed merger.
F-2
ENTERPRISE
PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
June 30,
2010
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|
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|
|
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Enterprise
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|
|
|
Enterprise GP
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|
|
|
|
|
Products
|
|
|
|
Holdings L.P.
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
Partners L.P.
|
|
|
|
Historical
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
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(Amounts in millions)
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
Current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
496.5
|
|
|
$
|
(24.0
|
)(a)
|
|
$
|
450.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(22.3
|
)(b)
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted cash
|
|
|
19.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19.1
|
|
Accounts and notes receivable, net
|
|
|
2,943.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,943.3
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
1,025.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,025.5
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
425.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
425.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
4,909.4
|
|
|
|
(46.3
|
)
|
|
|
4,863.1
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
|
18,332.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,332.0
|
|
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates
|
|
|
2,360.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,360.9
|
|
Intangible assets, net
|
|
|
1,896.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,896.1
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
2,050.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,050.6
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
237.8
|
|
|
|
(0.4
|
)(b)
|
|
|
237.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
29,786.8
|
|
|
$
|
(46.7
|
)
|
|
$
|
29,740.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current maturities of debt
|
|
$
|
255.0
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
255.0
|
|
Accounts payable
|
|
|
595.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
595.3
|
|
Accrued product payables
|
|
|
3,120.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,120.9
|
|
Other current liabilities
|
|
|
722.1
|
|
|
|
(21.6
|
)(b)
|
|
|
700.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
4,693.3
|
|
|
|
(21.6
|
)
|
|
|
4,671.7
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
13,511.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,511.3
|
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
281.3
|
|
|
|
(1.1
|
)(b)
|
|
|
280.2
|
|
Commitments and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partners equity
|
|
|
1,909.2
|
|
|
|
(24.0
|
)(a)
|
|
|
10,747.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,862.7
|
(c)
|
|
|
|
|
Noncontrolling interest
|
|
|
9,391.7
|
|
|
|
(8,862.7
|
)(c)
|
|
|
529.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total equity
|
|
|
11,300.9
|
|
|
|
(24.0
|
)
|
|
|
11,276.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities & equity
|
|
$
|
29,786.8
|
|
|
$
|
(46.7
|
)
|
|
$
|
29,740.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited
pro forma
condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-3
ENTERPRISE
PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
For the
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enterprise
|
|
|
|
Enterprise GP
|
|
|
|
|
|
Products
|
|
|
|
Holdings L.P.
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
Partners L.P.
|
|
|
|
Historical
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
(Amounts in millions, except per unit amounts)
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
16,087.9
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
16,087.9
|
|
Costs and expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating costs and expenses
|
|
|
14,946.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,946.1
|
|
General and administrative costs
|
|
|
80.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
80.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs and expenses
|
|
|
15,026.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,026.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates
|
|
|
37.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
1,098.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,098.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(337.1
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(337.1
|
)
|
Other, net
|
|
|
0.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other expense. net
|
|
|
(336.6
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(336.6
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before provision for income taxes
|
|
|
762.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
762.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(15.2
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(15.2
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
746.8
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
746.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allocation of income from continuing operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Limited partners
|
|
$
|
124.0
|
|
|
$
|
590.7
|
(d)
|
|
$
|
714.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Noncontrolling interests
|
|
$
|
622.8
|
|
|
|
(590.7
|
)(d)
|
|
$
|
32.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per unit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average number of units outstanding (see Note e)
|
|
|
139.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
787.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income per unit from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
0.89
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.91
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per unit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average number of units outstanding (see Note f)
|
|
|
139.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
818.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income per unit from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
0.89
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.87
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited
pro forma
condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-4
ENTERPRISE
PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
For the
Year Ended December 31, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enterprise
|
|
|
|
Enterprise GP
|
|
|
|
|
|
Products
|
|
|
|
Holdings L.P.
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
Partners L.P.
|
|
|
|
Historical
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Pro Forma
|
|
|
|
(Amounts in millions, except per unit amounts)
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
25,510.9
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
25,510.9
|
|
Costs and expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating costs and expenses
|
|
|
23,565.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23,565.8
|
|
General and administrative costs
|
|
|
182.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
182.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs and expenses
|
|
|
23,748.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23,748.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates
|
|
|
92.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
92.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
1,854.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,854.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(687.3
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(687.3
|
)
|
Other, net
|
|
|
(1.7
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1.7
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other expense. net
|
|
|
(689.0
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(689.0
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before provision for income taxes
|
|
|
1,165.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,165.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(25.3
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(25.3
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
1,140.3
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,140.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allocation of income from continuing operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Limited partners
|
|
$
|
204.1
|
|
|
$
|
825.5
|
(d)
|
|
$
|
1,029.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Noncontrolling interests
|
|
$
|
936.2
|
|
|
|
(825.5
|
)(d)
|
|
$
|
110.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per unit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average number of units outstanding (see Note e)
|
|
|
137.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
643.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income per unit from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
1.48
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1.60
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per unit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average number of units outstanding (see Note f)
|
|
|
137.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
675.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income per unit from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
1.48
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1.53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited
pro forma
condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-5
ENTERPRISE
PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
These unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial
statements and underlying pro forma adjustments are based upon
currently available information and certain estimates and
assumptions made by the management of Holdings GP and the
Partnership GP; therefore, actual results could materially
differ from the pro forma information. However, Holdings and the
Partnership believe that the assumptions provide a reasonable
basis for presenting the significant effects of the transactions
noted herein. We believe that the pro forma adjustments give
appropriate effect to those assumptions and are properly applied
in the pro forma information.
As described in the section titled The
Merger Accounting Treatment on page 61 of
this proxy statement/prospectus, the merger results in Holdings
being considered the surviving consolidated entity for
accounting purposes rather than the Partnership, which is the
surviving consolidated entity for legal and reporting purposes.
As a result, the proposed merger would be accounted for in
Holdings consolidated financial statements as an equity
transaction in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards
Board Accounting Standards Codification
810-10-45,
Consolidation Overall Changes in
Parents Ownership Interest in a Subsidiary. As a result,
noncontrolling owners interest would be eliminated and
replaced with an equal amount of owners equity on the
balance sheet. Consequently, no fair value adjustment would be
made to the assets or liabilities of Holdings and no gain or
loss would be recognized in Holdings net income. In
addition, costs incurred to complete the proposed merger will be
charged to partners capital during the year ended
December 31, 2010. Because the Partnership is the surviving
entity for legal purposes, the pro forma condensed consolidated
balance sheet and statements of operations are entitled
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. Pro Forma.
We present the pro forma statements of operations for the year
ended December 31, 2009 and the six months ended
June 30, 2010. Due to the limited number of pro forma
adjustments required, the Partnerships pro forma net
income for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008 would
not have been different than the historical net income amounts
reported by Holdings for such fiscal years.
Pro Forma
Adjustments
The following pro forma adjustments made to the historical
financial statements of the Partnership and Holdings presented
herein are described as follows:
(a) To reflect the payment of $24.0 million of
estimated incremental transaction costs associated with
completing the proposed merger including the payment of
financial advisory fees, legal and accounting fees and other
professional fees and expenses using cash on hand. For purposes
of this pro forma presentation, this material non-recurring
charge has been reflected in the pro forma balance sheet only;
however, such fees will also be recognized as expenses in the
Partnerships statement of operations during the periods in
which the underlying services are rendered.
(b) To reflect the assumed termination of Holdings
interest rate swaps in connection with the refinancing of
Holdings long-term debt by the Partnership concurrent with
the proposed merger. These derivative instruments were in a
$22.3 million liability position at June 30, 2010 and
were settled with cash on hand. This material nonrecurring
charge is reflected in the pro forma balance sheet only. At
June 30, 2010, the principal amount of Holdings debt
obligations consisted of the following (amounts in millions):
|
|
|
|
|
EPE Revolver, variable rate, due August 2012
|
|
$
|
136.8
|
|
Term Loan A, variable rate, due August 2012
|
|
|
125.0
|
|
Term Loan B, variable rate, due November 2014
|
|
|
833.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total principal amount outstanding
|
|
$
|
1,094.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-6
ENTERPRISE
PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
For purposes of the pro forma balance sheet presentation, we
have assumed that the same amount of principal is refinanced by
the Partnership. Partnership GP management is continuing to
explore its alternatives as to how this principal amount will be
refinanced. Such alternatives may include refinancing with debt,
additional equity or a combination of the two by the Partnership.
For purposes of the pro forma statements of operations, we have
assumed that the Partnership refinances Holdings debt at
the same terms that Holdings entered into its debt originally.
As a result, the pro forma statements of operations do not
reflect any adjustments to interest expense for the years ended
December 31, 2009 or the six months ended June 30,
2010. As an aid to the reader, the following table presents the
amount of interest expense, excluding amortization of debt
issuance costs and the effect of interest rate swaps, that was
recognized by Holdings in connection with its debt agreements
for the periods presented along with the associated weighted
average interest rate charged and principal balance outstanding
during each period. The interest expense amounts presented in
the following table are a component of consolidated interest
expense as presented in Holdings historical financial
statements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
Rate for
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
|
Expense
|
|
|
Period
|
|
|
for Period
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2009
|
|
$
|
29.1
|
|
|
|
2.7
|
%
|
|
$
|
1,078.9
|
|
Six months ended June 30, 2010
|
|
$
|
12.2
|
|
|
|
2.2
|
%
|
|
$
|
1,097.8
|
|
If the weighted average variable interest rates charged during
the year ended December 31, 2009 and the six months ended
June 30, 2010 were
1/8%
higher than the historical weighted average rates presented in
the preceding table, Holdings interest expense would have
increased by approximately $1.4 million and
$0.6 million, respectively.
At October 13, 2010, the total principal amount of
Holdings long-term debt principal outstanding was
approximately $1.1 billion and the weighted average
interest rate charged on such debt was 2.2%.
(c) To reclassify to partners capital the
noncontrolling owners interests in consolidated
subsidiaries previously reported by Holdings related to the
Partnerships public limited partner unitholders other than
Holdings.
(d) To reclassify to limited partners interest the
net income previously allocated to noncontrolling owners
interest in consolidated subsidiaries previously reported by
Holdings related to the Partnerships public limited
partner unitholders.
(e) The Partnerships pro forma weighted-average basic
number of units outstanding was calculated as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
June 30, 2010
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
Weighted-average basic number of Partnership units
outstanding as reported
|
|
|
625.9
|
|
|
|
486.8
|
|
Weighted-average Partnership units issued in exchange for
Holdings units(1)
|
|
|
182.7
|
|
|
|
178.2
|
|
Cancellation of Partnership units currently owned by Holdings
|
|
|
(21.6
|
)
|
|
|
(21.6
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma weighted average basic number of Partnership units
outstanding
|
|
|
787.0
|
|
|
|
643.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-7
ENTERPRISE
PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The amount presented for the six months ended June 30, 2010
excludes 26.1 million Partnership common units (the
Designated Units, as discussed below) issued to
certain privately held affiliates of Enterprise Products
Company. The amount presented for the year ended
December 31, 2009 excludes 30.6 million Designated
Units. |
In connection with the proposed merger, certain privately held
affiliates of Enterprise Products Company have agreed to
temporarily waive the cash distributions they would otherwise
receive on 30,610,000 of the Partnership common units (the
Designated Units) they would receive upon completion
of the merger. The temporary distribution waiver would lapse on
a fixed number of Designated Units as follows (assuming a
December 31, 2010 completion date of the proposed merger):
none in calendar year 2011, 4,480,000 Partnership common units
in calendar year 2012, 2,430,000 Partnership common units in
calendar year 2013, 1,140,000 Partnership common units in
calendar year 2014, 4,870,000 Partnership common units in
calendar year 2015 and the remaining 17,690,000 units in
calendar year 2016.
From a financial accounting perspective, the Designated Units
are excluded from basic earnings per unit until they become
eligible to receive quarterly cash distributions. The Designated
Units will not be allocated any book earnings until the
applicable waiver periods expire for each tranche of units. For
purposes of this pro forma presentation, all of the 30,610,000
Designated Units were excluded from the Partnerships pro
forma basic earnings per unit computation for the year ended
December 31, 2009 and 26,130,000 Designated Units were
excluded from the pro forma basic earnings per unit computation
for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The full amount of
Designated Units, or 30,610,000 units, are reflected in the
pro forma diluted earnings per unit calculation for both the
year ended December 31, 2009 and six months ended
June 30, 2010 (see Note f).
(f) The Partnerships pro forma weighted-average
diluted number of units outstanding was calculated as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
June 30, 2010
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
Weighted-average diluted number of Partnership units
outstanding as reported
|
|
|
631.3
|
|
|
|
487.8
|
|
Weighted-average Partnership units issued in exchange for
Holdings units
|
|
|
208.8
|
|
|
|
208.8
|
|
Cancellation of Partnership units currently owned by Holdings
|
|
|
(21.6
|
)
|
|
|
(21.6
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma weighted average diluted number of Partnership units
outstanding
|
|
|
818.5
|
|
|
|
675.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-8
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and among
ENTERPRISE
PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS GP, LLC
ENTERPRISE ETE LLC
and
ENTERPRISE GP HOLDINGS L.P.
and
EPE HOLDINGS, LLC
Dated as of September 3, 2010
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
|
Section 1.1
|
|
Certain Definitions
|
|
|
A-1
|
|
Section 1.2
|
|
Interpretation
|
|
|
A-8
|
|
|
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER; EFFECTS OF THE MERGER
|
Section 2.1
|
|
The Merger
|
|
|
A-9
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Section 2.2
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Closing
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A-9
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ARTICLE III
MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES
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Section 3.1
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Merger Consideration
|
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A-10
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Section 3.2
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Rights As Unitholders; Unit Transfers
|
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A-10
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Section 3.3
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Exchange of Certificates
|
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|
A-10
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Section 3.4
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Anti-Dilution Provisions
|
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A-13
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Section 3.5
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Treatment of Holdings Equity-Based Awards; Holdings Unit
Appreciation Rights (UARs)
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A-13
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|
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ARTICLE IV
ACTIONS PENDING MERGER
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Section 4.1
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Ordinary Course
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A-13
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Section 4.2
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Equity
|
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A-14
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Section 4.3
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Equity Changes
|
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A-14
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Section 4.4
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Acquisitions and Dispositions
|
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A-14
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Section 4.5
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Distributions
|
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A-14
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Section 4.6
|
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Amendments
|
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A-14
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Section 4.7
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Material Contracts
|
|
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A-14
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Section 4.8
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Litigation
|
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A-15
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Section 4.9
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Accounting Methods
|
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A-15
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Section 4.10
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Insurance
|
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A-15
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Section 4.11
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Taxes
|
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A-15
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Section 4.12
|
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Employee Benefit Plans
|
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A-15
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Section 4.13
|
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Debt, Capital Expenditures and the Like
|
|
|
A-15
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Section 4.14
|
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No Dissolution
|
|
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A-15
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Section 4.15
|
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Adverse Actions
|
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A-15
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Section 4.16
|
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Agreements
|
|
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A-15
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ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
Section 5.1
|
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Disclosure Schedule
|
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A-16
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Section 5.2
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Representations and Warranties
|
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A-16
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A-i
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|
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|
|
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ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
|
Section 6.1
|
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Best Efforts
|
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A-22
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Section 6.2
|
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Holdings Unitholder Approval
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A-22
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Section 6.3
|
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Registration Statement
|
|
|
A-23
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Section 6.4
|
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Press Releases
|
|
|
A-23
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Section 6.5
|
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Access; Information
|
|
|
A-23
|
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Section 6.6
|
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Acquisition Proposals; Change in Recommendation
|
|
|
A-24
|
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Section 6.7
|
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Affiliate Arrangements
|
|
|
A-26
|
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Section 6.8
|
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Takeover Laws
|
|
|
A-26
|
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Section 6.9
|
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No Rights Triggered
|
|
|
A-26
|
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Section 6.10
|
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New Common Units Listed
|
|
|
A-26
|
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Section 6.11
|
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Third-Party Approvals; Holdings Credit Agreement
|
|
|
A-26
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Section 6.12
|
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Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance
|
|
|
A-27
|
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Section 6.13
|
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Notification of Certain Matters
|
|
|
A-28
|
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Section 6.14
|
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Rule 16b-3
|
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A-29
|
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Section 6.15
|
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Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement of Partners; Amended
Certificate of Limited Partnership
|
|
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A-29
|
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Section 6.16
|
|
Holdings GP Board Membership
|
|
|
A-29
|
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Section 6.17
|
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Distributions
|
|
|
A-29
|
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Section 6.18
|
|
Fourth Amendment to Holdings Partnership Agreement
|
|
|
A-29
|
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Section 6.19
|
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Holdings GP Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company
Agreement
|
|
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A-29
|
|
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ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
|
Section 7.1
|
|
Unitholder Vote
|
|
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A-29
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Section 7.2
|
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Governmental Approvals
|
|
|
A-29
|
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Section 7.3
|
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No Injunction
|
|
|
A-30
|
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Section 7.4
|
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Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Partners Parties
|
|
|
A-30
|
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Section 7.5
|
|
Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Holdings Parties
|
|
|
A-30
|
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Section 7.6
|
|
Effective Registration Statement
|
|
|
A-30
|
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Section 7.7
|
|
Opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP
|
|
|
A-30
|
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Section 7.8
|
|
Opinion of Vinson & Elkins LLP
|
|
|
A-31
|
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Section 7.9
|
|
NYSE Listing
|
|
|
A-31
|
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Section 7.10
|
|
Partners GP Merger
|
|
|
A-31
|
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Section 7.11
|
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Partners Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement
|
|
|
A-31
|
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Section 7.12
|
|
Distribution Waiver Agreement
|
|
|
A-31
|
|
Section 7.13
|
|
No Material Adverse Effect
|
|
|
A-31
|
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Section 7.14
|
|
Change in Law Tax Opinions
|
|
|
A-31
|
|
|
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION
|
Section 8.1
|
|
Termination
|
|
|
A-32
|
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Section 8.2
|
|
Effect of Termination
|
|
|
A-33
|
|
A-ii
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
|
Section 9.1
|
|
Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
A-33
|
|
Section 9.2
|
|
Waiver; Amendment
|
|
|
A-34
|
|
Section 9.3
|
|
Counterparts
|
|
|
A-34
|
|
Section 9.4
|
|
Governing Law
|
|
|
A-34
|
|
Section 9.5
|
|
Confidentiality
|
|
|
A-34
|
|
Section 9.6
|
|
Notices
|
|
|
A-35
|
|
Section 9.7
|
|
Entire Understanding; No Third-Party Beneficiaries
|
|
|
A-36
|
|
Section 9.8
|
|
Severability
|
|
|
A-36
|
|
Section 9.9
|
|
Headings
|
|
|
A-36
|
|
Section 9.10
|
|
Jurisdiction
|
|
|
A-36
|
|
Section 9.11
|
|
Waiver of Jury Trial
|
|
|
A-36
|
|
Section 9.12
|
|
Specific Performance
|
|
|
A-36
|
|
Section 9.13
|
|
Survival
|
|
|
A-36
|
|
|
ANNEXES
|
Annex A
|
|
Form of Fourth Amendment to First Amended and Restated Agreement
of Limited Partnership of Holdings
|
|
|
A-38
|
|
Annex B
|
|
Form of Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company
Agreement of Holdings GP
|
|
|
A-40
|
|
Annex C
|
|
Form of Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Partners
|
|
|
A-65
|
|
Annex D
|
|
Form of Distribution Waiver Agreement
|
|
|
A-66
|
|
Annex E
|
|
Form of Standstill Provision
|
|
|
A-67
|
|
A-iii
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of September 3,
2010 (this Agreement), is entered into by and among
Enterprise Products Partners L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (Partners), Enterprise Products GP, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of
Partners (Partners GP), Enterprise ETE LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Partners (MergerCo), Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership (Holdings), and EPE
Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the
general partner of Holdings (Holdings GP).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Holdings Audit Committee (as defined herein), and
the Partners GP Board (as defined herein) have determined that
the business combination provided for herein pursuant to which
Holdings will, subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, merge with and into MergerCo, with MergerCo as the
surviving entity (the Merger), such that following
the Merger, Holdings GP will be the sole general partner of
Partners (Holdings GP in its capacity as the resulting sole
general partner of Partners, the New Partners GP),
and Partners will continue as the sole member of MergerCo is
fair and reasonable to Holdings and its limited partners, and
Partners and its limited partners, respectively;
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Partners, Partners GP,
and MergerCo entering into this Agreement, concurrently with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, EPCO Holdings, Inc.
(EPCO Holdings), Duncan Family Interests, Inc.
(DFI), DFI GP Holdings, L.P. (DFIGPH)
and DD Securities LLC (DD Securities, and together
with EPCO Holdings, DFI and DFIGPH, the Holdings
Supporting Unitholders), which collectively own of record
approximately 76% of the outstanding Units (as defined herein),
are entering into the Support Agreement (as defined herein),
pursuant to which, among other things, (A) the Holdings
Supporting Unitholders have agreed, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth therein, to vote all of their Units in
favor of the Merger Agreement and (B) EPCO Holdings and DFI
have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth
therein, to execute and deliver the Distribution Waiver
Agreement (as defined herein) immediately prior to the closing
of the Merger; and
WHEREAS, immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined
herein) of the Merger, Partners GP (a wholly owned subsidiary of
Holdings) will merge with and into Holdings, with Holdings as
the surviving entity (the Partners GP Merger),
pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of the date
of this Agreement (the Partners GP Merger
Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to make certain
representations, warranties and agreements in connection with
the Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the
Merger;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
respective representations, warranties, covenants, agreements
and conditions contained herein, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Certain
Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
Acquisition Proposal means any proposal or offer
from or by any Person other than Partners, Partners GP, and
MergerCo relating to: (a) any direct or indirect
acquisition of (i) more than 20% of the assets of Holdings
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) more than 20%
of the outstanding equity securities of Holdings or (iii) a
business or businesses that constitute more than 20% of the cash
flow, net revenues, net income or assets of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) any tender offer or
exchange offer, as defined under the Exchange Act, that, if
consummated, would result in any Person beneficially owning more
than 20% of the outstanding equity securities of Holdings; or
(c) any merger, consolidation,
A-1
business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution
or similar transaction involving Holdings, other than the Merger
and the Partners GP Merger.
Action shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 6.12(a).
Additional Limited Partner has the meaning given
such term in the Partners Existing Partnership Agreement and the
Partners Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement.
Affiliate has the meaning set forth in Rule 405
of the Securities Act, unless otherwise expressly stated herein.
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the
introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Average Closing Price means, as of any date, the
average of the closing sale price of a Common Unit as reported
on the NYSE Composite Transactions Reporting System for the 10
consecutive NYSE full trading days (in which such Common Units
are traded on the NYSE) ending at the close of trading on the
NYSE full trading day immediately preceding such date.
Book-Entry Units shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.2.
Business Day shall mean any day which is not a
Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks are authorized or
required to be closed in the City of New York, New York.
Certificate shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.2.
Certificate of Merger shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.1(b).
Change in U.S. Federal Income Tax Law shall
mean the enactment or promulgation of, or any change in or
amendment to, the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, the U.S. Treasury regulations thereunder,
administrative pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service,
or judicial interpretations of the foregoing that occurs on or
after the date hereof; provided that the term Change in
U.S. Federal Income Tax Law shall not include a change in
the rate of taxation generally applicable to income or gain (as
opposed to, for example, a change in the treatment of an item of
gross income as ordinary income or capital gain for
U.S. federal income tax purposes).
Claim shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 6.12(a).
Class B Units shall mean the units representing
limited partner interests in Partners having the rights and
obligations specified with respect to Class B
Units in the Partners Existing Partnership Agreement.
Closing shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2.
Closing Date shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended.
Common Units or Partners Common Units
shall mean the common units representing limited partner
interests in Partners having the rights and obligations
specified with respect to Common Units in the
Partners Existing Partnership Agreement and the Partners Amended
and Restated Partnership Agreement.
Compensation and Benefit Plan shall mean all
material bonus, vacation, deferred compensation, pension,
retirement, profit-sharing, thrift, savings, employee unit
ownership, unit bonus, unit purchase, restricted unit and unit
option plans, all employment or severance contracts, all
medical, dental, disability, health and life insurance plans,
all other employee benefit and fringe benefit plans, contracts
or arrangements and any applicable change of control
or similar provisions in any plan, contract or arrangement
maintained or contributed to for the benefit of officers, former
officers, employees, former employees, directors, former
directors, or the beneficiaries of any of the foregoing,
including all employee benefit plans as defined in
ERISA Section 3(3).
Confidentiality Agreement shall mean a
confidentiality agreement of the nature generally used in
circumstances similar to those contemplated in Section 6.6
hereof, as determined by Holdings in its reasonable business
judgment; provided, however, that such
Confidentiality Agreement shall (a) have a term of not less
A-2
than one year, (b) provide that all non-public information
pertaining to Partners be protected as confidential information
thereunder, subject to customary exceptions, (c) contain a
provision relating to a standstill with respect to
the Partners Common Units that is no less favorable to Partners
than the form of standstill provision contained in
Annex E hereto and (d) provide that Partners is
a third-party beneficiary with respect to any breach thereof
other than breaches relating to standstill provisions solely
involving Holdings or solely involving Units or information
relating solely to Holdings and its Subsidiaries; provided
further, that Holdings may amend or waive the terms of such
Confidentiality Agreement in its discretion, except that
Partners shall have the right to approve or consent to any
amendment or waiver (i) of the one-year term of the
Confidentiality Agreement, (ii) that would have the effect
of causing any non-public information pertaining to Partners
that is protected as confidential information under the
Confidentiality Agreement not to be protected as confidential
information under the Confidentiality Agreement, (iii) of
the provision described in (c) above or (iv) of
Partners ability to enforce its rights as a third-party
beneficiary to such Confidentiality Agreement.
CUARs has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.
DD Securities shall have the meaning set forth in
the recitals to this Agreement.
DEP Credit Agreements means (i) the Revolving
Credit Agreement, dated January 5, 2007, among Duncan
Energy Partners L.P., the Lenders Party Thereto and Wachovia
Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, as amended
by the First Amendment to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated
June 30, 2007, among Duncan Energy Partners L.P., the
Lenders Party Thereto and Wachovia Bank, National Association,
as in effect on the date of this Agreement and (ii) the
Term Loan Agreement, dated April 18, 2008, among Duncan
Energy Partners L.P., the Lenders Party Thereto and Wachovia
Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, as amended
to the First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement, dated
July 11, 2008, among Duncan Energy Partners L.P., the
Lenders Party Thereto and Wachovia Bank, National Association,
as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
DFI shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals
to this Agreement.
DFIGPH shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals to this Agreement.
Disclosure Schedule shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 5.1.
Distribution Waiver Agreement means the Distribution
Waiver Agreement by and among Partners, EPCO Holdings and the
EPD Unitholder named therein, substantially in the form attached
hereto as Annex D.
DLLCA shall mean the Delaware Limited Liability
Company Act, 6 Del.C. §18-101 et seq.
DRULPA shall mean the Delaware Revised Uniform
Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del.C. §17-101 et
seq.
Effective Time shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1(b).
Energy Transfer Equity means Energy Transfer Equity,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
EPCO Holdings shall have the meaning set forth in
the recitals to this Agreement.
EPO Credit Agreement means the Amended and Restated
Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of November 19, 2007,
among Enterprise Products Operating LLC, the financial
institutions party thereto as lenders, Wachovia Bank, National
Association, as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Swingline
Lender, Citibank, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Co-Syndication Agents, and SunTrust Bank, Mizuho Corporate Bank,
Ltd. and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Co-Documentation Agents, as
in effect on the date of this Agreement.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended.
ETE Partnership Agreement means the Third Amended
and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer
Equity, L.P., dated February 8, 2006, as amended by
Amendment No. 1 dated November 1, 2006, Amendment
No. 2 dated November 9, 2007, and as may be amended
after the date hereof.
ETE SEC Documents shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 5.2(c)(iv)(A).
A-3
ETE Units means common units representing limited
partner interests of Energy Transfer Equity having the rights
and obligations specified with respect to Common
Units in the ETE Partnership Agreement.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Exchange Agent shall mean BNY Mellon Shareowners
Services or any other entity as may be selected by Partners
subject to the reasonable approval of Holdings.
Exchange Fund shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3(a).
Exchange Ratio shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1(c).
Expenses shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 9.1(e).
Fourth Amendment means Amendment No. 4 to the
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Holdings, substantially in the form attached as
Annex A, to be executed and delivered in accordance
with Section 6.18.
Governmental Authority means any national, state,
local, county, parish or municipal government, domestic or
foreign, any agency, board, bureau, commission, court, tribunal,
subdivision, department or other governmental or regulatory
authority or instrumentality, or any arbitrator in any case that
has jurisdiction over Holdings or Partners, as the case may be,
or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their or their
respective Subsidiaries properties or assets.
Holdings shall have the meaning set forth in the
introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Holdings Audit Committee shall mean the Audit,
Conflicts and Governance Committee of the Holdings GP Board.
Holdings Certificate of Limited Partnership means
the certificate of limited partnership of Holdings as filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on
April 18, 2005.
Holdings Change in Recommendation shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 6.6(c).
Holdings Credit Agreement means the Third Amended
and Restated Credit Agreement, dated August 24, 2007, among
Holdings, the Lenders Party Thereto, Citicorp North America,
Inc., as Administrative Agent, and Citibank, N.A., as Issuing
Bank, as amended by the First Amendment to Third Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, dated November 8, 2007, among
Holdings, the Term Loan B Lenders Party Thereto, Citicorp
North America, Inc., as Administrative Agent, and Citigroup
Global Markets, Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc. as Co-Arrangers
and Joint Bookrunners, as in effect on the date of this
Agreement.
Holdings Disclosure Schedule shall mean the
Disclosure Schedule delivered by Holdings pursuant to
Section 5.1.
Holdings GP has the meaning set forth in the
introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Holdings GP Amended and Restated LLC Agreement shall
mean the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company
Agreement of Holdings GP, substantially in the form attached
hereto as Annex B.
Holdings GP Board means the Board of Directors of
Holdings GP.
Holdings GP Certificate of Formation means the
certificate of formation of Holdings GP as filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 19,
2005.
Holdings GP LLC Agreement means the Third Amended
and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Holdings GP,
dated as of November 7, 2005, as amended from time to time.
Holdings Material Contracts shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 5.2(k)(i).
Holdings Meeting shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.2(d).
A-4
Holdings Merger Transactions has the meaning set
forth in Section 5.2(d)(iii).
Holdings Parties means Holdings GP and Holdings.
Holdings Partnership Agreement shall mean the First
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Holdings, dated as of August 29, 2005, as amended by
Amendment No. 1 dated May 7, 2007, Amendment dated
December 27, 2007, and Amendment No. 3 dated
November 6, 2008, as will be further amended by the Fourth
Amendment in accordance with Section 6.18 of this Agreement
immediately prior to the Effective Time, and as may be further
amended from time to time.
Holdings Recommendation shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 6.2.
Holdings Supporting Unitholders shall have the
meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
Holdings UAR has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.5.
Holdings Unaffiliated Unitholders means the Holdings
Unitholders other than Holdings Unitholders controlling,
controlled by or under common control with Holdings GP.
Holdings Unit Plan means the Enterprise Products
Company 2005 EPE Holdings Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended
and restated as of February 23, 2010 and further amended
from time to time.
Holdings Unitholder Approval shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 7.1.
Holdings Unitholders means the holders of
outstanding Units.
Indebtedness of any Person means
(a) indebtedness created, issued or incurred by such Person
for borrowed money (whether by loan or the issuance and sale of
debt securities or the sale of property of such Person to
another Person subject to an understanding or agreement,
contingent or otherwise, to repurchase such property of such
Person), (b) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred
purchase or acquisition price for any property of such Person,
(c) any indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any
property of such Person, whether or not the respective
indebtedness so secured has been assumed by it,
(d) obligations of such Person in respect of letters of
credit or similar instruments issued or accepted by banks and
other financial institutions for account of such Person,
(e) obligations of such Person in respect of surety bonds
or similar instruments, (f) the obligations of such Person
to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of (or other
agreement conveying the right to use) any property of such
Person to the extent such obligations are required to be
classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance
sheet of such Person under U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles, and (g) indebtedness of others as
described in clauses (a) through (f) above in any
manner guaranteed by such Person or for which it is or may
become contingently liable; provided, that Indebtedness
shall not include accounts payable to trade creditors, or
accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, in each case, that are not yet
due and payable, or are being disputed in good faith, and the
endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the
ordinary course of business.
Indemnification Expenses shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 6.12(a).
Indemnified Parties shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 6.12(a).
Indemnitees shall have the meaning set forth in the
Holdings Partnership Agreement.
Knowledge shall mean, with respect to any party, the
actual knowledge of the directors or officers of such party.
Law shall mean any law, rule, regulation, directive,
ordinance, code, governmental determination, guideline,
judgment, order, treaty, convention, governmental certification
requirement or other legally enforceable requirement,
U.S. or
non-U.S., of
any Governmental Authority.
LE GP LLC Agreement means the Amended and Restated
Limited Liability Company Agreement of LE GP, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, as amended by Amendment No. 1
dated May 7, 2007, and as such limited liability company
agreement may be amended after the date hereof.
A-5
Lien shall mean any mortgage, lien, charge,
restriction (including restrictions on transfer), pledge,
security interest, option, right of first offer or refusal,
preemptive right, put or call option, lease or sublease, claim,
right of any third party, covenant, right of way, easement,
encroachment or encumbrance.
Material Adverse Effect shall mean, with respect to
either Holdings or Partners, any effect that (x) is or
could reasonably be expected to be material and adverse to the
financial position, results of operations, business, assets or
prospects of Holdings and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or
Partners and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, respectively, or
(y) materially impairs or could reasonably be expected to
materially impair the ability of Holdings or Partners,
respectively, to perform its obligations under this Agreement or
otherwise materially threaten or materially impede the
consummation of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however,
that Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include any
of the following or the impact thereof: (a) circumstances
affecting the petroleum product transportation, terminalling,
storage and distribution industry generally (including the price
of petroleum products and the costs associated with the
transportation, terminalling, storage and distribution thereof),
or in any region in which Partners operates, (b) any
general market, economic, financial or political conditions, or
outbreak or hostilities or war, in the United States of America
or elsewhere, (c) changes in Law, (d) earthquakes,
hurricanes, floods, or other natural disasters, (e) any
failure of Partners to meet any internal or external
projections, forecasts or estimates of revenue or earnings for
any period, (f) changes in the market price or trading
volume of Units or Common Units (but not any effect underlying
any decrease that would otherwise constitute a Material Adverse
Effect), or (g) the announcement or pendency of this
Agreement or the matters contemplated thereby or the compliance
by either party with the provisions of this Agreement;
provided, that, in the case of clause (a), (b),
(c) or (d), the impact on Holdings or Partners is not
disproportionately adverse as compared to others in the industry
referred to in clause (a) of this definition generally.
Merger shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals to this Agreement.
Merger Consideration shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3.1(c).
MergerCo shall have the meaning set forth in the
introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
New Common Unit Issuance shall mean the issuance of
Common Units as part of the Merger Consideration pursuant to
this Agreement.
New Common Units shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1(c).
New Partners GP shall have the meaning set forth in
the recitals of this Agreement.
Notice of Proposed Recommendation Change shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 6.6(c).
NYSE shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.
Other Parties means, with respect to the Holdings
Parties, the Partners Parties, and with respect to the Partners
Parties, the Holdings Parties.
Partners shall have the meaning set forth in the
introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Partners Acquisition Proposal means any proposal or
offer from or by any Person other than Holdings and its
Subsidiaries relating to: (a) any direct or indirect
acquisition of (i) more than 50% of the assets of Partners
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) more than 50%
of the outstanding equity securities of Partners or (iii) a
business or businesses that constitute more than 50% of the cash
flow, net revenues, net income or assets of Partners and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) any tender offer or
exchange offer, as defined pursuant to the Exchange Act, that,
if consummated, would result in any Person beneficially owning
more than 50% of the outstanding equity securities of Partners;
or (c) any merger, consolidation, business combination,
recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar
transaction involving Partners other than the Merger and the
Partners GP Merger.
Partners Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement
shall mean the Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Partners, substantially in the form attached
hereto as Annex C.
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Partners Audit Committee shall mean the Audit,
Conflicts and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of
Partners GP.
Partners Certificate of Limited Partnership means
the certificate of limited partnership of Partners as filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 9,
1998.
Partners Disclosure Schedule shall mean the
Disclosure Schedule delivered by Partners pursuant to
Section 5.1.
Partners Existing Partnership Agreement means the
Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Partners, dated August 8, 2005, as amended by Amendment
No. 1 dated as of December 27, 2007, Amendment
No. 2 dated April 14, 2008, Amendment No. 3 dated
November 6, 2008, Amendment No. 4 dated
October 26, 2009, and as may be further amended from time
to time.
Partners General Partner Interest shall mean the
General Partner Interest as defined in the Partners
Existing Partnership Agreement.
Partners GP shall have the meaning set forth in the
introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
Partners GP Board shall mean the Board of Directors
of Partners GP.
Partners GP Certificate of Formation means the
certificate of formation of Partners GP as filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 9,
1998.
Partners GP LLC Agreement means the Fifth Amended
and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Partners GP,
dated as of November 7, 2007, as amended by the First
Amendment dated November 6, 2008, and as may be further
amended from time to time.
Partners GP Merger has the meaning set forth in the
recitals to this Agreement.
Partners GP Merger Agreement has the meaning set
forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
Partners Incentive Distribution Rights means the
rights to Incentive Distributions as defined in the
Partners Existing Partnership Agreement.
Partners Merger Transactions shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 5.2(d)(ii).
Partners Non-Public Information shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 6.6(b).
Partners Parties means Partners GP, Partners and
MergerCo.
Partners Unaffiliated Unitholders means the holders
of Common Units other than Partners GP and Holdings and their
respective Affiliates, officers and directors.
Person or person shall mean any
individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited or
general partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock
company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity, or
any group comprised of two or more of the foregoing.
Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 5.2(f).
Receiving Party shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 6.6(a).
Registration Statement shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 5.2(f).
Representatives shall mean with respect to a Person,
its directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives,
including any investment banker, financial advisor, attorney,
accountant or other advisor, agent or representative.
Rights shall mean, with respect to any person,
(a) options, warrants, preemptive rights, subscriptions,
calls or other rights, convertible securities, exchangeable
securities, agreements or commitments of any character
obligating such person (or the general partner of such person)
to issue, transfer or sell any partnership or other equity
interest of such person or any of its Subsidiaries or any
securities convertible into
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or exchangeable for such partnership interests or equity
interests or (b) contractual obligations of such person (or
the general partner of such person) to repurchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire any partnership interest or other equity
interest in such person or any of its Subsidiaries or any such
securities or agreements listed in clause (a) of this
sentence.
Rule 145 Affiliate shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 6.7(a).
SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
SEC Documents shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.2(g).
Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Subject ETE Units shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 5.2(c)(i)(C).
Subject LE GP Interest shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 5.2(c)(i)(B).
Subsidiary shall have the meaning ascribed to such
term in
Rule 1-02
of
Regulation S-X
under the Securities Act, except, in the case of Holdings and
Holdings GP, Partners GP and its Subsidiaries (including, for
the sake of clarity, Partners) shall not be deemed to be
Subsidiaries of Holdings or Holdings GP (unless otherwise
specifically provided in this Agreement).
Superior Proposal means any bona fide Acquisition
Proposal (except that references to 20% within the definition of
Acquisition Proposal shall be replaced by
50%) made by a third party on terms that the
Holdings Audit Committee determines, in its good faith judgment
and after consulting with Holdings financial advisors and
outside legal counsel, and taking into account the financial,
legal, regulatory and other aspects of the Acquisition Proposal
(including any conditions to and the expected timing of
consummation and any risks of non-consummation), to be more
favorable to the holders of Units, from a financial point of
view than the Merger (taking into account the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and any revised proposal by the
Partners Audit Committee on behalf of Partners to amend the
terms of this Agreement).
Support Agreement shall mean the Support Agreement
dated as of the date hereof by and among Partners and the
Holdings Supporting Unitholders.
Surviving Entity shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1(a).
Takeover Law means any fair price,
moratorium, control share acquisition,
business combination or any other anti-takeover
statute or similar statute enacted under state or federal law.
Tax Returns shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.2(m)(i).
Taxes shall mean all taxes, charges, fees, levies or
other assessments, including all net income, gross income, gross
receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, goods and services, capital,
transfer, franchise, profits, license, withholding, payroll,
employment, employer health, excise, estimated, severance,
stamp, occupation, property or other taxes, custom duties, fees,
assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any
interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional
amounts imposed by any taxing authority, whether disputed or not.
Tax Law means any Law relating to Taxes.
Termination Date shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 8.1(b).
Units or Holdings Units shall mean the
units representing limited partner interests of Holdings having
the rights and obligations specified with respect to
Units as set forth in the Holdings Partnership
Agreement.
Section 1.2 Interpretation. A
reference to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule means an
Article of, a Section in, or Exhibit or Schedule to, this
Agreement unless otherwise expressly stated. Unless the context
requires otherwise, the words this Agreement,
hereof, hereunder, herein,
hereby or words of similar import refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to a particular Article, Section,
subsection, clause or other subdivision hereof. The words
include, includes and
including when used herein shall be deemed
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in each case to be followed by the words without
limitation. Whenever the context requires, the words used
herein include the masculine, feminine and neuter gender, and
the singular and the plural. A reference to any legislation or
to any provision of any legislation shall include any amendment
thereof, any modification or re-enactment thereof, any
legislative provision substituted therefor and all regulations
and statutory instruments issued thereunder or pursuant thereto.
References to this Agreement or any other agreement
or document shall be construed as a reference to such agreement
or document, including any exhibits, appendices and schedules
thereto, as amended, amended and restated, modified or
supplemented and in effect from time to time and shall include a
reference to any document which amends, modifies or supplements
it. References to a Person or person shall be construed as a
reference to such Person and its successors and permitted
assigns.
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER;
EFFECTS OF THE MERGER
Section 2.1 The
Merger.
(a) The Surviving Entity. Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time,
Holdings shall merge with and into MergerCo, the separate
existence of Holdings shall cease and MergerCo shall survive and
continue to exist as a Delaware limited liability company
(MergerCo, as the surviving entity in the Merger, sometimes
being referred to herein as the Surviving Entity),
such that immediately following the Merger, Partners will be the
sole member of MergerCo and Holdings GP will be the sole general
partner of Partners.
(b) Effectiveness and Effects of the
Merger. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of
the conditions set forth in Article VII in accordance with
this Agreement, the Merger shall become effective upon the later
to occur of the filing in the office of the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware of a properly executed certificate of
merger (the Certificate of Merger) or such later
date and time as may be set forth in the Certificate of Merger
(the Effective Time), in accordance with the DRULPA
and the DLLCA. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in
this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DRULPA and
the DLLCA.
(c) MergerCo Certificate of Formation and MergerCo
Limited Liability Company Agreement. At the
Effective Time, the MergerCo Certificate of Formation shall
remain unchanged and shall be the certificate of formation of
the Surviving Entity, until duly amended in accordance with
applicable Law. At the Effective Time, the MergerCo Limited
Liability Company Agreement shall remain unchanged and shall be
the limited liability company agreement of the Surviving Entity
until duly amended in accordance with the terms thereof and
applicable Law.
(d) The parties hereto intend for the Merger to be treated
as an assets-over merger of Holdings into Partners
under Treasury Regulations
Section 1.708-1(c)(3)(i)
and for post-Merger Partners to be treated as a continuation of
pre-Merger Partners under Treasury Regulations
Section 1.708-1.
Section 2.2 Closing. Subject
to (i) the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set
forth in Article VII and (ii) this Agreement not
having theretofore terminated pursuant to its terms, the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated hereby (the
Closing) shall occur on (a) the Business Day
after the day on which the last of the conditions set forth in
Article VII (excluding conditions that, by their nature,
cannot be satisfied until the Closing Date) shall have been
satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement or (b) such other date to which the parties may
agree in writing. The date on which the Closing occurs is
referred to as the Closing Date. The Closing of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall take place at
the offices of Andrews Kurth LLP, 600 Travis, Suite 4200,
Houston, Texas 77002 at 10:00 a.m. Houston time on the
Closing Date.
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ARTICLE III
MERGER
CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES
Section 3.1 Merger
Consideration. Subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, at the Effective Time (except as noted below in
clause (b)), by virtue of the Merger and without any action on
the part of Partners, Holdings or any holder of Units:
(a) All of the limited liability company interests in
MergerCo outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall remain outstanding as limited liability company interests
in the Surviving Entity, and Partners, as the holder of such
limited liability company interests, shall continue as the sole
member of the Surviving Entity.
(b) The general partner interest in Holdings issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (in the
non-economic form effected by the Fourth Amendment) shall be
converted into the right to receive the non-economic general
partner interest in Partners as set forth in the Partners
Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, and Holdings GP
shall be admitted (immediately prior to the Effective Time in
accordance with Section 4.6(c) of the Partners Existing
Partnership Agreement) as the sole general partner of Partners
in accordance with the Partners Existing Partnership Agreement
and the Partners Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement.
(c) Each Unit issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time (other than Units held by Partners or its
Subsidiaries or Holdings or its Subsidiaries) shall be converted
into the right to receive 1.5 Common Units (such ratio, the
Exchange Ratio, and such amount of Common Units, the
Merger Consideration) which Common Units shall be
duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable
Laws and the Partners Existing Partnership Agreement and the
Partners Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, as
applicable, fully paid (to the extent required under the
Partners Existing Partnership Agreement and the Partners Amended
and Restated Partnership Agreement, as applicable) and
non-assessable (except to the extent such non-assessability may
be affected by
Sections 17-303,
17-607 and
17-804 of
the DRULPA) (such Common Units described in this clause (c)
shall be referred to herein as the New Common Units).
