EXHIBIT 10.5
FREEPORT LNG DEVELOPMENT, L.P.
(A Delaware limited partnership)
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT OR DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR
INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. WITHOUT SUCH REGISTRATION, SUCH
SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME, EXCEPT UPON
DELIVERY TO THE PARTNERSHIP OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE GENERAL
PARTNER OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED FOR SUCH TRANSFER
OR THE SUBMISSION TO THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE PARTNERSHIP OF SUCH OTHER
EVIDENCE AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY TO THE GENERAL PARTNER TO THE EFFECT THAT ANY
SUCH TRANSFER OR SALE WILL NOT BE IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY RULE OR REGULATION
PROMULGATED THEREUNDER.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS........................................................... 1
1.1 "Act".................................................................. 1
1.2 "Additional Contributed Equity"........................................ 1
1.3 "Adjusted Capital Account Balance"..................................... 2
1.4 "Advisory Committee"................................................... 2
1.5 "Affiliate"............................................................ 2
1.6 "Affiliate Payment".................................................... 2
1.7 "Affiliate Transaction"................................................ 2
1.8 "Agreement"............................................................ 2
1.9 "Asset Value".......................................................... 2
1.10 "Balance Sheet" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(b)............ 2
1.11 "Bankruptcy"........................................................... 2
1.12 "Bankruptcy Action".................................................... 3
1.13 "Bankruptcy Law"....................................................... 3
1.14 "Basis"................................................................ 3
1.15 "Budget"............................................................... 4
1.16 "Business"............................................................. 4
1.17 "Capacity Reservation"................................................. 4
1.18 "Capital Account"...................................................... 4
1.19 "Certificate of Limited Partnership"................................... 4
1.20 "Cheniere Closing Date Contribution"................................... 4
1.21 "Cheniere Closing Date Distribution"................................... 4
1.22 "Cheniere Initial Equity Amount"....................................... 4
1.23 "Closing Date"......................................................... 4
1.24 "Construction Financing".............................................. 4
1.25 "Contributed Equity"................................................... 4
1.26 "Contributing Partner"................................................. 4
1.27 "Contribution Agreement"............................................... 4
1.28 "Contribution Date".................................................... 4
1.29 "Delinquent Contribution".............................................. 4
1.30 "Delinquent Partner"................................................... 4
1.31 "Depreciation"......................................................... 4
1.32 "Early Contribution Date".............................................. 5
1.33 "Entity"............................................................... 5
1.34 "Environmental Laws"................................................... 5
1.35 "Expenses"............................................................. 5
1.36 "FERC"................................................................. 6
1.37 "Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in Section 14.2....... 6
1.39 "Fiscal Year".......................................................... 6
1.40 "Freeport LNG Facility"................................................ 6
1.41 "Freeport GP Initial Equity Amount".................................... 6
1.42 "GAAP"................................................................. 6
1.43 "General Partner"...................................................... 6
1.44 "Governmental Entity".................................................. 6
1.45 "Governmental Permits"................................................. 6
1.46 "Gryphon Stock"........................................................ 6
1.47 "Indemnitee"........................................................... 6
1.48 "Initial Equity Amounts"............................................... 6
1.49 "Interest"............................................................. 6
1.50 "I.R.C."............................................................... 6
1.51 "Lease Agreement"...................................................... 7
1.52 "Limited Partners"..................................................... 7
1.53 "Liquidator"........................................................... 7
1.54 "LNG Investments Closing Date Contribution"............................ 7
1.55 "LNG Investments Expenses"............................................. 7
1.56 "LNG Investments Initial Equity Amount"................................ 7
1.57 "Major Decision"....................................................... 7
1.58 "Majority"............................................................. 7
1.59 "Majority in Interest"................................................. 7
1.60 "Material Adverse Effect".............................................. 7
1.61 "Minimum Gain"......................................................... 7
1.62 "Ms Entities".......................................................... 7
1.63 "Net Cash Flow"........................................................ 7
1.64 "Nonrecourse Deductions"............................................... 7
1.65 "Other Partners"....................................................... 7
1.66 "Partner".............................................................. 8
1.67 "Partner Nonrecourse Debt"............................................. 8
1.68 "Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain"................................ 8
1.69 "Partner Nonrecourse Deductions"....................................... 8
1.70 "Partnership".......................................................... 8
1.71 "Partnership Accountant"............................................... 8
1.72 "Partnership Assets"................................................... 8
1.73 "Partnership Minimum Gain"............................................. 8
1.74 "Percentage Interest".................................................. 8
1.75 "Person"............................................................... 8
1.76 "Pre-closing Project Expenses"......................................... 8
1.77 "Profit" and "Loss".................................................... 8
1.78 "Profit" or "Loss"..................................................... 9
1.79 "Project".............................................................. 9
1.80 "Project Approval"..................................................... 9
1.81 "Reimbursement Amount"................................................. 9
1.82 "Regulations".......................................................... 9
1.83 "Removal Event"........................................................ 9
1.84 "Removal Notice"....................................................... 9
1.85 "Requirements of Law".................................................. 9
1.86 "Returned Amount"...................................................... 10
1.87 "Revenues"............................................................. 10
1.88 "Rules"................................................................ 10
1.89 "Withdrawal Payment"................................................... 10
ARTICLE II FORMATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP......................................... 10
2.1 Formation of Limited Partnership....................................... 10
2.2 Name.................................................................... 10
2.3 Character of Business.................................................. 10
2.4 Registered Office and Agent............................................ 10
2.5 Other Filing........................................................... 11
2.6 Term and Fiscal Year................................................... 11
ARTICLE III CAPITAL/PERCENTAGE INTERESTS/FUTURE FINANCING....................... 11
3.1 Capital Contributions; Use of Funds........................................... 11
3.2 Percentage Interests.......................................................... 11
3.3 Future Financing.............................................................. 12
3.4 Additional Contributed Equity................................................. 12
3.5 Delinquent Contributions...................................................... 13
3.6 Post-Project Approval Equity.................................................. 14
3.7 No Further Contributed Equity................................................. 14
3.8 Return of Capital............................................................. 14
3.9 Benefit of Obligations........................................................ 14
ARTICLE IV CAPITAL ACCOUNTS, ALLOCATIONS, AND TAX MATTERS.............................. 15
4.1 Capital Accounts.............................................................. 15
4.2 Allocation of Profit and Loss................................................. 15
4.3 Special Allocations........................................................... 16
4.4 I.R.C. Section 704(C) Tax Allocation.......................................... 17
4.5 Special Allocations Regarding Payments to Affiliates.......................... 18
4.6 Allocation of Gains and Losses Upon Liquidation............................... 18
4.7 Deemed Sale................................................................... 19
4.8 Allocation for Gaap and Financial Reporting................................... 19
ARTICLE V DISTRIBUTIONS................................................................ 19
5.1 Special Distributions of Capacity Reservation Funds........................... 19
5.2 Distributions of Net Cash Flow................................................ 20
5.3 Distributions of Section 3.4(b) Contributions................................. 20
5.4 Distributions in Liquidation.................................................. 20
ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARTNERS.............................. 21
6.1 In General.................................................................... 21
6.2 Representations and Warranties................................................ 21
6.3 Representations and Warranties of General Partner and LNG Investments......... 23
ARTICLE VII RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF PARTNERS......................................... 23
7.1 Limited Liability............................................................. 23
7.2 Liability of a Partner to the Partnership..................................... 23
7.3 Exculpation................................................................... 24
7.4 Participation in Management................................................... 24
7.5 Survival of Obligations....................................................... 24
7.6 Covenant of Non-competition and Non-solicitation.............................. 24
ARTICLE VIII MEETINGS OF PARTNERS...................................................... 25
8.1 Place of Meetings and Meetings by Telephone................................... 25
8.2 Call of Meetings.............................................................. 25
8.3 Notice of Meetings of Partners................................................ 25
8.4 Manner of Giving Notice....................................................... 25
8.5 Adjourned Meeting; Notice..................................................... 25
8.6 Quorum; Voting................................................................ 25
8.7 Waiver of Notice by Consent of Absent Partners................................ 26
8.8 Partner Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting........................... 26
8.9 Record Date for Partner Notice, Voting, and Giving Consents................... 26
8.10 Proxies....................................................................... 27
ARTICLE IX INDEMNIFICATION OF PARTNERS................................................. 27
9.1 General................................................................... 27
9.2 Environmental............................................................. 27
9.3 Limitations............................................................... 28
ARTICLE X MANAGEMENT OF THE PARTNERSHIP............................................ 28
10.1 The General Partner....................................................... 28
10.2 Major Decisions........................................................... 29
10.3 Resignation............................................................... 30
10.4 Removal................................................................... 30
10.5 Remuneration of General Partner; Reimbursement of Expenses................ 30
10.6 Limitation On Liability of General Partner; Indemnification............... 30
10.7 No Guarantee of Return by General Partner................................. 31
10.8 Other Businesses or Ventures.............................................. 31
10.9 Affiliate Transactions.................................................... 31
10.10 Removal of Freeport Gp as General Partner.............................. 31
10.11 Officers and Employees................................................. 32
ARTICLE XI ADVISORY COMMITTEE...................................................... 33
11.1 Formation of Advisory Committee........................................... 33
11.2 Role of Advisory Committee................................................ 33
11.3 No Liability.............................................................. 33
11.4 Resignation............................................................... 33
11.5 Reimbursement............................................................. 33
ARTICLE XII COVENANTS.............................................................. 34
12.1 Covenants of the Partnership and the Partners............................. 34
12.2 Separateness Covenants of the Partnership and the General Partner......... 34
ARTICLE XIII RECORDS AND REPORTS................................................... 36
13.1 Maintenance and Inspection of Partner Register............................ 36
13.2 Maintenance and Inspection of Partnership Agreement....................... 36
13.3 Maintenance and Inspection of Other Records............................... 36
ARTICLE XIV BOOKS, FINANCIALS AND TAX MATTERS...................................... 37
14.1 Books and Records......................................................... 37
14.2 Financial Reports......................................................... 37
14.3 Tax Returns............................................................... 37
14.4 Tax Elections............................................................. 38
14.5 Tax Matters Partner....................................................... 38
14.6 The Partnership Accountant................................................ 38
ARTICLE XV NONDISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION............................................ 38
15.1 Confidentiality........................................................... 38
15.2 Duty of Care.............................................................. 39
ARTICLE XVI TRANSFERABILITY ....................................................... 39
16.1 Transferability of Interests.............................................. 39
16.2 Withdrawal by LNG Investments and Freeport GP............................. 40
16.3 Restrictions on Withdrawal................................................ 41
ARTICLE XVII SUBSTITUTED PARTNERS.................................................. 41
ARTICLE XVIII WAIVER OF PARTITION/COVENANT AGAINST RESIGNATION/BREACHES.............. 41
18.1 Waiver of Partition......................................................... 41
18.2 Covenant Not to Resign or Dissolve.......................................... 41
ARTICLE XIX ADDITIONAL PARTNERS...................................................... 42
ARTICLE XX DISSOLUTION............................................................... 42
20.1 Dissolution................................................................. 42
20.2 Deemed Liquidation.......................................................... 43
20.3 Bankruptcy, Etc., of a Limited Partner...................................... 43
ARTICLE XXI DISPUTE RESOLUTION....................................................... 43
21.1 Arbitration................................................................. 43
21.2 Binding Nature.............................................................. 44
ARTICLE XXII MISCELLANEOUS........................................................... 44
22.1 Amendments.................................................................. 44
22.2 Checks, Drafts, Evidence of Indebtedness.................................... 44
22.3 Contracts and Instruments................................................... 45
22.4 Notices..................................................................... 45
22.5 GOVERNING LAW............................................................... 45
22.6 Headings.................................................................... 46
22.7 Extension Not a Waiver...................................................... 46
22.8 Publicity................................................................... 46
22.9 Construction and Amendment.................................................. 46
22.10 Further Action............................................................ 46
22.11 Variation of Pronouns..................................................... 46
22.12 Successors and Assigns.................................................... 46
22.13 Counterparts.............................................................. 46
22.14 Ambiguities............................................................... 46
22.15 Entire Agreement.......................................................... 46
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
OF
FREEPORT LNG DEVELOPMENT, L.P.
Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement (this "Agreement")
of Freeport LNG Development, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
"Partnership"), is made effective as of February 27, 2003 (the "Effective
Date"), by and among Freeport LNG-GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Freeport
GP"), as the general partner, Freeport LNG Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, as a limited partner ("LNG Investments"), and Cheniere LNG,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, as a limited partner ("Cheniere"). Cheniere and
LNG Investments and any other party admitted as a limited partner in accordance
with the terms hereof are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Limited
Partners" and individually, as a "Limited Partner". The General Partner and the
Limited Partners are herein collectively referred to as the "Partners".
R E C I T A L S:
A. The Partnership was formed on September 3, 2002 to develop, build,
own and operate a Freeport LNG Facility (the "Project");
B. On December 1, 2002, Freeport GP and LNG Investments (the "Original
Partners") entered into a Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership (the
"Original Partnership Agreement");
C. The Original Partners now desire to admit Cheniere to the
Partnership as a Limited Partner and to establish the respective rights and
obligations of the General Partner and the Limited Partners with respect to the
Partnership and to provide for the orderly management of the business and
affairs of the Partnership; and
D. The Original Partners desire to amend and restate in its entirety
the Original Partnership Agreement and to replace and supersede such agreement
with this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
set forth in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the General Partner
and the Limited Partners hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
The following terms, as used herein, shall have the following
respective meanings:
1.1 "Act" shall mean the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership
Act, Del. Code ▇▇▇. Tit. 6, ch. 17, or from and after the date any successor
statute becomes, by its terms, applicable to the Partnership, such successor
statute, in each case as amended at such time by amendments that are, at that
time applicable to the Partnership.
1.2 "Additional Contributed Equity" means, with respect to any Partner
the amount of capital contributed by such Partner to the Partnership in
accordance with Section 3.4 of this Agreement.
1.3 "Adjusted Capital Account Balance"(a) means, with respect to any
Partner for any period, the balance, if any, in such Partner's Capital Account
as of the end of such period after giving effect to adjustments in accordance
with Section 1.704 of the Regulations.
1.4 "Advisory Committee" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.
1.5 "Affiliate" means with respect to any Person, a second Person
which is controlled by, controls or is under common control with such first
Person and, with respect to the Partnership, any constituent party of the
Partnership. For purposes of the foregoing, "control" of any Person means the
power to direct the management and policies of such Person, whether by the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
1.6 "Affiliate Payment" means any compensation paid by the Partnership
to any direct or indirect Affiliate of the Partnership or to any of its
Partners, including any amount paid in the form of salary, bonus, fees or
otherwise to any Partner or Affiliate of any Partners, but excluding (i) any
distributions pursuant to Article V of this Agreement and (ii) any amounts paid
for the reimbursement of reasonable and actual costs and expenses incurred on
behalf of the Partnership, including, without limitation, the reimbursement for
secretarial, accounting, professional expenses and any payments to cover
overhead costs such as rent, office equipment or otherwise, and travel,
entertainment and similar expenses.
1.7 "Affiliate Transaction" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.9.
1.8 "Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Limited Partnership
Agreement, as amended or restated from time to time.
1.9 "Asset Value" with respect to any Partnership Asset means:
(a) The fair market value on the date of contribution of any
asset contributed to the Partnership by any Partner;
(b) The fair market value on the date of distribution of any
asset distributed by the Partnership to any Partner as consideration for an
Interest in the Partnership;
(c) The fair market value of all Partnership Assets at the time
of the happening of any of the following events: (A) the admission of a Partner
to, or the increase of an Interest of an existing Partner in, the Partnership in
exchange for Contributed Equity; or (B) the liquidation of the Partnership under
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Regulations; or
(d) The Basis of the asset in all other circumstances.
1.10 "Balance Sheet" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(b).
