CYPRESS ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

  

Dated as of January 21, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
CYPRESS ENERGY PARTNERS GP, LLC

 

This Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of January 21, 2014, is entered into by Cypress Energy Holdings II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the sole Member of Cypress Energy Partners GP, LLC, the limited liability company to be governed by this Agreement (the “Company”) and shall be effective immediately.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on September 19, 2013; and

 

WHEREAS, the Member executed the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, effective September 19, 2013 (the “Original Limited Liability Company Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Member deems it advisable to amend and restate the Original Limited Liability Company Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein.

 

NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises, the covenants and agreements set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Member hereby amends and restates the Original Limited Liability Company Agreement in its entirety as follows:

 

Article I
DEFINITIONS

 

1.1              Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth in the Sections or other instruments referenced below:

 

“Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (6 Del. C. § 18-101, et seq.), as it may be amended from time to time. All references in this Agreement to provisions of the Act shall be deemed to refer, if applicable, to their successor statutory provisions to the extent appropriate in light of the context herein in which such references are used.

 

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

 

“Agreement” is defined in the introductory paragraph, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time.

 

 

“Applicable Law” means (a) any United States federal, state or local law, statute or ordinance or any rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction, judgment, decree or permit of any Governmental Authority and (b) any rule or listing requirement of any national securities exchange or trading market recognized by the Commission on which the Common Units are listed or quoted.

 

“Assignee” means any Person that acquires a Member’s share of the income, gain, loss, deduction and credits of, and the right to receive distributions from, the Company or any portion thereof through a Disposition; provided, however, that an Assignee shall have no right to be admitted to the Company as a Member except in accordance with Article IV. The Assignee of a dissolved Member shall be the shareholder, partner, member or other equity owner or owners of the dissolved Member or such other Persons to whom such Member’s Membership Interest is assigned by the Person conducting the liquidation or winding-up of such Member.

 

“Audit Committee” is defined in Section 8.2.

 

“Audit Committee Independent Director” means a Director who meets the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors as established by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Units are listed.

 

“Bankruptcy” or “Bankrupt” means, with respect to any Person, that (a) such Person (i) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (ii) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition; (iii) becomes the subject of an order for relief or is declared insolvent in any federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings; (iv) files a petition or answer seeking for such Person a reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, or similar relief under any Applicable Law; (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against such Person in a proceeding of the type described in subclauses (i) through (iv) of this clause (a); or (vi) seeks, consents to, or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver, or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Person’s properties or (b) a proceeding seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, or similar relief under any Applicable Law has been commenced against such Person and 120 days have expired without dismissal thereof or with respect to which, without such Person’s consent or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver, or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Person’s properties has been appointed and 90 days have expired without the appointment having been vacated or stayed, or 90 days have expired after the date of expiration of a stay, if the appointment has not previously been vacated. The foregoing definition of “Bankruptcy” is intended to replace and shall supersede and replace the definition of “Bankruptcy” set forth in the Act.

 

“Board” is defined in Section 7.3.

 

“Business Day” means (a) any day on which the national securities exchange upon which securities of the Partnership are listed is open for trading or (b) in the event that no Partnership securities are listed on a national securities exchange, any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.

 

 

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

 

“CEP Capital” means CEP Capital Partners, LLC.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.

 

“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Common Unit” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Company” is defined in the introductory paragraph.

 

“Conflicts Committee” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Conflicts Committee Independent Director” means a Director who meets the requirements set forth in the definition of “Conflicts Committee” in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Cypress Entities” means Holdings II and its Affiliates (other than the Company and the Partnership Group).

 

“Director” or “Directors” means a member or members of the Board.

 

“Dispose,” “Disposing” or “Disposition” means with respect to any asset (including a Membership Interest or any portion thereof), a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, gift, exchange or other disposition of such asset, whether such disposition be voluntary, involuntary or by operation of Applicable Law.

 

“Disposing Member” is defined in Section 4.1.

 

“Dissolution Event” is defined in Section 13.1.

 

“General Partner Interest” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Governmental Authority” or “Governmental” means any federal, state or local court or governmental or regulatory agency or authority or any arbitration board, tribunal or mediator having jurisdiction over the Company or its assets or Members.

 

“Group Member” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Group Member Agreement” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Holdings” means Cypress Energy Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the sole member of Holdings II.

 

 

“Holdings II” means Cypress Energy Holdings II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

“Indemnitee” means any of (a) the Members, (b) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the Company (other than any Group Member), (c) any Person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company (other than any Group Member), (d) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company as an officer, director, member, manager, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided, however, that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, and (e) any Person the Board designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

“Limited Partner” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Majority Interest” means Membership Interests in the Company entitled to more than 50% of the Membership Ratios.

 

“Member” means Holdings II, as the initial member of the Company, and includes any Person hereafter admitted to the Company as a member as provided in this Agreement, each in its capacity as a member of the Company, but such term does not include any Person who has ceased to be a member of the Company.

 

“Membership Interest” means, with respect to any Member, that Member’s limited liability company interests in the Company, including its share of the income, gain, loss, deduction and credits of, and the right to receive distributions from, the Company.

 

“Membership Ratio” means, subject in each case to adjustments in accordance with this Agreement or in connection with Dispositions of Membership Interests, (a) in the case of a Member executing this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement or a Person acquiring such Member’s Membership Interest, the percentage specified for that Member as its Membership Ratio on Exhibit A and (b) in the case of Membership Interests issued pursuant to Section 3.1, the Membership Ratio established pursuant thereto; provided, however, that the total of all Membership Ratios shall always equal 100%.

 

“Merger Agreement” is defined in Section 14.1.

 

“Notices” is defined in Section 15.2.

 

“Officer” or “Officers” is defined in Section 9.1.

 

“Omnibus Agreement” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Original Limited Liability Company Agreement” is defined in the recitals.

