Exhibit 3.1
Execution Version
FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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| ARTICLE I |
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| DEFINITIONS |
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Section 1.1
Definitions
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1 |
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Section 1.2
Construction
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26 |
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| ARTICLE II |
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| ORGANIZATION |
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Section 2.1
Formation
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Section 2.2
Name
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Section 2.3
Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other
Offices
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Section 2.4
Purpose and Business
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Section 2.5
Powers
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Section 2.6
Power of Attorney
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Section 2.7
Term
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29 |
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Section 2.8
Title to Partnership Assets
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29 |
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| ARTICLE III |
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| RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS |
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Section 3.1
Limitation of Liability
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29 |
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Section 3.2
Management of Business
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30 |
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Section 3.3
Outside Activities of the Limited Partners
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30 |
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Section 3.4
Rights of Limited Partners
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30 |
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| ARTICLE IV |
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CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS;
TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS;
REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS |
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Section 4.1
Certificates
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Section 4.2
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates
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32 |
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Section 4.3
Record Holders
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33 |
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Section 4.4
Transfer Generally
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Section 4.5
Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests
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33 |
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Section 4.6
Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner
Interest
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34 |
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Section 4.7
Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights
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35 |
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Section 4.8
Restrictions on Transfers
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35 |
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Section 4.9
Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees
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37 |
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Section 4.10
Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees
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38 |
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Section 4.11
Taxation Certifications; Ineligible Assignees
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39 |
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Section 4.12
Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Assignees
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| ARTICLE V |
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| CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE
OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS |
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Section 5.1
Organizational Contributions
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41 |
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Section 5.2
Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates
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41 |
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Section 5.3
Contributions by Initial Limited Partners
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42 |
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Section 5.4
Interest and Withdrawal
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43 |
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Section 5.5
Capital Accounts
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Section 5.6
Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities
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46 |
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Section 5.7
Conversion of Subordinated Units
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47 |
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Section 5.8
Limited Preemptive Right
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48 |
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Section 5.9
Splits and Combinations
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49 |
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Section 5.10
Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner
Interests
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49 |
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Section 5.11
Issuance of Class B Units in Connection with Reset of
Incentive Distribution Rights
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50 |
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| ARTICLE VI |
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| ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS |
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Section 6.1
Allocations for Capital Account Purposes
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Section 6.2
Allocations for Tax Purposes
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61 |
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Section 6.3
Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to
Record Holders
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63 |
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Section 6.4
Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus
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64 |
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Section 6.5
Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus
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66 |
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Section 6.6
Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target
Distribution Levels
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66 |
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Section 6.7
Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units
and Class B Units
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67 |
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Section 6.8
Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive
Distribution Rights
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68 |
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Section 6.9
Entity-Level Taxation
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68 |
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| ARTICLE VII |
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| MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF
BUSINESS |
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Section 7.1
Management
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69 |
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Section 7.2
Certificate of Limited Partnership
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71 |
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Section 7.3
Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority
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72 |
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Section 7.4
Reimbursement of the General Partner
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72 |
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Section 7.5
Outside Activities
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73 |
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Section 7.6
Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the
Partnership or Group Members
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74 |
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Section 7.7
Indemnification
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Section 7.8
Liability of Indemnitees
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77 |
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Section 7.9
Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and
Modification of Duties
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77 |
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Section 7.10
Other Matters Concerning the General Partner
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79 |
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Section 7.11
Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities
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80 |
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Section 7.12
Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates
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80 |
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Section 7.13
Reliance by Third Parties
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83 |
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ARTICLE VIII |
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| BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND
REPORTS |
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Section 8.1
Records and Accounting
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Section 8.2
Fiscal Year
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Section 8.3
Reports
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84 |
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ARTICLE IX |
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| TAX MATTERS |
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Section 9.1
Tax Returns and Information
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85 |
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Section 9.2
Tax Elections
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Section 9.3
Tax Controversies
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Section 9.4
Withholding
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86 |
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ARTICLE X |
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| ADMISSION OF PARTNERS |
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Section 10.1
Admission of Limited Partners
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86 |
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Section 10.2
Admission of Successor General Partner
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87 |
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Section 10.3
Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership
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87 |
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ARTICLE XI |
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| WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF
PARTNERS |
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Section 11.1
Withdrawal of the General Partner
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Section 11.2
Removal of the General Partner
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89 |
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Section 11.3
Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General
Partner
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90 |
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Section 11.4
Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated
Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages
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92 |
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Section 11.5
Withdrawal of Limited Partners
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92 |
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ARTICLE XII |
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| DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION |
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Section 12.1
Dissolution
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92 |
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Section 12.2
Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After
Dissolution
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93 |
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Section 12.3
Liquidator
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93 |
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Section 12.4
Liquidation
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94 |
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Section 12.5
Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership
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Section 12.6
Return of Contributions
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Section 12.7
Waiver of Partition
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95 |
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Section 12.8
Capital Account Restoration
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95 |
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ARTICLE XIII |
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| AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT;
MEETINGS; RECORD DATE |
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Section 13.1
Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner
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Section 13.2
Amendment Procedures
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97 |
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Section 13.3
Amendment Requirements
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98 |
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Section 13.4
Special Meetings
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98 |
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Section 13.5
Notice of a Meeting
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99 |
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Section 13.6
Record Date
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99 |
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Section 13.7
Adjournment
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99 |
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Section 13.8
Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes
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100 |
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Section 13.9
Quorum and Voting
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100 |
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Section 13.10
Conduct of a Meeting
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100 |
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Section 13.11
Action Without a Meeting
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101 |
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Section 13.12
Right to Vote and Related Matters
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101 |
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ARTICLE XIV |
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| MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR
CONVERSION |
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Section 14.1
Authority
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102 |
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Section 14.2
Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion
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102 |
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Section 14.3
Approval by Limited Partners
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104 |
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Section 14.4
Certificate of Merger
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105 |
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Section 14.5
Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion
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105 |
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ARTICLE XV |
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| RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER
INTERESTS |
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Section 15.1
Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests
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107 |
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ARTICLE XVI |
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| GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Section 16.1
Addresses and Notices; Written Communications
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109 |
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Section 16.2
Further Action
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109 |
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Section 16.3
Binding Effect
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109 |
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Section 16.4
Integration
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110 |
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Section 16.5
Creditors
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110 |
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Section 16.6
Waiver
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110 |
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Section 16.7
Third-Party Beneficiaries
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110 |
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Section 16.8
Counterparts
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110 |
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Section 16.9
Applicable Law
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110 |
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Section 16.10
Invalidity of Provisions
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110 |
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Section 16.11
Consent of Partners
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110 |
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Section 16.12
Facsimile Signatures
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111 |
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FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
THIS FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP dated
as of May 14, 2008, is entered into by and between Western Gas
Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General
Partner, and WGR Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the
Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein. In consideration
of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions
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The following definitions shall be
for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the
contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
“ Acquisition ”
means any transaction in which any Group Member acquires (through
an asset acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other form of
investment) control over all or a portion of the assets, properties
or business of another Person for the purpose of increasing for a
period exceeding the short-term the operating capacity or operating
income of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or
operating income of the Partnership Group existing immediately
prior to such transaction. For purposes of this definition, the
short-term generally refers to a period not exceeding
12 months.
“ Additional Book Basis
” means the portion of any remaining Carrying Value of an
Adjusted Property that is attributable to positive adjustments made
to such Carrying Value as a result of Book-Up Events. For purposes
of determining the extent that Carrying Value constitutes
Additional Book Basis:
(a) Any
negative adjustment made to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted
Property as a result of either a Book-Down Event or a Book-Up Event
shall first be deemed to offset or decrease that portion of the
Carrying Value of such Adjusted Property that is attributable to
any prior positive adjustments made thereto pursuant to a Book-Up
Event or Book-Down Event.
(b) If
Carrying Value that constitutes Additional Book Basis is reduced as
a result of a Book-Down Event and the Carrying Value of other
property is increased as a result of such Book-Down Event, an
allocable portion of any such increase in Carrying Value shall be
treated as Additional Book Basis; provided , that the amount
treated as Additional Book Basis pursuant hereto as a result of
such Book-Down Event shall not exceed the amount by which the
Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments after such Book-Down
Event exceeds the remaining Additional Book Basis attributable to
all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property after
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
1
such
Book-Down Event (determined without regard to the application of
this clause (b) to such Book-Down Event).
“ Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items ” means any Book Basis Derivative Items
that are computed with reference to Additional Book Basis. To the
extent that the Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the
Partnership’s Adjusted Property as of the beginning of any
taxable period exceeds the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive
Adjustments as of the beginning of such period (the “
Excess Additional Book Basis ”), the Additional
Book Basis Derivative Items for such period shall be reduced by the
amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of Additional Book
Basis Derivative Items determined without regard to this sentence
as the Excess Additional Book Basis bears to the Additional Book
Basis as of the beginning of such period.
“ Adjusted Capital
Account ” means the Capital Account maintained for each
Partner as of the end of each fiscal year of the Partnership,
(a) increased by any amounts that such Partner is obligated to
restore under the standards set by Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or is deemed
obligated to restore under Treasury
Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5)) and
(b) decreased by (i) the amount of all losses and
deductions that, as of the end of such fiscal year, are reasonably
expected to be allocated to such Partner in subsequent years under
Sections 704(e)(2) and 706(d) of the Code and Treasury
Regulation Section 1.751-1(b)(2)(ii), and (ii) the
amount of all distributions that, as of the end of such fiscal
year, are reasonably expected to be made to such Partner in
subsequent years in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or
otherwise to the extent they exceed offsetting increases to such
Partner’s Capital Account that are reasonably expected to
occur during (or prior to) the year in which such distributions are
reasonably expected to be made (other than increases as a result of
a minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) or
6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account
is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital
Account” of a Partner in respect of a General Partner Unit, a
Common Unit, a Subordinated Unit, a Class B Unit or an
Incentive Distribution Right or any other Partnership Interest
shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if
such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit,
Class B Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other
Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held
by such Partner from and after the date on which such General
Partner Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Class B Unit,
Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest was
first issued.