1.11 "Bankruptcy" with respect to any Person means any one of:
(a) The filing of a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or
reorganization or the filing for adoption of an arrangement under the United
States Bankruptcy Code;
(b) The making of a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors; or
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(c) The commencement against such Person of an involuntary case
seeking the liquidation or reorganization of such Person under the Bankruptcy
Laws or an involuntary case or proceeding seeking the appointment of a receiver,
custodian, trustee or similar official for it, or to take possession of all or
substantially all of its property, and any of the following events occur (i)
such Person consents to such involuntary case or proceeding, (ii) the petition
commencing the involuntary case or preceding remains undismissed and unstayed
for a period of sixty (60) days, or (iii) an order for relief shall have been
issued or entered therein or a receiver, custodian, trustee or similar official
appointed.
1.12 "Bankruptcy Action" means:
(a) Taking any action that might cause the Partnership or the
General Partner to become insolvent; or
(b) (i) Commencing any case, proceeding or other action on
behalf of the Partnership or the General Partner under any existing or future
law of any jurisdiction relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
relief of debtors;
(ii) Instituting proceedings to have the Partnership
or the General Partner adjudicated as bankrupt or insolvent;
(iii) Consenting to, or acquiescing in, the
institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against the Partnership or
the General Partner or the Partnership or the General Partner being adjudicated
as bankrupt or insolvent;
(iv) Filing a petition or consenting to a petition
seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, dissolution,
composition, liquidation or other relief on behalf of the Partnership or the
General Partner of its debts under federal or state law relating to bankruptcy;
(v) Seeking or consenting to the appointment of a
receiver, Liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator, custodian or any similar
official for the Partnership or the General Partner or a substantial portion of
either of their properties or the appointment thereof;
(vi) Making any assignment for the benefit of the
Partnership's or the General Partner's creditors; or
(vii) Taking any action or causing the Partnership or
the General Partner to take any action in furtherance of any of the foregoing.
1.13 "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11 U.S. Code, or any similar federal
or state law for the relief of debtors.
1.14 "Basis" means, with respect to any asset of the Partnership, the
adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes; provided, however,
(a) if any asset is contributed to the Partnership, the initial Basis of such
asset shall equal its fair market value on the date of contribution, and (b) if
the Capital Accounts of the Partners are adjusted pursuant to Section 1.704-1(b)
of the Regulations to reflect the fair market value of any asset of the
Partnership, the Basis of such asset shall be adjusted to equal its respective
fair market value as of the time of such adjustment in accordance with such
Regulation. The Basis of all assets of the Partnership
3
shall be adjusted thereafter by Depreciation as provided in Section
1.704-l(b)(2)(iv)(g) of the Regulations and any other adjustment to the Basis of
such assets other than depreciation or amortization.
1.15 "Budget" has the meaning set forth in Section 14.2.
1.16 "Business" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
1.17 "Capacity Reservation" means a third party's commitment, option
or other agreement under which the Partnership receives consideration in
exchange for the reservation of future regasification capacity of the Project.
1.18 "Capital Account" means the capital account maintained for each
Partner in accordance with Section 4.1 of this Agreement.
1.19 "Certificate of Limited Partnership" means the Certificate of
Limited Partnership, as amended or restated from time to time, filed with the
Secretary of State of Delaware in accordance with the Act, attached hereto as to
Exhibit A.
1.20 "Cheniere Closing Date Contribution" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1.
1.21 "Cheniere Closing Date Distribution" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1.
1.22 "Cheniere Initial Equity Amount" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1.
1.23 "Closing Date" means the date of the closing of the transactions
contemplated by the Contribution Agreement.
1.24 "Construction Financing" has the meaning set forth in Section
10.2(c).
1.25 "Contributed Equity" of any Partner means that amount of capital
actually contributed by the Partner to the Partnership pursuant to this
Agreement.
1.26 "Contributing Partner" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.
1.27 "Contribution Agreement" means the Contribution Agreement by and
among the Partnership, Freeport GP, LNG Investments and Cheniere dated as of
August 26, 2002, as amended by the Extension and Amendment to the Contribution
Agreement, dated September 19, 2002, the Second Extension and Amendment to the
Contribution Agreement, effective as of October 4, 2002 and the Third Amendment
to the Contribution Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date.
1.28 "Contribution Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4.
1.29 "Delinquent Contribution" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.5.
1.30 "Delinquent Partner" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.
1.31 "Depreciation" for each Fiscal Year shall mean an amount equal to
the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable with
respect to a Partnership Asset for such Fiscal Year, except that if the Asset
Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax
purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year,
4
Depreciation with respect to that asset shall be an amount that bears the same
ratio to such beginning Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation,
amortization or other cost recovery deduction with respect to that asset for
such Fiscal Year bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided, however,
that if the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery
deduction with respect to that asset for such Fiscal Year is zero, Depreciation
shall be determined with reference to such beginning Asset Value using any
reasonable method determined by the General Partner and approved by Cheniere.
1.32 "Early Contribution Date" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.4(c).
1.33 "Entity" shall mean any general partnership, limited partnership,
limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, trust, business trust,
cooperative, association or other recognized business form.
1.34 "Environmental Laws" means any federal, state, or local statute,
code, ordinance, rule, regulation, permit, consent, approval, license, judgment,
order, writ, judicial decision, common law rule, decree, agency interpretation,
injunction or other authorization or requirement whenever promulgated, issued,
or modified, including the requirement to register underground storage tanks,
relating to:
(a) emissions, discharges, spills, releases, or threatened
releases of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous substances, materials containing
hazardous substances, or hazardous or toxic materials or wastes into ambient
air, surface water, groundwater, watercourses, publicly or privately owned
treatment works, drains, sewer systems, wetlands, septic systems, or onto land;
(b) the use, treatment, storage, disposal, handling,
manufacturing, transportation. or shipment of hazardous substances, materials
containing hazardous substances, or hazardous and/or toxic wastes, material,
products, or by-products (or of equipment or apparatus containing hazardous
substances) as defined in or regulated under any statutes and their implementing
regulations including but not limited to: the Hazardous Materials Transportation
Act, 49 U.S.C. (S) 1801 et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42
U.S.C. (S) 6901 et seq., the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
and Liability Act, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
Act, 42 U.S.C. (S) 9601 et seq., and/or the Toxic Substance Control Act. 15
U.S.C. (S) 2601 et seq., each as amended from time to time; and
(c) otherwise relating to the pollution or the protection of
human health or the environment.
1.35 "Expenses" means, with respect to any period, the sum of the
total gross expenditures of the Partnership during such period, including (a)
all cash operating expenses (including all fees, commissions, expenses, and
allowances paid or reimbursed to any Partner or any of its Affiliates pursuant
to any separate agreement or otherwise as permitted hereunder), (b) all payments
by the Partnership under any loans to the Partnership, including loans made by
the Partners or any of their respective Affiliates, including all principal,
interest, fees and charges (pursuant to Section 3.3, Section 3.5 or otherwise),
(c) all expenditures by the Partnership which are treated as capital
expenditures (as distinguished from expense deductions) under GAAP, (d) all real
estate taxes, personal property taxes, and sales taxes, (e) all deposits to the
Partnership's reserve accounts, and (f) all expenditures related to any
acquisition, sale, disposition, financing, refinancing, or securitization of any
Partnership Assets;
5
provided, however, that Expenses shall not include (i) any payment or
expenditure to the extent the sources or funds used for such payment or
expenditure are not included in Revenues, or (ii) any expenditure properly
attributable to the liquidation of the Partnership.
1.36 "FERC" means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
1.37 "Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in Section 14.2.
1.39 "Fiscal Year" means the taxable year of the Partnership for
federal income tax purposes as determined by I.R.C. Section 706 and the
Regulations thereunder.
1.40 "Freeport LNG Facility" means a liquefied natural gas receiving
and regasification facility to be developed, built, owned or operated in, or
within a 25 mile radius of, Freeport, Texas.
1.41 "Freeport GP Initial Equity Amount" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1.
1.42 "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles consistently
applied in the United States of America.
1.43 "General Partner" means Freeport LNG-GP, Inc. (also referred to
herein as "Freeport GP"), the sole general partner of the Partnership or any
replacement or successor appointed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
1.44 "Governmental Entity" means any United States federal, state or
local, or any foreign government, governmental authority, regulatory or
administrative agency, governmental commission, court or tribunal (or any
department, bureau or division thereof).
1.45 "Governmental Permits" means all franchises, approvals,
authorizations, permits, licenses, easements, registrations, qualifications,
leases, variances and similar rights required by the Cheniere Entities or the
Partnership, as the case may be, from any Governmental Entity for the Project.
1.46 "Gryphon Stock" has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2.
1.47 "Indemnitee" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.7(b).
1.48 "Initial Equity Amounts" means the LNG Investments Initial Equity
Amount and the Cheniere Initial Equity Amount.
1.49 "Interest" means the ownership interest of a Partner in the
Partnership (which shall be considered personal property for all purposes),
consisting of (i) such Partner's Percentage Interest in Profit, Loss,
allocations of other items of income, gain, deduction, and loss and
distributions, (ii) such Partner's right to vote or grant or withhold consents
with respect to Partnership matters as provided herein or in the Act, and (iii)
such Partner's other rights and privileges as herein provided.
1.50 "I.R.C." means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
6
1.51 "Lease Agreement" means the Ground Lease and Development
Agreement, dated December 12, 2002, between the Brazos River Harbor Navigation
District of Brazoria County, Texas and the Partnership, as amended.
1.52 "Limited Partners" means LNG Investments and Cheniere and each of
the parties who may hereafter become additional or substituted Limited Partners
in accordance with this Agreement.
1.53 "Liquidator" has the meaning set forth in Section 20.1(c).
1.54 "LNG Investments Closing Date Contribution" has the meaning set
forth in Section 3.1.
1.55 "LNG Investments Expenses" means, collectively, the Pre-Closing
Accounts Payable (as defined in the Contribution Agreement), the Pre-Closing
Project Expenses and any other amounts LNG Investments or any of its Affiliates
previously incurred on behalf of or contributed to the Partnership pursuant to
Sections 2.3(b) and (c) of the Contribution Agreement, which collectively as of
the Effective Date is estimated to be $2,600,000 in the aggregate.
1.56 "LNG Investments Initial Equity Amount" has the meaning set forth
in Section 3.1.
1.57 "Major Decision" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2.
1.58 "Majority" means more than 50%.
1.59 "Majority In Interest" means Partners holding a Majority of the
Percentage Interests.
1.60 "Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on (a)
the Business, operations, the Partnership Assets or financial condition of the
Partnership or any Partner, (b) the ability of the Partnership or any Partner to
perform its obligations under this Agreement, or (c) the validity or
enforceability of this Agreement.
1.61 "Minimum Gain" has the same meaning as the term "partnership
minimum gain" in Section 1.704-2(b)(2) and (d) of the Regulations.
1.62 "MS Entities" means both LNG Investments and Freeport GP.
1.63 "Net Cash Flow" means, for any period, the excess of (a) Revenues
for such period, over (b) Expenses for such period.
1.64 "Nonrecourse Deductions" has the same meaning as in Section
1.704-2(b)(1) of the Regulations.
1.65 "Other Partners" means each Partner in the Partnership other than
the General Partner.
7
1.66 "Partner" means each of the parties who executes this Agreement or
a counterpart of this Agreement as either a General Partner or a Limited Partner
and each of the parties who may hereafter become additional or substituted
Limited Partners in accordance herewith. References to the Partner in the
singular or as him, her, it, itself, or other like references shall also, where
the context so requires be deemed to include the plural or the masculine or
feminine reference, as the case may be; references to the Partners in the
plural, or other like references shall also, where the context so requires, be
deemed to include the singular, as the case may be.
1.67 "Partner Nonrecourse Debt" has the same meaning as the term
"partner nonrecourse debt" in Section 1.704-2(b)(4) of the Regulations.
1.68 "Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain" has the same meaning as
the term "partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain" in Section 1.704-2(i)(2) of the
Regulations and shall be determined in the manner set forth in Section
1.704-2(i)(3) of the Regulations.
1.69 "Partner Nonrecourse Deductions" has the meaning set forth in
Section 1.704-2(i)(1) of the Regulations.
1.70 "Partnership" means Freeport LNG Development, L.P.
1.71 "Partnership Accountant" has the meaning set forth in Section
14.6.
1.72 "Partnership Assets" means all of the personal and real property,
tangible or intangible, owned by the Partnership during the term of its
existence.
1.73 "Partnership Minimum Gain" has the meaning set forth in Section
1.704-2(d) of the Regulations.
1.74 "Percentage Interest" means for each Partner the percentage set
forth opposite such Partner's name in Section 3.2 as adjusted pursuant to the
provisions of Section 3.5. The combined Percentage Interest of all Partners
shall at all times equal 100 percent.
1.75 "Person" means an individual, partnership, limited liability
company. corporation, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
association, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity of whatever
nature.
1.76 "Pre-closing Project Expenses" shall mean all actual expenses over
and above $150,000, including but not limited to, all reasonable attorneys' and
professionals' fees, travel expenses and other overhead expenses, incurred by
LNG Investments, Freeport GP or any of their Affiliates related to or associated
with Project, including, but not limited to, expenses related to or associated
with the negotiations, preparation and consummation of the Contribution
Agreement, Related Documents (as defined in the Contribution Agreement), and the
Lease Agreement.
1.77 "Profit" and "Loss" means for each Fiscal Year or other period, an
amount equal to the Partnership's taxable income or tax loss for the Fiscal Year
or other period, determined in. accordance with Section 703(a) of the I.R.C.
(including all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated
separately under Section 703(a)(1) of the I.R.C.), with the following
adjustments:
8
(a) any income of the Partnership that is exempt from federal
income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profit or Loss will
be added to taxable income or tax loss;
(b) any expenditures of the Partnership described in Section
705(a)(2)(B) of the I.R.C. or treated as Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures under
Section 1.704-l(b)(2)(iv)(i) of the Regulations, and not otherwise taken into
account in computing Profit or Loss, will be subtracted from taxable income or
tax loss:
(c) gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Partnership
Assets with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax
purposes will be computed by reference to the Asset Value of the property,
notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of the property differs from its
Asset Value;
(d) in lieu of Depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery
deductions taken into account in computing taxable income or tax loss, there
will be taken into account Depreciation for the Fiscal Year or other period as
determined in accordance with Section 1.704-l(b)(2)(iv)(g) of the Regulations;
(e) any items specially allocated pursuant to Section 4.3 and 4.5
shall not be considered in determining Profit or Loss; and
(f) any increase or decrease to Capital Accounts as a result of
any adjustment to the book value of Partnership Assets pursuant to Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) or (g) of the Regulations shall constitute an item of
Profit or Loss as appropriate.
1.78 "Profit" or "Loss" means for each Fiscal Year, the Profit or Loss
for such Fiscal Year.
1.79 "Project" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this
Agreement.
1.80 "Project Approval" means the Partnership's receipt of all final
and non-appealable Governmental Permits, including all FERC approvals, necessary
to commence construction of the Project.
1.81 "Reimbursement Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2.
1.82 "Regulations" means the Treasury regulations, including temporary
regulations, promulgated under the I.R.C., as from time to time in effect.
1.83 "Removal Event" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.10.
1.84 "Removal Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.10.
1.85 "Requirements of Law" means, as to any Person, the Certificate or
Articles of Formation, Certificate or Articles of Incorporation, by-laws and
operating agreement or other organizational or governing documents of such
Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an
arbitrator or a court or other governmental authority, in each case applicable
to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or
any of its property is subject.
9
1.86 "Returned Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.
1.87 "Revenues" means, with respect to any period, the sum of the total
gross dollars received by the Partnership during such period, including all
receipts of the Partnership from (a) proceeds from the sale or disposition of
any Partnership Assets, (b) funds made available to the extent such funds are
withdrawn from the Partnership's reserve accounts and deposited into the
Partnership's operating accounts, (c) rent or business interruption insurance,
if any, (d) proceeds from the financing, refinancing, or securitization of any
Partnership Assets, and (e) other revenues and receipts realized by the
Partnership; provided, however, that Revenues shall not include (i) any
Contributed Equity or (ii) any revenue or receipt realized by the Partnership
incident to the liquidation of the Partnership.
1.88 "Rules" has the meaning set forth in Section 21.1.
1.89 "Withdrawal Payment" has the meaning set forth in Section 16.2.