 

“Partnership” means Cypress Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

“Partnership Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, to be entered into by the Company, Holdings II, and any other Persons who become partners of the Partnership or parties thereto, as it may be further amended or restated, or any successor agreement.

 

 

“Partnership Group” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Partnership Interest” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

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

 

“Plan of Conversion” is defined in Section 14.1.

 

“Sharing Ratio” is defined in the limited liability company agreement of Holdings.

 

“Special Approval” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Subsidiary” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Surviving Business Entity” is defined in Section 14.1.

 

“Tax Matters Member” is defined in Section 11.1.

 

“Transaction Documents” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Treasury Regulations” means the United States Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code.

 

“Withdraw,” “Withdrawing” or “Withdrawal” means the resignation of a Member from the Company as a Member. Such terms shall not include any Dispositions of Membership Interests (which are governed by Article IV), even though the Member making a Disposition may cease to be a Member as a result of such Disposition.

 

1.2              Construction. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (d) the terms “hereof,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Article II
ORGANIZATION

 

2.1              Formation of Company; Term. The Company is a limited liability company governed by this Agreement and the Act. The Company is an entity separate from the Member, formed by the execution and filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Formation of the Company and the entry into the Original Limited Liability Company Agreement. Unless sooner dissolved pursuant to the Act and this Agreement, the Company is to continue in perpetuity. G. Les Austin, as an “authorized person” within the meaning of the Act, has executed, delivered and filed the Certificate of Formation of the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, such execution, delivery and filing being hereby ratified and approved in all respects. Upon the filing of the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, his powers as an “authorized person” ceased, and, subject to Section 15.5, the Member thereupon became the designated “authorized person” and shall continue as the designated “authorized person” within the meaning of the Act.

 

 

2.2              Name. The name of the Company is Cypress Energy Partners GP, LLC.

 

2.3              Fictitious Business Name Statement; Other Certificates. The Member will, from time to time, register the Company as a foreign limited liability company and file fictitious or trade name statements or certificates in those jurisdictions and offices as the Member considers necessary or appropriate. The Company may do business under any fictitious business names approved by the Member. The Member will, from time to time, file or cause to be filed certificates of amendment, certificates of cancellation or other certificates as the Member considers necessary or appropriate under the Act or under the law of any jurisdiction in which the Company is doing business to establish and continue the Company as a limited liability company.

 

2.4              Purpose of the Company; Business. The purpose of the Company is to own, acquire, hold, sell, transfer, assign, dispose of or otherwise administer the partnership or other interests in, and act as the general partner or other interest holder of, the Partnership and each other Group Member and to otherwise manage and control the business and affairs of the Partnership Group and to engage in and carry on any lawful business, purpose or activity ancillary or related thereto (including, for the avoidance of doubt, being a limited partner of any Group Member). The Company shall possess and may exercise all of the powers and privileges under the Act or by any other Applicable Law and may perform all things necessary or incidental to, or connected with or growing out of, those activities in accordance with this Agreement.

 

2.5              Principal Place of Business, Office, and Agent. The principal place of business and mailing address of the Company, and the office where the records required by the Act are maintained, is 5727 S. Lewis Avenue, Suite 500, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74105 or at such other location selected, from time to time, by the Member. The registered office of the Company in Delaware is the office of the Company’s registered agent. The Company’s registered agent in Delaware is The Corporation Trust Company, Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801. The Member may, from time to time, change the registered agent or the principal place of business of the Company, without reflecting the change in this Agreement, provided that the Company’s Certificate of Formation is amended, if necessary, to reflect such change.

 

 

2.6              Certain Undertakings Relating to Separateness. In carrying out its responsibilities on its own behalf and on behalf of the Partnership Group, the Company:

 

(a)

shall, and shall cause each Group Member to, (i) observe all limited liability company or limited partnership formalities, as the case may be, and other formalities required by its organizational documents, the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and other Applicable Law, (ii) engage in transactions with any of the Cypress Entities or their respective members, shareholders or partners, as applicable, in conformity with the requirements of the Partnership Agreement and each Group Member Agreement, as applicable, and (iii) subject to the terms of the Omnibus Agreement and any other applicable agreements, promptly pay, from its own funds, and on a current basis, its allocable share of general and administrative services and costs for services performed, and capital expenditures made, by any of the Cypress Entities or their respective members, shareholders or partners, as applicable. Each material contract between the Company or a Group Member, on the one hand, and any of the Cypress Entities or their respective members, shareholders or partners, as applicable, on the other hand, shall be in writing.

 

(b)

shall, and shall cause each Group Member to, conduct their respective businesses and operations separate and apart from those of any other Person (including the Cypress Entities), except as provided in this Section 2.6.

 

(c)

shall, and shall cause each Group Member to, (i) maintain their respective books and records and their respective accounts separate from those of any other Person, (ii) maintain their respective financial records, which will be used by them in their ordinary course of business, showing their respective assets and liabilities separate and apart from those of any other Person, except their consolidated Subsidiaries, and (iii) file their respective own tax returns separate from those of any other Person, except (A) to the extent that such Group Member or the Company (1) is treated as a “disregarded entity” for tax purposes or (2) is not otherwise required to file tax returns under Applicable Law or (B) as may otherwise be required by Applicable Law.

 

(d)

shall not, and shall cause each Group Member to not, commingle or pool its funds or other assets with those of any other Person, except its consolidated Subsidiaries, and shall maintain its assets in a manner in which it is not costly or difficult to segregate, ascertain or otherwise identify its assets as separate from those of any other Person.

 

(e)

shall, and shall cause each Group Member to, (i) conduct their respective businesses in their respective own names or in the names of their respective Subsidiaries or the Partnership, (ii) use their or the Partnership’s separate stationery, invoices, and checks, (iii) correct any known misunderstanding regarding their respective separate identities as Group Members from that of any other Person (including the Cypress Entities), and (iv) generally hold themselves out as entities separate from any other Person (including the Cypress Entities).