“ Adjusted Operating
Surplus ” means, with respect to any period,
(a) Operating Surplus generated with respect to such period;
(b) less (i) any net increase in Working Capital
Borrowings with respect to that period; and (ii) any net
decrease in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures with respect
to such period not relating to an Operating Expenditure made with
respect to such period; and (c) plus (i) any net decrease
in Working Capital Borrowings with respect to that period; and
(ii) any net increase in cash reserves for Operating
Expenditures with respect to such period required by any debt
instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium.
Adjusted Operating Surplus does not include that portion of
Operating Surplus included in clause (a)(i) of the definition of
Operating Surplus.
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
2
“ 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).
“ Affiliate ”
means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is
controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in
question. As used herein, the term “control” means the
possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether
through ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise.
“ Aggregate Quantity of
Class B Units ” is defined in
Section 5.11.
“ Aggregate Remaining Net
Positive Adjustments ” means, as of the end of any
taxable period, the sum of the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments
of all the Partners.
“ Agreed Allocation
” means any allocation, other than a Required Allocation, of
an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the
provisions of Section 6.1, including a Curative Allocation (if
appropriate to the context in which the term “Agreed
Allocation” is used).
“ Agreed Value ”
of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such
property or other consideration at the time of contribution and in
the case of an Adjusted Property, the fair market value of such
Adjusted Property on the date of the revaluation event as described
in 5.5(d)(1), in both cases as determined by the General Partner.
In making such determination, the General Partner shall use such
method as it determines to be appropriate to allocate the aggregate
Agreed Value of Adjusted Properties or 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 such property.
“ Agreement ”
means this First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Western Gas Partners, LP, as it may be amended,
supplemented or restated from time to time.
“ Anadarko ” means
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
“ Asset HoldCo ”
means WGR Asset Holding Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, and any successors thereto.
“ Associate ”
means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person,
(a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a
director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the
owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting
interest; (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person
has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person
serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and
(c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of
such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such
Person.
“ Available Cash ”
means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation
Date:
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
3
(a) the
sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership
Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and
cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly
owned) on hand at the end of such Quarter, and (ii) if the
General Partner so determines, all or any portion of any 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 Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent
to the end of such Quarter, less
(b) the
amount of any cash reserves established by the General Partner (or
the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the
case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) to (i) provide for
the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group
(including reserves for future capital expenditures and for
anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group)
subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or
any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument
or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a
party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject or
(iii) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.4
or 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next four
Quarters;
provided , however , that the General Partner may not
establish cash reserves pursuant to clause (iii) above if the
effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to
distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units,
plus any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all Common Units, with
respect to such Quarter; and, provided further, that disbursements
made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or
reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of
determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall
be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for
purposes of determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the
General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
“ Available Cash ” with respect to the Quarter
in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter
shall equal zero.
“ Board of Directors
” means, with respect to the Board of Directors of the
General Partner, its board of directors or managers, as applicable,
if a corporation or limited liability company, or if a limited
partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of the
general partner of the General Partner.
“ Book Basis Derivative
Items ” means any item of income, deduction, gain or loss
that is computed with reference to the Carrying Value of an
Adjusted Property (e.g., depreciation, depletion, or gain or loss
with respect to an Adjusted Property).
“ Book-Down Event
” means an event that triggers a negative adjustment to the
Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to
Section 5.5(d).
“ Book-Tax Disparity
” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or
Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the
difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property
or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal
income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the
Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed
Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
4
difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as
maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 and the hypothetical balance of
such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been
maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax
accounting principles.
“ Book-Up Event ”
means an event that triggers a positive adjustment to the Capital
Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“ Business Day ”
means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal
holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States
of America or the State of Texas shall not be regarded as a
Business Day.
“ Capital Account
” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant
to Section 5.5. The “Capital Account” of a Partner
in respect of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a Subordinated
Unit, a Class B Unit, an Incentive Distribution Right or any
Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account
would be if such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated
Unit, Class B Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other
Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held
by such Partner from and after the date on which such General
Partner Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Class B Unit,
Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest was
first issued.
“ Capital Contribution
” means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of
Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the
Partnership.
“ Capital Improvement
” means any (a) addition or improvement to the capital
assets owned by any Group Member, (b) acquisition of existing,
or the construction of new or the improvement or replacement of
existing, capital assets (including, without limitation, crude oil
or natural gas gathering systems, natural gas treatment or
processing plants, natural gas liquids fractionation facilities,
storage facilities, pipeline systems or other midstream assets or
facilities) or (c) capital contributions by a Group Member to a
Person that is not a Subsidiary in which a Group Member has an
equity interest to fund such Group Member’s pro rata share of
the cost of the acquisition of existing, or the construction of new
or the improvement or replacement of existing, capital assets
(including, without limitation, crude oil or natural gas gathering
systems, natural gas treatment or processing plants, natural gas
liquids fractionation facilities, storage facilities, pipeline
systems or other midstream assets or facilities) by such Person, in
each case if such addition, improvement, acquisition or
construction is made to increase for a period longer than the
short-term the operating capacity or operating income of the
Partnership Group, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), or such
Person, in the case of clause (c), from the operating capacity or
operating income of the Partnership Group or such Person, as the
case may be, existing immediately prior to such addition,
improvement, replacement, acquisition or construction; provided,
however, that any such addition, improvement, replacement,
acquisition or construction that is made solely for investment
purposes shall not constitute a Capital Improvement under this
Agreement. For purposes of this definition, the short-term
generally refers to a period not exceeding 12 months.
“ Capital Surplus
” is defined in Section 6.3(a).
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
5
“ Carrying Value ”
means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property or Adjusted
Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below
zero) by all depreciation, amortization and cost recovery
deductions charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in
respect of such Contributed Property, 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; provided that 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 or
willful misconduct in its capacity as a general partner of the
Partnership.
“ Certificate ”
means (a) a certificate (i) substantially in the form of
Exhibit A to this Agreement, (ii) issued in global form
in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or
(iii) in such other form as may be adopted by the General
Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or
more Common Units or (b) a certificate, in such form as may be
adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership
evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership
Securities.
“ Certificate of Limited
Partnership ” means the Certificate of Limited
Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 7.2, as such
Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or
restated from time to time.
“ Citizenship
Certification ” means a properly completed certificate in
such form as may be specified by the General Partner by which 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 ” (as used
in Section 7.12(d)) is defined in Section 7.12(d).
“ Class B Units
” means a Partnership Security representing a fractional part
of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners, and having
the rights and obligations specified with respect to Class B
Units in this Agreement.
“ Closing Date ”
means the first date on which Common Units are sold by the
Partnership to the Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of the
Underwriting Agreement.
“ Closing Price ”
is defined in Section 15.1(a).
“ Code ” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time
to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of
the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any
corresponding provision of any successor law.
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
6
“ Combined Interest
” is defined in Section 11.3(a).
“ Commences Commercial
Service ” shall mean the date a Capital Improvement is
first put into commercial service following completion of
construction and testing.
“ Commission ”
means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“ Commodity Hedge
Contract ” means any commodity exchange, swap, forward,
cap, floor, collar or other similar agreement or arrangement that
is entered into for the purpose of hedging the Partnership
Group’s exposure to fluctuations in the price of hydrocarbons
in their operations and not for speculative purposes.
“ Common 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 Common
Units in this Agreement. The term “Common Unit” does
not include a Subordinated Unit or Class B Unit prior to its
conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.
“ Common Unit Arrearage
” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, as
to any Quarter within the Subordination Period, the excess, if any,
of (a) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution with respect to a
Common Unit in respect of such Quarter over (b) the sum of all
Available Cash distributed with respect to a Common Unit in respect
of such Quarter pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i).
“ Contributed Property
” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be
permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to
the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property
is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d), such property shall no
longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an
Adjusted Property.
“ Contribution Agreement
” means that certain Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption
Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the General Partner,
the Partnership, Anadarko, Holdings, the Operating Partnership and
certain other parties, together with the additional conveyance
documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder, as
such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to
time.
“ Converted Class B
Units ” is defined in Section 5.11(g).
“ Credit Agreement
” means that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of
March 4, 2008, by and among Anadarko Petroleum Corporation,
Western Gas Partners, LP, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., The Royal Bank
of Scotland, PLC, BNP Paribas, Bank of America, N.A., BMO Capital
Markets Financing, Inc., The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, LTD.,
and each of the Lenders named therein.
“ Cumulative Common Unit
Arrearage ” means, with respect to any Common Unit,
whenever issued, and as of the end of any Quarter, the excess, if
any, of (a) the sum resulting from adding together the Common
Unit Arrearage as to an Initial Common Unit for each of the
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
7
Quarters
within the Subordination Period ending on or before the last day of
such Quarter over (b) the sum of any distributions theretofore
made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(ii) and the second sentence of
Section 6.5 with respect to an Initial Common Unit (including
any distributions to be made in respect of the last of such
Quarters).
“ Curative Allocation
” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, deduction,
loss or credit pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6.1(d)(xi).
“ Current Market Price
” is defined in Section 15.1(a).
“ Deferred Issuance and
Distribution ” means both (a) the issuance by the
Partnership of a number of additional Common Units that is equal to
the excess, if any, of (x) 2,812,500 over (y) the aggregate
number, if any, of Common Units actually purchased by and issued to
the Underwriters pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option on the
Option Closing Date(s), and (b) a reimbursement of
preformation capital expenditures in an amount equal to the
aggregate amount of cash, if any, contributed by the Underwriters
to the Partnership on the Option Closing Date(s) with respect to
Common Units issued by the Partnership upon each exercise of the
Over-Allotment Option in accordance with Section 5.3(b), if
any.
“ Delaware Act ”
means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del
C. Section 17-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated
from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
“ Departing General
Partner ” means a former General Partner from and after
the effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former
General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section
11.2.
“ Depositary ”
means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The
Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted
assigns.
“ Disposed of Adjusted
Property ” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B).
“ Economic Risk of Loss
” has the meaning set forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
“ 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 the General Partner determines does not or would
not subject such Group Member to a significant risk of cancellation
or forfeiture of any of its properties or any interest
therein.