ARTICLE II
Formation of the Partnership
2.1 Formation of Limited Partnership. The Partners have formed a
limited partnership pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the
Act. The General Partner has filed, on behalf of the Partnership, a certificate
of limited partnership with the office of the Secretary of State of Delaware,
effective as of September 3, 2002. All references to sections of the Act include
any corresponding provision or provisions of any such successor statute.
2.2 Name. The name of the Partnership is Freeport LNG Development, L.P.
The General Partner may, in its sole discretion, change the name of the
Partnership from time to time and shall give prompt written notice thereof to
the Limited Partners; provided, however, that such name may not contain any
portion of the name or ▇▇▇▇ of any Limited Partner without such Limited
Partner's consent. In any such event, the General Partner shall promptly file in
the office of the Secretary of State of Delaware an amendment to the
Partnership's certificate of limited partnership reflecting such change of name.
2.3 Character of Business. The purposes of the Partnership shall be to
develop, build, own and operate a liquefied natural gas ("LNG") receiving and
regasification facility on Quintana Island in or around Freeport, Texas (the
"Business") and any and all activities necessary or incidental to the foregoing;
provided, however, that under no circumstances shall the Partnership engage in
any trading, hedging, futures activities, or any other derivative transactions
relating to the buying and selling of natural gas (including LNG) that would
expose the Partnership to commodity price fluctuations (but this shall not
preclude the Partnership from taking custody of natural gas in connection with
the normal operation of the Business for the purpose of processing such natural
but which does not expose the Partnership to commodity price fluctuations).
2.4 Registered Office and Agent. The name and address of the
Partnership's initial registered agent and registered office is The Corporation
Trust Company, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇. The Partnership's initial office and principal place of business shall be
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. The General Partner may change such
registered agent, registered office, or principal place of business from time to
10
time. The General Partner shall give prompt written notice of any such change to
each Limited Partner. The Partnership may from time to time have such other
place or places of business as may be determined by the General Partner.
2.5 Other Filing. The General Partner shall file, from time to time, such
limited partnership certificates, certificates of amendment, certificates of
cancellation, or other certificates, consents to and appointments of agents for
service of process, as the General Partner deems necessary under the Act or
under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the Partnership is doing business to
establish and continue the Partnership as a limited partnership, to conduct its
activities, or to protect the limited liability of the Partners. The General
Partner shall file, from time to time, such fictitious or tradename statements
or certificates in such jurisdictions and offices as the General Partner
considers necessary or appropriate.
2.6 Term and Fiscal Year. The existence of the Partnership shall be
perpetual, unless dissolved as hereinafter provided. The fiscal year of the
Partnership shall end on December 31 of each calendar year unless, for United
States federal income tax purposes, another fiscal year is required. The
Partnership shall have the same fiscal year for United States federal income tax
purposes and for accounting purposes.
ARTICLE III
Capital/Percentage Interests/Future Financing
3.1 Capital Contributions; Use of Funds. The parties agree that pursuant to
the terms of the Contribution Agreement, (i) Cheniere shall contribute all of
the Contributed Assets (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) to the
Partnership ("Cheniere Closing Date Contribution") on the Closing Date, (ii) LNG
Investments shall contribute an amount equal to $1,000,000 plus the LNG
Investments Expenses to the Partnership ("LNG Investments Closing Date
Contribution"), and (iii) LNG Investments shall make the additional
contributions set forth in Section 3.4(b). The Partners hereby agree that
immediately following the Cheniere Closing Date Contribution, the General
Partner shall distribute $1,000,000 to Cheniere ("Cheniere Closing Date
Distribution"). The initial contribution amounts for the Partners shall be
$14,333,333 for Cheniere ("Cheniere Initial Equity Amount"), $1,000,000 for LNG
Investments ("LNG Investments Initial Equity Amount") and $0 for Freeport GP.
The Partners agree that the $5,000,000 to be received by Cheniere pursuant to
Sections 5.1 and 5.3 shall constitute a deemed sale to the Partnership of a
portion of the Contributed Assets, and therefore Cheniere's initial Capital
Account balance shall equal $9,333,333. In the event that any additional capital
is required by the Partnership, it shall be obtained by the Partnership pursuant
to the terms of Section 3.4.
3.2 Percentage Interests.
As of the Closing Date, the Partners shall be assigned Percentage Interests
as follows:
Partners Percentage Interest
-------- -------------------
LNG Investments 60%
Cheniere 40%
Freeport GP 0%
The above Percentage Interests shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to
Section 3.5, but shall not be adjusted by contributions made by LNG Investments
pursuant to Section 3.4(b).
11
3.3 Future Financing.
The Partners anticipate that in the future the Partnership may require
additional funds for capital expenditures or working capital requirements, and
any such additional funding shall be obtained from any of the following sources
as may be approved in advance by the General Partner; provided, however, that in
the case of (b), any loans incurred by the Partnership prior to the Partnership
obtaining final FERC approval of its filings with respect to the Project shall
only encumber and/or be paid from the Interest of LNG Investments; provided,
further, that in the case of (c) below, the Partnership shall only pursue such
source of funds after the earlier to occur of (i) LNG Investments (including any
transferees and assignees of its Percentage Interests) contributing $9,000,000
(plus any Returned Amount) pursuant to Section 3.4(a), and (ii) the Partnership
obtaining final FERC approval of its filing with respect to the Project:
(a) cash reserves of the Partnership;
(b) loans to be obtained from banks and other non-Affiliate
independent sources;
(c) Additional Contributed Equity made to the Partnership by the
Partners, in proportion to their Percentage Interests, in amounts determined
according to Section 3.4 of this Agreement;
(d) subject to Section 10.2, loans to be made to the Partnership by
(i) the Partners and/or (ii) an Affiliate of one of the Partners; or
(e) subject to Section 10.2, any other funding source to be determined
by the General Partner.
3.4 Additional Contributed Equity.
(a) On the Closing Date, LNG Investments shall contribute to the
Partnership that portion of the LNG Investments Expenses that have not already
been paid to Cheniere, its Affiliates or any third party. LNG Investments shall
be deemed to have contributed to the Partnership that portion of the LNG
Investments Expenses that have already been paid to Cheniere, its Affiliates or
any third party. In the event that the Partnership shall require funds in excess
of those available to the Partnership from operations, the General Partner may
call for additional capital contributions to be contributed to the Partnership
pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.4 ("Additional Contributed Equity").
Further, any Partner may give written notice to the General Partner that such
Partner believes that the Partnership requires funds in excess of those
available to the Partnership from operations to pay reasonable and necessary
expenses of the Partnership. In either such event, if the General Partner
determines the Partnership requires such excess funds, the General Partner shall
give written notice to the other Partners of (i) the purpose for which such
Additional Contributed Equity is required, (ii) the date on which the Additional
Contributed Equity is due to the Partnership, which date (the "Contribution
Date") shall not be less than fifteen (15) nor more than forty-five (45) days
following the date of such notice and (iii) the amount of Additional Contributed
Equity due from each Partner, which amount shall be based on such Partner's
Percentage Interest. In the event of a call for Additional Contributed Equity
that is not expressly contemplated in the Budget, (A) the General Partner shall
give written notice to the other Partners of (i) the purpose for which such
Additional Contributed Equity is required, (ii) the Contribution Date, which
date shall not be less than ninety (90) nor more than one hundred twenty (120)
days following the date of such notice, and (iii) the amount of Additional
Contributed Equity due from each Partner, which amount shall be based
12
on such Partner's Percentage Interest and (B) the terms of Section 3.4(c) shall
apply. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or this Section
3.4, the first $9,000,000 of Additional Contributed Equity plus the Returned
Amount shall be contributed solely by LNG Investments (including any transferees
and assignees of any portion of LNG Investments' Interest), which contribution
shall not alter the Percentage Interests and provided further that (x) neither
the $1 million contribution by LNG Investments pursuant to Section 3.1 nor any
contributions by LNG Investments pursuant to Section 3.4(b) shall be counted
toward this $9,000,000, (y) no amount subsequently used for an Affiliate Payment
shall be counted toward this $9,000,000 and (z) such $9,000,000 shall be reduced
by the amount of the LNG Investments Expenses. On or before the Contribution
Date, each Partner shall pay to the Partnership the amount due from such Partner
in immediately available funds. It is acknowledged by the parties that the
Partnership may need additional funds following the Closing Date and that the
General Partner may be required to call for Additional Contributed Equity.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, LNG Investments shall contribute
the following amounts (which amounts shall not constitute Additional Contributed
Equity):
(i) On July 15, 2003 (the "Second Payment Date"), $750,000 in
cash less any amounts previously distributed to Cheniere pursuant to Section 5.1
(the "Second Payment");
(ii) On October 15, 2003 (the "Third Payment Date"), $750,000 in
cash less any amounts previously paid to Cheniere after the Second Payment Date
and prior to the Third Payment Date pursuant to Section 5.1 (the "Third
Payment"); and
(iii) Within 30 days of Project Approval (the "Final Payment
Date", and together with the Second Payment Date and the Third Payment Date, the
"Payment Dates"), $2,500,000 in cash less any amounts previously paid to
Cheniere after the Third Payment Date and prior to the Final Payment Date
pursuant to Section 5.1 (the "Final Payment").
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section
3.4 or Section 3.5, if the General Partner calls for Additional Contributed
Equity that is not expressly contemplated in the Budget and the General Partner
determines, in its reasonable business judgment, that the Partnership requires
such funds prior to the Contribution Date, the General Partner shall provide
notice to the other Partners of such earlier need for funds and the date by
which such funds are required (the "Early Contribution Date"). If any Partner
meets such capital call on the Early Contribution Date, the remaining Partners
shall have until the Contribution Date to contribute the required Additional
Contributed Equity; provided, that the amount of such required contribution
shall accrue interest at the rate of 25% per annum from the Early Contribution
Date through the date that such other Partners make the required contributions.
In addition, if such other Partners fail to make any required contribution
(together with all accrued interest) by the Contribution Date, such Partner
shall be deemed a Delinquent Partner subject to Section 3.5.
3.5 Delinquent Contributions. If a Partner fails to contribute any
Additional Contributed Equity required pursuant to Section 3.4 (a "Delinquent
Partner") by the Contribution Date, any other Partner (other than an Affiliate
of the Delinquent Partner) which is not a Delinquent Partner (a "Contributing
Partner") may, but shall not be required, to contribute the portion of such
Additional Contributed Equity that the Delinquent Partner failed to contribute
(the "Delinquent Contribution"). If the Contributing Partner makes a
contribution in the amount of the
13
Delinquent Contribution, the Delinquent Partner's Percentage Interest shall be
reduced to an amount equal to (A) the aggregate amount of Contributed Equity by
all Partners (determined immediately prior to the Delinquent Contribution)
multiplied by (B) the Delinquent Partner's Percentage Interest, and (C) 0.9,
divided by (D) the aggregate amount of Contributed Equity by all Partners
(including the contribution of the Delinquent Loan), and then multiplied by (E)
100, and the Percentage Interest of the Contributing Partner who made the
Delinquent Contribution shall be increased proportionately. In the event a
Partner fails to contribute any Additional Contributed Equity required pursuant
to Section 3.4 on more than one occasion, such Delinquent Partner shall
thereafter have no voting or approval rights under this Agreement (including but
not limited to the approval rights under Section 10.2) except the right to
approve or vote on amendments to this Agreement but only to the extent any such
amendment would effect the distributions or allocations to such Limited Partner
or its limited liability as a Limited Partner; provided that for the purposes of
the preceding provisions of this sentence the MS Entities shall be considered on
a collective basis.
3.6 Post-Project Approval Equity. Upon obtaining approval of the Project
from FERC, the General Partner shall prepare and distribute to the Partners a
budget for the operating and construction expenses related to the Project during
the period ending upon the completion of the construction of the facility on
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Island (the "Construction Period"). The General Partner shall have the
right, power and obligation to do all things necessary to obtain debt and/or
equity financing to satisfy all of the Partnership's capital or funding needs
during the Construction Period. The General Partner will notify each Partner of
the terms of any such financing at least twenty (20) days prior to the
consummation of any transaction. Any equity financing obtained by the
Partnership shall dilute each of the Limited Partners pro rata based on the
Percentage Interests of such Limited Partners. Any Construction Period financing
shall be provided by third-parties that are not Affiliates of the General
Partner or any Limited Partner.
3.7 No Further Contributed Equity. Except as expressly provided in this
Agreement and the Contribution Agreement or with the prior written consent of
all Partners, no Partner shall be required or entitled to contribute any other
or further capital to the Partnership, nor shall any Partner be required or
entitled to loan any funds to the Partnership. No Partner will have any
obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon
liquidation or dissolution of the Partnership.
3.8 Return of Capital. Except as herein provided with respect to
distributions during the term of the Partnership or following dissolution, no
Partner has the right to demand a return of such Partners' Contributed Equity
(or the balance of such Partner's Capital Account). Further, no Partner has the
right (i) to demand and receive any distribution from the Partnership in any
form other than cash or (ii) to bring an action of partition against the
Partnership or the Partnership Assets. No Partner shall be entitled to or shall
receive interest on such Partner's Contributed Equity. No Partner may withdraw
any capital from the capital of the Partnership except as expressly provided
herein or under the Act. No Partner shall have any priority over any other
Partner with respect to the return of any Contributed Equity, except as
expressly provided herein.
3.9 Benefit of Obligations. Any obligation of the Partners to make capital
contributions to the Partnership shall not inure to the benefit of any Person
other than the Partnership and the Partners.
14
ARTICLE IV
Capital Accounts, Allocations, and Tax Matters
4.1 Capital Accounts. A separate Capital Account will be maintained for
each Partner in accordance with Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) of the Regulations;
provided, however, that the initial Capital Accounts for each Partner shall be
equal to such Partners' Initial Equity Amount (adjusted as provided in Section
3.1). Consistent therewith, the Capital Account of each Partner will be
determined and adjusted as follows:
(a) Each Partner's Capital Account will be credited with:
(1) Any contributions of cash made by such Partner to the capital of
the Partnership plus the Asset Value of any property contributed by such
Partner to the capital of the Partnership (net of any liabilities to which
such property is subject or which are assumed by the Partnership),
including, without limitation any contributions made pursuant to Section
3.4;
(2) The Partner's distributive share of Profit and items thereof
allocated to such Partner; and
(3) Any other increases required by Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) of the
Regulations.
(b) Each Partner's Capital Account will be debited with:
(1) Any distributions of cash made from the Partnership to such
Partner plus the Asset Value of any property distributed in kind to such
Partner (net of any liabilities to which such property is subject or which
are assumed by such Partner);
(2) The Partner's distributive share of Loss and items thereof
allocated to such Partner; and
(3) Any other decreases required by Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) of the
Regulations.
The provisions of this Section 4.1 relating to the maintenance of Capital
Accounts have been included in this Agreement to comply with Section 704(b) of
the I.R.C. and the Regulations promulgated thereunder and will be interpreted
and applied in a manner consistent with those provisions. For the purposes of
maintaining Capital Accounts, it is agreed that the Asset Value of the
Partnership Assets shall be reflected at their gross fair market values on the
Closing Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding
provisions of this Section 4.1, in no event shall any change, modification or
other event resulting from such provisions modify the distributions provided in
Article V.
4.2 Allocation of Profit and Loss.
(a) Profit. Subject to the special allocation provisions of Sections
4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6 of this Agreement, the Profits for any Fiscal Year (or
portion thereof) shall be allocated to the Partners, (i) first, to each Partner
to the extent that and in proportion to which they were allocated losses under
Sections 4.2(b) or 4.3 below, then (ii) pro rata, in accordance with their
Percentage Interests.
15
(b) Loss. Subject to the special allocation provisions of
Section 4.3 of this Agreement, the Losses for any Fiscal Year (or portion
thereof) shall be allocated as follows:
(i) First, to LNG Investments, until its Adjusted Capital
Account Balances is reduced to zero;
(ii) Second, to Cheniere, until its Adjusted Capital
Account Balances is reduced to zero; and
(iii) Thereafter, to the General Partner.
4.3 Special Allocations.
(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Article IV, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain
during any Fiscal Year, then each Partner shall be allocated such amount of
income and gain for such year (and subsequent years, if necessary) determined
under and in the manner required by Sections 1.704-2(f) and (g) of the
Regulations as is necessary to meet the requirements for a chargeback of
Partnership Minimum Gain as provided in that Regulation.