Section 3.2 Rights
As Unitholders; Unit Transfers. All Units, when
converted as a result of and pursuant to the Merger, shall cease
to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and cease
to exist. At the Effective Time, each holder of a certificate
representing Units (a Certificate) and each holder
of non-certificated Units represented by book-entry
(Book-Entry Units) shall cease to be a unitholder of
Holdings and cease to have any rights with respect thereto,
except the right to receive (a) the Merger Consideration,
and the right to be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner in
connection therewith, (b) any cash to be paid in lieu of
any fractional New Common Unit in accordance with
Section 3.3(e) and (c) any distributions in accordance
with Section 3.3(c), in each case, to be issued or paid,
without interest, in consideration therefor in accordance with
Section 3.3. In addition, to the extent applicable, holders
of Units as of the Effective Time shall have continued rights to
any distribution, without interest, with respect to such Units
with a record date occurring prior to the Effective Time that
may have been declared or made by Holdings with respect to such
Units in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and which
remains unpaid as of the Effective Time. After the Effective
Time, the unit transfer books of Holdings shall be closed
immediately and there shall be no further registration of
transfers on the unit transfer books of Holdings with respect to
Units.
Section 3.3 Exchange
of Certificates.
(a) Exchange Agent. Promptly after the
Effective Time, Partners shall deposit or shall cause to be
deposited with the Exchange Agent for the benefit of the holders
of Units, for exchange in accordance with this Article III,
through the Exchange Agent, New Common Units and cash as
required by this Article III. Partners agrees to make
available to the Exchange Agent, from time to time as needed,
cash sufficient to pay any distributions pursuant to
Section 3.2 and Section 3.3(c) and to make payments in
lieu of any fractional New Common Units pursuant to
Section 3.3(e), in each case without interest. Any cash and
New Common Units deposited with the Exchange Agent (including as
payment for any fractional New Common Units in accordance with
Section 3.3(e) and any distributions with respect to such
fractional New Common Units in
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accordance with Section 3.3(c)) shall hereinafter be
referred to as the Exchange Fund. The Exchange Agent
shall, pursuant to irrevocable instructions, deliver the Merger
Consideration contemplated to be paid for Units pursuant to this
Agreement out of the Exchange Fund. Except as contemplated by
Sections 3.3(c) and 3.3(e), the Exchange Fund shall not be
used for any other purpose.
(b) Exchange Procedures. Promptly after
the Effective Time, Partners shall instruct the Exchange Agent
to mail to each record holder of Units as of the Effective Time
(i) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that in
respect of certificated Units, delivery shall be effected, and
risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon
proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent, and
which shall be in customary form and agreed to by Partners and
Holdings prior to the Effective Time) and (ii) instructions
for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates or
Book-Entry Units in exchange for the Merger Consideration
payable in respect of Units represented by such Certificates or
Book-Entry Units, as applicable. Promptly after the Effective
Time, upon surrender of Certificates, if any, for cancellation
to the Exchange Agent together with such letters of transmittal,
properly completed and duly executed, and such other documents
(including in respect of Book-Entry Units) as may be required
pursuant to such instructions, each holder of Units shall be
entitled to receive in exchange therefor (A) New Common
Units representing, in the aggregate, the whole number of New
Common Units that such holder has the right to receive pursuant
to this Article III (after taking into account all Units
then held by such holder) and (B) a check in an amount
equal to the aggregate amount of cash that such holder has the
right to receive pursuant to this Article III, including
cash payable in lieu of any fractional New Common Units pursuant
to Section 3.3(e) and distributions pursuant to
Section 3.3(c). No interest shall be paid or accrued on any
Merger Consideration, any cash payment in lieu of fractional New
Common Units, or on any unpaid distributions payable to holders
of Certificates or Book-Entry Units. In the event of a transfer
of ownership of Units that is not registered in the transfer
records of Holdings, the Merger Consideration payable in respect
of such Units may be paid to a transferee, if the Certificate
representing such Units or evidence of ownership of the
Book-Entry Units is presented to the Exchange Agent, and in the
case of both certificated and book-entry Units, accompanied by
all documents required to evidence and effect such transfer and
the Person requesting such exchange shall pay to the Exchange
Agent in advance any transfer or other Taxes required by reason
of the delivery of the Merger Consideration in any name other
than that of the record holder of such Units, or shall establish
to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such Taxes have
been paid or are not payable. Until the required documentation
has been delivered and Certificates, if any, have been
surrendered, as contemplated by this Section 3.3, each
Certificate or Book-Entry Unit shall be deemed at any time after
the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon
such delivery and surrender the Merger Consideration payable in
respect of Units and any cash or distributions to which such
holder is entitled pursuant to Section 3.2.
(c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged
Units. No distributions declared or made with
respect to Common Units with a record date after the Effective
Time shall be paid to the holder of any Units with respect to
New Common Units that such holder would be entitled to receive
in accordance herewith and no cash payment in lieu of fractional
New Common Units shall be paid to any such holder until such
holder shall have delivered the required documentation and
surrendered any Certificate as contemplated by this
Section 3.3. Subject to applicable Law, following
compliance with the requirements of Section 3.3(b), there
shall be paid to such holder of New Common Units issuable in
exchange therefor, without interest, (i) promptly after the
time of such compliance, the amount of any cash payable in lieu
of fractional New Common Units to which such holder is entitled
pursuant to Section 3.3(e) and the amount of distributions
with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid
with respect to New Common Units and payable with respect to
such New Common Units, and (ii) at the appropriate payment
date, the amount of distributions with a record date after the
Effective Time but prior to such delivery and surrender and a
payment date subsequent to such compliance payable with respect
to such New Common Units.
(d) Further Rights in Holdings Units. The
Merger Consideration issued upon conversion of a Unit in
accordance with the terms hereof (including any cash paid
pursuant to Section 3.2, Section 3.3(c) or
Section 3.3(e)) shall be deemed to have been issued in full
satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Unit.
(e) Fractional Common Units. No
certificates or scrip of New Common Units representing
fractional New Common Units or book entry credit of the same
shall be issued upon the exchange of Units in
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accordance with Section 3.3(b), and such fractional
interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to have
any rights as a holder of any New Common Units. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, each holder of Units
exchanged in the Merger who would otherwise have been entitled
to receive a fraction of a New Common Unit (after taking into
account all Units exchanged by such holder) shall receive, in
lieu thereof, cash (without interest rounded up to the nearest
whole cent) in an amount equal to the product of (i) the
Average Closing Price as of the Closing Date and (ii) the
fraction of a New Common Unit that such holder would otherwise
be entitled to receive pursuant to this Article III. As
promptly as practicable after the determination of the amount of
cash, if any, to be paid to holders of fractional interests, the
Exchange Agent shall so notify Partners, and Partners shall, or
shall cause the Surviving Entity to, deposit such amount with
the Exchange Agent and shall cause the Exchange Agent to forward
payments to such holders of fractional interests subject to and
in accordance with the terms hereof. To the extent applicable,
each holder of Units shall be deemed to have consented for
U.S. federal income tax purposes (and to the extent
applicable, state or local income tax purposes) to report the
cash received for fractional New Common Units in the Merger as a
sale of a portion of the holders Units to Partners
consistent with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.708-1(c)(4).
(f) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any
portion of the Exchange Fund constituting New Common Units or
cash that remains undistributed to the holders of Units after
180 days following the Effective Time shall be delivered to
Partners upon demand by Partners and, from and after such
delivery, any former holders of Units who have not theretofore
complied with this Article III shall thereafter look only
to Partners for the Merger Consideration payable in respect of
such Units, any cash in lieu of fractional New Common Units to
which they are entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(e) and any
distributions with respect to New Common Units to which they are
entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(c), in each case, without
any interest thereon. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by holders
of Units immediately prior to such time as such amounts would
otherwise escheat to or become the property of any governmental
entity shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become
the property of Partners, free and clear of any Liens, claims or
interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.
(g) No Liability. To the fullest extent
permitted by Law, none of Holdings GP, Partners, Holdings, or
the Surviving Entity shall be liable to any holder of Units for
any Common Units (or distributions with respect thereto) or cash
from the Exchange Fund delivered to a public official pursuant
to any abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.
(h) Lost Certificates. If any Certificate
shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an
affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate
to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Partners,
the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount
as Partners may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may
be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the
Exchange Agent shall pay in exchange for such lost, stolen or
destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration payable in
respect of Units represented by such Certificate and any
distributions to which the holders thereof are entitled pursuant
to Section 3.2.
(i) Withholding. Each of Partners, the
Surviving Entity and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to
deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Units such amounts
as Partners, the Surviving Entity or the Exchange Agent is
required to deduct and withhold under the Code or any provision
of state, local, or foreign Tax Law, with respect to the making
of such payment; provided, however, that Partners, the
Surviving Entity or the Exchange Agent, as the case may be,
shall provide reasonable notice to the applicable holders of
Units prior to withholding any amounts pursuant to this
Section 3.3(i). To the extent that amounts are so deducted
and withheld by Partners, the Surviving Entity or the Exchange
Agent, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this
Agreement as having been paid to the holder of Units in respect
of whom such deduction and withholding was made by Partners, the
Surviving Entity or the Exchange Agent, as the case may be.
(j) Book Entry and Admission of Holders of New Common
Units as Additional Limited Partners of Partners. All New
Common Units to be issued in the Merger shall be issued in
book-entry form, without physical certificates. Upon the
issuance of New Common Units to the holders of Units in
accordance with this Section 3.3 and the compliance by such
holders with the requirements of Section 10.4 of the
Partners Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, which
requirements may be satisfied by each holder of Units
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by the execution and delivery by such holder of a completed and
executed letter of transmittal, New Partners GP shall be deemed
to have automatically consented to the admission of such holders
as limited partners of Partners and shall reflect such admission
on the books and records of Partners.
(k) Investment of the Exchange
Fund. Partners shall cause the Exchange Agent to
invest any cash included in the Exchange Fund as directed by
Partners on a daily basis; provided that any investment
of such Exchange Fund shall be limited to direct short-term
obligations of, or short-term obligations fully guaranteed as to
principal and interest by, the U.S. government and that no
such investment or loss thereon shall affect the amounts payable
or the timing of the amounts payable to Holdings Unitholders
pursuant to the other provisions of this Section 3.3. Any
interest and other income resulting from such investments shall
be paid promptly to Partners.
Section 3.4 Anti-Dilution
Provisions. In the event of any subdivisions,
reclassifications, recapitalizations, splits, unit
distributions, combinations or exchange of units with respect
to, or Rights in respect of, Units or Common Units (in each
case, as permitted pursuant to Section 4.3), the number of
New Common Units to be issued in the Merger and the Average
Closing Price of Common Units will be correspondingly adjusted
to provide to the holders of Units the same economic effect as
contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.
Section 3.5 Treatment
of Holdings Equity-Based Awards; Holdings Unit Appreciation
Rights (UARs). At the Effective Time,
automatically and without any action on the part of the holder
thereof, other than holders who are DEP Holdings, LLC directors
whose consent is required and who provide written consent, each
outstanding Unit Appreciation Right (Holdings UAR),
both granted pursuant to the Holdings Unit Plan and outside the
Holdings Unit Plan, shall be assumed by Partners and converted
into a number of Common Unit Appreciation Rights
(CUARs) of Partners equal to the product of the
number of Holdings UARs to which such grant was subject at the
time of such assumption multiplied by the Exchange Ratio (with
any resulting fraction of a CUAR being rounded down to the
nearest whole CUAR), with an exercise price per CUAR of Partners
equal to the per Holdings UAR exercise price divided by the
Exchange Ratio (with any resulting exercise price that contains
a fraction of a cent being increased to the next whole cent). In
the case of DEP Holdings, LLC directors whose consent is not
required or, if required, who provide written consent, such
persons outstanding Holdings UARs, whether or not then
exercisable or vested, shall cease to represent, as of the
Effective Time, a Holdings UAR and shall be converted, in
settlement and cancellation thereof, into the right to receive,
at the Effective Time, a lump sum cash payment, without
interest, equal to the Fair Market Value of such Holdings Unit
on such date over the Grant Price per Holdings Unit (with the
terms Fair Market Value and Grant Price as defined under the
Holdings Unit Plan). Each CUAR of Partners shall be subject to,
and vest upon, the terms and conditions that are equivalent to
those applicable to the Holdings UARs. Promptly after the
Effective Time, Partners will provide each holder of a Holdings
UAR with a notice describing the assumption and conversion of
such awards. The assumption and conversion of the Holdings UARs
(and the cash-out of Holdings UARs held by DEP Holdings, LLC
directors) pursuant to this Section 3.5 shall be in full
satisfaction of the obligations in respect thereof.
ARTICLE IV
ACTIONS
PENDING MERGER
From the date hereof until the Effective Time, except as
expressly contemplated by this Agreement, including the
transactions contemplated by the Partners GP Merger Agreement
and made in connection with the Partners GP Merger,
(a) without the prior written consent of the Partners Audit
Committee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
delayed or conditioned), Holdings and Holdings GP will not, and
will cause each of its Subsidiaries not to, and (b) without
the prior written consent of the Holdings Audit Committee (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or
conditioned), Partners and Partners GP will not, and will cause
each of its Subsidiaries not to:
Section 4.1 Ordinary
Course. Conduct the business of it and its
Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary and usual course or, to
the extent consistent therewith, fail to use commercially
reasonable best efforts to
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preserve intact its business organizations, goodwill and assets
and maintain its rights, franchises and existing relations with
customers, suppliers, employees and business associates, or take
any action that would have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.2 Equity. (a) In
the case of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, other than the
conversion of the Holdings general partner interest and the
issuance of Units in connection therewith required in accordance
with Section 6.18 and the related entry into the Fourth
Amendment, (i) issue, sell or otherwise permit to become
outstanding, or authorize the creation of, any additional equity
or any additional Rights, (ii) enter into any agreement
with respect to the foregoing or (iii) permit any
additional equity interests to become subject to new grants of
employee unit options, unit appreciation rights or similar
equity-based employee Rights; and (b) in the case of
Partners, take any action described in clause (i), (ii) or
(iii) above, which would materially adversely affect its or
Holdings ability to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.3 Equity
Changes. Other than the conversion of the
Holdings general partner interest and the issuance of Units in
connection therewith required in accordance with
Section 6.18 and the related entry into the Fourth
Amendment: (a) split, combine or reclassify any of its
equity interests or issue or authorize or propose the issuance
of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in
substitution for its equity interests; or (b) repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire, or permit any of its Subsidiaries
to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any partnership or
other equity interests or Rights, except as required by the
terms of its securities outstanding on the date hereof or as
contemplated by any existing Compensation and Benefit Plan.
Section 4.4 Acquisitions
and Dispositions. (a) In the case of
Holdings and its Subsidiaries, (i) sell, lease, dispose of
or discontinue all or any portion of its assets, business or
properties other than uses of cash in the ordinary course of
business, including distributions permitted under
Section 4.5, (ii) acquire, by merger or otherwise, or
lease any assets or all or any portion of the business or
property of any other entity other than in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice, (iii) merge,
consolidate or enter into any other business combination
transaction with any Person, or (iv) convert from a limited
partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, to
any other business entity; and (b) in the case of Partners,
(i) merge, consolidate or enter into any other business
combination transaction with any Person or make any acquisition
or disposition that would be likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect, or (ii) enter into a definitive agreement with
respect to a Partners Acquisition Proposal.
Section 4.5 Distributions. In
the case of Holdings GP and Holdings, make or declare dividends
or distributions to the holders of Units other than regular
quarterly distributions in an amount not to exceed $0.015 plus
the distribution amount per Unit paid with respect to the second
quarter of 2010, and in the case of Partners, make or declare
dividends or distributions to the holders of Partners Common
Units other than regular quarterly distributions in an amount
not to exceed $0.0075 plus the distribution amount per Partner
Common Unit paid with respect to the second quarter of 2010.
Section 4.6 Amendments. (a) In
the case of Holdings GP and Holdings, amend the Partners GP LLC
Agreement, the Partners Existing Partnership Agreement, the
Holdings Partnership Agreement or the Holdings GP LLC Agreement
other than in accordance with this Agreement; and (b) in
the case of Partners, amend the Partners Existing Partnership
Agreement other than in accordance with this Agreement. For
purposes of clarification, an amendment to the Partners Existing
Partnership Agreement in connection with the Partners GP Merger
to admit Holdings as general partner and for Holdings to assume
such rights and duties as required under the Partners Existing
Partnership Agreement shall be deemed in accordance with this
Agreement, and such assumption by Holdings as general partner
and Holdings business and activities at such time until
the Effective Time shall be deemed ancillary and related to the
business of Partners, and made in connection with and incidental
to its performance as general partner of Partners.
Section 4.7 Material
Contracts. (a) In the case of Holdings and
its Subsidiaries, enter into any Holdings Material Contract or
modify, amend, terminate or assign, or waive or assign any
rights under any Holdings Material Contract in any material
respect in a manner which is adverse to Partners and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or which could prevent or
materially delay the consummation of the Merger or the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement past the Termination
Date (or any extension thereof); and (b) in the case of
Partners and its Subsidiaries, enter into any Partners Material
Contract or modify,
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amend, terminate or assign, or waive or assign any rights under
any Partners Material Contract in any material respect in a
manner which is adverse to Partners and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, or which could prevent or materially delay the
consummation of the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement past the Termination Date (or any
extension thereof).
Section 4.8 Litigation. (a) In
the case of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, waive, release,
assign, settle or compromise any claim, action or proceeding;
and (b) in the case of Partners and its Subsidiaries,
waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any claim, action
or proceeding that would reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect on Partners or on Holdings.
Section 4.9 Accounting
Methods. Implement or adopt any material change
in its accounting principles, practices or methods, other than
as may be required by Law or U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles.
Section 4.10 Insurance. Fail
to use commercially reasonable best efforts to maintain with
financially responsible insurance companies, insurance in such
amounts and against such risks and losses as has been
customarily maintained by it in the past.
Section 4.11 Taxes.
(a) Change in any material respect any of its express or
deemed elections relating to Taxes, including elections for any
and all joint ventures, partnerships, limited liability
companies or other investments where it has the capacity to make
such binding election;
(b) Settle or compromise any material claim, action, suit,
litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or
controversy relating to Taxes; or
(c) Change in any material respect any of its methods of
reporting income or deductions for federal income tax purposes
from those employed in the preparation of its federal income tax
return for the most recent taxable year for which a return has
been filed, except as may be required by applicable Law.
Section 4.12 Employee
Benefit Plans.
In the case of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, (a) adopt,
enter into, amend or otherwise increase, or accelerate the
payment or vesting of the amounts, benefits or rights payable or
accrued or to become payable or accrued under, any Compensation
and Benefit Plan, (b) grant any severance or termination
pay to any officer or director of Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries or (c) establish, adopt, enter into or amend
any plan, policy, program or arrangement for the benefit of any
current or former directors or officers of Holdings or any of
its Subsidiaries or any of their beneficiaries.
Section 4.13 Debt,
Capital Expenditures and the Like. (a) In
the case of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, (i) incur,
assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any
Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise), other than
borrowings under existing revolving credit facilities in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,
(ii) enter into any material lease (whether operating or
capital), (iii) create any Lien on its property or the
property of its Subsidiaries in connection with any pre-existing
Indebtedness, new Indebtedness or lease, or (iv) make or
commit to make any capital expenditures; and (b) in the
case of Partners, take any action described in clauses (i),
(ii), (iii) or (iv) above which would materially
adversely affect its or Holdings ability to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.14 No
Dissolution. Authorize, recommend, propose or
announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial
dissolution or liquidation.
Section 4.15 Adverse
Actions. Except as permitted by Sections 6.2
and 6.6, knowingly take any action that is intended or is
reasonably likely to result in (a) any of its
representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being
or becoming untrue in any material respect at the Closing Date,
(b) any of the conditions set forth in Article VII not
being satisfied, (c) any material delay or prevention of
the consummation of the Merger or (d) a material violation
of any provision of this Agreement except, in each case, as may
be required by applicable Law.
Section 4.16 Agreements. Agree
or commit to do anything prohibited by Sections 4.1 through
4.15.
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ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
Section 5.1 Disclosure
Schedule. On or prior to the date hereof,
Partners has delivered to Holdings and Holdings has delivered to
Partners a schedule (respectively, its Disclosure
Schedule) setting forth, among other things, items the
disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate in relation to
any or all of its representations and warranties;
provided, however, that (a) no such item is
required to be set forth in a Disclosure Schedule as an
exception to a representation or warranty if its absence is not
reasonably likely to result in the related representation or
warranty being deemed untrue or incorrect in any material
respect, and (b) the mere inclusion of an item in a
Disclosure Schedule shall not be deemed an admission by a party
that such item represents a material exception or fact, event or
circumstance or that such item is reasonably likely to result in
a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.2 Representations
and Warranties. Subject to Section 5.1 and
except as set forth in its Disclosure Schedule or (other than
with respect to Sections 5.2(a) and (b)) as set forth in
its SEC Documents filed and publicly available prior to the date
hereof (excluding any disclosures included therein to the extent
they are cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature,
including those in any risk factor section of such documents),
Holdings hereby represents and warrants with respect to Holdings
and Holdings GP (and to the extent necessary with respect to any
representations by Holdings herein, Holdings GP also represents
and warrants) to Partners, and Partners and MergerCo hereby
represent and warrant with respect to themselves and Partners GP
(and to the extent necessary with respect to any representations
by Partners and MergerCo herein, Partners GP also represents and
warrants) to Holdings, to the extent applicable, in each case
with respect to itself and its Subsidiaries, as follows:
(a) Organization, General Authority and
Standing. Such party is a limited partnership or
limited liability company, duly formed, validly existing and in
good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. Such
party (i) has the requisite limited partnership or limited
liability company power and authority to own and lease all of
its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is
now being conducted, (ii) is duly qualified to do business
and is in good standing in the states of the United States of
America where its ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified and
(iii) has in effect all federal, state, local, and foreign
governmental authorizations and permits necessary for it to own
or lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business
as it is now conducted, except where the failure to have such
power and authority, to be so qualified or to have such
authorizations and permits in effect would not have a Material
Adverse Effect on either Holdings or Partners.
(b) Capitalization.
(i) In the case of Holdings, as of the date hereof, there
are 139,195,064 Units issued and outstanding, and all such Units
and the limited partner interests represented thereby were duly
authorized and are validly issued in accordance with the
Holdings Partnership Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent
required under the Holdings Partnership Agreement) and
nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected
by
Sections 17-303,
17-607 and
17-804 of
the DRULPA), and are not subject to any preemptive or similar
rights (and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or
similar rights). As of the date hereof, Holdings GP is the sole
general partner of Holdings owning a 0.01% general partner
interest in Holdings, and such general partner interest was duly
authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Holdings
Partnership Agreement.
(ii) In the case of Partners, as of the date hereof, there
are 638,733,319 Common Units and 4,520,431 Class B Units
issued and outstanding, and all of such Common Units and
Class B Units and the limited partner interests represented
thereby were duly authorized and validly issued in accordance
with the Partners Existing Partnership Agreement and are fully
paid (to the extent required under the Partners Existing
Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such
nonassessability may be affected by
Sections 17-303,
17-607 and
17-804 of
the DRULPA). As of the date hereof, Partners GP is the sole
general partner of Partners owning a 2.0% Partners General
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Partner Interest and the related Partners Incentive Distribution
Rights, and such Partners General Partner Interest and related
Partners Incentive Distribution Rights were duly authorized and
validly issued in accordance with the Partners Existing
Partnership Agreement. New Common Units to be issued in
accordance with this Agreement will be duly authorized and
validly issued in accordance with the Partners Existing
Partnership Agreement and the Partners Amended and Restated
Partnership Agreement, as applicable, and will be fully paid (to
the extent required under the Partners Existing Partnership
Agreement and the Partners Amended and Restated Partnership
Agreement, as applicable) and nonassessable (except as such
nonassessability may be affected by
Sections 17-303,
17-607 and
17-804 of
the DRULPA). After giving effect to the Merger and the Partners
Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, the non-economic
general partner interest in Partners to be held by Holdings GP
will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with
the Partners Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, and
Holdings GP will be duly admitted as the general partner of
Partners.
(iii) As of the date hereof, except as set forth above in
this Section 5.2(b) and in Schedule 5.2(b) of a
partys Disclosure Schedule, (A) there are no
partnership interests or other equity securities of such party
or any of its Subsidiaries issued or authorized and reserved for
issuance, (B) there are no outstanding options, warrants,
preemptive rights, subscriptions, calls or other rights,
convertible securities, exchangeable securities, agreements or
commitments of any character obligating such person (or the
general partner of such person) or any of its Subsidiaries to
issue, transfer or sell any partnership or other equity interest
of such person or any of its Subsidiaries or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for such partnership interests
or equity interests, or any commitment to authorize, issue or
sell the same or any such equity securities, except pursuant to
this Agreement, and (C) there are no contractual
obligations of such person (or the general partner of such
person) or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire any partnership interest or other equity
interest in such person or any of its Subsidiaries or any such
securities or agreements listed in clause (B) of this
sentence.
(iv) The number of Common Units that are issuable by
Partners upon exercise of any employee or director options or
other rights of any employee, director or other Person to
purchase Common Units as of the date hereof are set forth in
Schedule 5.2(b) of Partners Disclosure Schedule.
(c) Equity Interests in other Entities.
(i) In the case of the representations and warranties of
Holdings, other than ownership of (A) its Subsidiaries,
(B) an approximate 40.6% member interest in LE GP, LLC (the
Subject LE GP Interest), the general partner of
Energy Transfer Equity, (C) 38,976,090 ETE Units (the
Subject ETE Units), and (D) interests in
Partners Common Units and in Partners GP, Holdings does not own
beneficially, directly or indirectly, any equity securities or
similar interests of any person, or any interest in a
partnership or joint venture of any kind. Except as set forth in
its SEC Documents, Holdings owns the interests set forth in
clauses (A) (other than Subsidiaries of Partners), (B),
(C) and (D) free and clear of all Liens, except those
existing or arising pursuant to the applicable governing
documents of such entities.
(ii) The Subject ETE Units and the limited partner
interests represented thereby were duly authorized and validly
issued in accordance with the ETE Partnership Agreement and are
fully paid (to the extent required under the ETE Partnership
Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability
may be affected by
Sections 17-303,
17-607 and
17-804 of
the DRULPA).
(iii) The Subject LE GP Interest were duly authorized and
validly issued in accordance with the LE GP LLC Agreement and
are fully paid (to the extent required under the LE GP LLC
Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability
may be affected by
Section 18-607
of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act).
(iv) To the Knowledge of Holdings as of the date hereof,
(A) none of the reports, registration statements,
definitive proxy statements or information statements filed by
Energy Transfer Equity
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subsequent to December 31, 2009 under the Securities Act,
or under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, including its Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009, in each case in the
form filed (collectively, ETE SEC Documents), with
the SEC as of their respective dates contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, (B) the historical
financial statements of Energy Transfer Equity and its
consolidated subsidiaries contained in or incorporated by
reference into any such ETE SEC Document (including the related
notes and schedules thereto) (1) comply in all material
respects with the applicable requirements under the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act and (2) fairly present the
financial position, results of operations, partners equity
and cash flows, as the case may be, of the entity or entities to
which they relate as of the dates or for the periods to which
such financial statements relate, in each case in accordance
with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied during the periods involved, except in each
case as may be noted therein, subject to normal year-end audit
adjustments in the case of unaudited statements and
(C) since December 31, 2009, except as disclosed in
the ETE SEC Documents, there has not been any event, change,
effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually
or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to
have, a material adverse effect on the financial position,
results of operations, business, assets or prospects of Energy
Transfer Equity (provided, however, that any information
contained in any part of any ETE SEC Document shall only be
deemed to be an exception to this Section 5.2(c)(iv)(C) if
the relevance of that information as an exception to this
Section 5.2(c)(iv)(C) is reasonably apparent; and
provided further, however, that, except for any specific
factual information contained therein to the extent the
relevance thereof is reasonably apparent, in no event shall any
information contained in any part of any ETE SEC Document
entitled Risk Factors (or words of similar import)
or containing a description or explanation of
Forward-Looking Statements be deemed to be an
exception to this Section 5.2(c)(iv)(C)), except for any
event, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence, or
the impact of any thereof, referred to in clause (a), (b), (c),
(d), (e) or (f) of the definition of Material Adverse
Effect herein.
(d) Power, Authority and Approvals of Transactions;
Partners GP Special Approval; Holdings GP Special Approval and
Board Recommendations.
(i) Such party has the requisite partnership or limited
liability company power and authority to execute, deliver and
perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby. Subject to Holdings
Unitholder Approval in the case of Holdings, this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby have been authorized by all
necessary (partnership or limited liability company, as
applicable) action by such party. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by such party and constitutes a valid and
binding agreement of such party (assuming the due execution and
delivery of this Agreement by, or with respect to, the Other
Parties), enforceable against it in accordance with its terms
(except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer and similar Laws of general applicability relating to
or affecting creditors rights or by general equity
principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)).
(ii) The Partners Audit Committee has determined that this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including
the Merger, the New Common Unit Issuance and the adoption of the
Partners Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement
(collectively, the Partners Merger Transactions) are
fair and reasonable to Partners, and has approved this Agreement
and the Partners Merger Transactions, and such action by the
Partners Audit Committee constituted Special Approval (as
defined in the Partners Existing Partnership Agreement) of this
Agreement and the Partners Merger Transactions. Based in part on
the determination of the Partners Audit Committee, the Partners
GP Board has approved this Agreement and the Partners Merger
Transactions and
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determined that this Agreement and the Partners Merger
Transactions are fair and reasonable to, and in the best
interests of, Partners and the Partners Unaffiliated Unitholders.
(iii) The Holdings GP Board has requested, and delegated to
the Holdings Audit Committee the power and authority to
consider, analyze, review, evaluate, accept or reject the terms
and conditions of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby including the Holdings Merger Transactions
(as defined below). The Holdings Audit Committee has determined
that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Merger, the Fourth Amendment and the Partners GP
Merger (the Holdings Merger Transactions), are fair
and reasonable, advisable to and in the best interests of
Holdings and the Holdings Unaffiliated Unitholders, and such
action by the Holdings Audit Committee constituted Special
Approval (as defined in the Holdings Partnership Agreement) of
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and the
Holdings Merger Transactions. Based upon such recommendation of
the Holdings Audit Committee, the Holdings GP Board has approved
and declared the advisability of entering into this Agreement
and the Holdings Merger Transactions, has directed that this
Agreement be submitted to the Holdings Unitholders for approval
at a meeting of such holders for the purpose of approving this
Agreement and the Merger (including any adjournment or
postponement thereof, the Holdings Meeting) and the
Holdings GP Board has recommended that the holders of Units
approve this Agreement and the Merger and the Partners GP Merger
Agreement.
(e) No Violations or Defaults. Subject to
the declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement,
required filings under federal and state securities laws and
with the NYSE, assuming the other consents and approvals
contemplated by Section 5.2(f) and Article VII are
duly obtained and assuming the consents, waivers and approvals
specified in Section 6.11(c), (d) and (e) are
obtained, the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby by such party do not and will not (i) constitute a
breach or violation of, or result in a default (or an event
that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a
default) under, or result in the termination or in a right of
termination or cancellation of, or accelerate the performance
required by, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust,
license, franchise, lease, contract, agreement, joint venture or
other instrument or obligation to which it or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its
Subsidiaries or properties is subject or bound,
(ii) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default
under, in the case of Holdings, the Holdings Partnership
Agreement, the Holdings Certificate of Limited Partnership, the
Holdings GP LLC Agreement or the Holdings GP Certificate of
Formation, and in the case of Partners, the Partners Existing
Partnership Agreement, the Partners Certificate of Limited
Partnership, the Partners GP LLC Agreement or the Partners GP
Certificate of Formation, (iii) contravene or conflict with
or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law binding
upon or applicable to it or any of its Subsidiaries,
(iv) result in the creation of any Lien on any of its
assets or its Subsidiaries assets other than in connection
with any Indebtedness incurred by Partners in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or
(v) cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
to be subject to Takeover Laws.
(f) Consents and Approvals. No consents
or approvals of, or filings or registrations with, any
Governmental Authority are necessary in connection with
(i) the execution and delivery by such party of this
Agreement and (ii) the consummation by such party of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for
(A) the filing of any required applications or notices with
any state or foreign agencies of competent jurisdiction and
approval of such applications or notices, (B) the filing
with the SEC of a proxy statement relating to the matters to be
submitted to the Holdings Unitholders at the Holdings Meeting
and a registration statement on
Form S-4
with respect to the issuance of the Partners Common Units in the
Merger (such registration statement on
Form S-4,
and any amendments or supplements thereto, the
Registration Statement, and the proxy
statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement, and
any amendments or supplements thereto, the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus), (C) the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware, (D) any consents, authorizations, approvals,
filings or exemptions in connection with compliance with the
rules of the NYSE, (E) such filings and approvals as may be
required to be made or obtained under the securities
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or Blue Sky laws of various states in connection
with the issuance of Partners Common Units pursuant to this
Agreement and (F) such other consents, authorizations,
approvals, filings or registrations the absence or
unavailability of which would not, either individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on such party.
(g) Financial Reports and SEC
Documents. With respect to the Holdings Parties,
Holdings, and with respect to the Partners Parties,
Partners, Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, and all other
reports, registration statements, definitive proxy statements or
information statements filed or to be filed by it or any of its
Subsidiaries subsequent to December 31, 2009 under the
Securities Act, or under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act, in the form filed, or to be filed
(collectively, SEC Documents), with the SEC as of
their respective dates (i) complied or will comply in all
material respects as to form with the applicable requirements
under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may
be, and (ii) did not and will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. The historical financial
statements of Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries, with
respect to the Holdings Parties, and of Partners and its
consolidated subsidiaries, with respect to the Partners Parties,
contained in or incorporated by reference into any such SEC
Document (including the related notes and schedules thereto)
(A) comply in all material respects with the applicable
requirements under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and
(B) fairly present the financial position, results of
operations, partners equity and cash flows, as the case
may be, of the entity or entities to which they relate as of the
dates or for the periods to which such financial statements
relate, in each case in accordance with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied during the
periods involved, except in each case as may be noted therein,
subject to normal year-end audit adjustments in the case of
unaudited statements. With respect to Holdings, to the Knowledge
of Holdings as of the date hereof, there are no outstanding
comments from, or unresolved issues raised by, the SEC, with
respect to the SEC Documents of Energy Transfer Equity that have
had, or the outcome of which may have, a Material Adverse Effect
on Holdings. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no
representation or warranty made by Holdings in this
clause 5.2(g) applies to information or data furnished or
supplied by or derived from Partners or any of its Subsidiaries.
(h) Absence of Undisclosed
Liabilities. Except as disclosed in the audited
financial statements (or notes thereto), including in such
partys Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009, or in the financial
statements (or notes thereto) included in subsequent SEC
Documents filed by such party prior to the date hereof, neither
such party nor any of its consolidated subsidiaries had at
December 31, 2009 or, has incurred since that date, any
liabilities or obligations (whether absolute, accrued,
contingent or otherwise) of any nature, except
(i) liabilities, obligations or contingencies that
(A) are accrued or reserved against in the financial
statements of such party included in the SEC Documents filed
prior to the date hereof, or reflected in the notes thereto, or
(B) were incurred since December 31, 2009 in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices
or (ii) liabilities, obligations or contingencies that
(A) would not reasonably be expected, either individually
or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect on such
party and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole or
(B) that have been discharged or paid in full prior to the
date hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein,
Holdings makes no representation or warranty with respect to any
liability or obligation of Partners or any of its Subsidiaries.
(i) Compliance with Law. Such party and
each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with and are not in
default under or in violation of any applicable Law, except
where such non-compliance, default or violation would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on such party. Since
December 31, 2009, neither such party nor any of its
Subsidiaries has received any written notice or, to such
partys Knowledge, other communication from any
Governmental Authority regarding any actual or possible
violation of, or failure to comply with, any Law, except as
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on such party.
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(j) [Reserved]
(k) Material Contracts.
(i) Except for this Agreement, as of the date hereof,
neither such party nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or
bound by any material contract (as such term is
defined in Item 601(b)(10) of
Regulation S-K
of the SEC). All contracts of the type referred to in the
previous sentence are referred to herein as Holdings
Material Contracts or Partners Material
Contracts, as applicable.
(ii) (A) In the case of Holdings, (1) each
Holdings Material Contract is valid and binding and in full
force and effect, (2) Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries
has performed all obligations required to be performed by it to
date under each Holdings Material Contract, (3) no event or
condition exists which constitutes or, after notice or lapse of
time or both, would constitute, a default on the part of
Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries under any such Holdings
Material Contract and (4) to the Knowledge of Holdings, no
other party to such Holdings Material Contract is in default in
any respect thereunder; and (B) in the case of Partners,
(1) each Partners Material Contract is valid and binding
and in full force and effect, (2) Partners and each of its
Subsidiaries has performed all obligations required to be
performed by it to date under each Partners Material Contract,
(3) no event or condition exists which constitutes or,
after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute, a
default on the part of Partners or any of its Subsidiaries under
any such Partners Material Contract and (4) to the
Knowledge of Partners, no other party to such Partners Material
Contract is in default in any respect thereunder.
(l) No Brokers. No action has been taken
by such party that would give rise to any valid claim against
any party hereto for a brokerage commission, finders fee
or other like payment with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, excluding, in the case of
Holdings, fees to be paid to Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated, and, in the case of Partners, fees to be paid to
Barclays Capital Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, in
every case pursuant to letter agreements, the existence of which
have been heretofore disclosed to the other party and which fees
have been disclosed to the other party.
(m) Tax Matters.
(i) All material returns, declarations, reports, estimates,
information returns and statements required to be filed under
federal, state, local or any foreign Tax Laws (Tax
Returns) with respect to such party or any of its
Subsidiaries, have been timely filed, or requests for extensions
have been timely filed and have not expired;
(ii) all Tax Returns filed by such party are complete and
accurate in all material respects;
(iii) all Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns and all
other Taxes, if any, required to be paid by such party or its
Subsidiaries for all periods ending through the date hereof have
been paid or adequate reserves have been established, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, for
the payment of such Taxes;
(iv) no material (A) audit or examination or
(B) refund litigation with respect to any Tax Return of
such party is pending. As of the date hereof, neither such party
nor any of its Subsidiaries (x) has granted any requests,
agreements, consents or waivers to extend the statutory period
of limitations applicable to the assessment of any Taxes with
respect to any Tax Returns nor (y) is a party to any Tax
sharing or Tax indemnity agreement;
(v) such party has in effect a valid election under
Section 754 of the Code; and
(vi) such party is properly classified as a partnership for
U.S. federal income tax purposes, and not as an association
or a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation under
Section 7704 of the Code and has been properly treated as
such since its formation.
(n) Employee Benefits Matters. Holdings
has no Compensation and Benefit Plans.
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(o) Operations of MergerCo. In the case
of Partners, MergerCo was formed solely for the purpose of
engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
has engaged in no business other than in connection with
entering into this Agreement and engaging in the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(p) Holdings Fairness Opinion. Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated has delivered to the
Holdings Audit Committee its written opinion to the effect that,
as of the date of such opinion and subject to certain
assumptions, qualifications, limitations and other matters
stated therein, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a financial
point of view, to the Holdings Unitholders other than the
Holdings Supporting Unitholders.
(q) Partners Fairness Opinion. Credit
Suisse Securities (USA) LLC has delivered to the Partners Audit
Committee its opinion dated as of the date of the meeting at
which the Partners Audit Committee approved this Agreement to
the effect that, as of such date, and based upon and subject to
the assumptions, qualifications and limitations and other
matters set forth therein, the Exchange Ratio in the Merger is
fair, from a financial point of view, to Partners.
(r) No Material Adverse Effect. In the
case of Partners, since December 31, 2009, there has not
been any event, change, effect, development, condition or
occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or
would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect
on Partners. In the case of Holdings, since December 31,
2009, there has not been any event, change, effect, development,
condition or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate,
has had or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material
Adverse Effect on Holdings.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
Holdings hereby covenants to and agrees with Partners, and
Partners hereby covenants to and agrees with Holdings, that:
Section 6.1 Best
Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, it shall use its commercially reasonable best
efforts in good faith to take, or cause to be taken, all
actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary,
proper, desirable or advisable under applicable Laws, so as to
permit consummation of the Merger promptly and otherwise to
enable consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
including obtaining (and cooperating with the Other Parties to
obtain) any third-party approval that is required to be obtained
by Holdings or Partners or any of their respective Subsidiaries
in connection with the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, using commercially reasonable
best efforts to lift or rescind any injunction or restraining
order or other order adversely affecting the ability of the
parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and
using commercially reasonable best efforts to defend any
litigation seeking to enjoin, prevent or delay the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby or seeking material
damages, and each shall cooperate fully with the other parties
hereto to that end, and shall furnish to the other party copies
of all correspondence, filings and communications between it and
its Affiliates and any Governmental Authority with respect to
the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 6.2 Holdings
Unitholder Approval. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, Holdings shall take, in accordance
with applicable Law, applicable stock exchange rules and the
Holdings Partnership Agreement, all action necessary to call,
hold and convene the Holdings Meeting to consider and vote upon
the approval of this Agreement and the Merger, and any other
matters required to be approved by Holdings Unitholders for
consummation of the Holdings Merger Transactions, promptly after
the date hereof. Subject to Section 6.6(c), the Holdings
Audit Committee and the Holdings GP Board shall recommend
approval of the Agreement and the Merger to the holders of Units
(the Holdings Recommendation), and Holdings shall
take all reasonable lawful action to solicit such approval by
the holders of Units. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this Agreement, if there occurs a Holdings Change in
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Recommendation in accordance with this Agreement, Holdings shall
not be required to call, hold or convene the Holdings Meeting.
Section 6.3 Registration
Statement.
(a) Each of Partners and Holdings agrees to cooperate in
the preparation of the Registration Statement (including the
Proxy Statement/ Prospectus constituting a part thereof and all
related documents) to be filed by Partners with the SEC in
connection with the issuance of New Common Units in the Merger
as contemplated by this Agreement. Provided Holdings has
cooperated as required above, Partners agrees to file the
Registration Statement with the SEC as promptly as practicable.
Each of Holdings and Partners agrees to use all commercially
reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to
be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as
practicable after filing thereof. Partners also agrees to use
commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary
state securities law or Blue Sky permits and
approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. Each of Partners and Holdings agrees to furnish
to the other party all information concerning Partners, Partners
GP and its Subsidiaries or Holdings, Holdings GP and its
Subsidiaries, as applicable, and the officers, directors and
unitholders of Partners and Holdings and any applicable
Affiliates, as applicable, and to take such other action as may
be reasonably requested in connection with the foregoing.
(b) Each of Holdings and Partners agrees, as to itself and
its Subsidiaries, that (i) none of the information supplied
or to be supplied by it for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in the Registration Statement will, at the time the
Registration Statement and each amendment or supplement thereto,
if any, becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, and (ii) the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto
will, at the date of mailing to the holders of Units and at the
time of the Holdings Meeting, not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. Each of Holdings and Partners further
agrees that if it shall become aware prior to the Closing Date
of any information that would cause any of the statements in the
Registration Statement to be false or misleading with respect to
any material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not false or misleading, it will
promptly inform the other party thereof and take the necessary
steps to correct such information in an amendment or supplement
to the Registration Statement.
(c) Partners will advise Holdings, promptly after Partners
receives notice thereof, of (i) the time when the
Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or
amendment has been filed, (ii) the issuance of any stop
order or the suspension of the qualification of New Common Units
for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, (iii) the
initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, or
(iv) any request by the SEC for the amendment or supplement
of the Registration Statement or for additional information.
(d) Holdings will use its commercially reasonable best
efforts to cause the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be mailed to
its unitholders as soon as practicable after the effective date
of the Registration Statement.
Section 6.4 Press
Releases. Prior to a Holdings Change in
Recommendation, if any, each of Holdings and Partners will not,
without the prior approval of the Holdings GP Board in the case
of Holdings and the Partners GP Board in the case of Partners,
issue any press release or written statement for general
circulation relating to the transactions contemplated hereby,
except as otherwise required by applicable Law or the rules of
the NYSE, in which case it will consult with the other party
before issuing any such press release or written statement.
Section 6.5 Access;
Information.
(a) Upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable Laws
relating to the exchange of information, each party shall, and
shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford the Other Parties and
their Representatives, access, during normal business hours
throughout the period prior to the Effective Time, to all of its
properties, books, contracts, commitments and records, and to
its Representatives, and, during such period, it shall, and
shall
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cause its Subsidiaries to, furnish promptly to such Person and
its Representatives (i) a copy of each material report,
schedule and other document filed by it pursuant to the
requirements of federal or state securities law (other than
reports or documents that Holdings or Partners or their
respective Subsidiaries, as the case may be, are not permitted
to disclose under applicable Law) and (ii) all other
information concerning its business, properties and personnel as
the Other Parties may reasonably request. Neither Holdings nor
Partners nor any of their respective Subsidiaries shall be
required to provide access to or to disclose information where
such access or disclosure would jeopardize the attorney-client
privilege of the institution in possession or control of such
information or contravene any Law, fiduciary duty or binding
agreement entered into prior to the date of this Agreement. The
parties hereto will make appropriate substitute disclosure
arrangements under the circumstances in which the restrictions
of the immediately preceding sentence apply.
(b) Partners and Holdings, respectively, will not use any
information obtained pursuant to this Section 6.5 (to which
it was not entitled under Law or any agreement other than this
Agreement) for any purpose unrelated to (i) the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or (ii) the matters contemplated by Section 6.6 in
accordance with the terms thereof, and will hold all information
and documents obtained pursuant to this Section 6.5 in
confidence. No investigation by either party of the business and
affairs of the other shall affect or be deemed to modify or
waive any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in
this Agreement, or the conditions to either partys
obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
Section 6.6 Acquisition
Proposals; Change in Recommendation.
(a) Neither Holdings GP nor Holdings shall, and they shall
use their commercially reasonable best efforts to cause their
Representatives not to, directly or indirectly,
(i) initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage or facilitate
any inquiries or the making or submission of any proposal that
constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, an
Acquisition Proposal, or (ii) participate in any
discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person
any non-public information with respect to, any Acquisition
Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to the
limitations in Section 6.6(b), nothing contained in this
Agreement shall prohibit Holdings or any of its Representatives
from furnishing any information to, including information
pertaining to Partners, or entering into or participating in
discussions or negotiations with, any person that makes an
unsolicited written Acquisition Proposal that did not result
from a knowing and intentional breach of this Section 6.6
(a Receiving Party), if (i) the Holdings Audit
Committee after consultation with its outside legal counsel and
financial advisors, determines in good faith (A) that such
Acquisition Proposal constitutes or is likely to result in a
Superior Proposal, and (B) that failure to take such action
would be inconsistent with its duties under the Holdings
Partnership Agreement and applicable Law and (ii) prior to
furnishing any such non-public information to such Receiving
Party, Holdings receives from such Receiving Party an executed
Confidentiality Agreement, provided, however, that if
Holdings receives an Acquisition Proposal that includes a
Partners Acquisition Proposal, Holdings may, in its discretion,
respond to a Receiving Party to indicate that Holdings cannot
entertain an Acquisition Proposal that includes a Partners
Acquisition Proposal.