 

(f)

shall not (i) pay its own liabilities from a source other than its own funds, (ii) guarantee or become obligated for the debts of any other Person, except its Subsidiaries or another Group Member, (iii) hold out its credit as being available to satisfy the obligations of any other Person, except its Subsidiaries or another Group Member, (iv) acquire obligations or debt securities of its Affiliates (other than its Subsidiaries or another Group Member), or (v) pledge its assets for the benefit of any Person or make loans or advances to any Person, except its Subsidiaries or another Group Member; provided, however, that the Company may engage in any transaction described in clauses (ii) through (v) of this Section 2.6(f) if prior Special Approval has been obtained for such transaction and either (A) the Conflicts Committee has determined, or has obtained reasonable written assurance from a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or a nationally recognized investment banking or valuation firm, that the borrower or recipient of the credit extension is not then insolvent and will not be rendered insolvent as a result of such transaction or (B) in the case of transactions described in clause (iv), such transaction is completed through a public auction or a national securities exchange.

 

Failure by the Company to comply with any of the obligations set forth above shall not affect the status of the Company as a separate legal entity, with its separate assets and separate liabilities, or restrict or limit the Company from engaging or contracting with the Cypress Entities for the provision of services or the purchase or sale of products, whether under the Omnibus Agreement, any other applicable agreement or otherwise.

 

 

Article III
MEMBERSHIP

 

3.1              Membership Interests; Additional Members. Holdings II is the sole Member of the Company. Additional Persons may be admitted to the Company as Members, and Membership Interests may be issued, on such terms and conditions as the existing Members, voting as a single class, may determine at the time of admission. The terms of admission or issuance must specify the Membership Ratios applicable thereto and may provide for the creation of different classes or groups of Members or Membership Interests having different (including senior) rights, powers and duties. The Members may reflect the creation of any new class or group in an amendment to this Agreement, indicating the different rights, powers and duties, and such an amendment shall be approved and executed by the Members in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Any such admission shall be effective only after such new Member has executed and delivered to the Members and the Company an instrument containing the notice address of the new Member, the new Member’s ratification of this Agreement and agreement to be bound by it.

 

3.2              Access to Information. Each Member shall be entitled to receive, for any purpose reasonably related to its interest as a Member, any information that it may request concerning the Company; provided, however, that this Section 3.2 shall not obligate the Company to create any information that does not already exist at the time of such request (other than to convert existing information from one medium to another, such as providing a printout of information that is stored in a computer database). Each Member shall also have the right, upon reasonable notice, and at all reasonable times during usual business hours to inspect the properties of the Company and to audit, examine and make copies of the books of account and other records of the Company. Such right may be exercised through any agent or employee of such Member designated in writing by it or by an independent public accountant, engineer, attorney or other consultant so designated. All costs and expenses incurred in any inspection, examination or audit made on such Member’s behalf shall be borne by such Member.

 

 

3.3              Liability.

 

(a)

Except as otherwise provided by the Act, no Member shall be liable for the debts, obligations or liabilities of the Company solely by reason of being a member of the Company.

 

(b)

The Company and the Members agree that the rights, duties and obligations of the Members in their capacities as members of the Company are only as set forth in this Agreement and as otherwise arise under the Act. Furthermore, the Members agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the existence of any rights of a Member, or the exercise or forbearance from exercise of any such rights, shall not create any duties or obligations of such Member in its capacity as a member of the Company, nor shall such rights be construed to enlarge or otherwise to alter in any manner the duties and obligations of such Member.

 

3.4              Withdrawal. A Member does not have the right or power to Withdraw.

 

3.5              Meetings. A meeting of the Members may be called at any time at the request of any Member.

 

3.6              Action by Consent of Members. Except as otherwise required by Applicable Law or otherwise provided in this Agreement, all decisions of the Members shall require the affirmative vote of the Members owning a majority of Membership Ratios present at a meeting at which a quorum is present in accordance with Section 3.8. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Members may act without a meeting and without notice so long as the number of Members who own the percentage of Membership Ratios that would be required to take such action at a duly held meeting shall have executed a written consent with respect to any such action taken in lieu of a meeting.

 

3.7              Telephonic Meetings. Any Member may participate in a meeting of the Members by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment that permits all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other, and participation of any Member in a meeting by such means will constitute the presence in person of that Member at such meeting.

 

3.8              Quorum. The Members owning a majority of Membership Ratios, present in person or participating in accordance with Section 3.7, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that, if at any meeting of the Members there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the Members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. The Members present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Members to leave less than a quorum.

 

 

Article IV
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS; DISPOSITION OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS

 

4.1              Assignment; Admission of Assignee as Member. Subject to this Article IV, a Member may assign in whole or in part its Membership Interests. An Assignee has the right to be admitted to the Company as a Member, with the Membership Interests (and attendant Membership Ratio) so transferred to such Assignee, only if (a) the Member making the Disposition (a “Disposing Member”) has granted the Assignee either (i) all, but not less than all, of such Disposing Member’s Membership Interests or (ii) the express right to be so admitted and (b) such Disposition is effected in strict compliance with this Article IV. If a Member transfers all of its Membership Interest in the Company pursuant to this Article IV, the resulting admission shall be deemed effective immediately prior to the transfer and, immediately upon such admission, the transferor Member shall cease to be a member of the Company.

 

4.2              Requirements Applicable to All Dispositions and Admissions. Any Disposition of Membership Interests and any admission of an Assignee as a Member shall also be subject to the following requirements, and such Disposition (and admission, if applicable) shall not be effective unless such requirements are met:

 

(a)

Payment of Expenses. The Disposing Member and its Assignee shall pay, or reimburse the Company for, all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Disposition and admission of the Assignee as a Member.

 

(b)

No Release. No Disposition of Membership Interests shall effect a release of the Disposing Member from any liabilities to the Company or the other Members arising from events occurring prior to the Disposition, except as otherwise may be provided in any instrument or agreement pursuant to which a Disposition of Membership Interests is effectuated.