“ Eligible Holder
” means any (a) individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S.
resident alien, (b) corporation (or other entity taxable as a
corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that was created
or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state
thereof or the District of Columbia, (c) estate whose income
is subject to U.S. federal income taxation
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
8
regardless of its source, (d) trust that (1) is subject
to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and
that has one or more U.S. persons with authority to control all
substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a valid election
in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a
U.S. person, (e) any other entity that was created or
organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state
thereof or the District of Columbia but is not subject to U.S.
federal income taxation on the income generated from the
Partnership, provided all of its beneficial owners are otherwise
qualified as an Eligible Holder under alternative (a), (b), (c), or
(d) hereof.
“ Estimated Incremental
Quarterly Tax Amount ” is defined in
Section 6.9.
“ Estimated Maintenance
Capital Expenditures ” means an estimate made in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the General Partner (with the
concurrence of the Special Committee) of the average quarterly
Maintenance Capital Expenditures that the Partnership will need to
incur over the long term to maintain the operating capacity or
operating income of the Partnership Group existing at the time the
estimate is made. The Board of Directors of the General Partner
(with the concurrence of the Special Committee) will be permitted
to make such estimate in any manner it determines reasonable. The
estimate will be made at least annually and whenever an event
occurs that is likely to result in a material adjustment to the
amount of future Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures. The
Partnership shall disclose to its Partners any change in the amount
of Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures in its reports made
in accordance with Section 8.3 to the extent not previously
disclosed. Any adjustments to Estimated Maintenance Capital
Expenditures shall be prospective only.
“ Event of Withdrawal
” is defined in Section 11.1(a).
“ Expansion Capital
Expenditures ” means cash expenditures for Acquisitions
or Capital Improvements, and shall not include Maintenance Capital
Expenditures or Investment Capital Expenditures. Expansion Capital
Expenditures shall include interest (and related fees) on debt
incurred and distributions on equity issued (including incremental
Incentive Distributions in respect of newly issued equity), in each
case, to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement and paid
during the period beginning on the date that the Partnership enters
into a binding obligation to commence construction of a Capital
Improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that
such Capital Improvement Commences Commercial Service and the date
that such Capital Improvement is abandoned or disposed of. Debt
incurred or equity issued to fund such construction period interest
payments or such construction period distributions on equity paid
during such period (including incremental Incentive Distributions
in respect of the newly issued equity), shall also be deemed to be
debt incurred or equity issued, as the case may be, to finance the
construction of a Capital Improvement. Where capital expenditures
are made in part for Expansion Capital Expenditures and in part for
other purposes, the General Partner, with the concurrence of the
Special Committee, shall determine the allocation between the
amounts paid for each.
“ FERC ” means the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
9
“ FERC Notice ”
means the giving of notice by the Partnership to the Limited
Partners in the manner specified in Section 16.1 that the
Partnership is implementing procedures pursuant to this Agreement
to require a Limited Partner or a transferee of a Limited Partner
Interest to certify that such Person is a Eligible Holder.
“ Final Subordinated
Units ” is defined in Section 6.1(d)(x).
“ First Liquidation Target
Amount ” is defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(E).
“ First Target
Distribution ” means $0.3450 per Unit per Quarter (or,
with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and
ending on June 30, 2008, it means the product of $0.3450
multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of
days in such period, and of which the denominator is 91), subject
to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and
6.9.
“ Fully Diluted Basis
” means, when calculating the number of Outstanding Units for
any period, a basis that includes, in addition to the Outstanding
Units, all Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and
appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the
Partnership (a) that are convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Units that are senior to or pari passu with the
Subordinated Units, (b) whose conversion, exercise or exchange
price is less than the Current Market Price on the date of such
calculation, (c) that may be converted into or exercised or
exchanged for such Units prior to or during the Quarter immediately
following the end of the period for which the calculation is being
made without the satisfaction of any contingency beyond the control
of the holder other than the payment of consideration and the
compliance with administrative mechanics applicable to such
conversion, exercise or exchange and (d) that were not
converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units during the
period for which the calculation is being made; provided,
however , that for purposes of determining the number of
Outstanding Units on a Fully Diluted Basis when calculating whether
the Subordination Period has ended or the Subordinated Units are
entitled to convert into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7,
such Partnership Securities, options, rights, warrants and
appreciation rights shall be deemed to have been Outstanding Units
only for the four Quarters that comprise the last four Quarters of
the measurement period; provided, further , that if
consideration will be paid to any Group Member in connection with
such conversion, exercise or exchange, the number of Units to be
included in such calculation shall be that number equal to the
difference between (i) the number of Units issuable upon such
conversion, exercise or exchange and (ii) the number of Units
that such consideration would purchase at the Current Market
Price.
“ General Partner
” means Western Gas Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns that
are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the
Partnership, in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership
(except as the context otherwise requires).
“ General Partner
Interest ” means the ownership interest of the General
Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner
without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it),
which is evidenced by General Partner Units, and includes any and
all benefits to
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
10
which
the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement,
together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with
the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
“ General Partner Unit
” means a fractional part of the General Partner Interest
having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the
General Partner Interest. A General Partner Unit is not a
Unit.
“ GP Contribution
Interest ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the
Contribution Agreement.
“ Gross Liability Value
” means, with respect to any Liability of the Partnership
described in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i), the amount of cash
that a willing assignor would pay to a willing assignee to assume
such Liability in an arm’s-length transaction. The Gross
Liability Value of each Liability of the Partnership described in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i) shall be adjusted
at such times as provided in this Agreement for an adjustment to
Carrying Values.
“ Group ” means a
Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has
any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a
revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a
proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons),
exercising investment power or disposing of any Partnership
Interests with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose
Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly,
Partnership Interests.
“ Group Member ”
means a member of the Partnership Group.
“ Group Member Agreement
” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other
than the Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the
limited liability company agreement of any Group Member that is a
limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and
bylaws or similar organizational documents of any Group Member that
is a corporation, the joint venture agreement or similar governing
document of any Group Member that is a joint venture and the
governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group
Member that is a Person other than a limited or general
partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint
venture, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time
to time.
“ Holder ” as used
in Section 7.12, is defined in Section 7.12(a).
“ Holdings ” means
WGR Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“ IDR Reset Election
” is defined in Section 5.11(a).
“ Incentive Distribution
Right ” means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest
issued to the General Partner in connection with the transfer of
the GP Contribution Interest to the Partnership pursuant to the
Contribution Agreement, which Limited Partner Interest will confer
upon the holder thereof only the rights and obligations
specifically provided in this Agreement with
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
11
respect
to Incentive Distribution Rights (and no other rights otherwise
available to or other obligations of a holder of a Partnership
Interest). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, the holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not
be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Right on any
Partnership matter except as may otherwise be required by
law.
“ Incentive
Distributions ” means any amount of cash distributed to
the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to
Sections 6.4(a)(v), (vi) and (vii) and 6.4(b)(iii),
(iv) and (v).
“ Incremental Income
Taxes ” is defined in Section 6.9.
“ Indemnified Persons
” is defined in Section 7.12(d).
“ Indemnitee ”
means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General
Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the
General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any
Person who is or was a member, manager, partner, director, officer,
fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member, the General Partner or
any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member,
the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) any
Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner
or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General
Partner or any Departing General Partner as an officer, director,
member, manager, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person;
provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason
of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or
custodial services, and (f) any Person the General Partner
designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this
Agreement.
“ Ineligible Assignee
” means a Person whom the General Partner has determined is
not an Eligible Holder.
“ Initial Common Units
” means the Common Units sold in the Initial Offering.
“ Initial Limited
Partners ” means Holdings (with respect to the Common
Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights
received by it pursuant to Section 5.2) and the Underwriters,
in each case upon being admitted to the Partnership in accordance
with Section 10.1 of this Agreement.
“ Initial Loan ”
means the loan made by the Partnership with the net proceeds from
the Initial Offering of $260.0 million to Anadarko in exchange
for a 30-year note bearing interest at a fixed annual rate of
6.5%.
“ 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, 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
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
12
part of
the Registration Statement and first issued at or after the time
the Registration Statement first became effective or (b) with
respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit
at which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the
Partnership, as determined by the General Partner, in each case
adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to
give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of
Units.
“ Interim Capital
Transactions ” means the following transactions if they
occur prior to the Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings,
refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than Working
Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open
account in the ordinary course of business) by any Group Member and
sales of debt securities of any Group Member; (b) sales of
equity interests of any Group Member (including the Common Units
sold to the Underwriters pursuant to the exercise of the
Over-Allotment Option); (c) sales or other voluntary or
involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other
than (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts
receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business, and
(ii) sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal
retirements or replacements; (d) the termination of Commodity
Hedge Contracts and interest rate swap agreements prior to their
respective specified termination dates; (e) capital
contributions received; and (f) corporate reorganizations or
restructurings.
“ Investment Capital
Expenditures ” means capital expenditures other than
Maintenance Capital Expenditures and Expansion Capital
Expenditures.
“ Issue Price ”
means the price at which a Unit is purchased from the Partnership,
net of any sales commission or underwriting discount charged to the
Partnership.
“ Limited Partner
” means, unless the context otherwise requires, Asset HoldCo
prior to its contribution of its Limited Partner Interest to
Holdings, Holdings prior to its withdrawal from the Partnership,
each Initial Limited Partner, each additional Person that becomes a
Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any
Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from
General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3,
in each case, in such Person’s capacity as limited partner of
the Partnership; provided, however, that when the term
“Limited Partner” is used herein in the context of any
vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term
shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of an
Incentive Distribution Right (solely with respect to its Incentive
Distribution Rights and not with respect to any other Limited
Partner Interest held by such Person) except as may otherwise be
required by law.
“ Limited Partner
Interest ” means the ownership interest of a Limited
Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units,
Class B Units, Subordinated Units, Incentive Distribution
Rights or other Partnership Securities or a combination thereof or
interest therein, and includes any and all benefits to which such
Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together
with all obligations of such Limited Partner to comply with the
terms and provisions of this Agreement; provided, however ,
that when the term “Limited Partner Interest” is used
herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including
Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such
purpose, include any Incentive Distribution Right except as may
otherwise be required by law.
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
13
“ Liquidation Date
” means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the
dissolution of the Partnership of the type described in clauses
(a) and (b) of the first sentence of Section 12.2,
the date on which the applicable time period during which the
holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to continue
the business of the Partnership has expired without such an
election being made, and (b) in the case of any other event
giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on
which such event occurs.