(b) In the event that Holdings is otherwise entitled to
provide information to a Receiving Party under
Section 6.6(a), Holdings may provide any Receiving Party
with any non-public information or data pertaining to Partners
(the Partners Non-Public Information) only if
Holdings has not knowingly and intentionally breached this
Section 6.6 and then only if (i) the Holdings Audit
Committee determines in good faith, after consultation with its
outside legal counsel and financial advisors that the provision
of such Partners Non-Public Information to the Receiving Party
may reasonably be expected to lead to a Holdings Change in
Recommendation and (ii) Holdings shall have first
(A) required the Receiving Party to execute a
Confidentiality Agreement, (B) furnished a copy of such
Confidentiality Agreement to Partners and (C) notified
Partners of the identity of such Receiving Party. Holdings shall
promptly provide or make available to Partners any non-public
information concerning Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that
is provided or made available to any Receiving Party pursuant to
this Section 6.6 which was not previously provided or made
available to Partners. Partners shall provide to Holdings and
any Receiving Party that has executed a Confidentiality
Agreement any Partners Non-Public Information that Holdings
reasonably requests in exercising its rights under this
Section 6.6. Holdings shall not provide to any Receiving
Party, and Partners shall not be required to provide to any
Receiving Party, in each case pursuant to this Section 6.6,
any
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information pertaining to Partners where Holdings knows that the
provision of such information would (x) jeopardize the
attorney-client privilege of the institution in possession or
control of such information or (y) contravene any Law or
binding agreement entered into prior to the date of this
Agreement.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 6.6(c), neither the Holdings Audit Committee nor
the Holdings GP Board shall: (i) (A) withdraw, modify or
qualify in any manner adverse to Partners the Holdings
Recommendation or (B) publicly approve or recommend, or
publicly propose to approve or recommend, any Acquisition
Proposal (any action described in this clause (i) being
referred to as a Holdings Change in Recommendation);
or (ii) approve, adopt or recommend, or publicly propose to
approve, adopt or recommend, or allow Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries to execute or enter into, any letter of intent,
memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, merger
agreement, acquisition agreement, option agreement, joint
venture agreement, partnership agreement, or other similar
contract or any tender or exchange offer providing for, with
respect to, or in connection with, any Acquisition Proposal.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to obtaining
the Holdings Unitholder Approval, the Holdings Audit Committee
may make a Holdings Change in Recommendation if it has concluded
in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel
and financial advisors, that failure to make a Holdings Change
in Recommendation would be inconsistent with its duties under
the Holdings Partnership Agreement and applicable Law;
provided, however, that (1) the Holdings Audit
Committee shall not be entitled to exercise its right to make a
Holdings Change in Recommendation pursuant to this sentence
unless Holdings and Holdings GP have: (x) complied in all
material respects with this Section 6.6, (y) provided
to Partners and the Partners Audit Committee two Business Days
prior written notice (such notice, a Notice of Proposed
Recommendation Change) advising Partners that the Holdings
GP Audit Committee intends to take such action and specifying
the reasons therefor in reasonable detail, including, if
applicable, the terms and conditions of any Superior Proposal
that is the basis of the proposed action and the identity of the
Person making the proposal (it being understood and agreed that
any amendment to the terms of any such Superior Proposal shall
require a new Notice of Proposed Recommendation Change and an
additional two Business Day period), and (z) if applicable,
provided to Partners all materials and information delivered or
made available to the Person or group of persons making any
Superior Proposal in connection with such Superior Proposal (to
the extent not previously provided), and (2) the Holdings
Audit Committee shall not be entitled to make a Holdings Change
in Recommendation in response to an Acquisition Proposal unless
such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal. Any
Holdings Change in Recommendation shall not invalidate the
approval of this Agreement or any other approval of the Holdings
Audit Committee, including in any respect that would have the
effect of causing any state (including Delaware) corporate
takeover statute or other similar statute to be applicable to
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including the
Merger. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the
contrary, Partners and Partners GP shall maintain, and cause
their Representatives to maintain, the confidentiality of all
information received from Holdings pursuant to this
Section 6.6, subject to the exceptions contained in the
Confidentiality Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, for the purposes of this
Section 6.6(c), without the prior written consent of the
Partners Audit Committee, no Acquisition Proposal shall
constitute a Superior Proposal if such Acquisition Proposal is
conditioned on completion of a Partners Acquisition Proposal
that would require Special Approval as defined in
and required under the Partners Existing Partnership Agreement.
(d) In addition to the obligations of Holdings set forth in
this Section 6.6, Holdings shall as promptly as practicable
(and in any event within 24 hours after receipt) advise
Partners orally and in writing of any Acquisition Proposal or
any matter giving rise to a Holdings Change in Recommendation
and the material terms and conditions of any such Acquisition
Proposal or any matter giving rise to a Holdings Change in
Recommendation (including any changes thereto) and the identity
of the Person making any such Acquisition Proposal. Holdings
shall keep Partners informed on a reasonably current basis of
material developments with respect to any such Acquisition
Proposal or any matter giving rise to a Holdings Change in
Recommendation.
(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent
Holdings or the Holdings Audit Committee from taking and
disclosing to the holders of Units a position contemplated by
Rule 14d-9
and
Rule 14e-2(a)
promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any similar communication
to limited partners of Holdings) or from making any legally
required disclosure to holders of Units. Any
stop-look-and-listen communication by
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Holdings or the Holdings GP Board to the limited partners of
Holdings pursuant to
Rule 14d-9(f)
promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any similar communication
to the limited partners of Holdings) shall not be considered a
failure to make, or a withdrawal, modification or change in any
manner adverse to Partners of, all or a portion of the Holdings
Recommendation.
Section 6.7 Affiliate
Arrangements.
(a) Not later than the 15th day after the mailing of
the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, Holdings shall deliver to
Partners a schedule listing each person that, to the best of its
knowledge, is or is reasonably likely to be, as of the date of
the Holdings Meeting, deemed to be an affiliate of
Holdings (a Rule 145 Affiliate) as that term is
used in Rule 145 under the Securities Act.
(b) Holdings shall use its commercially reasonable best
efforts to cause its Rule 145 Affiliates not to sell any
securities received under the Merger in violation of the
registration requirements of the Securities Act, including
Rule 145 thereunder.
Section 6.8 Takeover
Laws. Neither Holdings nor Partners shall take
any action that would cause the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement to be subject to requirements imposed by any
Takeover Laws, and each of them shall take all necessary steps
within its control to exempt (or ensure the continued exemption
of) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement from, or if
necessary challenge the validity or applicability of, any rights
plan adopted by such party or any applicable Takeover Law, as
now or hereafter in effect, including Takeover Laws of any state
that purport to apply to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section 6.9 No
Rights Triggered. Each of Holdings and Partners
shall take all steps necessary to ensure that the entering into
of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and any other action or combination of
actions, or any other transactions contemplated hereby, do not
and will not result in the grant of any Rights to any person
(a) in the case of Holdings, under the Holdings Partnership
Agreement, and, in the case of Partners, under the Partners
Existing Partnership Agreement or (b) under any material
agreement to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.
Section 6.10 New
Common Units Listed. In the case of Partners,
Partners shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to
list, prior to the Closing, on the NYSE, upon official notice of
issuance, New Common Units.
Section 6.11 Third-Party
Approvals; Holdings Credit Agreement.
(a) Partners and Holdings and their respective Subsidiaries
shall cooperate and use their respective commercially reasonable
best efforts to prepare all documentation, to effect all
filings, to obtain all permits, consents, approvals and
authorizations of all Governmental Authorities and third parties
necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and to comply with the terms and conditions of such
permits, consents, approvals and authorizations and to cause the
Merger to be consummated and the Partners Amended and Restated
Partnership Agreement to be effective as expeditiously as
practicable. Each of Partners and Holdings shall have the right
to review in advance, and to the extent practicable each will
consult with the other, in each case subject to applicable Laws
relating to the exchange of information, with respect to, all
material written information submitted to any third party or any
Governmental Authorities in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. In exercising the foregoing
right, each of the parties hereto agrees to act reasonably and
promptly. Each party hereto agrees that it will consult with the
Other Parties with respect to the obtaining of all material
permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third
parties and Governmental Authorities necessary or advisable to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and
each party will keep the Other Parties apprised of the status of
material matters relating to completion of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(b) Each of Partners and Holdings agrees, upon request, to
furnish the other party with all information concerning itself,
its Subsidiaries, directors, officers and unitholders and such
other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in
connection with the Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement/
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Prospectus or any filing, notice or application made by or on
behalf of such other party or any of such other partys
Subsidiaries to any Governmental Authority in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, Partners shall, and
shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use its commercially
reasonable efforts to, on or prior to the Closing Date,
(i) amend or refinance the EPO Credit Agreement and the DEP
Credit Agreements in a form reasonably satisfactory to Partners
in order for the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby
not to constitute a default under the EPO Credit Agreement, the
DEP Credit Agreements or any of the other loan documents related
to such credit agreements and (ii) obtain financing
satisfactory to it in order to pay, and to pay, all amounts
outstanding under the Holdings Credit Agreement unless otherwise
consented to by lenders under the Holdings Credit Agreement.
(d) Holdings shall, and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries to, cause the satisfaction on or prior to the
Closing Date of (or secure the lenders waiver of) all
Holdings obligations required under the Holdings Credit
Agreement to be satisfied on or prior to the Closing Date.
Section 6.12 Indemnification;
Directors and Officers Insurance.
(a) Without limiting any additional rights that any
director, officer, trustee, employee, agent, or fiduciary may
have under any employment or indemnification agreement or under
the Holdings Partnership Agreement, the Holdings GP LLC
Agreement, or this Agreement or, if applicable, similar
organizational documents or agreements of any of Holdings
Subsidiaries, from and after the Effective Time, New Partners
GP, Partners and the Surviving Entity, jointly and severally,
shall: (i) indemnify and hold harmless each person who is
at the date hereof or during the period from the date hereof
through the date of the Effective Time serving as a director or
officer of Holdings GP or Partners GP or of any of their
respective Subsidiaries or as a trustee of (or in a similar
capacity with) any Compensation and Benefit Plan of any thereof
(collectively, the Indemnified Parties) to the
fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable Law, as now
or hereafter in effect, in connection with any Claim and any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, Indemnification
Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in
settlement (including all interest, assessments and other
charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of any
thereof) resulting therefrom; and (ii) promptly pay on
behalf of or, within 10 days after any request for
advancement, advance to each of the Indemnified Parties, any
Indemnification Expenses incurred in defending, serving as a
witness with respect to or otherwise participating with respect
to any Claim in advance of the final disposition of such Claim,
including payment on behalf of or advancement to the Indemnified
Party of any Indemnification Expenses incurred by such
Indemnified Party in connection with enforcing any rights with
respect to such indemnification
and/or
advancement, in each case without the requirement of any bond or
other security. The indemnification and advancement obligations
of New Partners GP, Partners and the Surviving Entity pursuant
to this Section 6.12(a) shall extend to acts or omissions
occurring at or before the Effective Time and any Claim relating
thereto (including with respect to any acts or omissions
occurring in connection with the approval of this Agreement and
the consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, including the consideration and approval
thereof and the process undertaken in connection therewith and
any Claim relating thereto), and all rights to indemnification
and advancement conferred hereunder shall continue as to any
Indemnified Party who has ceased to be a director or officer of
Holdings GP or Partners GP after the date hereof and shall inure
to the benefit of such persons heirs, executors and
personal and legal representatives. As used in this
Section 6.12(a): (x) the term Claim means
any threatened, asserted, pending or completed action, whether
instituted by any party hereto, any Governmental Authority or
any other person, that any Indemnified Party in good faith
believes might lead to the institution of any action or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
investigative or other, including any arbitration or other
alternative dispute resolution mechanism (Action),
arising out of or pertaining to matters that relate to such
Indemnified Partys duties or service as a director or
officer of Holdings GP or Partners GP or of any of their
respective Subsidiaries or as a trustee of (or in a similar
capacity with) any Compensation and Benefit Plan of any thereof;
and (y) the term Indemnification Expenses means
reasonable attorneys fees and all other reasonable costs,
expenses and obligations (including experts fees, travel
expenses, court costs, retainers, transcript fees, duplicating,
printing and binding costs, as well as telecommunications,
postage and courier charges) paid or incurred in connection with
investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in
(including on appeal), or preparing to investigate, defend, be a
witness in or participate in, any Claim for
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which indemnification is authorized pursuant to this
Section 6.12(a), including any Action relating to a claim
for indemnification or advancement brought by an Indemnified
Party. Neither New Partners GP nor Partners nor the Surviving
Entity shall settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment in any actual or threatened Action in respect of which
indemnification has been or could be sought by such Indemnified
Party hereunder unless such settlement, compromise or judgment
includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from
all liability arising out of such Action without admission or
finding of wrongdoing, or such Indemnified Party otherwise
consents thereto.
(b) Without limiting the foregoing, Partners and MergerCo
agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of
expenses and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions
occurring at or prior to the Effective Time now existing in
favor of the Indemnitees as provided in the Holdings Partnership
Agreement (or, as applicable, the charter, bylaws, partnership
agreement, limited liability company agreement, or other
organizational documents of any of Holdings Subsidiaries)
and indemnification agreements of Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries shall be assumed by the Surviving Entity, Partners
and New Partners GP in the Merger, without further action, at
the Effective Time and shall survive the Merger and shall
continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.
(c) For a period of six years from the Effective Time, the
Partners Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement shall
contain provisions no less favorable with respect to
indemnification, advancement of expenses and limitations on
liability of directors and officers than are set forth in the
Holdings Partnership Agreement, which provisions shall not be
amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six
years from the Effective Time in any manner that would affect
adversely the rights thereunder of individuals who, at or prior
to the Effective Time, were Indemnified Parties, unless such
modification shall be required by Law and then only to the
minimum extent required by Law.
(d) For a period of six years from the Effective Time,
Partners shall, or shall cause EPCO to, maintain in effect the
current directors and officers liability insurance
policies covering the Indemnified Parties maintained by EPCO
(but may substitute therefor other policies of at least the same
coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions that are no
less advantageous to the Indemnified Parties so long as that
substitution does not result in gaps or lapses in coverage) with
respect to matters occurring on or before the Effective Time,
but neither Partners nor EPCO will be required to pay annual
premiums in excess of 300% of the last annual premiums paid
therefor prior to the date hereof and shall purchase as much
coverage as is reasonably practicable for that amount if the
coverage described in this Section 6.12(d) would cost in
excess of that amount.
(e) If Partners, New Partners GP, the Surviving Entity or
any of their respective successors or assigns
(i) consolidates with or merges with or into any other
person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation,
partnership or other entity of such consolidation or merger or
(ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its
properties and assets to any person, then, and in each such
case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and
assigns of Partners, New Partners GP or the Surviving Entity
assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.12.
(f) Partners and New Partners GP shall cause the Surviving
Entity to perform all of the obligations of the Surviving Entity
under this Section 6.12.
(g) This Section 6.12 shall survive the consummation
of the Merger and is intended to be for the benefit of, and
shall be enforceable by, the Indemnified Parties and the
Indemnitees and their respective heirs and personal
representatives, and shall be binding on Partners, New Partners
GP, the Surviving Entity and their respective successors and
assigns.
Section 6.13 Notification
of Certain Matters. Each of Holdings and Partners
shall give prompt notice to the other of (a) any fact,
event or circumstance known to it that (i) is reasonably
likely, individually or taken together with all other facts,
events and circumstances known to it, to result in any Material
Adverse Effect with respect to it or (ii) would cause or
constitute a material breach of any of its representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements contained herein, and (b)
(i) any change in its condition (financial or otherwise) or
business or (ii) any litigation or governmental complaints,
investigations or hearings, in each
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case to the extent such change, litigation, complaints,
investigations, or hearings results in, or would reasonably be
expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.14 Rule 16b-3. Prior
to the Effective Time, Holdings shall take such steps as may be
reasonably requested by any party hereto to cause dispositions
of Holdings equity securities (including derivative securities)
pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by
each individual who is a director or officer of Holdings to be
exempt under
Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with that
certain No-Action Letter dated January 12, 1999 issued by
the SEC regarding such matters.
Section 6.15 Amended
and Restated Partnership Agreement of Partners; Amended
Certificate of Limited Partnership. Effective as
of the Effective Time, New Partners GP shall execute and make
effective the Partners Amended and Restated Partnership
Agreement. Promptly after the Effective Time, New Partners GP
shall execute and file an amended certificate of limited
partnership evidencing its status as the new general partner of
Partners in accordance with the DRULPA and the Partners Amended
and Restated Partnership Agreement.
Section 6.16 Holdings
GP Board Membership. The members of the Holdings
GP Board immediately prior to the Effective Time shall continue
to serve as members of the Holdings GP Board following the
Effective Time unless otherwise determined or removed effective
at such time by the sole member of Holdings GP in accordance
with the Holdings GP Amended and Restated LLC Agreement;
provided, immediately following the Effective Time, Holdings GP
shall continue to maintain a Holdings Audit Committee consisting
of not less than three independent directors in accordance with
the Partners Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement.
Section 6.17 Distributions.
Each of Holdings GP and Partners GP shall consult with the Other
Party regarding the declaration and payment of distributions in
respect of the Holdings Units and the Partners Common Units and
the record and payment dates relating thereto, so that no
Holdings Unitholder shall receive two distributions, or fail to
receive one distribution, for any single calendar quarter with
respect to its applicable Holdings Units or any Partners Common
Units any such Holdings Unitholder receives in exchange therefor
pursuant to the Merger.
Section 6.18 Fourth Amendment to Holdings
Partnership Agreement. Effective immediately
prior to the Partners GP Merger and the Effective Time, Holdings
GP shall execute and deliver the Fourth Amendment in
substantially the form attached as Annex A, and, in
connection with the Fourth Amendment, Holdings shall issue
13,921 Units to Holdings GP in exchange for the conversion of
the economic general partner interest in Holdings to a
non-economic general partner interest.
Section 6.19 Holdings
GP Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company
Agreement. As of the Effective Time, the Holdings
GP LLC Agreement shall be amended and restated in substantially
the form of the Holdings GP Amended and Restated LLC Agreement
attached hereto as Annex B.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS
TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
The obligations of each of the parties to consummate the Merger
are conditioned upon the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing
of each of the following:
Section 7.1 Unitholder
Vote. This Agreement and the Merger shall have
been approved and adopted by the affirmative vote of holders (as
of the record date for the Holdings Meeting) of a majority of
the outstanding Units (collectively, Holdings Unitholder
Approval).
Section 7.2 Governmental
Approvals. All filings required to be made prior
to the Effective Time with, and all other consents, approvals,
permits and authorizations required to be obtained prior to the
Effective Time from, any Governmental Authority in connection
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the
parties hereto or their Affiliates shall have
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been made or obtained, except where the failure to obtain such
consents, approvals, permits and authorizations would not be
reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect on
Partners or Holdings.
Section 7.3 No
Injunction. No order, decree or injunction of any
court or agency of competent jurisdiction shall be in effect,
and no Law shall have been enacted or adopted, that enjoins,
prohibits or makes illegal consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated hereby, and no action, proceeding or
investigation by any Governmental Authority with respect to the
Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby shall be
pending that seeks to restrain, enjoin, prohibit or delay
consummation of the Merger or such other transaction or to
impose any material restrictions or requirements thereon or on
Partners or Holdings with respect thereto; provided,
however, that prior to invoking this condition, each
party shall have complied fully with its obligations under
Section 6.1.
Section 7.4 Representations,
Warranties and Covenants of the Partners
Parties. In the case of Holdings obligation
to consummate the Merger:
(a) each of the representations and warranties contained
herein of Partners and Partners GP shall be true and correct in
all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and upon
the Closing Date with the same effect as though all such
representations and warranties had been made on the Closing
Date, except for any such representations and warranties made as
of a specified date, which shall be true and correct as of such
date in all material respects.
(b) each and all of the agreements and covenants of
Partners, Partners GP and MergerCo to be performed and complied
with pursuant to this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date
shall have been duly performed and complied with in all material
respects; and
(c) Holdings shall have received a certificate signed by
the Chief Executive Officer of Partners GP (executed immediately
prior to the Partners GP Merger), dated the Closing Date, to the
effect set forth in Section 7.4(a) and Section 7.4(b).
Section 7.5 Representations,
Warranties and Covenants of the Holdings
Parties. In the case of Partners obligation
to consummate the Merger:
(a) each of the representations and warranties contained
herein of Holdings and Holdings GP shall be true and correct in
all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and upon
the Closing Date with the same effect as though all such
representations and warranties had been made on the Closing
Date, except for any such representations and warranties made as
of a specified date, which shall be true and correct as of such
date in all material respects.
(b) each and all of the agreements and covenants of
Holdings and Holdings GP to be performed and complied with
pursuant to this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date shall
have been duly performed and complied with in all material
respects; and
(c) Partners shall have received a certificate signed by
the Chief Executive Officer of Holdings GP, dated the Closing
Date, to the effect set forth in Section 7.5(a) and
Section 7.5(b).
Section 7.6 Effective
Registration Statement. The Registration
Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act
and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings
for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the
SEC.
Section 7.7 Opinion of Andrews Kurth
LLP. In the case of Partners obligation to
consummate the Merger, Partners shall have received an opinion
from Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel to Partners, to the effect that:
(a) the adoption of the Partners Amended and Restated
Partnership Agreement, the Merger and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the loss of
limited liability of any limited partner of Partners;
(b) the adoption of the Partners Amended and Restated
Partnership Agreement, the Merger and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will not cause Partners or any
Operating Partnership (as
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defined in the Partners Existing Partnership Agreement) to be
treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise
to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes;
(c) at least 90% of the current gross income of Partners
constitutes qualifying income within the meaning of
Section 7704(d) of the Code;
(d) the Registration Statement accurately sets forth the
material federal income tax consequences to the Partners
Unaffiliated Unitholders of the Merger and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; and
(e) no gain or loss should be recognized by existing
Partners Unaffiliated Unitholders as a result of the Merger
(other than gain resulting from any decrease in partnership
liabilities pursuant to Section 752 of the Code).
In rendering such opinions, Andrews Kurth LLP may require and
rely upon representations and covenants including those
contained in certificates of officers of Partners GP and others
and opinions of Delaware counsel reasonably satisfactory in form
and substance to Andrews Kurth LLP.
Section 7.8 Opinion
of Vinson & Elkins LLP. In the case of
Holdings obligation to consummate the Merger, Holdings
shall have received an opinion from Vinson & Elkins
LLP, counsel to Holdings, to the effect that:
(a) no gain or loss should be recognized by the holders of
Units to the extent Common Units are received in exchange
therefor as a result of the Merger (other than gain resulting
from either (i) any decrease in partnership liabilities
pursuant to Section 752 of the Code or (ii) a sale of
New Common Units pursuant to Section 3.3(e)); and
(b) the Registration Statement accurately sets forth the
material federal income tax consequences to the holders of Units
of the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
In rendering such opinion, Vinson & Elkins LLP may
require and rely upon representations and covenants including
those contained in certificates of officers of Holdings GP and
others and opinions of Delaware counsel reasonably satisfactory
in form and substance to Vinson & Elkins LLP.
Section 7.9 NYSE
Listing. The New Common Units shall have been
approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of
issuance.
Section 7.10 Partners
GP Merger. The Partners GP Merger shall have
become effective, and Holdings shall have been duly admitted as
the new sole general partner of Partners.
Section 7.11 Partners
Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement. New
Partners GP shall have executed the Partners Amended and
Restated Partnership Agreement, and New Partners GP shall have
been duly admitted as a general partner of Partners in
accordance with Section 10.3 of the Partners Amended and
Restated Partnership Agreement.
Section 7.12 Distribution
Waiver Agreement. EPCO Holdings and DFI shall
have executed and delivered the Distribution Waiver Agreement.
Section 7.13 No
Material Adverse Effect. In the case of
Holdings obligation to consummate the Merger, there shall
not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect with respect to
Partners between the date of this Agreement and the Closing
Date. In the case of Partners obligation to consummate the
Merger, there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to Holdings between the date of this Agreement and
the Closing Date.
Section 7.14 Change
in Law Tax Opinions. In the case of
Holdings obligation to consummate the Merger, if Holdings
has delivered written notice of an intention to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(e), Holdings shall have
received the tax opinion described in the proviso contained in
Section 8.1(e), and in the case of Partners
obligation to consummate the Merger, if Partners has delivered
written notice of an intention to terminate this Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.1(f), Partners shall have received
the tax opinion described in the proviso contained in
Section 8.1(f).
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ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION
Section 8.1 Termination. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be
terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to
the Effective Time whether before or after Holdings Unitholder
Approval:
(a) By the mutual consent of Partners and Holdings in a
written instrument.
(b) By either Partners or Holdings upon written notice to
the other, if:
(i) the Merger has not been consummated on or before
December 31, 2010 (the Termination Date);
(ii) any Governmental Authority has issued a statute, rule,
order, decree or regulation or taken any other action, in each
case permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting
the consummation of the Merger or making the Merger illegal and
such statute, rule, order, decree, regulation or other action
shall have become final and nonappealable (provided that
the terminating party is not then in breach of Section 6.1);
(iii) Holdings (A) determines not to, or otherwise
fails to, hold the Holdings Meeting in accordance with
Section 6.2 or (B) does not obtain the Holdings
Unitholder Approval at the Holdings Meeting; provided,
however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under
this Section 8.1(b)(iii) shall not be available to Holdings
where the failure to obtain the Holdings Unitholder Approval
shall have been caused by the action or failure to act of
Holdings and such action or failure to act constitutes a
material breach by Holdings of this Agreement;
(iv) there has been a material breach of or any material
inaccuracy in any of the representations or warranties set forth
in this Agreement on the part of any of the Other Parties
(treating Partners and Partners GP as one party for the purposes
of this Section 8.1 and treating Holdings and Holdings GP
as one party for the purposes of this Section 8.1), which
breach is not cured within 30 days following receipt by the
breaching party of written notice of such breach from the
terminating party, or which breach, by its nature, cannot be
cured prior to the Termination Date (provided in any such
case that the terminating party is not then in material breach
of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement
contained herein); provided, however, that no
party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant
to this Section 8.1(b)(iv) unless the breach of a
representation or warranty, together with all other such
breaches, would entitle the party receiving such representation
not to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement under Section 7.4 (in the case of a breach of
representation or warranty by Partners or Partners GP) or
Section 7.5 (in the case of a breach of representation or
warranty by Holdings or Holdings GP); or
(v) if there has been a material breach of any of the
covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement on the part
of any of the Other Parties, which breach has not been cured
within 30 days following receipt by the breaching party of
written notice of such breach from the terminating party, or
which breach, by its nature, cannot be cured prior to the
Termination Date (provided in any such case that the terminating
party is not then in material breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant or other agreement contained herein);
provided, however, that no party shall have the
right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 8.1(b)(v) unless the breach of covenants or
agreements, together with all other such breaches, would entitle
the party receiving the benefit of such covenants or agreements
not to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement under Section 7.4 (in the case of a breach of
covenants or agreements by Partners or Partners GP) or
Section 7.5 (in the case of a breach of covenants or
agreements by Holdings or Holdings GP).
(c) By Partners, upon written notice to Holdings, in the
event that a Holdings Change in Recommendation has occurred.
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(d) By Holdings, upon written notice to Partners, in the
event that, at any time after the date of this Agreement and
prior to obtaining the Holdings Unitholder Approval, Holdings
receives an Acquisition Proposal and the Holdings Audit
Committee shall have concluded in good faith that such
Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal, the
Holdings Audit Committee shall have made a Holdings Change in
Recommendation pursuant to Section 6.6(c) with respect to
such Superior Proposal, Holdings has not knowingly and
intentionally breached Section 6.6 of this Agreement, and
the Holdings Audit Committee concurrently approves, and Holdings
concurrently enters into, a definitive agreement with respect to
such Superior Proposal. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, for purposes of this
Section 8.1(d), without the prior written consent of the
Partners Audit Committee, no Acquisition Proposal shall
constitute a Superior Proposal if such Acquisition Proposal is
conditioned on completion of a Partners Acquisition Proposal
that would require Special Approval as defined in
and required under the Partners Existing Partnership Agreement.
(e) By Holdings, 30 days after written notice to
Partners, if as a result of a Change in U.S. Federal Income
Tax Law, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
Article II (taking into account any available elections)
could reasonably be expected to materially increase the amount
of U.S. federal income tax due from any holder of Holdings
Units as a result of owning or disposing of Common Units
acquired pursuant to such transactions, as compared to
U.S. federal income tax due from such holder as a result of
owning or disposing of any Holdings Units in the event the
transactions contemplated by Article II did not occur;
provided, that no termination of this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 8.1(e) shall be effective in the event that, within
30 days after receipt of such notice, Partners has provided
to Holdings the opinion of nationally recognized tax counsel,
reasonably acceptable to Holdings, to the effect that such
holder of Holdings Units should not be liable for such increased
tax as a result of owning or disposing of Common Units.
(f) By Partners, 30 days after written notice to
Holdings, if as a result of a Change in U.S. Federal Income
Tax Law, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
Article II (taking into account any available elections)
could reasonably be expected to materially increase the amount
of U.S. federal income tax due from any holder of Common
Units as a result of owning or disposing of Common Units, as
compared to U.S. federal income tax due from such holder as
a result of owning or disposing of Common Units in the event the
transactions contemplated by Article II did not occur;
provided, that no termination of this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 8.1(f) shall be effective in the event that, within
30 days after receipt of such notice, Holdings has provided
to Partners the opinion of nationally recognized tax counsel,
reasonably acceptable to Partners, to the effect that such
holder of Common Units should not be liable for such increased
tax as a result of owning or disposing of Common Units.
Section 8.2 Effect
of Termination. In the event of the termination
of this Agreement as provided in Section 8.1, written
notice thereof shall forthwith be given by the terminating party
to the other parties specifying the provision of this Agreement
pursuant to which such termination is made, and except as
provided in this Section 8.2, this Agreement (other than
Article IX) shall forthwith become null and void after
the expiration of any applicable period following such notice.
In the event of such termination, there shall be no liability on
the part of any party hereto, except as set forth in
Section 9.1 of this Agreement and except with respect to
the requirement to comply with the Confidentiality Agreement;
provided that nothing herein shall relieve any party from
any liability or obligation with respect to any fraud or
intentional breach of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1 Fees
and Expenses.
(a) Whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party
incurring such costs or expenses, except as provided in
Section 9.1(b), Section 9.1(c) and Section 9.1(e).
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(b) If this Agreement is terminated by Partners pursuant to
Section 8.1(b)(iv) or Section 8.1(b)(v) or by Holdings
or Partners pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(iii)(B), then
Holdings shall pay to Partners the Expenses of Partners.
(c) If this Agreement is terminated by Holdings pursuant to
Section 8.1(b)(iv) or Section 8.1(b)(v), then Partners
shall pay to Holdings the Expenses of Holdings. If this
Agreement is terminated by Holdings pursuant to
Section 8.1(b)(i), then Partners shall pay to Holdings the
Expenses of Holdings; provided, Partners shall not be required
to pay such expenses if an Acquisition Proposal with respect to
Holdings has been proposed by any Person (meaning, for the
purpose of this Section 9.1(c), a Person other than
Partners, Partners GP and MergerCo) or any Person has publicly
announced its intention (whether or not conditional) to make
such an Acquisition Proposal or such an Acquisition Proposal or
such intention has otherwise become publicly known to Holdings
Unitholders generally.
(d) Except as otherwise provided herein, any payment of
Expenses pursuant to this Section 9.1 shall be made by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated
by Partners or an account designated by Holdings, as applicable,
within one Business Day after such payment becomes payable. The
parties acknowledge that the agreements contained in this
Section 9.1 are an integral part of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these
agreements, none of the parties would enter into this Agreement.
(e) (i) If the Merger is consummated, Partners shall
pay, or cause to be paid, any and all property or transfer taxes
imposed on either party in connection with the Merger,
(ii) expenses incurred in connection with filing, printing
and mailing the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Registration
Statement shall be paid by Partners and (iii) any filing
fees payable pursuant to regulatory Laws and other filing fees
incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the
party incurring the fees. As used in this agreement,
Expenses includes all
out-of-pocket
expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel,
accountants, investment bankers, experts and consultants to a
party hereto and its Affiliates) incurred by a party or on its
behalf in connection with or related to the authorization,
preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including
the preparation, printing, filing and mailing of the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement and the
solicitation of Holdings Unitholder Approval and all other
matters related to the transactions contemplated hereby;
provided that the amount of Expenses payable by one party
to another under this Section 9.1 shall not exceed
$5.0 million.
(f) This Section 9.1 shall survive any termination of
this Agreement.
Section 9.2 Waiver;
Amendment. Subject to compliance with applicable
Law, prior to the Closing, any provision of this Agreement may
be (a) waived in writing by the party benefited by the
provision, or (b) amended or modified at any time, whether
before or after the Holdings Unitholder Approval, by an
agreement in writing between the parties hereto,
provided, that after the Holdings Unitholder Approval, no
amendment shall be made that requires further Holdings
Unitholder Approval without such approval; and provided,
further, in addition to any other approvals required by the
parties constituent documents, the foregoing waivers,
amendments or modifications in clauses (a) and (b) are
approved by the Partners Audit Committee in the case of Partners
and by the Holdings Audit Committee in the case of Holdings.
Section 9.3 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to constitute an original.
Section 9.4 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
interpreted in accordance with, the Laws of the State of
Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law principles
thereof (except to the extent that mandatory provisions of
federal or Delaware law govern).
Section 9.5 Confidentiality. Each
of the parties hereto and their respective agents, attorneys and
accountants will maintain the confidentiality of all information
provided in connection herewith to the extent required by, and
subject to the limitations of, Section 6.5(b).
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Section 9.6 Notices. All
notices, requests and other communications hereunder to a party
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if personally
delivered, telecopied (with confirmation of receipt) or mailed
by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to
such party at its address set forth below or such other address
as such party may specify by notice to the parties hereto.
If to Partners, to:
Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
1100 Louisiana Street, 10th floor
Houston, TX 77002
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Fax:
(713) 803-2662
With copies to:
Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
1100 Louisiana Street, 10th floor
Houston, TX 77002
Attention: Chairman of the Audit, Conflicts and Governance
Committee
and
Andrews Kurth LLP
Attn: David C. Buck, Esq.
600 Travis, Suite 4200
Houston, Texas 77002
Fax:
(713) 238-7126
and
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Attn: Frank E. Bayouth II, Esq.
1000 Louisiana, Suite 6800
Houston, Texas 77002
Fax:
(713) 483-9115
If to Holdings, to:
Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.
1100 Louisiana Street, 10th floor
Houston, TX 77002
Fax:
(713) 803-2905
Attn: Chairman of the Audit, Conflicts and Governance Committee
With copies to:
Baker & Hostetler LLP
Attn: Donald W. Brodsky, Esq.
1000 Louisiana, Suite 2000
Houston, Texas 77002
Fax:
(713) 646-1335
and
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
Attn: Douglas E. McWilliams, Esq.
1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500
Houston, Texas 77002
Fax:
(713) 615-5725
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Section 9.7 Entire
Understanding; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This
Agreement (including the documents referred to or listed herein)
represents the entire understanding of the parties hereto with
reference to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersedes
any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made.
Except as contemplated by Section 6.12, nothing in this
Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any
person, other than the parties hereto or their respective
successors, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities
under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 9.8 Severability. Any
provision of this Agreement which is invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability, without affecting in any way the
remaining provisions hereof in such jurisdiction or rendering
that or any other provision of this Agreement invalid, illegal
or unenforceable in any other jurisdiction.
Section 9.9 Headings. The
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes
only and are not part of this Agreement.
Section 9.10 Jurisdiction. The
parties hereto agree that to the fullest extent permitted by
law, any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any
provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in
connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby shall be brought in any federal court located in the
State of Delaware or the Delaware Court of Chancery, and each of
the parties hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of
such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom)
in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives,
to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection that it
may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such
suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such
suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit,
action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the
world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such
court. Without limiting the foregoing, each party agrees that to
the fullest extent permitted by law, service of process on such
party as provided in Section 9.6 shall be deemed effective
service of process on such party.
Section 9.11 Waiver
of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR
THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 9.12 Specific
Performance. The parties agree that irreparable
damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with the terms hereof and, accordingly,
that the parties shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches
of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of
the terms and provisions hereof in any federal court located in
the State of Delaware or in the Delaware Court of Chancery, in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law
or in equity.
Section 9.13 Survival. All
representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained
in this Agreement shall not survive the Closing or the
termination of this Agreement if this Agreement is terminated
prior to the Closing; provided, however, that if the
Closing occurs, the agreements of the parties in
Sections 3.3, 3.5, 6.12 and Article IX shall survive
the Closing, and if this Agreement is terminated prior to the
Closing, the agreements of the parties in Section 6.5(b),
8.2, and Article IX shall survive such termination.
[Remainder
of this page is intentionally left blank.]
A-36
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed in counterparts by their duly
authorized officers, all as of the day and year first written
above.
ENTERPRISE GP HOLDINGS L.P.
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By:
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EPE Holdings, LLC, its general partner
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By:
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/s/ Ralph
S. Cunningham
Name: Ralph
S. Cunningham
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
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EPE HOLDINGS, LLC
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By:
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/s/ Ralph
S. Cunningham
Name: Ralph
S. Cunningham
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
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ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
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By:
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Enterprise Products GP, LLC, its general partner
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By:
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/s/ Michael
A. Creel
Name: Michael
A. Creel
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
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ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS GP, LLC
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By:
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/s/ Michael
A. Creel
Name: Michael
A. Creel
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
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ENTERPRISE ETE LLC
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By:
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/s/ Michael
A. Creel
Name: Michael
A. Creel
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
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A-37
Annex
A
FOURTH
AMENDMENT TO THE FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF
ENTERPRISE GP HOLDINGS L.P.
This Fourth Amendment (this Fourth
Amendment) to the First Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.
dated effective as
of ,
2010 (the Partnership Agreement) is
hereby adopted by EPE Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the General
Partner), as general partner of the Partnership.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein are used as
defined in the Partnership Agreement.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Section 13.1(d) of the Partnership Agreement
provides that the General Partner, without the approval of any
Partner, may amend any provision of the Partnership Agreement to
reflect a change that the General Partner determines does not
adversely affect the Limited Partners (including any particular
class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of
Partnership Interests) in any material respect; and
WHEREAS, the Partnership has entered into an Agreement and Plan
of Merger, dated as of September 3, 2010 (the
Merger Agreement), by and among
Enterprise Products Partners L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (EPD), Enterprise Products
GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general
partner of EPD, Enterprise ETE LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (MergerCo), the Partnership
and the General Partner, pursuant to which, among other things,
the Partnership will merge with and into MergerCo (the
Merger), with MergerCo as the
surviving entity and each issued and outstanding unit
representing limited partner interests of the Partnership
(Unit) will be converted into the
right to receive 1.5 common units representing limited partner
interests of EPD; and
WHEREAS, the General Partner owns a 0.01% general partner
interest in the Partnership; and
WHEREAS, the General Partner has determined that conversion of
its 0.01% general partner interest in the Partnership into
(i) a non-economic interest in the Partnership and (2)
[13,921] Units does not adversely affect the Limited Partners in
any material respect;
NOW, THEREFORE, the General Partner does hereby amend the
Partnership Agreement as follows:
Section 1. Amendments.
(a) Section 5.2(a). Section 5.2(a)
is hereby amended and restated:
(a) The Interest of the General Partner in the Partnership
that was continued as a 0.01% General Partner Interest, subject
to all of the rights, privileges and duties of the General
Partner under this Agreement, is hereby converted into a
non-economic General Partner Interest and [13,921] Units. From
the date hereof, the General Partner Interest shall only
represent a non-economic management interest of the General
Partner in the Partnership. EPE Holdings, LLC hereby continues
as general partner of the Partnership and the Partnership is
continued without dissolution.
Section 2. Ratification
of Partnership Agreement. Except as
expressly modified and amended herein, all of the terms and
conditions of the Partnership Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect.
Section 3. Governing
Law. This Fourth Amendment will be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Delaware.
Section 4. Counterparts. This
Fourth Amendment may be executed in counterparts, all of which
together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the
parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not
signatories to the original or the same counterpart.
1
A-38
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Fourth Amendment has been executed as
of the date first written above.
General Partner:
EPE HOLDINGS, LLC
Dr. Ralph S. Cunningham
President and Chief Executive Officer
2
A-39
Annex B
FOURTH
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
EPE HOLDINGS, LLC
A Delaware Limited Liability Company
A-40
FOURTH
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
EPE HOLDINGS, LLC
A Delaware Limited Liability Company
Table of Contents
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ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS
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1
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1.01
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Definitions
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1
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1.02
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Construction
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1
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ARTICLE 2 ORGANIZATION
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1
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2.01
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Formation
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1
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2.02
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Name
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2
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2.03
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Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other
Offices
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2
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2.04
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Purpose
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2
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2.05
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Term
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2
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2.06
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No State-Law Partnership; Withdrawal
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2
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2.07
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Certain Undertakings Relating to the Separateness of the MLP
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2
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ARTICLE 3 MATTERS RELATING TO MEMBERS
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4
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3.01
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Members
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4
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3.02
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Creation of Additional Membership Interest
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4
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3.03
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Liability to Third Parties
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4
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ARTICLE 4 CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
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4
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4.01
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Capital Contributions
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4
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4.02
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Loans
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4
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4.03
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Return of Contributions
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4
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ARTICLE 5 DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS
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4
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5.01
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Distributions
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4
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ARTICLE 6 MANAGEMENT
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4
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6.01
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Management
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4
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6.02
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Board of Directors
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6
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6.03
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Officers
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8
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6.04
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Duties of Officers and Directors
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10
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6.05
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Compensation
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10
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6.06
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Indemnification
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10
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6.07
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Liability of Indemnitees
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11
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ARTICLE 7 TAX MATTERS
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12
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7.01
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Tax Returns
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12
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ARTICLE 8 BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS
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12
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8.01
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Maintenance of Books
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12
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8.02
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Reports
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12
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8.03
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Bank Accounts
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12
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8.04
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Tax Statements
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12
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ARTICLE 9 [RESERVED]
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13
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ARTICLE 10 [RESERVED]
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13
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i
A-38
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ARTICLE 11 DISSOLUTION, WINDING-UP AND TERMINATION
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13
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11.01
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Dissolution
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13
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11.02
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Winding-Up
and Termination
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13
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ARTICLE 12 MERGER
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14
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12.01
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Authority
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14
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12.02
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Procedure for Merger or Consolidation
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14
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12.03
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Approval by Members of Merger or Consolidation
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15
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12.04
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Certificate of Merger or Consolidation
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15
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12.05
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Effect of Merger or Consolidation
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15
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ARTICLE 13 GENERAL PROVISIONS
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15
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13.01
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Notices
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15
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13.02
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Entire Agreement; Supersedure
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16
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13.03
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Effect of Waiver or Consent
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16
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13.04
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Amendment or Restatement
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16
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13.05
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Binding Effect
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16
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13.06
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Governing Law; Severability
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16
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13.07
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[Reserved]
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16
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13.08
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Further Assurances
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16
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13.09
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[Reserved]
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16
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13.10
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Offset
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17
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13.11
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Counterparts
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17
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ii
A-39
FOURTH
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
EPE HOLDINGS, LLC
A Delaware Limited Liability Company
THIS FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
AGREEMENT (this Agreement) of EPE
HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
Company), executed effective as
of ,
2010 (the Effective Date), is adopted,
executed and agreed to, by Dan Duncan LLC, a Texas limited
liability company, as the sole Member of the Company
(DDLLC).
RECITALS
A. DDLLC formed the Company on April 19, 2005 as the
sole member.
B. The Limited Liability Company Agreement of EPE Holdings,
LLC was executed effective April 19, 2005, was amended and
restated pursuant to an Amended and Restated Limited Liability
Company Agreement dated August 29, 2005, was amended and
restated pursuant to a Second Amended and Restated Limited
Liability Company Agreement dated as of February 13, 2006,
and was amended and restated pursuant to a Third Amended and
Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement dated as of
November 7, 2007 (as so amended and as further amended on
the date hereof, the Existing
Agreement).
C. DDLLC, the sole Member of the Company, deems it
advisable to amend and restate the limited liability company
agreement of the Company in its entirety as set forth herein.
AGREEMENTS
For and in consideration of the premises, the covenants and
agreements set forth herein and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, DDLLC hereby amends and restates the Existing
Agreement in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.01 Definitions. Each capitalized
term used herein shall have the meaning given such term in
Attachment I.
1.02 Construction. Unless the
context requires otherwise: (a) the gender (or lack of
gender) of all words used in this Agreement includes the
masculine, feminine and neuter; (b) references to Articles
and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement;
(c) references to Laws refer to such Laws as they may be
amended from time to time, and references to particular
provisions of a Law include any corresponding provisions of any
succeeding Law; (d) references to money refer to legal
currency of the United States of America;
(e) including means including without
limitation and is a term of illustration and not of
limitation; (f) all definitions set forth herein shall be
deemed applicable whether the words defined are used herein in
the singular or the plural; and (g) neither this Agreement
nor any other agreement, document or instrument referred to
herein or executed and delivered in connection herewith shall be
construed against any Person as the principal draftsperson
hereof or thereof.
ARTICLE 2
ORGANIZATION
2.01 Formation. The Company was
organized as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing
of a Certificate of Formation (Organizational
Certificate) on April 19, 2005 with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware under and pursuant
to the Act.
1
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2.02 Name. The name of the Company
is EPE Holdings, LLC and all Company business must
be conducted in that name or such other names that comply with
Law as the Board of Directors may select.