(b) Partner Recourse Debt Minimum Gain Chargeback.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IV except Section 4.3(a), if
there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to
a Partner Nonrecourse Debt during any Fiscal Year, any Partner who has a share
of the Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to such Partner
Nonrecourse Debt determined in accordance with Section 1.704-2(i)(5) of the
Regulations, shall be allocated such amount of income and gain for such year
(and subsequent years, if necessary) determined under and in the manner required
by Section 1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations as is necessary to meet the
requirements for a chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain as is
provided in that Regulation.
(c) Qualified Income Offset. If a Partner unexpectedly receives
any adjustment. allocation or distribution described in Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6) of the Regulations, items of Partnership
income and gain shall be specifically allocated to such Partner in an amount and
manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Regulations, any
deficit in the Adjusted Capital Account Balance of such Partner as quickly as
possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Subsection (c) shall be
made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit in the
Adjusted Capital Account Balance after all other allocations provided for in
Section 4.2 and this Section 4.3 of this Agreement tentatively have been made as
if this Subsection (c) were not in this Agreement.
(d) Limitation on Allocation of Loss. Notwithstanding anything
else contained in this Agreement, Loss allocated to any Limited Partner pursuant
to Section 4.2 of this Agreement shall not exceed the maximum amount of Loss
that may be allocated without causing such Partner to have a deficit in the
Adjusted Capital Account Balance of such Partner at the end of the Fiscal Year
for which the allocation is made.
(e) I.R.C. Section 754 Election. To the extent that an adjustment
to the Basis of any asset pursuant to I.R.C. Section 734(b) or I.R.C. Section
743(b) is required to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as
provided in Section 1.704-l(b)(2)(iv)(m) of the Regulations, the adjustment
shall be treated (if an increase) as an item of gain or (if a decrease)
16
as an item of loss, and such gain or loss shall be allocated to the Partners
consistent with the allocation of the adjustment pursuant to such Regulation.
(f) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal
Year shall be allocated among the Partners in proportion to their Percentage
Interests.
(g) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. Any Partner Nonrecourse
Deductions shall be allocated pursuant to Section 1.704-2(i) of the Regulations
to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the Partner
Nonrecourse Debt to which they are attributable.
(h) Purpose and Application. The purpose and the intent of the
special allocations provided for in this Section 4.3 are to comply with the
provisions of Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 of the Regulations, and such
special allocations are to be made so as to accomplish that result. However, to
the extent possible, the General Partner in allocating items of income, gain,
loss, or deduction among the Partners, shall take into account the special
allocations in such a manner that the net amount of allocations to each Partner
shall be the same as such Partner's distributive share of Profit and Loss would
have been had the events requiring the special allocations not taken place. The
General Partner shall apply the provisions of this Section 4.3 in whatever order
the General Partner with the approval of the Limited Partners reasonably
believes will minimize any economic distortion that otherwise might result from
the application of the special allocations.
(i) Gross Income Allocation. During the period from the Effective
Date through the date of Project Approval, notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement (other than paragraphs 4.3(a) through 4.3(h) above and Section
4.6), before any other allocation is made under this Agreement, LNG Investments
shall be allocated items of Partnership gross income and gains for such Fiscal
Year (and if necessary, for future years) until the cumulative total allocations
under this paragraph 4.3(i) equal the gross income of the Partnership from the
sale of Capacity Reservations. Moreover, following the Effective Date and
notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than paragraphs
4.3(a) through 4.3(h) above and Section 4.6), before any other allocation is
made under this Agreement, LNG Investments shall be allocated items of
Partnership gross income for such Fiscal Year that arise from the forgiveness or
cancellation of any loan or debt that is an obligation of the Partnership and
that is given simultaneously or in connection with the sale of any Capacity
Reservations to the extent that any gross income arising from such forgiveness
or cancellation is not already allocated to LNG Investments pursuant to any of
paragraphs 4.3(a) through 4.3(h) above and Section 4.6.
(a) Special Allocation of pre-Project Approval Deductions.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than Sections
4.3(a) through (h) above and Section 4.6), all deductions of the Partnership
from its date of formation until the date of Project Approval shall be allocated
to the Partners in the amounts and to the extent available to cause the
Partners' respective Capital Account balances to equal the proceeds distributed
under Section 5.4 in the event of a dissolution of the Partnership prior to the
date of Project Approval.
4.4 I.R.C. Section 704(c) Tax Allocation. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 4.7, solely for tax purposes, and in accordance with I.R.C. Section
704(c), income, gain, loss, and deductions with respect to property contributed
to the Partnership by a Partner shall be shared
17
among the Partners so as to take account of the variation between the adjusted
basis of the property to the Partnership for federal income tax purposes and its
fair market value at the time of its contribution. If the value of any property
of the Partnership reflected in the Partners' Capital Accounts is adjusted
pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(3) or (b)(3), thereafter, allocations of
depreciation. depletion, amortization and gain or loss with respect to such
property shall be determined so as to take into account the variation between
the adjusted tax basis and the adjusted value of such property as reflected in
the Partners' Capital Accounts in the same manner as under I.R.C. Section
704(c). The Partners agree that the General Partner shall choose the method
under I.R.C. Section 704(c) to address the variation between the adjusted tax
basis and adjusted values of the Partnership Assets on the Closing Date and that
the Partnership shall elect to use the method chosen by the General Partner;
provided, that Cheniere's consent shall be required to elect the remedial
allocation method described in Section 1.704-3(d)(1) of the Regulations.
4.5 Special Allocations Regarding Payments to Affiliates. To the extent
that compensation paid to an Affiliate of one or more Partners by the
Partnership ultimately is determined not to be a payment to a third party, a
payment to a manager other than in its capacity as such under I.R.C. Section
707(a), or a guaranteed payment under I.R.C. Section 707(c), such Partner or
Partners shall be specially allocated gross income of the Partnership in an
amount equal to the amount of such compensation, and such Partner or Partners'
Capital Account shall be adjusted to reflect the above special allocation and to
reflect the payment of such compensation as if it were a distribution. If the
Partnership's gross income for a Fiscal Year is less than the amount of such
compensation paid in such year, such Partner or Partners shall be specially
allocated gross income of the Partnership in the succeeding year or years until
the total amount so allocated equals the total amount of such compensation.
4.6 Allocation of Gains and Losses upon Liquidation. Except to the
extent provided in Sections 4.3 and 4.4, gains and losses recognized by the
Partnership upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the property owned by the Partnership shall be allocated in the following
manner:
(a) Gains shall be allocated (i) first, to the Partners with
negative Capital Account balances, that portion of gains (including any gains
treated as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes) which is equal in
amount to, and in proportion to, such Partners' respective negative Capital
Account balances; provided that no gain shall be allocated under this Section
4.6(a)(i) to a Partner once such Partner's Capital Account balance is brought to
zero and (ii), second, (A) in the event of a dissolution of the Partnership
before the date of Project Approval, gains in excess of the amount allocated
under (i) shall be allocated in the amounts and to the extent available to cause
the Partners' respective Capital Account balances to equal the proceeds
distributed under Section 5.4, or (B) in the event of a dissolution of the
Partnership after the date of Project Approval, gains in excess of the amount
allocated under (i) shall be allocated to the Partners in the amounts and to the
extent available to cause the Partners' respective Capital Account balances to
be in the same proportion as the Partners' respective Percentage Interests.
(b) Losses shall be allocated, (i) first, (A) in the event of a
dissolution of the Partnership before the date of Project Approval, to the
Partners in the amounts and to the extent available to cause the Partners'
respective positive Capital Account balances to equal the proceeds distributed
under Section 5.4, or (B) in the event of a dissolution of the Partnership after
the date of Project Approval to the Partners in the amounts and to the extent
available to cause the Partners' respective Capital Account balances to be in
the same
18
proportion as the Partners' respective Percentage Interests and (ii) second, any
remaining loss to the Partners in accordance with the manner in which they bear
the economic risk of loss associated with such loss or, if none, to the Partners
in accordance with their Percentage Interests.
4.7 Deemed Sale.(a) The Partners agree that the contribution of its
Initial and Additional Capital Contributions followed by distribution to
Cheniere of up to $5,000,000 shall result in a deemed sale of a portion of the
assets contributed by Cheniere as reasonably determined by the General Partner,
and such assets shall be treated as property acquired by the Partnership with a
basis determined under Section 10.12 of the Code.
4.8 Allocation for GAAP and Financial Reporting. The Partners agree
that Profits and Losses for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated to the Partners
for financial reporting purposes pro rata in accordance with their Percentage
Interests.
ARTICLE V
Distributions
5.1 Special Distributions of Capacity Reservation Funds. (a)
Notwithstanding any other distribution provision to the contrary, prior to any
distribution pursuant to Sections 5.2 or 5.4, if prior to the Final Payment Date
the Partnership sells any Capacity Reservations and receives cash consideration
therefore and/or the proceeds from loans from purchasers of such Capacity
Reservations or such purchaser's Affiliate, the Partnership shall distribute to
Cheniere, as a prepayment of amounts that would otherwise be contributed by LNG
Investments to the Partnership and promptly distributed to Cheniere pursuant to
Section 5.3, 25% of the cash received for such Capacity Reservation and/or the
proceeds of such loans (each, a "Capacity Distribution"); provided, however,
that if, and when, LNG Investments and its transferees and assigns makes the
Second Payment or Third Payment, no subsequent Capacity Distributions shall be
made by the Partnership until such time as the aggregate amount of such Capacity
Distribution obligations that would otherwise be payable to Cheniere exceeds the
Second Payment, and/or Third Payment, as the case may be. Any Capacity
Distributions made by the Partnership prior to the applicable Payment Date shall
reduce the obligation of LNG Investments to make the ensuing Second Payment,
Third Payment or Final Payment, as the case may be, and the ensuing obligation
of the Partnership to make the corresponding distribution pursuant to Section
5.3. The Partnership's Capacity Distribution obligation to Cheniere shall
terminate upon the Final Payment Date after Cheniere has received aggregate
distributions pursuant to Section 5.3 and Capacity Distributions equal to $5.0
million. In no event (whether pursuant to Section 5.1 or Section 5.3) shall
Cheniere be entitled to receive an aggregate amount pursuant to Section 5.1 or
Section 5.3 in excess of $5.0 million.
(b) Any cash received by the Partnership from sales of any Capacity
Reservations and/or the proceeds from loans from purchasers of such Capacity
Reservations or such purchaser's Affiliate prior to Project Approval, after
payment of all Capacity Distributions to Cheniere under Section 5.1(a), shall be
paid, held or distributed in the following order of priority:
(i) first, to LNG Investments with respect to each Fiscal Year
of the Partnership an amount equal to 44% of the taxable income allocated to LNG
Investments pursuant to Section 4.3(i) of this Agreement for such Fiscal Year
(less any Losses allocated to LNG Investments from prior Fiscal Years not
previously taken into account under this Section 5.1(b)(i));
19
(ii) second, an amount shall be set aside equal to all current
Project expenses plus future Project expenses reasonably anticipated through
Project Approval by FERC;
(iii) third, an amount shall be distributed to LNG Investments
(and Cheniere, if applicable) equal to the sum of all additional capital
contributions made by LNG Investments (or Cheniere, if applicable) to the
Partnership pursuant to Section 3.4(a);
(iv) fourth, an amount shall be distributed to LNG Investments
equal to the sum of any Second Payment, Third Payment or Final Payment made by
LNG Investments to the Partnership pursuant to Section 3.4(b); and
(v) the excess, if any, shall be retained by the Partnership
for capital reserves or distributed, at the discretion of the General Partner,
pro rata to the Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests.
Any amounts distributed to LNG Investments pursuant to Section
5.1(b)(iii) and (iv) (the "Returned Amount") shall be added to LNG Investments'
required capital contribution under Section 3.4 and LNG Investments will
contribute such capital to the Partnership prior to the General Partner making
any other capital call pursuant to Section 3.4.
5.2 Distributions of Net Cash Flow. Except as provided in Sections 5.1,
5.3 and 5.4, the Partnership shall, to the extent available and to the extent
such funds are not necessary for future working capital and operating and
development Expenses of the Partnership, as determined by the General Partner in
its sole discretion, make distributions of Net Cash Flow on a quarterly basis to
the Partners, pro rata, in accordance with their Percentage Interests.
5.3 Distributions of Section 3.4(b) Contributions. The Partnership
shall promptly distribute any and all contributions made by LNG Investments
pursuant to Section 3.4(b) to Cheniere as such payments are made to the
Partnership by LNG Investments.
5.4 Distributions in Liquidation. Subject to the provisions of Article
XX, upon the dissolution and winding-up of the Partnership, the proceeds of sale
and other assets of the Partnership shall be distributed, not later than the
latest time specified for such distributions pursuant to Section
1.704-l(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2) of the Regulations, to the Partners, pro rata, in
accordance with their positive Capital Account balances; provided, however, that
in the event of the dissolution of the Partnership at any time prior to Project
Approval, the proceeds of sale and other assets of the Partnership shall be
distributed to the Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests; and
provided, further, that in addition to the proceeds attributable to its
Percentage Interest, LNG Investments shall receive, from the portion of the
proceeds otherwise distributable to Cheniere based on its Percentage Interest,
an amount equal to the sum of the Cheniere Closing Date Distribution plus any
Second Payment, Third Payment or Final Payment made by LNG Investments to the
Partnership pursuant to Sections 2.2(a) and 3.1. With the unanimous approval of
all of the Partners, a pro rata portion of the distributions that would
otherwise be made to the Partners under the preceding sentence may be
distributed to a trust established for the benefit of the Partners for the
purposes of liquidating Partnership Assets, collecting amounts owed to the
Partnership, and paying any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations
of the Partnership arising out of or in connection with the Partnership. The
assets of any trust established under this Section 5.4 will be distributed to
the Partners from time to time by the trustee of the trust upon approval of the
Partners in the same proportions as the
20
amount distributed to the trust by the Partnership would otherwise have been
distributed to the Partners under this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
Representations and Warranties of the Partners
6.1 In General. As of the date hereof, each of the Partners hereby
makes each of the representations and warranties applicable to such Partner as
set forth in Section 6.2 hereof, and such warranties and representations shall
survive the execution of this Agreement.
6.2 Representations and Warranties. Each Partner hereby represents and
warrants that:
(a) Due Incorporation or Formation; Authorization of
Agreement. If such Partner is a limited liability company, corporation or a
partnership, it is duly organized or duly formed, validly existing, and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation
and has the company, corporate or partnership power and authority to own its
property and carry on its business as owned and carried on at the date hereof
and as contemplated hereby. Such Partner is duly licensed or qualified to do
business and in good standing in each of the jurisdictions in which the failure
to be so licensed or qualified would have a Material Adverse Effect on its
financial condition or its ability to perform its obligations hereunder. Such
Partner has the company, corporate, or partnership power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder and
the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement has been duly
authorized by all necessary company corporate or partnership action. This
Agreement constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of such Partner
subject to applicable bankruptcy and similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally.
(b) No Conflict With Restrictions, No Default. Neither the
execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement nor the consummation by
such Partner of the transactions contemplated hereby (i) will conflict with,
violate, or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions, or provisions of
any law, regulation, order, writ, injunction, decree, determination, or award of
any court, any governmental department, board, agency, or instrumentality,
domestic or foreign, or any arbitrator, applicable to such Partner or any of its
Affiliates, (ii) will conflict with, violate, result in a breach of, or
constitute a default under any of the terms, conditions, or provisions of the
articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, by-laws, limited liability
company agreement, or partnership agreement of such Partner or any of its
Affiliates, if such Partner is a limited liability company, corporation or
partnership, or of any material agreement or instrument to which such Partner or
any of its Affiliates is a party or by which such Partner or any of its
Affiliates is or may be bound or to which any of its material properties or
assets is subject, (iii) will conflict with, violate, result in a breach of,
constitute a default under (whether with notice or lapse of time or both),
accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, give to
others any material interests or rights, or require any consent, authorization,
or approval under any indenture, mortgage, lease agreement, or instrument to
which such Partner or any of its Affiliates is a party or by which such Partner
or any of its Affiliates is or may be bound, or (iv) will result in the creation
or imposition of any lien upon any of the material properties or assets of such
Partner or any of its Affiliates.