 

(c)

Agreement to be Bound. The Assignee shall execute a counterpart to this Agreement or other instrument by which such Assignee agrees to be bound by this Agreement.

 

Article V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

 

5.1              Initial Capital. Upon the formation of the Company, the Member made a Capital Contribution of $1,000.00 in cash and was issued 100% of the Membership Interests.

 

5.2              Additional Capital. The Member is not obligated to make additional Capital Contributions, and no Member is obligated to make any Capital Contributions, except as the Members may otherwise expressly agree to in writing.

 

5.3              Interest. The Members will not be paid interest on Capital Contribution(s).

 

5.4              Loans. If the Company does not have sufficient cash to pay its obligations, any Member that may agree to do so may advance all or a portion of the required funds to or on behalf of the Company. Any such advance described in this Section 5.4 will constitute a loan from the Member to the Company, will bear interest at a lawful rate determined by the Members from the date of the advance until the day of payment and will not constitute a Capital Contribution.

 

 

5.5              Return of Contributions. Except as expressly provided herein, no Member is entitled to the return of any portion of its Capital Contribution(s). An unreturned Capital Contribution is not a liability of the Company or any Member.

 

Article VI
DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS

 

6.1              Distributions. All distributions by the Company shall be made to the Members in proportion to their respective Membership Ratios (at the time the amounts of such distributions are determined) and in such aggregate amounts and at such times as shall be determined by the Members representing a Majority Interest; provided, however, that any loans made by any Member pursuant to Section 5.4 shall be repaid prior to any distributions to the Members pursuant to this Section 6.1. Subject to the limitations set forth in the Act and any other Applicable Law, prior to the dissolution, winding-up and liquidation of the Company, the Member may, in its discretion, direct the Company to make distributions of cash or other property to the Members. Once a Member becomes entitled to receive a distribution, it will have the right to all enforcement remedies permissible under the Act with respect to the distribution.

 

6.2              Allocations. All items of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to the Members in proportion to their respective Membership Ratios. The Company will keep a record of the Members’ Capital Contributions, the Company’s income, gains, losses and deductions, and its distributions to the Members.

 

6.3              Limitations on Distributions. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall not make a distribution to any Member on account of its Membership Interest if such distribution would violate the Act or other Applicable Law.

 

Article VII
MANAGEMENT

 

7.1              Management by the Members. The management of the Company is fully reserved to the Members, and the Company shall not have “managers” as that term is used in the Act. The powers of the Company shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of, the Members, who, except as expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, shall make all decisions and take all actions for the Company.

 

7.2              Delegation. Subject to Section 7.4 and without limiting the power and authority of the Members to manage the business and affairs of the Company pursuant to the Act and this Agreement, the Members shall have the power and authority to delegate to one or more other Persons the Members’ rights and power to manage and control the business and affairs, or any portion thereof, of the Company, including to delegate to agents, officers and employees of Holdings II or its Affiliates.

 

 

7.3              Board of Directors. The Member hereby delegates to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), to the fullest extent permitted under this Agreement and Applicable Law, all power and authority related to the Company’s management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership Group.

 

7.4              Powers Reserved for the Members. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement:

 

(a)

the Members shall have exclusive authority over the internal business and affairs of the Company that do not relate to management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership Group, and the Board and the Officers shall have no authority to act with respect to any matter that does not relate to the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership Group except as may be expressly authorized and directed from time to time by the Members representing a Majority Interest. For illustrative purposes, the internal business and affairs of the Company where the Members shall have exclusive authority include (i) the amount and timing of distributions paid by the Company, (ii) the prosecution, settlement or management of any claim made directly against the Company and not involving or relating to the Partnership Group, (iii) the decision to sell, convey, transfer or pledge any asset of the Company, (iv) the decision to amend, modify or waive any rights relating to the assets of the Company, (v) the voting of, or exercise of other rights with respect to, any Partnership Interests (other than the General Partner Interest) held by the Company or its Affiliates, and (vi) the decision to enter into any agreement to incur an obligation of the Company, other than an agreement entered into for and on behalf of any Group Member for which the Company is liable exclusively by virtue of the Company’s capacity as general partner of the Partnership; and

 

(b)

without obtaining approval of Members representing a Majority Interest, the Board shall not, and shall not take any action to cause any Group Member to, (i) sell all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or such Group Member, (ii) merge or consolidate, (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, dissolve or liquidate, (iv) make or consent to a general assignment for the benefit of its respective creditors, (v) file or consent to the filing of any Bankruptcy, or (vi) take various actions similar to those described in any of clauses (i) through (v) of this Section 7.4(b).

 

Article VIII
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

8.1              Number; Removal and Vacancies.

 

(a)

Number. The number of Directors constituting the Board shall be fixed from time to time pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Members representing a Majority Interest. A Director need not be a Member. Each Director shall be elected or approved by Members representing a Majority Interest and shall serve as a Director of the Company until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified (or his or her earlier death, resignation or removal from office); provided, however, that for so long as CEP Capital remains a member of Holdings the following persons shall be Directors of the Company: (i) Peter C. Boylan III (or, in the event of his death or incapacity, such other person as is designated by CEP Capital) and (ii) such other persons selected by Mr. Boylan (or, in the event of his death or incapacity, CEP Capital) that, together with Mr. Boylan, constitute a percentage of the Board of Directors (as if there were no vacancies on the board of directors) equal to the percentage of Holdings that CEP Capital owns; provided, further, that the number of directors appointed pursuant to clause (ii) above shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number of directors.

 

 

(b)

Removal. Any Director or the entire Board may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Members representing a Majority Interest; provided, however, that so long as CEP Capital remains a member of Holdings, Peter C. Boylan III (or, in the event of his death or incapacity, such other person as is designated by CEP Capital) shall not be removed from the Board without his consent, and the removal of Directors chosen by Peter C. Boylan III (or in the event of his death or incapacity, CEP Capital) shall require the consent of Peter C. Boylan III (or in the event of his death or incapacity, CEP Capital).