2.03 Registered Office; Registered Agent;
Principal Office; Other Offices. The registered
office of the Company required by the Act to be maintained in
the State of Delaware shall be the office of the initial
registered agent for service of process named in the
Organizational Certificate or such other office (which need not
be a place of business of the Company) as the Board of Directors
may designate in the manner provided by Law. The registered
agent for service of process of the Company in the State of
Delaware shall be the initial registered agent for service of
process named in the Organizational Certificate or such other
Person or Persons as the Board of Directors may designate in the
manner provided by Law. The principal office of the Company in
the United States shall be at such a place as the Board of
Directors may from time to time designate, which need not be in
the State of Delaware, and the Company shall maintain records
there and shall keep the street address of such principal office
at the registered office of the Company in the State of
Delaware. The Company may have such other offices as the Board
of Directors may designate.
2.04 Purpose. The purposes of the
Company are the transaction of any or all lawful business for
which limited liability companies may be organized under the
Act; provided, however, that for so long as it is the
general partner of the MLP, the Companys sole business
will be (a) to act as the general partner of the MLP (or
managing member of any limited liability company successor
thereto) and any other partnership or limited liability company
of which the MLP is, directly or indirectly, a partner or
managing member and to undertake activities that are ancillary
or related thereto (including being a limited partner in the
MLP) and (b) to acquire, own or Dispose of debt or equity
securities in the MLP. The Company shall, and shall cause the
MLP to, maintain at all times a sufficient number of employees
in light of its then current business operations, if adequate
personnel and services are not provided to the Company and the
MLP under the Administrative Services Agreement.
2.05 Term. The period of existence
of the Company commenced on April 19, 2005 and shall end at
such time as a Certificate of Cancellation is filed in
accordance with Section 11.02(c).
2.06 No State-Law Partnership;
Withdrawal. It is the intent that the Company
shall be a limited liability company formed under the Laws of
the State of Delaware and shall not be a partnership (including
a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that the Members
not be a partner or joint venturer of any other party for any
purposes other than federal and state tax purposes, and this
Agreement may not be construed to suggest otherwise. A Member
does not have the right to Withdraw from the Company;
provided, however, that a Member shall have the power to
Withdraw at any time in violation of this Agreement. If a Member
exercises such power in violation of this Agreement,
(a) such Member shall be liable to the Company and its
Affiliates for all monetary damages suffered by them as a result
of such Withdrawal; and (b) such Member shall not have any
rights under
Section 18-604
of the Act. In no event shall the Company have the right,
through specific performance or otherwise, to prevent a Member
from Withdrawing in violation of this Agreement.
2.07 Certain Undertakings Relating to the
Separateness of the MLP.
(a) Separateness Generally. The Company
shall, and shall cause the MLP to, conduct their respective
businesses and operations separate and apart from those of any
other Person (including EPCO and its Subsidiaries, other than
the Company and EPE, but prior to the MLP Merger Effective Time
including EPD and EPGP), except the Company and the MLP, in
accordance with this Section 2.07.
(b) Separate Records. The Company shall,
and shall cause the MLP to, (i) maintain their respective
books and records and their respective accounts separate from
those of any other Person, (ii) maintain their respective
financial records, which will be used by them in their ordinary
course of business, showing their respective assets and
liabilities separate and apart from those of any other Person,
except their consolidated Subsidiaries, (iii) not have
their respective assets
and/or
liabilities included in a consolidated financial statement of
any Affiliate of the Company unless appropriate notation shall
be made on such Affiliates consolidated financial
statements to indicate the separateness of the Company and the
MLP and their assets and liabilities from such Affiliate and the
assets and liabilities of such Affiliate, and to indicate that
the assets and liabilities of the Company and the MLP are not
available to satisfy the debts and other obligations of such
2
A-44
Affiliate, and (iv) file their respective own tax returns
separate from those of any other Person, except (A) to the
extent that the MLP or the Company (x) is treated as a
disregarded entity for tax purposes or (y) is
not otherwise required to file tax returns under applicable law
or (B) as may otherwise be required by applicable law.
(c) Separate Assets. The Company shall
not commingle or pool, and shall cause the MLP not to commingle
or pool, their respective funds or other assets with those of
any other Person, and shall maintain their respective assets in
a manner that is not costly or difficult to segregate, ascertain
or otherwise identify as separate from those of any other Person.
(d) Separate Name. The Company shall, and
shall cause the MLP to, (i) conduct their respective
businesses in their respective own names, (ii) use separate
stationery, invoices, and checks, (iii) correct any known
misunderstanding regarding their respective separate identities
from that of any other Person (including EPCO and its
Subsidiaries, other than the Company and the MLP, but prior to
the MLP Merger Effective Time including EPD and EPGP), and
(iv) generally hold itself out as an entity separate from
any other Person (including EPCO and its Subsidiaries, other
than the Company and the MLP, but prior to the MLP Merger
Effective Time including EPD and EPGP).
(e) Separate Credit. The Company shall,
and shall cause the MLP to, (i) pay their respective
obligations and liabilities from their respective own funds
(whether on hand or borrowed), (ii) maintain adequate
capital in light of their respective business operations,
(iii) not guarantee or become obligated for the debts of
any other Person, other than the Company and the MLP, but prior
to the MLP Merger Effective Time including EPD and EPGP,
(iv) not hold out their respective credit as being
available to satisfy the obligations or liabilities of any other
Person, (v) not acquire debt obligations or debt securities
of EPCO or its Affiliates (other than the MLP
and/or the
Company), (vi) not pledge their assets for the benefit of
any Person or make loans or advances to any Person, or
(vii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
operative documents under which the MLP borrows money, is an
issuer of debt securities, or guarantees any such borrowing or
issuance after the Effective Date, to contain provisions to the
effect that (A) the lenders or purchasers of debt
securities, respectively, acknowledge that they have advanced
funds or purchased debt securities, respectively, in reliance
upon the separateness of the Company and the MLP from each other
and from any other Persons (including EPCO and its Affiliates,
other than the Company and the MLP) and (B) the Company and
the MLP have assets and liabilities that are separate from those
of other persons (including EPCO and its Affiliates, other than
the Company and the MLP); provided that the Company and the MLP
may engage in any transaction described in clauses (v)-(vi) of
this Section 2.07(e) if prior Special Approval has been
obtained for such transaction and either (A) the Audit and
Conflicts Committee has determined that the borrower or
recipient of the credit support is not then insolvent and will
not be rendered insolvent as a result of such transaction or
(B) in the case of transactions described in clause (v),
such transaction is completed through a public auction or a
National Securities Exchange.
(f) Separate Formalities. The Company
shall, and shall cause the MLP to, (i) observe all limited
liability company or partnership formalities and other
formalities required by their respective organizational
documents, the laws of the jurisdiction of their respective
formation, or other laws, rules, regulations and orders of
governmental authorities exercising jurisdiction over it,
(ii) engage in transactions with EPCO and its Affiliates
(other than the Company or the MLP) in conformity with the
requirements of Section 7.9 of each of the EPE Agreement
and the EPD Agreement, and (iii) subject to the terms of
the Administrative Services Agreement, promptly pay, from their
respective own funds and on a timely basis, their respective
allocable shares of general and administrative expenses, capital
expenditures, and costs for shared services performed by EPCO or
Affiliates of EPCO (other than the Company or the MLP). Each
material contract between the Company or the MLP, on the one
hand, and EPCO or Affiliates of EPCO (other than the Company or
the MLP), on the other hand, shall be subject to the
requirements of Section 7.9 of each of the EPE Agreement
and the EPD Agreement, and must be (x) approved by Special
Approval or (y) on terms objectively demonstrable to be no
less favorable to the MLP than those generally being provided to
or available from unrelated third parties, and in any event must
be in writing.
3
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(g) No Effect. Failure by the Company to
comply with any of the obligations set forth above shall not
affect the status of the Company as a separate legal entity,
with its separate assets and separate liabilities.
ARTICLE 3
MATTERS
RELATING TO MEMBERS
3.01 Members. DDLLC has previously
been admitted as a Member of the Company.
3.02 Creation of Additional Membership
Interest. The Company may issue additional
Membership Interests in the Company pursuant to this
Section 3.02. The terms of admission or issuance may
provide for the creation of different classes or groups of
Members having different rights, powers, and duties. The
creation of any new class or group of Members approved as
required herein may be reflected in an amendment to this
Agreement executed in accordance with Section 13.04
indicating the different rights, powers, and duties thereof. Any
such admission is effective only after the new Member has
executed and delivered to the Members an instrument containing
the notice address of the new Member and the new Members
ratification of this Agreement and agreement to be bound
by it.
3.03 Liability to Third Parties. No
Member or beneficial owner of any Membership Interest shall be
liable for the Liabilities of the Company.
ARTICLE 4
CAPITAL
CONTRIBUTIONS
4.01 Capital Contributions.
(a) In exchange for its Membership Interest, DDLLC has made
certain Capital Contributions.
(b) The amount of money and the fair market value (as of
the date of contribution) of any property (other than money)
contributed to the Company by a Member in respect of the
issuance of a Membership Interest to such Member shall
constitute a Capital Contribution. Any
reference in this Agreement to the Capital Contribution of a
Member shall include a Capital Contribution of its predecessors
in interest.
4.02 Loans. If the Company does not
have sufficient cash to pay its obligations, any Member that may
agree to do so may, upon Special Approval, advance all or part
of the needed funds for such obligation to or on behalf of the
Company. An advance described in this Section 4.02
constitutes a loan from the Member to the Company, may bear
interest at a rate comparable to the rate the Company could
obtain from third parties, and is not a Capital Contribution.
4.03 Return of Contributions. A
Member is not entitled to the return of any part of its Capital
Contributions or to be paid interest in respect of its Capital
Contributions. An unrepaid Capital Contribution is not a
liability of the Company or of any Member. No Member will be
required to contribute or to lend any cash or property to the
Company to enable the Company to return any Members
Capital Contributions.
ARTICLE 5
DISTRIBUTIONS
AND ALLOCATIONS
5.01 Distributions. Subject to
Section 11.02, within 45 days following each Quarter
other than any Quarter in which the dissolution of the Company
has commenced (the Distribution Date),
the Company shall distribute to the Members the Companys
Available Cash on such Distribution Date.
ARTICLE 6
MANAGEMENT
6.01 Management. All management
powers over the business and affairs of the Company shall be
exclusively vested in a Board of Directors (Board of
Directors or Board) and,
subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the
Officers. The Officers and Directors shall each constitute a
manager of the
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Company within the meaning of the Act. Except as otherwise
specifically provided in this Agreement, no Member, by virtue of
having the status of a Member, shall have or attempt to exercise
or assert any management power over the business and affairs of
the Company or shall have or attempt to exercise or assert
actual or apparent authority to enter into contracts on behalf
of, or to otherwise bind, the Company. Except as otherwise
specifically provided in this Agreement, the authority and
functions of the Board of Directors on the one hand and of the
Officers on the other shall be identical to the authority and
functions of the board of directors and officers, respectively,
of a corporation organized under the Delaware General
Corporation Law. Except as otherwise specifically provided in
this Agreement, the business and affairs of the Company shall be
managed under the direction of the Board of Directors, and the
day-to-day
activities of the Company shall be conducted on the
Companys behalf by the Officers, who shall be agents of
the Company.
In addition to the powers that now or hereafter can be granted
to managers under the Act and to all other powers granted under
any other provision of this Agreement, except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, the Board of Directors and the
Officers shall have full power and authority to do all things as
are not restricted by this Agreement, the EPE Agreement, the EPD
Agreement, the Act or applicable Law, on such terms as they may
deem necessary or appropriate to conduct, or cause to be
conducted, the business and affairs of the Company. However,
notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Company and the Board of Directors shall not
undertake, either directly or indirectly, any of the following
actions without first obtaining Special Approval:
(a) any merger or consolidation of the Company, except for
a merger or consolidation with an Affiliate of the Company that
is not subject to Section 7.9 of the EPE Agreement or the
EPD Agreement, as applicable, and only if such Affiliates
organizational documents provide for the establishment of an
Audit and Conflicts Committee to approve certain
matters with respect to the transferee(s) and the Partnership,
the selection of Independent Directors as members of
the Audit and Conflicts Committee, and the submission of certain
matters to the vote of the Audit and Conflicts Committee or to
Special Approval upon similar terms and conditions as set forth
in this Agreement;
(b) any action requiring Special Approval under the
governing documents of the MLP;
(c) any Disposition, whether in one transaction or a series
of transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties
or assets of the Company, except for a Disposition to an
Affiliate of the Company that is not subject to Section 7.9
of the EPE Agreement or the EPD Agreement, as applicable, and
only if such Affiliates organizational documents provide
for the establishment of an Audit and Conflicts
Committee to approve certain matters with respect to the
transferee(s) and the Partnership, the selection of
Independent Directors as members of the Audit and
Conflicts Committee, and the submission of certain matters to
the vote of the Audit and Conflicts Committee or to Special
Approval upon similar terms and conditions as set forth in this
Agreement;
(d) any (A) incurrence of any indebtedness by the
Company, (B) assumption, incurrence, or undertaking by the
Company of, or the grant by the Company of any security for, any
financial commitment of any type whatsoever, including any
purchase, sale, lease, loan, contract, borrowing or expenditure,
or (C) lending of money by the Company to, or the guarantee
by the Company of the debts of, any other Person other than the
MLP (collectively, Company
Obligations) other than Company Obligations
incurred pursuant to joint and several liability for the
MLPs Liabilities under Delaware law;
(e) assigning, transferring, selling or otherwise Disposing
of the Companys general partner interest in the
Partnership, except to an Affiliate of the Company, and only if
such Affiliates organizational documents provide for the
establishment of an Audit and Conflicts Committee to
approve certain matters with respect to the transferee(s) and
the Partnership, the selection of Independent
Directors as members of the Audit and Conflicts Committee,
and the submission of certain matters to the vote of the Audit
and Conflicts Committee or to Special Approval upon similar
terms and conditions as set forth in this Agreement;
(f) owning or leasing any assets, or making other
investments, other than the Companys interest in EPE, EPGP
and EPD (including any membership interests or similar interests
in entities which are
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limited liability companies, corporations, or other corporate
forms), distributions received on such interest (and similar
interest) and assets that are ancillary, related to or in
furtherance of the purposes of the Company; or
(g) any amendment or repeal of the Organizational
Certificate other than to effect (A) any amendment to this
Agreement made in accordance with Section 13.04,
(B) non-substantive changes or (C) changes that do not
adversely affect the Member; or
provided, that nothing contained herein will require
Special Approval for: (i) any merger or consolidation of
the Company; (ii) any Disposition, whether in one
transaction or a series of transactions, of all or substantially
all of the properties or assets of the Company; or
(iii) any assignment, transfer, sale or other Disposition
of the Companys general partner interest (or similar
interest in entities which are not partnerships) in the MLP, in
each case to the extent that the surviving or acquiring Person
is not an Affiliate of the Company and the Affiliates of the
Company own, directly or indirectly, less than 25% of the voting
power of such Person and a Person which is not an Affiliate of
the Company owns greater than 50% of the voting power of such
person.
6.02 Board of Directors.
(a) Generally. The Board of Directors
shall consist of not less than five nor more than twelve natural
persons. The members of the Board of Directors shall be
appointed by DDLLC, provided that at least three of such
members must meet the independence, qualification and experience
requirements of (i) the New York Stock Exchange,
(ii) Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (or any successor Law), the rules and regulations of the
SEC and other applicable Law and (iii) the charter of the
Audit and Conflicts Committee (each, an Independent
Director); provided, however, that if at
any time at least three of the members of the Board of Directors
are not Independent Directors, the Board of Directors shall
still have all powers and authority granted to it hereunder, but
the Board of Directors and DDLLC shall endeavor to elect
additional Independent Directors to come into compliance with
this Section 6.02(a).
(b) Term; Resignation; Vacancies;
Removal. Each Director shall hold office until
his successor is appointed and qualified or until his earlier
resignation or removal. Any Director may resign at any time upon
written notice to the Board, the Chairman of the Board, to the
Chief Executive Officer or to any other Officer. Such
resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and
unless otherwise specified therein no acceptance of such
resignation shall be necessary to make it effective. Vacancies
and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in
the authorized number of Directors or from any other cause shall
be filled by DDLLC. Any Director may be removed, with or without
cause, by DDLLC at any time, and the vacancy in the Board caused
by any such removal shall be filled by DDLLC.
(c) Voting; Quorum; Required Vote for
Action. Unless otherwise required by the Act,
other Law or the provisions hereof,
(i) each member of the Board of Directors shall have one
vote;
(ii) except for matters requiring Special Approval, the
presence at a meeting of a majority of the members of the Board
of Directors shall constitute a quorum at any such meeting for
the transaction of business;
(iii) except for matters requiring Special Approval, the
act of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors
present at a meeting duly called in accordance with
Section 6.02(d) at which a quorum is present shall be
deemed to constitute the act of the Board of Directors; and
(iv) [Reserved]
(v) without obtaining Special Approval, the Company shall
not, and shall not take any action to cause the MLP to,
(1) make or consent to a general assignment for the benefit
of its respective creditors; (2) file or consent to the
filing of any bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization petition
for relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code naming the
Company or the MLP, as applicable, or otherwise seek, with
respect to the Company or the MLP, relief from debts or
protection from creditors generally; (3) file or consent to
the filing of a petition or answer seeking for the Company or
the MLP, as applicable, a liquidation, dissolution,
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arrangement, or similar relief under any law; (4) file an
answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the
material allegations of a petition filed against the Company or
the MLP, as applicable, in a proceeding of the type described in
any of clauses (1) (3) of this
Section 6.02(c)(v); (5) seek, consent to or acquiesce
in the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, conservator,
assignee, trustee, sequestrator, custodian or any similar
official for the Company or the MLP, as applicable, or for all
or any substantial portion of either entitys properties;
(6) sell all or substantially all of the Companys or
the MLPs assets, except in the case of the MLP, in
accordance with Section 7.3 of the EPE Agreement or the EPD
Agreement, as applicable; (7) dissolve or liquidate, except
in the case of the MLP, in accordance with Article XII of
the EPE Agreement or the EPD Agreement, as applicable; or
(8) merge or consolidate, except in the case of the MLP, in
accordance with Article XIV of the EPE Agreement or the EPD
Agreement, as applicable.
(d) Meetings. Regular meetings of the
Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as
shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board
of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors or
meetings of any committee thereof may be called by written
request authorized by any member of the Board of Directors or a
committee thereof on at least 48 hours prior written notice
to the other members of such Board or committee. Any such
notice, or waiver thereof, need not state the purpose of such
meeting, except as may otherwise be required by law. Attendance
of a Director at a meeting (including pursuant to the last
sentence of this Section 6.02(d)) shall constitute a waiver
of notice of such meeting, except where such Director attends
the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the
transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is
not lawfully called or convened. Subject to Article 11, any
action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the
Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without
a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent
or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, are
signed by at least as many members of the Board of Directors or
committee thereof as would have been required to take such
action at a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee.
Members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may
participate in and hold a meeting by means of conference
telephone, video conference or similar communications equipment
by means of which all Persons participating in the meeting can
hear each other, and participation in such meetings shall
constitute presence in person at the meeting.
(e) Committees.
(i) Subject to compliance with this Article 6,
committees of the Board of Directors shall have and may exercise
such of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors with
respect to the management of the business and affairs of the
Company as may be provided in a resolution of the Board of
Directors. Any committee designated pursuant to this
Section 6.02(e) shall choose its own chairman, shall keep
regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the
Board of Directors when requested, and, subject to
Section 6.02(d), shall fix its own rules or procedures and
shall meet at such times and at such place or places as may be
provided by such rules or by resolution of such committee or
resolution of the Board of Directors. At every meeting of any
such committee, the presence of a majority of all the members
thereof shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a
majority of the members present shall be necessary for the
adoption by it of any resolution (except for obtaining Special
Approval at meetings of the Audit and Conflicts Committee, which
requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of
such committee). The Board of Directors may designate one or
more Directors as alternate members of any committee who may
replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such
committee; provided, however, that any such designated
alternate of the Audit and Conflicts Committee must meet the
standards for an Independent Director. In the absence or
disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or
members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting,
whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint
another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting
in the place of the absent or disqualified member; provided,
however, that any such replacement member of the Audit and
Conflicts Committee must meet the standards for an Independent
Director.
(ii) In addition to any other committees established by the
Board of Directors pursuant to Section 6.02(e)(i), the
Board of Directors shall maintain an Audit and Conflicts
Committee. The Audit and Conflicts Committee shall be
responsible for (A) approving or disapproving, as the case
may be, any matters regarding the business and affairs of the
Company, the MLP required to be considered by, or submitted to,
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such Audit and Conflicts Committee pursuant to the terms of the
EPE Agreement and the EPD Agreement, (B) assisting the
Board in monitoring (1) the integrity of the MLPs and
the Companys financial statements, (2) the
qualifications and independence of the MLPs and the
Companys independent accountants, (3) the performance
of the MLPs and the Companys internal audit function
and independent accountants, and (4) the MLPs and the
Companys compliance with legal and regulatory
requirements, (C) preparing the report required by the
rules of the SEC to be included in the MLPs annual report
on
Form 10-K,
(D) approving any material amendments to the Administrative
Services Agreement, (E) approving or disapproving, as the
case may be, the entering into of any transaction with a Member
or any Affiliate of a Member, other than transactions in the
ordinary course of business, to the extent that the Board of
Directors requests the Audit and Conflicts Committee to make
such determination, (F) approving any of the actions
described in Section 6.01(a) (g) and
Section 6.02(c)(v) to be taken on behalf of the Company or
the MLP, (G) amending (1) Section 2.07,
(2) the definition of Independent
Director in Section 6.02(a), (3) the
requirement that at least three directors be Independent
Directors, (4) Sections 6.01(a) (g) or
6.02 (c)(v) or (6) this Section 6.02(e)(ii), and
(H) performing such other functions as the Board may assign
from time to time, or as may be specified in the charter of the
Audit and Conflicts Committee. In acting or otherwise voting on
the matters referred to in this Section 6.02(e)(ii), to the
fullest extent permitted by law, including
Section 18-1101(c)
of the Act and
Section 17-1101(c)
of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as
amended from time to time, the Directors constituting the Audit
and Conflicts Committee shall be subject to the requirements of
Section 7.9 of each of the EPE Agreement and the EPD
Agreement and, when acting (or refraining from acting) in
accordance with those requirements, any action (or inaction)
taken (or omitted) by the Directors constituting the Audit and
Conflicts Committee shall be permitted and deemed approved by
all Members, and shall not constitute a breach of this
Agreement, of the EPE Agreement, of the EPD Agreement, of any
agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated
or implied by law or equity.
6.03 Officers.
(a) Generally. The Board of Directors, as
set forth below, shall appoint officers of the Company
(Officers), who shall (together with
the Directors) constitute managers of the Company
for the purposes of the Act. Unless provided otherwise by
resolution of the Board of Directors, the Officers shall have
the titles, power, authority and duties described below in this
Section 6.03.
(b) Titles and Number. The Officers of
the Company shall be the Chairman of the Board (unless the Board
of Directors provides otherwise), the Vice Chairman, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President, any and all Vice Presidents,
the Secretary, the Chief Financial Officer, any Treasurer and
any and all Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers and
the Chief Legal Officer. There shall be appointed from time to
time such Vice Presidents, Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries,
Treasurers and Assistant Treasurers as the Board of Directors
may desire. Any person may hold more than one office.
(c) Appointment and Term of Office. The
Officers shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at such
time and for such term as the Board of Directors shall
determine. Any Officer may be removed, with or without cause,
only by the Board of Directors. Vacancies in any office may be
filled only by the Board of Directors.
(d) Chairman of the Board. The Chairman
of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of
Directors and of the unitholders of the MLP; and he shall have
such other powers and duties as from time to time may be
assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
(e) Vice Chairman. In the absence of the
Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman shall preside at all
meetings of the Board of Directors and of the unitholders of the
MLP; and he shall have such other powers and duties as from time
to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
(f) Chief Executive Officer. Subject to
the limitations imposed by this Agreement, any employment
agreement, any employee plan or any determination of the Board
of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, subject to the
direction of the Board of Directors, shall be the chief
executive officer of the Company and shall be responsible for
the management and direction of the
day-to-day
business and affairs of the Company,
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its other Officers, employees and agents, shall supervise
generally the affairs of the Company and shall have full
authority to execute all documents and take all actions that the
Company may legally take. In the absence of the Chairman of the
Board and the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer shall
preside at all meetings of the unitholders of the MLP and
(should he be a director) of the Board of Directors. The Chief
Executive Officer shall exercise such other powers and perform
such other duties as may be assigned to him by this Agreement or
the Board of Directors, including any duties and powers stated
in any employment agreement approved by the Board of Directors.
(g) President. Subject to the limitations
imposed by this Agreement, any employment agreement, any
employee plan or any determination of the Board of Directors,
the President, subject to the direction of the Board of
Directors, shall be the chief executive officer of the Company
in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer and shall be
responsible for the management and direction of the
day-to-day
business and affairs of the Company, its other Officers,
employees and agents, shall supervise generally the affairs of
the Company and shall have full authority to execute all
documents and take all actions that the Company may legally
take. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice
Chairman and a Chief Executive Officer, the President shall
preside at all meetings of the unitholders of the MLP and
(should he be a director) of the Board of Directors. The
President shall exercise such other powers and perform such
other duties as may be assigned to him by this Agreement or the
Board of Directors, including any duties and powers stated in
any employment agreement approved by the Board of Directors.
(h) Vice Presidents. In the absence of a
Chief Executive Officer and the President, each Vice President
appointed by the Board of Directors shall have all of the powers
and duties conferred upon the President, including the same
power as the President to execute documents on behalf of the
Company. Each such Vice President shall perform such other
duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to
time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the
President.
(i) Secretary and Assistant
Secretaries. The Secretary shall record or cause
to be recorded in books provided for that purpose the minutes of
the meetings or actions of the Board of Directors, shall see
that all notices are duly given in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement and as required by law, shall be
custodian of all records (other than financial), shall see that
the books, reports, statements, certificates and all other
documents and records required by law are properly kept and
filed, and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the
office of Secretary and such other duties as may, from time to
time, be assigned to him by this Agreement, the Board of
Directors or the President. The Assistant Secretaries shall
exercise the powers of the Secretary during that Officers
absence or inability or refusal to act.
(j) Chief Financial Officer. The Chief
Financial Officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept
and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of
account of the Company and the MLP. He shall receive and deposit
all moneys and other valuables belonging to the Company in the
name and to the credit of the Company and shall disburse the
same and only in such manner as the Board of Directors or the
appropriate Officer of the Company may from time to time
determine. He shall receive and deposit all moneys and other
valuables belonging to the MLP in the name and to the credit of
EPE or EPD, as applicable and shall disburse the same and only
in such manner as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive
Officer may require. He shall render to the Board of Directors
and the Chief Executive Officer, whenever any of them request
it, an account of all his transactions as Chief Financial
Officer and of the financial condition of the Company, and shall
perform such further duties as the Board of Directors or the
Chief Executive Officer may require. The Chief Financial Officer
shall have the same power as the Chief Executive Officer to
execute documents on behalf of the Company.
(k) Treasurer and Assistant
Treasurers. The Treasurer shall have such duties
as may be specified by the Chief Financial Officer in the
performance of his duties. The Assistant Treasurers shall
exercise the power of the Treasurer during that Officers
absence or inability or refusal to act. Each of the Assistant
Treasurers shall possess the same power as the Treasurer to sign
all certificates, contracts, obligations and other instruments
of the Company. If no Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer is
appointed and serving or in the absence of the appointed
Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, the Senior Vice President, or
such other Officer as the Board of Directors shall select, shall
have the powers and duties conferred upon the Treasurer.
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(l) Chief Legal Officer. The Chief Legal
Officer, subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors,
shall be responsible for the management and direction of the
day-to-day
legal affairs of the Company. The Chief Legal Officer shall
perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as
may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of
Directors or the President.
(m) Powers of Attorney. The Company may
grant powers of attorney or other authority as appropriate to
establish and evidence the authority of the Officers and other
persons.
(n) Delegation of Authority. Unless
otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, no
Officer shall have the power or authority to delegate to any
person such Officers rights and powers as an Officer to
manage the business and affairs of the Company.
(o) Officers. The Board of Directors
shall appoint Officers of the Company to serve from the date
hereof until the death, resignation or removal by the Board of
Directors with or without cause of such officer.
6.04 Duties of Officers and
Directors. Except as otherwise specifically
provided in this Agreement, the duties and obligations owed to
the Company and to the Board of Directors by the Officers of the
Company and by members of the Board of Directors of the Company
shall be the same as the respective duties and obligations owed
to a corporation organized under the Delaware General
Corporation Law by its officers and directors, respectively.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the duties and obligations owed
by, and any liabilities of, Officers and members of the Board of
Directors of the Company to the MLP or its limited partners
shall be limited as set forth in the EPE Agreement or the EPD
Agreement, as applicable.
6.05 Compensation. The members of
the Board of Directors who are neither Officers nor employees of
the Company shall be entitled to compensation as directors and
committee members as approved by the Board and shall be
reimbursed for
out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of the
Board of Directors or committees thereof.
6.06 Indemnification.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by Law but subject to
the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, each
person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including reasonable
legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest,
settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims,
demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, in which any such person may be
involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or
otherwise, by reason of such persons status as (i) a
present or former member of the Board of Directors or any
committee thereof, (ii) a present or former Member,
(iii) a present or former Officer, or (iv) a Person
serving at the request of the Company in another entity in a
similar capacity as that referred to in the immediately
preceding clauses (i) or (iii), provided, that in
each case the Person described in the immediately preceding
clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv)
(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 6.06, 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 Indemnitees conduct
was unlawful. Any indemnification pursuant to this
Section 6.06 shall be made only out of the assets of the
Company.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses
(including reasonable legal fees and expenses) incurred by an
Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 6.06(a)
in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding
shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to a
determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified, upon receipt by the Company of an 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 6.06.
(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 6.06
shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee
may be entitled under any agreement, as a matter of law or
otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitees capacity
as (i) a present or former member of the Board of Directors
or any committee thereof,
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(ii) a present or former Member, (iii) a present or
former Officer of the Company, or (iv) a Person serving at
the request of the Company in another entity in a similar
capacity as that referred to in the immediately preceding
clauses (i) or (iii), and as to actions in any other
capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased
to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.
(d) The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, on
behalf of the members of the Board of Directors, the Officers
and such other persons as the Board of Directors shall
determine, against any liability that may be asserted against or
expense that may be incurred by such person in connection with
the Companys activities or such persons activities
on behalf of the Company, regardless of whether the Company
would have the power to indemnify such person against such
liability under the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) For purposes of this Section 6.06, the Company
shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as
fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance
by the Indemnitee of such Indemnitees duties to the
Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services
by, the Indemnitee 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 6.06(a); and action taken or omitted by the
Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan in the
performance of such Indemnitees duties for a purpose
reasonably believed by such Indemnitee to be in the interest of
the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed
to be for a purpose which is in, or not opposed to, the best
interests of the Company.
(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject any Members of
the Company to personal liability by reason of the
indemnification provisions of this Agreement.
(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in
whole or in part under this Section 6.06 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 6.06 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 6.06 or any provision hereof shall in any manner
terminate, reduce or impair either the right of any past,
present or future Indemnitee to receive indemnification
(including expense advancement as provided by
Section 6.06(b)) from the Company or the obligation of the
Company to indemnify, or advance the expenses of, any such
Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 6.06 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, and provided such
Person became an Indemnitee hereunder prior to such amendment,
modification or repeal.
(j) THE PROVISIONS OF THE INDEMNIFICATION PROVIDED IN THIS
SECTION 6.06 ARE INTENDED BY THE PARTIES TO APPLY EVEN IF
SUCH PROVISIONS HAVE THE EFFECT OF EXCULPATING THE INDEMNITEE
FROM LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH
PERSONS NEGLIGENCE, FAULT OR OTHER CONDUCT.
6.07 Liability of Indemnitees.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in
this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary
damages to the Company, the Members or any other Person 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 Indemnitees conduct was criminal.
(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as set forth in
this Article 6, the Board of Directors and any committee
thereof 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 the Companys
Officers or agents, and
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neither the Board of Directors nor any committee thereof shall
be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of
any such Officer or agent appointed by the Board of Directors or
any committee thereof in good faith.
(c) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this
Section 6.07 or any provision hereof shall be prospective
only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on
liability under this Section 6.07 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
ARTICLE 7
TAX MATTERS
7.01 Tax Returns.
(a) The Board of Directors shall cause to be prepared and
timely filed (on behalf of the Company) all federal, state and
local tax returns required to be filed by the Company, including
making all elections on such tax returns. The Company shall bear
the costs of the preparation and filing of its returns.
(b) The Board of Directors shall cause to be prepared and
timely filed (for the Company, and on behalf of the MLP) all
federal, state and local tax returns required to be filed by the
Company or the MLP. The Company shall deliver a copy of each
such tax return to the Members within ten Days following the
date on which any such tax return is filed, together with such
additional information as may be required by the Members.
ARTICLE 8
BOOKS,
RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS
8.01 Maintenance of Books.
(a) The Board of Directors shall keep or cause to be kept
at the principal office of the Company or at such other location
approved by the Board of Directors complete and accurate books
and records of the Company, supporting documentation of the
transactions with respect to the conduct of the Companys
business and minutes of the proceedings of the Board of
Directors and any other books and records that are required to
be maintained by applicable Law.
(b) The books of account of the Company shall be maintained
on the basis of a fiscal year that is the calendar year and on
an accrual basis in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, consistently applied, or such other
accounting standards as may be required by the SEC.
8.02 Reports. The Board of
Directors shall cause to be prepared and delivered to each
Member such reports, forecasts, studies, budgets and other
information as the Members may reasonably request from time to
time.
8.03 Bank Accounts. Funds of the
Company shall be deposited in such banks or other depositories
as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of
Directors. All withdrawals from any such depository shall be
made only as authorized by the Board of Directors and shall be
made only by check, wire transfer, debit memorandum or other
written instruction.
8.04 Tax Statements. The Company
shall use reasonable efforts to furnish, within 90 Days of the
close of each taxable year of the Company, estimated tax
information reasonably required by the Members for federal and
state income tax reporting purposes.
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ARTICLE 9
[RESERVED]
ARTICLE 10
[RESERVED]
ARTICLE 11
DISSOLUTION,
WINDING-UP
AND TERMINATION
11.01 Dissolution.
(a) The Company shall dissolve and its affairs shall be
wound up on the first to occur of the following events (each a
Dissolution Event):
(i) the unanimous consent of the Board of Directors;
(ii) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the
Company under
Section 18-802
of the Act;
(iii) at any time there are no Members of the Company,
unless the Company is continued in accordance with the Act or
this Agreement.
(b) No other event shall cause a dissolution of the Company.
(c) Upon the occurrence of any event that causes there to
be no Members of the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, the personal representative of the last remaining Member is
hereby authorized to, and shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership
of such Member in the Company, agree in writing (i) to
continue the Company and (ii) to the admission of the
personal representative or its nominee or designee, as the case
may be, as a substitute Member of the Company, effective as of
the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued
membership of such Member in the Company.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
the Bankruptcy of a Member shall not cause such Member to cease
to be a member of the Company and, upon the occurrence of such
an event, the Company shall continue without dissolution.
11.02 Winding-Up
and Termination.
(a) On the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Board of
Directors shall select one or more Persons to act as liquidator.
The liquidator shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs
of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein
and in the Act. The costs of winding up shall be borne as a
Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidator shall
continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power
and authority of the Board of Directors. The steps to be
accomplished by the liquidator are as follows:
(i) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again
after final winding up, the liquidator shall cause a proper
accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public
accountants of the Companys assets, liabilities, and
operations through the last calendar day of the month in which
the dissolution occurs or the final winding up is completed, as
applicable;
(ii) the liquidator shall discharge from Company funds all
of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company or
otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge
thereof (including the establishment of a cash escrow fund for
contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the
liquidator may reasonably determine); and
(iii) all remaining assets of the Company shall be
distributed to the Members as follows:
(A) the liquidator may sell any or all Company property,
including to Members; and
(B) Company property (including cash) shall be distributed
to the Members.
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(b) The distribution of cash or property to a Member in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.02
constitutes a complete return to the Member of its Capital
Contributions and a complete distribution to the Member of its
share of all the Companys property and constitutes a
compromise to which all Members have consented within the
meaning of
Section 18-502(b)
of the Act. No Member shall be required to make any Capital
Contribution to the Company to enable the Company to make the
distributions described in this Section 11.02.
(c) On completion of such final distribution, the
liquidator shall file a Certificate of Cancellation with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and take such other
actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the
Company.
ARTICLE 12
MERGER
12.01 Authority. Subject to
Section 6.01(a), the Company may merge or consolidate with
one or more limited liability companies, corporations, business
trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common
law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a general
partnership or limited partnership, formed under the laws of the
State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction, pursuant to a
written agreement of merger or consolidation (Merger
Agreement) in accordance with this Article 12.
12.02 Procedure for Merger or
Consolidation. The merger or consolidation of the
Company pursuant to this Article 12 requires the prior
approval of a majority the Board of Directors and compliance
with Section 12.03. Upon such approval, the Merger
Agreement shall set forth:
(a) The names and jurisdictions of formation or
organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge
or consolidate;
(b) The name and jurisdiction of formation or organization
of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or
consolidation (Surviving Business
Entity);
(c) The terms and conditions of the proposed merger or
consolidation;
(d) The manner and basis of exchanging or converting the
equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or
into, cash, property or general or limited partnership or
limited liability company interests, rights, securities or
obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if
any general or limited partnership or limited liability company
interests, rights, securities or obligations of any constituent
business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for,
or into, cash, property or general or limited partnership or
limited liability company interests, rights, securities or
obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property
or general or limited partnership or limited liability company
interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or
limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation,
trust or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity)
which the holders of such interests, rights, securities or
obligations of the constituent business entity are to receive in
exchange for, or upon conversion of, their interests, rights,
securities or obligations and (ii) in the case of
securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of
such certificates, which cash, property or general or limited
partnership or limited liability company interests, rights,
securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or
any general or limited partnership, limited liability company,
corporation, trust or other entity (other than the Surviving
Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;
(e) A statement of any changes in the constituent documents
or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or
certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of
trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership or
limited liability company or other similar charter or governing
document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by
such merger or consolidation;
(f) The effective time of the merger or consolidation,
which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger
pursuant to Section 12.04 or a later date specified in or
determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement
(provided, that if the effective time of the merger or
consolidation is to be later than
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the date of the filing of the certificate of merger or
consolidation, the effective time shall be fixed no later than
the time of the filing of the certificate of merger or
consolidation and stated therein); and
(g) Such other provisions with respect to the proposed
merger or consolidation as are deemed necessary or appropriate
by the Board of Directors.
12.03 Approval by Members of Merger or
Consolidation.
(a) The Board of Directors, upon its approval of the Merger
Agreement, shall direct that the Merger Agreement be submitted
to a vote of the Members, whether at a meeting or by written
consent. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement shall be
included in or enclosed with the notice of a meeting or the
written consent.
(b) After approval by vote or consent of the Members, and
at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger or
consolidation pursuant to Section 12.04, the merger or
consolidation may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor,
if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement.
12.04 Certificate of Merger or
Consolidation. Upon the required approval by the
Board of Directors and the Members of a Merger Agreement, a
certificate of merger or consolidation shall be executed and
filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in
conformity with the requirements of the Act.
12.05 Effect of Merger or Consolidation.
(a) At the effective time of the certificate of merger or
consolidation:
(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 property 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
interest in property of any of those constituent business
entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and
(iv) all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent
business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity,
and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the
debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted
by it.
(b) A merger or consolidation effected pursuant to this
Article 12 shall not (i) be deemed to result in a
transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity
to another having occurred or (ii) require the Company (if
it is not the Surviving Business Entity) to wind up its affairs,
pay its liabilities or distribute its assets as required under
Article 11 of this Agreement or under the applicable
provisions of the Act.
ARTICLE 13
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
13.01 Notices. Except as expressly
set forth to the contrary in this Agreement, all notices,
requests or consents provided for or permitted to be given under
this Agreement must be in writing and must be delivered to the
recipient in person, by courier or mail or by facsimile or other
electronic transmission and a notice, request or consent given
under this Agreement is effective on receipt by the Person to
receive it; provided, however, that a facsimile or other
electronic transmission that is transmitted after the normal
business hours of the recipient shall be deemed effective on the
next Business Day. All notices, requests and consents to be sent
to a Member must be sent to or made at the addresses given for
that Member as that Member may specify by notice to the other
Members. Any notice, request or consent to the Company must be
given to all of the Members. Whenever any notice is required to
be given by applicable Law, the Organizational Certificate or
this Agreement, a written waiver thereof, signed by the Person
entitled to notice, whether before or after the
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time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of
such notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given by Law,
the Organizational Certificate or this Agreement, a written
waiver thereof, signed by the Person entitled to notice, whether
before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed
equivalent to the giving of such notice.
13.02 Entire Agreement;
Supersedure. This Agreement constitutes the
entire agreement of the Members and their respective Affiliates
relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
contracts or agreements with respect to such subject matter,
whether oral or written.
13.03 Effect of Waiver or
Consent. Except as provided in this Agreement, a
waiver or consent, express or implied, to or of any breach or
default by any Person in the performance by that Person of its
obligations with respect to the Company is not a consent or
waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance
by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that
Person with respect to the Company. Except as provided in this
Agreement, failure on the part of a Person to complain of any
act of any Person or to declare any Person in default with
respect to the Company, irrespective of how long that failure
continues, does not constitute a waiver by that Person of its
rights with respect to that default until the applicable
statute-of-limitations
period has run.
13.04 Amendment or
Restatement. This Agreement may be amended or
restated only by a written instrument executed by all Members;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, each Member agrees that the Board
of Directors, without the approval of any Member, may amend any
provision of the Organizational Certificate and this Agreement,
and may authorize any Officer to execute, swear to, acknowledge,
deliver, file and record any such amendment and whatever
documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect
any change that does not require consent or approval (or for
which such consent or approval has been obtained) under this
Agreement or does not materially adversely affect the rights of
the Members; provided, further, that any amendment to
Section 2.04 of this Agreement shall be deemed to
materially affect the Members.
13.05 Binding Effect. This
Agreement is binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the
Members and their respective heirs, legal representatives,
successors and assigns.
13.06 Governing Law;
Severability. THIS AGREEMENT IS GOVERNED BY AND
SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF
DELAWARE, EXCLUDING ANY
CONFLICT-OF-LAWS
RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT MIGHT REFER THE GOVERNANCE OR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE LAW OF ANOTHER
JURISDICTION. In the event of a direct conflict between the
provisions of this Agreement and (a) any provision of the
Organizational Certificate, or (b) any mandatory,
non-waivable provision of the Act, such provision of the
Organizational Certificate or the Act shall control. If any
provision of the Act provides that it may be varied or
superseded in the limited liability company agreement (or
otherwise by agreement of the members or managers of a limited
liability company), such provision shall be deemed superseded
and waived in its entirety if this Agreement contains a
provision addressing the same issue or subject matter. If any
provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any
Person or circumstance is held invalid or unenforceable to any
extent, (a) the remainder of this Agreement and the
application of that provision to other Persons or circumstances
is not affected thereby and that provision shall be enforced to
the greatest extent permitted by Law, and (b) the Members
or Directors (as the case may be) shall negotiate in good faith
to replace that provision with a new provision that is valid and
enforceable and that puts the Members in substantially the same
economic, business and legal position as they would have been in
if the original provision had been valid and enforceable.
13.07 [Reserved]
13.08 Further Assurances. In
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, each Member shall execute and deliver any additional
documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that
may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the
provisions of this Agreement and those transactions.
13.09 [Reserved]
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13.10 Offset. Whenever the Company
is to pay any sum to any Member, any amounts that a Member owes
the Company may be deducted from that sum before payment.
13.11 Counterparts. This Agreement
may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same
effect as if all signing parties had signed the same document.
All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the
same instrument.
[Signature
Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, DDLLC has executed this Agreement as the
sole member as of the date first set forth above.
MEMBER:
DAN DUNCAN LLC
Name: Richard H. Bachmann
Title: Manager
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Attachment
I
Defined Terms
Act - the Delaware Limited Liability
Company Act and any successor statute, as amended from time to
time.
Administrative Services Agreement - the
Fifth Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement,
dated as of January 30, 2009, by and among EPCO, EPE, the
Company, EPD, the OLP, OLPGP, Enterprise Products GP, LLC, DEP
Holdings, LLC, Duncan Energy Partners L.P., DEP Operating
Partnership L.P., TEPPCO Partners, L.P., Texas Eastern Products
Pipeline Company, LLC, TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited
Partnership, TEPPCO Midstream Companies, LLC, TCTM, L.P. and
TEPPCO GP, Inc., as the same may be amended, modified,
supplemented or restated from time to time.
Affiliate - with respect to any Person,
each Person Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control
with such first Person.
Agreement - this Fourth Amended and
Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of EPE Holdings,
LLC, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or
restated from time to time.
Audit and Conflicts Committee - that
committee of the Board composed of at least three Independent
Directors and serving the functions of the Audit and
Conflicts Committee as set forth in the EPE Agreement or
the EPD Agreement, as applicable (such committee is currently
known as the Audit, Conflicts and Governance
Committee, but this definition shall include any committee
that may in the future serve the functions of the Audit
and Conflicts Committee as set forth in the EPE Agreement
or the EPD Agreement, as applicable).
Available Cash - as of any Distribution
Date, (A) all cash and cash equivalents of the Company on
hand on such date, less (B) the amount of any cash reserves
determined to be appropriate by the Board of Directors.
Bankruptcy or Bankrupt - with
respect to any Person, that (a) such Person (i) makes
an assignment for the benefit of creditors; (ii) files a
voluntary petition in bankruptcy; (iii) is insolvent, or
has entered against such Person an order for relief in any
bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding; (iv) files a petition
or answer seeking for such Person any reorganization,
arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution
or similar relief under any Law; (v) files an answer or
other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material
allegations of a petition filed against such Person in a
proceeding of the type described in subclauses (i) through
(iv) of this clause (a); or (vi) seeks, consents to or
acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or
liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of
such Persons properties; or (b) 120 Days have passed
after the commencement of any proceeding seeking reorganization,
arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution
or similar relief under any Law, if the proceeding has not been
dismissed, or 90 Days have passed after the appointment without
such Persons consent or acquiescence of a trustee,
receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or any
substantial part of such Persons properties, if the
appointment is not vacated or stayed, or 90 Days have passed
after the date of expiration of any such stay, if the
appointment has not been vacated.