(c) Governmental Authorizations. Any registration, declaration
or filing with or consent, approval, license, permit or other authorization or
order by, any governmental or regulatory authority, domestic or foreign, that is
required in connection with the valid execution, delivery, acceptance, and
performance by such Partner under this Agreement or the
21
consummation by such Partner of any transaction contemplated hereby has been
completed, made, or obtained on or before the effective date of this Agreement.
(d) Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, or
investigations pending or, to the knowledge of such Partner or any of its
Affiliates, threatened against such Partner or any of its Affiliates or
affecting any of their properties, assets, or businesses in any court or before
or by any governmental department, board, agency, or instrumentality, domestic
or foreign, or any arbitrator which could (or, in the case of an investigation
could lead to any action, suit, or proceeding, which could) reasonably be
expected to materially impair such Partner's ability to perform its obligations
under this Agreement or to have a Material Adverse Effect on the consolidated
financial condition of such Partner; and such Partner or any of its Affiliates
has not received any currently effective notice of any default, and such Partner
or any of its Affiliates is not in default, under any applicable order, writ,
injunction, decree, permit, determination, or award of any court, any
governmental department, board, agency, or instrumentality, domestic or foreign,
or any arbitrator which could reasonably be expected to materially impair such
Partner's ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the consolidated financial condition of such Partner.
(e) Investigation. Such Partner is acquiring its interest in
the Partnership based upon its own investigation, and the exercise by such
Partner of its rights and the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement will be based upon its own investigation, analysis, and expertise.
Such Partner's acquisition of its interest in the Partnership is being made for
its own account for investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution
thereof.
(f) Investment Representations.
(i) The Interest in the Partnership subscribed for
hereby are being acquired by such Partner for such Partner's own account and for
investment purposes only and not with a view to any resale or distribution
thereof, in whole or in part, to others, and such Partner is not participating,
directly or indirectly, in a distribution of such Interests and will not take,
or cause to be taken, any action that would cause such Partner to be deemed an
"underwriter" of such Interests as defined in Section 2(11) of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
(ii) Such Partner has had access to all materials,
books, records, documents, and information relating to the Partnership and has
been able to verify the accuracy of, and to supplement, the information
contained therein.
(iii) Such Partner has had an opportunity to ask
questions of, and receive satisfactory answers from, representatives of the
Partnership concerning the terms and conditions pursuant to which the offering
of Interests is being made and all material aspects of the Partnership and its
proposed business, and any request for such information has been fully complied
with to the extent the Partnership possesses such information or can acquire it
without unreasonable effort or expense.
(iv) Such Partner is an "accredited investor" within
the meaning of Rule 501 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(v) Such Partner is an investor who has such
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of
evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Partnership based upon
(i) the information furnished by the Partnership;
22
(ii) such Partner's personal knowledge of the business and affairs of the
Partnership; (iii) the records, files, and plans of the Partnership to all of
such Partner has had full access; (iv) such additional information as such
Partner may have requested and has received from the Partnership; and (v) the
independent inquiries and investigations undertaken by such Partner.
(vi) No person has made any direct or indirect
representation or warranty of any kind to such Partner with respect to the
economic return which may accrue to such Partner. Such Partner has consulted
with his, her or its own advisors with respect to an investment in the
Partnership.
(vii) All information, representations, and warranties
contained herein or otherwise given or made to the Partnership by such Partner
in any other written statement or document delivered in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby are correct and complete as of the date of this
Agreement and may be relied upon by the Partnership, and, if there should be any
material change in such information prior to the such Partner's execution of
this Agreement, such Partner will immediately furnish such revised or corrected
information to the Partnership.
(g) Crest Agreement. Each Partner acknowledges that (i) it has
received and reviewed a copy of the Settlement and Purchase Agreement by and
among Cheniere Energy, Inc., CXY Corporation, Crest Energy, L.L.C., Crest
Investment Company and Freeport LNG Terminal, LLC dated as of June 14, 2001 (the
"Crest Agreement"), (ii) the Partnership shall be obligated only to pay the
Royalty (as defined in the Crest Agreement) solely with respect to the Project
and (iii) Cheniere shall be responsible for all other payments and obligations
owing to Crest, if any, under the Crest Agreement.
6.3 Representations and Warranties of General Partner and LNG
Investments. As of the date hereof, the General Partner and LNG Investments
jointly and severally represent and warrant that:
(a) Due Organization and Authority. The Partnership is duly
organized and validly existing under the laws of Delaware. The Partnership has
delivered to Cheniere a true and correct copy of the Certificate of Limited
Partnership.
(b) Expenses. As of the Closing Date, other than (i) the Lease
Agreement, (ii) the LNG Investments Expenses and (iii) obligations which an
entity in this industry would have ordinarily incurred at this stage in its
development, the Partnership has incurred no obligations or expenses, including
obligation for borrowed money.
ARTICLE VII
Rights and Obligations of Partners
7.1 Limited Liability. No Limited Partner shall be personally liable for
any debts, liabilities, or obligations of the Partnership; provided that each
Partner shall be responsible (i) for the making of any capital contributions
required to be made to the Partnership by such Partner pursuant to the terms
hereof and (ii) for the amount of any distribution made to such Partner that
must be returned to the Partnership pursuant to the terms hereof or the Act.
7.2 Liability of a Partner to the Partnership. When a Partner has
received a distribution made by the Partnership in violation of this Agreement
or the Act, the Partner is liable to the
23
Partnership for a period of three years after such a prohibited distribution for
the amount of the distribution.
7.3 Exculpation. Unless expressly agreed to in writing by such Person,
no shareholder, general or limited partner, member or holder of any equity
interest in any Partner or manager, officer, director or employee of any of the
foregoing, shall be personally liable for the performance of any such Partner's
obligations under this Agreement, but the foregoing shall not relieve any
shareholder, partner, member, holder of an equity interest, manager, officer,
director or employee of any Partner of its obligations to such Partner.
7.4 Participation in Management. No Limited Partner, as such, shall take
any part in the management and control of the Business of the Partnership nor
shall any Limited Partner, by reason of its status as such, have any right to
transact any business for the Partnership or any authority or power to sign for
or bind the Partnership. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Limited Partners shall
have the right to approve or disapprove or otherwise consent or withhold consent
with respect to such matters as are specified in this Agreement or the Act.
7.5 Survival of Obligations. Dissolution of the Partnership shall not
release any party from any liability which at the time of dissolution or
termination has already accrued to any party, nor affect in any way the survival
of the rights, duties, and obligations of any party provided for in Articles VI,
VII, and IX of this Agreement.
7.6 Covenant of Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.
(a) Cheniere. Until the earliest of (i) December 19, 2003, (ii)
the date that the Partnership has received permitting approval from FERC for the
Project or (iii) such time as LNG Investments withdraws from the Partnership,
Cheniere shall make no filings with FERC for the development of any other LNG
receiving and regasification facility; provided, that the Partnership agrees to
use all commercially reasonable efforts to timely make the FERC filings with
respect to the Project. Until the earliest of (i) December 19, 2003, (ii) such
time as the Partnership has entered into binding terminal capacity and use
agreements (not options for the same) of at least 800 MMCF/day of the Project's
capacity, (iii) such time as the General Partner provides Cheniere a written
response, which expressly and affirmatively agrees with Cheniere's written
notice to the General Partner stating that Cheniere believes that the
Partnership has ceased marketing and selling additional Project capacity and
that Cheniere would like to begin selling capacity for other LNG receiving and
regasification facilities, or (iv) such time as LNG Investments withdraws from
the Partnership, Cheniere shall not continue, engage in, solicit, initiate or
encourage the sale of capacity at any other LNG receiving and regasification
facility, other than the Project. Cheniere shall not solicit any officer or
employee of the Partnership or the General Partner to leave the employ of such
Person; provided, however, that this restriction shall not apply to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ or ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ once such person is providing less than
50% of his business time to the Project. Neither Cheniere nor any of its
Affiliates shall pursue the construction, development or operation of any
Freeport LNG Facility until such time as LNG Investments or any of its
Affiliates has no contractual, equity or partnership interest in, or related to
the development of, the Project, except as provided in the Option Agreement
between Cheniere and LNG Investments.
(b) LNG Investments. For so long as LNG Investments or its
Affiliates has an Interest in the Partnership, none of LNG Investments or any of
its Affiliates will directly acquire an interest in or otherwise pursue the
development of any LNG receiving and regasification facilities in the Sabine
Pass, Corpus Christi or Brownsville areas until the later of (i) two years
24
following the Closing Date or (ii) such time that Cheniere has no contractual,
equity, partnership interest or other interest in, or related to the development
of, an LNG receiving and regasification facility in the Sabine Pass, Corpus
Christi or Brownsville areas. Neither the Partnership, LNG Investments, the
General Partner nor any of their respective Affiliates shall solicit any of
Cheniere's employees (other than ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇)
or any employees of any Affiliate of Cheniere to leave the employ of such
Person.
ARTICLE VIII
Meetings of Partners
8.1 Place of Meetings and Meetings by Telephone. Meetings of Partners
shall be held at any place designated by the General Partner with the approval
of both Limited Partners unless conducted by conference telephone or similar
communications equipment in which the physical presence of a Partner is not
necessary. Any meeting of the Partners may be held by conference telephone or
similar communications equipment so long as all Partners participating in the
meeting can hear one another, and all Partners participating by telephone or
similar communications equipment shall be deemed to be present in person at the
meeting. Each Limited Partner may participate in any meeting by telephone
conference.
8.2 Call of Meetings. Meetings of the Partners may be called at any time
by any Partner for the purpose of taking action upon any matter requiring the
vote or authority of the Partners as provided in this Agreement or upon any
other matter as to which such vote or authority is deemed by any Partner to be
necessary or desirable.
8.3 Notice of Meetings of Partners. All notices of meetings of Partners
shall be sent or otherwise given to all Partners in accordance with Section 8.4
not less than five (5) nor more than ninety (90) days before the date of the
meeting. The notice shall specify (i) the place, date, and hour of the meeting,
and (ii) the general nature of the business to be transacted.
8.4 Manner of Giving Notice. Notice of any meeting of Partners shall be
given personally or by telephone to each Partner or sent by first class mail, by
telecopy (or similar electronic means), or by a nationally recognized overnight
courier, charges prepaid, addressed to the Partner at the address of that
Partner appearing on the books of the Partnership or given by the Partner to the
Partnership for the purpose of notice. Notice shall be deemed to have been given
at the time when delivered either personally or by telephone, or at the time
when deposited in the mail or with a nationally recognized overnight courier, or
when sent by telecopy (or similar electronic means).
8.5 Adjourned Meeting; Notice. Any meeting of Partners, whether or not a
quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of the
Majority of the Percentage Interests represented at that meeting, either in
person or by proxy. When any meeting of Partners is adjourned to another time or
place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting, unless a new record
date of the adjourned meeting is fixed or unless the adjournment is for more
than sixty (60) days from the date set for the original meeting, in which case
the General Partner shall set a new record date and shall give notice in
accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.3 and 8.4. At any adjourned
meeting, the Partnership may transact any business that might have been
transacted at the original meeting.
8.6 Quorum; Voting. At any meeting of the Partners, a Majority in
Interest of the Partners, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a
quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of
Partners holding a higher aggregate Percentage
25
Interest is required by the Agreement or applicable law; provided, however, for
so long as Cheniere and LNG Investments shall be the sole Limited Partners, the
presence of both Cheniere and LNG Investments shall be required to constitute a
quorum.
8.7 Waiver of Notice by Consent of Absent Partners. The transactions of a
meeting of Partners, however called and noticed and wherever held, shall be as
valid as though taken at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if a
quorum is present either in person or by proxy and if either before or after the
meeting, each person entitled to vote who was not present in person or by proxy
signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to a holding of the meeting or an
approval of the minutes. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify either
the business to be transacted or the purpose of any meeting of Partners.
Attendance by a person at a meeting shall also constitute a waiver of notice of
that meeting, except when the person objects at the beginning of the meeting to
the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to
object to the consideration of matters not included in the notice of the meeting
if that objection is expressly made at the beginning of the meeting.
8.8 Partner Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. Except as provided
in this Agreement, any action that may be taken at any meeting of Partners may
be taken without a meeting and without prior notice if a consent in writing
setting forth the action so taken is signed by a Majority in Interest (or
Partners holding such higher aggregate Percentage Interest as is required to
authorize or take such action under the terms of this Agreement or applicable
law); provided, that all Partners receive not less than 15 days prior written
notice of any action so taken. Any such written consent may be executed and
given by telecopy or similar electronic means. Such consents shall be filed with
the Partnership and shall be maintained in the Partnership's records.
8.9 Record Date for Partner Notice, Voting, and Giving Consents. For
purposes of determining the Partners entitled to vote or act at any meeting or
adjournment thereof, the General Partner may fix in advance a record date which
shall not be greater than ninety (90) days nor fewer than five (5) days before
the date of any such meeting. If the General Partner does not so fix a record
date, the record date for determining Partners entitled to notice of or to vote
at a meeting of Partners shall be at the close of business on the business day
immediately preceding the day on which notice is given, or if notice is waived,
at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the
meeting is held.
(a) The record date for determining Partners entitled to give consent
to action in writing without a meeting, (i) when no prior action of the General
Partner has been taken, shall be the day on which the first written consent is
given or (ii) when prior action of the General Partner has been taken, shall be
(x) such date as determined for that purpose by the General Partner, which
record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing it is
adopted by the General Partner and shall not be more than 20 days after the date
of such resolution or (y) if no record date is fixed by the General Partner the
record date shall be the close of business on the day on which the General
Partner adopts the resolution relating to that action.
(b) Only Partners of record on the record date as herein determined
shall have any right to vote or to act at any meeting or give consent to any
action relating to such record date, provided that no Partner who transfers all
or part of such Partner's Interest after a record date (and no transferee of
such Interest) shall have the right to vote or act with respect to the
transferred Interest as regards the matter for which the record date was set.
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8.10 Proxies. Every Partner entitled to vote or act on any matter at a
meeting of Partners shall have the right to do so either in person or by proxy,
provided that an instrument authorizing such a proxy to act is executed by the
Partner in writing and dated not more than eleven (11) months before the
meeting, unless the instrument specifically provides for a longer period. A
proxy shall be deemed executed by a Partner if the Partner's name is placed on
the proxy (whether by manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic transmission,
or otherwise) by the Partner or the Partner's attorney-in-fact. A valid proxy
that does not state that it is irrevocable shall continue in full force and
effect unless (i) revoked by the person executing it before the vote pursuant to
that proxy by a writing delivered to the Partnership stating that the proxy is
revoked, by a subsequent proxy executed by or attendance at the meeting and
voting in person by the person executing that proxy or (ii) written notice of
the death or incapacity of the maker of that proxy is received by the
Partnership before the vote pursuant to that proxy is counted. A proxy
purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Partner shall be deemed valid
unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving
invalidity shall rest on the challenger.
ARTICLE IX
Indemnification of Partners
9.1 General. The Partnership, its receiver, or its trustee (in the case of
its receiver or trustee, to the extent of the Partnership Assets) shall
indemnify, save harmless, and pay all judgments and claims against each Partner
or any managers, officers or directors of such Partner relating to any liability
or damage incurred by reason of any act performed or omitted to be performed by
such Partner, manager, officer, or director in connection with the Business of
the Partnership, including attorneys' fees incurred by such Partner, officer, or
director in connection with the defense of any action based on any such act or
omission, which attorneys' fees may be paid as incurred.