“ Liquidator ”
means one or more Persons selected by the General Partner to
perform the functions described in Section 12.4 as liquidating
trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware
Act.
“ Maintenance Capital
Expenditures ” means cash expenditures (including
expenditures for the addition or improvement to or replacement of
the capital assets owned by any Group Member or for the acquisition
of existing, or the construction or development of new, capital
assets, including, without limitation, gas gathering systems,
natural gas treatment or processing facilities, natural gas liquids
fractionation facilities, storage facilities, pipeline systems or
other midstream assets or facilities and other related or similar
midstream assets or other assets that are expected to generate
“qualifying income” as defined by Section 7704 of
the Code) if such expenditures are made to maintain, including for
a period longer than the short-term, the operating capacity or
operating income of the Partnership Group. Maintenance Capital
Expenditures shall not include (a) Expansion Capital
Expenditures or (b) Investment Capital Expenditures.
Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall include interest (and
related fees) on debt incurred and distributions on equity issued
(including incremental Incentive Distributions in respect of the
newly issued equity), in each case, to finance the construction or
development of a replacement asset and paid during the period
beginning on the date that the Partnership enters into a binding
obligation to commence constructing or developing a replacement
asset and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such
replacement asset Commences Commercial Service and the date that
such replacement asset is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred
to pay or equity issued to fund construction or development period
interest payments, or such construction or development period
distributions on equity (including incremental Incentive
Distributions in respect of the newly issued equity), shall also be
deemed to be debt or equity, as the case may be, incurred to
finance the construction or development of a replacement asset. For
purposes of this definition, the short-term generally refers to a
period not exceeding 12 months.
“ Merger Agreement
” is defined in Section 14.1.
“ Minimum Quarterly
Distribution ” means $0.3000 per Unit per Quarter (or
with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and
ending on June 30, 2008, it means the product of $0.3000
multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of
days in such period and of which the denominator is 91), subject to
adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and
6.9.
“ National Securities
Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the
Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, and
any successor to such statute, or the Nasdaq Stock Market or any
successor thereto.
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
14
“ 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, (b) in the case of any
property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the
Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted
pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(ii)) at the time such property is
distributed, reduced by any Liability either assumed by such
Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject
at the time of distribution, and (c) in the case of a
contribution of Common Units by the General Partner to the
Partnership as a Capital Contribution pursuant to
Section 5.2(b), an amount per Common Unit contributed equal to
the Current Market Price per Common Unit as of the date of the
contribution.
“ Net Income ”
means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the
Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those
items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain
or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year over the
Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those
items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain
or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year. The items included
in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance
with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially
allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided , that the
determination of the items that have been specially allocated under
Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of
such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).
“ Net Loss ”
means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the
Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those
items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain
or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year over the
Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those
items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain
or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year. The items included
in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance
with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially
allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided , that the
determination of the items that have been specially allocated under
Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of
such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).
“ Net Positive
Adjustments ” means, with respect to any Partner, the
excess, if any, of the total positive adjustments over the total
negative adjustments made to the Capital Account of such Partner
pursuant to Book-Up Events and Book-Down Events.
“ Net Termination Gain
” means, for any taxable 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(d).
“ Net Termination Loss
” means, for any taxable year, the sum, if negative, of all
items of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the
Partnership (a) after the Liquidation Date or (b) upon the
sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of the
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
15
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(d).
“ Non-citizen Assignee
” means a Person whom the General Partner has determined does
not constitute an Eligible Citizen and as to whose Partnership
Interest the General Partner has become the substituted limited
partner, pursuant to Section 4.9.
“ Nonrecourse Built-in
Gain ” means with respect to any Contributed Properties
or Adjusted Properties that are subject to a mortgage or pledge
securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of any taxable gain
that would be allocated to the Partners pursuant to
Sections 6.2(b)(i)(A), 6.2(b)(ii)(A) and 6.2(b)(iii) if such
properties were disposed of in a taxable transaction in full
satisfaction of such liabilities and for no other
consideration.
“ Nonrecourse Deductions
” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure
(including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B)
of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a
Nonrecourse Liability.
“ Nonrecourse Liability
” has the meaning set forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.752-2(b)(3).
“ Notice of Election to
Purchase ” is defined in Section 15.1(b).
“ OLP GP ” means
Western Gas Operating, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
and the general partner of the Operating Partnership, and any
successors thereto.
“ Omnibus Agreement
” means that certain Omnibus Agreement, dated as of the
Closing Date, among Anadarko, the General Partner and the
Partnership, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from
time to time.
“ Operating Expenditures
” means all Partnership Group cash expenditures (or the
Partnership’s proportionate share of expenditures in the case
of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned), including, but not
limited to, taxes, reimbursements of the General Partner in
accordance with this Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement or the
Secondment Agreement, payments made in the ordinary course of
business under any interest rate swap agreements or Commodity Hedge
Contracts (provided that payments made in connection with the
termination of any Commodity Hedge Contract prior to the expiration
of its stipulated settlement or termination date shall be excluded;
and provided further that with respect to amounts paid in
connection with the initial purchase of a Commodity Hedge Contract,
such amounts shall be amortized over the life of the applicable
Commodity Hedge Contract or expensed in full upon its termination,
if earlier), director and officer compensation, repayment of
Working Capital Borrowings, debt service payments, Estimated
Maintenance Capital Expenditures and non-Pro Rata repurchases of
Units (other than those made with the proceeds of an Interim
Capital Transaction), but subject to the following:
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
16
(a) repayments
of Working Capital Borrowings deducted from Operating Surplus
pursuant to clause (b)(iii) of the definition of “Operating
Surplus” shall not constitute Operating Expenditures when
actually repaid;
(b) payments
(including prepayments and prepayment penalties) of principal of
and premium on indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings
shall not constitute Operating Expenditures; and
(c) Operating
Expenditures shall not include (i) Expansion Capital
Expenditures, (ii) actual Maintenance Capital Expenditures,
(iii) Investment Capital Expenditures, (iv) payment of
transaction expenses (including taxes and which, with respect to
the termination of a Commodity Hedge Contract prior to its
stipulated settlement or termination date, such transaction
expenses shall constitute any payments due from any Group Member
upon such settlement or termination) relating to Interim Capital
Transactions, (v) distributions to Partners, or
(vi) non-Pro Rata repurchases of Units of any class made with
the proceeds of a substantially concurrent equity issuance;
and
(d) Where
capital expenditures are made in part for Maintenance Capital
Expenditures and in part for other purposes, the General Partner,
with the concurrence of the Special Committee, shall determine the
allocation between the amounts paid for each and, with respect to
the part of such capital expenditures consisting of Maintenance
Capital Expenditures, the period over which the capital
expenditures made for such purposes will be deducted as an
Operating Expenditure in calculating Operating Surplus.
“ Operating Partnership
” means WGR Operating, LP, a Delaware limited partnership,
and any successors thereto.
“ 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) $31.8 million, (ii) all cash receipts of the
Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share
of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly
owned) for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on
the last day of such period, but excluding cash receipts from
Interim Capital Transactions (except to the extent specified in
Section 6.5), (iii) all cash receipts of the Partnership
Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash
receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned)
after the end of such period but on or before the date of
determination of Operating Surplus with respect to such period
resulting from Working Capital Borrowings, and (iv) cash
distributions paid on equity issued to finance all or a portion of
the construction, acquisition or improvement of a Capital
Improvement or replacement of a capital asset (such as equipment or
facilities) during the period beginning on the date that the Group
Member enters into a binding obligation to commence the
construction, acquisition or improvement of a Capital Improvement
or replacement of a capital asset and ending on the earlier to
occur of the date the Capital Improvement or capital asset
Commences Commercial Service or the date that it is abandoned or
disposed of (equity issued to fund construction period interest
payments on debt incurred, or construction period distributions on
equity issued, to finance the construction, acquisition or
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
17
development of a Capital Improvement or replacement of a capital
asset shall also be deemed to be equity issued to finance the
construction, acquisition or development of a Capital Improvement
or replacement of a capital asset for purposes of this clause
(iv)), less
(b) the
sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on
the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period;
(ii) the amount of cash reserves established by the General
Partner (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash
reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) to
provide funds for future Operating Expenditures; and (iii) all
Working Capital Borrowings not repaid within twelve months after
having been incurred;
provided, however , that disbursements made (including
contributions to a Group Member or disbursements on behalf of a
Group Member) or cash reserves established, increased or reduced
after the end of such period but on or before the date of
determination of Available Cash with respect to such period shall
be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for
purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within such period if
the General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
“ Operating Surplus ” with respect to the
Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent
Quarter shall equal zero.
“ Opinion of Counsel
” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular
counsel to the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its
Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner.
“ Option Closing Date
” means the date or dates on which any Common Units are sold
by the Partnership to the Underwriters upon exercise of the
Over-Allotment Option.
“ Outstanding ”
means, with respect to Partnership Securities, all Partnership
Securities that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as
outstanding on the Partnership’s books and records as of the
date of determination; provided, however , that if at any
time any Person or Group (other than the General Partner or its
Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of any Outstanding
Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding, none of the
Partnership Securities owned by such Person or Group shall 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 or the Delaware Act); provided, further ,
that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any
Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding
Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly from
the General Partner or its Affiliates, (ii) any Person or
Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership
Securities of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly
from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that
the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in
writing that such limitation shall not apply, or (iii) any
Person or Group who acquired 20% or
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
18
more of
any Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership with the prior
approval of the Board of Directors of the General Partner.
“ Over-Allotment Option
” means the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters
by the Partnership pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
“ Partner Nonrecourse
Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
“ Partner Nonrecourse Debt
Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
“ Partner Nonrecourse
Deductions ” means any and all items of loss, deduction
or expenditure (including any expenditure described in
Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the
principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are
attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt.
“ Partners ” means
the General Partner and the Limited Partners.
“ Partnership ”
means Western Gas Partners, LP, a Delaware limited
partnership.
“ Partnership Contribution
Interests ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the
Contribution Agreement.
“ Partnership Group
” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a
single consolidated entity.
“ Partnership Interest
” means an interest in the Partnership, which shall include
the General Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interests.
“ Partnership Minimum
Gain ” means that amount determined in accordance with
the principles of Treasury
Regulation Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).