Board of Directors or
Board - Section 6.01.
Business Day - any Day other than a
Saturday, a Sunday or a Day on which national banking
associations in the State of Texas are authorized or required by
Law to close.
Capital
Contribution - Section 4.01(b).
Change of Member Control - means, in the
case of any Member, an event or series of related events that
result in a Member ceasing to be Controlled by the Person that
controlled such Member immediately prior to such event.
Commitment - means (a) options,
warrants, convertible securities, exchangeable securities,
subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, or
other contracts, agreements or commitments that could require a
Person to issue any of its Equity Interests or to sell any
Equity Interests it owns in another Person; (b) any
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other securities convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable
for, or representing the right to subscribe for any Equity
Interest of a Person or owned by a Person; (c) statutory or
contractual pre-emptive rights or pre-emptive rights granted
under a Persons organizational or constitutive documents;
and (d) stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, profit
participation, or other similar rights with respect to a Person.
Company - initial paragraph.
Control - shall mean the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power and authority to direct or
cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person,
whether through ownership or control of Voting Stock, by
contract or otherwise.
Day - a calendar Day; provided,
however, that, if any period of Days referred to in this
Agreement shall end on a Day that is not a Business Day, then
the expiration of such period shall be automatically extended
until the end of the first succeeding Business Day.
Delaware General Corporation
Law - Title 8 of the Delaware Code, as
amended from time to time.
Director - each member of the Board of
Directors elected as provided in Section 6.02.
Dispose, Disposing or Disposition means, with
respect to any asset, any sale, assignment, transfer,
conveyance, gift, exchange or other disposition of such asset,
whether such disposition be voluntary, involuntary or by
operation of Law.
Dissolution
Event - Section 11.01(a).
Distribution Date - Section 5.01.
Effective Date - initial paragraph.
EPD - Enterprise Products Partners L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership.
EPD Agreement - the Fifth Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of EPD, dated as of
August 8, 2005, as amended, supplemented, amended and
restated, or otherwise modified from time to time.
EPE - Enterprise GP Holdings L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership.
EPCO - EPCO, Inc., a Texas corporation.
EPE Agreement - the First Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Enterprise GP
Holdings L.P., dated effective as of August 29, 2005, as
amended, supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise
modified from time to time.
EPGP - Enterprise Products GP, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary
of EPE.
Equity Interest - (a) with respect
to a corporation, any and all shares of capital stock and any
Commitments with respect thereto, (b) with respect to a
partnership, limited liability company, trust or similar Person,
any and all units, interests or other partnership, limited
liability company, trust or similar interests, and any
Commitments with respect thereto, and (c) any other direct
or indirect equity ownership or participation in a Person
(including any incentive distribution rights).
Existing Agreement - Recitals.
GP Merger - the merger of EPGP with and
into EPE pursuant to the GP Merger Agreement.
GP Merger Agreement - the Agreement and
Plan of Merger, dated as of September 3, 2010, by and among
the Company, EPE and EPGP.
GP Merger Effective Time - the Effective
Time of the GP Merger, as defined in the GP Merger Agreement.
Indemnitee - Section 6.06(a).
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Independent
Director - Section 6.02(a).
Law - any applicable constitutional
provision, statute, act, code (including the Code), law,
regulation, rule, ordinance, order, decree, ruling,
proclamation, resolution, judgment, decision, declaration or
interpretative or advisory opinion or letter of a governmental
authority.
Liability - any liability or obligation,
whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, absolute or
contingent, matured or unmatured, conditional or unconditional,
latent or patent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or
unliquidated, or due or to become due.
Member - any Person executing this
Agreement as of the date of this Agreement as a member or
hereafter admitted to the Company as a member as provided in
this Agreement, but such term does not include any Person who
has ceased to be a member in the Company.
Membership Interest - with respect to
any Member, (a) that Members status as a Member;
(b) that Members share of the income, gain, loss,
deduction and credits of, and the right to receive distributions
from, the Company; (c) all other rights, benefits and
privileges enjoyed by that Member (under the Act, this
Agreement, or otherwise) in its capacity as a Member; and
(d) all obligations, duties and liabilities imposed on that
Member (under the Act, this Agreement or otherwise) in its
capacity as a Member, including any obligations to make Capital
Contributions.
Merger Agreement - Section 12.01.
MergerCo - Enterprise ETE LLC, a
Delaware liability company.
MLP - (i) EPE up to and until the
GP Merger Effective Time; (ii) each of EPE and EPD as of
and following the GP Merger Effective Time and up to and until
the MLP Merger Effective Time; and (iii) EPD as of and
following the MLP Merger Effective Time.
MLP Merger - the merger of EPE with and
into MergerCo pursuant to the MLP Merger Agreement.
MLP Merger Agreement - the Agreement and
Plan of Merger, dated as of September 3, 2010, by and among
the Company, EPE, EPD, EPGP and MergerCo.
MLP Merger Effective Time - the
Effective Time of the MLP Merger, as defined in the MLP Merger
Agreement.
Officers - any person elected as an
officer of the Company as provided in Section 6.03(a), but
such term does not include any person who has ceased to be an
officer of the Company.
OLP - Enterprise Products Operating LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company.
OLPGP - Enterprise Products OLPGP, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation and the managing member of OLP.
Organizational
Certificate - Section 2.01.
Outstanding - with respect to the
Membership Interest, all Membership Interests that are issued by
the Company and reflected as outstanding on the Companys
books and records as of the date of determination.
Person - a natural person, partnership
(whether general or limited), limited liability company,
governmental entity, trust, estate, association, corporation,
venture, custodian, nominee or any other individual or entity in
its own or any representative capacity.
Quarter - unless the context requires
otherwise, a calendar quarter.
SEC - the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Special Approval - approval by a
majority of the members of the Audit and Conflicts Committee in
accordance with the EPE Agreement or the EPD Agreement, as
applicable.
Subsidiary - with respect to any
relevant Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50%
of the Voting Stock is owned, directly or indirectly, at the
date of determination, by such relevant Person, by one or more
Subsidiaries of such relevant Person or a combination thereof,
(b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in
21
A-63
which such relevant Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such
relevant Person or a combination thereof 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 relevant Person, by one or
more Subsidiaries of such relevant Person, or a combination
thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation
or a partnership) in which such relevant Person, one or more
Subsidiaries of such relevant 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 other Person.
Surviving Business
Entity - Section 12.02(b).
Voting Stock - with respect to any
Person, Equity Interests in such Person, the holders of which
are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to
vote for the election of, or otherwise appoint, directors (or
Persons with management authority performing similar functions)
of such Person.
Withdraw, Withdrawing and
Withdrawal - the withdrawal, resignation or
retirement of a Member from the Company as a Member.
22
A-64
Annex C
SIXTH
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
[Omitted Included as Annex B to proxy
statement/prospectus]
A-65
Annex D
DISTRIBUTION
WAIVER AGREEMENT
by and among
ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.,
EPCO HOLDINGS, INC.
and
THE EPD UNITHOLDER
Dated as
of ,
2010
[Omitted Included as Annex C to proxy
statement/prospectus]
A-66
Annex E
FORM OF
STANDSTILL PROVISION
Each party to such Confidentiality Agreement (a Proposing
Party) agrees that without the prior written consent of
the Partners Audit Committee (or any successor entity), for a
period of two years from the date of the Confidentiality
Agreement, it will not, and will cause each of its affiliates
not to, directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with other
Persons: (i) make, or in any way participate in, any
solicitation of proxies (as such terms
are used in the proxy rules of the SEC) with respect to Partners
Common Units, or advise or seek to influence any Person with
respect to the voting of, or giving of consents with respect to,
any Partners Common Units, or form, join, or in any way
participate in, a group (within the meaning of
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) with respect to the
Partners Common Units, (ii) acquire or offer or agree to
acquire, directly or indirectly, by purchase or otherwise:
(a) any Partners Common Units, (b) any option,
warrant, convertible security, unit appreciation right or other
right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement
payment or mechanism at a price related to the Partners Common
Units or with a value derived from the Partners Common Units,
whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to
settlement in Partners Common Units (a Derivative
Instrument), (c) any short interest in the Partners
Common Units whereby such Proposing Party or any of its
affiliates, directly or indirectly, through any contract,
arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the
opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from a
decrease in the value of the Partners Common Units, (d) any
rights to distributions on the Partners Common Units that are
separated or separable from the Partners Common Units,
(e) any performance-related payments based on any increase
or decrease in the value of the Partners Common Units or
Derivative Instruments or (f) any assets of Partners or any
of its subsidiaries (other than products or services of Partners
acquired in the ordinary course of business, or in connection
with any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding involving Partners
or any of such subsidiaries) (except that the Proposing Party
and its affiliates may acquire through brokerage, investment,
asset management and trading activities in the ordinary course
up to aggregate ownership of 4.99% of the outstanding Partners
Common Units directly or derivatively, including through
options, warrants, convertible securities, unit appreciation
rights or other rights, short interests, rights to
distributions, or performance related payments described in
clauses (b) through (e) and shall have the right to
vote such securities, in each case so long as such Proposing
Party shall not have used any confidential information in
connection therewith in violation of the Confidentiality
Agreement), (iii) otherwise seek to influence or control,
in any manner whatsoever, the management or policies of Partners
(other than in connection with a potential acquisition of
Holdings), (iv) assist, advise or otherwise encourage any
other Person to do any of the foregoing, or (v) make any
request to waive, terminate, or amend any portion of this
provision (including this clause (v)).
A-67
ANNEX B
SIXTH
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
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B-1
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1.1
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Definitions
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B-1
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1.2
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Construction
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B-1
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ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION
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B-1
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2.1
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Formation
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B-1
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2.2
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Name
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B-2
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2.3
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Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other
Offices
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B-2
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2.4
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Purpose and Business
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B-2
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2.5
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Powers
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B-3
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2.6
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Power of Attorney
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B-3
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2.7
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Term
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B-4
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2.8
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Title to Partnership Assets
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B-4
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2.9
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Certain Undertakings Relating to the Separateness of the
Partnership
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B-4
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ARTICLE III RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
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B-6
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3.1
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Limitation of Liability
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B-6
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3.2
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Management of Business
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B-6
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3.3
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Outside Activities of the Limited Partners
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B-6
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3.4
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Rights of Limited Partners
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B-6
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ARTICLE IV CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP
INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
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B-7
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4.1
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Certificates
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B-7
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4.2
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Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates
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B-7
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4.3
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Record Holders
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B-8
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4.4
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Transfer Generally
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B-8
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4.5
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Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests
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B-8
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4.6
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Transfer of General Partner Interest
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B-9
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4.7
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Restrictions on Transfers
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B-9
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4.8
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Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees
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B-10
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4.9
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Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees
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B-11
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ARTICLE V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP
INTEREST
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B-12
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5.1
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Prior Contributions
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B-12
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5.2
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Conversion and Continuation of General Partner Interest and
Limited Partner Interests; Initial Offering
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B-12
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5.3
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Contributions by the Underwriters
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B-12
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5.4
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Interest and Withdrawal
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B-13
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5.5
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Capital Accounts
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B-13
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5.6
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Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities
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B-15
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5.7
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[Reserved]
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B-15
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5.8
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[Reserved]
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B-15
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5.9
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Limited Preemptive Right
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B-15
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5.10
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Splits and Combinations
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B-16
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5.11
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Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests
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B-16
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5.12
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Establishment of Class B Units
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B-16
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B-i
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ARTICLE VI ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
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B-17
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6.1
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Allocations for Capital Account Purposes
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B-17
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6.2
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Allocations for Tax Purposes
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B-21
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6.3
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Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions
to Record Holders
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B-22
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6.4
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[Reserved]
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B-23
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6.5
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[Reserved]
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B-23
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6.6
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[Reserved]
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B-23
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6.7
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[Reserved]
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B-23
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6.8
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[Reserved]
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B-23
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6.9
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Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Class B Units
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B-23
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ARTICLE VII MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
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B-23
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7.1
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Management
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B-23
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7.2
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Certificate of Limited Partnership
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B-24
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7.3
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Restrictions on General Partners Authority
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B-25
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7.4
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Reimbursement of the General Partner
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B-25
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7.5
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Outside Activities
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B-26
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7.6
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Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the
Partnership; Contracts with Affiliates; Certain Restrictions on
the General Partner
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B-27
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7.7
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Indemnification
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B-28
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7.8
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Liability of Indemnitees
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B-29
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7.9
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Resolution of Conflicts of Interest
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B-30
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7.10
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Other Matters Concerning the General Partner
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B-31
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7.11
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Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities
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B-31
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7.12
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Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates
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B-31
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7.13
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Reliance by Third Parties
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B-33
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ARTICLE VIII BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
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B-33
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8.1
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Records and Accounting
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B-33
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8.2
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Fiscal Year
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B-33
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8.3
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Reports
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B-34
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ARTICLE IX TAX MATTERS
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B-34
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9.1
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Tax Returns and Information
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B-34
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9.2
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Tax Elections
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B-34
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9.3
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Tax Controversies
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B-34
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9.4
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Withholding
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B-35
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ARTICLE X ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
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B-35
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10.1
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Admission of Initial Limited Partners
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B-35
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10.2
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Admission of Substituted Limited Partner
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B-35
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10.3
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Admission of Successor General Partner
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B-35
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10.4
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Admission of Additional Limited Partners
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B-36
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10.5
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Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership
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B-36
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ARTICLE XI WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
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B-36
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11.1
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Withdrawal of the General Partner
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B-36
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11.2
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Removal of the General Partner
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B-37
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11.3
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Interest of Departing Partner and Successor General Partner
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B-38
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11.4
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[Reserved]
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B-38
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11.5
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Withdrawal of Limited Partners
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B-38
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B-ii
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ARTICLE XII DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
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B-39
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12.1
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Dissolution
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B-39
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12.2
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Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution
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B-39
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12.3
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Liquidator
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B-39
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12.4
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Liquidation
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B-40
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12.5
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Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership
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B-40
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12.6
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Return of Contributions
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B-40
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12.7
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Waiver of Partition
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B-41
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12.8
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Capital Account Restoration
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B-41
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12.9
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Certain Prohibited Acts
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B-41
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ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS;
RECORD DATE
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B-41
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13.1
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Amendment to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner
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B-41
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13.2
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Amendment Procedures
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B-42
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13.3
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Amendment Requirements
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B-42
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13.4
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Special Meetings
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B-43
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13.5
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Notice of a Meeting
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B-43
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13.6
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Record Date
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B-43
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13.7
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Adjournment
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B-43
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13.8
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Waiver of Notice
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B-44
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13.9
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Quorum
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B-44
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13.10
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Conduct of a Meeting
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B-44
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13.11
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Action Without a Meeting
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B-44
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13.12
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Voting and Other Rights
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B-45
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ARTICLE XIV MERGER
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B-45
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14.1
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Authority
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B-45
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14.2
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Procedure for Merger or Consolidation
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B-45
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14.3
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Approval by Limited Partners of Merger or Consolidation
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B-46
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14.4
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Certificate of Merger
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B-47
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14.5
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Effect of Merger
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B-47
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ARTICLE XV RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
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B-47
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15.1
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Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests
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B-47
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ARTICLE XVI GENERAL PROVISIONS
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B-49
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16.1
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Addresses and Notices
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B-49
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16.2
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Further Action
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B-49
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16.3
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Binding Effect
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B-49
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16.4
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Integration
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B-49
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16.5
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Creditors
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B-49
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16.6
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Waiver
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B-49
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16.7
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Counterparts
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B-50
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16.8
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Applicable Law
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B-50
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16.9
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Invalidity of Provisions
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B-50
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16.10
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Consent of Partners
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B-50
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16.11
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Amendments to Reflect GP Reorganization Agreement
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B-50
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EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A -
|
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Form of Class B Unit Certificate
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B-iii
SIXTH
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP OF ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
THIS SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P., dated effective as
of ,
2010, is entered into by and among EPE Holdings, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, as the General Partner, and the
Limited Partners as provided herein.
WHEREAS, the Partnership, the General Partner, Enterprise
Products GP, LLC, Enterprise ETE LLC (MergerCo), and
Enterprise GP Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
(Holdings), entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of September 3, 2010 (the Holdings
Merger Agreement), providing, among other things, the
merger of Holdings with and into MergerCo, with MergerCo
surviving the Merger (the Holdings Merger), and each
unit representing limited partner interests in Holdings being
converted into the right to receive 1.5 Common Units (as defined
herein) and the general partner interest in Holdings being
converted into the right to receive the General Partner Interest
in the Partnership (as held by Holdings immediately prior to the
Holdings Merger, as amended by this Agreement); and
WHEREAS, this Agreement amends the Fifth Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as amended
prior to the date hereof (the Prior Partnership
Agreement), effective as of the Effective Time (as defined
in the Holdings Merger Agreement), to reflect, among other
things, (i) the consolidation of previous amendments into
one document, (ii) the conversion of the General Partner
Interest of the Predecessor General Partner (as defined herein)
into a non-economic management interest in the Partnership and
cancellation of the rights of the Predecessor General Partner to
Incentive Distributions (as defined in the Prior Partnership
Agreement), and amendment of the distribution and allocation
provisions after giving effect to the same, (iii) the
assignment and assumption of the General Partner Interest, and
the admission of EPE Holdings, LLC as the current General
Partner of the Partnership effective immediately prior to the
transfer of the General Partner Interest effected pursuant to
the Holdings Merger in accordance with
Section 4.6(c) and Section 10.3 and the
continuation of the Partnership without dissolution.
In consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements
contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. The definitions
listed on Attachment I shall be for all purposes, unless
otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the
terms used in this Agreement.
1.2 Construction. Unless the
context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this
Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or
neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs
shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to
Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this
Agreement; and (c) include or
includes means includes, without limitation, and
including means including, without limitation.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
2.1 Formation. The Partnership has
been previously formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the
provisions of the Delaware Act. The General Partner and the
Limited Partners hereby amend and restate in its entirety the
Agreement of Limited Partnership of Enterprise Products Partners
L.P., dated April 9, 1998, as amended by that certain First
Amendment to Agreement of Limited Partnership of Enterprise
Products Partners L.P., dated as of June 1, 1998, as
amended by that certain Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of Enterprise Products Partners L.P., dated
as of July 31, 1998, as amended by that certain Second
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Enterprise Products Partners L.P., dated September 17,
1999, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of
June 9, 2000, to the Second Amended and
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Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Enterprise Products
Partners L.P. , as amended by that certain Third Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Enterprise Products
Partners L.P., dated as of May 15, 2002, as amended by
Amendment No. 1, dated August 7, 2002, Amendment
No. 2, dated December 17, 2002, Amendment No. 3,
dated December 10, 2003, and Amendment No. 4, dated
December 17, 2003, to the Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of Enterprise Products Partners
L.P., as amended by that certain Fifth Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of Enterprise Products Partners
L.P., dated as of August 8, 2005, as amended by Amendment
No. 1, dated as of December 27, 2007, Amendment
No. 2, dated as of April 14, 2008, Amendment
No. 3, dated as of November 6, 2008, and Amendment
No. 4, dated as of October 26, 2009, and Amendment
No. 5, dated as
of ,
2010, to the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Enterprise Products Partners L.P. The purpose of
this amendment and restatement is to (i) consolidate the
previous amendments into one document, (ii) reflect the
conversion of the General Partner Interest of the Predecessor
General Partner into a non-economic management interest in the
Partnership and cancellation of the rights of the Predecessor
General Partner to Incentive Distributions (as defined in the
Prior Partnership Agreement), and amendment of the distribution
and allocation provisions after giving effect to the same,
(iii) reflect the assignment and assumption of the General
Partner Interest, and the admission of EPE Holdings, LLC as the
current General Partner of the Partnership immediately prior to
the transfer of the General Partner Interest in accordance with
Sections 4.6(c) and 10.3 and the continuation
of the Partnership without dissolution, and (iv) delete
certain provisions which are no longer applicable to the
Partnership. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the
General Partner and the Limited Partners hereby continue the
Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions
of the Delaware Act. This amendment and restatement shall become
effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly
provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties
(including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the
Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of
the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All
Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the
owner thereof for all purposes and a Partner has no interest in
specific Partnership property.
2.2 Name. The name of the
Partnership shall be Enterprise Products Partners
L.P. The Partnerships business may be conducted
under any other name or names deemed necessary or appropriate by
the General Partner in its sole discretion, including the name
of the General Partner. The words Limited
Partnership, L.P., Ltd. or similar
words or letters shall be included in the Partnerships
name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws
of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner in its
discretion may change the name of the Partnership at any time
and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of
such change in the next regular communication to the Limited
Partners.
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 1209 Orange Street,
New Castle County, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, and the
registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in
the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be The
Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the
Partnership shall be located at P.O. Box 4324,
Houston, Texas
77210-4324
or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time
designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may
maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside
the State of Delaware as the General Partner deems necessary or
appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be
P.O. Box 4324, Houston, Texas
77210-4324
or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time
designate by notice to the Limited Partners.
2.4 Purpose and Business. The
purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the
Partnership shall be:
(a) to serve as a limited partner in the Operating
Partnership and any of its Subsidiary partnerships and, in
connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers
conferred upon the Partnership as a limited partner in such
partnerships pursuant to the partnership agreements for such
entities or otherwise;
(b) to engage directly in, or enter into or form any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any
business activity that the Operating
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Partnership is permitted to engage in by the Operating
Partnership Agreement and, in connection therewith, to exercise
all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership
pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity;
(c) to engage directly in, or enter into or form any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any
business activity that is approved by the General Partner and
which 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; provided, however, that the General Partner
determines in good faith, prior to the conduct of such activity,
that the conduct by the Partnership of such activity is not
likely to result in the Partnership being treated as an
association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax
purposes;
(d) to do anything necessary or appropriate to the
foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or
loans to any Group Member.
The Partnership shall at all times maintain a sufficient number
of employees in light of its then current business operations if
adequate personnel and services are not provided to the
Partnership under the Administrative Services Agreement. The
General Partner has no obligation or duty to the Partnership,
the Limited Partners or any Assignee to propose or approve, and
in its sole discretion may decline to propose or approve, the
conduct by the Partnership of any business.
2.5 Powers. The Partnership shall
be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary,
appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for
the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business
described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and
benefit of the Partnership.
2.6 Power of Attorney.
(a) Each Limited Partner and each Assignee hereby
constitutes and appoints the General Partner and, if a
Liquidator (other than the General Partner) shall have been
selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the Liquidator,
severally (and any successor to either thereof 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 deems necessary or appropriate to
form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the
Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which
the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of
Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership
may conduct business or own property; (B) all certificates,
documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the
Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to reflect, in
accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification
or restatement of this Agreement; (C) all certificates,
documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a
certificate of cancellation) that the General Partner or the
Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to reflect the
dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement; (D) all certificates, documents
and other instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal,
removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other
events described in, Article IV, X, XI
or 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) relating to a
merger or consolidation 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 necessary or appropriate, in the
discretion of the General Partner or the Liquidator, to make,
evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval,
agreement or other action that is made or given by the Partners
hereunder or is consistent with the terms
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of this Agreement or is necessary or appropriate, in the
discretion of the General Partner or the Liquidator, to
effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided, that
when required by Section 13.3 or any other provision of
this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the Limited
Partners or of the Limited Partners of any class or series
required to take any action, the 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 Partners or Assignees
Partnership Interest and shall extend to such Limited
Partners or Assignees 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 deems necessary to effectuate this Agreement and the
purposes of the Partnership.
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 close of Partnership
business on December 31, 2088 or until the earlier
termination 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.
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 to the Partnership of record title to all Partnership
assets held by the General Partner or its Affiliates, 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.
2.9 Certain Undertakings Relating to the
Separateness of the Partnership.
(a) Separateness Generally. The
Partnership shall conduct its business and operations separate
and apart from those of any other Person (including EPCO and its
Subsidiaries, other than the General Partner and the Partnership
Group), except the General Partner and the Partnership Group, in
accordance with this Section 2.9.
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(b) Separate Records. The Partnership
shall (i) maintain its books and records and its accounts
separate from those of any other Person, (ii) maintain its
financial records, which will be used by it in its ordinary
course of business, showing its assets and liabilities separate
and apart from those of any other Person, except the General
Partner and the Partnerships consolidated Subsidiaries,
(iii) not have its assets
and/or
liabilities included in a consolidated financial statement of
any Affiliate of the General Partner unless appropriate notation
shall be made on such Affiliates consolidated financial
statements to indicate the separateness of the Partnership and
the General Partner and their assets and liabilities from such
Affiliate and the assets and liabilities of such Affiliate, and
to indicate that the assets and liabilities of the Partnership
and the General Partner are not available to satisfy the debts
and other obligations of such Affiliate, and (iv) file its
own tax returns separate from those of any other Person, except
to the extent that the Partnership is treated as a
disregarded entity for tax purposes or is not
otherwise required to file tax returns under applicable law or
is required under applicable law to file a tax return which is
consolidated with another Person.
(c) Separate Assets. The Partnership
shall not commingle or pool its funds or other assets with those
of any other Person, except its consolidated Subsidiaries, and
shall maintain its assets in a manner that is not costly or
difficult to segregate, ascertain or otherwise identify as
separate from those of any other Person.
(d) Separate Name. The Partnership shall
(i) conduct its business in its own name or in the names of
one or more of its Subsidiaries or the General Partner,
(ii) use separate stationery, invoices, and checks,
(iii) correct any known misunderstanding regarding its
separate identity, and (iv) generally hold itself out as an
entity separate from any other Person (other than the General
Partner or the Partnerships Subsidiaries).
(e) Separate Credit. The Partnership
(i) shall pay its obligations and liabilities from its own
funds (whether on hand or borrowed), (ii) shall maintain
adequate capital in light of its business operations,
(iii) shall not pledge its assets for the benefit of any
Person or guarantee or become obligated for the debts of any
other Person, except its Subsidiaries, (iv) shall not hold
out its credit as being available to satisfy the obligations or
liabilities of any other Person, except its Subsidiaries,
(v) shall not acquire obligations or debt securities of
EPCO or its Affiliates (other than the other members of the
Partnership Group and the General Partner), (vi) shall not
make loans or advances to any Person, except its Subsidiaries,
and (vii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause
the operative documents under which the Partnership or any of
its Subsidiaries borrows money, is an issuer of debt securities,
or guarantees any such borrowing or issuance, to contain
provisions to the effect that (A) the lenders or purchasers
of debt securities, respectively, acknowledge that they have
advanced funds or purchased debt securities, respectively, in
reliance upon the separateness of the Partnership and the
General Partner from each other and from any other Persons,
including any Affiliate of the General Partner and (B) the
Partnership and the General Partner have assets and liabilities
that are separate from those of other persons, including any
Affiliate of the General Partner; provided that, the Partnership
may engage in any transaction described in clauses (v)-(vi) of
this Section 2.9(e) if prior Special Approval has
been obtained for such transaction and either (A) the Audit
and Conflicts Committee has determined (by Special Approval)
that the borrower or recipient of the credit support is not then
insolvent and will not be rendered insolvent as a result of such
transaction or (B) in the case of transactions described in
clause (v), such transaction is completed through a public
auction or a National Securities Exchange.
(f) Separate Formalities. The Partnership
shall (i) observe all partnership formalities and other
formalities required by its organizational documents, the laws
of the jurisdiction of its formation, or other laws, rules,
regulations and orders of governmental authorities exercising
jurisdiction over it, (ii) engage in transactions with EPCO
and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner or another
member of the Partnership Group) in conformity with the
requirements of Section 7.9, and (iii) subject to
the terms of the Administrative Services Agreement, promptly
pay, from its own funds, and on a current basis, a fair and
reasonable share of general and administrative expenses, capital
expenditures, and costs for shared services performed by EPCO or
Affiliates of EPCO (other than the General Partner or another
member of the Partnership Group). Each material contract between
the Partnership or another member of the Partnership Group, on
the one hand, and EPCO or Affiliates of EPCO (other than the
General Partner or a member of the Partnership Group), on the
other hand, shall be in writing.
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(g) No Effect. Failure by the Partnership
to comply with any of the obligations set forth above shall not
affect the status of the Partnership as a separate legal entity,
with its separate assets and separate liabilities.
ARTICLE III
RIGHTS OF
LIMITED PARTNERS
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.
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
Section 17-303(a)
of the Delaware Act) of the Partnerships business,
transact any business in the Partnerships 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, member, manager, general partner,
agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its
Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, 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.
3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited
Partners. Subject to the provisions of
Section 7.5, which shall continue to be applicable
to the Persons referred to therein, regardless of whether such
Persons shall also be Limited Partners or Assignees, 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.
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
Partners interest as a limited partner in the Partnership,
upon reasonable written demand and at such Limited
Partners own expense:
(i) to obtain true and full information regarding the
status of the business and financial condition of the
Partnership;
(ii) promptly after becoming available, to obtain a copy of
the Partnerships federal, state and local income tax
returns for each year;
(iii) to have furnished to him a current list of the name
and last known business, residence or mailing address of each
Partner;
(iv) to have furnished to him a copy of this Agreement and
the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments
thereto, together with a copy of the executed copies of all
powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the
Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto
have been executed;
(v) to obtain true and full information regarding the
amount of cash and a description and statement of the Net Agreed
Value of any other Capital Contribution by each Partner and
which each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and
the date on which each became a Partner; and
(vi) to obtain such other information regarding the affairs
of the Partnership as is just and reasonable.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
the General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited
Partners and Assignees, for such period of time as the General
Partner deems reasonable,
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(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 (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
4.1 Certificates. Upon the
Partnerships issuance of Common Units to any Person, the
Partnership shall issue one or more Certificates in the name of
such Person evidencing the number of such Units being so issued.
In addition, (a) upon the General Partners request,
the Partnership shall issue to it one or more Certificates in
the name of the General Partner evidencing its interests in the
Partnership and (b) upon the request of any Person owning
any Partnership Securities, the Partnership shall issue to such
Person one or more Certificates evidencing such Partnership
Securities. Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, President or any
Executive Vice President or Vice President and the 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, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this
Section 4.1 or elsewhere in this Agreement, Common
Units may be certificated or uncertificated as provided in the
Delaware Act.
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, or shall deliver other evidence of the issuance of
uncertificated Units, 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, or shall
deliver other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units,
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 Partnership, that a previously issued
Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;
(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate, or other
evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, before the
Partnership has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by
a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an
adverse claim;
(iii) if requested by the Partnership, delivers to the
Partnership a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Partnership, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open
penalty as the Partnership may reasonably direct, in its sole
discretion, 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 Partnership.
If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to notify the Partnership
within a reasonable time after he has notice of the loss,
destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the
Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is
registered before the Partnership, the 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, or other evidence of the
issuance of uncertificated Units.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate,
or other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, under
this Section 4.2, the Partnership may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to
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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.
4.3 Record Holders. The Partnership
shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner
or Assignee with respect to any Partnership Interest and,
accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or
other claim to or interest in such Partnership Interest on the
part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Partnership
shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise
provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or
requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such
Partnership Interests are listed for trading. Without limiting
the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank,
trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the
foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other
representative capacity for another Person in acquiring
and/or
holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the
one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such
representative Person (a) shall be the Partner or Assignee
(as the case may be) of record and beneficially, (b) must
execute and deliver a Transfer Application and (c) shall be
bound by this Agreement and shall have the rights and
obligations of a Partner or Assignee (as the case may be)
hereunder and as, and to the extent, provided for herein.
4.4 Transfer Generally.
(a) The term transfer, when used in this
Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall be
deemed to refer to a transaction by which the General Partner
assigns its Partnership Interest as a general partner in the
Partnership to another Person who becomes the General Partner,
or by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest assigns
such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or
becomes a Limited Partner or an Assignee, and includes a sale,
assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage,
exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise.
(b) No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole
or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions
set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or
purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in
accordance with this Article IV shall be null and
void.
(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed
to prevent a disposition by any member of the General Partner of
any or all of the issued and outstanding member interests of the
General Partner.
4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner
Interests.
(a) The Partnership shall keep or cause to be kept on
behalf of the Partnership a register in which, subject to such
reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the
provisions of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will
provide for the registration and transfer of Limited Partner
Interests. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and
transfer agent for the purpose of registering Common Units and
transfers of such Common Units as herein provided. The
Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Certificates
evidencing Limited Partner Interests unless such transfers are
effected in the manner described in this
Section 4.5. Upon surrender of a
Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner
Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the
provisions of Section 4.5(b), the appropriate officers of
the 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 holders instructions, one or more new Certificates, or
shall deliver other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated
Units, evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited
Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so
surrendered.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in
Section 4.9, the Partnership shall not recognize any
transfer of Limited Partner Interests until the Certificates
evidencing such Limited Partner Interests, or other evidence of
the issuance of uncertificated Units, are surrendered for
registration of transfer and such Certificates, or other
evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, are
accompanied by a Transfer Application duly executed by the
transferee (or the transferees attorney-in-fact duly
authorized in writing). No charge shall be imposed by the
Partnership for such transfer; provided, that as a condition to
the issuance of any new Certificate, or other evidence of the
issuance of uncertificated Units, under this
Section 4.5, the Partnership may require the
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payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.
(c) Limited Partner Interests may be transferred only in
the manner described in this
Section 4.5. The transfer of any Limited
Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner
shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.
(d) Until admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner
pursuant to Section 10.2, 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) The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the
right at any time to transfer its Subordinated Units and Common
Units (whether issued upon conversion of the Subordinated Units
or otherwise) to one or more Persons.
4.6 Transfer of General Partner Interest.
(a) [Reserved]
(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, the
General Partner may transfer all or any of its General Partner
Interest without Unitholder approval.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no
transfer by the General Partner of all or any part of its
General Partner Interest to another Person or replacement of the
General Partner pursuant to Section 10.3 shall be
permitted unless (i) the transferee or successor (as
applicable) 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 or replacement would
not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited
Partner or of any member of the Operating Partnership or cause
the Partnership or the Operating 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), (iii) such transferee or
successor (as applicable) also agrees to purchase all (or the
appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership
interest of the General Partner as the general partner or
managing member of each other Group Member, and (iv) for so
long as any affiliate of EPCO controls the General Partner, the
organizational documents of the owner(s) of all the General
Partner Interest, together, provide for the establishment of an
Audit and Conflicts Committee to approve certain
matters with respect to the General Partner and the Partnership,
the selection of Independent Directors as members of
such Audit and Conflicts Committee, and the submission of
certain matters to the vote of such Audit and Conflicts
Committee upon similar terms and conditions as set forth in the
limited liability company agreement of the General Partner, as
the same exists as of the date of this Agreement so as to
provide the Limited Partners and the General Partner with the
same rights and obligations as are herein contained. In the case
of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this
Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as
applicable) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of
Section 10.3, be admitted to the Partnership as a
General Partner immediately prior to the transfer of the General
Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall
continue without dissolution.
4.7 Restrictions on Transfers.
(a) Except as provided in Section 4.7(d) below,
but notwithstanding the other provisions of this
Article IV, no transfer of any Partnership Interests
shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then
applicable federal or state securities laws or rules and
regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission
or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such
transfer, (ii) terminate the
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existence or qualification of the Partnership or the Operating
Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation,
or (iii) cause the Partnership or the Operating 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 a subsequent Opinion of
Counsel determines that such restrictions are necessary to avoid
a significant risk of the Partnership or the Operating
Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be
taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes. The
restrictions may be imposed by making such amendments to this
Agreement as the General Partner may determine to be necessary
or appropriate to impose such restrictions; provided, however,
that any amendment that the General Partner believes, in the
exercise of its reasonable discretion, could result in the
delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited
Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange
on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then traded
must be approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the
holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Limited
Partner Interests of such class.
(c) Nothing contained in this Article IV, or
elsewhere in this Agreement, shall preclude the settlement of
any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into
through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on
which such Partnership Interests are listed for trading.
(d) The transfer of a Class B Unit that has converted
into a Common Unit shall be subject to the restrictions imposed
by Section 6.9.
4.8 Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen
Assignees.
(a) If any Group Member is or becomes subject to any
federal, state or local law or regulation that, in the
reasonable determination of the General Partner, creates a
substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property
in which the Group Member has an interest based on the
nationality, citizenship or other related status of a Limited
Partner or Assignee, the 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
his nationality, citizenship or other related status (or, if the
Limited Partner or Assignee is a nominee holding for the account
of another Person, the nationality, citizenship or other related
status of such Person) as the 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,
with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner or Assignee
is not an Eligible Citizen, the Partnership Interests owned by
such Limited Partner or Assignee shall be subject to redemption
in accordance with the provisions of
Section 4.9. In addition, the 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, the General Partner shall be substituted for such
Non-citizen Assignee as the Limited Partner in respect of his
Limited Partner Interests.
(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 without limitation 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
Assignees share of the distribution in kind. Such payment
and assignment shall be treated for Partnership purposes as a
purchase by the Partnership from the Non-citizen Assignee of his
Limited Partner Interest (representing his right to receive his
share of such distribution in kind).
(d) At any time after he can and does certify that he has
become an Eligible Citizen, a Non-citizen Assignee may, upon
application to the 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
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Section 4.9, and upon his 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
Assignees Limited Partner Interests.
4.9 Redemption of Partnership Interests of
Non-citizen Assignees.
(a) If at any time a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to
furnish a Citizenship Certification or other information
requested within the
30-day
period specified in Section 4.8(a), or if upon
receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other information
the 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 his 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 Partnership 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 his last
address designated on the records of the Partnership or the
Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so
mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable Interests, the
date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of
the redemption price will be made upon surrender of the
Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests, or other
evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, 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 Partnership Interests of the class to be so
redeemed multiplied by the number of Partnership Interests of
each such class included among the Redeemable Interests. The
redemption price shall be paid, in the discretion of 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 10% annually and payable in
three equal annual installments of principal together with
accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.
(iii) Upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner
or Assignee, at the place specified in the notice of redemption,
of the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests, duly
endorsed in blank or accompanied by an assignment duly executed
in blank, or other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated
Units, the Limited Partner or Assignee or his duly authorized
representative shall be entitled to receive the payment therefor.
(iv) After the redemption date, Redeemable Interests shall
no longer constitute issued and Outstanding Partnership
Interests.
(b) The provisions of this Section 4.9 shall
also be applicable to Partnership Interests held by a Limited
Partner or Assignee as nominee of a Person determined to be
other than an Eligible Citizen.
(c) Nothing in this Section 4.9 shall prevent
the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his
Partnership Interest before the redemption date if such transfer
is otherwise permitted under this Agreement. Upon receipt of
notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall withdraw
the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such
Partnership Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the
General Partner in a Citizenship Certification delivered in
connection with the Transfer Application that he is an Eligible
Citizen. If the transferee fails to make such certification,
such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the
original redemption date.
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ARTICLE V
CAPITAL
CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTEREST
5.1 Prior Contributions. Prior to
the date hereof, the Predecessor General Partner made certain
Capital Contributions to the Partnership in exchange for an
interest in the Partnership and was admitted as the Predecessor
General Partner of the Partnership, and DFI made certain Capital
Contributions to the Partnership in exchange for an interest in
the Partnership and was admitted as a Limited Partner of the
Partnership. As of the date hereof, (i) the General Partner
Interest of the Predecessor General Partner has been assumed
initially by Holdings as successor by merger to Enterprise
Products GP, LLC, Holdings was admitted to the Partnership as
the general partner of the Partnership immediately prior to such
merger, and the Partnership continued without dissolution, and
(ii) the General Partner Interest, as amended by this
Agreement, has been assigned and assumed by the General Partner
pursuant to the Holdings Merger, subject to all of the rights,
privileges and duties of the General Partner under this
Agreement, the General Partner is hereby admitted to the
Partnership as the sole general partner of the Partnership
effective immediately prior to the transfer of the General
Partners Partnership Interest pursuant to Holdings Merger
in accordance with Sections 4.6 and 10.3, and
the Partnership continues without dissolution.
5.2 Conversion and Continuation of General Partner
Interest and Limited Partner Interests; Initial Offering.
(a) The General Partner Interest that existed immediately
prior to the date hereof is hereby converted to a non-economic
General Partner Interest in the Partnership, and the rights of
the Predecessor General Partner with respect to Incentive
Distributions (as defined in the Prior Partnership
Agreement) are hereby cancelled and terminated. From the date
hereof, the General Partner Interest shall only represent a
non-economic management interest of the General Partner in the
Partnership, subject to all of the rights, privileges and duties
of the General Partner under this Agreement, and the Partnership
is hereby continued without dissolution.
(b) On the Closing Date, the Partnership Interest of DFI in
the Partnership was converted into 67,105,830 Common Units and
42,819,740 subordinated units of the Partnership (which were
subsequently converted, in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, into 42,819,740 Common Units), and such Partnership
Interest was continued.
(c) All other Partnership Interests that were issued prior
to the date hereof and are currently Outstanding shall be
continued.
5.3 Contributions by the Underwriters.
(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Underwriting
Agreement, each Underwriter was required to contribute 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 at the Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital
Contributions by the Underwriters, 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) Upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, each
Underwriter was required to contribute 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 at
the Option Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital
Contributions by the Underwriters, 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 contributions to the
Partnership by or on behalf of such Underwriter by (ii) the
Issue Price per Initial Common Unit.
(c) No Limited Partner Partnership Interests were issued or
issuable as of or at the Closing Date other than (i) the
Common Units issuable pursuant to subparagraph (a) hereof
in aggregate number equal to 24,000,000, (ii) the
Option Units as such term is used in the
Underwriting Agreement in aggregate number up to 3,600,000
issuable upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option pursuant to
subparagraph (b) hereof, and
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(iii) the 67,105,830 Common Units and 42,819,740
subordinated units of the Partnership (which were subsequently
converted, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, into
42,819,740 Common Units) issuable to DFI.
5.4 Interest and Withdrawal. 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 termination of the Partnership may be
considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided
for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided
in this Agreement, no Partner or Assignee shall have priority
over any other Partner or Assignee either as to the return of
Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions.
Any such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners and
Assignees agree within the meaning of
17-502(b) of
the Delaware Act.
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 in its sole discretion) owning a Partnership
Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such
Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account
shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital
Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such
Partnership Interest pursuant to this Agreement and
(ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including,
without limitation, income and gain exempt from tax) computed in
accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with
respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to
Section 6.1, and decreased by (A) the amount of
cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions
of cash or property made with respect to such Partnership
Interest pursuant to this Agreement and (B) all items of
Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with
Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such
Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1.
(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of
income, gain, loss or deduction which is to be allocated
pursuant to Article VI and is to be reflected in the
Partners Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition
and classification of any such item shall be the same as its
determination, recognition and classification for federal income
tax purposes (including, without limitation, any method of
depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that
purpose), provided, that:
(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 5.5,
the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its
proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based
upon the provisions of the Operating Partnership Agreement) of
all property owned by the Operating Partnership.
(ii) All fees and other expenses incurred by the
Partnership to promote the sale of (or to sell) a Partnership
Interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized under
Section 709 of the Code, if any, shall, for purposes of
Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of deduction
at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall
be allocated among the Partners pursuant to
Section 6.1.
(iii) Except as otherwise provided in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the
computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction
shall be made without regard to any election under
Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the
Partnership and, as to those items described in
Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without
regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross
income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for
federal income tax purposes. To the extent an adjustment to the
adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to
Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant
to Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m),
to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the
amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be
treated as an item of gain or loss.
(iv) Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable
disposition of any Partnership property shall be determined as
if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of
disposition were equal in amount to the Partnerships
Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.
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(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 (A) as if
the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying
Value of such property immediately following such adjustment and
(B) using a rate of depreciation, cost recovery or
amortization derived from the same method and useful life (or,
if applicable, the remaining useful life) as is applied for
federal income tax purposes; provided, however, that, if the
asset has a zero adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes,
depreciation, cost recovery or amortization deductions shall be
determined using any reasonable method that the General Partner
may adopt.
(vi) If the Partnerships adjusted basis in a
depreciable or cost recovery property is reduced for federal
income tax purposes pursuant to Section 48(q)(1) or
48(q)(3) of the Code, the amount of such reduction shall, solely
for purposes hereof, be deemed to be an additional depreciation
or cost recovery deduction in the year such property is placed
in service and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to
Section 6.1. Any restoration of such
basis pursuant to Section 48(q)(2) of the Code shall, to
the extent possible, be allocated in the same manner to the
Partners to whom such deemed deduction was allocated.
(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 6.9, immediately prior
to the transfer of a Class B Unit or of a Class B Unit
that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to
Section 5.12(f) by a holder thereof (other than a
transfer to an Affiliate unless the General Partner elects to
have this subparagraph 5.5(c)(ii) apply), the Capital Account
maintained for such Person with respect to its Class B
Units or converted Class B Units will
(A) first, be allocated to the Class B Units or
converted Class B Units to be transferred in an amount
equal to the product of (x) the number of such Class B
Units or converted Class B 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 Class B Units or converted
Class B Units. Following any such allocation, the
transferors Capital Account, if any, maintained with
respect to the retained Class B Units or retained converted
Class B Units, if any, will have a balance equal to the
amount allocated under clause (B) hereinabove, and the
transferees Capital Account established with respect to
the transferred Class B Units or converted Class B
Units will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under
clause (A) hereinabove.
(d) (i) In accordance with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f),
immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a
Partner of any Partnership property (other than a distribution
of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership
Interest), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and the Carrying
Value of all Partnership property shall be adjusted upward or
downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss
attributable to such Partnership property, as if such Unrealized
Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized in a sale of such
property immediately prior to such distribution for an amount
equal to its fair market value, and had been allocated to the
Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1 in
the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized
during such period would have been allocated. In determining
such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate cash
amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets
(including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents)
immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case
of an actual distribution which is not made pursuant to
Section 12.4, 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.
(ii) In accordance with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f),
immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a
Partner of any Partnership property (other than a distribution
of cash that is not in
B-14
redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the Capital
Accounts of all Partners and the Carrying Value of all
Partnership property shall be adjusted upward or downward to
reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to
such Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or
Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each
such property immediately prior to such distribution for an
amount equal to its fair market value, and had been allocated to
the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1
in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually
recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of
the Partnership would have been allocated. In determining such
Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash amount
and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash
or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall
(A) in the case of an actual distribution that is not made
pursuant to Section 12.4 or in the case of a deemed
distribution, be determined and allocated in the same manner as
that provided in Section 5.5(d)(i) or (B) in
the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to
Section 12.4, be determined and allocated by the
Liquidator using such reasonable method of valuation as it may
adopt.