9.2 Environmental. The Partnership, its receiver, or its trustee (in the
case of its receiver or trustee, to the extent of the Partnership Assets) shall
indemnify and hold harmless, to the maximum extent permitted by law, each
Partner from and against any and all liabilities, sums paid in settlement of
claims, obligat ions, charges, actions (formal or informal), claims (including,
without limitation, claims for personal injury under any theory or for real or
personal property damage), liens, taxes, administrative proceedings, losses,
damages (including, without limitation, punitive damages), penalties, fines,
court costs, administrative service fees, response and remediation costs,
stabilization costs, encapsulation costs treatment, storage or disposal costs,
groundwater monitoring or environmental study, sampling or monitoring costs,
other causes of action, and any other costs and reasonable expenses (including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys', experts', and consultants' fees and
disbursements and investigating, laboratory, and data review fees) imposed upon
or incurred by any Partner (whether or not indemnified against by any other
party) arising from and after the date of this Agreement directly or indirectly
out of:
(a) the past, present, or future treatment, storage, disposal,
generation, use, transport, movement, presence, release, threatened release,
spill, installation, sale, emission injection, leaching, dumping, escaping, or
seeping of any hazardous substances or material containing or alleged to contain
hazardous substances at or from any past, present, or future properties or
assets of the Partnership; and/or
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(b) the violation or alleged violation by the Partnership or any third
party of any Environmental Laws with regard to the past, present, or future
ownership, operation, use, or occupying of any Partnership Assets.
9.3 Limitations.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any of Sections 9.1
and 9.2 above, no Partner shall be indemnified from any liabilities incurred as
a result of conduct by the Partner which constitutes a breach of the provisions
of this Agreement, fraud, bad faith, willful misconduct, or gross negligence.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any of Sections 9.1
and 9.2 above, in the event that any provision in any of such Sections is
determined to be invalid in whole or in part, such Sections shall be enforced to
the maximum extent permitted by law.
ARTICLE X
Management of the Partnership
10.1 The General Partner.
(a) The General Partner of the Partnership shall be Freeport GP unless
a successor has been appointed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
(b) Subject to the approval rights described herein, the business and
affairs of the Partnership shall be managed exclusively by or under the
direction of the General Partner and the power to act for or to bind the
Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner, subject to the
General Partner's authority to delegate powers and duties to officers and others
as set forth herein. Subject to obtaining any necessary approvals hereunder, the
General Partner shall have the power and authority to execute and deliver
contracts, instruments, filings, notices, certificates, and other documents of
whatsoever nature on behalf of the Partnership (including without limitation,
the Certificate of Limited Partnership and any amendments thereto and any other
certificates required or permitted to be filed by or on behalf of the
Partnership pursuant to the Act or like law of any other jurisdiction). Except
as otherwise required by applicable law, any such contract, instrument,
certificate, or other document shall require the signature of the General
Partner or the signature of such employee or agent to whom authority has been
delegated by the General Partner.
(c) Unless authorized to do so by this Agreement or by the General
Partner of the Partnership, no Limited Partner, agent, or employee of the
Partnership shall have any power or authority to bind the Partnership in any
way, to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose.
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10.2 Major Decisions.
(a) Notwithstanding the general authority of the General Partner under
Section 10.1, the following matters ("Major Decisions") shall require the prior
written consent of both Limited Partners (except to the extent (1) a Limited
Partner has lost its approval and consent rights pursuant to Section 3.5 or (2)
a Limited Partner transfers all or part of such Partner's Interest, in which
case only the consent of LNG Investments and Cheniere shall be required pursuant
to this Section 10.2 and such Limited Partner's assignee or transferee shall
have no right to consent thereto):
(i) the taking of any Bankruptcy Action;
(ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the Partnership's
Assets;
(iii) the assignment of any of the Partnership Assets in trust for the
benefit of creditors, or the making or filing, or acquiescence in the making or
filing by any other person, of a petition or other action requesting the
reorganization or liquidation of the Partnership under the Bankruptcy Laws;
(iv) merger or consolidation of the Partnership with any other
Person; and
(v) any Affiliate Transaction, unless the terms of such Affiliate
Transaction are fair and reasonable to the Partnership and are not less
favorable to the Partnership than could be obtained in arms length negotiations
with unrelated third parties, in which event such Affiliate Transaction shall
not require any consent of the Limited Partners pursuant to this Section 10.2.
(b) In the event the Limited Partners are unable to agree as to the
approval or disapproval of any Major Decision, the item shall be submitted to
and decided by arbitration pursuant to ARTICLE XXI but only to the extent such
matter is subject to arbitration pursuant to ARTICLE XXI and no action may be
taken regarding the subject of the Major Decision if it is subject to
arbitration pursuant to ARTICLE XXI unless and until a decision in such
arbitration is rendered or the Limited Partners agree in writing as to the
resolution of such matter.
(c) The General Partner shall inform and consult with Cheniere with
respect to the General Partner's seeking, negotiating and obtaining construction
financing for the Project from third party lenders and equity investors in
accordance with Section 3.3 ("Construction Financing"), but Cheniere shall have
no right to approve the terms of such Construction Financing including, without
limitation, the admission of any lender or equity investor to the Partnership
and any amendment to this Agreement in connection therewith; provided, however,
that in the event Cheniere provides the General Partner with a bona fide term
sheet for Construction Financing for the Project, from a party or parties with
sufficient financial resources to provide such financing (and Cheniere shall
provide reasonable evidence of such resources), containing terms that are more
favorable to the Partnership than the terms of the Construction Financing
secured by the General Partner, Cheniere's consent shall be required for the
admission of any lender or equity investor and any amendment to this Agreement
in connection therewith, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed; and provided, further, that in the event Cheniere does not consent to
the admission of any lender or equity investor or any amendment to this
Agreement, as the case may be, in connection with the Construction Financing,
Cheniere shall provide written notice of disapproval to the General Partner with
specific reasons for its disapproval.
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10.3 Resignation. Freeport GP agrees not to resign as the General Partner,
other than pursuant to Section 16.2.
10.4 Removal. Freeport GP shall only be removed as a General Partner
pursuant to Section 10.10.
10.5 Remuneration of General Partner; Reimbursement of Expenses. Subject to
the approval pursuant to Section 10.2, if applicable, the General Partner shall
be paid by the Partnership as determined in the discretion of the General
Partner for performing its services as a General Partner. In addition, each of
the General Partner and the Limited Partners shall be reimbursed for its
reasonable out of pocket costs in connection with the Business of the
Partnership including, without limitation, fees paid to professionals and
advisors and travel and lodging expenses.
10.6 Limitation on Liability of General Partner; Indemnification.
(a) The General Partner of the Partnership shall not have any
liability to the Partnership or the Other Partners for any losses sustained or
liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of such General Partner
if (i) the General Partner acted in good faith and in a manner it reasonably
believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Partnership and
(ii) the conduct of the General Partner did not constitute a breach of the
provisions of this Agreement, fraud, gross negligence, or willful misconduct.
(b) The Partnership shall indemnify and hold harmless (i) the General
Partner, (ii) its managers, officers and employees, and (iii) any officers of
the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 10.11 (each, an "Indemnitee")
from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, costs, damages,
liabilities, expenses of any nature (including reasonable attorneys' fees and
disbursements), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts arising from
any and all claims, demands, actions, suits, or proceedings, civil, criminal,
administrative, or investigative, in which an Indemnitee may be involved, or
threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, arising out of or incidental
to the Business of the Partnership, regardless of whether an Indemnitee
continues to be a General Partner or a manager, officer or employee of the
General Partner at the time any such liability or expense is paid or incurred,
if (i) the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner it or he or she
reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the
Partnership, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reason to
believe his or her conduct was unlawful and (ii) the Indemnitee's conduct did
not constitute a breach of the provisions of this Agreement, fraud, gross
negligence or willful misconduct.
(c) Expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in defending any claim, demand,
action, suit, or proceeding subject to this Section 10.6 shall, from time to
time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to the final disposition of such
claim, demand, action, suit, or proceeding, upon receipt by the Partnership of
an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amounts if it is
ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified as
authorized in this Section 10.6. The indemnification provided by this Section
10.6 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be
entitled under any agreement, consent of the Partners, as a matter of law or
equity, or otherwise, shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve
in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors,
assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee. Subject to the foregoing sentence,
the provisions of this Section 10.6 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees and
shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
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10.7 No Guarantee of Return by General Partner. The General Partner does
not, in any way, guarantee the return of the Partners' Contributed Equity or a
profit for the Partners from the operations of the Partnership. The General
Partner shall not be responsible to any Partners because of a loss of their
investment in the Partnership or a loss in the operations of the Partnership,
unless the loss shall have been the result of the General Partner's breach of
the provisions of this Agreement, fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct,
or breach of fiduciary duty. The General Partner shall incur no liability to the
Partnership or to any of the Partners as a result of engaging in any other
business or venture.
10.8 Other Businesses or Ventures. Except as provided in Section 7.6, each
of the Partners, or any Affiliate, manager, officer, agent, or employee of any
Partner, may engage in and possess any interest in other businesses or ventures
of every nature and description, independently or with other Persons and neither
the Partnership nor any of the Partners shall have any rights, by virtue of this
Agreement or otherwise, in and to such businesses or ventures or the income or
profits derived therefrom, or any rights, duties, or obligations in respect
thereof. Subject to Sections 7.6 and 15.1 of this Agreement, each of the
Partners acknowledges and agrees that each of the Partners will use information
and know-how obtained by participating in this Partnership in other businesses
and ventures, including the development and operation of other LNG receiving and
regasification facilities. The Partners will have access to and copies of
third-party research and reports, documents and agreements and other work
product produced for the Partnership in connection with the Project and each of
the Partners may use such information other businesses and ventures, including
the development and operation of other LNG receiving and regasification
facilities. Any Partner can hire any consultant, advisor or other third-party
including any such party hired by the Partnership and such party may use the
information and know-how developed for the Partnership in connection with the
work on other projects or ventures of such Partner or its Affiliates.
10.9 Affiliate Transactions. Subject to the approval pursuant to Section
10.2, if applicable, the Partnership may enter into any contract, obligation or
other commitment to which an Affiliate or any Partner is, or is to be, a party
(an "Affiliate Transaction").
10.10 Removal of Freeport GP as General Partner. Freeport GP may be removed
as the General Partner of the Partnership by Cheniere or LNG Investments only
upon compliance with the terms and conditions of this Section 10.10. Freeport GP
may be removed as the General Partner of the Partnership for (i) the
resignation, Bankruptcy or dissolution of Freeport GP or LNG Investments, (ii)
in the event that the General Partner or ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ commit fraud or
misappropriate funds of the Partnership, (iii) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ is convicted of
a felony that has a Material Adverse Effect on the Business, (iv) LNG
Investments' Percentage Interest is reduced below ten percent (10%) and Cheniere
maintains a Percentage Interest of at least ten percent (10%) or (v) Freeport GP
materially breaches a material provision of this Agreement (each a "Removal
Event"). Upon a Removal Event, Cheniere may exercise its right to remove
Freeport GP as the General Partner by giving notice ("Removal Notice") to
Freeport GP and LNG Investments of the Removal Event, including within such
Removal Notice the particulars of the Removal Event in reasonable detail;
provided, however if the Removal Event results from a breach of a material term
or provision of this Agreement by LNG Investments or Freeport GP, Cheniere shall
be required to give notice of the existence of such a breach and if during the
period of thirty (30) days following such notice, Freeport GP or LNG Investments
cure such breach Cheniere will not be able to remove Freeport GP as the General
Partner as a result of such Removal Event. If Cheniere exercises its right to
remove Freeport GP as the General Partner, Cheniere shall admit a new general
partner as a Partner of the Partnership with such portion of Cheniere's Interest
as Cheniere shall determine in its sole discretion. Each of
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Freeport GP and LNG Investments hereby irrevocably make, constitute, and appoint
Cheniere or its successor in interest with full power of substitution, true and
lawful attorney-in-fact, for it and in its name, place and stead, to make,
execute, sign, acknowledge, swear to, deliver, record and file any document or
instrument that may be considered necessary or desirable by Cheniere to convert
Freeport GP to a limited partner and admit a new general partner to the
Partnership pursuant to this Section 10.10. The foregoing special power of
attorney shall be one which is a special power of attorney coupled with an
interest, is irrevocable, and shall survive the legal incapacity of Freeport GP
or LNG Investments. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section
10.10, Cheniere shall not exercise its rights under the grant of the above
special power of attorney unless a Removal Event has occurred and Cheniere has
requested by notice to Freeport GP or LNG Investments that Freeport GP or LNG
Investments take the action which Cheniere proposes to take by the exercise of
the power of attorney and Freeport GP or LNG Investments fails to take such
action within three (3) days of such notice. The removal of Freeport GP as
General Partner shall not in any way affect, modify or limit LNG Investments'
right to approve Major Decisions pursuant to Section 10.2 unless it has lost its
approval and consent rights pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.5.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.10, LNG Investments
or Freeport GP may contest whether or not a Removal Event has occurred by notice
to Cheniere but only if the Removal Event as described in the Removal Notice
results from the breach of a material term or provision of this Agreement by
Freeport GP. If LNG Investments or Freeport GP contests whether such Removal
Event has occurred the matter shall be submitted to arbitration pursuant to
ARTICLE XXI and Freeport GP shall not be removed as General Partner unless and
until the arbitrators find that such Removal Event has occurred.
10.11 Officers and Employees.
(a) The General Partner may, from time to time, designate one or more
Persons to be officers of the Partnership. Any officers so designated shall have
such authority and perform such duties as the General Partner may, from time to
time, delegate to them. The General Partner may assign titles to particular
officers. Unless the General Partner decides otherwise, if the title is one
commonly used for officers of a business corporation formed under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the assignment of such title shall
constitute the delegation to such officer of the authority and duties that
normally are associated with that office, subject to (i) any specific delegation
of authority and duties made to such officer by the General Partner, (ii) all
standards of care and restrictions applicable to the General Partner hereunder,
and (iii) the general direction and control of the General Partner. The officers
shall hold office until their successors shall be duly designated and shall
qualify, until their death, or until they shall resign or shall have been
removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Any number of offices may be held by
the same Person. Reasonable salaries shall be paid to officers of the
Partnership for their services as officers as determined by the General Partner.
(b) Any officer may resign as such at any time. Such resignation shall
be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if no
time be specified, at the time of its receipt by the General Partner. The
acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless
expressly so provided in the resignation. Any officer may be removed as such,
either with or without cause, by the General Partner whenever in its judgment
the best interests of the Partnership will be served thereby; provided, however,
that such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of
the Person so removed. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Partnership
may be filled by the General Partner.
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(c) The General Partner shall be entitled in its sole discretion to
hire employees, including officers, as it deems necessary (including any
officers, members or managers of the General Partner) and to pay such employees
as the General Partner deems fit, in its sole discretion.
(d) No officer of the Partnership shall have any liability to the
Partnership or the Partners for any losses sustained or liabilities incurred as
a result of any act or omission of such officer if (i) the officer acted in good
faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to,
the interests of the Partnership and (ii) the conduct of the officer did not
constitute actual fraud, gross negligence, or willful misconduct.
ARTICLE XI
Advisory Committee
11.1 Formation of Advisory Committee. The General Partner shall form an
advisory committee (the "Advisory Committee") consisting of representatives (as
specified below) of the Limited Partners to advise the General Partner on such
matters about which the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute
discretion, elect to consult with the Advisory Committee. The General Partner
may select up to four representatives to serve on the Advisory Committee and
Cheniere may select one representative to serve on the Advisory Committee. The
functions of the Advisory Committee shall be to consult with the General Partner
on such other matters as may be requested by the General Partner. The Advisory
Committee shall meet as often as necessary to fulfill its duties hereunder;
provided that the Advisory Committee shall not be required to meet more than
once in any calendar quarter. Meetings of the Advisory Committee may be
conducted in person, telephonically or through use of other communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can
communicate with each other.
11.2 Role of Advisory Committee. The recommendations of the Advisory
Committee, if any, shall be advisory only and shall not obligate the General
Partner to act in accordance therewith. The Advisory Committee will not have any
responsibility for the management of the Partnership or its investments.
11.3 No Liability. Neither the General Partner nor any Affiliate of the
General Partner shall have any liability to the Partnership, the Partners, or
any other Person arising out of (a) the failure of the General Partner to
consult with the Advisory Committee at any time or on any matters or (b) the
failure of the General Partner to follow the recommendation of one or more
Advisory Committee members; provided that this Section 11.3 shall not supersede
the requirements to obtain any consent or approval of the Advisory Committee as
expressly set forth herein.
11.4 Resignation. Any member of the Advisory Committee may resign at any
time upon written notice to the General Partner.