 

(c)

Vacancies. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of Directors shall be filled by the appointment of the Members representing a Majority Interest. Any Director so appointed shall hold office until his or her successor shall be duly elected and qualified (or his or her earlier death, resignation or removal from office).

 

8.2              Committees of the Board. In addition to the standing committees referenced below, the Board may establish other committees of the Board and may delegate any of its responsibilities to such other committees, except as prohibited by Applicable Law.

 

(a)

The membership and chairs of each committee shall be appointed by the Board. The Board shall also make all determinations regarding committee membership qualifications.

 

(b)

Subject to the phase-in provisions of the New York Stock Exchange, the Board shall have an audit committee comprised exclusively of Audit Committee Independent Directors (the “Audit Committee”). The Audit Committee shall establish a written audit committee charter in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Units are listed from time to time, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

(c)

The Board shall have a Conflicts Committee comprised exclusively of two or more Conflicts Committee Independent Directors. The Conflicts Committee shall function in the manner described in the Partnership Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement or any duty (including any fiduciary duty) otherwise existing at law or in equity, any matter approved by the Conflicts Committee in accordance with the provisions, and subject to the limitations, of the Partnership Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a breach of any duty (including any fiduciary duty) owed by the Board or any Director to the Company or the Members.

 

 

(d)

A majority of any committee, present in person or participating in accordance with Section 8.3, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of such committee.

 

(e)

A majority of any committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings unless the Board shall otherwise provide. Notice of such meetings shall be given to each member of the committee in the manner provided for in Section 8.3.

 

8.3              Meetings.

 

(a)

Regular and Annual Meetings. Regular and annual meetings of the Board shall be held at such time and place as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board. Notice of such regular and annual meetings shall not be required.

 

(b)

Special Meetings. A special meeting of the Board may be called at any time at the request of (i) the Chairman of the Board or (ii) a majority of the Directors then in office. Written notice of all special meetings of the Board must be given to all Directors at least two business days prior to any special meeting of the Board.

 

(c)

Notices. All notices and other communications to be given to Directors shall be sufficiently given for all purposes hereunder if in writing and delivered by hand, courier or overnight delivery service or three days after being mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with appropriate postage prepaid, or when received in the form of an e-mail or facsimile, and shall be directed to the address, e-mail address or facsimile number as such Director shall designate by notice to the Company. A meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the Directors are present or if those not present waive notice of the meeting either before or after such meeting.

 

(d)

Action by Written Consent. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Board, or any committee of the Board, may act without a meeting and without prior notice so long as a majority of the members of the Board or committee shall have executed a written consent with respect to any action taken in lieu of a meeting.

 

(e)

Telephonic Meetings. Directors or members of any committee of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment that permits all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other, and participation of any Director in a meeting by such means will constitute the presence in person of that Director at such meeting.

 

 

8.4              Quorum. A majority of all Directors, present in person or participating in accordance with Section 8.3, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. Except as otherwise required by Applicable Law, all decisions of the Board, or any committee of the Board, shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all Directors of the Board, or any committee of the Board, respectively. The Directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Directors to leave less than a quorum.

 

8.5              Compensation of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Act or other Applicable Law, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of the Directors. The Directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary or other compensation as a Director. Members of special or standing Board committees may also be paid their expenses, if any, and an additional sum, salary or other compensation for attending Board committee meetings; provided, however, that Directors who are also employees of Holdings II or its Affiliates shall receive no compensation for their services as Directors.

 

8.6              Responsibility and Authority of the Board; Director Standards of Conduct.

 

(a)

The Board may exercise only such powers of the Company and do such acts and things as are expressly authorized by this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement. Notwithstanding any duty (including any fiduciary duty) otherwise existing at law or in equity, any matter approved by the Board in accordance with the provisions, and subject to the limitations of the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a breach of any duties owed by the Board or any Director to the Company or the Members.

 

(b)

Whenever the Directors (in their respective capacities as such), make a determination or cause the Company to take or decline to take any action relating to the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership Group for which the Company or the Directors are required to act in accordance with a particular standard under the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, as applicable, then the Directors shall make such determination or cause the Company to take or decline to take such other action in accordance with such standard and, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, shall not be subject to any other or different standards or duties (including fiduciary duties) imposed by this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Act or any other Applicable Law or at equity.

 

(c)

To the extent that the Directors (in their capacities as such), make a determination or cause the Company to take or decline to take any other action in any circumstance not described in Section 8.6(b) under any express authorization or direction of the Members representing a Majority Interest that may be in effect from time to time, then unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement or the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, the Directors shall make such determination or cause the Company to take or decline to take such other action in the subjective belief that the determination or other action is in the best interest of the Members representing a Majority Interest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not otherwise be subject to any other or different standards or duties (including fiduciary duties) imposed by this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Act or any other Applicable Law or at equity.

 

 

8.7              Other Business of Members, Directors and Affiliates.

 

(a)

The Members, each Director and their respective Affiliates (other than any Group Member) may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Company or the Partnership Group, and the Company, the Partnership Group, the Directors and the Members shall have no rights by virtue of this Agreement in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Company or the Partnership Group, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or in equity.

 

(b)

None of the Members, any Director or any of their respective Affiliates (other than any Group Member) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Company or a Group Member, shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Company or a Group Member, and such Persons shall not be liable to the Company or the Members for breach of any duty by reason of the fact that such Person pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Company or any Group Member; provided such Members, Director or any of their Affiliates do not engage in such business or activity using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership or any Group Member to such Persons.