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 shall be
established by the General Partner in its sole discretion, all
without the approval of any Limited Partners.
(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 may be senior to existing classes and
series of Partnership Securities), as shall be fixed by the
General Partner in the exercise of its sole discretion,
including (i) the right to share Partnership profits and
losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in
Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon
dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership;
(iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the
Partnership may redeem the Partnership Security;
(v) whether such Partnership Security is issued with the
privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and
conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms
and conditions upon which each Partnership Security will be
issued, evidenced by certificates, or other evidence of the
issuance of uncertificated Partnership Securities, and assigned
or transferred; and (vii) the right, if any, of each such
Partnership Security to vote on Partnership matters, including
matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and
privileges of such Partnership Security.
(c) The General Partner is hereby authorized and directed
to take all actions that it deems necessary or appropriate in
connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Securities
and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating
to Partnership Securities pursuant to this
Section 5.6, (ii) the conversion of the General
Partner Interest 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 is further authorized and
directed to specify the relative rights, powers and duties of
the holders of the Units or other Partnership Securities being
so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to
comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to
do all things it deems to be necessary or advisable in
connection with any future issuance of Partnership Securities or
in connection with the conversion of the General Partner
Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,
including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or
guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or
any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other
Partnership Securities are listed for trading.
(d) No fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.
5.7 [Reserved]
5.8 [Reserved]
5.9 Limited Preemptive Right.
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Except as provided in this Section 5.9, 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, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage
Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to
that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such
Partnership Securities.
5.10 Splits and Combinations.
(a) Subject to Sections 5.10(d) and 6.6
(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 or stated as a number of Units are
proportionately adjusted retroactive to the beginning of the
Partnership.
(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or
combination of Partnership Securities is declared, the 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. 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, or other
evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, 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 as it may deem appropriate to reflect such
changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total
number of Partnership Securities Outstanding, the Partnership
shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder
of such new Certificate, or other evidence of the issuance of
uncertificated Units, the surrender of any Certificate, or other
evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, held by such
Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.
(d) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon
any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a
distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result
in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of
Section 5.6(d) and this Section 5.10(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).
5.11 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of
Limited Partner Interests. All Limited Partner
Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the
requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid
and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership,
except as such non-assessability may be affected by
Section 17-607
of the Delaware Act.
5.12 Establishment of Class B Units
(a) General. The General Partner hereby
designates and creates a class of Units to be designated as
Class B Units and consisting of a total of
4,520,431 Class B Units, and fixes the designations,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights, powers and duties of holders of the Class B
Units as set forth in this Section 5.12.
(b) Rights of Class B Units. During
the period commencing upon issuance of the Class B Units
and ending on the Class B Conversion Effective Date:
(i) Allocations. Except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, all items of Partnership income,
gain, loss, deduction and credit, including Unrealized Gain or
Unrealized Loss to be allocated to the
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Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(b), shall be allocated
to the Class B Units to the same extent as such items would
be so allocated if such Class B Units were Common Units
that were then Outstanding.
(ii) Distributions. Prior to the Class B
Conversion Effective Date, the Class B Units shall not be
entitled to receive distributions of Available Cash pursuant to
Section 6.3.
(c) Voting Rights. Prior to the
Class B Conversion Effective Date, the Class B Units
shall be entitled to vote with the Common Units as a single
class on any matters on which Common Unitholders are entitled to
vote, except that the Class B Units shall be entitled to
vote as a separate class on any matter that adversely affects
the rights or preferences of the Class B Units in relation
to other classes of Partnership Interests (including as a result
of a merger or consolidation) or as required by law. The
approval 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 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.
(d) Certificates. The Class B Units
will be evidenced by certificates in substantially the form of
Exhibit A to this Agreement and, subject to the
satisfaction of any applicable legal and regulatory
requirements, may be assigned or transferred in a manner
identical to the assignment and transfer of other Units. The
certificates will initially include a restrictive legend to the
effect that the Class B Units have not been registered
under the Securities Act or any state securities laws.
(e) Registrar and Transfer Agent. The
General Partner will act as registrar and transfer agent of the
Class B Units.
(f) Conversion. Each Class B Unit
shall automatically convert into one Common Unit (subject to
appropriate adjustment pursuant to Section 5.10 in
the event of any
split-up,
combination or similar event affecting the Common Units or other
Units that occurs prior to the Class B Conversion Effective
Date) on the date immediately following the payment date for the
16th distribution of Available Cash pursuant to
Section 6.3 following the Closing Date (as defined
in the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of June 28,
2009, by and among the Partnership, the Predecessor General
Partner, Enterprise Sub B LLC, Teppco Partners, L.P. and Texas
Eastern Products Pipeline Company, LLC) (the
Class B Conversion Effective
Date) without any further action by the holders
thereof. The terms of the Class B Units will be changed,
automatically and without further action, on the Class B
Conversion Effective Date so that each Class B Unit is
converted into one Common Unit and, immediately thereafter, none
of the Class B Units shall be Outstanding; provided,
however, that such converted Class B Units will remain
subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1(c)(xiii)
and 6.9.
(g) Surrender of Certificates. Subject to
the requirements of Section 6.9, on or after the
Class B Conversion Effective Date, each holder of
Class B Units shall promptly surrender the Class B
Unit Certificates therefor, duly endorsed, at the office of the
General Partner or of any transfer agent for the Class B
Units. In the case of any such conversion, the Partnership
shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at
such office to such holder of Class B Units one or more
Unit Certificates, registered in the name of such holder, or
other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated certificates,
for the number of Common Units to which such holder shall be
entitled. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made as
of the Class B Conversion Effective Date whether or not the
Class B Unit Certificate has been surrendered as of such
date, and the Person entitled to receive the Common Units
issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes
as the record holder of such Common Units as of such date.
ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATIONS
AND DISTRIBUTIONS
6.1 Allocations for Capital Account
Purposes. For purposes of maintaining the Capital
Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among
themselves, the Partnerships 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.
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(a) Net Income and Net Loss. After giving
effect to the special allocations set forth in
Section 6.1(c), Net Income and Net Loss for each
taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction
taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable
period shall be allocated to the Unitholders in accordance with
their Percentage Interests.
(b) Net Termination Gains and
Losses. After giving effect to the special
allocations set forth in Section 6.1(c), 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(b) shall be
made after Capital Account balances have been adjusted by all
other allocations provided under this Section 6.1;
provided, however, that solely for purposes of this Section
6.1(b), 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 Unitholder 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; and
B. Second, 100% to the Unitholders in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests.
(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 (and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall
be decreased 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 the Unitholders in proportion to, and to the
extent of, the positive balances in their respective Capital
Accounts; and
B. Second, the balance, if any, 100% to the Unitholders in
accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
(c) 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(c), each
Partners 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(c)
with respect to such taxable period (other than an allocation
pursuant to Sections 6.1(c)(vi) and
6.1(c)(vii)). This Section 6.1(c)(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(c)(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
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Section 6.1(c), each Partners 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(c), other than
Section 6.1(c)(i) and other than an allocation
pursuant to Sections 6.1(c)(vi) and 6.1(c)(vii),
with respect to such taxable period. This
Section 6.1(c)(ii) is intended to comply with the
chargeback of items of income and gain requirement in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4)
and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(iii) Priority Allocations.
If the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property
distributed (except cash or property distributed pursuant to
Section 12.4) to any Unitholder with respect to its
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 (except Unitholders holding
Class B Units with respect to any Record Date prior to the
Class B Conversion Effective Date) with respect to their
Units (on a per Unit basis), then (1) there shall be
allocated income and gain to each Unitholder receiving such
greater cash or property distribution until the aggregate amount
of such items allocated pursuant to this
Section 6.1(c)(iii) for the current taxable year and
all previous taxable years is equal to the product of
(A) 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 (B) the number of Units owned by the
Unitholder receiving the greater distribution.
(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(c)(i) or (ii).
(v) Gross Income Allocations. In the
event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account
at the end of any Partnership taxable period in excess of the
sum of (A) the amount such Partner is required to restore
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the
amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to
Treasury
Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g)
and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated
items of Partnership gross income and gain in the amount of such
excess as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation
pursuant to this Section(c)(v) shall be made only if and
to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in
its Capital Account as adjusted after all other allocations
provided for in this Section 6.1 have been
tentatively made as if this Section 6.1(c)(v) were
not in this Agreement.
(vi) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse
Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the
Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage
Interests. If the General Partner determines in its good faith
discretion that the Partnerships Nonrecourse Deductions
must be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe
harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated
under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is
authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the
prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does
satisfy such requirements.
(vii) Partner Nonrecourse
Deductions. Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for
any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Partner that
bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Partner
Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions
are attributable in accordance with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(i).
If more than one Partner bears the Economic Risk of Loss with
respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt, such Partner Nonrecourse
Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or
among such Partners in accordance with the ratios in which they
share such Economic Risk of Loss.
(viii) Nonrecourse Liabilities. For
purposes of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.752-3(a)(3),
the Partners agree that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the
Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the amount of
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Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of
Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated among the Partners
in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
(ix) Code Section 754
Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the
adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to
Section 734(b) or 743(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.
(x) Curative Allocation.
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 6.1, other than the Required Allocations,
the Required Allocations shall be taken into account in making
the Agreed Allocations so that, to the extent possible, the net
amount of items of income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to
each Partner pursuant to the Required Allocations and the Agreed
Allocations, together, shall be equal to the net amount of such
items that would have been allocated to each such Partner under
the Agreed Allocations had the Required Allocations and the
related Curative Allocation not otherwise been provided in this
Section 6.1. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence,
Required Allocations relating to (1) Nonrecourse Deductions
shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there
has been a decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain and
(2) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into
account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in
Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Allocations pursuant to
this Section 6.1(c)(x)(A) shall only be made with
respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General
Partner reasonably determines that such allocations will
otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the
Partners. Further, allocations pursuant to this
Section 6.1(c)(x)(A) shall be deferred with respect
to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) hereof
to the extent the General Partner reasonably determines that
such allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent Required
Allocations.
B. The General Partner shall have reasonable discretion,
with respect to each taxable period, to (1) apply the
provisions of Section 6.1(c)(x)(A) in whatever order is
most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might
otherwise result from the Required Allocations, and
(2) divide all allocations pursuant to
Section(c)(x)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is
likely to minimize such economic distortions.
(xi) [Reserved]
(xii) [Reserved]
(xiii) Economic Uniformity. With respect
to any taxable period in which the Class B Conversion
Effective Date occurs (and, if necessary, any subsequent taxable
period), items of Partnership gross income, gain, deduction or
loss for the taxable period shall be allocated 100% to each
Limited Partner with respect to such Limited Partners
Class B Units that are Outstanding on the Class B
Conversion Effective Date in the proportion that the respective
number of Class B Units held by such Partner bears to the
total number of Class B Units then Outstanding, until each
such Partner has been allocated the amount of gross income,
gain, deduction or loss with respect to such Partners
Class B Units that causes the Capital Account attributable
to each Class B Unit, on a per Unit basis, to equal the Per
Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit on the Class B
Conversion Effective Date. The purpose for this allocation is to
establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying
converted Class B Units and the Capital Accounts underlying
Common Units immediately prior to the conversion of Class B
Units into Common Units.
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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 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.
(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 have sole discretion to (i) adopt such conventions as
it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation,
amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make
special allocations for federal income tax purposes of income
(including, without limitation, gross income) or deductions; and
(iii) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate
(A) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury
Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of
the Code or (B) 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 in its discretion may determine to
depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under
Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized
appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent of the
unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate
derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful
life applied to the Partnerships common basis of such
property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with
Treasury
Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6)
or any successor regulation. 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
Partnerships property. If the General Partner chooses not
to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use
any other reasonable depreciation and amortization conventions
to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics
of any Limited Partner Interests that would not have material
adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of
any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.
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(e) Any gain allocated to the Partners upon the sale or
other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset shall, to the
extent possible, after taking into account other required
allocations of gain pursuant to this Section 6.2, be
characterized as Recapture Income in the same proportions and to
the same extent as such Partners (or their predecessors in
interest) have been allocated any deductions directly or
indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gains as
Recapture Income.
(f) All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit
recognized by the Partnership for federal income tax purposes
and allocated to the Partners in accordance with the provisions
hereof shall be determined without regard to any election under
Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the
Partnership; provided, however, that such allocations, once
made, shall be adjusted as necessary or appropriate to take into
account those adjustments permitted or required by
Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.
(g) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and
deduction attributable to a transferred Partnership Interest,
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 principal
National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are then
traded on the first Business Day of each month; provided,
however, that such items for the period beginning on the Closing
Date and ending on the last day of the month in which the Option
Closing Date or the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option
occurs shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of
the Nasdaq National Market on the first Business Day of the next
succeeding month; and provided, further, that gain or loss on a
sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership other
than in the ordinary course of business shall be allocated to
the Partners as of the opening of the Nasdaq National Market (or
such other National Securities Exchange on which the Common
Units are then primarily traded) 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 as it determines
necessary, to the extent permitted or required by
Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings
promulgated thereunder.
(h) Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Limited
Partner under the provisions of this Article VI
shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner
Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has
furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in
accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other
method acceptable to the General Partner in its sole discretion.
6.3 Requirement and Characterization of
Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders.
(a) Within 45 days following the end of each Quarter
commencing with the Quarter ending on September 30, 1998,
an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash (whether from
Operating Surplus or Capital Surplus) with respect to such
Quarter shall, subject to
Section 17-607
of the Delaware Act and any terms applicable to a Partner under
the Distribution Waiver Agreement, be distributed in accordance
with this Article VI by the Partnership to the
Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interest as of the
Record Date selected by the General Partner in its reasonable
discretion. All distributions required to be made under this
Agreement shall be made subject to
Section 17-607
of the Delaware Act.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a), in the
event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all
receipts received during or after the Quarter in which the
Liquidation Date occurs, other than from borrowings described in
(a)(ii)(A) 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 shall have the discretion to treat
taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts withheld
with respect to, all or less than all of the Partners, as 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 Partnerships liability in
respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person
who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an
assignment or otherwise.
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6.4 [Reserved]
6.5 [Reserved]
6.6 [Reserved]
6.7 [Reserved]
6.8 [Reserved]
6.9 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of
Class B Units
A Unitholder holding a Class B Unit that has converted into
a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.12 shall not be
issued a Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1,
and shall not be permitted to transfer such Common Units until
such times as the General Partner determines, 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 Units
in preparation for a transfer of such Common Units, including
the application of Sections 5.5(c)(ii) and
6.1(c)(xiii); provided, however, that no such steps may
be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the
Unitholders holding Common Units represented by Unit
Certificates.
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
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 which 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, in
its sole discretion, may deem necessary or appropriate to
conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers
set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the
purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the
following:
(i) the making of any expenditures, the lending or
borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other
contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the
issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness
that is convertible into Partnership Securities, and the
incurring of any other obligations;
(ii) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or
rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other
agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the
Partnership;
(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge,
encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the
assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of
the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters
described in this clause (iii) being subject, however, to
any prior approval that may be required by
Section 7.3);
(iv) the use of the assets of the Partnership (including
cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this
Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the
operations of the Partnership Group; subject to
Section 7.6(a), the lending of funds to other
Persons (including the Operating Partnership); the repayment of
obligations of the Partnership Group; and the making of capital
contributions to any member of the Partnership Group;
(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
B-23
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 such insurance for the benefit of
the Partnership Group and the Partners as it deems necessary or
appropriate (if such insurance is not maintained pursuant to the
Administrative Services Agreement);
(ix) the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in,
and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any
further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, limited
liability companies, corporations or other relationships
(including the acquisition of interests in, and the
contributions of property to, the Operating Partnership from
time to time) subject to the restrictions set forth in
Section 2.4;
(x) the control of any matters affecting the rights and
obligations of the Partnership, including the bringing and
defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging
in the conduct of litigation and the incurring of legal expense
and the settlement of claims and litigation;
(xi) the indemnification of any Person against liabilities
and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;
(xii) the entering into of listing agreements with any
National Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of
the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that trading
be suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior
approval that may be required under Section 4.8);
(xiii) the purchase, sale or other acquisition or
disposition of Partnership Securities, or the issuance of
additional options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights
relating to Partnership Securities; and
(xiv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the
Partnerships ownership or operation of any Group Member,
including exercising, on behalf and for the benefit of the
Partnership, the Partnerships rights as the sole
stockholder of the Operating General Partner.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
the Operating Partnership Agreement, the Delaware Act or any
applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and
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 the Operating Partnership Agreement, the Underwriting
Agreement, the Administrative Services Agreement, and the other
agreements described in or filed as a part of the Registration
Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by
the Registration Statement; (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 the
Assignees or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any
other agreements) or of any duty stated or implied by law or
equity.
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
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and shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such
other certificates or documents as may be determined by the
General Partner in its sole discretion to be reasonable and
necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation,
qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a
partnership in which the limited partners have limited
liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which
the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the
extent that such action is determined by the General Partner in
its sole discretion to be reasonable and 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.
7.3 Restrictions on General Partners
Authority.
(a) 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, including, except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, (i) committing any
act that would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary
business of the Partnership; (ii) possessing Partnership
property, or assigning any rights in specific Partnership
property, for other than a Partnership purpose;
(iii) admitting a Person as a Partner; (iv) amending
this Agreement in any manner; or (v) transferring its
interest as general partner of the Partnership.
(b) Except as provided in Articles XII and
XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the
Partnerships assets in a single transaction or a series of
related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation
or other combination) or approve on behalf of the Partnership
the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Partnership or the Operating
Partnership, without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority
and Special Approval; provided however that this provision shall
not preclude or limit the General Partners ability to
mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in
all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or the
Operating Partnership and shall not apply to any forced sale of
any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the Operating
Partnership 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, (i) consent to any amendment to the Operating
Partnership Agreement or, except as expressly permitted by
Section 7.9(d), take any action permitted to be
taken by a partner of the Operating Partnership, in either case,
that would have a material adverse effect on the Partnership as
a partner of the Operating Partnership or (ii) except as
permitted under Sections 4.6, 11.1 and
11.2, elect or cause the Partnership to elect a successor
general partner of the Partnership.
7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner.
(a) Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and
elsewhere in this Agreement or in the Operating Partnership
Agreement, the General Partner shall not be compensated for its
services as general partner of the Partnership or any Group
Member.
(b) Subject to any applicable limitations contained in the
Administrative Services Agreement, the General Partner shall be
reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other reasonable basis as
the General Partner may determine in its sole discretion, for
(i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments
it makes on behalf of the Partnership (including amounts paid by
the General Partner to EPCO under the Administrative Services
Agreement and including salary, bonus, incentive compensation
and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of
the General Partner, to perform services for the Partnership or
for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the
Partnership), and (ii) all other necessary or appropriate
expenses allocable to the Partnership or otherwise reasonably
incurred by the General Partner in connection with operating the
Partnerships business (including expenses allocated to the
General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall
determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership in
any reasonable manner determined
B-25
by the General Partner in its sole discretion. 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.
(c) The General Partner, in its sole discretion and without
the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to
vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the
Partnership employee benefit and incentive plans, employee
programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and
practices involving the issuance of Partnership Securities or
options to purchase Partnership Securities), or cause the
Partnership to issue Partnership Securities in connection with,
or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or
employee practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner
or any of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of
employees of the General Partner, any Group Member or any
Affiliate, or any of them, in respect of services performed,
directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership
Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General
Partner or any of its Affiliates, or directly to the applicable
employees, any Partnership Securities that the General Partner
or such Affiliate is 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 Affiliate
of Partnership Securities purchased by the General Partner or
such Affiliate (on behalf of the applicable employees) 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 or incentive 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 11.2 or the
transferee of or successor to all of the General Partners
Partnership Interest as the General Partner in the Partnership
pursuant to Section 4.6.
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 the
general partner or managing member of the Partnership and any
other partnership or limited liability company of which the
Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner or managing
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 its performance as general partner or managing
member of one or more Group Members or as described in or
contemplated by the Registration Statement.
(b) [Reserved]
(c) Except as specifically restricted by
Section 7.5(a) and the Administrative Services
Agreement, 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 duty express or implied by law to any Group
Member or any Partner or Assignee. Neither any Group Member, any
Limited Partner nor any other Person shall have any rights by
virtue of this Agreement, the Operating Partnership Agreement or
the partnership relationship established hereby or thereby in
any business ventures of any Indemnitee.
(d) Subject to the terms of the Administrative Services
Agreement and Section 7.5(a), 7.5(b), and
7.5(c), but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, (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 a
breach of the General Partners fiduciary duty or any other
obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner 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 and (iii) the General Partner
and the Indemnitees shall have no obligation to present business
opportunities to the Partnership.
B-26
(e) The General Partner and any of its Affiliates may
acquire Partnership Securities in addition to those acquired on
the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise all rights of the
General Partner or Limited Partner, as applicable, relating to
such Partnership Securities.
(f) The term Affiliates when used in
Sections 7.5(a) and 7.5(b) with respect to
the General Partner shall not include any Group Member or any
Subsidiary of the Group Member.
7.6 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or
Contributions from the Partnership; Contracts with Affiliates;
Certain Restrictions on the General Partner.
(a) The General Partner or its Affiliates may, but shall be
under no obligation to, lend to any Group Member, upon the
written request of any Group Member to 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 may be
determined pursuant to Special Approval; provided, however, that
in any such case the lending party may not (i) charge the
borrowing party interest at a rate greater than the rate that
would be charged the borrowing party or (ii) 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 arms-length basis (without
reference to the lending partys financial abilities or
guarantees), all as determined pursuant to Special Approval. The
borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs
(other than any additional interest costs) incurred by the
lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds.
For purposes of this Section 7.6(a) and
Section 7.6(b), the term Group Member
shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled
by the Group Member. No Group Member may lend funds to the
General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another
Group Member).
(b) The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group
Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Partnership,
funds on terms and conditions established in the sole discretion
of the General Partner; provided, however, that the Partnership
may not charge the Group Member interest at a rate less than the
rate that would be charged to the Group Member (without
reference to the General Partners financial abilities or
guarantees) by unrelated lenders on comparable loans. The
foregoing authority shall be exercised by the General Partner in
its sole discretion and shall not create any right or benefit in
favor of any Group Member or any other Person.
(c) The General Partner may itself, or may enter into an
agreement, in addition to the Administrative Services Agreement,
with any of its Affiliates to, render services to a Group Member
or to the General Partner in the discharge of its duties as
general partner of the Partnership. Any services rendered to a
Group Member by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates
shall be on terms that are fair and reasonable to the
Partnership; provided, however, that the requirements of this
Section 7.6(c) shall be deemed satisfied as to
(i) any transaction approved by Special Approval, or
(ii) any transaction, the terms of which are objectively
demonstrable to be no less favorable to the Partnership Group
than those generally being provided to or available from
unrelated third parties. The provisions of
Section 7.4 shall apply to the rendering of services
described in this Section 7.6(c).
(d) The Partnership Group may transfer assets to joint
ventures, other partnerships, corporations, limited liability
companies or other business entities in which it is or thereby
becomes a participant upon such terms and subject to such
conditions as are consistent with this Agreement and applicable
law.
(e) Neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates
shall sell, transfer or convey any property to, or purchase any
property from, the Partnership, directly or indirectly, except
pursuant to transactions that are fair and reasonable to the
Partnership; provided, however, that the requirements of this
Section 7.6(e) shall be deemed to be satisfied as to
(i) the transactions effected pursuant to
Sections 5.2 and 5.3 and any other
transactions described in or contemplated by the Registration
Statement, (ii) any transaction approved by Special
Approval, or (iii) any transaction, the terms of which are
objectively demonstrable to be no less favorable to the
Partnership than those generally being provided to or available
from unrelated third parties. With respect to any contribution
of assets to the Partnership in exchange for Partnership
Securities, the Audit and Conflicts Committee, in determining
(in connection with Special Approval) whether the appropriate
number of Partnership Securities are being issued, may take into
account, among other things, the fair market
B-27
value of the assets, the liquidated and contingent liabilities
assumed, the tax basis in the assets, the extent to which
tax-only allocations to the transferor will protect the existing
partners of the Partnership against a low tax basis, and such
other factors as the Audit and Conflicts Committee deems
relevant under the circumstances.
(f) The General Partner and its Affiliates will have no
obligation to 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, nor shall there be any
obligation on the part of the General Partner or its Affiliates
to enter into such contracts.
(g) Without limitation of Sections 7.6(a)
through 7.6(f), and notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, the existence of the conflicts of
interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby
approved by all Partners.
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, as a result of actions taken by such Indemnitee in
its capacity as a Person of the type described in clauses
(a)-(d) of the definition of the term Indemnitee;
provided, that in each case the Indemnitee acted in good faith
and in a manner that such Indemnitee reasonably believed to be
in, or (in the case of a Person other than the General Partner)
not opposed to, the best interests of the Partnership and, with
respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe its conduct was unlawful; provided, further, no
indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall
be available to the General Partner with respect to its
obligations incurred pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement
(other than obligations incurred by the General Partner on
behalf of the Partnership or the Operating Partnership). The
termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere,
or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that the
Indemnitee acted in a manner contrary to that specified above.
Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7
shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it
being agreed that the 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 the
final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by
or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall
be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified as authorized in this Section 7.7.
(c) The indemnification provided by this
Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights
to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement,
pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited
Partner Interests entitled to vote on such matter, as a matter
of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitees
capacity as a Person of the type described in clauses (a)-(d) of
the definition of the term 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
Partnerships activities or such Persons activities
on behalf of the
B-28
Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership would have
the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under
the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) For purposes of this Section 7.7, the
Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to
serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the
performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes
duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or
participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed
on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan
pursuant to applicable law shall constitute fines
within the meaning of Section 7.7(a); and action
taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to any employee
benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose
reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the
participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be
for a purpose which is in, or not opposed to, the best interests
of the Partnership.
(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited
Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification
provisions set forth in this Agreement.
(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in
whole or in part under this Section 7.7 because the
Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to
which the indemnification applies if the transaction was
otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(h) The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for
the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns
and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights
for the benefit of any other Persons.
(i) No amendment, modification or repeal of this
Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall in any
manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past,
present or future Indemnitee to receive indemnification
(including expense advancement as provided by
Section 7.7(b)) from the Partnership, nor the
obligations of the Partnership to indemnify, or advance the
expenses of, 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,
and provided such Person became an Indemnitee hereunder prior to
such amendment, modification or repeal.
7.8 Liability of Indemnitees.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in
this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary
damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, the Assignees
or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the
Partnership Securities, for losses sustained or liabilities
incurred as a result of any act or omission if such Indemnitee
acted in good faith.
(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as 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
Partnerships business or affairs shall not be liable to
the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on
the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this
Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or otherwise modify
the duties and liabilities of an Indemnitee otherwise existing
at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such
other duties and liabilities of such Indemnitee.
(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this
Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall be
prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations
on the liability to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, the
General Partner, and the Partnerships and General
Partners and the Operating General Partners
directors, officers and employees under this
Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such
amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising
from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part,
prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of
when such claims may arise or be asserted.
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7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest.
(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement
or the Operating Partnership Agreement, whenever a potential
conflict of interest exists or arises between the General
Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the
Partnership, the Operating Partnership, 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 the Operating Partnership Agreement, of any
agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated
or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of
action is, or by operation of this Agreement is deemed to be,
fair and reasonable to the Partnership; provided that, any
conflict of interest and any resolution of such conflict of
interest shall be conclusively deemed fair and reasonable to the
Partnership if such conflict of interest or resolution is
(i) approved by Special Approval (as long as the material
facts within the actual knowledge of the officers and directors
of the General Partner and EPCO regarding the proposed
transaction were disclosed to the Audit and Conflicts Committee
at the time it gave its approval), or (ii) on terms
objectively demonstrable to be no less favorable to the
Partnership than those generally being provided to or available
from unrelated third parties. The Audit and Conflicts Committee
(in connection with Special Approval) shall be authorized in
connection with its determination of what is fair and
reasonable to the Partnership and in connection with its
resolution of any conflict of interest to consider (A) the
relative interests of any party to such conflict, agreement,
transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating
to such interest; (B) any customary or accepted industry
practices and any customary or historical dealings with a
particular Person; (C) any applicable generally accepted
accounting practices or principles; and (D) such additional
factors as the Audit and Conflicts Committee determines in its
sole discretion to be relevant, reasonable or appropriate under
the circumstances. Nothing contained in this Agreement, however,
is intended to nor shall it be construed to require the Audit
and Conflicts Committee to consider the interests of any Person
other than the Partnership. In the absence of bad faith by the
General Partner, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken
or provided by the General Partner in compliance with this
Section 7.9 with respect to such matter shall not
constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement
contemplated herein or a breach of any standard of care or duty
imposed herein or therein or, to the extent permitted by law,
under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation.
(b) Whenever this Agreement or any other agreement
contemplated hereby provides that the General Partner or any of
its Affiliates is permitted or required to make a decision
(i) in its sole discretion or
discretion, that it deems necessary or
appropriate or necessary or advisable or under
a grant of similar authority or latitude, except as otherwise
provided herein, the General Partner or such Affiliate shall be
entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it
desires and shall have no duty or obligation to give any
consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, the
Partnership, the Operating Partnership, any Limited Partner or
any Assignee, (ii) it may make such decision in its sole
discretion (regardless of whether there is a reference to
sole discretion or discretion) unless
another express standard is provided for, or (iii) in
good faith or under another express standard, the
General Partner or such Affiliate shall act under such express
standard and shall not be subject to any other or different
standards imposed by this Agreement, the Operating Partnership
Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the
Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation. In addition,
any actions taken by the General Partner or such Affiliate
consistent with the standards of reasonable
discretion set forth in the definitions of Available Cash
or Operating Surplus shall not constitute a breach of any duty
of the General Partner to the Partnership or the Limited
Partners. The General Partner shall have no duty, express or
implied, to sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the
Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business.
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 to the Partnership or the Limited
Partners by reason of the fact that the purpose or effect of
such borrowing is directly or indirectly to enable distributions
to the General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their
capacities as Limited Partners) to exceed that amount equal to
the product of (i) the General Partners Percentage
Interest, and (ii) the total amount distributed to all
partners.
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(c) Whenever a particular transaction, arrangement or
resolution of a conflict of interest is required under this
Agreement to be fair and reasonable to any Person,
the fair and reasonable nature of such transaction, arrangement
or resolution shall be considered in the context of all similar
or related transactions.
(d) The Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner,
on behalf of the Partnership as a partner or member of a Group
Member, to approve of actions by the general partner or managing
member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted
to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this
Section 7.9.
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
opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to
matters that the General Partner reasonably believes to be
within such Persons professional or expert competence
shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in
good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(c) The 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. Each such attorney shall, to the extent provided by
the General Partner in the power of attorney, have full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and duty that
is permitted or required to be done by the General Partner
hereunder.
(d) Any standard of care and duty imposed by this Agreement
or under the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or
regulation shall be modified, waived or limited, to the extent
permitted by law, as required to permit the General Partner to
act under this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated by
this Agreement and to make any decision pursuant to the
authority prescribed in this Agreement, so long as such action
is reasonably believed by the General Partner to be in, or not
inconsistent with, the best interests of the Partnership.
7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership
Securities. The General Partner may cause the
Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership
Securities, such Partnership Securities shall be held by the
Partnership as treasury securities unless they are expressly
cancelled by action of an appropriate officer of the General
Partner. 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 Articles IV and
X.
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 upon the request of the General Partner or
any of its Affiliates, the Partnership shall file with the
Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such
request, and use all reasonable efforts to cause to become
effective and remain effective for a period of not less than six
months following its effective date or such shorter period as
shall terminate when all Partnership Securities covered by such
registration statement have been sold, a registration statement
under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of
the number of Partnership Securities specified by the Holder;
provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to
effect more than three registrations pursuant to this Section
7.12(a); and provided further,
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however, that if at the time a request pursuant to this
Section 7.12 is submitted to the Partnership, EPCO
or its Affiliates requesting registration is an Affiliate of the
General Partner and the Audit and Conflicts Committee determines
in its good faith judgment that a postponement of the requested
registration for up to six months would be in the best interests
of the Partnership and its Partners due to a pending
transaction, investigation or other event, the filing of such
registration statement or the effectiveness thereof may be
deferred for up to six months, but not thereafter. In connection
with any registration pursuant to the immediately preceding
sentence, the Partnership shall promptly prepare and file
(x) such documents as may be necessary to register or
qualify the securities subject to such registration under the
securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably
request; provided, however, that no such qualification shall be
required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the
Partnership would become subject to general service of process
or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign
corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction
solely as a result of such registration, and (y) such
documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list
the Partnership Securities subject to such registration on such
National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably
request, and do any and all other acts and things that may
reasonably be necessary or advisable to enable the Holder to
consummate a public sale of such Partnership Securities in such
states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(c), all
costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other
than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid
by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.
(b) If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a
registration statement under the Securities Act for an offering
of equity securities of the Partnership for cash (other than an
offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the
Partnership shall use all reasonable efforts to include such
number or amount of securities held by the Holder in such
registration statement as the Holder shall request. If the
proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.12(b)
shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the event that the
managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering
advise the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in their
opinion the inclusion of all or some of the Holders
Partnership Securities would adversely and materially affect the
success of the offering, the Partnership shall include in such
offering only that number or amount, if any, of securities held
by the Holder which, in the opinion of the managing underwriter
or managing underwriters, will not so adversely and materially
affect the offering. Except as set forth in
Section 7.12(c), all costs and expenses of any such
registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts
and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without
reimbursement by the Holder.
(c) If underwriters are engaged in connection with any
registration referred to in this Section 7.12, the
Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations,
covenants, opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters.
Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the
Partnerships obligation under Section 7.7, the
Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, its officers, directors
and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of
the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively,
Indemnified Persons) against any losses, claims,
demands, actions, causes of action, assessments, damages,
liabilities (joint or several), costs and expenses (including
interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys fees and
disbursements), resulting to, imposed upon, or incurred by the
Indemnified Persons, directly or indirectly, under the
Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this
Section 7.12(c) as a claim and in the plural
as claims) based upon, arising out of or resulting
from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in any registration statement under
which any Partnership Securities were registered under the
Securities Act or any state securities or Blue Sky laws, in any
preliminary prospectus (if used prior to the effective date of
such registration statement), or in any summary or final
prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (if used
during the period the Partnership is required to keep the
registration statement current), or arising out of, based upon
or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading;
provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be liable to
any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises
out of, is based upon or results from an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in
such registration statement, such preliminary, summary or final
prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to the
Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person
specifically for use in the preparation thereof.
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(d) The provisions of Section 7.12(a) and
7.12(b) shall continue to be applicable with respect to
the General Partner (and any of the General Partners
Affiliates) after it ceases to be a 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(c) shall continue in effect thereafter.
(e) Any request to register Partnership Securities pursuant
to this Section 7.12 shall (i) specify the
Partnership Securities intended to be offered and sold by the
Person making the request, (ii) express such Persons
present intent to offer such shares for distribution,
(iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer
and sale of Partnership Securities, and (iv) contain the
undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and
materials and take all action as may be required in order to
permit the Partnership to comply with all applicable
requirements in connection with the registration of such
Partnership Securities.
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 Partnerships sole party in
interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner
hereby waives any and all defenses or other remedies that may be
available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm
any action of the 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 the
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 any such
officer or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in
favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming
thereunder that (i) at the time of the execution and
delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this
Agreement was in full force and effect, (ii) the Person
executing and delivering such certificate, document or
instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on
behalf of the Partnership and (iii) 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
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 Partnerships 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 or such other
accounting standards as may be required by the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
8.2 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of
the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.
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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
furnished to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected
by the General Partner in its discretion, an annual report
containing financial statements of the Partnership for such
fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with
U.S. GAAP or such other accounting standards as may be
required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
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 furnished to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a
date selected by the General Partner in its discretion, such
information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or
rule of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are
listed for trading, or as the General Partner determines to be
necessary or appropriate.
(c) Such reports shall present the consolidated financial
position of the Partnership Group, but shall not consolidate the
assets or liabilities of any other Person. Such reports shall
contain notes indicating that the assets and liabilities of the
Partnership Group are separate from the assets and liabilities
of EPCO and the other Affiliates of the General Partner.
ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS
9.1 Tax Returns and
Information. The Partnership shall timely file
all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal,
state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual
method and a taxable year ending on December 31. The tax
information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal
and state income tax reporting purposes with respect to a
taxable year shall be furnished to them within 90 days of
the close of the calendar year in which the Partnerships
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.
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
Partners 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 that is traded on any National Securities
Exchange will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of
such Limited Partner Interests on any National Securities
Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are traded
during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to
occur pursuant to Section 6.2(g) without regard to
the actual price paid by such transferee.
(b) The Partnership shall elect to deduct expenses incurred
in organizing the Partnership ratably over a sixty-month period
as provided in Section 709 of the Code.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, the General
Partner shall determine whether the Partnership should make any
other elections permitted by the Code.
9.3 Tax Controversies. Subject to
the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the
Tax Matters Partner (as defined in the Code) and is authorized
and required to represent the Partnership (at the
Partnerships expense) in connection with all examinations
of the Partnerships affairs by tax authorities, including
resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend
Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated
therewith. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General
Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things
reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such
proceedings.
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9.4 Withholding. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is
authorized to take any action that it determines in its
discretion to be necessary or appropriate to cause the
Partnership to comply with any withholding requirements
established under the Code or any other federal, state or local
law including, without limitation, pursuant to
Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the
extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold
and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from
the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner or
Assignee (including, without limitation, by reason of
Section 1446 of the Code), the amount withheld may at the
discretion of the General Partner be treated by the Partnership
as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 in
the amount of such withholding from such Partner.
ARTICLE X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
10.1 Admission of Initial Limited
Partners. Upon the issuance by the Partnership of
Common Units and subordinated units of the Partnership to DFI,
as described in Section 5.2, DFI was admitted to the
Partnership as a Limited Partner in respect of the Units issued
to it. Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to
the Underwriters as described in Section 5.3 in
connection with the Initial Offering and the execution by each
Underwriter of a Transfer Application, the General Partner
admitted the Underwriters to the Partnership as Initial Limited
Partners in respect of the Common Units purchased by them. Upon
the issuance by the Partnership of Class A Special Units to
Tejas as described in Section 5.3, the General
Partner admitted Tejas to the Partnership as an Initial Limited
Partner in respect of the Class A Special Units issued to
Tejas.
10.2 Admission of Substituted Limited
Partner. By transfer of a Limited Partner
Interest in accordance with Article IV, the
transferor shall be deemed to have given the transferee the
right to seek admission as a Substituted Limited Partner subject
to the conditions of, and in the manner permitted under, this
Agreement. A transferor of a Certificate representing a Limited
Partner Interest, or other evidence of the issuance of
uncertificated Units, 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, or other evidence of the issuance of
uncertificated Units, to a purchaser or other transferee and
(b) the right to transfer the right to request admission as
a Substituted Limited Partner to such purchaser or other
transferee in respect of the transferred Limited Partner
Interests. Each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest
(including any nominee holder or an agent acquiring such Limited
Partner Interest for the account of another Person) who executes
and delivers a Transfer Application shall, by virtue of such
execution and delivery, be an Assignee and be deemed to have
applied to become a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to
the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person.
Such Assignee shall become a Substituted Limited Partner
(x) at such time as the General Partner consents thereto,
which consent may be given or withheld in the General
Partners discretion, and (y) when any such admission
is shown on the books and records of the Partnership. If such
consent is withheld, such transferee shall be an Assignee. An
Assignee shall have an interest in the Partnership equivalent to
that of a Limited Partner with respect to allocations and
distributions, including liquidating distributions, of the
Partnership. With respect to voting rights attributable to
Limited Partner Interests that are held by Assignees, the
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.
10.3 Admission of Successor General
Partner. A successor General Partner approved
pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or the
transferee of or successor to all of the General Partners
Partnership Interest as general partner in the Partnership
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
11.2 or the transfer of the General Partners
Partnership Interest as a general partner in the Partnership
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
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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.
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 or
is deemed to have made 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 in the
discretion of the General Partner to effect such Persons
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, which consent may be given or withheld in the General
Partners sole discretion. The admission of any Person as
an Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date
upon which the name of such Person is recorded as such in the
books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of
the General Partner to such admission.
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 and appropriate under the Delaware Act to
amend the records of the Partnership to reflect such admission
and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an
amendment to this Agreement and, if required by law, the 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
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 receiving Special Approval and giving notice to
the other Partners;
(ii) the General Partner transfers all of its rights as
General Partner pursuant to Section 4.6 following
the receipt of Special Approval thereof;
(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;
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(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), (v) or (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) 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; (ii) 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 (iii) 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, as
the case may be, 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, as the case may be, of the other Group Members
of which the General Partner is a general partner or managing
member. If, prior to the effective date of the General
Partners withdrawal, a successor is not selected by the
Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not
receive 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 of a member of
the Operating Partnership or cause the Partnership or the
Operating 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), 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.
11.2 Removal of the General
Partner. The General Partner may be removed if
such removal is approved by Unitholders holding at least 60% of
the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the General
Partner and its Affiliates). 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 Unit Majority. 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, as the case may be, of the other Group
Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or
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, as the case may
be, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a
general partner or managing member. The right of the holders of
Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist
or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an opinion
opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of
Counsel. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance
with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be subject
to the provisions of Sections 10.3 and 10.5.
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11.3 Interest of Departing 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 a successor General Partner is
elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1
or 11.2, the Departing Partner shall have the option
exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such
Departing Partner to require its successor to purchase its
Partnership Interest as a general partner in the Partnership and
its partnership or member interest as the general partner or
managing member in the other Group Members (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 or, if there is not agreement as to the fair
market value of such Combined Interest, within ten
(10) days after such agreement is reached. 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 11.2, such successor
shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date
of the departure of such Departing Partner, to purchase the
Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined
Interest. In either event, the Departing Partner shall be
entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing
Partner pursuant to Section 7.4, including any
employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities),
incurred in connection with the termination of any employees
employed by the General Partner for the benefit of the
Partnership or the other Group Members.
(b) For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the
fair market value of the Combined Interest shall be determined
by agreement between the Departing Partner and its successor or,
failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date
of such Departing Partners departure, by an independent
investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by
the Departing Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may
rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be
conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon
one independent investment banking firm or other independent
expert within 45 days after the effective date of such
departure, then the Departing Partner shall designate an
independent investment banking firm or other independent expert,
the Departing Partners successor shall designate an
independent investment banking firm or other independent expert,
and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third
independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which
third independent investment banking firm or other independent
expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined
Interest. In making its determination, such third independent
investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider
the then current trading price of Units on any National
Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed, the value of
the Partnerships assets, the rights and obligations of the
Departing Partner and other factors it may deem relevant.
(c) If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner
set forth in Section 11.3(a), the Departing Partner (or
its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and its Combined
Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a
valuation made by an investment banking firm or other
independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a),
without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to
proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its
successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the
Departing Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and
liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on
which the Departing Partner (or its transferee) becomes a
Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of
the Combined Interest to Common Units will be characterized as
if the General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its
Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly
issued Common Units.
11.4 [Reserved]
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 Partners Limited Partner Interest
becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so
transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be
a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest
so transferred.
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ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
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 withdrawal of the General
Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to
Section 11.1 or 11.2, the Partnership shall
not be dissolved and such successor General Partner shall
continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall
dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2) its affairs
shall be wound up, upon:
(a) the expiration of its term as provided in
Section 2.7;
(b) 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 11.2 and such successor is
admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.3;
(c) an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General
Partner that receives Special Approval and is approved by the
holders of a Unit Majority;
(d) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the
Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware
Act; or
(e) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets and
properties of the Partnership Group.
12.2 Continuation of the Business of the
Partnership After Dissolution. Upon
(a) dissolution of the Partnership following an Event of
Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General
Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or
(iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a
successor to such Departing Partner pursuant to
Section 11.1 or 11.2, then within
90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution of the
Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as
defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or
(vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law,
within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority
may elect to reconstitute the Partnership and continue its
business on the same terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement by forming a new limited partnership on terms
identical to those set forth in this Agreement and having as the
successor general partner a Person approved by the holders of a
Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the
applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall
conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If
such an election is so made, then:
(i) the reconstituted Partnership shall continue until the
end of the term set forth in Section 2.7 unless
earlier dissolved in accordance with this
Article XII;
(ii) if the successor General Partner is not the former
General Partner, then the interest of the former General Partner
shall be treated in the manner provided in
Section 11.3; and
(iii) all necessary steps shall be taken to cancel this
Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and to
enter into and, as necessary, to file a new partnership
agreement and certificate of limited partnership, and the
successor general partner may for this purpose exercise the
powers of attorney granted the General Partner pursuant to
Section 2.6; provided, that the right of the holders
of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to
reconstitute and to continue the business of the Partnership
shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership
has received an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the exercise of
the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of
any Limited Partner and (y) neither the Partnership, the
reconstituted limited partnership nor the Operating Partnership
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.
12.3 Liquidator. Upon dissolution
of the Partnership, unless the Partnership is continued under an
election to reconstitute and continue the Partnership pursuant
to Section 12.2, the 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. The
Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not
to resign at any
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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. 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. 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(b)) to the extent necessary or
desirable in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator to carry
out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and
during such period of time as shall be reasonably required in
the good faith judgment of the Liquidator to complete the
winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for
herein.
12.4 Liquidation. The Liquidator
shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership,
discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in
such manner and over such period as the Liquidator determines to
be in the best interest of the Partners, subject to
Section 17-804
of the Delaware Act and the following:
(a) Disposition of Assets. The assets may be disposed of by
public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more
Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or
Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the
Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of
Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its
fair market value; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate
cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The
Liquidator may, in its absolute discretion, defer liquidation or
distribution of the Partnerships assets for a reasonable
time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of
all or some of the Partnerships assets would be
impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The
Liquidator may, in its absolute discretion, distribute the
Partnerships assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it
determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue
loss to the Partners.
(b) Discharge of Liabilities. Liabilities of the
Partnership include amounts owed to Partners otherwise than in
respect of their distribution rights under
Article VI. With respect to any liability that is
contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due
and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for
such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of
cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any
unused portion of the reserve shall be distributed as additional
liquidation proceeds.