11.5 Reimbursement. The Partnership shall pay compensation to the Advisory
Committee members as determined by the General Partner and reimburse the
Advisory Committee members for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
the Advisory Committee members in acting pursuant to this Article XI.
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ARTICLE XII
Covenants
12.1 Covenants of the Partnership and the Partners. The Partnership and
each Partner hereby covenant as follows:
(a) Each of the Partnership and each Partner shall comply with all of
its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Each of the Partnership and the General Partner shall at all times
remain in compliance with the provisions of Section 12.2 hereof.
(c) The Partnership and the General Partner shall keep proper books of
records and accounts in which full, true and correct entries shall be made of
all dealings and transactions in relation to its respective business and
activities.
(d) Each Other Partner agrees that it shall not file or cause to be
filed any petition or other proceedings by or against the Partnership or the
General Partner that would become the subject of bankruptcy, insolvency or other
similar proceedings or cause any other Bankruptcy Action, nor shall it consent
to or acquiesce in any such filing or other proceedings or Bankruptcy Action,
except in each case a Bankruptcy Action that has been approved all of the
Partners and by all of the managers of the General Partner pursuant to Section
10.2(c).
(e) The General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to elect to be
taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
12.2 Separateness Covenants of the Partnership and the General Partner.
Each of the Partnership and the General Partner covenant that:
(a) Subject to Section 16.2, the Partnership and the General Partner
each shall preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its existence
(except, in the case of the Partnership, in connection with a dissolution
required by this Agreement) and shall take all reasonable action to maintain all
material rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal
conduct of its business, and shall comply with all Requirements of Law.
(b) Each of the Partnership and the General Partner shall continue to
engage in business of the same general type as now conducted by it and preserve,
renew and keep in full force and effect their partnership or corporate
existence, as the case may be, and take all reasonable action to maintain all
material rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal
conduct of its business; comply with all Requirements of Law except to the
extent that failure to comply therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) It will (i) maintain and prepare financial reports, financial
statements, books and records and bank accounts separate from those of its
Affiliates, any constituent party and any other Person and maintain its books,
records, resolutions and agreements as official records, (ii) will not permit
any Affiliate or constituent party independent access to its bank accounts, and
(iii) unless otherwise required under the Internal Revenue Code, will file its
own tax returns.
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(d) It will not commingle the funds and other assets of the
Partnership with those of any Affiliate or constituent party, or any other
Person, and shall hold its assets in its own name.
(e) It shall conduct its own business in its own name.
(f) It is and will remain solvent and shall pay its debts and
liabilities (including employment and overhead expenses) from its assets as the
same shall become due.
(g) It has done or caused to be done and shall do all things necessary
to observe partnership or corporate formalities, as applicable, and preserve its
existence, and it shall not, nor will it permit any constituent party to, amend,
modify or otherwise change the Certificate of Limited Partnership, this
Agreement, the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or the partnership
agreement or other organizational documents of the Partnership or the General
Partner, as applicable, or such constituent party in a manner contrary to the
provisions of this Section 12.2.
(h) It shall pay the salaries of its own employees and maintain a
sufficient number of employees in light of its contemplated business operations.
(i) It shall compensate each of its consultants and agents from its
own funds for services provided to it and pay from its own assets all
obligations of any kind incurred.
(j) It does not and shall not guarantee, become obligated for, or hold
itself or its credit out to be responsible for, the debts or obligations of any
other Person or the decisions or actions respecting the daily business or
affairs of any other Person.
(k) It shall not cause or permit the Partnership to acquire
obligations or securities of any Affiliate, any of the Partners or any of the
members of the General Partner. It shall not buy or hold any evidence of
indebtedness issued by any other Person, other than cash and investment-grade
securities.
(l) Subject to the approval pursuant to Section 10.2, if applicable,
it will allocate fairly and reasonably the cost of (i) any overhead for any
office space shared with any Partner or with any Affiliate of any Partner, and
(ii) any services (such as asset management, legal and accounting) that are
provided jointly to the Partnership and one or more Affiliates.
(m) It will maintain and utilize separate stationery, invoices and
checks and allocate separate office space (which may be a separately identified
area in office space shared with one or more Affiliates) and maintain a separate
sign in the office directory of the building in which it is located.
(n) It will be, and at all times will hold itself out to the public
as, a legal entity separate and distinct from any other Person. In the event
that the Partnership or the General Partner knows of any misunderstanding
regarding the separate identity of the Partnership or the General Partner, the
Partnership or the General Partner shall correct such misunderstanding.
(o) It shall not identify itself or any of its Affiliates as a
division or part of any other Person.
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(p) It will maintain adequate capital for the normal obligations
reasonably foreseeable in a business of its size and character and in light of
its contemplated business operations.
(q) It has and shall maintain its assets in such a manner that it will
not be costly or difficult to segregate, ascertain or identify its individual
assets from those of any Affiliate or constituent party, or any other Person.
(r) The General Partner and LNG Investments intend to proceed with the
development and completion of the Project in a timely and expeditious manner.
The General Partner and LNG Investments will use commercially reasonable
efforts, including contributing up to $9,000,000 in Additional Contributed
Equity in accordance with Section 3.4(a), to obtain Project Approval.
(s) Capacity Use. In the event the LNG regasification and receiving
terminal operated by the Partnership has excess capacity that is made available
to any Partner or any Affiliate of any Partner, such capacity will be made
available to all Partners on the same terms and price pro rata based upon their
Percentage Interest.
(t) Reserved.
(u) The Partnership and the General Partner will conduct an
operational meeting each month on a date mutually acceptable to Cheniere and LNG
Investments at such place as may be agreed to by the General Partner, Cheniere
and LNG Investments to review the Partnership's marketing, financing, regulatory
and developmental activities, including providing a report on marketing
developments, financing developments, regulatory or governmental approval
developments, and an update on engineering and other technical developments.
Each Limited Partner shall be entitled to visit the Partnership's principal
place of business during normal business hours with reasonable notice to meet
with and question officers and employees of the Partnership and the General
Partner and to inspect the Partnership's books, records and any third-party
agreements.
ARTICLE XIII
Records and Reports
13.1 Maintenance and Inspection of Partner Register. The Partnership shall
maintain at its principal place of business a record of its Partners, giving the
names and addresses of all Partners and the Percentage Interest held by each
Partner. Subject to such reasonable standards (including standards governing
what information and documents are to be furnished and at whose expense) as may
be established by the General Partner from time to time, each Partner has the
right to obtain from the Partnership from time to time, upon reasonable demand
for any purpose reasonably related to the Partner's interest as a Partner of the
Partnership, a record of the Partnership's Partners.
13.2 Maintenance and Inspection of Partnership Agreement. The Partnership
shall keep at its principal place of business the original or a copy of this
Agreement as amended to date, which shall be open to inspection by the Partners
at all reasonable times during office hours.
13.3 Maintenance and Inspection of Other Records. The accounting books and
records, minutes of proceedings of the Partners and the General Partner and any
committees or
36
delegates of the General Partner, and all other information pertaining to the
Partnership that is required to be made available to the Partners under the Act
shall be kept at such place or places designated by the General Partner or in
the absence of such designation, at the principal place of business of the
Partnership. The minutes shall be kept in written form and the accounting books
and records and other information shall be kept either in written form or in any
other form capable of being converted into written form. The books of account
and records of the Partnership shall be maintained in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied during the term of the Partnership, wherein all
transactions, matters, and things relating to the business and properties of the
Partnership shall be currently entered. Minutes, accounting books and records,
and other information shall be open to inspection upon the written demand of any
Partner at any reasonable time during usual business hours for a purpose
reasonably related to the Partner's interests as a Partner. Any such inspection
shall be made in person or by in agent or attorney and shall include the right
to copy and make extracts at the expense of the Partnership.
ARTICLE XIV
Books, Financials and Tax Matters
14.1 Books and Records. The Partnership shall maintain at its principal
place of business books of account that accurately record all items of income
and expenditure relating to the business of the Partnership and that accurately
and completely disclose the results of the operations of the Partnership. Such
books of account shall be maintained according to GAAP consistently applied and
on the basis of the Fiscal Year. Each Partner shall have the right to inspect
and copy, at the Partnership expense, the Partnership's books and records at any
time during normal business hours without notice to any other Partner. A general
accounting and audit shall be taken by the Partnership Accountant for each
Fiscal Year, at the expense of the Partnership. The audit shall be conducted in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
14.2 Financial Reports. The Partnership will furnish to the Partners a
balance sheet as of February 28, 2003 on or before April 30, 2003. The
Partnership will furnish to the Partners (a) within thirty (30) days after the
close of each calendar quarter quarterly unaudited financial statements of this
Partnership, (b) within sixty (60) days after the close of each calendar year,
audited annual financial statements of this Partnership ((a) and (b)
collectively referred to herein as the "Financial Statements"), and (c) annual
budgets for the Partnership and updates to such budgets as necessary to provide
reasonably accurate information but not less frequently than annually which
budgets shall include a description of the anticipated sources of funds
including a description of the anticipated amount and timing of any Additional
Contributed Equity to be called by the General Partners during such Fiscal Year
(the "Budget"); provided, however, that in the event any Partners become subject
to more restrictive filing requirements, including any rules or regulations
adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Partnership will furnish
the Financial Statements at least 15 days prior to the date of such Partner's
required filings.
14.3 Tax Returns. The General Partner shall cause the Partnership
Accountant to prepare all income tax and other tax returns of the Partnership
which shall be presented to Cheniere (together with the calculations used to
determine the Section 704(c) allocations for such returns) for its approval
within 90 days of the end of each Fiscal Year. After each such tax return has
been approved by Cheniere it shall be filed by the Partnership Accountant with
the appropriate taxing authority. The General Partner shall furnish to each
Partner a copy of all such filed returns together with all schedules thereto and
such other information which each
37
Partner may request in connection with such Partner's own tax affairs. All such
returns, schedules and information shall be provided to the Partners at the
expense of the Partnership.
14.4 Tax Elections. The General Partner may elect to cause or require the
Partnership to make the election provided for in I.R.C. Section 754 for the
Fiscal Year that includes the Closing Date and maintain a record of the
adjustments to Basis of Partnership Assets resulting from that election. Such
election may be made on the federal and, if applicable, the state and local
income tax returns for such Fiscal Year. All costs incurred by the Partnership
in connection with such election and the maintenance of such records shall be an
expense of the Partnership.
14.5 Tax Matters Partner. The General Partner is hereby designated the Tax
Matters Partner (as defined in the I.R.C.) on behalf of the Partnership.
(a) Without the unanimous consent of the Partners, the Tax Matters
Partner shall have no right to extend the statute of limitations for assessing
or computing any tax liability against the Partnership or the amount of any
Partnership tax item.
(b) The Tax Matters Partner may file a petition for readjustment of
any Partnership tax item (in accordance with I.R.C. Section 6226(a)) in the
United States Tax Court if the Partners unanimously agree to file such petition.
(c) The Tax Matters Partner shall, within ten (10) business days of
receipt thereof, forward to each Partner a photocopy of any correspondence
relating to the Partnership received from the Internal Revenue Service. The Tax
Matters Partner shall, within ten (10) business days thereof, advise each
Partner in writing of the substance of any conversation held with any
representative of the Internal Revenue Service.
(d) Any reasonable costs incurred by the Tax Matters Partner for
retaining accountants and/or lawyers on behalf of the Partnership in connection
with any Internal Revenue Service audit of the Partnership shall be expenses of
the Partnership. Any accountants and/or lawyers retained by the Partnership in
connection with any Internal Revenue Service audit of the Partnership shall be
selected by the Tax Matter Partner with the reasonable approval of Cheniere.
(e) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section 13.6, no
action shall be taken by the General Partner in its capacity as Tax Matters
Partner which may affect the tax liability of Cheniere without the approval of
Cheniere.
14.6 The Partnership Accountant. The Partnership shall retain an
independent certified public accountant determined by the General Partner as the
regular accountant and auditor for the Partnership ("Partnership Accountant") or
any other nationally-recognized independent accounting firm designated by the
General Partner and approved by Cheniere. The fees and expenses of the
Partnership Accountant shall be a Partnership expense.
ARTICLE XV
Nondisclosure of Information
15.1 Confidentiality.
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(a) Subject to Section 15.1(b), all disclosures of trade secrets,
know-how, financial information or other confidential information made by the
Partnership to any Partner or made by any Partner under or in connection with
this Agreement, shall be received and maintained in confidence by the recipient
during the term hereof and for three (3) years after dissolution of the
Partnership and each Partner shall treat all such trade secrets, know-how,
financial information or other confidential information as confidential except:
(i) as to the Persons directly responsible for the performance
of the obligations of this Agreement and for the effective operation of the
Partnership;
(ii) as to the professional advisors of the Partners and the
Partnership;
(iii) as to such disclosures to customers of the Partnership as
are necessary for the effective carrying on of business by the Partnership;
(iv) as to such information as is required by law to be
disclosed by the Partners or the Partnership, including, without limitation,
disclosures by Cheniere to comply with Securities and Exchange Commission filing
requirements, after providing Freeport GP prior written notice of the form and
content of such disclosure and providing Freeport GP a reasonable opportunity to
comment on such disclosure; and
(v) as to such information as is or may fall within the public
domain otherwise than in violation of the provisions of this Section 15.1.
(b) Each Partner shall have access to confidential information,
know-how and work product (including third-party reports and agreements)
produced in connection with the Project. Each of the Partners and each of their
respective Affiliates is entitled to use any confidential information, including
any know-how and third-party reports, documents, agreements or work products, in
connection with the development or operation of any other business or venture,
including the funding thereof. Each Partner and their respective Affiliates may
hire any third-party consultant, advisor, counsel or other service provider
employed by the Partnership and such party may use any work-product or know-how
developed on behalf of the Partnership in providing services to such Partner or
its Affiliates.
15.2 Duty of Care. Each Partner will take such steps as lie within its
power to assure that all employees of the Partnership, to whom confidential
information is disclosed, take all proper precautions to prevent the
unauthorized disclosure and use of the confidential information referenced in
Section 15.1.
ARTICLE XVI
Transferability
16.1 Transferability of Interests.
(a) Subject to the prior written consent of the General Partner, which
consent shall not be withheld or delayed unless the General Partner determines,
in its reasonable discretion, that such transfer would have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Partnership or the Business, each of the Limited Partners may
transfer all or any part of its Interest in the Partnership (including the
transfer of any rights to receive or share in profits, losses, income,
distributions or the return of contributions); provided, that such transferring
Limited Partner gives
39
written notice (including the name and address of the proposed purchaser,
transferee, or assignee and the date of such transfer) to the Partnership and
the non-transferring Partners.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 16.1(a), in the event that LNG Investments
desires to transfer any portion of its Interest in one transaction or in a
series of related transactions in which all (but no less than all) of the
General Partner's Interest or the outstanding capital stock of the General
Partner is being sold or transferred, LNG Investments shall deliver a written
notice to Cheniere specifying the identity of the prospective transferee(s) and
disclosing in reasonable detail the price, the type of consideration and other
terms and conditions of the proposed transfer. Cheniere may elect to participate
in the proposed transfer by delivering a notice to LNG Investments and the
proposed transferee(s) within fifteen (15) days of the date of the notice from
LNG Investments. If Cheniere elects to participate in such transfer, Cheniere
will be entitled to sell in such proposed transfer, at the same price and on the
same terms as LNG Investments, a portion of its Interest equal to the product of
(x) the quotient determined by dividing the Interest then held by Cheniere by
the aggregate Interest then held by LNG Investments multiplied by (y) the
aggregate Interest to be sold in such proposed transfer.