“ Partnership Security
” means any class or series of equity interest in the
Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants and
appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the
Partnership), including Common Units, Subordinated Units,
Class B Units and Incentive Distribution Rights.
“ Per Unit Capital
Amount ” means, as of any date of determination, the
Capital Account, stated on a per Unit basis, underlying any class
of Units held by a Person other than the General Partner or any
Affiliate of the General Partner who holds Units.
“ Percentage Interest
” means as of any date of determination (a) as to the
General Partner with respect to General Partner Units and as to any
Unitholder with respect to Units, the product obtained by
multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause
(b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing
(A) the number of General Partner Units held by the General
Partner or the number of Units held by such Unitholder, as the case
may be, by (B) the total
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
19
number
of Outstanding Units and General Partner Units, and (b) as to
the holders of other Partnership Securities issued by the
Partnership in accordance with Section 5.6, the percentage
established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest
with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right shall at all times
be zero.
“ Person ” means
an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization,
association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or
other entity.
“ Pro Rata ” means
(a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof,
apportioned equally among all designated Units in accordance with
their relative Percentage Interests, (b) when used with
respect to Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among all
Partners or Record Holders in accordance with their relative
Percentage Interests and (c) when used with respect to holders
of Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned equally among all
holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in accordance with the
relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held
by each such holder.
“ Purchase Date ”
means the date determined by the General Partner as the date for
purchase of all Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of a certain
class (other than Limited Partner Interests owned by the General
Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV.
“ Quarter ” means,
unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the
Partnership, or, with respect to the first fiscal quarter of the
Partnership that includes the Closing Date, the portion of such
fiscal quarter after the Closing Date.
“ Recapture Income
” means any gain recognized by the Partnership (computed
without regard to any adjustment required by Section 734 or
Section 743 of the Code) upon the disposition of any property
or asset of the Partnership, which gain is characterized as
ordinary income because it represents the recapture of deductions
previously taken with respect to such property or asset.
“ Record Date ”
means the date established by the General Partner or otherwise in
accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the
identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote
at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot
or give approval of Partnership action in writing without a meeting
or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of
Limited Partners or (b) the identity of Record Holders
entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in
any offer.
“ Record Holder ”
means 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
Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership
Interest is registered on the books that the General Partner has
caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such Business
Day.
“ Redeemable Interests
” means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption
notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to
Section 4.10 and Section 4.12.
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
20
“ Registration Statement
” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration
No. 333-146700) 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.
“ Remaining Net Positive
Adjustments ” means as of the end of any taxable period,
(i) with respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units,
Subordinated Units or Class B Units, the excess of
(a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders holding
Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units as of the
end of such period over (b) the sum of those Partners’
Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for each prior
taxable period, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as
holder of the General Partner Units), the excess of (a) the
Net Positive Adjustments of the General Partner as of the end of
such period over (b) the sum of the General Partner’s
Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to the
General Partner Units for each prior taxable period, and
(iii) with respect to the holders of Incentive Distribution
Rights, the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the
holders of Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such
period over (b) the sum of the Share of Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items of the holders of the Incentive Distribution
Rights for each prior taxable period.
“ Required Allocations
” means (a) any limitation imposed on any allocation of
Net Losses or Net Termination Losses under Section 6.1(b) or
Section 6.1(c)(ii) and (b) any allocation of an item of
income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i),
Section 6.1(d)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(iv),
Section 6.1(d)(v), Section 6.1(d)(vi),
Section 6.1(d)(vii) or Section 6.1(d)(ix).
“ Reset MQD ” is
defined in Section 5.11(e).
“ Reset Notice ”
is defined in Section 5.11(b).
“ Residual Gain ”
or “ Residual Loss ” means any item of gain or
loss, as the case may be, of the Partnership recognized for federal
income tax purposes resulting from a sale, exchange or other
disposition of a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, to the
extent such item of gain or loss is not allocated pursuant to
Section 6.2(b)(i)(A) or Section 6.2(b)(ii)(A),
respectively, to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.
“ Retained Converted
Subordinated Unit ” is defined in
Section 5.5(c)(ii).
“ Second Liquidation Target
Amount ” is defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(F).
“ Second Target
Distribution ” means $0.3750 per Unit per Quarter (or,
with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and
ending on June 30, 2008, it means the product of $0.3750
multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the
number of days in such period and of which the denominator is 91),
subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11,
Section 6.6 and Section 6.9.
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
21
“ Secondment Agreement
” means that certain Services and Secondment Agreement, dated
as of the Closing Date, between Anadarko and the General Partner,
as such may be amended, supplemented and restated from time to
time.
“ Securities Act ”
means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or
restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.
“ Securities Exchange
Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any
successor to such statute.
“ Share of Additional Book
Basis Derivative Items ” means in connection with any
allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any
taxable period, (i) with respect to the Unitholders holding
Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units, the amount
that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative
Items as the Unitholders’ Remaining Net Positive Adjustments
as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net
Positive Adjustments as of that time, (ii) with respect to the
General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Units), the
amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items as the General Partner’s Remaining Net
Positive Adjustments as of the end of such period bears to the
Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment as of that time, and
(iii) with respect to the Partners holding Incentive
Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio to such
Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net
Positive Adjustments of the Partners holding the Incentive
Distribution Rights as of the end of such period bears to the
Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time.
“ Special Approval
” means approval by a majority of the members of the Special
Committee acting in good faith.
“ Special Committee
” means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General
Partner composed entirely of two or more directors, each of whom
(a) is not a security holder, officer or employee of the
General Partner, (b) is not an officer, director or employee
of any Affiliate of the General Partner, (c) is not a holder
of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other than
Common Units and (d) meets the independence standards required
of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of
directors established by the Securities Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National
Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or
admitted to trading.
“ Subordinated 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
Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term “Subordinated
Unit” does not include a Common Unit or a Class B Unit.
A Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall
not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs.
“ Subordination Period
” means the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending
on the first to occur of the following dates:
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
22
(a) the
first Business Day of any Quarter beginning after June 30,
2011 in respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available
Cash from Operating Surplus on each of (I) the Outstanding
Common Units, Subordinated Units, any other Outstanding Units that
are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units, and (II) the General Partner Units, with respect to
each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods
immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution on (I) all Outstanding Common
Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that
are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units and (II) the General Partner Units, during such periods
and (B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the three
consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately
preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution on all of the (I) Common Units,
Subordinated Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in
right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and
(II) General Partner Units, that were Outstanding during such
periods on a Fully Diluted Basis, and (ii) there are no
Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages;
(b) the
first Business Day of any Quarter ending on or after June 30,
2008 in respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available
Cash from Operating Surplus in respect of (I) the Outstanding
Common Units, Subordinated Units, any other Outstanding Units that
are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units, and (II) the General Partner Units, with respect to
each of the four consecutive, non-overlapping Quarters immediately
preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution on (I) all Outstanding Common Units and
Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior
or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and
(II) the Outstanding General Partner Units, during such
periods, and (B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of
the four consecutive, non-overlapping Quarters immediately
preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the sum of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution on (I) the Common Units,
Subordinated Units, other Units that are senior or equal in right
of distribution to the Subordinated Units and (II) the General
Partner Units, that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully
Diluted Basis and (ii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit
Arrearages;
(c) the
first date on which there are no longer outstanding any
Subordinated Units due to the conversion of Subordinated Units into
Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7 or otherwise; and
(d) the
date on which the General Partner is removed as general partner of
the Partnership upon the requisite vote by holders of Outstanding
Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist and Units held
by the General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of
such removal.
“ Subsidiary ”
means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which
more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without
regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the
election of directors or other governing body of such corporation
is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by
such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a
combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or
limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at
the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such
partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests
of such partnership
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
23
(considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as
a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of
determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such
Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person
(other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person,
one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof,
directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has
(i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the
power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the
directors or other governing body of such Person.
“ Surviving Business
Entity ” is defined in Section 14.2(b).
“ Taxation Certification
” means a properly completed certificate in such form as may
be specified by the General Partner by which 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 Holder.
“ Tax Sharing Agreement
” means that certain Tax Sharing Agreement, dated as of the
Closing Date, between Anadarko and the Partnership, as such may be
amended, supplemented and restated from time to time.
“ Target Distribution
” means, collectively, the First Target Distribution, Second
Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution.
“ Third Target
Distribution ” means $0.4500 per Unit per Quarter (or,
with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and
ending on June 30, 2008, it means the product of $0.4500
multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the
number of days in such period and of which the denominator is 91),
subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6
and 6.9.
“ Trading Day ” is
defined in Section 15.1(a).
“ transfer ” is
defined in Section 4.4(a).
“ Transfer Agent ”
means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the
General Partner or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed
from time to time by the General Partner to act as registrar and
transfer agent for the Common Units; provided , that if no
Transfer Agent is specifically designated for any other Partnership
Securities, the General Partner shall act in such capacity.
“ Underwriter ”
means each Person named as an underwriter in Schedule I to the
Underwriting Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant
thereto.
“ Underwriting Agreement
” means that certain Underwriting Agreement, dated as of
May 8, 2008, among the Underwriters, the Partnership, the
General Partner, Holdings and other parties thereto, providing for
the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters.
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
24
“ Unit ” means a
Partnership Security that is designated as a “Unit” and
shall include Common Units, Subordinated Units and Class B
Units but shall not include (i) General Partner Units (or the
General Partner Interest represented thereby) or
(ii) Incentive Distribution Rights.
“ Unit Majority ”
means (i) during the Subordination Period, at least a majority
of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by
the General Partner and its Affiliates), voting as a class, and at
least a majority of the Outstanding Subordinated Units, voting as a
class, and (ii) after the end of the Subordination Period, at
least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Class B
Units, if any, voting as a single class.
“ Unitholders ”
means the holders of Units.
“ Unpaid MQD ” is
defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(B).
“ Unrealized Gain
” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as
of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the
fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined
under Section 5.5(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such
property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made
pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date).
“ Unrealized Loss
” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as
of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the
Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any
adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such
date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of
such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)).
“ Unrecovered Initial Unit
Price ” means at any time, with respect to a Unit, the
Initial Unit Price less the sum of all distributions constituting
Capital Surplus theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common
Unit and any distributions of cash (or the Net Agreed Value of any
distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution and
liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in respect of an
Initial Common Unit, adjusted as the General Partner determines to
be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or
combination of such Units.