 

Article IX
OFFICERS; CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

 

9.1              Officers and Chairman of the Board. The officers of the Company (each an “Officer” and collectively, the “Officers”) may consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Chief Financial Officer, a General Counsel, a Secretary and such other Officers as the Board may elect or appoint from time to time. Officers are not “managers” as that term is used in the Act. Any number of Officer positions of the Company may be held by the same person. The Board may also elect or appoint from among the Directors a person to act as Chairman of the Board, who shall not be deemed an Officer unless he or she has otherwise been elected or appointed as such. The Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer must be U.S. citizens. Each Officer shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified (or his or her earlier death, resignation or removal from office). Any Officer may resign at any time by delivering his or her written resignation to the Board.

 

 

9.2              Powers. Officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article IX. The Board may from time to time elect such other Officers or appoint such agents as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Company. Such other Officers and agents shall have such authority and responsibilities and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be provided in this Agreement or as may be prescribed by the Board (or, with respect to matters that do not relate to the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership Group, as expressly authorized by the Members representing a Majority Interest pursuant to Section 7.4(a)) from time to time.

 

(a)

Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside, if present, at all meetings of the Board and of the Limited Partners of the Partnership and shall perform such additional functions and duties as the Board may prescribe from time to time.

 

(b)

Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, who may also be the Chairman of the Board and/or the President, shall have general supervision and control of the affairs, business, operations and properties of the Company and, subject to the control of the Board, shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board and the Members are carried into effect and shall have the power to appoint and remove all subordinate officers and agents of the Company to the extent such subordinate officers and agents have not been appointed by the Board. The Chief Executive Officer may sign deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board or by this Agreement to some other Officer or agent of the Company, or shall be required by Applicable Law to be otherwise signed and executed. The Chief Executive Officer shall also perform all duties and have all powers incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer and perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be assigned by this Agreement or prescribed by the Board from time to time.

 

(c)

President. The President shall, subject to the control of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, in general, supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Company. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Members. The President may sign any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board or by this Agreement to another Officer or agent of the Company, or shall be required by Applicable Law to be otherwise signed and executed. The President shall also perform all duties and have all powers incident to the office of President and perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.

 

 

(d)

Vice Presidents. Any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President and Vice President, in the order of seniority, unless otherwise determined by the Board, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President. Such Vice Presidents shall, subject to the control of the Board, also perform the usual and customary duties and have the powers that pertain to such office and generally assist the President by executing contracts and exercising such other powers and performing such other duties as are delegated to them by the Chief Executive Officer or the President, or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.

 

(e)

Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform all duties and have all powers incident to the office of the Chief Financial Officer and, subject to the control of the Board, in general have overall supervision of the financial operations of the Company. The Chief Financial Officer shall receive and deposit all moneys and other valuables belonging to the Company in the name and to the credit of the Company and shall disburse the same and only in such manner as the Board or the appropriate Officer, as applicable, may from time to time determine. The Chief Financial Officer shall render to the Board, the Members (for any purpose reasonably related to their interests as Members), the Chief Executive Officer and the President, whenever any of them so request, an account of all of his or her transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Company, and shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer or the President, or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.

 

(f)

General Counsel. The General Counsel shall be the principal legal Officer of the Company. The General Counsel shall, subject to the control of the Board, have general direction of and supervision over the legal affairs of the Company and shall advise the Board or the Members, as applicable, and the Officers on all legal matters. The General Counsel shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer or the President, or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.

 

(g)

Secretary. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, in one or more books provided for that purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board, the committees of the Board, the Members and the Limited Partners. The Secretary shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or the Partnership Agreement or any other Group Member Agreement, as applicable, and as required by Applicable Law, shall be custodian of the records and the seal of the Company (if any) and affix and attest the seal (if any) to all documents to be executed on behalf of the Company under its seal, shall see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by Applicable Law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed and in general shall perform all duties and have all powers incident to the office of Secretary and perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer or the President, or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.

 

 

9.3              Responsibility and Authority of Officers; Officer Standards of Conduct.

 

(a)

The Officers may exercise only such powers of the Company and do such acts and things as are expressly authorized or delegated by this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement or by the Board. Notwithstanding any duty (including any fiduciary duty) otherwise existing at law or in equity, any matter approved by the Board in accordance with the provisions, and subject to the limitations, of this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a breach of any duties owed by any Officer to the Company or the Members.

 

(b)

Whenever the Officers (in their capacities as such) make a determination or cause the Company to take or decline to take any action relating to the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership Group for which the Company is required to act in accordance with a particular standard under the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, as applicable, then the Officers shall make such determination or cause the Company to take or decline to take such other action in accordance with such standard and, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, shall not be subject to any other or different standards or duties (including fiduciary duties) imposed by this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Act or any other Applicable Law or at equity.

 

(c)

To the extent that the Officers (in their capacities as such) make a determination or cause the Company to take or decline to take any other action in any circumstance not described in Section 9.3(b), then unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement or the Partnership Agreement or a Group Member Agreement, the Officers shall make such determination or cause the Company to take or decline to take such other action in the subjective belief that the determination or other action is in the best interest of the Members representing a Majority Interest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not otherwise be subject to any other or different standards or duties (including fiduciary duties) imposed by this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Act or any other Applicable Law or at equity.

 

9.4              Removal and Vacancies. Any Officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board. Vacancies and newly created Officer positions shall be filled by the Board. Any Officer appointed to fill any vacancy shall hold office until his or her successor shall be duly elected and qualified (or his or her earlier death, resignation or removal from office).

 

 

Article X
INDEMNITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

 

10.1          Indemnification.

 

(a)

To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee and acting (or refraining to act) in such capacity on behalf of or for the benefit of the Company; provided, however, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in intentional fraud, willful misconduct (including a willful breach of this Agreement) or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful; provided further, that no indemnification pursuant to this Section 10.1 shall be made available to any of the Company’s Affiliates (other than a Group Member), or to any other Indemnitee, with respect to any such Affiliate’s obligations pursuant to the Transaction Documents. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 10.1 shall be made only out of the assets of the Company, it being agreed that the Members shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Company to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

 

(b)

To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 10.1(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 10.1, the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Company of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized by this Section 10.1.

 

(c)

The indemnification provided by this Section 10.1 is in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.