(c) Liquidation Distributions. All property and all cash in
excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in
Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners
in accordance with, and to the extent of, the positive balances
in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking
into account all Capital Account adjustments (other than those
made by reason of distributions pursuant to this
Section 12.4(c)) for the taxable year of the
Partnership during which the liquidation of the Partnership
occurs (with such date of occurrence being determined pursuant
to Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)),
and such distribution shall be made by the end of such taxable
year (or, if later, within 90 days after said date of such
occurrence).
12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited
Partnership. Upon the completion of the
distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in
Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of
the Partnership, the Partnership shall be terminated and the
Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the
Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions
other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such
other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership
shall be taken.
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
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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.
12.7 Waiver of Partition. To the
maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any
right to partition of the Partnership property.
12.8 Capital Account
Restoration. No Partner shall have any obligation
to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon
liquidation of the Partnership.
12.9 Certain Prohibited
Acts. Without obtaining Special Approval, the
General Partner shall not take any action to cause the
Partnership or the Operating Partnership to (i) make or
consent to a general assignment for the benefit of the
Partnerships or the Operating Partnerships
creditors; (ii) file or consent to the filing of any
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization petition for relief
under the United States Bankruptcy Code naming the Partnership
or the Operating Partnership or otherwise seek, with respect to
the Partnership or the Operating Partnership, relief from debts
or protection from creditors generally; (iii) file or
consent to the filing of a petition or answer seeking for the
Partnership or the Operating Partnership a liquidation,
dissolution, arrangement, or similar relief under any law;
(iv) file an answer or other pleading admitting or failing
to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against
the Partnership or the Operating Partnership in a proceeding of
the type described in clauses (i) (iii) of this
Section 12.9; (v) seek, consent to or acquiesce
in the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, conservator,
assignee, trustee, sequestrator, custodian or any similar
official for the Partnership or the Operating Partnership or for
all or any substantial portion of its properties; (vi) sell
all or substantially all of its assets, except in accordance
with Section 7.3(b); (vii) dissolve or
liquidate, except in accordance with Article XII; or
(viii) merge or consolidate, except in accordance with
Article XIV.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
13.1 Amendment 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) admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of
Partners in accordance with this Agreement;
(c) a change that, in the sole discretion of the General
Partner, is necessary or advisable to qualify or continue the
qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a
partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability
under the laws of any state or to ensure that no Group Member
will be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or
otherwise taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes;
(d) a change that, in the discretion of the General
Partner, (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners
in any material respect, (ii) is necessary or advisable to
(A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines
contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation
of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or
contained in any federal or state statute (including the
Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Limited
Partner Interests (including the division of any class or
classes of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests into different
classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such
classes of Limited Partner Interests) or comply with any rule,
regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities
Exchange on which the Limited Partner Interests are or will be
listed for trading, compliance with any of which the General
Partner determines in its discretion to be in the best interests
of the Partnership and the Limited Partners, (iii) is
necessary or advisable in connection with action taken by the
General Partner pursuant to Section 5.10 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;
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(e) a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the
Partnership and any changes that, in the discretion of the
General Partner, are necessary or advisable as a result of a
change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership
including, if the 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 the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan
asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United
States Department of Labor;
(g) an amendment that, in the discretion of the General
Partner, is necessary or advisable in connection with the
authorization of issuance of any class or series of Partnership
Securities pursuant to Section 5.6;
(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;
(j) an amendment that, in the discretion of the General
Partner, is necessary or advisable to reflect, account for and
deal with appropriately the formation by the Partnership of, or
investment by the Partnership in, any corporation, partnership,
joint venture, limited liability company or other entity other
than the Operating Partnership, 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.
13.2 Amendment Procedures. Except
as provided in Sections 13.1 and 13.3, all
amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with
the following requirements. Amendments to this Agreement may be
proposed only by or with the consent of the General Partner
which consent may be given or withheld in its sole discretion. A
proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the
holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different
percentage is required under this Agreement or by Delaware law.
Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the
holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be
set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed
amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the General Partner
shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of
Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to
consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The General
Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of
any such proposed amendments. Notwithstanding the provisions of
Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no amendment of
(i) the definitions of Audit and Conflicts
Committee, Special Approval or S&P
Criteria, (ii) Section 2.9, (iii)
Section 4.6, (iv) Section 7.3(b), (v)
Section 7.9(a), (vi) Section 8.3(c),
(vii) Section 10.3, (viii) Section 12.9;
(ix) Section 14.2, or (x) any other provision
of this Agreement requiring that Special Approval be obtained as
a condition to any action, shall be effective without first
obtaining Special Approval.
13.3 Amendment Requirements.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of
Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no provision of this
Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units
(including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) required
to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed
or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of
reducing such voting percentage unless such amendment is
approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of
holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units
constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be
reduced.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of
Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no amendment to this
Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited
Partner without its consent, unless such shall have occurred as
a
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result of an amendment approved pursuant to
Section 13.3(c), (ii) enlarge the obligations
of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in
any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise
payable to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates without
its consent, which consent may be given or withheld in its sole
discretion, (iii) change Section 12.1(a) or
12.1(c), or (iv) change the term of the Partnership
or, except as set forth in Section 12.1(c), give any
Person the right to dissolve the Partnership.
(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3, and
except as otherwise provided, and without limitation of the
General Partners authority to adopt amendments to this
Agreement 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 Common Units unless
the Partnership obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that
such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any
Limited Partner under applicable 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 Common Units.
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 Interests 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.
13.5 Notice of a Meeting. Notice of
a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be
given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Limited
Partner Interests for which a meeting is proposed in writing by
mail or other means of written communication in accordance with
Section 16.1. The notice shall be deemed
to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail or
sent by other means of written communication.
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 Limited Partner Interests are listed for
trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or
requirement of such exchange shall govern) or (b) in the
event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by
which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General
Partner to give such approvals.
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
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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.
13.8 Waiver of Notice. Approval of
Meeting; Approval of Minutes. The transactions of any
meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and
whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a
meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is
present either in person or by proxy, and if, either before or
after the meeting, Limited Partners representing such quorum who
were present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote, sign a
written waiver of notice or an approval of the holding of the
meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof. All waivers and
approvals shall be filed with the Partnership records or made a
part of the minutes of the meeting. Attendance of a Limited
Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the
meeting, except when the Limited Partner does not approve, at
the beginning of the meeting, of the transaction of any business
because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and
except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right
to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be
included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if
the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.
13.9 Quorum. The holders of a
majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of the
class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including
Limited Partner Interests deemed owned by the General Partner)
represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a
meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes unless any
such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders
of a greater percentage of such Limited Partner Interests, in
which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any
meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in
accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the
act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Limited Partner
Interests that in the aggregate represent a majority of the
Outstanding Limited Partner Interests 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 Limited Partner
Interests 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 Limited Partner Interests specified in this
Agreement (including Limited Partner Interests 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 Limited Partner Interests entitled to vote at such
meeting (including Limited Partner Interests deemed owned by the
General Partner) represented either in person or by proxy, but
no other business may be transacted, except as provided in
Section 13.7.
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.
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 if an approval in writing setting forth the action so
taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the
minimum percentage of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests
(including Limited Partner Interests deemed owned by the General
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Partner) that would be necessary to authorize or take such
action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were
present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any
rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National
Securities Exchange on which the Limited Partner Interests are
listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation,
guideline or requirement of such exchange shall govern). Prompt
notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given
to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The
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 Limited Partner Interests held by the
Limited Partners the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed
to receive a ballot for the Limited Partner Interests that were
not voted. If approval of the taking of any action by the
Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on
behalf of the 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.
13.12 Voting and Other Rights.
(a) Only those Record Holders of the Limited Partner
Interests on the Record Date set pursuant to
Section 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations
contained in the definition of Outstanding) shall be
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited
Partners or to act with respect to matters as to which the
holders of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests have the
right to vote or to act. All references in this Agreement to
votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding
Limited Partner Interests shall be deemed to be references to
the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding
Limited Partner Interests.
(b) With respect to Limited Partner Interests that are held
for a Persons account by another Person (such as a broker,
dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent
of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Limited Partner
Interests are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising
the voting rights in respect of such Limited Partner Interests
on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons
provides otherwise, vote such Limited Partner Interests in favor
of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial
owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume it is so
acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this
Section 13.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of
this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of
Section 4.3.
ARTICLE XIV
MERGER
14.1 Authority. The Partnership may
merge or consolidate with one or more corporations, limited
liability companies, business trusts or associations, real
estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated
businesses, including a general partnership or limited
partnership, formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or
any other state of the United States of America, pursuant to a
written agreement of merger or consolidation (Merger
Agreement) in accordance with this Article XIV.
14.2 Procedure for Merger or
Consolidation. Merger or consolidation of the
Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires
the prior approval of the General Partner, including Special
Approval from the Audit and Conflicts Committee. If the General
Partner shall determine, in the exercise of its discretion, to
consent to
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the merger or consolidation, and if Special Approval has been
obtained, the General Partner shall approve the Merger
Agreement, which shall set forth:
(a) The names and jurisdictions of formation or
organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge
or consolidate;
(b) The name and jurisdiction of formation or organization
of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or
consolidation (the Surviving Business Entity);
(c) The terms and conditions of the proposed merger or
consolidation;
(d) The manner and basis of exchanging or converting the
equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or
into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests,
rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business
Entity; and (i) if any general or limited partner
interests, securities or rights of any constituent business
entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into,
cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights,
securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the
cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights,
securities or obligations of any limited partnership,
corporation, trust or other entity (other than the Surviving
Business Entity) which the holders of such general or limited
partner interests, securities or rights are to receive in
exchange for, or upon conversion of their general or limited
partner interests, securities or rights, and (ii) in the
case of securities represented by certificates, upon the
surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general
or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations
of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited
partnership, corporation, trust or other entity (other than the
Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be
delivered;
(e) A statement of any changes in the constituent documents
or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or
certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of
trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership,
operating agreement or other similar charter or governing
document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by
such merger or consolidation;
(f) The effective time of the merger, which may be the date
of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to
Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or
determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided,
that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the
date of the filing of the certificate of merger, the effective
time shall be fixed no later than the time of the filing of the
certificate of merger and stated therein); and
(g) Such other provisions with respect to the proposed
merger or consolidation as are deemed necessary or appropriate
by the General Partner.
14.3 Approval by Limited Partners of Merger or
Consolidation.
(a) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), the
General Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement,
shall direct that the Merger Agreement be submitted to a vote of
Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by written
consent, in either case in accordance with the requirements of
Article XIII. A copy or a summary of the
Merger Agreement shall be included in or enclosed with the
notice of a special meeting or the written consent.
(b) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), the
Merger Agreement shall be approved upon receiving the
affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority
unless the Merger Agreement contains any provision that, if
contained in an amendment to this Agreement, the provisions of
this Agreement or the Delaware Act would require for its
approval the vote or consent of a greater percentage of the
Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or of any class of Limited
Partners, in which case such greater percentage vote or consent
shall be required for approval of the Merger Agreement.
(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d),
after such approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners,
and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger
pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger or
consolidation may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor,
if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement.
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(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this
Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, in its discretion
and without Limited Partner approval, to (i) convert the
Partnership or any Group Member to another type of limited
liability entity as provided by
Section 17-219
of the Delaware Act or (ii) merge the Partnership or any
Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnerships
assets to, another limited liability entity which shall be newly
formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at
the time of such merger or conveyance other than those it
receives from the Partnership or other Group Member, provided
that in any such case (A) 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 any member in the Operating
Partnership or cause the Partnership or Operating 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
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, (C) the governing
instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners with
rights and obligations that are, in all material respects, the
same rights and obligations of the Limited Partners hereunder
and (D) the organizational documents of the new entity and
of the new entitys general partner, manager, board of
directors or other Person exercising management and
decision-making control over the new entity recognize and
provide for the establishment of an Audit and Conflicts
Committee and the other matters described in Section
4.6(c)(iv).
14.4 Certificate of Merger. Upon
the required approval by the General Partner and the Limited
Partners of a Merger Agreement, a certificate of merger shall be
executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.
14.5 Effect of Merger.
(a) At the effective time of the certificate of merger:
(i) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the
business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all
property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of
those business entities and all other things and causes of
action belonging to each of those business entities, shall be
vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the merger or
consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business
Entity to the extent they were of each constituent business
entity;
(ii) the title to any real property vested by deed or
otherwise in any of those constituent business entities shall
not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the merger
or consolidation;
(iii) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security
interests in property of any of those constituent business
entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and
(iv) all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent
business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity
and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the
debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted
by it.
(b) A merger or consolidation effected pursuant to this
Article XIV shall not be deemed to result in a
transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity
to another.
ARTICLE XV
RIGHT TO
ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner
Interests.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
if at any time not more than 15% of the total Limited Partner
Interests of any class then Outstanding is held by Persons other
than the General Partner and its Affiliates, the General Partner
shall then have the right, which right it may assign and
transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate
of the General Partner, exercisable in its sole discretion, to
purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner
Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other
than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of
(x) the Current Market Price as of the date three days
prior to the date that the notice described in
Section 15.1(b) is mailed and (y) the highest
price paid
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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. As used in this
Agreement, (i) Current Market Price as of any
date of any class of Limited Partner Interests listed or
admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange means
the average of the daily Closing Prices (as hereinafter defined)
per limited partner interest of such class for the 20
consecutive Trading Days (as hereinafter defined) immediately
prior to such date; (ii) Closing Price for any
day means the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in
case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, in either
case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted
for trading on the principal National Securities Exchange (other
than the Nasdaq Stock Market) on which such Limited Partner
Interests of such class are listed or admitted to trading or, if
such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not listed or
admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange (other
than the Nasdaq Stock Market), the last quoted price on such day
or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices on such day in the
over-the-counter
market, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market or such other
system then in use, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner
Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization,
the average of the closing bid and 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 reasonably and in good faith by the General Partner;
and (iii) Trading Day means a day on which the
principal National Securities Exchange on which such Limited
Partner Interests of any class are listed or admitted to trading
is open for the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner
Interests of a class are not listed or admitted to trading on
any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking
institutions in New York City generally are open.
(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 (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, or other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated
Units, in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the
Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify, or as may be
required by any National Securities Exchange on which such
Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Any
such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of
Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the
records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to
have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such
notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner,
its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall
deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to
pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner
Interests to be purchased in accordance with this
Section 15.1. If the Notice of Election
to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least
10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to
the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding
sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited
Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then
from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any
Certificate, or other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated
Units, 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,
or other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, and
such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed
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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, or other
evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, 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
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 Post Office
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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 other evidence of the
issuance of uncertificated Units, or executing and delivering a
Transfer Application as herein described, independently of the
signature of any other party.
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.
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.
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.
16.11 Amendments to Reflect GP Reorganization
Agreement. In addition to the amendments to this
Agreement contained in the GP Reorganization Agreement and
notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, this Agreement shall be deemed to be further amended
and modified to the extent necessary, but only to the extent
necessary, to carry out the purposes of and intent of the GP
Reorganization Agreement.
[Signature
page to follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement as of the date first written above.
GENERAL PARTNER:
EPE HOLDINGS, LLC
Michael A. Creel
President and Chief Executive Officer
LIMITED PARTNERS:
All Limited Partners now and hereafter admitted as Limited
Partners of the Partnership, pursuant to Powers of Attorney now
and hereafter executed in favor of, and granted and delivered to
the General Partner.
By: EPE Holdings, LLC
General Partner, as attorney-in-fact for the Limited Partners
pursuant to the Powers of Attorney granted pursuant to
Section 2.6.
Michael A. Creel
President and Chief Executive Officer
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Attachment
I
DEFINED
TERMS
Acquisition means any transaction in which
any Group Member acquires (through an asset acquisition, merger,
stock acquisition or other form of investment) control over all
or a portion of the assets, properties or business of another
Person for the purpose of increasing the operating capacity or
revenues of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or
revenues of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to
such transaction.
Additional Limited Partner means a Person
admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to
Section 10.4 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 Partners 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(c)(i) or 6.1(c)(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 Interest, a Common Unit or any other specified
interest in the Partnership shall be the amount which such
Adjusted Capital Account would be if such General Partner
Interest, Common Unit or other interest in the Partnership were
the only interest in the Partnership held by a Partner from and
after the date on which such General Partner Interest, Common
Unit or other interest was first issued.
Adjusted Operating Surplus means, with
respect to any period, Operating Surplus generated during such
period (a) less (i) any net increase in working
capital borrowings during such period and (ii) any net
reduction in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures during
such period not relating to an Operating Expenditure made during
such period, and (b) plus (i) any net decrease in
working capital borrowings during such period and (ii) any
net increase in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures during
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) or (a)(iii)(A) of the definition of Operating Surplus.
Adjusted Property means any property the
Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to
Section 5.5(d)(i) or 5.5(d)(ii). Once an Adjusted Property
is deemed contributed to a new partnership in exchange for an
interest in the new partnership, followed by the deemed
liquidation of the Partnership for federal income tax purposes
upon a termination of the Partnership pursuant to Treasury
Regulation
Section 1.708-(b)(1)(iv),
such property shall thereafter constitute a Contributed Property
until the Carrying Value of such property is subsequently
adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or 5.5(d)(ii).
Administrative Services Agreement means the
Second Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement,
dated effective as of October 1, 2004, by and among EPCO,
the Partnership, the Operating Partnership, the General Partner
and the Operating General Partner, as it may be amended or
restated from time to time.
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person,
any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common
control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term
control means the possession, direct or indirect, of
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting
securities, by
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contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Person
shall only be considered an Affiliate of the General
Partner if such Person owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more
of the voting securities of the General Partner or otherwise
possesses the sole power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of the General Partner.
Agreed Allocation means any allocation, other
than a Required Allocation, of an item of income, gain, loss or
deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1,
including, without limitation, a Curative Allocation (if
appropriate to the context in which the term Agreed
Allocation is used).
Agreed Value of any Contributed Property
means the fair market value of such property or other
consideration at the time of contribution as determined by the
General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it
may adopt. The General Partner shall, in its discretion, use
such method as it deems reasonable and appropriate to allocate
the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties contributed
to the Partnership in a single or integrated transaction among
each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair
market value of each Contributed Property.
Agreement means this Sixth Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Enterprise Products
Partners L.P., as it may be amended, supplemented or restated
from time to time.
Assignee means a Non-citizen Assignee or a
Person to whom one or more Limited Partner Interests have been
transferred in a manner permitted under this Agreement and who
has executed and delivered a Transfer Application as required by
this Agreement, but who has not been admitted as a Substituted
Limited Partner.
Associate means, when used to indicate a
relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or
organization of which such Person is a director, officer or
partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more
of any class of voting stock or other voting interest;
(b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at
least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person
serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and
(c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative
of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such
Person.
Audit and Conflicts Committee means a
committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner
composed entirely of three or more directors who meet the
independence, qualification and experience requirements of the
New York Stock Exchange and Section 10A(m)(3) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations
thereunder, and at least two of whom also meet the S&P
Criteria.
Available Cash means, with respect to any
Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date,
(a) the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of
the Partnership Group on hand at the end of such Quarter, and
(ii) all additional cash and cash equivalents of the
Partnership Group on hand on the date of determination of
Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from
(A) borrowings under the Working Capital Facility made
subsequent to the end of such Quarter or (B) Interim
Capital Transactions after the end of such Quarter designated by
the General Partner as Operating Surplus in accordance with
clause (a)(iii)(A) of the definition of Operating Surplus, less
(b) the amount of any cash reserves that is necessary or
appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the General Partner
to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of
the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital
expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the
Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter, or
(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; provided, however, that
the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to
(iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be that
the Partnership is unable to distribute the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on all Common Units with respect to such Quarter;
and, provided further, that disbursements made by a Group Member
or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end
of such Quarter, but on or before the date of determination of
Available Cash with respect to such Quarter, shall be deemed to
have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes
of determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the
General Partner so determines.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, Available Cash with
respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and
any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
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 Partners share of the Partnerships
Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and
Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between
such Partners Capital Account balance as maintained
pursuant to Section 5.5 and the hypothetical balance of
such Partners Capital Account computed as if it had been
maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax
accounting principles.
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 Common
Unit or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount which
such Capital Account would be if such Common Unit or other
Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership
held by a Partner from and after the date on which such Common
Unit or other Partnership Interest was first issued.
Capital Contribution means any cash, cash
equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that
a Partner contributes to the Partnership.
Capital Improvement means any
(a) addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by
any Group Member or (b) acquisition of existing, or the
construction of new, capital assets, in each case made to
increase the operating capacity or revenues of the Partnership
Group from the operating capacity or revenues of the Partnership
Group existing immediately prior to such addition, improvement,
acquisition or construction.
Carrying Value means (a) with respect to
a Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property
reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization
and cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners and
Assignees Capital Accounts in respect of such Contributed
Property, and (b) with respect to any other Partnership
property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal income
tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. The Carrying
Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in
accordance with Sections 5.5(d)(i) and 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, gross negligence or willful or
wanton misconduct in its capacity as general partner of the
Partnership.
Certificate means a certificate,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement or
in such other form as may be adopted by the General Partner in
its discretion, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership
of one or more Common Units or a certificate, in such form as
may be adopted by the General Partner in its discretion, 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 2.1, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may
be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
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 he (and if he is a nominee holding for the
account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge
such other Person) is an Eligible Citizen.
Claim has the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 7.12(c).
B-54
Class A Special Units means the special
class of Units issued to Tejas, as described in
Section 5.3(d).
Class B Conversion Effective Date has
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(f).
Class B Unit means a Partnership
Security representing a fractional part of the Partnership
Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees, and having the
rights and obligations specified with respect to the
Class B Units in this Agreement. The term
Class B Unit does not refer to a Common Unit
until such Class B Unit has converted into a Common Unit
pursuant to the terms hereof.
Closing Date means July 31, 1998.
Closing Price has the meaning assigned to
such term in Section 15.1(a).
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended and in effect from time to time and as interpreted by
the applicable regulations thereunder. Any reference herein to a
specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to
include a reference to any corresponding provision of successor
law.
Combined Interest has the meaning assigned to
such term in Section 11.3(a).
Commission means the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission.
Common Unit means a Partnership Security
representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of
all Limited Partners and Assignees and of the General Partner
(exclusive of its interest as a holder of a General Partner
Interest) and having the rights and obligations specified with
respect to Common Units in this Agreement.
Contributed Property means each property or
other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware
Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership (or
deemed contributed to a new partnership on termination of the
Partnership pursuant to Section 708 of the Code). 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.
Curative Allocation means any allocation of
an item of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit pursuant to
the provisions of Section 6.1(c)(xi).
Current Market Price has the meaning assigned
to such term in Section 15.1(a).
Delaware Act means the Delaware Revised
Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del C. § 17-101, et
seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time,
and any successor to such statute.
Departing 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 11.2.
Distribution Waiver Agreement means the
Distribution Waiver Agreement dated as
of ,
2010 by and among the Partnership, EPCO Holdings, Inc. and the
EPD Unitholder named therein, as such agreement may
be amended after the date hereof.
DFI means Duncan Family Interests, Inc.
(formerly, EPC Partners II, Inc.), a Delaware corporation.
Economic Risk of Loss has the meaning set
forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
Eligible Citizen means a Person qualified to
own interests in real property in jurisdictions in which any
Group Member does business or proposes to do business from time
to time, and whose status as a Limited Partner or Assignee does
not or would not subject such Group Member to a significant risk
of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its properties or any
interest therein.
EPCO means EPCO, Inc. (formerly, Enterprise
Products Company), a Texas Subchapter S corporation.
Event of Withdrawal has the meaning assigned
to such term in Section 11.1(a).
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Existing Capital Commitment Amount means
$46.5 million, which amount represents the aggregate
estimated capital costs to be incurred by the Partnership Group
in connection with the following proposed projects:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated
|
|
Proposed Project
|
|
Capital Costs
|
|
|
(i) Baton Rouge Fractionator
|
|
$
|
20.0 Million
|
|
(ii) Tri-State Pipeline
|
|
$
|
10.0 Million
|
|
(iii) Wilprise Pipeline
|
|
$
|
8.0 Million
|
|
(iv) NGL Product Chiller
|
|
$
|
8.5 Million
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
46.5 Million
|
|
each of which is described in greater detail in the Registration
Statement; provided, however, that if for any reason (other than
as a result of the cancellation of such project) the actual
capital costs incurred by the Partnership Group in connection
with any of the proposed projects referenced above is less than
the estimated capital cost for such project as set forth above,
the Existing Capital Commitment Amount shall be
reduced by the amount of such difference.
Force Majeure Event means an event during
which Gas Production is reduced, in whole or in part, by an
event reasonably beyond the control of the party producing such
Gas Production, including but not limited to any event of force
majeure under the Shell Processing Agreement (as defined in the
Tejas Contribution Agreement) or any of the Dedicated Leases
under, and as defined in, the Shell Processing Agreement (as
defined in the Tejas Contribution Agreement).
General Partner means EPE Holdings, LLC, as
successor by merger and permitted assign of Holdings, and its
successors and permitted assigns as general partner of the
Partnership.
General Partner Interest means the
non-economic 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), 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.
GP Reorganization Agreement means the
Reorganization Agreement, dated as of December 10, 2003,
among the Partnership, the Operating Partnership, the
Predecessor General Partner and the Operating General Partner.
Group means a Person that with or through any
of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement
or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting
(except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to
such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made
to 10 or more Persons) or disposing of any Partnership
Securities with any other Person that beneficially owns, or
whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, Partnership Securities.
Group Member means a member of the
Partnership Group.
Holder as used in Section 7.12, has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(a).
Holdings has the meaning set forth in the
recitals.
Holdings Merger has the meaning set forth in
the recitals.
Holdings Merger Agreement has the meaning set
forth in the recitals.
Indemnified Persons has the meaning assigned
to such term in Section 7.12(c).
Indemnitee means (a) the General
Partner, any Departing Partner and any Person who is or was an
Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing Partner,
(b) any Person who is or was a member, director, officer,
employee, agent or trustee of a Group Member, (c) any
Person who is or was an officer, member, partner, director,
employee, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any
Departing Partner or any Affiliate of
B-56
the General Partner or any Departing Partner, or any Affiliate
of any such Person and (d) any Person who is or was serving
at the request of the General Partner or any Departing Partner
or any such Affiliate as a director, officer, employee, member,
partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person;
provided, that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of
providing, on a fee-for- services basis, trustee, fiduciary or
custodial services.
Initial Common Units means the Common Units
sold in the Initial Offering.
Initial Limited Partners means DFI, the
Underwriters, and Tejas, in each case upon being admitted to the
Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1.
Initial Offering means the initial offering
and sale of Common Units to the public, as described in the
Registration Statement.
Initial Unit Price means (a) with
respect to the Common Units and the subordinated units of the
Partnership (all of which have been converted, in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement, into Common Units), the
initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the
Underwriters offered the Common Units to the public for sale 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 and sales of debt securities (other than borrowings
under the Working Capital Facility and other than for items
purchased on open account in the ordinary course of business) by
any Group Member; (b) sales of equity interests by any
Group Member (including Common Units sold to the underwriters
pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option); and
(c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of
any assets of any Group Member (other than (i) sales or
other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other
assets in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) sales
or other dispositions of assets as part of normal retirements or
replacements), in each case prior to the Liquidation Date.
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.
Limited Partner means, unless the context
otherwise requires, (a) each Initial Limited Partner, each
Substituted Limited Partner, each Additional Limited Partner and
any Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner
to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3 or
(b) solely for purposes of Articles V, VI, VII and IX
and Sections 12.3 and 12.4, each Assignee.
Limited Partner Interest means the ownership
interest of a Limited Partner or Assignee in the Partnership,
which may be evidenced by Common Units or Class B Units or
other Partnership Securities or a combination thereof or
interest therein, and includes any and all benefits to which
such Limited Partner or Assignee is entitled as provided in this
Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner
or Assignee to comply with the terms and provisions of this
Agreement.
Liquidation Date means (a) in the case
of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership of
the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first
sentence of Section 12.2, the date on which the applicable
time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have
the right to elect to reconstitute the Partnership and continue
its business has expired without such an election being made,
and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the
dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event
occurs.
Liquidator means one or more Persons selected
by the General Partner to perform the functions described in
Section 12.3 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership
within the meaning of the Delaware Act.
Merger Agreement has the meaning assigned to
such term in Section 14.1.
MergerCo has the meaning set forth in the
recitals.
B-57
Minimum Quarterly Distribution means $0.225
per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the period commencing
on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 1998, it
means the product of $0.225 multiplied by a fraction of which
the numerator is the number of days in the period commencing on
the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 1998, and of
which the denominator is 92), subject to adjustment in
accordance with Sections 6.6 and 6.8.
National Securities Exchange means an
exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented
or restated from time to time, and any successor to such
statute, or the Nasdaq Stock Market or any successor thereto.
Net Agreed Value means, (a) in the case
of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property
reduced by any liabilities either assumed by the Partnership
upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when
contributed, and (b) in the case of any property
distributed to a Partner or Assignee by the Partnership, the
Partnerships 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 Partnerships 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 Partnerships 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 6.1(c).
Net Loss means, for any taxable year, the
excess, if any, of the Partnerships 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 Partnerships 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(c).
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 (a) after the
Liquidation Date or (b) upon the sale, exchange or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or
a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a
member of the Partnership Group). 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(c).
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 (a) after the
Liquidation Date or (b) upon the sale, exchange or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or
a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a
member of the Partnership Group). 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(c). Non-citizen Assignee
means a Person whom the General Partner has determined in its
discretion 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
Sections 6.2(b)(i)(A), 6.2(b)(ii)(A) and 6.2(b)(iii) if
such properties were disposed of in a taxable transaction in
full satisfaction of such liabilities and for no other
consideration.
B-58
Nonrecourse Deductions means any and all
items of loss, deduction or expenditures (described in
Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with
the principles of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(b),
are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.
Nonrecourse Liability has the meaning set
forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).
Notice of Election to Purchase has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(b) hereof.
Operating Expenditures means all Partnership
Group expenditures, including, but not limited to, taxes,
reimbursements of the General Partner, debt service payments,
and capital expenditures, subject to the following:
(a) Payments (including prepayments) of principal of and
premium on indebtedness shall not be an Operating Expenditure if
the payment is (i) required in connection with the sale or
other disposition of assets or (ii) made in connection with
the refinancing or refunding of indebtedness with the proceeds
from new indebtedness or from the sale of equity interests. For
purposes of the foregoing, at the election and in the reasonable
discretion of the General Partner, any payment of principal or
premium shall be deemed to be refunded or refinanced by any
indebtedness incurred or to be incurred by the Partnership Group
within 180 days before or after such payment to the extent
of the principal amount of such indebtedness.
(b) Operating Expenditures shall not include
(i) capital expenditures made for Acquisitions or for
Capital Improvements, (ii) payment of transaction expenses
relating to Interim Capital Transactions or
(iii) distributions to Partners. Where capital expenditures
are made in part for Acquisitions or for Capital Improvements
and in part for other purposes, the General Partners good
faith allocation between the amounts paid for each shall be
conclusive.
Operating General Partner means Enterprise
Products OLPGP, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Partnership, and any successors and permitted
assigns as the General Partner of the Operating Partnership.
Operating Partnership means Enterprise
Products Operating LLC, a Texas limited liability company and
successor to Enterprise Operating L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership, and any successors thereto.
Operating Partnership Agreement means the
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the
Operating Partnership, as it may be amended, supplemented or
restated from time to time.
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) all cash and cash equivalents of
the Partnership Group on hand as of the close of business on the
Closing Date (other than the Existing Capital Commitment
Amount), (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group
for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending with the
last day of such period, other than cash receipts from Interim
Capital Transactions (except to the extent specified in
Section 6.5 and except as set forth in clause (iii)
immediately following), and (iii) as determined by the
General Partner, all or any portion of any cash receipts of the
Partnership Group during such period, or after the end of such
period but on or before the date of determination of Operating
Surplus with respect to such period, that constitute
(A) cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions,
provided that the total amount of cash receipts from Interim
Capital Transactions designated as Operating Surplus
by the General Partner pursuant to this clause (iii) since
the Closing Date may not exceed an aggregate amount equal to
$60.0 million,
and/or
(B) cash receipts from borrowings under the Working Capital
Facility, less
(b) the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the
period beginning on the Closing Date and ending with the last
day of such period and (ii) the amount of cash reserves
that is necessary or advisable in the reasonable discretion of
the General Partner to provide funds for future Operating
Expenditures, provided, however, that disbursements made
(including contributions to a Group Member or disbursements on
behalf of a Group Member) or cash reserves established,
increased or reduced after the end of such period but on or
before the date of determination of Operating Surplus with
respect to such period shall
B-59
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 in its reasonable discretion.
Option Closing Date has the meaning assigned
to such term in the Underwriting Agreement.
Outstanding means, with respect to
Partnership Securities, all Partnership Securities that are
issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the
Partnerships books and records as of the date of
determination; provided, however, that with respect to
Partnership Securities, if at any time any Person or Group
(other than the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially
owns 20% or more of any 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 Common Units so owned
shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of
Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Common Units shall not,
however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership
Securities for purposes of this Agreement); provided,
further, that the limitation in the foregoing proviso shall
not apply (i) to any Person or Group who acquired 20% or
more of any Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then
Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates,
(ii) to any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any
Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding
directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in
clause (i) if the General Partner shall have notified
such Person or Group in writing, prior to such acquisition, that
such limitation shall not apply to such Person or Group or
(iii) to 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 of the General Partner;
and provided, further, that none of the Class B
Units shall be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of
determining if any Class B Units are entitled to
distributions of Available Cash unless such Class B Units
shall have been reflected on the books of the Partnership as
outstanding during such Quarter and on the Record Date for the
determination of any distribution of Available Cash.
Over-Allotment Option means the
over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters by the
Partnership pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
Parity Units means Common Units and all other
Units having rights to distributions or in liquidation ranking
on a parity with the Common Units.
Partner Nonrecourse Debt has the meaning set
forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain has the
meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
Partner Nonrecourse Deductions means any and
all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including, without
limitation, any expenditure described in
Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with
the principles of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(i),
are attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt.
Partners means the General Partner, the
Limited Partners and the holders of Common Units.
Partnership means Enterprise Products
Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any
successors thereto.
Partnership Group means the Partnership, the
Operating Partnership and any Subsidiary of either such entity,
treated as a single consolidated entity.
Partnership Interest means an ownership
interest in the Partnership, which shall include General Partner
Interests and Limited Partner Interests.
B-60
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
any equity interest in the Partnership), including, without
limitation, Common Units.
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 (i) as of the
date of this Agreement through the date of any subsequent
Capital Contribution, as to any Unitholder or Assignee holding
Common Units, the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the
number of Common Units held by such Unitholder or Assignee by
(B) the total number of all Outstanding Common Units. The
Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interest
shall at all times be zero.
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.
Precedessor General Partner means Enterprise
Products GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which
was the General Partner prior to the date of this Agreement and
the merger of Enterprise Products GP, LLC with and into
Holdings, and Holdings immediately thereafter and prior to the
merger of Holdings with and into MergerCo in the Holdings Merger.
Prior Partnership Agreement has the meaning
set forth in the recitals.
Pro Rata means (a) when modifying Units
or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated
Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests and
(b) when modifying Partners and Assignees, apportioned
among all Partners and Assignees in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests.
Purchase Date means the date determined by
the General Partner as the date for purchase of all Outstanding
Units (other than Units owned by the General Partner and its
Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV.
Quarter means, unless the context requires
otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership.
Recapture Income means any gain recognized by
the Partnership (computed without regard to any adjustment
required by Sections 734 or 743 of the Code) upon the
disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which
gain is characterized as ordinary income because it represents
the recapture of deductions previously taken with respect to
such property or asset.
Record Date means the date established by the
General Partner for determining (a) the identity of the
Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting
of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give
approval of Partnership action in writing without a meeting or
entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of
Limited Partners or (b) the identity of Record Holders
entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate
in any offer.
Record Holder means the Person in whose name
a Common Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent
as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day, or
with respect to other Partnership Securities, the Person in
whose name any such other Partnership Security is registered on
the books which the 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
Statement on
Form S-1
(Registration
No. 333-52537)
as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the
Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common
Units in the Initial Offering.
B-61
Required Allocations means (a) any
limitation imposed on any allocation of Net Losses or Net
Termination Losses under Section 6.1(a) or 6.1(b)(ii) and
(b) any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or
deduction pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i), 6.1(c)(ii),
6.1(c)(iv), 6.1(c)(vi), 6.1(c)(vii) or 6.1(c)(ix).
Residual Gain or Residual
Loss means any item of gain or loss, as the case may
be, of the Partnership recognized for federal income tax
purposes resulting from a sale, exchange or other disposition of
a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, to the extent such
item of gain or loss is not allocated pursuant to
Section 6.2(b)(i)(A) or 6.2(b)(ii)(A), respectively, to
eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.
S&P Criteria means a duly appointed
member of the Audit and Conflicts Committee who had not been, at
the time of such
appointment1or
at any time in the preceding five years, (a) a direct or
indirect legal or beneficial owner of interests in the
Partnership or any of its Affiliates (excluding de minimis
ownership interests and Common Units having a value of less then
$1,000,000), (b) a creditor, supplier, employee, officer,
director, family member, manager or contractor of the
Partnership or its Affiliates, or (c) a person who controls
(whether directly, indirectly or otherwise) the Partnership or
its Affiliates or any creditor, supplier, employee, officer,
director, manager or contractor of the Partnership or its
Affiliates.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and
any successor to such statute.
Series 2002B Class Special Units
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.3(d).
Special Approval means approval by a majority
of the members of the Audit and Conflicts Committee, at least
one of which majority meets the S&P Criteria.
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).
Trading Day has the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 15.1(a).
Transfer has the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 4.4(a).
Transfer Agent means such bank, trust company
or other Person (including the General Partner or one of its
Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the
Partnership to act as registrar and transfer agent for the
Common Units and as may be appointed from time to time by the
Partnership to act as registrar
1 If
the General Partner that adopts this Sixth Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership so elects in its sole
discretion, it shall have the right to insert the following
language at this point in the definition: to the Audit and
Conflicts Committee or at any time in the preceding five years
or, in the event any such member was previously a member of the
Audit and Conflicts Committee of the Predecessor General
Partner, at the time of such members appointment to the
Audit and Conflicts Committee of the Predecessor General
Partner.
B-62
and transfer agent for any other Partnership Securities;
provided that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated
for any such other Partnership Securities, the General Partner
shall act in such capacity.
Transfer Application means an application and
agreement for transfer of Limited Partner Interests in the form
set forth on the back of a Certificate or in a form
substantially to the same effect in a separate instrument.
Underwriter means each Person named as an
underwriter in Schedule 1 to the Underwriting Agreement who
purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.
Underwriting Agreement means the Underwriting
Agreement dated July 27, 1998, among the Underwriters, the
Partnership and certain other parties, providing for the
purchase of Common Units by such Underwriters.
Unit means a Partnership Security that is
designated as a Unit (including Common Units)
representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of
all Limited Partners and having the rights and obligations
specified with respect to Units in this Agreement.
Unitholders means the holders of Common Units.
Unit Majority means at least a majority of
the Outstanding Common Units.
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 Capital 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.
Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 11.1(b).
Working Capital Facility means any working
capital credit facility of the Partnership or the Operating
Partnership that requires the outstanding balance of any working
capital borrowings thereunder to be reduced to $0 for at least
fifteen consecutive calendar days each fiscal year.
B-63
ANNEX C
DISTRIBUTION
WAIVER AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.,
EPCO HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
THE EPD UNITHOLDER
DATED AS
OF ,
2010
DISTRIBUTION
WAIVER AGREEMENT
DISTRIBUTION WAIVER AGREEMENT, dated as
of ,
2010 (this Agreement), by and among
Enterprise Products
Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
Partnership), on the one hand, and
EPCO Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (EPCO
Holdings) and DFI Delaware Holdings, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership (the EPD
Unitholder), on the other hand.
WITNESSETH:
Whereas,
the Partnership, Enterprise Products GP, LLC, Enterprise ETE LLC
(MergerCo), Enterprise GP Holdings
L.P. (Holdings) and EPE Holdings, LLC
(Holdings GP) are entering into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 3, 2010
(as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from
time to time, the Merger Agreement)
pursuant to which, among other things, Holdings will merge with
and into MergerCo (the Merger), with
MergerCo as the surviving entity, and (i) each outstanding
limited partner unit of Holdings will be converted into the
right to receive the merger consideration specified therein and
(ii) the general partner interest owned by Holdings GP will
be converted into the right to receive the merger consideration
specified therein; and
Whereas, as
of the date hereof, the EPD Unitholder is the record or direct
owner, and following the Merger will continue to be the record
owner, of Common Units representing limited partner interests of
the Partnership (EPD Units); and
Whereas,
the EPD Unitholder is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of
EPCO Holdings, which also directly owns EPD Units;
Whereas, in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger, the
Partnership and the EPD Unitholder and EPCO Holdings have agreed
to enter into this Agreement and abide by the covenants and
obligations set forth herein with respect to the Designated
Units (as hereinafter defined), and the execution and delivery
of this Agreement is a condition to the closing of the Merger on
the date hereof; and
Now
Therefore, in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
GENERAL
1.1 Defined Terms. The following
capitalized terms, as used in this Agreement, shall have the
meanings set forth below. Capitalized terms not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the
Partnership Agreement.
Designated Units means the EPD Units
subject to the terms of this Agreement, the applicable number of
which for any applicable four-quarter period during the term of
this Agreement is specified in Section 2.1(b), and which
are designated by the EPD Unitholder as such in its sole
discretion in accordance with Section 2.1 of this
Agreement, and any Replacement Units.
Effective Date means the effective
date of the Merger.
Exchange Act means the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
General Partner means Enterprise
Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any
other successor as general partner of the Partnership as
applicable from time to time, including EPE Holdings, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company, after giving effect to the
Merger.
Lien means any mortgage, lien, charge,
restriction (including restrictions on transfer), pledge,
security interest, option, right of first offer or refusal,
preemptive right, put or call option, lease or sublease, claim,
right of any third party, covenant, right of way, easement,
encroachment or encumbrance.
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Partnership Agreement means the Fifth
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the
Partnership, dated effective as of August 8, 2005, as
amended to date, and as may be amended hereafter from time to
time, including the Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of the Partnership, substantially in the
form attached to the Merger Agreement, to be executed and
delivered on the date hereof. References to Sections of the
Partnership Agreement used in this Agreement shall mean the
Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement as executed and delivered
on the date hereof.
Person means any individual,
corporation, limited liability company, limited or general
partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company,
trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof or any other entity, or any group
comprised of two or more of the foregoing.
Replacement Units means any EPD Units
designated by the EPD Unitholder pursuant to
Section 5.1(b), by EPCO Holdings or any of its subsidiaries
pursuant to Article 3 or by the Partnership pursuant to
Section 5.3.
Transfer means, directly or
indirectly, to sell, transfer, assign or similarly dispose of
(by merger (including by conversion into securities or other
consideration), by tendering into any tender or exchange offer,
by testamentary disposition, by operation of law or otherwise),
either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any
contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with
respect to the voting of or sale, transfer, assignment or
similar disposition of (by merger, by tendering into any tender
or exchange offer, by testamentary disposition, by operation of
law or otherwise); provided, for purposes of
clarification, a Transfer shall not include any existing or
future pledges or security interests issued by the EPD
Unitholder in connection with a bona fide credit agreement or
loan.
2011 Designated Units means 30,610,000
Designated Units, which shall consist of the EPD Units
identified pursuant to Section 2.1(a), or any Replacement
Units therefor.
2012 Designated Units means 26,130,000
Designated Units, which shall consist of the EPD Units
identified pursuant to Section 2.1(a), or any Replacement
Units therefor.
2013 Designated Units means 23,700,000
Designated Units, which shall consist of the EPD Units
identified pursuant to Section 2.1(a), or any Replacement
Units therefor.
2014 Designated Units means 22,560,000
Designated Units, which shall consist of the EPD Units
identified pursuant to Section 2.1(a), or any Replacement
Units therefor.
2015 Designated Units means 17,690,000
Designated Units, which shall consist of the EPD Units
identified pursuant to Section 2.1(a), or any Replacement
Units therefor.
ARTICLE 2
DESIGNATED
UNITS; WAIVER OF DISTRIBUTIONS WITH RESPECT TO DESIGNATED UNITS
2.1 Designated Units; Waiver of Distributions with
Respect to Designated Units.
(a) Designated Units. As soon as
reasonably practicable after the date hereof, but in no event
later than the earlier of (i) five Business Days after the
date hereof or (ii) the next record date for distributions
on EPD Units after the date of this Agreement, the EPD
Unitholder agrees to designate specific EPD Units held in
certificated or book-entry form as Designated Units
subject to and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Waiver of Distributions. The EPD
Unitholder hereby waives its right to receive distributions of
Available Cash pursuant to Section 6.3 of the Partnership
Agreement (Distributions) as follows:
[schedule below assuming closing of Merger prior to
December 31, 2010 or the record date for payments made
during the first quarter of 2011]
(i) the EPD Unitholder waives its right to receive
Distributions paid during calendar year 2011 with respect to the
2011 Designated Units;
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(ii) the EPD Unitholder waives its right to receive
Distributions paid during calendar year 2012 with respect to the
2012 Designated Units;
(iii) the EPD Unitholder waives its right to receive
Distributions paid during calendar year 2013 with respect to the
2013 Designated Units;
(iv) the EPD Unitholder waives its right to receive
Distributions paid during calendar year 2014 with respect to the
2014 Designated Units; and
(v) the EPD Unitholder waives its right to receive
Distributions paid during calendar year 2015 with respect to the
2015 Designated Units.
(c) The EPD Unitholder agrees to use its best efforts to
permit the Partnership and the transfer agent for the EPD Units
to identify and designate the Designated Units in order to give
effect to the provisions of this Agreement.
2.2 Tax Matters with Respect to Designated
Units.