“ U.S. GAAP ”
means United States generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied.
“ Withdrawal Opinion of
Counsel ” is defined in Section 11.1(b).
“ Working Capital
Agreement ” means the Working Capital Loan Agreement,
dated as of May 14, 2008, among the Partnership and
Anadarko.
“ Working Capital
Borrowings ” means borrowings used solely for working
capital purposes or to pay distributions to Partners made pursuant
to a credit facility (including the Credit Agreement or the Working
Capital Agreement), commercial paper facility or other similar
financing arrangement, provided that when it is incurred it is the
intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within
12 months from other than Working Capital Borrowings.
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First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
25
Section 1.2 Construction
.
Unless the context requires
otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall
include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and
the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the
plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections
refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the
terms “include”, “includes”,
“including” or words of like import shall be deemed to
be followed by the words “without limitation”; and
(d) the terms “hereof”, “herein” or
“hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not
to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of
contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 Formation
.
The General Partner and Asset HoldCo
have previously formed the Partnership as a limited partnership
pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act and Asset HoldCo
subsequently contributed its Limited Partner Interest to Holdings.
The General Partner and Holdings hereby amend and restate the
original Agreement of Limited Partnership of Western Gas Partners,
LP in its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become
effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly
provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties
(including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the
Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the
Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership
Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof
for all purposes.
Section 2.2 Name .
The name of the Partnership shall be
“Western Gas Partners, LP.” The Partnership’s
business may be conducted under any other name or names as
determined by the General Partner, including the name of the
General Partner. The words “Limited Partnership,”
“LP,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters
shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary
for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that
so requires. The General Partner may change the name of the
Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the
Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication
to the Limited Partners.
Section 2.3 Registered
Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices
.
Unless and until changed by the
General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the
State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street,
Wilmington, Delaware 19801, and the registered agent for service of
process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such
registered office shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The
principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 1201 Lake
Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77380-1046, or
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First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
26
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 determines to be necessary or
appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 1201 Lake
Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, Texas 77380-1046, or such other place
as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to
the Limited Partners.
Section 2.4 Purpose and
Business .
The purpose and nature of the
business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a) engage
directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company
or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity
that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully may be
conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the
Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the
rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the
agreements relating to such business activity, and (b) do
anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the
making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member;
provided, however , that the General Partner shall not cause
the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business
activity that the General Partner determines would cause the
Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a
corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income
tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General
Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve, and
may decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership
of any business free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever
to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in declining to so
propose or approve, shall not be required to act in good faith or
pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group
Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under
the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at
equity.
Section 2.5 Powers
.
The Partnership shall be empowered to
do any and all acts and things necessary or appropriate for the
furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business
described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of
the Partnership.
Section 2.6 Power of
Attorney .
(a) Each Limited Partner hereby
constitutes and appoints the General Partner and, if a Liquidator
shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the
Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger,
transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their
authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with
full power of substitution, as his true and lawful agent and
attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his name, place
and stead, to:
(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge,
deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices
(A) all certificates, documents and other instruments
(including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited
Partnership and all amendments or restatements
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
27
hereof or
thereof) that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to
be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the
existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited
partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have
limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other
jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct business or own
property; (B) all certificates, documents and other
instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines
to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its
terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this
Agreement; (C) all certificates, documents and other
instruments (including conveyances and a certificate of
cancellation) that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines
to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution and
liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement; (D) all certificates, documents and other
instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or
substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described
in, Article IV, Article X, Article XI or
Article XII; (E) all certificates, documents and other
instruments relating to the determination of the rights,
preferences and privileges of any class or series of Partnership
Securities issued pursuant to Section 5.6; and (F) all
certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements
and a certificate of merger) relating to a merger, consolidation or
conversion of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV;
and
(ii) execute, swear to, acknowledge,
deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers,
certificates, documents and other instruments that the General
Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate
to (A) make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote,
consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given
by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this
Agreement or (B) effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement;
provided , that when required by Section 13.3 or any other
provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the
Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of any class or series
required to 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 and the transfer of all or any
portion of such Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest
and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s heirs, successors,
assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner
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, to the maximum
extent permitted by law, hereby waives any and all defenses that
may be available to contest, negate or
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
28
disaffirm the action of the General Partner or the Liquidator taken
in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner
shall execute and deliver to the General Partner or the Liquidator,
within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such
further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as
the General Partner or the Liquidator may request in order to
effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the
Partnership.
Section 2.7 Term .
The term of the Partnership commenced
upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in
accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence
until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the
provisions of Article XII. The existence of the Partnership as
a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of
the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware
Act.
Section 2.8 Title to
Partnership Assets .
Title to Partnership assets, whether
real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall
be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no
Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership
interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title
to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of
the Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates
or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may determine. The
General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership
assets for which record title is held in the name of the General
Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees
shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee
for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement; provided, however , that the
General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title
to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the
General Partner determines that the expense and difficulty of
conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership
impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership as soon as
reasonably practicable; provided, further , that, prior to
the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon
thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable
efforts to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership
and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such
assets in a manner satisfactory to the General Partner. All
Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the
Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in
which record title to such Partnership assets is held.
ARTICLE III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
Section 3.1 Limitation of
Liability .
The Limited Partners shall have no
liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this
Agreement or the Delaware Act.
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First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
29
Section 3.2 Management of
Business .
No Limited Partner, in its capacity
as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control
(within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership’s
business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or
have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the
Partnership. Any action taken by any Affiliate of the General
Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member,
general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of
its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager,
member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its
capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be participation in the
control of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of
the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 17-303(a) of
the Delaware Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the
limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners under this
Agreement.
Section 3.3 Outside
Activities of the Limited Partners .
Subject to the provisions of
Section 7.5, which shall continue to be applicable to the
Persons referred to therein, regardless of whether such Persons
shall also be Limited Partners, any Limited Partner shall be
entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business
activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership,
including business interests and activities in direct competition
with the Partnership Group. Neither the Partnership nor any of the
other Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in
any business ventures of any Limited Partner.
Section 3.4 Rights of Limited
Partners .
(a) In addition to other rights
provided by this Agreement or by applicable law, and except as
limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner shall have the
right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited
Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership,
the reasonableness of which having been determined in good faith by
the General Partner, upon reasonable written demand stating the
purpose of such demand, and at such Limited Partner’s own
expense:
(i) to obtain true and full
information regarding the status of the business and financial
condition of the Partnership;
(ii) promptly after its becoming
available, to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal,
state and local income tax returns for each year;
(iii) to obtain a current list of the
name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each
Partner;
(iv) to obtain a copy of this
Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all
amendments thereto, together with copies of 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;
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
30
(v) to obtain true and full
information regarding the amount of cash and a description and
statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other Capital Contribution
by each Partner and that each Partner has agreed to contribute in
the future, and the date on which each became a Partner; and
(vi) to obtain such other information
regarding the affairs of the Partnership as is just and
reasonable.
(b) The General Partner may keep
confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as
the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that
the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of
trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of
which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in
the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage
the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group
Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to
keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the
Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the
obligations set forth in this Section 3.4).
ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP
INTERESTS
Section 4.1 Certificates
.
Upon the Partnership’s issuance
of Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units to any
Person, the Partnership shall issue, upon the request of such
Person, 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 Partner’s request, the Partnership
shall issue to it one or more Certificates in the name of the
General Partner evidencing its General Partner Units and
(b) upon the request of any Person owning Incentive
Distribution Rights or any other Partnership Securities other than
Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units, the
Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more certificates
evidencing such Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership
Securities other than Common Units, Subordinated Units or
Class B Units. Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, President or any
Executive Vice President, Senior 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 the Units may be certificated or uncertificated
as provided in the Delaware Act; and provided, further ,
that if the General Partner elects to issue Common Units in global
form, the Common Unit Certificates shall be valid upon receipt of a
certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Common
Units have been duly registered in accordance with the directions
of the Partnership. Subject to the requirements of
Section 6.7(c), the Partners holding Certificates evidencing
Subordinated Units may exchange such Certificates for Certificates
evidencing Common Units on or after the date on which such
Subordinated Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to the
terms of Section 5.7. Subject to the requirements of
Section 6.7(e), the Partners holding Certificates evidencing
Class B Units may exchange such
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
31
Certificates for Certificates evidencing Common Units on or after
the period set forth in Section 5.11(f) pursuant to the terms
of Section 5.11.
Section 4.2 Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates .
(a) If any mutilated Certificate
is surrendered to the Transfer Agent (for Common Units) or the
General Partner (for Partnership Securities other than Common
Units), the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf
of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent (for
Common Units) or the General Partner (for Partnership Securities
other than Common Units) 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 (for Common Units) shall
countersign, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate
previously issued if the Record Holder of the Certificate:
(i) makes proof by affidavit, in form
and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, that a
previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or
stolen;
(ii) requests the issuance of a new
Certificate, or other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated
Units, before the General Partner has notice that the Certificate
has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and
without notice of an adverse claim;
(iii) if requested by the General
Partner, delivers to the General Partner a bond, in form and
substance satisfactory to the General Partner, with surety or
sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the General Partner may
direct to indemnify the Partnership, the Partners, the General
Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made
on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the
Certificate; and
(iv) satisfies any other reasonable
requirements imposed by the General Partner.
If a Limited Partner fails to notify
the General Partner within a reasonable period of time after he has
notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a
transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the
Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the General
Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the
Limited Partner shall be precluded from making any claim against
the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent for such
transfer or for a new Certificate or 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 General
Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of
the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
32
Section 4.3 Record
Holders .
The Partnership shall be entitled to
recognize the Record Holder as the Partner with respect to any
Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to
recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such
Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person, regardless of
whether the Partnership shall have actual or other notice thereof,
except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule,
regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities
Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted
to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as
a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an
agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in
some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring
and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on
the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such
representative Person shall be (a) the Record Holder of such
Partnership Interest and (b) bound by this Agreement and shall
have the rights and obligations of a Partner hereunder and as, and
to the extent, provided for herein.