 

 

(d)

The Company may purchase and maintain (or reimburse its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance on behalf of the Indemnitees, the Company and its Affiliates and such other Persons as the Company shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against or expense that may be incurred by such Person in connection with the Company’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Company, regardless of whether the Company would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(e)

For purposes of this Section 10.1, the Company shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as a fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to Applicable Law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section 10.1; and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose subjectively believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Company.

 

(f)

In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Members to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

 

(g)

An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 10.1 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

 

(h)

The provisions of this Section 10.1 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

 

(i)

No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 10.1 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Company, nor the obligations of the Company to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.1 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

 

(j)

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AND SUBJECT TO SECTION 10.1(a), THE PROVISIONS OF THE INDEMNIFICATION PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION 10.1 ARE INTENDED BY THE PARTIES TO APPLY EVEN IF SUCH PROVISIONS HAVE THE EFFECT OF EXCULPATING THE INDEMNITEE FROM LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PERSON’S NEGLIGENCE, FAULT OR OTHER CONDUCT.

 

 

10.2          Liability of Indemnitees.

 

(a)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Company, the Members or any other Person bound by this Agreement, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, with respect to the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in intentional fraud, willful misconduct (including a willful breach of this Agreement) or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(b)

Subject to any limitations set forth in Articles VII and VIII, the Board and any committee thereof or Members representing a Majority Interest, as applicable, may exercise any of the powers granted to it or them by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it or them hereunder either directly or by or through the Company’s Officers or agents, and neither the Board nor any committee thereof nor such Members shall be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such Officer or agent appointed in good faith by the Board.

 

(c)

Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, no Member or any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Company or any Member, notwithstanding any duty otherwise existing at law or in equity, and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the Members or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing under Applicable Law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Members and such other Indemnitee.

 

(d)

No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 10.2 or any provision hereof shall in any manner affect the limitations on the liability of any Indemnitee under this Section 10.2 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

 

 

Article XI
TAXES

 

11.1          Taxes. Members representing a Majority Interest shall, if necessary, from time to time designate a Member to act as the “tax matters partner” under Section 6231 of the Code, subject to replacement by the Members representing a Majority Interest (such Member, the “Tax Matters Member”). The initial Tax Matters Member will be Holdings II. The Tax Matters Member shall prepare and timely file (on behalf of the Company) all state and local tax returns, if any, required to be filed by the Company. The Company shall bear the costs of the preparation and filing of its returns. The Company and the Members acknowledge that for federal income tax purposes, the Company will be disregarded as an entity separate from the Members pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 301.7701-3 as long as all of the Membership Interests in the Company are owned by a sole Member.

 

Article XII
BOOKS; RECORDS; REPORTS AND BANK ACCOUNTS

 

12.1          Maintenance of Books. The Company shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Company or at such other location approved by the Board complete and accurate books and records of the Company, supporting documentation of the transactions with respect to the conduct of the Company’s business, minutes of the proceedings of the Board and the Members and any other books and records that are required to be maintained by Applicable Law. The books of account of the Company shall be maintained on the basis of a fiscal year that is the calendar year and on an accrual basis in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.

 

12.2          Reports. The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to each Member such reports, forecasts, studies, budgets and other information as the Members may reasonably request from time to time.

 

12.3          Bank Accounts. Funds of the Company shall be deposited in such banks or other depositories as shall be designated from time to time by Members representing a Majority Interest. All withdrawals from any such depository shall be made only as authorized by the Board or Members representing a Majority Interest, as applicable, and shall be made only by check, wire transfer, debit memorandum or other written instruction.

 

Article XIII
DISSOLUTION; WINDING-UP; TERMINATION AND CONVERSION

 

13.1          Dissolution.

 

(a)

The Company shall dissolve and its affairs shall be wound up on the first to occur of the following events (each a “Dissolution Event”): (i) the unanimous consent of the Members; (ii) entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act; and (iii) at any time there are no Members of the Company, unless the Company is continued in accordance with the Act or this Agreement.

 

 

(b)

No other event shall cause a dissolution of the Company.

 

(c)

Upon the occurrence of any event that causes there to be no Members of the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the personal representative of the last remaining Member is hereby authorized to, and shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of such Member in the Company, agree in writing (i) to continue the Company and (ii) to the admission of the personal representative or its nominee or designee, as the case may be, as a substitute Member of the Company, effective as of the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of such Member in the Company.

 

(d)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Bankruptcy of a Member shall not cause such Member to cease to be a member of the Company and, upon the occurrence of such an event, the Company shall continue without dissolution.

 

13.2          Winding-Up and Termination.

 

(a)

On the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Members shall act as, or alternatively appoint, a liquidator (which shall be the “liquidating trustee” for purposes of the Act). The liquidator shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Act. The costs of winding-up shall be borne as a Company expense. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidator are as follows: (i) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final winding-up, the liquidator shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities, and operations through the last day of the month in which the dissolution occurs or the final winding-up is completed, as applicable; (ii) subject to the Act, the liquidator shall satisfy from Company funds all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company, including all expenses incurred in winding-up, or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and satisfaction thereof (including the establishment of a cash escrow fund for contingent, conditional and unmatured liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidator may reasonably determine); and (iii) all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with Section 6.1.

 

(b)

The distribution of cash or property to a Member in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.2 constitutes a complete return to the Member of its Capital Contributions and a complete distribution to the Member of all the Company’s property, and constitutes a compromise to which all Members have consented pursuant to Section 18-502(b) of the Act. To the extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, such Member shall have no claim against any other Member for those funds.

 

 

13.3          Deficit Capital Accounts. No Member will be required to pay to the Company, to any other Member or to any third party any deficit balance that may exist from time to time in the Member’s capital account.

 

13.4          Certificate of Cancellation. On completion of the winding-up of the Company as provided herein and under the Act, the Members (or such other Person or Persons as the Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company. Upon the filing of such certificate of cancellation, the existence of the Company shall terminate, except as may be otherwise provided by the Act or by Applicable Law.