(a) Capital Account with Respect to Designated
Units. Subject to Section 2.2(c) of this
Agreement, immediately prior to the transfer of a Designated
Unit by the EPD Unitholder (other than a transfer to an
Affiliate unless the General Partner elects to have this
Section 2.2 apply), the Capital Account maintained for such
Person with respect to its Designated Units will
(A) first, be allocated to the Designated Units to
be transferred in an amount equal to the product of (x) the
number of such Designated Units to be transferred and
(y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit that is
also not a Designated Unit, and (B) second, any
remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by
the transferor, regardless of whether it has retained any
Designated Units. Following any such allocation, the
transferors Capital Account, if any, maintained with
respect to the retained Designated Units, if any, will have a
balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (B)
hereinabove, and the transferees Capital Account
established with respect to the transferred Designated Units
will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under
clause (A) hereinabove.
(b) Allocations. Except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, all items of Partnership income,
gain, loss, deduction and credit, including Unrealized Gain or
Unrealized Loss to be allocated to the Partners pursuant to the
Partnership Agreement, shall be allocated to the Designated
Units to the same extent as such items would be allocated if
such Designated Units were Common Units then Outstanding that
were not also Designated Units. For the avoidance of doubt,
Section 6.1(c)(iii) of the Partnership Agreement shall
apply to Designated Units held by the EPD Unitholder and, for
the purposes of that provision, the holders of Common Units of
the Partnership that are not also Designated Units shall be
treated as receiving distributions of cash that are greater than
the amounts of cash distributed to the EPD Unitholder (on a per
Unit basis) as a result of the distributions waived by the EPD
Unitholder pursuant to Section 2.1 of this Agreement.
(c) Special Provisions Relating to the Designated
Units. The EPD Unitholder shall not be permitted
to Transfer a Designated Unit other than as set forth in
Section 5.1(a) until such time as the General Partner
determines, based on advice of counsel, that the Designated 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 2.2(c), the General Partner shall take whatever
steps are required to provide economic uniformity to the
Designated Units in preparation for a Transfer of such Common
Units, including the application of Sections 2.2(a) and
2.2(b) of this Agreement; provided, however, that no such
steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on
the other Unitholders of the Partnership holding Common Units.
ARTICLE 3
PERFORMANCE
GUARANTEE BY EPCO HOLDINGS
EPCO Holdings hereby agrees that in the event any Designated
Units (including, in any case, any EPD Units previously
designated as Designated Units by EPCO Holdings or any of its
subsidiaries pursuant to Article 3) are Transferred in
violation of Section 5.1(a) or foreclosed or sold in
connection with a bona fide loan pursuant to Section 5.1(a)
(in each case as applied to the EPD Unitholder or to EPCO
Holdings or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to this
Article 3) (such Designated Units so Transferred,
foreclosed or sold, the
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Specified Units), and the EPD
Unitholder does not immediately designate other EPD Units owned
by it to be Designated Units hereunder, EPCO Holdings shall
immediately designate as Designated Units hereunder a number of
EPD Units owned by it, or cause a subsidiary of EPCO Holdings to
designate as Designated Units hereunder a number of EPD Units
owned by it, equal to the number of Specified Units, and shall
agree (or cause its subsidiary to agree, as applicable) to
become bound to the terms of this Agreement with respect to such
Designated Units to the same extent as the EPD Unitholder. To
the extent that EPCO Holdings and its subsidiaries do not own a
sufficient number of EPD Units that are not Designated Units at
such time upon such event to comply with the prior sentence,
EPCO Holdings agrees to acquire or cause a subsidiary of EPCO
Holdings to acquire a sufficient number of additional EPD Units
to so comply and to designate such EPD Units as Designated Units
in accordance with this Agreement. The foregoing shall not
relieve the EPD Unitholder from any of its obligations under
this Agreement or any liabilities to the Partnership for any
damages or losses suffered by the Partnership as a result of the
EPD Unitholders breach of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
4.1 Representations and Warranties of the EPD
Unitholder and EPCO Holdings. The EPD Unitholder
and EPCO Holdings (except to the extent otherwise provided
herein) each hereby represents and warrants to the Partnership
as follows:
(a) Organization; Authorization; Validity of Agreement;
Necessary Action. EPD Unitholder and EPCO
Holdings each has the requisite power and authority
and/or
capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement, to carry out his
or its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery by the EPD
Unitholder and EPCO Holdings of this Agreement, the performance
by it of the obligations hereunder and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
authorized by EPD Unitholder and EPCO Holdings and no other
actions or proceedings on the part of EPD Unitholder or EPCO
Holdings to authorize the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the performance by EPD Unitholder or EPCO Holdings of
the obligations hereunder or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby are required. This Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered by EPD Unitholder and EPCO
Holdings and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Partnership, constitutes a
legal, valid and binding agreement of EPD Unitholder and EPCO
Holdings, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors rights
and to general equitable principles.
(b) Ownership. EPD Unitholder legally
owns the EPD Units to be designated as Designated Units, and
each Designated Unit owned by EPD Unitholder from the date
hereof through and on the date this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 6.1 will be legally owned by EPD
Unitholder.
(c) No Violation. Neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement by EPD Unitholder or EPCO
Holdings nor the performance by EPD Unitholder or EPCO Holdings
of its obligations under this Agreement will (A) result in
a violation or breach of or conflict with any provisions of, or
constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of
time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in
the termination, cancellation of, or give rise to a right of
purchase under, or accelerate the performance required by, or
result in a right of termination or acceleration under, or
result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties,
rights or assets, including but not limited to the EPD Units to
be designated as Designated Units, owned by EPD Unitholder or
EPCO Holdings or any of its subsidiaries, or result in being
declared void, voidable, or without further binding effect, or
otherwise result in a detriment to EPD Unitholder, EPCO Holdings
or any of its subsidiaries under any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of
trust, license, contract, lease, agreement or other instrument
or obligation of any kind to which EPD Unitholder, EPCO Holdings
or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which EPD Unitholder
or EPCO Holdings or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties, rights or assets may be bound,
(B) violate any judgments, decrees, injunctions, rulings,
awards, settlements, stipulations or orders (collectively,
Orders) or laws applicable
C-4
to EPD Unitholder, EPCO Holdings or any of its subsidiaries or
any of their respective properties, rights or assets or,
(C) result in a violation or breach of or conflict with its
organizational and governing documents of it or any of its
subsidiaries.
(d) Consents and Approvals. No consent,
approval, Order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any governmental authority is
necessary to be obtained or made by EPD Unitholder or EPCO
Holdings in connection with EPD Unitholders or EPCO
Holdings execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement or the consummation by EPD Unitholder or EPCO Holdings
of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for any reports
under Sections 13(d) and 16 of the Exchange Act as may be
required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(e) Reliance by the Partnership. The EPD
Unitholder and EPCO Holdings each understands and acknowledges
that the Partnership is entering into the Merger Agreement in
reliance upon EPD Unitholders and EPCO Holdings
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
representations, warranties, covenants and obligations of each
of EPD Unitholder and EPCO Holdings contained herein.
4.2 Representations and Warranties of the
Partnership. The Partnership hereby represents
and warrants to the EPD Unitholder and EPCO Holdings that the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Partnership and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of
Enterprise Products GP, LLC, the general partner of the
Partnership.
ARTICLE 5
OTHER
COVENANTS
5.1 Prohibition on Transfers; Other Actions.
(a) Within any period during which EPD waives Distributions
with respect to a Designated Unit pursuant to Section 2.1,
the EPD Unitholder hereby agrees not to (i) Transfer any
Designated Unit, beneficial ownership thereof or any other
interest therein; (ii) enter into any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, or take any other action, that
violates or conflicts with or would reasonably be expected to
violate or conflict with, or result in or give rise to a
violation of or conflict with, EPD Unitholders
representations, warranties, covenants and obligations under
this Agreement; or (iii) take any action that could
restrict or otherwise affect EPD Unitholders legal power,
authority and right to comply with and perform his or its
covenants and obligations under this Agreement; provided,
the foregoing shall not include or prohibit Transfers resulting
from the foreclosure or sale of Designated Units made by a
lender pursuant to any pledges or security interests relating to
existing or future bona fide loans to EPD Unitholder that do not
affect EPD Unitholders legal power, authority and right to
comply with and perform his or its covenants and obligations
under this Agreement. Any Transfer in violation of this
provision shall be null and void.
(b) In the event of any Transfer resulting from the
foreclosure or sale of Designated Units made by a lender
pursuant to any bona fide loans to EPD Unitholder, EPD
Unitholder hereby agrees to designate immediately an equal
number of EPD Units to constitute the Designated Units required
to be owned by it hereunder. To the extent EPD Unitholder does
not own a sufficient number of EPD Units that are not Designated
Units, to comply with its obligations under the prior sentence,
at such time upon such event, EPD Unitholder agrees to acquire a
sufficient number of additional EPD Units to so comply as
promptly as practicable, and to designate such EPD Units as
Designated Units in accordance with this Agreement.
5.2 Further Assurances. From time
to time, at the other partys request and without further
consideration, the parties hereto shall execute and deliver such
additional documents and take all such further action as may be
reasonably necessary or advisable to effect the actions and
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.3 Set Off. In the event that EPD
Unitholder or EPCO Holdings fails to own and to designate or
cause to be designated EPD Units as Designated Units in
accordance with this Agreement, the Partnership
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shall be entitled to designate and to withhold distributions
paid with respect to any other EPD Units owned by the EPD
Unitholder or EPCO Holdings up to an amount equal to the
distributions payable with respect to the number of EPD Units
required to be designated as Designated Units in accordance with
this Agreement. The foregoing in this Section 5.3 shall be
in addition to any other remedies available to the Partnership
and shall not limit the Partnerships remedies for any
other damages or losses incurred by it in connection with such
breach by the EPD Unitholder or EPCO Holdings.
ARTICLE 6
MISCELLANEOUS
6.1 Termination. This Agreement
shall remain in effect until the earliest to occur of (i)
[January 1, 2016] and (ii) the written agreement of
the EPCO Holdings, EPD Unitholder and the Partnership to
terminate this Agreement. After the occurrence of such
applicable event, all rights and obligations of the parties
hereto under this Agreement shall terminate and be of no further
force or effect, except the provisions of Section 2.2 shall
survive such termination until satisfaction of the conditions
imposed by Section 2.2(c) with respect to each Designated
Unit. Nothing in this Section 6.1 and no termination of
this Agreement shall relieve or otherwise limit any party of
liability for any breach of this Agreement occurring prior to
such termination.
6.2 No Ownership Interest.
(a) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to
vest in the Partnership any direct or indirect ownership or
incidence of ownership of or with respect to any Designated
Unit. All rights, ownership and economic benefit relating to the
Designated Units shall remain vested in and belong to the EPD
Unitholder, and the Partnership shall have no authority to
direct the EPD Unitholder in the voting or disposition of any of
the Designated Units, except as otherwise provided herein.
6.3 Notices. All notices and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed
given when delivered personally or by telecopy (upon telephonic
confirmation of receipt) or on the first Business Day following
the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next day
courier service. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set
forth below or pursuant to such other instructions as may be
designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:
If to the Partnership, to:
Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
1100 Louisiana, 10th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer
With copies to:
Andrews Kurth LLP
600 Travis, Suite 4200
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: David C. Buck
If to the EPD Unitholder or EPCO Holdings, to:
1100 Louisiana, 10th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer
With copies to:
Enterprise Products Company
1100 Louisiana, 10th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Chief Legal Officer
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6.4 Interpretation. The words
hereof, herein and hereunder
and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall
refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
provision of this Agreement, and Section references are to this
Agreement unless otherwise specified. Whenever the words
include, includes or
including are used in this Agreement, they shall be
deemed to be followed by the words without
limitation. The meanings given to terms defined herein
shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural
forms of such terms. The headings contained in this Agreement
are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement
is the product of negotiation by the parties having the
assistance of counsel and other advisers. It is the intention of
the parties that this Agreement not be construed more strictly
with regard to one party than with regard to the others.
6.5 Counterparts. This Agreement
may be executed by facsimile and in counterparts, all of which
shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become
effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the
parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood
that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.
6.6 Entire Agreement. This
Agreement and the Partnership Agreement embody the complete
agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede and preempt
any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or
among the parties, written and oral, that may have related to
the subject matter hereof in any way.
6.7 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver
of Jury Trial.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of
the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles
of conflicts of laws thereof.
(b) Each of the parties hereto (i) consents to submit
itself to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of
the State of Delaware (and any appellate court of the State of
Delaware) and the Federal courts of the United States of America
located in the State of Delaware in the event any dispute arises
out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or
defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for
leave from any such court and (iii) agrees that it will not
bring any action relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than the Court
of Chancery of the State of Delaware or a Federal court of the
United States of America located in the State of Delaware.
Without limiting the foregoing, each party agrees that service
of process on such party as provided in Section 6.3 shall
be deemed effective service of process on such party.
(c) EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF
ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING
TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS DELIVERED IN
CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR
THEREBY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO
REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS
REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD
NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH
WAIVERS, (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE
IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS, (C) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVERS
VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS
AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND
CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 6.7.
6.8 Amendment; Waiver. This
Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing
signed by the Partnership, the EPD Unitholder and EPCO Holdings.
Each party may waive any right of such party hereunder by an
instrument in writing signed by such party and delivered to the
Partnership, the EPD Unitholder and EPCO Holdings.
C-7
6.9 Remedies.
(a) Each party hereto acknowledges that monetary damages
would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any covenant
or agreement in this Agreement is not performed in accordance
with its terms, and it is therefore agreed that, in addition to
and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, the
non-breaching party will have the right to an injunction,
temporary restraining order or other equitable relief in any
court of competent jurisdiction enjoining any such breach and
enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof. Each
party hereto agrees not to oppose the granting of such relief in
the event a court determines that such a breach has occurred,
and to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any
bond in connection with such remedy.
(b) All rights, powers and remedies provided under this
Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in
equity shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise
or beginning of the exercise of any thereof by any party shall
not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other
such right, power or remedy by such party.
6.10 Severability. Any term or
provision of this Agreement which is determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to
the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and
provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or
enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this
Agreement in any other jurisdiction, and if any provision of
this Agreement is determined to be so broad as to be
unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only so
broad as is enforceable, in all cases so long as neither the
economic nor legal substance of the transactions contemplated
hereby is affected in any manner adverse to any party or its
equityholders. Upon any such determination, the parties shall
negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon a suitable
and equitable substitute provision to effect the original intent
of the parties as closely as possible and to the end that the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be fulfilled to the
maximum extent possible.
6.11 Action by the Partnership. No
waiver, consent or other action by or on behalf of the
Partnership pursuant to or as contemplated by this Agreement
shall have any effect unless such waiver, consent or other
action is expressly approved by the Audit, Conflicts and
Governance Committee of the General Partners board of
directors.
6.12 Successors and Assigns; Third Party
Beneficiaries. Neither this Agreement nor any of
the rights or obligations of any party under this Agreement
shall be assigned, in whole or in part (by operation of law or
otherwise), by any party without the prior written consent of
the other parties hereto. Subject to the foregoing, this
Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement,
express or implied, is intended to confer on any Person other
than the parties hereto or the parties respective
successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies,
obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.
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In Witness
Whereof, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be signed (where applicable, by their respective officers or
other authorized Person thereunto duly authorized) as of the
date first written above.
Partnership:
ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
By: ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS GP, LLC,
its general partner
Name: Michael A. Creel
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Title:
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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EPD Unitholder:
DFI DELAWARE HOLDINGS, L.P.
By: DFI DELAWARE GENERAL, LLC,
its general partner
Name:
Title:
EPCO Holdings:
EPCO HOLDINGS, INC.
Name:
Title:
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SUPPORT
AGREEMENT
by and among
ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
and
THE UNITHOLDERS
Dated as of September 3, 2010
SUPPORT
AGREEMENT
SUPPORT AGREEMENT, dated as of September 3, 2010
(this Agreement), by and among
Enterprise Products
Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
Partnership), on the one hand, and DD
Securities LLC, DFI GP Holdings L.P., EPCO Holdings, Inc.,
Duncan Family Interests, Inc., Dan Duncan LLC and DFI Delaware
Holdings L.P. (collectively, the
Unitholders and, individually, a
Unitholder).
WITNESSETH:
Whereas,
concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the
Partnership, Enterprise Products GP, LLC (the
General Partner), Enterprise ETE LLC
(MergerCo), Enterprise GP Holdings
L.P. (Holdings) and EPE Holdings, LLC
(Holdings GP) are entering into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as
amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time
to time, the Merger Agreement)
pursuant to which, among other things, Holdings will merge with
and into MergerCo (the Merger), with
MergerCo as the surviving entity, and (a) each outstanding
limited partner unit of Holdings (collectively, the
Units and, individually, a
Unit) will be converted into the right
to receive the merger consideration specified therein and
(b) the general partner interest owned by Holdings GP will
be converted into the right to receive the merger consideration
specified therein; and
Whereas, as
of the date hereof, each Unitholder other than Dan Duncan LLC is
the record or direct owner in the aggregate of, and has the
right to vote and dispose of, the number of Units set forth
opposite such Unitholders name on Schedule I
hereto (the Existing Units); and
Whereas, as
a material inducement to the Partnership entering into the
Merger Agreement, the Partnership has required that the
Unitholders agree, and the Unitholders have agreed, to enter
into this agreement and abide by the covenants and obligations
with respect to the Covered Units (as hereinafter defined), and
the Member Interests (as hereinafter defined) owned by Dan
Duncan LLC, set forth herein; and
Now
Therefore, in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
GENERAL
1.1 Defined Terms. The following
capitalized terms, as used in this Agreement, shall have the
meanings set forth below. Capitalized terms used but not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the Merger Agreement.
Acquisition Proposal has the meaning set forth in
the Merger Agreement.
Business Day has the meaning set forth in the Merger
Agreement.
Change in U.S. Federal Income Tax Law shall
mean the enactment or promulgation of, or any change in or
amendment to, the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, the U.S. Treasury regulations thereunder,
administrative pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service,
or judicial interpretations of the foregoing that occurs on or
after the date hereof; provided that the term Change in
U.S. Federal Income Tax Law shall not include a change in
the rate of taxation generally applicable to income or gain (as
opposed to, for example, a change in the treatment of an item of
gross income as ordinary income or capital gain for
U.S. federal income tax purposes).
Covered Units means, with respect to a Unitholder,
such Unitholders Existing Units, together with any Units
that such Unitholder acquires of record on or after the date
hereof.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
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Lien means any mortgage, lien, charge, restriction
(including restrictions on transfer), pledge, security interest,
option, right of first offer or refusal, preemptive right, put
or call option, lease or sublease, claim, right of any third
party, covenant, right of way, easement, encroachment or
encumbrance.
Member Interests mean the membership interests of
Holdings GP, all of which are owned by Dan Duncan LLC.
Partnership Agreement means the Fifth Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership,
dated effective as of August 8, 2005, as amended to date.
Person means any individual, corporation, limited
liability company, limited or general partnership, joint
venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization, government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof or any other entity, or any group comprised of two or
more of the foregoing.
Proxy Statement/Prospectus has the meaning set forth
in the Merger Agreement.
Representative has the meaning set forth in the
Merger Agreement.
Transfer means, directly or indirectly, to sell,
transfer, assign or similarly dispose of (by merger (including
by conversion into securities or other consideration), by
tendering into any tender or exchange offer, by testamentary
disposition, by operation of law or otherwise), either
voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any contract,
option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the
voting of or sale, transfer, assignment or similar disposition
of (by merger (including by conversion into securities or other
consideration), by tendering into any tender or exchange offer,
by testamentary disposition, by operation of law or otherwise);
provided that, for purposes of clarification, a Transfer shall
not include any existing or future pledges or security interests
issued by the Unitholders in connection with a bona fide loan.
ARTICLE 2
VOTING
2.1 Agreement to Vote Covered Units and Member
Interests. Each Unitholder hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally agrees that during the term of this Agreement,
at any meeting of the unitholders of Holdings, however called,
including any adjournment or postponement thereof, and in
connection with any written consent of the unitholders of
Holdings, such Unitholder shall, in each case to the fullest
extent that the Covered Units are entitled to vote thereon or
consent thereto:
(a) appear at each such meeting or otherwise cause its
Covered Units to be counted as present thereat for purposes of
calculating a quorum; and
(b) vote (or cause to be voted), in person or by proxy, or
deliver (or cause to be delivered) a written consent covering,
all of the Covered Units (i) in favor of the adoption of
the Merger Agreement, any transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement and any other action reasonably requested by
the Partnership in furtherance thereof, submitted for the vote
or written consent of unitholders; (ii) against any action
or agreement that would result in a breach of any covenant,
representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement
of Holdings or Holdings GP or any of their Subsidiaries (as
defined in the Merger Agreement) contained in the Merger
Agreement; and (iii) against any action, agreement or
transaction that would impede, interfere with, delay, postpone,
discourage, frustrate the purposes of or adversely affect the
Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement.
2.2 No Inconsistent Agreements. Each
Unitholder hereby represents, covenants and agrees that, except
for this Agreement, such Unitholder (a) has not entered
into, and shall not enter into at any time while this Agreement
remains in effect, any voting agreement or voting trust with
respect to its Covered Units, (b) has not granted, and
shall not grant at any time while this Agreement remains in
effect, a proxy, consent or power of attorney with respect to
its Covered Units (except pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof
and powers of attorney granted in connection with secured loans
secured by the Covered Units that may be exercised upon the
occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default
with respect to such loans) and (c) has not taken and shall
not knowingly take any action that would make any representation
or warranty of such Unitholder
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contained herein untrue or incorrect or have the effect of
preventing or disabling such Unitholder from performing any of
his or its obligations under this Agreement.
2.3 Proxy. In order to secure the obligations
set forth herein, each of the Unitholders hereby irrevocably
appoint as its proxy and attorney-in-fact, as the case may be,
Michael A. Creel and W. Randall Fowler, in their respective
capacities as officers of the General Partner, and any
individual who shall hereafter succeed to any such officer of
the General Partner, as the case may be, and any other Person
designated in writing by the General Partner (collectively, the
Grantees), each of them individually,
with full power of substitution, to vote or execute written
consents with respect to the Covered Units in accordance with
Section 2.1 hereof and, in the discretion of the Grantees,
with respect to any proposed postponements or adjournments of
any meeting of the unitholders of Holdings at which any of the
matters described in Section 2.1 are to be considered. This
proxy is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable,
except upon termination of this Agreement, and each Unitholder
will take such further action or execute such other instruments
as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy and
hereby revokes any proxy previously granted by such Unitholder
with respect to the Covered Units. The Partnership may terminate
this proxy with respect to any Unitholder at any time at its
sole election by written notice provided to such Unitholder.
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
3.1 Representations and Warranties of the
Unitholders. Each Unitholder (except to the
extent otherwise provided herein) hereby severally but not
jointly represents and warrants to the Partnership as follows:
(a) Organization; Authorization; Validity of Agreement;
Necessary Action. Unitholder has the requisite
power and authority
and/or
capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement, to carry out its
obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery by Unitholder of
this Agreement, the performance by it of the obligations
hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly and validly authorized by Unitholder and
no other actions or proceedings on the part of Unitholder to
authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
performance by Unitholder of the obligations hereunder or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby are
required. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Unitholder and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Partnership, constitutes a
legal, valid and binding agreement of Unitholder, enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors rights and to general equitable principles.
(b) Ownership.
(i) Unitholder legally owns the Unitholders Existing
Units, and all of the Covered Units owned by Unitholder from the
date hereof through and on the Closing Date will be beneficially
or legally owned by Unitholder. Unitholders Existing Units
are all of the Units legally or beneficially owned by
Unitholder. Unitholder has and will have at all times through
the Closing Date sole voting power (including the right to
control such vote as contemplated herein), sole power of
disposition, sole power to issue instructions with respect to
the matters set forth in Article 2 hereof, and sole power
to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in
each case with respect to all of Unitholders Existing
Units and with respect to all of the Covered Units owned by
Unitholder at all times through the Closing Date.
(ii) Dan Duncan LLC hereby represents and warrants that Dan
Duncan LLC legally owns the Member Interests, and all of the
Member Interests owned by Dan Duncan LLC from the date hereof
through and on the Closing Date will be beneficially or legally
owned by Dan Duncan LLC.
(c) No Violation. Neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement by Unitholder nor the performance
by Unitholder of its obligations under this Agreement will
(i) result in a violation or breach of or conflict with any
provisions of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with
notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default)
under, or result in the termination, cancellation of, or give
rise to a right of
D-3
purchase under, or accelerate the performance required by, or
result in a right of termination or acceleration under, or
result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties,
rights or assets, including the Existing Units, owned by
Unitholder, or result in being declared void, voidable, or
without further binding effect, or otherwise result in a
detriment to Unitholder under any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of
trust, license, contract, lease, agreement or other instrument
or obligation of any kind to which Unitholder is a party or by
which Unitholder or any of its respective properties, rights or
assets may be bound, (ii) violate any judgments, decrees,
injunctions, rulings, awards, settlements, stipulations or
orders (collectively, Orders) or laws
applicable to Unitholder or any of its properties, rights or
assets or (iii) result in a violation or breach of or
conflict with its organizational and governing documents.
(d) Consents and Approvals. No consent,
approval, Order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any governmental authority is
necessary to be obtained or made by Unitholder in connection
with Unitholders execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement or the consummation by Unitholder of the
transactions contemplated hereby, except for any reports under
Sections 13(d) and 16 of the Exchange Act as may be
required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(e) Reliance by the
Partnership. Unitholder understands and
acknowledges that the Partnership is entering into the Merger
Agreement in reliance upon Unitholders execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the representations, warranties,
covenants and obligations of Unitholder contained herein.
3.2 Representations and Warranties of the
Partnership. The Partnership hereby represents
and warrants to each Unitholder that the execution and delivery
of this Agreement by the Partnership and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by
all necessary action on the part of Enterprise Products GP, LLC,
the general partner of the Partnership.
ARTICLE 4
OTHER
COVENANTS
4.1 Prohibition on Transfers, Other
Actions. Each Unitholder hereby agrees not to
(a) Transfer any of the Covered Units, beneficial ownership
thereof or any other interest therein; (b) enter into any
agreement, arrangement or understanding, or take any other
action, that violates or conflicts with or would reasonably be
expected to violate or conflict with, or result in or give rise
to a violation of or conflict with, Unitholders
representations, warranties, covenants and obligations under
this Agreement; or (c) take any action that could restrict
or otherwise affect Unitholders legal power, authority and
right to comply with and perform its covenants and obligations
under this Agreement; provided, the foregoing shall not include
or prohibit Transfers resulting from pledges or security
interests (or the foreclosure thereof) relating to existing or
future bona fide loans that do not affect Unitholders
legal power, authority and right to comply with and perform its
covenants and obligations under this Agreement. Any Transfer in
violation of this provision shall be null and void.
4.2 Further Assurances. From time to time, at
the Partnerships request and without further
consideration, each Unitholder shall execute and deliver such
additional documents and take all such further action as may be
reasonably necessary or advisable to effect the actions and
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
4.3 Unitholder Capacity. Each Unitholder has
entered into this Agreement solely in its capacity as a record
owner of Covered Units. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement: (a) none of the provisions of
this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit, limit or restrict
any Representative of a Unitholder who is an officer of Holdings
GP or the General Partner or a member of the General
Partners board of directors or Holdings GPs board of
directors from exercising his or her fiduciary duties to
Holdings or the Partnership by voting to take any other action
whatsoever in his or her capacity as an officer or director,
including with respect to the Merger Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby; and (b) no action taken
by Holdings or the Partnership in respect of any Acquisition
Proposal in accordance with the Merger Agreement shall serve as
the basis of a claim that a Unitholder is in breach of its
obligations hereunder
D-4
notwithstanding the fact that such Unitholders
Representative, in his or her capacity as an officer or director
of Holdings GP or the General Partner, has provided advice or
assistance to Holdings or the Partnership in connection
therewith.
4.4 Distribution Waiver Agreement. Each of
EPCO Holdings, Inc. and DFI Delaware Holdings L.P. hereby agrees
that, subject to the terms below, it will execute and deliver
the Distribution Waiver Agreement in the form attached to the
Merger Agreement as Exhibit D (the
Distribution Waiver Agreement) on the closing
date of, and immediately prior to the closing of, the Merger;
provided, the obligations of such Unitholders to execute
and deliver the Distribution Waiver Agreement at such time shall
terminate if (a) as a result of a Change in
U.S. Federal Income Tax Law, occurring prior to the closing
of the Merger, (i) the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by Article II of the Merger Agreement (taking
into account any available elections) could reasonably be
expected to materially increase the amount of U.S. federal
income tax due from any of the Unitholders that owns Holdings
Units as a result of owning or disposing of Common Units
acquired pursuant to such transactions, as compared to
U.S. federal income tax due from such holder as a result of
owning or disposing of any Holdings Units in the event the
transactions contemplated in Article II of the Merger
Agreement did not occur or (ii) the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by Article II of the Merger
Agreement (taking into account any available elections) could
reasonably be expected to materially increase the amount of
U.S. federal income tax due from any of the Unitholders
that owns Common Units as a result of owning or disposing of
Common Units, as compared to U.S. federal income tax due
from such holder as a result of owning or disposing of Common
Units in the event the transactions contemplated in
Article II of the Merger Agreement did not occur, or
(b) the closing date of the Merger has not occurred on or
prior to December 31, 2010.
ARTICLE 5
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Termination. This Agreement shall remain
in effect until the earliest to occur of (a) the Effective
Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), (b) the
termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms
(including after any extension thereof), (c) the
termination of this Agreement by the Unitholders (i) after
any Holdings Change in Recommendation (as defined in the Merger
Agreement), (ii) after any change by the Holdings Audit
Committee (as defined in the Merger Agreement) in their
Special Approval or failure to maintain an effective
Special Approval (as defined in the Holdings
Partnership Agreement) in accordance with the Holdings
Partnership Agreement (as defined in the Merger Agreement),
after which events the Unitholders may terminate this Agreement
in their sole discretion or (iii) if as a result of a
Change in U.S. Federal Income Tax Law occurring prior to
the closing of the Merger, (A) the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by Article II of the Merger
Agreement (taking into account any available elections) could
reasonably be expected to materially increase the amount of
U.S. federal income tax due from any Unitholder that owns
Holdings Units as a result of owning or disposing of Common
Units acquired pursuant to such transactions, as compared to
U.S. federal income tax due from such holder as a result of
owning or disposing of any Holdings Units in the event the
transactions contemplated in Article II of the Merger
Agreement did not occur, or (B) the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by Article II of the Merger
Agreement (taking into account any available elections) could
reasonably be expected to materially increase the amount of
U.S. federal income tax due from any Unitholder that owns
Common Units as a result of owning or disposing of Common Units,
as compared to U.S. federal income tax due from such holder
as a result of owning or disposing of Common Units in the event
the transactions contemplated in Article II of the Merger
Agreement did not occur, (d) the written agreement of the
Unitholders and the Partnership to terminate this Agreement and
(e) 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on December 31, 2010.
After the occurrence of such applicable event, this Agreement
shall terminate and be of no further force or effect. Nothing in
this Section 5.1 and no termination of this Agreement shall
relieve or otherwise limit any party of liability for any breach
of this Agreement occurring prior to such termination.
5.2 No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained
in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in the Partnership any
direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or
with respect to any Covered
D-5
Units. All rights, ownership and economic benefit relating to
the Covered Units shall remain vested in and belong to each
Unitholder, and the Partnership shall have no authority to
direct such Unitholder in the voting or disposition of any of
the Covered Units, except as otherwise provided herein.
5.3 Publicity. Each Unitholder hereby permits
the Partnership and Holdings to include and disclose in the
Proxy Statement/Prospectus and in such other schedules,
certificates, applications, agreements or documents as such
entities reasonably determine to be necessary or appropriate in
connection with the consummation of the Merger and the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement such
Unitholders identity and ownership of the Covered Units
and the nature of such Unitholders commitments,
arrangements and understandings pursuant to this Agreement.
5.4 Notices. All notices and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed
given when delivered personally or by telecopy (upon telephonic
confirmation of receipt) or on the first Business Day following
the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next day
courier service. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set
forth below or pursuant to such other instructions as may be
designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:
If to the Partnership, to:
Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
1100 Louisiana, 10th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer
With copies to:
Andrews Kurth LLP
600 Travis, Suite 4200
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: David C. Buck, Esq.
If to any of the Unitholders, to:
[Name of applicable Unitholder]
1100 Louisiana, 10th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer
With copies to:
Enterprise Products Company
1100 Louisiana, 10th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Chief Legal Officer
5.5 Interpretation. The words
hereof, herein and hereunder
and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall
refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
provision of this Agreement, and Section references are to this
Agreement unless otherwise specified. Whenever the words
include, includes or
including are used in this Agreement, they shall be
deemed to be followed by the words without
limitation. The meanings given to terms defined herein
shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural
forms of such terms. The headings contained in this Agreement
are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement
is the product of negotiation by the parties having the
assistance of counsel and other advisers. It is the intention of
the parties that this Agreement not be construed more strictly
with regard to one party than with regard to the others.
5.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed by facsimile and in counterparts, all of which shall be
considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective
when counterparts have been signed by
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each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being
understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.
5.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and,
solely to the extent of the defined terms referenced herein, the
Merger Agreement, together with the schedules annexed hereto,
embody the complete agreement and understanding among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or
representations by or among the parties, written and oral, that
may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
5.8 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury
Trial.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of
the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles
of conflicts of laws thereof.
(b) Each of the parties hereto (i) consents to submit
itself to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of
the State of Delaware (and any appellate court of the State of
Delaware) and the Federal courts of the United States of America
located in the State of Delaware in the event any dispute arises
out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or
defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for
leave from any such court and (iii) agrees that it will not
bring any action relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than the Court
of Chancery of the State of Delaware or a Federal court of the
United States of America located in the State of Delaware.
Without limiting the foregoing, each party agrees that service
of process on such party as provided in Section 5.4 shall
be deemed effective service of process on such party.
(c) EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF
ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING
TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS DELIVERED IN
CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR
THEREBY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO
REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS
REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD
NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH
WAIVERS, (II) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE
IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS, (III) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVERS
VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO
THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND
CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.8.
5.9 Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may not
be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the
Partnership and each Unitholder. Each party may waive any right
of such party hereunder by an instrument in writing signed by
such party and delivered to the other parties hereto.
5.10 Remedies.
(a) Each party hereto acknowledges that monetary damages
would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any covenant
or agreement in this Agreement is not performed in accordance
with its terms, and it is therefore agreed that, in addition to
and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, the
non-breaching party will have the right to an injunction,
temporary restraining order or other equitable relief in any
court of competent jurisdiction enjoining any such breach and
enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof. Each
party hereto agrees not to oppose the granting of such relief in
the event a court determines that such a breach has occurred,
and to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any
bond in connection with such remedy.
(b) All rights, powers and remedies provided under this
Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in
equity shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise
or beginning of the exercise of any thereof by any party shall
not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other
such right, power or remedy by such party.
D-7
5.11 Severability. Any term or provision of
this Agreement which is determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction
shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or
unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this
Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of
the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other
jurisdiction, and if any provision of this Agreement is
determined to be so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision
shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable, in
all cases so long as neither the economic nor legal substance of
the transactions contemplated hereby is affected in any manner
adverse to any party or its equityholders. Upon any such
determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith in an
effort to agree upon a suitable and equitable substitute
provision to effect the original intent of the parties as
closely as possible and to the end that the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be fulfilled to the maximum extent
possible.
5.12 Action by the Partnership. No waiver,
consent or other action by or on behalf of the Partnership
pursuant to or as contemplated by this Agreement shall have any
effect unless such waiver, consent or other action is expressly
approved by the Audit, Conflicts and Governance Committee of the
General Partners board of directors.
5.13 Successors and Assigns; Third Party
Beneficiaries. Neither this Agreement nor any of
the rights or obligations of any party under this Agreement
shall be assigned, in whole or in part (by operation of law or
otherwise), by any party without the prior written consent of
the other parties hereto. Subject to the foregoing, this
Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement,
express or implied, is intended to confer on any Person other
than the parties hereto or the parties respective
successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies,
obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.
[Remainder
of this page intentionally left blank]
D-8
In Witness
Whereof, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be signed (where applicable, by their respective
officers or other authorized Person thereunto duly authorized)
as of the date first written above.
Partnership:
ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS GP, LLC,
|
its general partner
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Michael
A. Creel
Name: Michael
A. Creel
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Signature
Page to Support Agreement
D-9
Unitholders:
DD SECURITIES LLC
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ W.
Randall Fowler
Name: W.
Randall Fowler
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
|
DFI GP HOLDINGS L.P.
its general partner
By: Dan Duncan LLC,
its sole member
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ W.
Randall Fowler
Name: W.
Randall Fowler
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
|
DAN DUNCAN LLC
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ W.
Randall Fowler
Name: W.
Randall Fowler
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
|
Signature
Page to Support Agreement
D-10
EPCO HOLDINGS, INC.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ W.
Randall Fowler
Name: W.
Randall Fowler
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
|
DUNCAN FAMILY INTERESTS, INC.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Darryl
E. Smith
Name: Darryl
E. Smith
Title: Treasurer
|
DFI DELAWARE HOLDINGS L.P.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
DFI Delaware General, LLC,
|
its general partner
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Darryl
E. Smith
Name: Darryl
E. Smith
Title: Manager
|
Signature
Page to Support Agreement
D-11
Schedule I
UNITHOLDER
INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
|
Existing Units
|
Name
|
|
Beneficially Owned
|
|
DD Securities LLC
|
|
3,745,673
|
DFI GP Holdings L.P.
|
|
25,162,804
|
EPCO Holdings, Inc.
|
|
589,945
|
Duncan Family Interests, Inc.
|
|
76,240,798
|
DFI Delaware Holdings L.P.
|
|
0
|
D-12
ANNEX E
September 3,
2010
ACG Committee of the Board of Directors of
EPE Holdings, LLC, general partner
Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.
1100 Louisiana, 10th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Members of the ACG Committee of the Board:
We understand that Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
(Partners), Enterprise Products GP, LLC, the general
partner of Partners (Partners GP) and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Holdings, Enterprise ETE LLC, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Partners (MergerCo), Enterprise GP
Holdings L.P. (Holdings), and EPE Holdings, LLC, the
general partner of Holdings (Holdings GP), propose
to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, substantially in
the form of the draft dated September 2, 2010 (the
MLP Merger Agreement), and Holdings, Holdings GP,
and Partners GP propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger, substantially in the form of the draft dated
September 2, 2010 (the GP Merger Agreement,
together with the MLP Merger Agreement, the Merger
Agreements), which provide, among other things, for the
merger (the Merger) of Holdings with and into
MergerCo, with MergerCo as the surviving entity, such that
following the Merger, Holdings GP will be the sole general
partner of Partners and Partners will continue as the sole
member of MergerCo. The Merger Agreements also provide for
Partners GP to merge with and into Holdings, with Holdings as
the surviving entity, immediately prior to the effective time of
the Merger. Pursuant to the Merger, each outstanding unit
representing limited partner interests (the Units)
of Holdings prior to the Merger, other than units held in
treasury, or held by Partners or any subsidiaries of Partners or
Holdings, will be converted into the right to receive 1.500
common units (the Exchange Ratio) representing
limited partner interests in Partners (the Partners Common
Units). The terms and conditions of the Merger are more
fully set forth in the MLP Merger Agreement. We further
understand that approximately 76% of the outstanding Units are
owned by EPCO Holdings, Inc., Duncan Family Interests, Inc., DFI
GP Holdings, L.P. and DD Securities LLC (collectively, the
Holdings Supporting Unitholders) and in connection
with the Merger, the Holdings Supporting Unitholders have agreed
to provide support to the transaction through the waiver of
distributions on a specified number of Partners Common Units for
specified periods of time after the transaction, pursuant to a
Distribution Waiver Agreement, to be executed substantially in
the form of the draft dated September 2, 2010 (the
Distribution Waiver Agreement).
You have asked for our opinion as to whether the Exchange Ratio
pursuant to the MLP Merger Agreement is fair from a financial
point of view to the holders of the Units (other than the
Holdings Supporting Unitholders).
For purposes of the opinion set forth herein, we have:
1) Reviewed certain publicly available financial statements
and other business and financial information of Holdings and
Partners, respectively;
2) Reviewed certain internal financial statements and other
financial and operating data concerning Holdings and Partners,
respectively;
3) Reviewed certain financial projections prepared by the
management of Partners with respect to the future performance of
Partners and with respect to the future performance of Holdings;
4) Reviewed certain financial projections, provided by or
on behalf of the management of Holdings, with respect to the
future performance of Holdings;
5) Reviewed information relating to certain strategic,
financial and operational benefits anticipated from the Merger,
prepared by the management of Partners;
E-1
6) Discussed the past and current operations and financial
condition and the prospects of Partners and Holdings, including
information relating to certain strategic, financial and
operational benefits anticipated from the Merger, with senior
executives of Partners;
7) Discussed the past and current operations and financial
condition and the prospects of Holdings (including the
projections of such operations, financial condition and
prospects by Partners), with senior executives of Holdings;
8) Reviewed the pro forma impact of the Merger on
Partners cash flow, consolidated capitalization and
financial ratios;
9) Reviewed the reported prices and trading activity for
the Units and the Partners Common Units;
10) Compared the financial performance of Holdings and
Partners and the prices and trading activity of the Units and
the Partners Common Units with that of certain other
publicly-traded master limited partnerships comparable with
Holdings and Partners, respectively, and their securities;
11) Reviewed the financial terms, to the extent publicly
available, of certain comparable acquisition transactions;
12) Participated in certain discussions and negotiations
among representatives of Holdings and Partners and certain
parties and their financial and legal advisors;
13) Reviewed the Merger Agreements, Distribution Waiver
Agreement and certain related documents; and
14) Performed such other analyses, reviewed such other
information and considered such other factors as we have deemed
appropriate.
We have assumed and relied upon, without independent
verification, the accuracy and completeness of the information
that was publicly available or supplied or otherwise made
available to us by Holdings and Partners, and formed a
substantial basis for this opinion. With respect to the
financial projections, including information relating to certain
strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated from
the Merger, we have assumed that they have been reasonably
prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available
estimates and judgments of the management of Partners and of
Holdings of the future financial performance of Partners and
Holdings, respectively. We understand from the management of
Holdings that the future financial performance of Holdings is
significantly contingent on the financial performance of
Partners, with a minority proportion of such future performance
related to the performance of other unrelated investments held
by Holdings, including an investment in Energy Transfer Equity,
L.P. In addition, we have assumed that the Merger will be
consummated in accordance with the terms set forth in the Merger
Agreements without any material waiver, amendment or delay of
any terms or conditions thereof and that the waiver of
distributions contemplated by the Distribution Waiver Agreement
will occur in accordance with the Distribution Waiver Agreement
without any material waiver, amendment or delay of any terms or
conditions thereof. Morgan Stanley has assumed that in
connection with the receipt of all the necessary governmental,
regulatory or other approvals and consents required for the
proposed Merger, no delays, limitations, conditions or
restrictions will be imposed that would have a material adverse
effect on the contemplated benefits expected to be derived in
the proposed Merger. We are not legal, tax or regulatory
advisors. We are financial advisors only and have relied upon,
without independent verification, the assessment of Partners and
Holdings and their legal, tax or regulatory advisors with
respect to legal, tax or regulatory matters. We express no
opinion with respect to the fairness of the amount or nature of
the compensation to any of Holdings officers, directors or
employees, or any class of such persons, relative to the
consideration to be received by the holders of the Units in the
transaction. We have not made any independent valuation or
appraisal of the assets or liabilities of Holdings or Partners,
nor have we been furnished with any such appraisals. Our opinion
is necessarily based on financial, economic, market and other
conditions as in effect on, and the information made available
to us as of the date hereof. Events occurring after the date
hereof may affect this opinion and the assumptions used in
preparing it, and we do not assume any obligation to update,
revise or reaffirm this opinion.
E-2
In arriving at our opinion, we were not authorized to solicit,
and did not solicit, interest from any party with respect to the
acquisition, business combination or other extraordinary
transaction, involving Holdings, nor did we negotiate with any
party other than Partners regarding the possible acquisition of
Holdings or certain of its constituent businesses. Our opinion
does not address the relative merits of the Merger as compared
to any other alternative business transaction, or other
alternatives, whether or not such alternatives could be achieved
or are available or the underlying business decision by Holdings
and you to enter into the Merger. We understand that certain of
the Holdings Supporting Unitholders specifically notified the
ACG Committee that they would not support any alternative
transaction at this time.
We have acted as financial advisor to the ACG Committee of the
Board of Directors of Holdings in connection with this
transaction and will receive a fee for our services, which is
contingent upon the closing of the Merger. In the two years
prior to the date hereof, we have provided financial advisory
and financing services for Partners and Holdings and have
received fees in connection with such services. Morgan Stanley
may also seek to provide such services to Partners and Holdings
in the future and expects to receive fees for the rendering of
these services.
Please note that Morgan Stanley is a global financial services
firm engaged in the securities, investment management and
individual wealth management businesses. Our securities business
is engaged in securities underwriting, trading and brokerage
activities, foreign exchange, commodities and derivatives
trading, prime brokerage, as well as providing investment
banking, financing and financial advisory services. Morgan
Stanley, its affiliates, directors and officers may at any time
invest on a principal basis or manage funds that invest, hold
long or short positions, finance positions, and may trade or
otherwise structure and effect transactions, for their own
account or the accounts of its customers, in debt or equity
securities or loans of Partners, Holdings, or any other company,
or any currency or commodity, that may be involved in this
transaction, or any related derivative instrument.
This opinion has been approved by a committee of Morgan Stanley
investment banking and other professionals in accordance with
our customary practice. This opinion is for the information of
the ACG Committee of the Board of Directors of Holdings and may
not be used for any other purpose without our prior written
consent, except that a copy of this opinion may be included in
its entirety in any filing Holdings is required to make (which,
if necessary, can also be a joint filing by Partners) with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with this
transaction if such inclusion is required by applicable law. In
addition, this opinion does not in any manner address the prices
at which the Units or the Partners Common Units will trade at
any time and Morgan Stanley expresses no opinion or
recommendation as to how the unitholders of Holdings should vote
at the unitholders meeting to be held in connection with
the Merger.
Based on and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion on
the date hereof that the Exchange Ratio pursuant to the MLP
Merger Agreement is fair from a financial point of view to the
holders of the Units (other than the Holdings Supporting
Unitholders).
Very truly yours,
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
Brian McCabe
Managing Director
E-3