Section 4.4 Transfer
Generally .
(a) The term “
transfer ,” when used in this Agreement with respect
to a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a
transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its
General Partner Units to another Person or by which a holder of
Incentive Distribution Rights assigns its Incentive Distribution
Rights to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift,
pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other
disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a
Limited Partner Interest (other than an Incentive Distribution
Right) assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who
is or becomes a Limited Partner, and includes a sale, assignment,
gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise,
including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance,
hypothecation or mortgage.
(b) No Partnership Interest
shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance
with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV.
Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not
made in accordance with this Article IV shall be, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.
(c) Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any
stockholder, member, partner or other owner of the General Partner
of any or all of the shares of stock, membership or limited
liability company interests, partnership interests or other
ownership interests in the General Partner.
Section 4.5 Registration and
Transfer of Limited Partner Interests .
(a) The General Partner shall
keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register in
which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe
and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the
Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of
Limited Partner Interests. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed
registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registering Common
Units and transfers of such Common Units as herein
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
33
provided. The Partnership shall not recognize transfers of
Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests unless such
transfers are effected in the manner described in this
Section 4.5. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration
of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a
Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b),
the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the
Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Common
Units, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the
name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as
required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more
new Certificates, 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 and Section 4.11, (i) the General
Partner 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
(ii) following a FERC Notice, such Certificates are
accompanied by a Taxation Certification, properly completed and
duly executed by the transferee (or the transferee’s
attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing). No charge shall be
imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided ,
that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate, or
other evidence of the issuance of uncertificated Units, under this
Section 4.5, the General Partner may require the payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that
may be imposed with respect thereto.
(c) Subject to (i) the
foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5,
(ii) Section 4.3, (iii) Section 4.8, (iv) with
respect to any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the
provisions of any statement of designations or an amendment to this
Agreement establishing such class or series, (v) any
contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and
(vi) provisions of applicable law including the Securities
Act, Limited Partner Interests (other than the Incentive
Distribution Rights) shall be freely transferable.
(d) The General Partner and its
Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their
Subordinated Units, Class B Units and Common Units (whether
issued upon conversion of the Subordinated Units or otherwise) to
one or more Persons.
Section 4.6 Transfer of the
General Partner’s General Partner Interest .
(a) Subject to
Section 4.6(c) below, prior to June 30, 2018, the General
Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner
Interest (represented by General Partner Units) to a Person unless
such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written
consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the
Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the
General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not
less than all, of its General Partner Interest to (A) an
Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual) or (B)
another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the
merger or consolidation of the General Partner with or into such
other Person or the transfer by the General Partner of all or
substantially all of its assets to such other Person.
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
34
(b) Subject to
Section 4.6(c) below, on or after June 30, 2018, the
General Partner may transfer all or any of its General Partner
Interest without Unitholder approval.
(c) Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all
or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall
be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the
rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and
to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the
Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would
not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner
under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an
association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an
entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already
so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to
purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of
the partnership or membership or limited liability company interest
of the General Partner as the general partner or managing member,
if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer
pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6, the
transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to
compliance with the terms of Section 10.2, be admitted to the
Partnership as the General Partner effective immediately prior to
the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of
the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.
Section 4.7 Transfer of
Incentive Distribution Rights .
Prior to June 30, 2018, a holder
of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of the
Incentive Distribution Rights held by such holder without any
consent of the Unitholders to (a) an Affiliate of such holder
(other than an individual) or (b) another Person (other than
an individual) in connection with (i) the merger or
consolidation of such holder of Incentive Distribution Rights with
or into such other Person, (ii) the transfer by such holder of
all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person or
(iii) the sale of all the ownership interests in such holder.
Any other transfer of the Incentive Distribution Rights prior to
June 30, 2018 shall require the prior approval of holders of
at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding
Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). On or
after June 30, 2018, the General Partner or any other holder
of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of its
Incentive Distribution Rights without Unitholder approval.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the
transfer of Class B Units issued pursuant to
Section 5.11, or the transfer of Common Units issued upon
conversion of the Class B Units, shall not be treated as a
transfer of all or any part of the Incentive Distribution Rights
and (ii) no transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights to
another Person shall be permitted unless the transferee agrees to
be bound by the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 4.8 Restrictions on
Transfers .
(a) Notwithstanding the other
provisions of this Article IV, no transfer of any Partnership
Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the
then applicable federal or state securities laws or rules and
regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or
any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such
transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the
Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, or
(iii) cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable
as a corporation or
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
35
otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes
(to the extent not already so treated or taxed).
(b) The General Partner may
impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it
receives an Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary
to avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as
a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for
federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may impose such
restrictions by amending this Agreement; provided, however ,
that any amendment that would result in the delisting or suspension
of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the
principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of
Limited Partner Interests is then listed or admitted to trading
must be approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the
holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner
Interests of such class.
(c) The transfer of a
Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be
subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(c).
(d) The transfer of a
Class B Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be
subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(e).
(e) Nothing contained in this
Article IV, or elsewhere in this Agreement, shall preclude the
settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests
entered into through the facilities of any National Securities
Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted
to trading.
(f) Each certificate evidencing
Partnership Interests shall bear a conspicuous legend in
substantially the following form:
THE HOLDER OF
THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF WESTERN GAS PARTNERS,
LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE
THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND
REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE
SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH
JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE
OR QUALIFICATION OF WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP TO BE
TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO
BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE
EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). WESTERN GAS HOLDINGS, LLC,
THE GENERAL PARTNER OF WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP, MAY IMPOSE
ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT
RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY
TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP BECOMING
TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY
FOR
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
36
FEDERAL INCOME
TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE
THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED
INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON
WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
Section 4.9 Citizenship
Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees .
(a) If any Group Member is or
becomes subject to any federal, state or local law or regulation
that the General Partner determines would create a substantial risk
of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Group
Member has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or
other related status of a Limited Partner, the General Partner may
request any Limited Partner 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 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 fails to furnish to the General Partner within the
aforementioned 30-day period such Citizenship Certification or
other requested information or if upon receipt of such Citizenship
Certification or other requested information the General Partner
determines that a Limited Partner is not an Eligible Citizen, the
Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner shall be
subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of
Section 4.10. In addition, the General Partner may require
that the status of any such Limited Partner 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 the Non-citizen Assignee’s 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 the General
Partner) in respect of Limited Partner Interests other than those
of Non-citizen Assignees are cast, either for, against or
abstaining as to the matter.
(c) Upon dissolution of the
Partnership, a Non-citizen Assignee shall have no right to receive
a distribution in kind pursuant to Section 12.4 but shall be
entitled to the cash equivalent thereof, and the Partnership shall
provide cash in exchange for an assignment of the Non-citizen
Assignee’s share of any distribution in kind. Such payment
and assignment shall be treated for Partnership purposes as a
purchase by the Partnership from the Non-citizen Assignee of 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 that
with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Non-citizen
Assignee not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.10, such
Non-citizen Assignee be admitted as a Limited Partner, and upon
approval of the General Partner, such Non-citizen Assignee shall be
admitted as a Limited Partner and shall no longer constitute a
Non-citizen Assignee and the General Partner shall cease to be
deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen
Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests.
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
37
Section 4.10 Redemption of
Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees .
(a) If at any time a Limited
Partner fails to furnish a Citizenship Certification or other
information requested within the 30-day period specified in
Section 4.9(a), or if upon receipt of such Citizenship
Certification or other information the General Partner determines,
with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner is not an
Eligible Citizen, the Partnership may, unless the Limited Partner
establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such
Limited Partner 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 Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner as
follows:
(i) The General Partner shall, not
later than the 30th day before the date fixed for redemption, give
notice of redemption to the Limited Partner, at his last address
designated on the records of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent,
by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. The notice shall
be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice shall
specify the Redeemable Interests, the date fixed for redemption,
the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be
made upon 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
would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests
will accrue or be made.
(ii) The aggregate redemption price
for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to the Current
Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date
fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to
be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Limited Partner
Interests of each such class included among the Redeemable
Interests. The redemption price shall be paid, as determined by the
General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the
Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price,
bearing interest at the rate of 5% annually and payable in three
equal annual installments of principal together with accrued
interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.
(iii) Upon surrender by or on behalf
of the Limited Partner, 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 his duly authorized
representative shall be entitled to receive the payment
therefor.
(iv) After the redemption date,
Redeemable Interests shall no longer constitute issued and
Outstanding Limited Partner Interests.
(b) The provisions of this
Section 4.10 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner
Interests held by a Limited Partner as nominee of a Person
determined to be other than an Eligible Citizen.
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
38
(c) Nothing in this
Section 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of
redemption from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before
the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under
this Agreement. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the
General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption,
provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest
certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner 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.
Section 4.11 Taxation
Certifications; Ineligible Assignees.
(a) Following a FERC Notice, if
a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest fails to furnish a
properly completed Taxation Certification in the manner specified
in Section 4.5(b) or if, upon receipt of such Taxation
Certification or otherwise, the General Partner determines that
such transferee is not an Eligible Holder, the Limited Partner
Interests owned by such transferee shall be subject to redemption
in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.12.
(b) The General Partner may
request any Limited Partner to furnish to the General Partner,
within 30 days after receipt of such request, an executed
Taxation Certification or such other information concerning his
federal income tax status with respect to the income and loss
generated by the Partnership (or, if the Limited Partner is a
nominee holding for the account of another Person, the federal
income tax status of such Person) as the General Partner may
reasonably request. If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to
furnish to the General Partner within the aforementioned 30-day
period such Taxation Certification or other requested information
or if upon receipt of such Taxation Certification or other
requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited
Partner is an Ineligible Assignee, the Limited Partner Interests
owned by such Limited Partner shall be subject to redemption in
accordance with the provisions of Section 4.12. The General Partner
shall be substituted for such Ineligible Assignee as the Limited
Partner in respect of the Ineligible Assignee’s Limited
Partner Interests. Upon determination by the General Partner that
such person is an Ineligible Assignee, the General Partner may
elect to not make distributions or allocations of income or loss to
such Ineligible Assignee relating to such Ineligible
Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests.