 

Article XIV
MERGER; CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

 

14.1          Authority. Subject to compliance with Section 7.4, the Company may merge or consolidate with one or more domestic or foreign corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership)), or convert into any such domestic or foreign entity, pursuant to a written agreement of merger or consolidation (“Merger Agreement”) or a written plan of conversion (“Plan of Conversion”), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article 14. The surviving entity to any such merger, consolidation or conversion is referred to herein as the “Surviving Business Entity.”

 

14.2          Procedure for Merger; Consolidation or Conversion.

 

(a)

The merger, consolidation or conversion of the Company pursuant to this Article 14 requires the prior approval of Members representing a Majority Interest and compliance with this Section 14.2.

 

 

(b)

If Members representing a Majority Interest shall determine to consent to a merger or consolidation, then Members representing a Majority Interest shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth: (i) the names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate; (ii) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the Surviving Business Entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation; (iii) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation; (iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (A) if any general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such general or limited partner interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and (B) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered; (v) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation; (vi) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.3 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and stated therein; and (vii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Members representing a Majority Interest.

 

(c)

If Members representing a Majority Interest shall determine to consent to a conversion of the Company, then Members representing a Majority Interest shall approve and adopt a Plan of Conversion containing such terms and conditions that Members representing such Majority Interest determine to be necessary or appropriate.

 

14.3          Certificate of Merger; Consolidation or Conversion.

 

(a)

Upon approval by Members representing a Majority Interest of a Merger Agreement or a Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger, consolidation or conversion, as applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Act and shall have such effect as provided under the Act or other Applicable Law.

 

(b)

A merger, consolidation or conversion effected pursuant to this Article 14 shall not (i) to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, be deemed to result in a transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity to another having occurred or (ii) require the Company (if it is not the Surviving Business Entity) to wind up its affairs, pay its liabilities or distribute its assets as required under Article 13 of this Agreement or under the applicable provisions of the Act.

 

 

Article XV
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

15.1          Offset. Whenever the Company is to pay any sum to any Member, any amounts that Member owes the Company may be deducted from that sum before payment.

 

15.2          Notices. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively, “Notices”) required or permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served by hand delivery, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by facsimile or electronic mail, addressed to the address such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notice shall be deemed given on the second Business Day following the date of delivery to the air courier, in the case of delivery by air courier. Notice shall be deemed given on the date of service if personally served or the date of transmission if transmitted by facsimile or electronic mail.

 

15.3          Entire Agreement; Superseding Effect. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Members relating to the Company and the transactions contemplated hereby, and supersedes all provisions and concepts contained in all prior contracts or agreements of the Member with respect to the Company, whether oral or written, including the Original Limited Liability Company Agreement.

 

15.4          Effect of Waiver or Consent. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a waiver or consent, express or implied, to or of any breach or default by any Member in the performance by that Member of its obligations with respect to the Company is not a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Member of the same or any other obligations of that Member with respect to the Company. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, failure on the part of a Member to complain of any act of any Member or to declare any Member in default with respect to the Company, irrespective of how long that failure continues, does not constitute a waiver by that Member of its rights with respect to that default until the applicable statute-of-limitations period has run.

 

15.5          Amendment or Restatement. This Agreement may be amended or restated only by a written instrument executed by all Members; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, each Member agrees that the Board, without the approval of any Member, may amend any provision of the Company’s Certificate of Formation and this Agreement, and may authorize any Officer to execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record any such amendment and whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect any change that does not require consent or approval (or for which such consent or approval has been obtained) under this Agreement or does not materially adversely affect the rights of the Members.

 

15.6          Binding Effect. Subject to the restrictions on Dispositions set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement is binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Members and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

 

15.7          Governing Law; Severability. THIS AGREEMENT IS GOVERNED BY AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICT-OF-LAWS RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT MIGHT REFER THE GOVERNANCE OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION. In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and any mandatory, non-waivable provision of the Act, such provision of the Act shall control. If any provision of the Act may be varied or superseded in a limited liability company agreement (or otherwise by agreement of the members or managers of a limited liability company), such provision shall be deemed superseded and waived in its entirety if this Agreement contains a provision addressing the same issue or subject matter. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Member or circumstance is held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of that provision to other Members or circumstances is not affected thereby and the Members shall negotiate in good faith to replace that provision with a new provision that is valid and enforceable and that puts the Members in substantially the same economic, business and legal position as they would have been in if the original provision had been valid and enforceable.

 

15.8          Venue. Any and all claims, suits, actions or proceedings arising out of, in connection with or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent the Court of Chancery lacks jurisdiction, any other state court in the State of Delaware). Each party hereto unconditionally and irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent the Court of Chancery lacks jurisdiction, any other state court in the State of Delaware) with respect to any such claim, suit, action or proceeding and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, waives any objection that such party may have to the laying of venue of any claim, suit, action or proceeding in the Court of Chancery (or other state court) of the State of Delaware.

 

15.9          Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Member shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and those transactions.

 

15.10      Waiver of Certain Rights. Each Member, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, irrevocably waives any right it may have to maintain any action for dissolution of the Company or for partition of the property of the Company.

 

15.11      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the use of facsimile signatures and signatures delivered by email in portable document format affixed in the name and on behalf of a party is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

 

* * *

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

	Cypress Energy Holdings II, LLC
	By:	/s/ G. Les Austin
	Name:	G. Les Austin
	Title:	Chief Financial Officer, Vice President,
		Secretary and Treasurer

 

 

Signature Page to Cypress Energy Partners GP, LLC Limited Liability Company Agreement

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

MEMBERS

 

 

 

Member	Membership Ratio
Cypress Energy Holdings II, LLC	100%

 

 

Signature Page to Cypress Energy Partners GP, LLC Limited Liability Company Agreement