16.2 Withdrawal by LNG Investments and Freeport GP. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, LNG Investments and
Freeport GP may withdraw from the Partnership without the consent of any other
Partner at any time; provided, that LNG Investments and Freeport GP comply with
the following: (a) LNG Investments and Freeport GP take all action reasonably
requested by Cheniere to transfer their respective Interests to Cheniere or any
entity or entities designated by Cheniere, or alternatively, take any action
reasonably requested by Cheniere to permit the cancellation of their Interests
by the Partnership; and (b) LNG Investments pays to Cheniere an amount equal to
the positive difference, if any, between (i) $4,000,000, plus (A) the amount of
any Affiliate Payment and (B) the Returned Amount, and (ii) all amounts actually
contributed to the Partnership by LNG Investments (including any transferees and
assignees of any portion of LNG Investments' Interest) pursuant to Section
3.4(a) and the LNG Investments Expenses (the "Withdrawal Payment"); provided,
however, that such transfer or cancellation of their Interest and Withdrawal
Payment shall be conditioned upon Cheniere executing a release and waiver of all
claims against Freeport GP and LNG Investments in form reasonably acceptable to
LNG Investments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (a) on or before March 31,
2003, LNG Investments and Freeport GP determine, in their sole discretion, and
notifies Cheniere, in writing that the Partnership should terminate the Lease
Agreement pursuant to Section 2.6 of the Lease Agreement and (b) Cheniere in its
sole discretion does not desire to dissolve the Partnership pursuant to Section
20.1(a)(2), then LNG Investments shall not terminate the Lease Agreement and LNG
Investments and Freeport GP may withdraw from the Partnership, without
obligation to pay to Cheniere the Withdrawal Payment and, in addition, Cheniere
shall be obligated to reimburse to LNG Investments on the earlier of the date of
the sale of Cheniere's Gryphon Stock, the date of any sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of Gryphon Exploration Company, or June 15, 2004
an amount equal to all amounts actually contributed to the Partnership by LNG
Investments (including any transferees and assignees of any option of LNG
Investments' Interest) pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.4(a) (the "Reimbursement
Amount"). Such Reimbursement Amount shall be secured by a first priority
security interest in the Gryphon Exploration Company stock owned by Cheniere or
an Affiliate thereof (the "Gryphon Stock"), which security interest shall be
evidenced by the Amended and Restated Stock Pledge Agreement, dated of even date
herewith, between LNG Investments, Cheniere and Cheniere-Gryphon Management,
Inc. (the "Pledge Agreement"). In the event LNG Investments and Freeport GP do
not withdraw from the Partnership pursuant to the preceding sentence on or
before March 31, 2003, LNG Investments shall release the Gryphon Stock. Upon a
withdrawal
40
pursuant to this Section 16.2, LNG Investments shall have no further obligation
to make any contribution to the Partnership, including, without limitation, any
unpaid Additional Contributed Equity amounts arising pursuant to Section 3.4(a)
or amounts contributed pursuant to Section 3.4(b).
16.3 Restrictions on Withdrawal. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein or under the Act, except as set forth in Section 16.2, no
Partners shall have the right to resign from the Partnership.
ARTICLE XVII
Substituted Partners
Any transferee acquiring the Interest of a Partner as permitted under
Article XVI shall be deemed admitted as a substituted Partner with respect to
the Interest transferred concurrently with the effectiveness of such transfer
(provided that such transferee, unless already a Partner, shall, as a condition
to such admission, execute a counterpart of this Agreement, agreeing thereby to
be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof), and such substituted
Partner shall be entitled to all of the rights and benefits under this Agreement
of the transferor of such Interest. No purported transfer of any Interest, or
any portion thereof or interest therein, in violation of the terms of this
Agreement (including any transfer occurring by operation of law) shall vest the
purported transferee with any rights, powers, or privileges hereunder, and no
such purported transferee shall be deemed for any purposes as a Partner
hereunder or have any right to vote or consent with respect to Partnership
matters, to inspect Partnership records, to maintain derivative proceedings, to
maintain any action for an accounting or to exercise any other rights of a
Partner hereunder or, under the Act.
ARTICLE XVIII
Waiver of Partition/Covenant Against Resignation/Breaches
18.1 Waiver of Partition. No Partner shall, either directly or indirectly,
take any action to require partition, file a ▇▇▇▇ for Partnership accounting or
appraisement of the Partnership or of any of its assets or properties or cause
the sale of any Partnership Assets, and notwithstanding any provisions of
applicable law to the contrary, each Partner (and each of his legal
representatives, successors, or assigns) hereby irrevocably waives any and all
rights it may have to maintain any action for partition or to compel any sale
with respect to his Partnership Interest, or with respect to any assets or
properties of the Partnership, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
18.2 Covenant Not to Resign or Dissolve. Notwithstanding any provision of
the Act to the contrary, each Partner hereby covenants and agrees that the
Partners have entered into this Agreement based on their mutual expectation that
all Partners will continue as Partners and carry out the duties and obligations
undertaken by them hereunder and that, except as otherwise expressly required or
permitted hereby, each Partner hereby covenants and agrees not to (a) take any
action to file a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent with respect to
itself, (b) voluntarily take any Bankruptcy Action, (c) withdraw or attempt to
withdraw from the Partnership, (d) exercise any power under the Act to dissolve
the Partnership, (e) transfer all or any portion of his interest in the
Partnership in violation of Article XVI, (f) petition for judicial dissolution
of the Partnership, or (g) demand a return of such Partner's contributions or
profits (or a bond or other security for the return of such contributions or
profits) except to the extent provided under this Agreement.
41
ARTICLE XIX
Additional Partners
Subject to Section 10.2(c), additional Partners may be admitted to the
Partnership only with the approval of all the Limited Partners and the
Contributed Equity and the Percentage Interest of any additional Partner shall
be as determined by the Limited Partners approving the admission (and the
Percentage Interest of all other Partners shall be adjusted to reflect the
Percentage Interest granted to the additional Partner, pro rata based on
relative Percentage Interests immediately prior to the admission of the
additional Partner). Any additional Partner shall execute a counterpart of this
Agreement, agreeing thereby to be bound by all of the terms and provisions
hereof; provided that prior to or concurrently with the admission of an
additional Partner, the Partners shall adopt such amendments to this Agreement
as they deem appropriate to cause the provisions hereof that contemplate only
three Partners to be appropriately modified to operate in the context of four or
more Partners.
ARTICLE XX
Dissolution
20.1 Dissolution.
(a) The Partnership shall be dissolved upon the earliest to occur of
the following:
(1) all or substantially all of the Partnership Assets have been sold,
taken in condemnation, or otherwise disposed and reduced to cash;
(2) the Partners unanimously elect to dissolve the Partnership;
(3) the occurrence of any other event causing a dissolution of the
Partnership under the Act.
(b) In the event of the occurrence of a dissolution of the Partnership
due to the Bankruptcy or dissolution of Freeport GP, Cheniere shall have the
right to reconstitute the Partnership following the conversion of Freeport GP to
a limited partner and the admission of a new general partner of the Partnership
pursuant to Section 10.10. In the event Cheniere has admitted a general partner
to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.10, Cheniere shall have the right to
reconstitute the Partnership following the conversion of the above general
partner to a limited partner and the admission of a new general partner of the
Partnership.
(c) Upon dissolution of the Partnership unless it is reconstituted
pursuant to Section 20.1(b), the General Partner, or such other person as is
designated by a Majority of the Partners (such person being herein referred to
as the "Liquidator") shall proceed to wind up the business and affairs of the
Partnership in accordance with the terms hereof and the requirements of the Act.
A reasonable amount of time shall be allowed for the period of winding-up in
light of prevailing market conditions and so as to avoid undue loss in
connection with any sale of Partnership Assets. This Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect during the period of winding-up.
(d) In connection with the winding-up of the Partnership, before the
later to occur at the end of the Fiscal Year of the Partnership or the ninetieth
day after the liquidation of the Partnership within the meaning of Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Regulations, the proceeds from the sale of
Partnership Assets shall be distributed as follows:
42
(1) to creditors, including Partners who are creditors in satisfaction
of liabilities of the Partnership (whether by payment or the making of
reasonable provision for payment thereof); and
(2) thereafter to Partners in accordance with Section 5.4 hereof.
(e) If distributions are insufficient to return to any Partner the
full amount of such Partner's Contributed Equity, such Partner shall have no
recourse against any other Partner. No Partner shall have any obligation to
restore, or otherwise pay to the Partnership, any other Partner, or any third
party, the amount of any deficit balance in such Partner's Capital Account upon
dissolution and liquidation. Following the completion of the winding-up of the
affairs of the Partnership and the distribution of the proceeds from the sale of
Partnership Assets, the Partnership shall be deemed terminated and the
Liquidator shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware as required by the Act.
20.2 Deemed Liquidation. If no dissolution event has occurred, but the
Partnership is deemed liquidated for federal income tax purposes within the
meaning of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Regulations, as a result of a
Partnership termination, as defined in I.R.C. Section 708(b)(1)(B), such
termination will be treated in accordance with Section 1.708-1(b)(1)(iv) of the
Regulations.
20.3 Bankruptcy, etc., of a Limited Partner. No event with respect to a
Limited Partner, including the death, withdrawal, termination (in the case of a
Limited Partner that is a partnership), dissolution (in the case of a Limited
Partner that is a corporation), retirement or adjudication as a bankrupt of a
Limited Partner, shall dissolve the Partnership, but the rights of such Limited
Partner to share in the profits and losses of the Partnership and to receive
distributions of the Partnership funds shall, upon the happening of such an
event, pass to the Limited Partner's legal representative, or successors in
interest, as the case may be, subject to this Agreement, and the Partnership
shall continue as a limited partnership. In no event shall such Limited
Partner's legal representative, or successors in interest, become a substitute
Partner except as provided in Article XVI.
ARTICLE XXI
Dispute Resolution
21.1 Arbitration. The parties agree that any controversy, claim, or damages
arising out of or relating in any manner to this Agreement or any breach hereof,
will be resolved by binding arbitration in Houston, Texas pursuant to Texas Civ.
Prac. & Rem. ss.171.001 et seq. The arbitration shall be conducted before a
single neutral arbitrator and, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, shall be
conducted pursuant to the JAMS Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures
("Rules") as in effect at the time of the arbitration; provided, however, that
the arbitration will not be administered by JAMS or conducted by a JAMS'
arbitrator unless both parties agree otherwise. If either party objects to the
administration by JAMS, then the arbitration shall be administered by an entity
or person mutually agreed upon by the parties or, absent such an agreement, by
the arbitrator himself or herself. If the arbitration is not administered by
JAMS, then, where reasonably practical, the provisions in the Rules applicable
to the JAMS administrator shall be read to apply to the administrator appointed
by the parties. If it is not reasonably practical to apply a provision relating
to the JAMS administrator to the administrator appointed by the parties, then
that provision of the Rules shall not apply to this arbitration. If a conflict
exists between the Rules and this Section 21.1, then this Section 21.1 shall
govern.
43
The arbitration shall be commenced by one party submitting an arbitration
demand to the other. The parties shall have 20 days following the commencement
of the arbitration to select a mutually agreeable arbitrator. If the parties
fail to mutually select an arbitrator within this 20 day period, then each party
shall, within ten days from such failure, submit to the other party a list of
five neutral arbitrators who such party has contacted and confirmed are free of
any conflicts and are available to conduct the arbitration. Within three days
after these lists are exchanged, each party shall peremptorily strike up to
three of the proposed arbitrators on the other party's list and shall submit a
list of such strikes to the other party. Within three days after the peremptory
strikes are exchanged, each party shall rank in order of preference the
remaining proposed arbitrators, with "1" being the most preferred. The person
with the lowest total combined ranking ("1" being the lowest ranking) shall be
appointed as the arbitrator. In the case of a tie, the proposed arbitrator(s)
who have or has the highest ranking of any single numeric ranking by either
party (i.e., the least preferred by one party of those that are tied), will be
struck and the remaining person shall be selected as the arbitrator. If the tie
continues after those with the single highest numeric ranking are struck, then
the arbitrator shall be selected from those remaining in the tie by a single
toss of a coin. If an arbitrator for any reason withdraws from serving as the
arbitrator after being appointed, then the replacement arbitrator shall be the
next lowest ranking person from the original arbitration selection process. If a
tie exists, then it shall be resolved by a single toss of a coin. If none of the
ranked arbitrators from the original selection process can serve as the
replacement arbitrator, then the parties shall re-start the entire arbitration
selection process with new lists of proposed arbitrators.
Discovery shall be permitted pursuant to the Rules, and the arbitration
hearing shall occur within 60 days following the appointment of the arbitrator.
Any provisional or injunctive remedy that would be available in a court of law
will be available from the arbitrator pending the arbitration of the dispute.
The prevailing party shall be reimbursed its reasonable costs associated with
the arbitration, including reasonable attorneys' fees. Within 30 days following
the completion of the hearing, the arbitrator will issue a written ruling with
an explanation of the reasons for the award and a full statement of the facts as
found and the rules of law applied in reaching his decision.
21.2 Binding Nature. The determination of the arbitrator shall be final and
binding on the Partners. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may
be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
ARTICLE XXII
Miscellaneous
22.1 Amendments. Subject to Section 10.2(c), amendments to this Agreement
may be made at any time by the General Partner and shall be adopted and be
effective as an amendment hereto upon written approval by Cheniere and LNG
Investments (but not their transferees or assignees).
22.2 Checks, Drafts, Evidence of Indebtedness. All checks, drafts, or other
orders for payment of money, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness issued in
the name of or payable to the Partnership shall be signed or endorsed in such
manner and by such person or persons as shall be designated from time to time in
accordance with the resolution of the General Partner.
44
22.3 Contracts and Instruments. No agent or employee of the Partnership
shall have any power or authority to bind the Partnership by any contract or
engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for
any amount.
22.4 Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted to
be given or made under this Agreement shall be given or made in writing. Such
notices shall be delivered by hand delivery, by telecopy (or similar electronic
means) or by a nationally recognized overnight courier, fees prepaid, addressed
as follows:
If to Freeport GP: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
copy to: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇/▇▇/ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If to LNG Investments: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
copy to: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇/▇▇/ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If to Cheniere: Cheniere LNG, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
copy to: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇, LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Any party may make changes, additions or deletions to its address for the
purpose of this Section 22.4 by notice to the other parties given in the manner
set forth above.
22.5 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND
ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS).
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22.6 Headings. The Article and Section headings of this Agreement are for
convenience only, do not form a part of this Agreement, and shall not in any way
affect the interpretation hereof.
22.7 Extension Not a Waiver. No delay or omission in the exercise of any
power, remedy or right herein provided or otherwise available to a Partner or
the Partnership shall impair or affect the right of such Partner or the
Partnership thereafter to exercise the same. Any extension of time or other
indulgence granted to a Partner hereunder shall not otherwise alter or affect
any power, remedy or right of any other Partner or of the Partnership, or the
obligations of the Partner to whom such extension or indulgence is granted.
22.8 Publicity. No Partner shall issue any press release or otherwise
publicize or disclose the terms of this Agreement or the terms of the Partners'
acquisition of the Interests in the Partnership, without the consent of the
other Partners, except as such disclosure may be made in the course of normal
reporting practices by a Partner to its partners, shareholders, consultants or
members or as otherwise required by law.
22.9 Construction and Amendment. No oral explanation of or oral information
relating to this Agreement offered by either party hereto shall alter the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
22.10 Further Action. Each Partner agrees to perform all further acts and
execute, acknowledge, and deliver any documents which may be reasonably
necessary, appropriate, or desirable to carry out the provisions of this
Agreement.
22.11 Variation of Pronouns. All pronouns and any variations thereof shall
be deemed to refer to masculine, feminine, or neuter, singular or plural, as the
identity of the Person or Persons may require.
22.12 Successors and Assigns. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set
forth in Article XV, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
22.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
22.14 Ambiguities. All of the parties to this Agreement have participated
in the negotiation and drafting hereof. Accordingly, it is understood and agreed
that the general rule that ambiguities are to be construed against the drafter
shall not apply to this Agreement. In the event that any language of this
Agreement is found to be ambiguous, each party shall have an opportunity, in any
legal proceeding, to present evidence as to the actual intent of the parties
with respect to any such ambiguous language.
22.15 Entire Agreement. The terms and conditions contained herein and in
the associated agreements constitute the entire agreement between the Partners
concerning the subject matter hereof, and shall supersede all previous
communications, either oral or written, between the parties hereto, and no
agreement or understanding varying or extending this Agreement shall be binding
upon either Partner unless in writing, signed by a duly authorized officer or
representative of each Partner.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
by their duly authorized representatives as of the day and year first set forth
above.
GENERAL PARTNER:
FREEPORT LNG-GP, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Executive Officer
LIMITED PARTNERS:
FREEPORT LNG INVESTMENTS, LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Member
CHENIERE LNG, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
47