(c) Following a FERC Notice or
any other determination of an Ineligible Assignee, the General
Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited
Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Ineligible 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 Ineligible Assignees
are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.
(d) Upon dissolution of the
Partnership, an Ineligible 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 Ineligible
Assignee’s share of any distribution in kind. Such payment
and assignment shall be treated for Partnership purposes as a
purchase by the Partnership from the Ineligible Assignee of his
Limited Partner Interest (representing his right to receive his
share of such distribution in kind).
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
39
(e) At any time after an
Ineligible Assignee can and does certify that it has become an
Eligible Holder, such Ineligible Assignee may, upon application to
the General Partner, request that with respect to any Limited
Partner Interests of such Ineligible Assignee not redeemed pursuant
to Section 4.12, such Ineligible Assignee be admitted as a
Limited Partner, and upon approval of the General Partner, such
Ineligible Assignee shall be admitted as a Limited Partner and
shall no longer constitute a Ineligible Assignee and the General
Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in
respect of such Ineligible Assignee’s Limited Partner
Interests.
Section 4.12 Redemption of
Partnership Interests of Ineligible Assignees.
(a) If at any time following a
FERC Notice or a request pursuant to Section 4.11(b), a
transferee of a Limited Partner Interest fails to furnish the
General Partner a Taxation Certification in the manner specified in
Section 4.5(b) or any Limited Partner fails to furnish the
General Partner a Taxation Certification or other information
requested within the 30-day period specified in
Section 4.11(b), or if upon receipt of such Taxation
Certification or other information the General Partner determines
that a Limited Partner or transferee is not an Eligible Holder, the
Partnership may redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited
Partner or transferee 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 transferee, 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, if uncertificated, upon receipt of
evidence satisfactory to the General Partner of the ownership of
the Redeemable Interests, and that on and after the date fixed for
redemption no further allocations or distributions to which the
Limited Partner would otherwise be entitled in respect of the
Redeemable Interests will accrue or be made.
(ii) The aggregate redemption price
for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to the lesser of
(A) the Current Market Price (the date of determination of
which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner
Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number
of Limited Partner Interests of each such class included among the
Redeemable Interests and (B) the price paid for such Limited
Partner Interests by the Limited Partner or transferee. The
redemption price shall be paid as determined by the General
Partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the
Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price,
bearing interest at the rate of 5% annually and payable in three
equal annual installments of principal together with accrued
interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.
(iii) Upon surrender by or on behalf
of the Limited Partner, at the place specified in the notice of
redemption, of (x) if certificated, the Certificate evidencing
the Redeemable Interests, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by
an assignment duly
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
40
executed in
blank, or (y) if uncertificated, upon receipt of evidence
satisfactory to the General Partner of the ownership of the
Redeemable Interests, the Limited Partner or transferee or his duly
authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment
therefor.
(iv) After the redemption date,
Redeemable Interests shall no longer constitute issued and
Outstanding Limited Partner Interests.
(b) The provisions of this
Section 4.12 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner
Interests held by a Limited Partner as nominee of a Person
determined to be other than an Eligible Holder.
(c) Nothing in this
Section 4.12 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of
redemption from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before
the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under
this Agreement. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the
General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided
the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the
satisfaction of the General Partner in a Taxation Certification
that he is an Eligible Holder. If the transferee fails to make such
certification, such redemption shall be effected from the
transferee on the original redemption date.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP
INTERESTS
Section 5.1 Organizational
Contributions .
In connection with the formation of
the Partnership under the Delaware Act, the General Partner made an
initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of
$60.00, for a General Partner Interest equal to a 2% Percentage
Interest and has been admitted as the General Partner of the
Partnership, and Asset HoldCo made an initial Capital Contribution
to the Partnership in the amount of $2,940.00 for a Limited Partner
Interest equal to a 98% Percentage Interest and has been admitted
as a Limited Partner of the Partnership. Subsequent to the
formation of the Partnership, Asset HoldCo contributed its Limited
Partner Interest to Holdings. As of the Closing Date and effective
with the admission of another Limited Partner to the Partnership,
the interests of Holdings and the General Partner shall be redeemed
as provided in the Contribution Agreement; and the initial Capital
Contributions (i) of Asset HoldCo shall thereupon be refunded
to Holdings and (ii) of the General Partner shall be refunded
to the General Partner. Ninety-eight percent and two percent of any
interest or other profit that may have resulted from the investment
or other use of such initial Capital Contributions shall be
allocated and distributed to Holdings and the General Partner,
respectively.
Section 5.2 Contributions by
the General Partner and its Affiliates .
(a) On the Closing Date and
pursuant to the Contribution Agreement: (i) the General
Partner shall contribute to the Partnership, as a Capital
Contribution, the GP Contribution Interest, in exchange for
(A) 1,083,115 General Partner Units representing a
continuation of its
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
41
General
Partner Interest equal to a 2% Percentage Interest, subject to all
of the rights, privileges and duties of the General Partner under
this Agreement, and (B) the Incentive Distribution Rights; and
(ii) Holdings shall contribute to the Partnership, as a
Capital Contribution, the Partnership Contribution Interests in
exchange for 4,973,806 Common Units, 26,536,306 Subordinated Units
and the right to receive the Deferred Issuance and Distribution
upon the earlier to occur of (x) the expiration of the
Over-Allotment Option or (y) the exercise in full of the
Over-Allotment Option.
(b) Upon the issuance of any
additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership (other than
the Common Units issued in the Initial Offering, the Common Units
and Subordinated Units issued pursuant to Section 5.2(a), any
Class B Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11 and any
Common Units issued upon conversion of Class B Units), the
General Partner may, in exchange for a proportionate number of
General Partner Units, make additional Capital Contributions in an
amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the
quotient determined by dividing (A) the General
Partner’s Percentage Interest by (B) 100 less the
General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (ii) the
amount contributed to the Partnership by the Limited Partners in
exchange for such additional Limited Partner Interests. Except as
set forth in Article XII, the General Partner shall not be
obligated to make any additional Capital Contributions to the
Partnership.
(c) To the extent
(i) expenses allocated to the Partnership Group in any period
in accordance with GAAP for general and administrative services
provided pursuant to the Omnibus Agreement exceed the G&A
Expense Limit (as such term is defined in the Omnibus Agreement) or
(ii) any Excess Bonus Expenses (as such term is defined in the
Services and Secondment Agreement) are allocated to the Partnership
Group in accordance with GAAP for any period, the excess noted in
clause (i) or Excess Bonus Expenses, if any, shall be treated
as a Capital Contribution by Anadarko to the Partnership.
Section 5.3 Contributions by
Initial Limited Partners .
(a) On the Closing Date and
pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter shall
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 shall issue
Common Units to each Underwriter on whose behalf such Capital
Contribution is 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 shall contribute to the
Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial
Common Unit, multiplied by the number of Common Units to be
purchased by such Underwriter at such Option Closing Date. In
exchange for such Capital Contributions by the Underwriters, the
Partnership shall issue Common Units to each Underwriter on whose
behalf such Capital Contribution is 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.
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
42
(c) No Limited Partner Interests
will be 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 18,750,000;
(ii) 2,812,500 Common Units, all or a portion of which are
issuable upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option pursuant to
subparagraph (b) hereof, and the balance of which will be
issued as Deferred Issuance and Distribution upon the earlier to
occur of the (x) the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option
or (y) the exercise in full of the Over-Allotment Option;
(iii) the 26,536,306 Subordinated Units issuable to pursuant
to Section 5.2 hereof; (iv) the 4,973,806 Common Units
issuable pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof; and (v) the
Incentive Distribution Rights.
Section 5.4 Interest and
Withdrawal .
No interest shall be paid by the
Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled
to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to
the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this
Agreement or upon liquidation of the Partnership may be considered
as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this
Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this
Agreement, no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner
either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits,
losses or distributions. Any such return shall be a compromise to
which all Partners agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of
the Delaware Act.
Section 5.5 Capital
Accounts .
(a) The Partnership shall
maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership
Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has
furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in
accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method
acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a
separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest
in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by
(i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the
Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest and
(ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including
income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with
Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership
Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and decreased by (x) the
amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed
distributions of cash or property made with respect to such
Partnership Interest and (y) all items of Partnership
deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b)
and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to
Section 6.1.
(b) For purposes of computing
the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction 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 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
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
43
the provisions
of the applicable Group Member Agreement or governing,
organizational or similar documents) of all property owned by
(x) any other Group Member that is classified as a partnership
for federal income tax purposes and (y) any other partnership,
limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity
classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes of
which a Group Member is, directly or indirectly, a partner.
(ii) All fees and other expenses
incurred by the Partnership to promote the sale of (or to sell) a
Partnership Interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized
under Section 709 of the Code, if any, shall, for purposes of
Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of deduction at
the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall be
allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1.
(iii) Except as otherwise provided in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the
computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall
be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of
the Code which may be made by the Partnership and, as to those
items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the
Code, without regard to the fact that such items are not includable
in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized
for federal income tax purposes. To the extent an adjustment to the
adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section
734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into
account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such
adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of
gain or loss.
(iv) Any income, gain or loss
attributable to the taxable disposition of any Partnership property
shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of
such date of disposition were equal in amount to the
Partnership’s Carrying Value with respect to such property as
of such date.
(v) In accordance with the
requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions for
depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any
Contributed Property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis
of such property on the date it was acquired by the Partnership
were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an adjustment
pursuant to Section 5.5(d) to the Carrying Value of any
Partnership property subject to depreciation, cost recovery or
amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost
recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall be
determined under the rules prescribed by Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-3(d)(2) as if the adjusted basis
of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property
immediately following such adjustment.
(vi) In the event the Gross Liability
Value of any Liability of the Partnership described in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i) is adjusted as
required by this Agreement, the amount of such adjustment shall be
treated as an item of loss (if the adjustment increases the
Carrying Value of such Liability of the Partnership) or an item of
gain (if the adjustment decreases the Carrying Value of such
Liability of the
Western Gas Partners, LP
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
44
Partnership) and shall be taken into
account for purposes of computing Net Income or Net Loss.
(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.
(i) Subject to Section 6.7(c),
immediately prior to the transfer of a Subordinated Unit or of a
Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to
Section 5.7 by a holder thereof (oth
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